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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="5" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:18.0pt;font-weight:bold;">UNITED STATES<br> SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</font></b></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">WASHINGTON, DC 20549</font></b></p>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="5" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:18.0pt;font-weight:bold;">FORM&nbsp;8-K</font></b></p>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold;">CURRENT REPORT</font></b></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Pursuant to Section&nbsp;13 or 15(d)&nbsp;of the</font></b></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Securities Exchange Act of 1934</font></b></p>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Date of report&nbsp;(Date of earliest event reported): <b><font style="font-weight:bold;">August&nbsp;30</font>, 2013</b></font></p>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="5" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:18.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Ares Commercial Real Estate Corporation</font></b></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)</font></p>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Maryland</font></b></p>    </td>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">001-35517</font></b></p>    </td>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">45-3148087</font></b></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(State or Other Jurisdiction <br>   of Incorporation)</font></p>    </td>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(Commission<br>   File Number)</font></p>    </td>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(IRS Employer<br>   Identification No.)</font></p>    </td>   </tr>  </table>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">One North Wacker Drive, 48</font></b><b><font size="1" style="font-size:6.5pt;font-weight:bold;position:relative;top:1.0pt;">th</font></b><b><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;Floor, Chicago,&nbsp;IL</font></b></p>    </td>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">60606</font></b></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Registrant&#146;s telephone number, including area code <b>(312) 252-7500</b></font></p>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">N/A</font></b></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)</font></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Check the appropriate box below if the Form&nbsp;8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (<i>see</i> General Instruction A.2. below):</font></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .25in;text-indent:-.25in;"><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Written communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)</font></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .25in;text-indent:-.25in;"><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Soliciting material pursuant to Rule&nbsp;14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)</font></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .25in;text-indent:-.25in;"><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;14d-2(b)&nbsp;under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .25in;text-indent:-.25in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .25in;text-indent:-.25in;"><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;13e-4(c)&nbsp;under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))</font></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Item 1.01 &nbsp;Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.</font></u></b></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">On August&nbsp;30, 2013 (the &#147;Closing Date&#148;), Ares Commercial Real Estate Corporation, a Maryland corporation (the &#147;Registrant&#148;), completed its acquisition (the &#147;Acquisition&#148;) of all of the outstanding common units of EF&amp;A Funding, L.L.C., d/b/a Alliant Capital LLC, a Michigan limited liability company (&#147;Alliant&#148;), from Alliant,&nbsp;Inc., a Florida corporation, and The Alliant Company, LLC, a Florida limited liability company (together with Alliant,&nbsp;Inc., the &#147;Sellers&#148;).&#160; Pursuant to the Purchase and Sale Agreement (the &#147;Agreement&#148;), dated as of May&nbsp;14, 2013, by and among the Registrant and the Sellers, the Registrant paid approximately $53.4 million in cash and issued 588,235 shares of its common stock in a private placement exempt from registration under Section&nbsp;4(2)&nbsp;of the Securities Act of 1933 as consideration for the Acquisition.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">The foregoing description of the Acquisition does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Agreement.&#160; A copy of the Agreement was filed as Exhibit&nbsp;2.1 to the Registrant&#146;s Current Report on Form&nbsp;8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the &#147;Commission&#148;) on May&nbsp;15, 2013 and is incorporated herein by reference.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">On the Closing Date, the Registrant entered into two letter agreements with the Sellers (the &#147;Letter Agreements&#148;). The Letter Agreements amend the Agreement to, among other things, (i) provide that the common units of Alliant purchased in the Acquisition will be delivered to ACRE Capital Holdings LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company that intends to elect to be a taxable REIT subsidiary, (ii) make certain adjustments to the proportion of the purchase price received by each Seller and the calculation of Net Working Capital (as such term is defined in the Agreement) and (iii) amend the Fixed Cash Consideration (as such term is defined in the Agreement) to be $53,415,000.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">The foregoing description of the Letter Agreements is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Letter Agreements, which are filed as Exhibit 10.1 and Exhibit 10.2 to this report, and are incorporated herein by reference.</font></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Item 2.01 Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets</font></u></b></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">On the Closing Date, the Acquisition was completed pursuant to the terms of the Agreement.&#160; Upon closing of the Acquisition, Alliant became an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Registrant.&#160; Following the closing, Alliant will change its name to ACRE Capital LLC and retain its two warehouse line debt facilities to finance multi-family loan origination activity.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Item 3.02. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.</font></u></b></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">On the Closing Date, in connection with the closing of the Acquisition described in Item 2.01 above and as partial consideration for the Acquisition, the Company issued the Stock Consideration (as such term is defined in the Agreement), comprising 588,235 shares of the Company&#146;s common stock, par value $0.01 per share, to the Sellers. In issuing the Stock Consideration, the Company relied on an exemption from registration under Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933.</font></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Item 9.01&nbsp; Financial Statements and Exhibits.</font></u></b></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:-.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(a)</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Financial Statements of the Business Acquired</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:-.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">The audited financial statements of EF&amp;A Funding L.L.C. as of and for the years ended December&nbsp;31, 2012 and 2011, including the notes and the independent auditors&#146; reports related thereto, were filed as Exhibit&nbsp;99.1 to the Registrant&#146;s Current Report on Form&nbsp;8-K filed with the Commission on June&nbsp;4, 2013 and are incorporated herein by reference.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">The unaudited financial statements of EF&amp;A Funding L.L.C. as of and for the six months ended June&nbsp;30, 2013 and 2012, including the related notes, will be filed as soon as practicable, but in any event no later than 71 calendar days after the date by which this Current Report on Form&nbsp;8-K is required to be filed.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt .5in;text-indent:-.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(b)</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Pro Forma Financial Information</font></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Ares Commercial Real Estate Corporation unaudited pro forma consolidated financial information, comprised of a pro forma consolidated balance sheet as of June&nbsp;30, 2013 and a pro forma consolidated statement of income for the six months ended June&nbsp;30, 2013, will be filed as soon as practicable, but in any event no later than 71 calendar days after the date by which this Current Report on Form&nbsp;8-K is required to be filed.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(d)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Exhibits:</font></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="88%" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:88.0%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Purchase   and Sale Agreement, among Alliant,&nbsp;Inc., a Florida corporation, The   Alliant Company, LLC, a Florida limited liability company and Ares Commercial   Real Estate Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit&nbsp;2.1 of the   Registrant&#146;s Current Report on Form&nbsp;8-K filed on May&nbsp;15, 2013).</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
<tr>
<td width="9%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:9.86%;">
<p align="right" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:right;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.14%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="88%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:88.0%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
<tr>
<td width="9%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:9.86%;">
<p align="right" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:right;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">10.1</font></p>    </td>
<td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.14%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="88%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:88.0%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Letter Agreement re: Closing Statement   Reference Date, dated as of August 30, 2013, among Ares Commercial Real   Estate Corporation, The Alliant Company, LLC, a Florida limited liability   company, and Alliant Inc., a Florida corporation.</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
<tr>
<td width="9%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:9.86%;">
<p align="right" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:right;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.14%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="88%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:88.0%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
<tr>
<td width="9%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:9.86%;">
<p align="right" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:right;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">10.2</font></p>    </td>
<td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.14%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="88%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:88.0%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Letter Agreement re: &#147;Greenleaf at Broadway&#148;   Reimbursable Loss Loan, dated as of August 30, 2013, among Ares Commercial   Real Estate Corporation, The Alliant Company, LLC, a Florida limited   liability company, and Alliant Inc., a Florida corporation.</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
<tr>
<td width="9%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:9.86%;">
<p align="right" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:right;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.14%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="88%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:88.0%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
<tr>
<td width="9%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:9.86%;">
<p align="right" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:right;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">99.1</font></p>    </td>
<td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.14%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="88%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:88.0%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">EF&amp;A   Funding L.L.C. financial statements as of and for the years ended   December&nbsp;31, 2012 and 2011, and independent auditors&#146; reports with   respect to the financial statements as of and for the years ended   December&nbsp;31, 2012 and 2011 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit&nbsp;99.1   of the Registrant&#146;s Current Report on Form&nbsp;8-K filed on June&nbsp;4,   2013).</font></p>    </td>   </tr>  </table>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">2<a name="PB_2_102241_7056"></a></font></p>
<div style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><hr size="3" width="100%" noshade color="#010101" align="left"></div>
</div>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<div>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">SIGNATURE</font></b></p>
</div>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<div>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Date:&nbsp;August 30, 2013</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="border-collapse:collapse;width:100.0%;">
<tr>
<td width="50%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:50.42%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="49%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:49.58%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">ARES   COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE CORPORATION</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
<tr>
<td width="50%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:50.42%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="49%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:49.58%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
<tr>
<td width="50%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:50.42%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="6%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:6.5%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">By:</font></p>    </td>
<td width="43%" valign="top" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:43.08%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">/s/   Timothy B. Smith</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
<tr>
<td width="50%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:50.42%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="6%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:6.5%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Name:</font></p>    </td>
<td width="43%" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:43.08%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Timothy   B. Smith</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
<tr>
<td width="50%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:50.42%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="6%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:6.5%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Title:</font></p>    </td>
<td width="43%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:43.08%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Vice   President</font></p>    </td>   </tr>  </table>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">3<a name="PB_3_102348_5335"></a></font></p>
<div style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><hr size="3" width="100%" noshade color="#010101" align="left"></div>
</div>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
</div>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Exhibit&nbsp;Index</font></u></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="border-collapse:collapse;width:100.0%;">
<tr>
<td width="9%" valign="bottom" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:9.86%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Exhibit<br>   Number</font></b></p>    </td>
<td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.14%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>    </td>
<td width="88%" valign="bottom" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:88.0%;">
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Exhibit&nbsp;Description</font></b></p>    </td>   </tr>
<tr>
<td width="9%" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:9.86%;">
<p align="right" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:right;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">2.1</font></p>    </td>
<td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.14%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="88%" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:88.0%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Purchase   and Sale Agreement, among Alliant,&nbsp;Inc., a Florida corporation, The   Alliant Company, LLC, a Florida limited liability company and Ares Commercial   Real Estate Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit&nbsp;2.1 of the   Registrant&#146;s Current Report on Form&nbsp;8-K filed on May&nbsp;15, 2013).</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
<tr>
<td width="9%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:9.86%;">
<p align="right" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:right;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.14%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="88%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:88.0%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
<tr>
<td width="9%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:9.86%;">
<p align="right" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:right;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">10.1</font></p>    </td>
<td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.14%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="88%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:88.0%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Letter Agreement re: Closing Statement   Reference Date, dated as of August 30, 2013, among Ares Commercial Real   Estate Corporation, The Alliant Company, LLC, a Florida limited liability   company, and Alliant Inc., a Florida corporation.</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
<tr>
<td width="9%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:9.86%;">
<p align="right" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:right;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.14%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="88%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:88.0%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
<tr>
<td width="9%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:9.86%;">
<p align="right" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:right;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">10.2</font></p>    </td>
<td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.14%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="88%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:88.0%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Letter Agreement re: &#147;Greenleaf at Broadway&#148;   Reimbursable Loss Loan, dated as of August 30, 2013, among Ares Commercial   Real Estate Corporation, The Alliant Company, LLC, a Florida limited   liability company, and Alliant Inc., a Florida corporation.</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
<tr>
<td width="9%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:9.86%;">
<p align="right" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:right;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.14%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="88%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:88.0%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
<tr>
<td width="9%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:9.86%;">
<p align="right" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:right;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">99.1</font></p>    </td>
<td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.14%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="88%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:88.0%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">EF&amp;A   Funding L.L.C. financial statements as of and for the years ended   December&nbsp;31, 2012 and 2011, and independent auditors&#146; reports with   respect to the financial statements as of and for the years ended   December&nbsp;31, 2012 and 2011 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit&nbsp;99.1   of the Registrant&#146;s Current Report on Form&nbsp;8-K filed on June&nbsp;4,   2013).</font></p>    </td>   </tr>  </table>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">4<a name="PB_4_102430_5796"></a></font></p>
<div style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><hr size="3" width="100%" noshade color="#010101" align="left"></div>
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "Ares Commercial Real Estate Corp", "cik": "0001529377", "assigned-sic": "6798", "irs-number": "453148087", "state-of-incorporation": "MD"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-35517", "film-number": "131073168"}, "business-address": {"street1": "TWO NORTH LASALLE STREET, STE 925", "city": "CHICAGO", "state": "IL", "zip": "60602", "phone": "312.324.5900"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "TWO NORTH LASALLE STREET, STE 925", "city": "CHICAGO", "state": "IL", "zip": "60602"}}
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of report (Date of earliest event reported):
August 30
, 2013
Ares Commercial Real Estate Corporation
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Maryland
001-35517
45-3148087
(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation)
(Commission
File Number)
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)
One North Wacker Drive, 48
th
Floor, Chicago, IL
60606
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code
(312) 252-7500
N/A
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (
see
General Instruction A.2. below):
o
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item 1.01  Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
On August 30, 2013 (the "Closing Date"), Ares Commercial Real Estate Corporation, a Maryland corporation (the "Registrant"), completed its acquisition (the "Acquisition") of all of the outstanding common units of EF&A Funding, L.L.C., d/b/a Alliant Capital LLC, a Michigan limited liability company ("Alliant"), from Alliant, Inc., a Florida corporation, and The Alliant Company, LLC, a Florida limited liability company (together with Alliant, Inc., the "Sellers").  Pursuant to the Purchase and Sale Agreement (the "Agreement"), dated as of May 14, 2013, by and among the Registrant and the Sellers, the Registrant paid approximately $53.4 million in cash and issued 588,235 shares of its common stock in a private placement exempt from registration under Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933 as consideration for the Acquisition.
The foregoing description of the Acquisition does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Agreement.  A copy of the Agreement was filed as Exhibit 2.1 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") on May 15, 2013 and is incorporated herein by reference.
On the Closing Date, the Registrant entered into two letter agreements with the Sellers (the "Letter Agreements"). The Letter Agreements amend the Agreement to, among other things, (i) provide that the common units of Alliant purchased in the Acquisition will be delivered to ACRE Capital Holdings LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company that intends to elect to be a taxable REIT subsidiary, (ii) make certain adjustments to the proportion of the purchase price received by each Seller and the calculation of Net Working Capital (as such term is defined in the Agreement) and (iii) amend the Fixed Cash Consideration (as such term is defined in the Agreement) to be $53,415,000.
The foregoing description of the Letter Agreements is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Letter Agreements, which are filed as Exhibit 10.1 and Exhibit 10.2 to this report, and are incorporated herein by reference.
Item 2.01 Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets
On the Closing Date, the Acquisition was completed pursuant to the terms of the Agreement.  Upon closing of the Acquisition, Alliant became an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Registrant.  Following the closing, Alliant will change its name to ACRE Capital LLC and retain its two warehouse line debt facilities to finance multi-family loan origination activity.
Item 3.02. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.
On the Closing Date, in connection with the closing of the Acquisition described in Item 2.01 above and as partial consideration for the Acquisition, the Company issued the Stock Consideration (as such term is defined in the Agreement), comprising 588,235 shares of the Company's common stock, par value $0.01 per share, to the Sellers. In issuing the Stock Consideration, the Company relied on an exemption from registration under Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933.
Item 9.01  Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(a)
Financial Statements of the Business Acquired
The audited financial statements of EF&A Funding L.L.C. as of and for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, including the notes and the independent auditors' reports related thereto, were filed as Exhibit 99.1 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on June 4, 2013 and are incorporated herein by reference.
The unaudited financial statements of EF&A Funding L.L.C. as of and for the six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, including the related notes, will be filed as soon as practicable, but in any event no later than 71 calendar days after the date by which this Current Report on Form 8-K is required to be filed.
(b)
Pro Forma Financial Information
Ares Commercial Real Estate Corporation unaudited pro forma consolidated financial information, comprised of a pro forma consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2013 and a pro forma consolidated statement of income for the six months ended June 30, 2013, will be filed as soon as practicable, but in any event no later than 71 calendar days after the date by which this Current Report on Form 8-K is required to be filed.
(d)                           Exhibits:
Exhibit
Number
Exhibit Description
2.1
Purchase   and Sale Agreement, among Alliant, Inc., a Florida corporation, The   Alliant Company, LLC, a Florida limited liability company and Ares Commercial   Real Estate Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 of the   Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 15, 2013).
10.1
Letter Agreement re: Closing Statement   Reference Date, dated as of August 30, 2013, among Ares Commercial Real   Estate Corporation, The Alliant Company, LLC, a Florida limited liability   company, and Alliant Inc., a Florida corporation.
10.2
Letter Agreement re: "Greenleaf at Broadway"   Reimbursable Loss Loan, dated as of August 30, 2013, among Ares Commercial   Real Estate Corporation, The Alliant Company, LLC, a Florida limited   liability company, and Alliant Inc., a Florida corporation.
99.1
EF&A   Funding L.L.C. financial statements as of and for the years ended   December 31, 2012 and 2011, and independent auditors' reports with   respect to the financial statements as of and for the years ended   December 31, 2012 and 2011 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1   of the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 4,   2013).
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Date: August 30, 2013
ARES   COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE CORPORATION
By:
/s/   Timothy B. Smith
Name:
Timothy   B. Smith
Title:
Vice   President
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Exhibit Index
Exhibit
Number
Exhibit Description
2.1
Purchase   and Sale Agreement, among Alliant, Inc., a Florida corporation, The   Alliant Company, LLC, a Florida limited liability company and Ares Commercial   Real Estate Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 of the   Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 15, 2013).
10.1
Letter Agreement re: Closing Statement   Reference Date, dated as of August 30, 2013, among Ares Commercial Real   Estate Corporation, The Alliant Company, LLC, a Florida limited liability   company, and Alliant Inc., a Florida corporation.
10.2
Letter Agreement re: "Greenleaf at Broadway"   Reimbursable Loss Loan, dated as of August 30, 2013, among Ares Commercial   Real Estate Corporation, The Alliant Company, LLC, a Florida limited   liability company, and Alliant Inc., a Florida corporation.
99.1
EF&A   Funding L.L.C. financial statements as of and for the years ended   December 31, 2012 and 2011, and independent auditors' reports with   respect to the financial statements as of and for the years ended   December 31, 2012 and 2011 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1   of the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 4,   2013).
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