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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</font></b></p>
<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;">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>July&nbsp;12, 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;">(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:-3.0pt;">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="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">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="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Soliciting material pursuant to Rule&nbsp;14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)</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="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;14d-2(b)&nbsp;under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))</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="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">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>
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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 July&nbsp;12, 2013, ACRC Lender C LLC (&#147;Lender C&#148;), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Registrant, entered into an amendment with CitiBank, N.A. (&#147;CitiBank&#148;) to its secured funding facility (as amended, the &#147;CitiBank Facility&#148;) and signed a Second Amended and Restated Note to, among other things, increase the size of the CitiBank Facility to $125 million. In connection with the amendment, the Registrant entered into an amendment to the Substitute Guaranty Agreement modifying its obligations to CitiBank in connection with the CitiBank Facility.</font></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;">In addition to increasing the size of the facility, the CitiBank Facility amendment reduced the pricing on the facility from a range of LIBOR plus a pricing margin of 2.50 percent to 3.50 percent to a range of LIBOR plus a margin of 2.25 percent to 2.75 percent and changed the final repayment date from being the latest date on which a payment of principal is contractually obligated to be made in respect of each mortgage loan pledged under the CitiBank Facility to July&nbsp;2, 2018.&#160; The CitiBank Facility amendment and Substitute Guaranty Agreement amendment also modified certain financial tests and covenants to more effectively utilize the CitiBank Facility.</font></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;">The foregoing description is only a summary of certain material provisions of the Second Amended and Restated Note and the amendments to the CitiBank Facility and Substitute Guaranty Agreement, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to a copy of such agreements, which are filed herewith as Exhibits 10.1, 10.2 and 10.3 and by this reference incorporated herein.</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 2.03&nbsp; Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.</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;">The information required by Item 2.03 contained in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form&nbsp;8-K is 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 7.01&nbsp; Other Events.</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 July&nbsp;17, 2013 the Registrant issued a press release announcing that it had increased the size of the CitiBank Facility.&#160; A copy of the press release is filed herewith as Exhibit&nbsp;99.1 and incorporated herein by reference. The information disclosed in and pursuant to this paragraph, including Exhibit&nbsp;99.1 hereto, is being furnished and shall not be deemed &#147;filed&#148; for purposes of Section&nbsp;18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing made under the Securities Act of 1933, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.</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;"><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 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>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Second Amendment   to Master Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of July&nbsp;12, 2013, among   ACRC Lender C LLC, as borrower, Ares Commercial Real Estate Corporation, as   guarantor, and Citibank, N.A., as lender.</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<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>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Second Amended   and Restated Note, dated as of July&nbsp;12, 2013, among ACRC Lender C LLC,   as borrower, and Citibank, N.A, as lender.</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p align="right" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:right;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">10.3</font></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Second Amendment   to Substitute Guaranty Agreement, dated as of July&nbsp;12, 2013, among Ares   Commercial Real Estate </font></p>    </td>   </tr>  </table>
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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;">2<a name="PB_2_061211_2897"></a></font></p>
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<p align="right" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:right;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&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:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="90%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:90.0%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Corporation, as   guarantor, and Citibank, N.A., as lender.</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<td width="7%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:7.86%;">
<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>
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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="90%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:90.0%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Press Release,   dated July&nbsp;17, 2013.</font></p>    </td>   </tr>  </table>
</div>
<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_061214_3020"></a></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;">SIGNATURE</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;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<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;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; July&nbsp;17, 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 style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</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="57%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:57.26%;">
<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>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="57%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:57.26%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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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="6%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:6.14%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">By:</font></p>    </td>
<td width="51%" valign="top" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:51.12%;">
<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>
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<td width="42%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:42.76%;">
<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:6.14%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Name:</font></p>    </td>
<td width="51%" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:51.12%;">
<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>
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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="6%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:6.14%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Title:</font></p>    </td>
<td width="51%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:51.12%;">
<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;">4<a name="PB_4_061232_7748"></a></font></p>
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<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>
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<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="90%" valign="bottom" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:90.0%;">
<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>
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<td width="7%" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:7.86%;">
<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="90%" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:90.0%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Second Amendment   to Master Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of July&nbsp;12, 2013, among   ACRC Lender C LLC, as borrower, Ares Commercial Real Estate Corporation, as   guarantor, and Citibank, N.A., as lender.</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<td width="7%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:7.86%;">
<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="90%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:90.0%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Second Amended   and Restated Note, dated as of July&nbsp;12, 2013, among ACRC Lender C LLC,   as borrower, and Citibank, N.A, as lender.</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<td width="7%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:7.86%;">
<p align="right" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:right;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">10.3</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="90%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:90.0%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Second Amendment   to Substitute Guaranty Agreement, dated as of July&nbsp;12, 2013, among Ares   Commercial Real Estate Corporation, as guarantor, and Citibank, N.A., as   lender.</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<td width="7%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:7.86%;">
<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>
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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="90%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:90.0%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Press Release,   dated July&nbsp;17, 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;">5<a name="PB_5_061403_7608"></a></font></p>
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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": "13972780"}, "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)
July 12, 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 July 12, 2013, ACRC Lender C LLC ("Lender C"), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Registrant, entered into an amendment with CitiBank, N.A. ("CitiBank") to its secured funding facility (as amended, the "CitiBank Facility") and signed a Second Amended and Restated Note to, among other things, increase the size of the CitiBank Facility to $125 million. In connection with the amendment, the Registrant entered into an amendment to the Substitute Guaranty Agreement modifying its obligations to CitiBank in connection with the CitiBank Facility.
In addition to increasing the size of the facility, the CitiBank Facility amendment reduced the pricing on the facility from a range of LIBOR plus a pricing margin of 2.50 percent to 3.50 percent to a range of LIBOR plus a margin of 2.25 percent to 2.75 percent and changed the final repayment date from being the latest date on which a payment of principal is contractually obligated to be made in respect of each mortgage loan pledged under the CitiBank Facility to July 2, 2018.  The CitiBank Facility amendment and Substitute Guaranty Agreement amendment also modified certain financial tests and covenants to more effectively utilize the CitiBank Facility.
The foregoing description is only a summary of certain material provisions of the Second Amended and Restated Note and the amendments to the CitiBank Facility and Substitute Guaranty Agreement, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to a copy of such agreements, which are filed herewith as Exhibits 10.1, 10.2 and 10.3 and by this reference incorporated herein.
Item 2.03  Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.
The information required by Item 2.03 contained in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 7.01  Other Events.
On July 17, 2013 the Registrant issued a press release announcing that it had increased the size of the CitiBank Facility.  A copy of the press release is filed herewith as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference. The information disclosed in and pursuant to this paragraph, including Exhibit 99.1 hereto, is being furnished and shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing made under the Securities Act of 1933, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.
Item 9.01  Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d)                           Exhibits:
Exhibit
Number
Exhibit Description
10.1
Second Amendment   to Master Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of July 12, 2013, among   ACRC Lender C LLC, as borrower, Ares Commercial Real Estate Corporation, as   guarantor, and Citibank, N.A., as lender.
10.2
Second Amended   and Restated Note, dated as of July 12, 2013, among ACRC Lender C LLC,   as borrower, and Citibank, N.A, as lender.
10.3
Second Amendment   to Substitute Guaranty Agreement, dated as of July 12, 2013, among Ares   Commercial Real Estate
2
Corporation, as   guarantor, and Citibank, N.A., as lender.
99.1
Press Release,   dated July 17, 2013.
3
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:       July 17, 2013
ARES COMMERCIAL   REAL ESTATE CORPORATION
By:
/s/ Timothy B.   Smith
Name:
Timothy B. Smith
Title:
Vice President
4
Exhibit Index
Exhibit
Number
Exhibit Description
10.1
Second Amendment   to Master Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of July 12, 2013, among   ACRC Lender C LLC, as borrower, Ares Commercial Real Estate Corporation, as   guarantor, and Citibank, N.A., as lender.
10.2
Second Amended   and Restated Note, dated as of July 12, 2013, among ACRC Lender C LLC,   as borrower, and Citibank, N.A, as lender.
10.3
Second Amendment   to Substitute Guaranty Agreement, dated as of July 12, 2013, among Ares   Commercial Real Estate Corporation, as guarantor, and Citibank, N.A., as   lender.
99.1
Press Release,   dated July 17, 2013.
5