Ares Commercial Real Estate Corp (Form: 10-Q, Received: 11/03/2016 06:14:55)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

_____________________________________________________________________

FORM 10-Q

ý QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2016

o TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period to

Commission File No. 001-35517

ARES COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE CORPORATION

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)



Maryland		45-3148087
(State or other jurisdiction of		(I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)		Identification Number)

245 Park Avenue, 42nd Floor, New York, NY 10167

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

(212) 750-7300

(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

N/A

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days: Yes ý No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes ý No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):



Large accelerated filer o		Accelerated filer x

Non-accelerated filer o		Smaller reporting company o
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No ý

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.



Class		Outstanding at November 1, 2016
Common stock, $0.01 par value		28,482,756

ARES COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE CORPORATION

INDEX



Part I.	Financial Information

Item 1.	Consolidated Financial Statements

	Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2016 (unaudited) and December 31, 2015	2

	Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 (unaudited)	3

	Consolidated Statement of Equity for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 (unaudited)	4

	Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 (unaudited)	5

	Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)	6

Item 2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	37

Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	49

Item 4.	Controls and Procedures	51

Part II.	Other Information

Item 1.	Legal Proceedings	51

Item 1A.	Risk Factors	51

Item 2.	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	51

Item 3.	Defaults Upon Senior Securities	52

Item 4.	Mine Safety Disclosures	52

Item 5.	Other Information	52

Item 6.	Exhibits	52

PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Consolidated Financial Statements

ARES COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except share and per share data)



	As of
	September 30, 2016			December 31, 2015
	(unaudited)
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents ($10 and $8 related to consolidated VIEs, respectively)	$	41,768		$	5,066
Restricted cash	379			13,083
Loans held for investment ($186,042 and $483,572 related to consolidated VIEs, respectively)	1,473,920			1,174,391
Other assets ($1,355 and $2,695 of interest receivable related to consolidated VIEs, respectively; $36,936 and $35,607 of other receivables related to consolidated VIEs, respectively)	49,072			53,191
Assets of discontinued operations	—			133,251
Total assets	$	1,565,139		$	1,378,982
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
LIABILITIES
Secured funding agreements	$	879,102		$	522,775
Secured term loan	149,270			69,762
Commercial mortgage-backed securitization debt (consolidated VIE)	—			61,815
Collateralized loan obligation securitization debt (consolidated VIE)	57,787			192,528
Due to affiliate	2,603			2,424
Dividends payable	7,406			7,152
Other liabilities ($90 and $299 of interest payable related to consolidated VIEs, respectively)	3,703			14,507
Liabilities of discontinued operations	—			51,531
Total liabilities	1,099,871			922,494
Commitments and contingencies (Note 5)
EQUITY
Common stock, par value $0.01 per share, 450,000,000 shares authorized at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, 28,482,756 and 28,609,650 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively	283			284
Additional paid-in capital	419,946			421,179
Accumulated deficit	(1,969		)	(11,992		)
Total stockholders' equity	418,260			409,471
Non-controlling interests in consolidated VIEs	47,008			47,017
Total equity	465,268			456,488
Total liabilities and equity	$	1,565,139		$	1,378,982

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

ARES COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(in thousands, except share and per share data)



	For the three months ended September 30,						For the nine months ended September 30,
	2016			2015			2016			2015
	(unaudited)			(unaudited)			(unaudited)			(unaudited)
Net interest margin:
Interest income from loans held for investment	$	20,776		$	20,949		$	58,455		$	65,131
Interest expense	(9,018		)	(8,707		)	(25,958		)	(27,586		)
Net interest margin	11,758			12,242			32,497			37,545
Expenses:
Management and incentive fees to affiliate	1,690			1,351			4,380			4,040
Professional fees	678			617			1,703			1,535
General and administrative expenses	690			698			2,099			2,144
General and administrative expenses reimbursed to affiliate	860			840			2,417			2,591
Total expenses	3,918			3,506			10,599			10,310
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	7,840			8,736			21,898			27,235
Income tax expense (benefit), including excise tax	161			3			168			(15		)
Net income from continuing operations	7,679			8,733			21,730			27,250
Net income from operations of discontinued operations, net of income taxes	1,866			2,977			4,221			5,018
Gain on sale of discontinued operations	10,196			—			10,196			—
Net income attributable to ACRE	19,741			11,710			36,147			32,268
Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests	(1,299		)	(2,331		)	(3,876		)	(6,860		)
Net income attributable to common stockholders	$	18,442		$	9,379		$	32,271		$	25,408
Basic earnings per common share:
Continuing operations	$	0.22		$	0.22		$	0.63		$	0.72
Discontinued operations	0.42			0.10			0.51			0.18
Net income	$	0.65		$	0.33		$	1.13		$	0.89
Diluted earnings per common share:
Continuing operations	$	0.22		$	0.22		$	0.63		$	0.71
Discontinued operations	0.42			0.10			0.51			0.18
Net income	$	0.65		$	0.33		$	1.13		$	0.89
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic weighted average shares of common stock outstanding	28,428,766			28,505,729			28,462,143			28,493,989
Diluted weighted average shares of common stock outstanding	28,513,137			28,609,650			28,536,921			28,593,496
Dividends declared per share of common stock	$	0.26		$	0.25		$	0.78		$	0.75

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

ARES COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EQUITY

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

(unaudited)



	Common Stock					Additional Paid-in Capital			Accumulated Deficit			Total Stockholders' Equity			Non-Controlling Interests			Total Equity
	Shares		Amount			Additional Paid-in Capital			Accumulated Deficit			Total Stockholders' Equity			Non-Controlling Interests			Total Equity
Balance at December 31, 2015	28,609,650		$	284		$	421,179		$	(11,992	)	$	409,471		$	47,017		$	456,488
Stock‑based compensation	3,022		—			202			—			202			—			202
Repurchase and retirement of common stock	(129,916	)	(1		)	(1,435		)	—			(1,436		)	—			(1,436		)
Net income	—		—			—			32,271			32,271			3,876			36,147
Dividends declared	—		—			—			(22,248		)	(22,248		)	—			(22,248		)
Contributions from non-controlling interests	—		—			—			—			—			11			11
Distributions to non-controlling interests	—		—			—			—			—			(3,896		)	(3,896		)
Balance at September 30, 2016	28,482,756		$	283		$	419,946		$	(1,969	)	$	418,260		$	47,008		$	465,268

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

ARES COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)



	For the nine months ended September 30,
	2016			2015
	(unaudited)			(unaudited)
Operating activities:
Net income	$	36,147		$	32,268
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities (inclusive of amounts related to discontinued operations):
Amortization of deferred financing costs	4,782			7,317
Change in mortgage banking activities	(10,386		)	(11,200		)
Change in fair value of mortgage servicing rights	6,457			6,955
Accretion of deferred loan origination fees and costs	(3,717		)	(3,504		)
Provision for loss sharing	(146		)	(1,109		)
Cash paid to settle loss sharing obligations	(681		)	(2,264		)
Originations of mortgage loans held for sale	(639,413		)	(575,038		)
Sale of mortgage loans held for sale to third parties	571,714			685,138
Stock-based compensation	202			662
Gain on sale of discontinued operations	(10,196		)	—
Depreciation expense	167			164
Deferred tax expense	2,049			1,823
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Restricted cash	1,411			41,916
Other assets	39,706			18,918
Due to affiliate	284			(46		)
Other liabilities	1,805			2,576
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	185			204,576
Investing activities:
Issuance of and fundings on loans held for investment	(782,364		)	(153,245		)
Principal repayment of loans held for investment	444,272			275,159
Proceeds from sale of a mortgage loan held for sale	—			74,625
Receipt of origination fees	6,009			810
Proceeds from sale of discontinued operations, net of cash sold	89,981			—
Purchases of other assets	(354		)	(90		)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(242,456		)	197,259
Financing activities:
Proceeds from secured funding agreements	1,288,698			170,525
Repayments of secured funding agreements	(932,371		)	(201,648		)
Payment of secured funding costs	(4,221		)	(1,320		)
Repayments of debt of consolidated VIEs	(197,445		)	(243,703		)
Proceeds from warehouse lines of credit	863,382			668,055
Repayments of warehouse lines of credit	(795,684		)	(777,709		)
Proceeds from secured term loan	80,000			—
Repurchase of common stock	(1,436		)	—
Dividends paid	(21,994		)	(21,446		)
Contributions from non-controlling interests	11			5,685
Distributions to non-controlling interests	(3,896		)	(6,426		)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	275,044			(407,987		)
Change in cash and cash equivalents	32,773			(6,152		)
Cash and cash equivalents of continuing operations, beginning of period	5,066			15,045
Cash and cash equivalents of discontinued operations, beginning of period	3,929			1,506
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$	41,768		$	10,399
Cash and cash equivalents of continuing operations, end of period	$	41,768		$	5,103
Cash and cash equivalents of discontinued operations, end of period	$	—		$	5,296

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

ARES COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

As of September 30, 2016

(in thousands, except share and per share data, percentages and as otherwise indicated)

(unaudited)

1. ORGANIZATION

Ares Commercial Real Estate Corporation (together with its consolidated subsidiaries, the “Company” or “ACRE”) is a specialty finance company primarily engaged in originating and investing in commercial real estate loans and related investments. Through Ares Commercial Real Estate Management LLC (“ACREM” or the Company’s “Manager”), a Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) registered investment adviser and a subsidiary of Ares Management, L.P. (NYSE: ARES) (“Ares Management”), a publicly traded, leading global alternative asset manager, it has investment professionals strategically located across the United States and Europe who directly source new loan opportunities for the Company with owners, operators and sponsors of commercial real estate (“CRE”) properties. The Company was formed and commenced operations in late 2011. The Company is a Maryland corporation and completed its initial public offering (the “IPO”) in May 2012. The Company is externally managed by its Manager, pursuant to the terms of a management agreement (the "Management Agreement").

The Company is primarily focused on directly originating and managing a diversified portfolio of CRE debt-related investments for the Company’s own account. The Company’s target investments include senior mortgage loans, subordinated debt, preferred equity, mezzanine loans and other CRE investments, including commercial mortgage backed securities ("CMBS"). These investments are generally held for investment and are secured, directly or indirectly, by office, multifamily, retail, industrial, lodging, senior-living, self-storage and other commercial real estate properties, or by ownership interests therein.

On June 28, 2016, the Company entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement (as amended, the “Agreement”) with Barings Real Estate Advisers LLC (formerly known as Cornerstone Real Estate Advisers LLC), a Delaware limited liability company (the “Buyer”), to sell ACRE Capital Holdings LLC (“TRS Holdings”), the holding company that owned the Company's mortgage banking subsidiary, ACRE Capital LLC ("ACRE Capital"). Under the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Agreement, on September 30, 2016, the Buyer purchased from the Company all of the outstanding common units of TRS Holdings (the “ACRE Capital Sale”). ACRE Capital primarily originated, sold and serviced multifamily and senior-living related loans under programs offered by government-sponsored enterprises and by government agencies.

Under the terms of the Agreement, the Buyer paid approximately $93 million in cash as consideration for the ACRE Capital Sale. The purchase price is subject to certain post-closing final working capital adjustments. The Company recognized a net gain on the sale of TRS Holdings of approximately $10.2 million .

The Company has elected and qualified to be taxed as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) for U.S. federal income tax purposes under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, commencing with its taxable year ended December 31, 2012. The Company generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income taxes on its REIT taxable income, determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid and excluding net capital gains, to the extent that it annually distributes all of its REIT taxable income to stockholders and complies with various other requirements as a REIT.

2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The accompanying unaudited consolidated interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and the related management's discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 filed with the SEC.

Refer to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for a description of the Company's recurring accounting policies. The Company has included disclosure below regarding basis of presentation and other accounting policies that (i) are required to be disclosed quarterly or (ii) the Company views as critical as of the date of this report.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the accrual basis of accounting in conformity with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and include the accounts of the Company,

the consolidated variable interest entities (“VIEs”) that the Company controls and of which the Company is the primary beneficiary, and the Company's wholly owned subsidiaries. The consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments and reclassifications that, in the opinion of management, are necessary for the fair presentation of the Company’s results of operations and financial condition as of and for the periods presented. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.

Interim financial statements are prepared in accordance with GAAP and pursuant to the requirements for reporting on Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. The current period’s results of operations will not necessarily be indicative of results that ultimately may be achieved for the year ending December 31, 2016 .

Discontinued Operations

As discussed in Note 1 included in these consolidated financial statements, the Company completed the ACRE Capital Sale on September 30, 2016. Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 205-20, Presentation of Financial Statements - Discontinued Operations , defines the criteria required for a disposal transaction to qualify for reporting as a discontinued operation. The Company determined that the ACRE Capital Sale met the criteria for discontinued operations. As a result, the operating results and the assets and liabilities of ACRE Capital, which formerly comprised the Mortgage Banking segment, are presented separately in the Company’s consolidated financial statements as discontinued operations. Net assets and net liabilities related to discontinued operations are included in the line items “Assets of discontinued operations” and “Liabilities of discontinued operations” in the consolidated balance sheets for all periods presented. As of December 31, 2015, the value of ACRE Capital's assets and liabilities are presented at the lower of carrying value or fair value less cost to sell. As of December 31, 2015, the fair value less cost to sell of ACRE Capital's assets and liabilities was greater than the carrying value; therefore, the Company did not recognize any impairment losses when the Company reclassified the assets and liabilities to discontinued operations. The operating results of discontinued operations are included in the line item “Net income from operations of discontinued operations, net of income taxes” in the consolidated statements of operations for all periods presented. Summarized financial information for the discontinued Mortgage Banking segment is shown in Note 13 included in these consolidated financial statements.

Variable Interest Entities

The Company evaluates all of its interests in VIEs for consolidation. When the Company’s interests are determined to be variable interests, the Company assesses whether it is deemed to be the primary beneficiary of the VIE. The primary beneficiary of a VIE is required to consolidate the VIE. FASB ASC Topic 810, Consolidation , defines the primary beneficiary as the party that has both (i) the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact its economic performance, and (ii) the obligation to absorb losses and the right to receive benefits from the VIE which could be potentially significant. The Company considers its variable interests, as well as any variable interests of its related parties in making this determination. Where both of these factors are present, the Company is deemed to be the primary beneficiary and it consolidates the VIE. Where either one of these factors is not present, the Company is not the primary beneficiary and it does not consolidate the VIE.

To assess whether the Company has the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance, the Company considers all facts and circumstances, including its role in establishing the VIE and its ongoing rights and responsibilities. This assessment includes first, identifying the activities that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance; and second, identifying which party, if any, has power over those activities. In general, the parties that make the most significant decisions affecting the VIE or have the right to unilaterally remove those decision makers are deemed to have the power to direct the activities of a VIE.

To assess whether the Company has the obligation to absorb losses of the VIE or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE, the Company considers all of its economic interests, including debt and equity investments, servicing fees, and other arrangements deemed to be variable interests in the VIE. This assessment requires that the Company applies judgment in determining whether these interests, in the aggregate, are considered potentially significant to the VIE. Factors considered in assessing significance include: the design of the VIE, including its capitalization structure; subordination of interests; payment priority; relative share of interests held across various classes within the VIE’s capital structure; and the reasons why the interests are held by the Company.

For VIEs of which the Company is determined to be the primary beneficiary, all of the underlying assets, liabilities, equity, revenue and expenses of the structures are consolidated into the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

The Company performs an ongoing reassessment of: (1) whether any entities previously evaluated under the majority voting interest framework have become VIEs, based on certain events, and therefore are subject to the VIE consolidation framework, and (2) whether changes in the facts and circumstances regarding its involvement with a VIE cause the Company’s consolidation conclusion regarding the VIE to change. See Note 12 included in these consolidated financial statements for further discussion of the Company’s VIEs.

Segment Reporting

The Company previously had two reportable business segments: Principal Lending and Mortgage Banking. As a result of the ACRE Capital Sale, the operations of the Mortgage Banking segment have been reclassified as discontinued operations in all periods presented. The Company now conducts and manages its business as one operating segment, rather than multiple operating segments; therefore, the Company no longer provides segment reporting. See Notes 1 and 13 included in these consolidated financial statements for further discussion of the sale of the Mortgage Banking segment.

Reclassifications

Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation. Amortization of convertible notes issuance costs and accretion of convertible notes have been reclassified into amortization of deferred financing costs in the consolidated statements of cash flows. As of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the Company no longer presents amortization of convertible notes issuance costs and accretion of convertible notes in its consolidated statements of cash flows.

The Company presents, in discontinued operations, the results of operations that have been disposed of for which the disposition represents a strategic shift that has or will have a significant effect on the Company's operations and financial results. As a result of this presentation, retroactive reclassifications that change prior period numbers have been made. See Notes 1 and 13 included in these consolidated financial statements for further discussion of the sale of the Mortgage Banking segment.

Loans Held for Investment

The Company originates CRE debt and related instruments generally to be held for investment. Loans that are held for investment are carried at cost, net of unamortized loan fees and origination costs, unless the loans are deemed impaired. Impairment occurs when it is deemed probable that the Company will not be able to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the loan. If a loan is considered to be impaired, the Company will record an allowance to reduce the carrying value of the loan to the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s contractual effective rate.

Each loan classified as held for investment is evaluated for impairment on a quarterly basis. Loans are collateralized by real estate. The extent of any credit deterioration associated with the performance and/or value of the underlying collateral property and the financial and operating capability of the borrower could impact the expected amounts received. The Company monitors performance of its investment portfolio under the following methodology: (1) borrower review, which analyzes the borrower’s ability to execute on its original business plan, reviews its financial condition, assesses pending litigation and considers its general level of responsiveness and cooperation; (2) economic review, which considers underlying collateral (i.e. leasing performance, unit sales and cash flow of the collateral and its ability to cover debt service, as well as the residual loan balance at maturity); (3) property review, which considers current environmental risks, changes in insurance costs or coverage, current site visibility, capital expenditures and market perception; and (4) market review, which analyzes the collateral from a supply and demand perspective of similar property types, as well as from a capital markets perspective. Such impairment analyses are completed and reviewed by asset management and finance personnel who utilize various data sources, including periodic financial data such as property occupancy, tenant profile, rental rates, operating expenses, and the borrower’s exit plan, among other factors.

In addition, the Company evaluates the entire portfolio to determine whether the portfolio has any impairment that requires a valuation allowance on the remainder of the loan portfolio. As of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 , the Company did not recognize any impairment charges with respect to its loans held for investment.

Loans are generally placed on non-accrual status when principal or interest payments are past due 30 days or more or when there is reasonable doubt that principal or interest will be collected in full. Accrued and unpaid interest is generally reversed against interest income in the period the loan is placed on non-accrual status. Interest payments received on non-accrual loans may be recognized as income or applied to principal depending upon management’s judgment regarding the borrower's ability to make pending principal and interest payments. Non-accrual loans are restored to accrual status when past

due principal and interest are paid and, in management’s judgment, are likely to remain current. The Company may make exceptions to placing a loan on non-accrual status if the loan has sufficient collateral value and is in the process of collection.

Preferred equity investments, which are subordinate to any loans but senior to common equity, are accounted for as loans held for investment and are carried at cost, net of unamortized loan fees and origination costs, unless the loans are deemed impaired, and are included within loans held for investment in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. The Company accretes or amortizes any discounts or premiums over the life of the related loan held for investment utilizing the effective interest method.

Revenue Recognition

Interest income from loans held for investment is accrued based on the outstanding principal amount and the contractual terms of each loan. For loans held for investment, origination fees, contractual exit fees and direct loan origination costs are also recognized in interest income from loans held for investment over the initial loan term as a yield adjustment using the effective interest method.

A reconciliation of the Company's interest income from loans held for investment, excluding non-controlling interests, to the Company's interest income from loans held for investment as included within its consolidated statements of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 is as follows ($ in thousands):



	For the three months ended September 30,				For the nine months ended September 30,
	2016		2015		2016		2015
Interest income from loans held for investment, excluding non-controlling interests	$	19,473	$	18,618	$	54,573	$	58,251
Interest income from non-controlling interest investment held by third parties	1,303		2,331		3,882		6,880
Interest income from loans held for investment	$	20,776	$	20,949	$	58,455	$	65,131

Net Interest Margin and Interest Expense

Net interest margin within the consolidated statements of operations serves to measure the performance of the Company's loans held for investment as compared to its use of debt leverage. The Company includes interest income from its loans held for investment and interest expense related to its Secured Funding Agreements, securitizations debt, the Secured Term Loan and the 2015 Convertible Notes (individually defined in Note 4 included in these consolidated financial statements) in net interest margin. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 , interest expense is comprised of the following ($ in thousands):



	For the three months ended September 30,				For the nine months ended September 30,
	2016		2015		2016		2015
Secured funding agreements and securitizations debt	$	6,914	$	7,063	$	20,339	$	22,737
Secured term loan	2,104		—		5,619		—
Convertible notes	—		1,644		—		4,849
Interest expense	$	9,018	$	8,707	$	25,958	$	27,586

Comprehensive Income

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 , comprehensive income equaled net income; therefore, a separate consolidated statement of comprehensive income is not included in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) . The guidance in this ASU supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in Revenue Recognition (Topic 605) . Under the new guidance, an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to

customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The amendments in ASU No. 2014-09 are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within that reporting period. In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-08, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Principal Versus Agent Considerations , which clarifies the guidance in ASU No. 2014-09 and has the same effective date as the original standard. In April 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-10, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing , an update on identifying performance obligations and accounting for licenses of intellectual property. Additionally, in May 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-12, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients , which includes amendments for enhanced clarification of the guidance. Early application is permitted only as of annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim reporting periods within that reporting period. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this ASU on its consolidated financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) . The guidance in this ASU supersedes the leasing guidance in Leases (Topic 840) . Under the new guidance, lessees are required to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet for those leases previously classified as operating leases. The amendments in ASU No. 2016-02 are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within that reporting period, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this ASU on its consolidated financial statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting . The standard is intended to simplify several areas of accounting for share-based compensation arrangements, including the income tax impact, classification on the statement of cash flows and forfeitures. ASU No. 2016-09 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within that reporting period, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this ASU on its consolidated financial statements.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments . The standard will replace the incurred loss impairment methodology pursuant to GAAP with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates. ASU No. 2016-13 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within that reporting period, with early adoption permitted after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within that reporting period. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this ASU on its consolidated financial statements.

3. LOANS HELD FOR INVESTMENT

As of September 30, 2016 , the Company had originated or co-originated 34 loans held for investment, excluding 42 loans that were repaid or sold since inception. The aggregate originated commitment under these loans at closing was approximately $1.6 billion and outstanding principal was $1.4 billion , excluding non-controlling interests held by third parties, as of September 30, 2016 . During the nine months ended September 30, 2016 , the Company funded approximately $784.3 million of outstanding principal and received repayments of $481.2 million of outstanding principal, excluding non-controlling interests held by third parties, as described in more detail in the tables below. Such investments are referred to herein as the Company’s "investment portfolio." As of September 30, 2016 , 81.2% of the Company’s loans have London Interbank Offered Rates ("LIBOR") floors, with a weighted average floor of 0.36% , calculated based on loans with LIBOR floors. References to LIBOR or “L” are to 30-day LIBOR (unless otherwise specifically stated).

The Company’s investments in loans held for investment are accounted for at amortized cost. The following tables summarize the Company’s loans held for investment as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 ($ in thousands):



	As of September 30, 2016
	Carrying Amount (1)		Outstanding Principal (1)		Weighted Average Interest Rate		Weighted Average Unleveraged Effective Yield (2)		Weighted Average Remaining Life (Years)
Senior mortgage loans	$	1,263,459	$	1,271,000	4.7	%	5.4	%	1.9
Subordinated debt and preferred equity investments	163,882		165,977		10.7	%	11.2	%	4.9
Total loans held for investment portfolio (excluding non-controlling interests held by third parties)	$	1,427,341	$	1,436,977	5.4	%	6.1	%	2.2



	As of December 31, 2015
	Carrying Amount (1)		Outstanding Principal (1)		Weighted Average Interest Rate		Weighted Average Unleveraged Effective Yield (2)		Weighted Average Remaining Life (Years)
Senior mortgage loans	$	961,395	$	965,578	4.4	%	5.1	%	1.4
Subordinated debt and preferred equity investments	166,417		168,264		10.6	%	11.2	%	5.1
Total loans held for investment portfolio (excluding non-controlling interests held by third parties)	$	1,127,812	$	1,133,842	5.3	%	6.0	%	1.9

_______________________________________________________________________________

(1)

The difference between the Carrying Amount and the Outstanding Principal face amount of the loans held for investment consists of unamortized purchase discount, deferred loan fees and loan origination costs. The tables above exclude non-controlling interests held by third parties. A reconciliation of the Carrying Amount of loans held for investment portfolio, excluding non-controlling interests, to the Carrying Amount of loans held for investment, as included within the Company's consolidated balance sheets, is presented below.

(2)

Unleveraged Effective Yield is the compounded effective rate of return that would be earned over the life of the investment based on the contractual interest rate (adjusted for any deferred loan fees, costs, premium or discount) and assumes no dispositions, early prepayments or defaults. The Total Weighted Average Unleveraged Effective Yield is calculated based on the average of Unleveraged Effective Yield of all loans held by the Company as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 as weighted by the Outstanding Principal balance of each loan.

A reconciliation of the Company's loans held for investment portfolio, excluding non-controlling interests held by third parties, to the Company's loans held for investment as included within its consolidated balance sheets is as follows ($ in thousands):



	As of September 30, 2016
	Carrying Amount		Outstanding Principal
Total loans held for investment portfolio (excluding non-controlling interests held by third parties)	$	1,427,341	$	1,436,977
Non-controlling interest investment held by third parties	46,579		46,579
Loans held for investment	$	1,473,920	$	1,483,556



	As of December 31, 2015
	Carrying Amount		Outstanding Principal
Total loans held for investment portfolio (excluding non-controlling interests held by third parties)	$	1,127,812	$	1,133,842
Non-controlling interest investment held by third parties	46,579		46,579
Loans held for investment	$	1,174,391	$	1,180,421

A more detailed listing of the Company’s investment portfolio, excluding non-controlling interests, based on information available as of September 30, 2016 is as follows ($ in millions, except percentages):

Loan Type

Location

Outstanding Principal (1)

Carrying Amount (1)

Interest Rate

Unleveraged Effective Yield (2)

Maturity Date (3)

Payment Terms (4)

Senior Mortgage Loans:

Various

(5)

Diversified

$159.2

$157.7

L+4.35%

5.6%

Oct 2018

I/O

Various

(6)

Diversified

98.9

97.9

L+4.75%

6.0%

Oct 2018

I/O

Multifamily

89.7

89.2

L+4.75%

5.8%

Sep 2019

I/O

Office

84.4

84.3

L+5.00%

6.3%

Jan 2017

I/O

Retail

75.9

75.7

L+4.00%

4.9%

Aug 2017

I/O

Mixed-use

65.6

65.2

L+4.16%

5.1%

Apr 2019

I/O

Office

57.5

56.9

L+4.40%

5.5%

Aug 2019

I/O

Hotel

56.0

55.6

L+4.75%

6.0%

Feb 2019

I/O

Office

53.2

52.5

L+3.99%

5.0%

Aug 2019

I/O

Multifamily

45.4

45.1

L+4.75%

5.8%

Sep 2019

I/O

Healthcare

41.6

L+5.00%

6.0%

Dec 2016

I/O

Office

36.7

L+3.65%

4.3%

Oct 2017

I/O

Hotel

36.5

36.3

L+4.75%

5.7%

June 2018

I/O

Hotel

35.2

L+4.15%

4.9%

July 2017

I/O

Multifamily

34.1

33.8

L+4.75%

5.8%

Oct 2019

I/O

Industrial

32.5

32.4

L+4.20%

5.0%

May 2018

I/O

(7)

Retail

30.4

30.2

L+3.25%

4.2%

Sep 2018

I/O

Office

29.4

29.2

L+3.75%

4.7%

Oct 2018

I/O

Multifamily

29.2

29.1

L+3.75%

4.7%

Oct 2017

I/O

Mixed-use

28.4

L+4.25%

5.1%

Aug 2017

I/O

Multifamily

24.9

24.8

L+3.80%

4.5%

Jan 2019

I/O

Multifamily

22.1

22.0

L+4.25%

5.5%

Sep 2017

(8)

I/O

Multifamily

19.8

19.5

L+4.25%

5.5%

Feb 2019

I/O

Office

19.6

19.4

L+4.70%

5.7%

Mar 2020

I/O

Office

19.5

19.4

L+3.95%

4.9%

Dec 2017

I/O

Multifamily

15.3

L+3.85%

4.7%

Nov 2017

I/O

Mixed-use

15.1

15.0

L+3.95%

5.1%

Sep 2017

I/O

Office

14.9

15.0

L+4.50%

5.0%

July 2018

I/O

Subordinated Debt and Preferred Equity Investments:

Various

(9)

Diversified

48.5

47.5

10.95%

11.7%

Dec 2024

I/O

Multifamily

GA/FL

36.0

35.7

L+11.85%

(10)

12.6%

June 2021

I/O

Multifamily

33.3

33.2

L+8.07%

8.9%

Jan 2019

I/O

Office

17.0

16.3

12.00%

12.8%

Jan 2026

I/O

(7)

Mixed-use

16.9

11.50%

(11)

12.1%

Nov 2016

I/O

Office

14.3

9.50%

9.5%

Aug 2017

I/O

Total/Weighted Average

$1,437.0

$1,427.3

6.1%

_______________________________________________________________________________


(1)	The difference between the Carrying Amount and the Outstanding Principal amount of the loans held for investment consists of unamortized purchase discount, deferred loan fees and loan origination costs.

(2)

Unleveraged Effective Yield is the compounded effective rate of return that would be earned over the life of the investment based on the contractual interest rate (adjusted for any deferred loan fees, costs, premium or discount) and assumes no dispositions, early prepayments or defaults. Unleveraged Effective Yield for each loan is calculated based on LIBOR as of September 30, 2016 or the LIBOR floor, as applicable. The Weighted Average Unleveraged Effective Yield is calculated based on the average of Unleveraged Effective Yield of all loans held by the Company as of September 30, 2016 as weighted by the Outstanding Principal balance of each loan.

(3)

Certain loans are subject to contractual extension options that vary between one and two 12-month extensions and may be subject to performance based or other conditions as stipulated in the loan agreement. Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities stated herein as certain borrowers may have the right to prepay with or without paying a prepayment penalty. The Company may also extend contractual maturities in connection with loan modifications.


(4)	I/O = interest only, P/I = principal and interest.


(5)	The senior mortgage loan, which had an outstanding principal balance of $159.2 million as of September 30, 2016 , is collateralized by a portfolio of assets comprised of self-storage, retail and office properties.


(6)	The senior mortgage loan, which had an outstanding principal balance of $ 98.9 million as of September 30, 2016 , is collateralized by a portfolio of assets comprised of self-storage and retail properties.


(7)	In May 2017, amortization will begin on the senior Ohio loan, which had an outstanding principal balance of $ 32.5 million as of September 30, 2016 . In February 2021, amortization will begin on the subordinated New Jersey loan,

which had an outstanding principal balance of $17.0 million as of September 30, 2016 . The remainder of the loans in the Company’s portfolio are non-amortizing through their primary terms.


(8)	In June 2016, the Company extended the maturity date on the senior Arizona loan to September 2017 in accordance with the loan agreement.


(9)	The preferred equity investment is in an entity whose assets are comprised of multifamily, student housing and medical office properties.


(10)	The preferred return is L+ 11.85% with 2.00% as payment-in-kind ("PIK"), to the extent cash flow is not available. There is no capped dollar amount on accrued PIK.


(11)	The interest rate is 11.50% with a 9.00% current pay and up to a capped dollar amount as PIK based on the borrower’s election. In July 2015, the Company entered into an amendment to increase the loan commitment and outstanding principal by $ 650 thousand at an interest rate of 15.00% on the increased commitment and outstanding principal only.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2016 , the activity in the Company's loan portfolio was as follows ($ in thousands):



Balance at December 31, 2015	$	1,174,391
Initial funding	756,392
Origination fees and discounts, net of costs	(7,323		)
Additional funding	27,951
Amortizing payments	(463		)
Loan payoffs	(480,745		)
Origination fee accretion	3,717
Balance at September 30, 2016	$	1,473,920

No imp airment charges have been recognized during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 .

4. DEBT

Financing Agreements

The Company borrows funds under the Wells Fargo Facility, the Citibank Facility, the BAML Facility, the CNB Facilities, the MetLife Facility, the UBS Facilities and the U.S. Bank Facility (individually defined below and collectively, the "Secured Funding Agreements") and the Secured Term Loan (defined below). The Company refers to the Secured Funding Agreements and the Secured Term Loan as the “Financing Agreements.” As of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 , the outstanding balances and total commitments under the Financing Agreements consisted of the following ($ in thousands):




	September 30, 2016						December 31, 2015
	Outstanding Balance			Total Commitment			Outstanding Balance		Total Commitment
Wells Fargo Facility	$	229,255		$	325,000		$	101,473	$	225,000
Citibank Facility	319,925			250,000		(1)	112,827		250,000
BAML Facility	77,679			125,000		(2)	—		50,000
March 2014 CNB Facility	—			50,000			—		50,000
July 2014 CNB Facility	—		(3)	—		(3)	66,200		75,000
MetLife Facility	111,999			180,000			109,474		180,000
April 2014 UBS Facility	82,004			140,000			75,558		140,000
December 2014 UBS Facility	—		(4)	—		(4)	57,243		57,243
U.S. Bank Facility	58,240			125,000		(5)	—		—
Secured Term Loan	155,000			155,000			75,000		155,000
Total	$	1,034,102		$	1,350,000		$	597,775	$	1,182,243

______________________________________________________________________________


(1)	In July 2016, the Company entered into an amendment to the CitiBank Facility (defined below), which added an accordion feature that provides for an increase in the $250.0 million commitment amount with respect to approved assets, as determined by Citibank, N.A. in its sole discretion.


(2)	In August 2016, the Company amended and restated the existing BAML Facility (defined below) to increase its commitment size from $50.0 million to $125.0 million .


(3)	The July 2014 CNB Facility (defined below) has been repaid in full and its terms were not extended.


(4)	The December 2014 UBS Facility (defined below) has been repaid in full and its terms were not extended.


(5)	In August 2016, the Company entered into a $ 125.0 million master repurchase and securities contract with U.S. Bank (defined below).

Some of the Company's Financing Agreements are collateralized by (i) assignments of specific loans, preferred equity or a pool of loans held for investment or loans held for sale owned by the Company, (ii) interests in the subordinated portion of the Company's securitization debt, or (iii) interests in wholly owned entity subsidiaries that hold the Company's loans held for investment. The Company is the borrower or guarantor under each of the Financing Agreements. Generally, the Company partially offsets interest rate risk by matching the interest index of loans held for investment with the Secured Funding Agreements used to fund them. The Company's Financing Agreements contain various affirmative and negative covenants, including negative pledges, and provisions regarding events of default that are normal and customary for similar financing arrangements.

Wells Fargo Facility

The Company is party to a master repurchase funding facility arranged by Wells Fargo Bank, National Association ("Wells Fargo") (the “Wells Fargo Facility”), which allows the Company to borrow up to $325.0 million. In June 2016, the Company amended the Wells Fargo Facility to increase the facility's size from $225.0 million to $325.0 million and extend the initial maturity date to December 14, 2017. The Company has two 12 -month extensions at its option assuming no existing defaults under the Wells Fargo Facility and applicable extension fees being paid. Under the Wells Fargo Facility, the Company is permitted to sell, and later repurchase, certain qualifying senior commercial mortgage loans, A-Notes, pari passu participations in commercial mortgage loans and mezzanine loans under certain circumstances, subject to available collateral approved by Wells Fargo in its sole discretion. Beginning on December 14, 2015, new advances under the Wells Fargo Facility accrue interest at a per annum rate equal to the sum of (i) 30 day LIBOR plus (ii) a pricing margin range of 1.75% to 2.35% . Advances on loans made prior to December 14, 2015 under the Wells Fargo Facility continue to accrue interest at a per annum rate equal to the sum of (i) 30 day LIBOR plus (ii) a pricing margin range of 2.00% to 2.50% . The Company incurs a non-utilization fee of 25 basis points on the daily available balance of the Wells Fargo Facility to the extent less than 75% of the Wells Fargo Facility is utilized. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 , the Company incurred a non-utilization fee of $132 thousand and $278 thousand, respectively. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, the Company incurred a non-utilization fee of $65 thousand and $120 thousand, respectively.

Citibank Facility

The Company is party to a $250.0 million master repurchase facility (the “Citibank Facility”) with Citibank, N.A. Under the Citibank Facility, the Company is permitted to sell and later repurchase certain qualifying senior commercial mortgage loans and A-Notes approved by Citibank, N.A. in its sole discretion. In July 2016, the Company amended the CitiBank Facility to add an accordion feature that provides for an increase in the $250.0 million commitment amount with respect to approved assets, as determined by Citibank, N.A. in its sole discretion. Advances under the Citibank Facility accrue interest at a per annum rate equal to 30 day LIBOR plus a pricing margin range of 2.00% to 2.50% , subject to certain exceptions. The initial maturity date of the Citibank Facility is December 8, 2016, subject to three 12 -month extensions at the Company's option assuming no existing defaults under the Citibank Facility and applicable extension fees being paid. The Company incurs a non-utilization fee of 25 basis points on the daily available balance of the Citibank Facility. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 , the Company incurred a non-utilization fee of $ 3 thousand and $ 95 thousand, respectively. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, the Company incurred a non-utilization fee of $88 thousand and $282 thousand, respectively.

BAML Facility

The Company is party to a $125.0 million Bridge Loan Warehousing Credit and Security Agreement (the “BAML Facility”) with Bank of America, N.A. Under the BAML Facility, the Company may obtain advances secured by eligible commercial mortgage loans collateralized by multifamily properties. Bank of America, N.A. may approve the loans on which advances are made under the BAML Facility in its sole discretion. In August 2016, the Company amended and restated the

existing BAML Facility to increase its commitment size from $50.0 million to $125.0 million . The Company also amended the BAML Facility so that the Company may obtain advances secured by eligible commercial mortgage loans collateralized by general and affordable multifamily properties. In May 2016, the Company amended the BAML Facility to extend the period during which the Company may request individual loans under the facility to May 25, 2017. Individual advances under the BAML Facility generally have a two -year maturity, subject to one 12 -month extension at the Company's option upon the satisfaction of certain conditions and applicable extension fees being paid. In addition, in May 2016, the final maturity date of individual loans under the BAML Facility was extended to May 25, 2020. Advances under the BAML Facility accrue interest at a per annum rate equal to one-month LIBOR plus a spread ranging from 2.25% to 2.75% depending upon the type of asset securing such advance. The Company incurs a non-utilization fee of 12.5 basis points on the average daily available balance of the BAML Facility. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 , the Company incurred a non-utilization fee of $ 20 thousand and $ 52 thousand, respectively. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, the Company incurred a non-utilization fee of $16 thousand and $21 thousand, respectively.

City National Bank Facilities

March 2014 CNB Facility

The Company is party to a $50.0 million secured revolving funding facility with City National Bank (the “March 2014 CNB Facility”). The Company is permitted to borrow funds under the March 2014 CNB Facility to finance investments and for other working capital and general corporate needs. In February 2016, the Company amended the March 2014 CNB Facility to extend the initial maturity date to March 11, 2017. The Company has one 12 -month extension at its option provided that certain conditions are met and applicable extension fees are paid, which, if exercised, would extend the final maturity of the March 2014 CNB Facility to March 10, 2018. Advances under the March 2014 CNB Facility accrue interest at a per annum rate equal to the sum of, at the Company’s option, either (a) LIBOR for a one, two, three, six or, if available to all lenders, 12 month interest period plus 3.00% or (b) a base rate (which is the highest of a prime rate, the federal funds rate plus 0.50% , or one month LIBOR plus 1.00% ) plus 1.25% ; provided that in no event shall the interest rate be less than 3.00% . Unless at least 75% of the March 2014 CNB Facility is used on average, unused commitments under the March 2014 CNB Facility accrue unused line fees at the rate of 0.375% per annum. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 , the Company incurred a non-utilization fee of $ 28 thousand and $ 74 thousand, respectively. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, the Company incurred a non-utilization fee of $46 thousand and $130 thousand, respectively.

July 2014 CNB Facility

The Company and certain of its subsidiaries were party to a $75.0 million revolving funding facility (the “July 2014 CNB Facility” and together with the March 2014 CNB Facility, the "CNB Facilities") with City National Bank. The Company was permitted to borrow funds under the July 2014 CNB Facility to finance investments and for other working capital and general corporate needs. In July 2016, the Company amended the July 2014 CNB Facility to extend the maturity date to September 30, 2016. Advances under the July 2014 CNB Facility accrued interest at a per annum rate equal, at the Company’s option, to either (a) LIBOR for a one, two, three, six or, if available to all lenders, 12 month interest period plus 1.50% or (b) a base rate (which was the highest of a prime rate, the federal funds rate plus 0.50% , or one month LIBOR plus 1.00% ) plus 0.25% ; provided that in no event shall the interest rate be less than 1.50% . Unless at least 75% of the July 2014 CNB Facility was used on average, unused commitments under the July 2014 CNB Facility accrued unused line fees at the rate of 0.125% per annum. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 , the Company incurred a non-utilization fee of $ 13 thousand and $ 40 thousand, respectively. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, the Company did not incur a non-utilization fee. On September 30, 2016, the July 2014 CNB Facility was repaid in full and its terms were not extended. See Note 10 included in these consolidated financial statements for more information on a credit support fee agreement.

MetLife Facility

The Company and certain of its subsidiaries are party to a $180.0 million revolving master repurchase facility (the “MetLife Facility”) with Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (“MetLife”), pursuant to which the Company may sell, and later repurchase, commercial mortgage loans meeting defined eligibility criteria which are approved by MetLife in its sole discretion. The initial maturity date of the MetLife Facility is August 12, 2017, subject to two 12 -month extensions at the Company’s option provided that certain conditions are met and applicable extension fees are paid. Advances under the MetLife Facility accrue interest at a per annum rate of 30 day LIBOR plus 2.35% . The Company will pay MetLife, if applicable, an annual make-whole fee equal to the amount by which the aggregate price differential paid over the term of the MetLife Facility is less than the defined minimum price differential, unless certain conditions are met.

UBS Facilities

April 2014 UBS Facility

The Company is party to a $140.0 million revolving master repurchase facility (the “April 2014 UBS Facility”) with UBS Real Estate Securities Inc. (“UBS”), pursuant to which the Company may sell, and later repurchase, commercial mortgage loans and, under certain circumstances, other assets meeting defined eligibility criteria that are approved by UBS in its sole discretion. The maturity date of the April 2014 UBS Facility is October 21, 2018, subject to annual extensions in UBS' sole discretion. The price differential (or interest rate) on the April 2014 UBS Facility is one-month LIBOR plus (a) 1.88% per annum, for assets that are subject to an advance for one year or less, (b) 2.08% per annum, for assets that are subject to an advance in excess of one year but less than two years, and (c) 2.28% per annum, for assets that are subject to an advance for greater than two years; in each case, excluding amortization of commitment and exit fees. Upon termination of the April 2014 UBS Facility, the Company will pay UBS, if applicable, the amount by which the aggregate price differential paid over the term of the April 2014 UBS Facility is less than the defined minimum price differential and an exit fee, in each case, unless certain conditions are met.

December 2014 UBS Facility

The Company was party to a global master repurchase agreement (the “December 2014 UBS Facility,” and together with the April 2014 UBS Facility, the "UBS Facilities") with UBS AG, pursuant to which the Company sold, and later repurchased, certain retained subordinate notes in the Company's CMBS securitization for an aggregate purchase price equal to $57.2 million. The scheduled repurchase date of the December 2014 UBS Facility was July 6, 2016. The transaction fee (or interest rate), which was payable monthly on the December 2014 UBS Facility, was equal to one-month LIBOR plus 2.74% per annum on the outstanding amount. On June 17, 2016, the December 2014 UBS Facility was repaid in full and its terms were not extended. See Note 12 included in these consolidated financial statements for information on the termination of the CMBS securitization.

U.S. Bank Facility

On August 1, 2016, a subsidiary of the Company entered into a $125.0 million master repurchase and securities contract (the "U.S. Bank Facility") with U.S. Bank National Association (“U.S. Bank”). Pursuant to the U.S. Bank Facility, the Company is permitted to sell, and later repurchase, eligible commercial mortgage loans collateralized by retail, office, mixed-use, multifamily, industrial, hospitality, student housing, manufactured housing or self-storage properties. U.S. Bank may approve the mortgage loans that are subject to the U.S. Bank Facility in its sole discretion. The initial maturity date of the U.S. Bank Facility is July 31, 2019, and the facility is subject to two 12 -month extensions at the Company’s option upon the satisfaction of certain conditions, including the payment of an extension fee. Advances under the U.S. Bank Facility accrue interest at a per annum rate equal to one-month LIBOR plus a spread of 2.25% , unless otherwise agreed between U.S. Bank and the Company, depending upon the mortgage loan sold to U.S. Bank in the applicable transaction. The Company incurs a non-utilization fee of 6.25 basis points on the average daily available balance of the U.S. Bank Facility to the extent less than 50% of the U.S. Bank Facility is utilized. For both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 , the Company incurred a non-utilization fee of $8 thousand .

Secured Term Loan

The Company and certain of its subsidiaries are party to a $155.0 million Credit and Guaranty Agreement (the "Secured Term Loan") with Highbridge Principal Strategies, LLC, as administrative agent, and DBD Credit Funding LLC, as collateral agent. The Company made an initial draw of $75.0 million on December 9, 2015, the closing date. The Company drew the remaining $80.0 million of the Secured Term Loan on September 9, 2016. The Secured Term Loan bears interest at a rate of LIBOR plus 6.0% with a LIBOR floor of 1.0% on drawn amounts. The Secured Term Loan has a maturity date of December 9, 2018. The Company was subject to a monthly non-utilization fee equal to 1.0% per annum on the unused commitment amount during the nine -month commitment period following the closing date for which the $80.0 million of the Secured Term Loan was not utilized. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 , the Company incurred a non-utilization fee of $ 156 thousand and $ 560 thousand, respectively. The total original issue discount on the Secured Term Loan draws was $ 2.3 million, which represents a discount to the debt cost to be amortized into interest expense using the effective interest method over the term of the Secured Term Loan. The estimated effective interest rate of the Secured Term Loan, which is equal to LIBOR (subject to a floor of 1.0% ) plus the stated rate of 6.0% plus the accretion of the original issue discount and associated costs, was 8.5% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 .

2015 Convertible Notes

In December 2012, the Company issued $69.0 million aggregate principal amount of unsecured 7.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2015 (the "2015 Convertible Notes"). The 2015 Convertible Notes bore interest at a rate of 7.00% per year, payable semiannually in arrears on June 15 and December 15 of each year, beginning on June 15, 2013. The effective interest rate of the 2015 Convertible Notes, which was equal to the stated rate of 7.00% plus the accretion of the original issue discount and associated costs, was 9.4% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, the interest expense incurred on the 2015 Convertible Notes was $1.6 million and $4.8 million, respectively. The 2015 Convertible Notes matured on December 15, 2015 and were fully repaid at par.

5. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

As of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 , the Company had the following commitments to fund various senior mortgage loans, subordinated debt investments, as well as preferred equity investments accounted for as loans held for investment ($ in thousands):



	As of
	September 30, 2016			December 31, 2015
Total commitments	$	1,531,568		$	1,232,163
Less: funded commitments	(1,436,977		)	(1,133,842		)
Total unfunded commitments	$	94,591		$	98,321

The Company from time to time may be party to litigation relating to claims arising in the normal course of business. As of September 30, 2016 , the Company is not aware of any legal claims that could materially impact its business, financial condition or results of operations.

6. EQUITY

Stock Buyback Program

In May 2015, the Company announced that the Company's board of directors authorized the Company to repurchase up to $20.0 million of the Company's outstanding common stock over a period of one year (the "Stock Buyback Program"). In February 2016, the Company's board of directors increased the size of the existing $20.0 million Stock Buyback Program to $30.0 million and extended the Stock Buyback Program through March 31, 2017. Purchases made pursuant to the Stock Buyback Program will be made in either the open market or in privately negotiated transactions, from time to time and as permitted by federal securities laws and other legal requirements. Repurchases may be suspended or discontinued at any time. In connection with this Stock Buyback Program, in March 2016, the Company entered into a Rule 10b5-1 plan to repurchase shares of the Company’s common stock in accordance with certain parameters set forth in the Stock Buyback Program. During the nine months ended September 30, 2016 , the Company repurchased a total of 129,916 shares of the Company's common stock in the open market for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $ 1.4 million, including expenses paid. The shares were repurchased at an average price of $ 11.06 per share, including expenses paid.

Common Stock

There were no shares issued in public or private offerings for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 . See "Equity Incentive Plan" below for shares issued under the plan.

Equity Incentive Plan

On April 23, 2012, the Company adopted an equity incentive plan (the “2012 Equity Incentive Plan”). Pursuant to the 2012 Equity Incentive Plan, the Company may grant awards consisting of restricted shares of the Company’s common stock, restricted stock units and/or other equity-based awards to the Company’s outside directors, employees, officers, ACREM and other eligible awardees under the plan, subject to an aggregate limitation of 690,000 shares of common stock ( 7.5% of the issued and outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock immediately after giving effect to the issuance of the shares sold in the IPO). Any restricted shares of the Company’s common stock and restricted stock units will be accounted for under FASB ASC Topic 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation , resulting in share-based compensation expense equal to the grant date fair value of the underlying restricted shares of common stock or restricted stock units.

Restricted stock grants generally vest ratably over a one to four year period from the vesting start date. The grantee receives additional compensation for each outstanding restricted stock grant, classified as dividends paid, equal to the per-share dividends received by common stockholders.

The following table details the restricted stock grants awarded as of September 30, 2016 :



Grant Date	Vesting Start Date	Shares Granted
May 1, 2012	July 1, 2012	35,135
June 18, 2012	July 1, 2012	7,027
July 9, 2012	October 1, 2012	25,000
June 26, 2013	July 1, 2013	22,526
November 25, 2013	November 25, 2016	30,381
January 31, 2014	August 31, 2015	48,273
February 26, 2014	February 26, 2014	12,030
February 27, 2014	August 27, 2014	22,354
June 24, 2014	June 24, 2014	17,658
June 24, 2015	July 1, 2015	25,555
April 25, 2016	July 1, 2016	10,000
June 27, 2016	July 1, 2016	24,680
Total		280,619

The following tables summarize the non-vested shares of restricted stock and the vesting schedule of shares of restricted stock for the Company's directors and officers and employees of ACRE Capital as of September 30, 2016 :

Schedule of Non-Vested Share and Share Equivalents



	Restricted Stock Grants—Directors		Restricted Stock Grants—Officer		Restricted Stock Grants—Employees		Total
Balance at December 31, 2015	16,945		4,686		62,563		84,194
Granted	34,680		—		—		34,680
Vested	(20,996	)	(4,686	)	(32,182	)	(57,864	)
Forfeited	(1,277	)	—		(30,381	)	(31,658	)
Balance at September 30, 2016	29,352		—		—		29,352

Future Anticipated Vesting Schedule



	Restricted Stock Grants—Directors	Restricted Stock Grants—Officer	Restricted Stock Grants—Employees	Total
2016	7,838	—	—	7,838
2017	16,510	—	—	16,510
2018	3,336	—	—	3,336
2019	1,668	—	—	1,668
2020	—	—	—	—
Total	29,352	—	—	29,352

Non-Controlling Interests

The non-controlling interests held by third parties in the Company's consolidated balance sheets represent the equity interests in a limited liability company, ACRC KA Investor LLC ("ACRC KA") that are not owned by the Company. A portion of ACRC KA's consolidated equity and net income are allocated to these non-controlling interests held by third parties based on

their pro-rata ownership of ACRC KA. As of both September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 , ACRC KA's total equity was $ 96.0 million, of which $ 49.0 million was owned by the Company and $ 47.0 million was allocated to non-controlling interests held by third parties. See Note 12 included in these consolidated financial state ments for more information on ACRC KA.

7. EARNINGS PER SHARE

The following information sets forth the computations of basic and diluted earnings per common share from continuing operations and discontinued operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 ($ in thousands, except share and per share data):



	For the three months ended September 30,				For the nine months ended September 30,
	2016		2015		2016		2015
Net income from continuing operations, less non-controlling interests	$	6,380	$	6,402	$	17,854	$	20,390
Net income from discontinued operations, including gain on sale of discontinued operations	$	12,062	$	2,977	$	14,417	$	5,018
Divided by:
Basic weighted average shares of common stock outstanding:	28,428,766		28,505,729		28,462,143		28,493,989
Non-vested restricted stock	84,371		103,921		74,778		99,507
Diluted weighted average shares of common stock outstanding:	28,513,137		28,609,650		28,536,921		28,593,496
Basic earnings per common share (1):
Continuing operations	$	0.22	$	0.22	$	0.63	$	0.72
Discontinued operations	0.42		0.10		0.51		0.18
Net income	$	0.65	$	0.33	$	1.13	$	0.89
Diluted earnings per common share (1):
Continuing operations	$	0.22	$	0.22	$	0.63	$	0.71
Discontinued operations	0.42		0.10		0.51		0.18
Net income	$	0.65	$	0.33	$	1.13	$	0.89

______________________________________________________________________________

(1)

The Company has considered the impact of the 2015 Convertible Notes and the restricted shares on diluted earnings per common share. The number of shares of common stock that the 2015 Convertible Notes are convertible into were not included in the computation of diluted net income per common share because the inclusion of those shares would have been anti-dilutive for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015.

8. INCOME TAX

In December 2013 and March 2014, the Company formed two taxable REIT subsidiaries ("TRS"), ACRC Lender W TRS LLC and ACRC Lender U TRS LLC, in order to issue and hold certain loans intended for sale. The TRS’ income tax provision consisted of the following for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 ($ in thousands):



	For the three months ended September 30,				For the nine months ended September 30,
	2016		2015		2016		2015
Current	$	4	$	3	$	11	$	(15	)
Deferred	—		—		—		—
Excise tax	157		—		157		—
Total income tax expense (benefit), including excise tax	$	161	$	3	$	168	$	(15	)

The TRS’ recognize interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits within income tax expense in the consolidated statements of operations. Accrued interest and penalties, if any, are included within other liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets.

For both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 , the Company recorded an expense of $ 157 thousand for U.S. federal excise tax. Excise tax represents a 4% tax on the required amount of the Company’s ordinary income and net capital gains not distributed during the year. The quarterly expense is calculated in accordance with applicable tax regulations.

The following table is a reconciliation of the TRS' statutory U.S. federal income tax rate to the TRS' effective tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 :



	For the three months ended September 30,				For the nine months ended September 30,
	2016		2015		2016		2015
Federal statutory rate	35.0	%	35.0	%	35.0	%	35.0	%
State income taxes	4.4	%	3.6	%	4.4	%	3.6	%
Federal benefit of state tax deduction	(1.5	)%	(1.3	)%	(1.5	)%	(1.3	)%
Effective tax rate	37.9	%	37.3	%	37.9	%	37.3	%

As of September 30, 2016 , tax years 2012 through 2015 remain subject to examination by taxing authorities. The Company does not have any unrecognized tax benefits and the Company does not expect that to change in the next 12 months.

9. FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

The Company follows FASB ASC Topic 820-10, Fair Value Measurement (“ASC 820-10”), which expands the application of fair value accounting. ASC 820-10 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in accordance with GAAP and expands disclosure requirements for fair value measurements. ASC 820-10 determines fair value to be the price that would be received for a financial instrument in a current sale, which assumes an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. ASC 820-10 specifies a hierarchy of valuation techniques based on the inputs used in measuring fair value.

In accordance with ASC 820-10, the inputs used to measure fair value are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:

• Level I-Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.


•	Level II-Prices are determined using other significant observable inputs. Observable inputs are inputs that other market participants would use in pricing a security. These may include quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk and others.


•	Level III-Prices are determined using significant unobservable inputs. In situations where quoted prices or observable inputs are unavailable (for example, when there is little or no market activity for an investment at the end of the period), unobservable inputs may be used.

GAAP requires disclosure of fair value information about financial instruments, whether or not recognized in the financial statements, for which it is practical to estimate the value. In cases where quoted market prices are not available, fair values are based upon the application of discount rates to estimated future cash flows using market yields, or other valuation methodologies. Any changes to the valuation methodology will be reviewed by the Company’s management to ensure the changes are appropriate. The methods used may produce a fair value calculation that is not indicative of net realizable value or reflective of future fair values. Furthermore, while the Company anticipates that the valuation methods are appropriate and consistent with other market participants, the use of different methodologies, or assumptions, to determine the fair value of certain financial instruments could result in a different estimate of fair value at the reporting date. The Company uses inputs that are current as of the measurement date, which may fall within periods of market dislocation, during which price transparency may be reduced.

As of both September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 , the Company did not have any assets or liabilities required to be recorded at fair value on a recurring basis.

As of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 , the carrying values and fair values of the Company’s financial assets and liabilities recorded at cost are as follows ($ in thousands):



		As of
		September 30, 2016				December 31, 2015
	Level in Fair Value Hierarchy	Carrying Value		Fair Value		Carrying Value		Fair Value
Financial assets:
Loans held for investment	3	$	1,473,920	$	1,483,556	$	1,174,391	$	1,180,421
Financial liabilities:
Secured funding agreements	2	$	879,102	$	879,102	$	522,775	$	522,775
Secured term loan	2	149,270		155,000		69,762		75,000
Commercial mortgage-backed securitization debt (consolidated VIE)	3	—		—		61,815		61,856
Collateralized loan obligation securitization debt (consolidated VIE)	3	57,787		57,830		192,528		193,419

The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, interest receivable, due to affiliate liability and accrued expenses approximate their fair values due to their short-term nature.

Loans held for investment are recorded at cost, net of unamortized loan fees and origination costs and net of an allowance for loan losses. The Company may record fair value adjustments on a nonrecurring basis when it has determined that it is necessary to record a specific reserve against a loan and the Company measures such specific reserve using the fair value of the loan’s collateral. To determine the fair value of the collateral, the Company may employ different approaches depending on the type of collateral. The Financing Agreements, CMBS debt and collateralized loan obligation ("CLO") debt are recorded at outstanding principal, which is the Company’s best estimate of the fair value.

10. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Management Agreement

The Company is party to a Management Agreement under which ACREM, subject to the supervision and oversight of the Company’s board of directors, is responsible for, among other duties, (a) performing all of the Company’s day-to-day functions, (b) determining the Company’s investment strategy and guidelines in conjunction with the Company’s board of directors, (c) sourcing, analyzing and executing investments, asset sales and financing, and (d) performing portfolio management duties. In addition, ACREM has an Investment Committee that oversees compliance with the Company’s investment strategy and guidelines, investment portfolio holdings and financing strategy.

In exchange for its services, ACREM is entitled to receive a base management fee, an incentive fee, expense reimbursements, grants of equity-based awards pursuant to the Company’s 2012 Equity Incentive Plan and a termination fee, if applicable.

The base management fee is equal to 1.5% of the Company’s stockholders’ equity per annum, which is calculated and payable quarterly in arrears in cash. For purposes of calculating the base management fee, stockholders’ equity means: (a) the sum of (i) the net proceeds from all issuances of the Company’s equity securities since inception (allocated on a pro rata daily basis for such issuances during the fiscal quarter of any such issuance), plus (ii) the Company’s retained earnings at the end of the most recently completed fiscal quarter determined in accordance with GAAP (without taking into account any non-cash equity compensation expense incurred in current or prior periods); less (b) (x) any amount that the Company has paid to repurchase the Company’s common stock since inception, (y) any unrealized gains and losses and other non-cash items that have impacted stockholders’ equity as reported in the Company’s consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP, and (z) one-time events pursuant to changes in GAAP, and certain non-cash items not otherwise described above, in each case after discussions between ACREM and the Company’s independent directors and approval by a majority of the Company’s independent directors. As a result, the Company’s stockholders’ equity, for purposes of calculating the management fee, could be greater or less than the amount of stockholders’ equity shown in the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

The incentive fee is an amount, not less than zero , equal to the difference between: (a) the product of (i) 20% and (ii) the difference between (A) the Company’s Core Earnings (as defined below) for the previous 12 month period, and (B) the product of (1) the weighted average of the issue price per share of the Company’s common stock of all of the Company’s public offerings of common stock multiplied by the weighted average number of all shares of common stock outstanding including any restricted shares of the Company’s common stock, restricted stock units or any shares of the Company’s common stock not yet issued, but underlying other awards granted under the Company’s 2012 Equity Incentive Plan (see Note 6 included in these consolidated financial statements) in the previous 12 month period, and (2) 8% ; and (b) the sum of any incentive fees earned by ACREM with respect to the first three fiscal quarters of such previous 12 month period; provided , however , that no incentive fee is payable with respect to any fiscal quarter unless cumulative Core Earnings for the 12 most recently completed fiscal quarters is greater than zero . “Core Earnings” is a non-GAAP measure and is defined as GAAP net income (loss) computed in accordance with GAAP, excluding non-cash equity compensation expense, the incentive fee, depreciation and amortization (to the extent that any of the Company’s target investments are structured as debt and the Company forecloses on any properties underlying such debt), any unrealized gains, losses or other non-cash items recorded in net income (loss) for the period, regardless of whether such items are included in other comprehensive income or loss, or in net income (loss), and one-time events pursuant to changes in GAAP and certain non-cash charges after discussions between ACREM and the Company’s independent directors and after approval by a majority of the Company’s independent directors. For both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 , $ 321 thousand of incentive fees were incurred. For both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 , no incentive fees were incurred.

The Company reimburses ACREM at cost for operating expenses that ACREM incurs on the Company’s behalf, including expenses relating to legal, financial, accounting, servicing, due diligence and other services.

The Company will not reimburse ACREM for the salaries and other compensation of its personnel, except for the allocable share of the salaries and other compensation of the Company’s (a) Chief Financial Officer, based on the percentage of his time spent on the Company’s affairs and (b) other corporate finance, tax, accounting, internal audit, legal, risk management, operations, compliance and other non-investment professional personnel of ACREM or its affiliates who spend all or a portion of their time managing the Company’s affairs based on the percentage of their time spent on the Company’s affairs. The Company is also required to pay its pro rata portion of rent, telephone, utilities, office furniture, equipment, machinery and other office, internal and overhead expenses of ACREM and its affiliates that are required for the Company’s operations. The term of the Management Agreement ends on May 1, 2017, with automatic one -year renewal terms thereafter. Except under limited circumstances, upon a termination of the Management Agreement, the Company will pay ACREM a termination fee equal to three times the average annual base management fee and incentive fee received by ACREM during the 24 -month period immediately preceding the most recently completed fiscal quarter prior to the date of termination, each as described above.

Certain of the Company’s subsidiaries, along with the Company’s lenders under certain of the Company's Secured Funding Agreements, as well as under the CLO have entered into various servicing agreements with ACREM’s subsidiary servicer, Ares Commercial Real Estate Servicer LLC (“ACRES”), a Standard & Poor’s-rated commercial special servicer that is included on Standard & Poor’s Select Servicer List. Effective January 1, 2015, ACREM transferred primary servicing of the Company’s loans held for investment to ACRE Capital. The Company’s Manager will specially service, as needed, certain of the Company’s investments. Effective May 1, 2012, ACRES agreed that no servicing fees pursuant to these servicing agreements would be charged to the Company or its subsidiaries by ACRES or the Manager for so long as the Management Agreement remains in effect, but that ACRES will continue to receive reimbursement for overhead related to servicing and operational activities pursuant to the terms of the Management Agreement.

Summarized below are the related party costs incurred by the Company related to continuing operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 and amounts payable to the Company's Manager as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 ($ in thousands):



	Incurred								Payable
	For the three months ended September 30,				For the nine months ended September 30,				As of
	2016		2015		2016		2015		September 30, 2016		December 31, 2015
Affiliate Payments
Management fees	$	1,369	$	1,351	$	4,059	$	4,040	$	1,369	$	1,357
Incentive fees	321		—		321		—		321		—
General and administrative expenses	860		840		2,417		2,591		860		835
Direct costs	227		353		730		1,138		53		232
Total	$	2,777	$	2,544	$	7,527	$	7,769	$	2,603	$	2,424

Credit Support Fee Agreement

In July 2014, the Company and certain of its subsidiaries entered into a Credit Support Fee Agreement with Ares Management under which the Company agreed to pay Ares Management a credit support fee in an amount equal to 1.50% per annum times the average amount of the loans outstanding under the July 2014 CNB Facility and to reimburse Ares Management for its out-of-pocket costs and expenses in connection with the transaction. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 , the Company incurred a credit support fee of $ 120 thousand and $362 thousand, respectively, under the July 2014 CNB Facility which is included within interest expense in the Company's consolidated statements of operations. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 , the Company incurred a credit support fee of $ 266 thousand and $ 811 thousand, respectively, under the July 2014 CNB Facility which is included within interest expense in the Company's consolidated statements of operations. On September 30, 2016, the July 2014 CNB Facility was repaid in full and its terms were not extended. In conjunction with the repayment in full of the July 2014 CNB Facility, the Credit Support Fee Agreement was terminated. See Note 4 included in these consolidated financial statements for more information on the July 2014 CNB Facility.

11. DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

The following table summarizes the Company’s dividends declared during the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 ($ in thousands, except per share data):



Date declared	Record date	Payment date	Per share amount		Total amount
August 4, 2016	September 30, 2016	October 17, 2016	$	0.26	$	7,406
May 5, 2016	June 30, 2016	July 15, 2016	0.26		7,413
March 1, 2016	March 31, 2016	April 15, 2016	0.26		7,429
Total cash dividends declared for the nine months ended September 30, 2016			$	0.78	$	22,248

July 30, 2015	September 30, 2015	October 15, 2015	$	0.25	$	7,152
May 7, 2015	June 30, 2015	July 15, 2015	0.25		7,152
March 5, 2015	March 31, 2015	April 15, 2015	0.25		7,146
Total cash dividends declared for the nine months ended September 30, 2015			$	0.75	$	21,450

12. VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES

Consolidated VIEs

As discussed in Note 2 , the Company evaluates all of its investments and other interests in entities for consolidation, including its investments in: (a) the CMBS transaction and the Company’s retained interests in the subordinated classes of the certificates issued by the Trust (as defined below) it initiated and (b) the CLO transaction and the Company's retained interests in the subordinated notes and preferred equity of the Issuer (as defined below) and (c) a preferred equity investment in an LLC

entity (discussed below), all of which are generally considered to be variable interests in a VIE. The Trust and Issuer together are referred herein as the Company's "Securitization VIEs."

CMBS Securitization

In connection with forming ACRE Commercial Mortgage Trust 2013-FL1 (the "Trust"), ACRC 2013-FL1 Depositor LLC (the "Depositor"), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, entered into a Pooling and Servicing Agreement dated as of November 1, 2013 (as amended on March 28, 2014, the "Pooling and Servicing Agreement") with Wells Fargo as master servicer, ACRES as servicer, U.S. Bank National Association as trustee, and Trimont Real Estate Advisors Inc. as trust advisor. The Trust was treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a real estate mortgage investment conduit.

The Pooling and Servicing Agreement governed the issuance of approximately $493.8 million aggregate principal balance commercial mortgage pass through certificates in a CMBS effected by the Depositor. In connection with the securitization, the Depositor contributed a pool of 18 adjustable rate participation interests in commercial mortgage loans to the Trust. The commercial mortgage loans were originated by the Company or its subsidiaries and were secured by 27 commercial properties. The certificates represented, in the aggregate, the entire beneficial ownership interest in, and the obligations of, the Trust.

In connection with the securitization, the Company offered and sold the following classes of certificates: Class A, Class B, Class C and Class D Certificates (collectively, the "Offered Certificates") to third parties pursuant to an offering made privately in transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933. A s of December 31, 2015 , the aggregate principal balance of the Offered Certificates was approximately $61.9 million. In addition, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company retained approximately $98.8 million of the certificates. The Company, as the holder of the subordinated classes of the Trust, had the obligation to absorb losses of the Trust, since the Company had a first loss position in the capital structure of the Trust.

On June 17, 2016, the Company terminated the Trust, and in connection therewith, exchanged its remaining certificates for the remaining mortgage loans held by the Trust. All of the Offered Certificates of the Trust held by third parties have been repaid in full.

CLO Securitization

On August 15, 2014, ACRE Commercial Mortgage 2014-FL2 Ltd. (the "Issuer") and ACRE Commercial Mortgage 2014-FL2 LLC ("Co-Issuer"), both wholly owned indirect subsidiaries of the Company, entered into an indenture with Wells Fargo as advancing agent and note administrator and Wilmington Trust, National Association as trustee, which governs the issuance of approximately $346.1 million principal balance secured floating rate notes (the "Notes") and $32.7 million of preferred equity in the Issuer. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Issuer and Co-Issuer are disregarded entities.

The Notes are collateralized by interests in a pool of 15 mortgage assets having a total principal balance of $378.8 million (the "Mortgage Assets") originated by a subsidiary of the Company. The sale of the Mortgage Assets to the Issuer is governed by a Mortgage Asset Purchase Agreement dated as of August 15, 2014, between ACRC Lender LLC and the Issuer. In connection with the securitization, the Issuer and Co-Issuer offered and sold the following classes of Notes: Class A, Class A-S, Class B, Class C and Class D Notes to third parties. A wholly owned subsidiary of the Company retained approximately $37.4 million of the most subordinate Notes and all of the preferred equity in the Issuer. The Company, as the holder of the subordinated Notes and all of the preferred equity in the Issuer, has the obligation to absorb losses of the CLO, since the Company has a first loss position in the capital structure of the CLO. As of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 , the aggregate principal balance of the Offered Notes was approximately $57.8 million and $193.4 million, respectively.

Summary of Securitization VIEs

As the directing holder of the CMBS and the CLO, the Company has the ability to direct activities that could significantly impact the Securitization VIEs’ economic performance. If an unrelated third party had the right to unilaterally remove the special servicer, then the Company would not have the power to direct activities that most significantly impact the Securitization VIEs' economic performance. In addition, there are no substantive kick-out rights of any unrelated third party to remove the special servicer without cause. The Company’s subsidiaries, as directing holders, have the ability to remove the special servicer without cause. Based on these factors, the Company is determined to be the primary beneficiary of these Securitization VIEs; thus, the Securitization VIEs are consolidated into the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

ACRE Capital is designated as primary servicer and ACRES as special servicer of the CMBS and the CLO. ACRES has the power to direct activities during the loan workout process on defaulted and delinquent loans, which is the activity that most significantly impacts the Securitization VIEs' economic performance. ACRE Capital and ACRES waive the servicing and special servicing fees and the Company pays its overhead costs, as with other servicing agreements.

The Securitization VIEs consolidated in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 810 are structured as pass through entities that receive principal and interest on the underlying collateral and distribute those payments to the certificate and note holders, as applicable. The assets and other instruments held by the Securitization VIEs are restricted and can only be used to fulfill the obligations of the Securitization VIEs. Additionally, the obligations of the Securitization VIEs do not have any recourse to the general credit of any other consolidated entities, nor to the Company as the primary beneficiary.

The inclusion of the assets and liabilities of Securitization VIEs of which the Company is deemed the primary beneficiary has no economic effect on the Company. The Company’s exposure to the obligations of Securitization VIEs is generally limited to its investment in these entities. The Company is not obligated to provide, nor has it provided, any financial support for any of these consolidated structures. As such, the risk associated with the Company’s involvement in these Securitization VIEs is limited to the carrying value of its investment in the entity. As of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 , the Company’s maximum risk of loss was $70.1 million and $168.8 million, respectively, which represents the carrying value of its investment in the Securitization VIEs. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 , the Company incurred interest expense related to the Securitization VIEs of $640 thousand and $3.0 million, respectively, which is included within interest expense in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, the Company incurred interest expense related to the Securitization VIEs of $1.8 million and $6.0 million , respectively, which is included within interest expense in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations.

Investment in VIE

On December 19, 2014, the Company and third party institutional investors formed a limited liability company, ACRC KA, which acquired $170.0 million of preferred equity in a REIT whose assets were comprised of a portfolio of 22 multifamily, student housing, medical office and self-storage properties managed by its sponsor. The Company’s investment in ACRC KA is considered to be an investment in a VIE. As of both September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 , the Company owned a controlling financial interest of 51.0% of the equity shares in the VIE and the third party institutional investors owned the remaining 49.0% , a minority financial interest. The preferred equity shares are entitled to a preferred monthly return over the term of the investment at a fixed rate of 10.95% per annum.

ACREM is the non-member manager of the VIE. Based on the terms of the ACRC KA LLC agreement, ACREM has the ability to direct activities that could significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance. There are no substantive kick-out rights held by the third party institutional investors to remove ACREM as the non-member manager without cause. As ACREM serves as the manager of the Company, the Company has the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant. As such, the Company is deemed to be the primary beneficiary of the VIE and the party that is most closely associated with the VIE. Thus, the VIE is consolidated into the Company’s consolidated financial statements and the preferred equity interests owned by the third party institutional investors are reflected as a non-controlling interest held by third parties within the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

As of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 , the carrying value of the preferred equity investment, which is net of unamortized fees and origination costs, was $94.1 million and $93.9 million, respectively, and is included within loans held for investment in the Company's consolidated balance sheets. The risk associated solely with respect to the Company’s investment in this VIE is limited to the outstanding principal of its investment in the entity. As of both September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 , the Company’s maximum risk of loss solely with respect to this investment was $48.5 million.

Unconsolidated VIEs

The Company also holds variable interests in VIEs structured as preferred equity investments, where the Company does not have a controlling financial interest. For these structures, the Company is not deemed to be the primary beneficiary of the VIE, and the Company does not consolidate these VIEs. These preferred equity investments are accounted for as loans held for investment and are carried at cost, net of unamortized loan fees and origination costs, unless the loans are deemed impaired, and are included within loans held for investment in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

The Company is not obligated to provide, nor has it provided, any financial support for any of the Company’s unconsolidated VIEs. As such, the risks associated with the Company’s involvement in these unconsolidated VIEs are limited to the outstanding principal of the Company’s investment in the entity.

The following table presents the carrying value and the maximum exposure to loss of unconsolidated VIEs as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 ($ in thousands):



	As of
	September 30, 2016		December 31, 2015
Carrying value	$	35,722	$	55,144
Maximum exposure to loss	$	36,040	$	55,704

13. DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

ACRE Capital primarily originated, sold and serviced multifamily and senior-living related loans under programs offered by government-sponsored enterprises ("GSEs"), such as the Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation ("Freddie Mac") and by government agencies, such as the Government National Mortgage Association (“Ginnie Mae”) and the Federal Housing Administration, a division of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (together with Ginnie Mae, “HUD”). ACRE Capital was approved as a Fannie Mae Delegated Underwriting and Servicing (“DUS”) lender, a Freddie Mac Program Plus® Seller/Servicer, a Multifamily Accelerated Processing and Section 232 LEAN lender for HUD, and a Ginnie Mae issuer. While ACRE Capital earned little interest income from these activities because it generally only held loans for short periods, ACRE Capital received origination fees when it closed loans and sale premiums when it sold loans. ACRE Capital also retained the rights to service the loans, which were known as mortgage servicing rights (“MSRs”), and received fees for such servicing during the life of the loans, which generally lasted 10 years or more.

On September 30, 2016, the Company closed the ACRE Capital Sale for an approximately $93 million purchase price in accordance with the Agreement dated June 28, 2016. The purchase price is subject to certain post-closing final working capital adjustments.

Discontinued Operations - Financial Summary

The following information reconciles the carrying amounts of major classes of assets and liabilities of the discontinued operations to assets and liabilities of discontinued operations that are presented separately in the consolidated balance sheets:



	As of
	September 30, 2016		December 31, 2015
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$	—	$	3,929
Restricted cash	—		17,297
Loans held for sale, at fair value	—		30,612
Mortgage servicing rights, at fair value	—		61,800
Other assets	—		19,613
Assets of discontinued operations	$	—	$	133,251
LIABILITIES
Warehouse lines of credit	$	—	$	24,806
Allowance for loss sharing	—		8,969
Due to affiliate	—		234
Other liabilities	—		17,522
Liabilities of discontinued operations	$	—	$	51,531

The following information reconciles the net income from operations of discontinued operations, net of income taxes, that are presented separately in the consolidated statements of operations:



	For the three months ended September 30,						For the nine months ended September 30,
	2016			2015			2016			2015
Mortgage banking revenue:
Servicing fees, net	$	4,115		$	4,114		$	11,081		$	11,938
Gains from mortgage banking activities	10,862			9,214			24,034			20,847
Provision for loss sharing	(143		)	118			146			1,109
Change in fair value of mortgage servicing rights	(2,562		)	(1,772		)	(6,457		)	(6,955		)
Mortgage banking revenue	12,272			11,674			28,804			26,939
Expenses:
Management fees to affiliate	154			139			446			407
Professional fees	347			280			718			757
Compensation and benefits	7,864			5,921			18,108			15,992
Transaction costs	282			—			797			—
General and administrative expenses	1,011			1,016			3,049			3,033
General and administrative expenses reimbursed to affiliate	185			113			622			368
Total expenses	9,843			7,469			23,740			20,557
Income from operations before income taxes	2,429			4,205			5,064			6,382
Income tax expense	563			1,228			843			1,364
Net income from operations of discontinued operations, net of income taxes	$	1,866		$	2,977		$	4,221		$	5,018

Revenue Recognition

Servicing fees were earned for servicing mortgage loans, including all activities related to servicing the loans, and were recognized as services were provided over the life of the related mortgage loan. Also included in servicing fees were the net fees earned on borrower prepayment penalties and interest earned on borrowers’ escrow payments and interim cash balances, along with other ancillary fees and reduced by write-offs of MSRs for loans that were prepaid, changes in the fair value of the servicing fee payable (defined below) and interest expense related to escrow accounts. ACRE Capital provided additional payments to certain personnel by providing them with a percentage of the servicing fee revenue that was earned by ACRE Capital, which was initially recorded as a liability when ACRE Capital committed to make a loan to a borrower (the “servicing fee payable”). Servicing fees, net are included within net income from operations of discontinued operations, net of income taxes, in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations.

Gains from mortgage banking activities included the initial fair value of MSRs, loan origination fees, gain on the sale of loans originated, interest income and fees earned on loans held for sale, changes to the fair value of derivative financial instruments attributable to the loan commitments and forward sale commitments and reduced by the expense related to the initial fair value of the servicing fee payable and the interest expense related to the Warehouse Lines of Credit (as defined below). The initial fair value of MSRs, loan origination fees, gain on the sale of loans originated, certain direct loan origination costs for loans held for sale and the expenses related to the initial fair value of the servicing fee payable were recognized when ACRE Capital committed to make a loan to a borrower. When ACRE Capital settled a sale agreement and transferred the mortgage loan to the buyer, ACRE Capital recognized a MSR asset equal to the present value of the expected net cash flows associated with the servicing of loans sold. Gains from mortgage banking activities are included within net income from operations of discontinued operations, net of income taxes, in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations.

Mortgage Servicing Rights

When a mortgage loan was sold, ACRE Capital retained the right to service the loan and recognized the MSR at fair value. The initial fair value represented expected net cash flows from servicing, as well as interest earnings on escrows and interim cash balances, borrower prepayment penalties, delinquency rates, late charges along with ancillary fees that were discounted at a rate that reflected the credit and liquidity risk of the MSR over the estimated life of the underlying loan. After

initial recognition, changes in the MSR fair value are included within net income from operations of discontinued operations, net of income taxes, in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations for the period in which the change occurred.

MSRs represented servicing rights retained by ACRE Capital for loans it originated and sold. The servicing fees were collected from the monthly payments made by the borrowers. ACRE Capital generally received other remuneration including rights to various loan fees such as late charges, collateral re-conveyance charges, loan prepayment penalties and other ancillary fees. In addition, ACRE Capital was also generally entitled to retain the interest earned on funds held pending remittance related to its collection of loan principal and escrow balances. As of December 31, 2015 , ACRE Capital had a servicing portfolio (excluding ACRE’s loans held for investment portfolio) consisting of 973 loans with an unpaid principal balance of $4.9 billion, which included 953 GSE / HUD loans with an unpaid principal balance of $4.3 billion and 20 other loans (managed by an affiliate of the Manager) with an unpaid principal balance of $554.8 million. As of December 31, 2015, the carrying value of ACRE Capital’s MSRs for the GSE and HUD loan portfolio was approximately $61.8 million .

Activity related to MSRs as of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 was as follows ($ in thousands):



Balance at December 31, 2015 (1)	$	61,800
MSRs purchased	323
Additions, following sale of loan	10,275
Changes in fair value	(6,457		)
Prepayments and write-offs	(3,058		)
MSRs included in the ACRE Capital Sale	(62,883		)
Balance at September 30, 2016	$	—



Balance at December 31, 2014	$	58,889
Additions, following sale of loan	10,050
Changes in fair value	(6,955		)
Prepayments and write-offs	(1,836		)
Balance at September 30, 2015	$	60,148

_________________________________________________________________________


(1)	MSRs are included in mortgage servicing rights at fair value as of December 31, 2015 in the reconciliation of the carrying amounts of major classes of assets and liabilities of the discontinued operations to assets and liabilities of discontinued operations that are presented separately in the consolidated balance sheets.

ACRE Capital determined the fair values of the MSRs based on discounted cash flow models that calculated the present value of estimated future net servicing income. The fair values of ACRE Capital’s MSRs were subject to changes in discount rates. For example, a 100 basis point increase or decrease in the weighted average discount rate decreased or increased, respectively, the fair value of ACRE Capital’s MSRs outstanding as of December 31, 2015 by approximately $2.0 million.

Warehouse Lines of Credit

ACRE Capital borrowed funds under the ASAP Line of Credit and the BAML Line of Credit (individually defined below and together, the “Warehouse Lines of Credit”).

ASAP Line of Credit

ACRE Capital was party to a multifamily as soon as pooled (“ASAP”) sale agreement with Fannie Mae (the “ASAP Line of Credit”) to finance installments received from Fannie Mae. To the extent the ASAP Line of Credit remained active through utilization, there was no expiration date. The commitment amount was subject to change at any time at Fannie Mae's discretion. In July 2016, ACRE Capital temporarily increased the ASAP Line of Credit limit from $80.0 million to $140.0 million through August 31, 2016. Fannie Mae advanced payment to ACRE Capital in two separate installments according to the terms as set forth in the ASAP sale agreement. The first installment was considered an advance to ACRE Capital from Fannie

Mae and not a sale until the second advance and settlement was made. As of December 31, 2015, there was no outstanding balance on the ASAP Line of Credit.

BAML Line of Credit

ACRE Capital was party to a $135.0 million line of credit agreement with Bank of America, N.A. (the “BAML Line of Credit”), which was used to finance mortgage loans originated by ACRE Capital. The stated interest rate on the BAML Line of Credit was LIBOR Daily Floating Rate plus 1.60% . In June 2016, ACRE Capital amended the BAML Line of Credit to extend the maturity date to June 29, 2017. In July 2016, ACRE Capital temporarily increased its BAML Line of Credit from $135.0 million to $175.0 million from July 29, 2016 through August 8, 2016. ACRE Capital incurred a non-utilization fee of 12.5 basis points on the daily available balance of the BAML Line of Credit to the extent less than 40% of the BAML Line of Credit was utilized. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 , ACRE Capital incurred a non-utilization fee of $23 thousand and $80 thousand , respectively. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, ACRE Capital incurred a non-utilization fee of $18 thousand and $50 thousand , respectively. As of December 31, 2015 , the outstanding balance on the BAML Line of Credit was $ 24.8 million .

The ASAP Line of Credit and BAML Line of Credit were included in Warehouse Lines of Credit as of December 31, 2015 in the reconciliation of the carrying amounts of major classes of assets and liabilities of the discontinued operations to assets and liabilities of discontinued operations that are presented separately in the Company's consolidated balance sheets.

Allowance for Loss Sharing

When a loan was sold under the Fannie Mae DUS program, ACRE Capital undertook an obligation to partially guarantee the performance of the loan. The date ACRE Capital committed to make a loan to a borrower, a liability for the fair value of the obligation undertaken in issuing the guarantee was recognized. Subsequent to the initial commitment date, ACRE Capital monitored the performance of each loan for events or circumstances which would signal an additional liability to be recognized if there was a probable and estimable loss. The initial fair value of the guarantee was estimated by examining historical loss share experienced in the ACRE Capital Fannie Mae DUS portfolio over the most recent 10 -year period. The initial fair value of the guarantee was included within net income from operations of discontinued operations, net of income taxes, in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. These historical loss shares served as a basis to derive a loss share rate which was then applied to the current ACRE Capital DUS portfolio (net of specifically identified impaired loans that were subject to a separate loss share reserve analysis).

Loans originated and sold by ACRE Capital to Fannie Mae under the Fannie Mae DUS program were subject to the terms and conditions of a Master Loss Sharing Agreement, which was amended and restated in 2012. Under the Master Loss Sharing Agreement, ACRE Capital was responsible for absorbing certain losses incurred by Fannie Mae with respect to loans originated under the DUS program, as described below in more detail. The compensation for this risk of loss was a component of servicing fees on the loan.

The losses incurred with respect to individual loans were allocated between ACRE Capital and Fannie Mae based on the loss level designation (“Loss Level”) for the particular loan. Loans were designated as Loss Level I, Loss Level II or Loss Level III. All loans were designated Loss Level I unless Fannie Mae and ACRE Capital agreed upon a different Loss Level for a particular loan at the time of the loan commitment, or if Fannie Mae determined that the loan was not underwritten, processed or serviced according to Fannie Mae guidelines.

Losses on Loss Level I loans were shared 33.33% by ACRE Capital and 66.67% by Fannie Mae. The maximum amount of ACRE Capital’s risk-sharing obligation with respect to any Loss Level I loan was 33.33% of the original principal amount of the loan. Losses incurred in connection with Loss Level II and Loss Level III loans were allocated disproportionately to ACRE Capital until ACRE Capital had absorbed the maximum level of its risk-sharing obligation with respect to the particular loan. The maximum loss allocable to ACRE Capital for Loss Level II loans was 30% of the original principal amount of the loan, and for Loss Level III loans was 40% of the original principal amount of the loan.

According to the Master Loss Sharing Agreement, Fannie Mae would unilaterally increase the amount of the risk-sharing obligation of ACRE Capital with respect to individual loans without regard to a particular Loss Level if (a) the loan did not meet specific underwriting criteria, (b) the loan was defaulted within 12 months after it was purchased by Fannie Mae or (c) Fannie Mae determined that there was fraud, material misrepresentation or gross negligence by ACRE Capital in its underwriting, closing, delivery or servicing of the loan. Under certain limited circumstances, Fannie Mae required ACRE Capital to absorb 100% of the losses incurred on a loan by requiring ACRE Capital to repurchase the loan.

The amount of loss incurred on a particular loan was determined at the time the loss was incurred, for example, at the time a property was foreclosed by Fannie Mae (whether acquired by Fannie Mae or a third party) or at the time a loan was modified in connection with a default. Losses were determined by reference to the price paid by a third party at a foreclosure sale or by reference to an appraisal obtained by Fannie Mae in connection with the default on the loan.

In connection with the Company’s acquisition of ACRE Capital from Alliant, Inc., a Florida corporation, and The Alliant Company, LLC, a Florida limited liability company (the “Sellers”), the Sellers were jointly and severally obligated to (i) fund directly (if permitted) or to reimburse ACRE Capital for amounts due and owing after the closing date to Fannie Mae pursuant to ACRE Capital’s allowance for loss sharing with respect to settlement of certain DUS program mortgage loans originated and serviced by ACRE Capital, subject to certain limitations and (ii) to indemnify ACRE Capital for, among other things, certain losses arising from Sellers’ failure to fulfill the funding or reimbursement obligations described above. As of December 31, 2015 , the preliminary estimate of the portion of such contributions towards such losses relating to the allowance for loss sharing of ACRE Capital was $ 377 thousand. Additionally, with respect to the settlement of certain non-designated DUS program mortgage loans originated and serviced by ACRE Capital, the Sellers were jointly and severally obligated to fund directly (if permitted) or to reimburse ACRE Capital in each of the three 12 -month periods following the closing date for eighty percent ( 80% ) of amounts due and owed after the closing date to Fannie Mae pursuant to ACRE Capital’s allowance for loss sharing in excess of $2.0 million during such 12 month period; provided that in no event would the Sellers obligations exceed in the aggregate $3.0 million for the entire three year period.

ACRE Capital used several tools to manage its risk-sharing obligation, including maintenance of disciplined underwriting and approval processes and procedures, and periodic review and evaluation of underwriting criteria based on underlying multifamily housing market data and limitation of exposure to particular geographic markets and submarkets and to individual borrowers. In situations where payment under the guarantee was probable and estimable on a specific loan, ACRE Capital recorded an additional liability. The amount of the provision reflected ACRE Capital’s assessment of the likelihood of payment by the borrower, the estimated disposition value of the underlying collateral and the level of risk-sharing. Historically, among other factors, the loss recognition occurred at or before the loan became 60 days delinquent.

A summary of ACRE Capital’s allowance for loss sharing as of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 was as follows ($ in thousands):



Balance at December 31, 2015 (1)	$	8,969
Current period provision for loss sharing	(146		)
Settlements/Writeoffs	(788		)
Allowance for loss sharing included in the ACRE Capital Sale	(8,035		)
Balance at September 30, 2016	$	—



Balance at December 31, 2014	$	12,349
Current period provision for loss sharing	(1,109		)
Settlements/Writeoffs	(2,287		)
Balance at September 30, 2015	$	8,953

_________________________________________________________________________


(1)	Allowance for loss sharing was included in allowance for loss sharing as of December 31, 2015 in the reconciliation of the carrying amounts of major classes of assets and liabilities of the discontinued operations to assets and liabilities of discontinued operations that are presented separately in the Company's consolidated balance sheets.

As of December 31, 2015 , the maximum quantifiable allowance for loss sharing associated with ACRE Capital’s guarantees under the Fannie Mae DUS agreement was $ 1.1 billion from a total recourse at risk pool of $3.2 billion . Additionally, as of December 31, 2015 , the non-at risk pool was $64.8 million. The at risk pool was subject to Fannie Mae’s Master Loss Sharing Agreement and the non-at risk pool was not subject to such agreement. The maximum quantifiable allowance for loss sharing was not representative of the actual loss ACRE Capital would incur. ACRE Capital would be liable for this amount only if all of the loans it serviced for Fannie Mae, for which ACRE Capital retained some risk of loss, were to default and all of the collateral underlying these loans was determined to be without value at the time of settlement.

Commitments and Contingencies

Commitments to extend credit by ACRE Capital were generally agreements to lend to a customer as long as there was no violation of any condition established in the contract. Commitments generally had fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses and may have required payment of a fee. Occasionally, the commitments expired without being drawn upon; therefore, the total commitment amounts did not necessarily represent future cash requirements. As of December 31, 2015 , ACRE Capital had the following commitments to sell and fund loans ($ in thousands):



	As of December 31, 2015
Commitments to sell loans	$	237,372
Commitments to fund loans	$	207,566

Derivatives

Non-designated Hedges

Derivatives not designated as hedges were derivatives that did not meet the criteria for hedge accounting under GAAP or for which ACRE Capital had not elected to designate as hedges.

Loan commitments and forward sale commitments

ACRE Capital entered into loan commitments with borrowers on loan originations whereby the interest rate on the prospective loan was determined prior to funding. In general, ACRE Capital simultaneously entered into forward sale commitments with investors in order to hedge against the interest rate exposure on loan commitments. The forward sale commitment with the investor locked in an interest rate and price for the sale of the loan. The terms of the loan commitment with the borrower and the forward sale commitment with the investor were matched with the objective of hedging interest rate risk. Loan commitments and forward sale commitments were considered undesignated derivative instruments. Accordingly, such commitments, along with any related fees received from potential borrowers, were recorded at fair value, with changes in fair value recorded in earnings. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, ACRE Capital entered into 30 and 49 loan commitments, respectively, and 30 and 49 forward sale commitments, respectively. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, ACRE Capital entered into 20 and 67 loan commitments, respectively, and 20 and 67 forward sale commitments, respectively.

As of December 31, 2015 , ACRE Capital had 16 loan commitments with a total notional amount of $207.6 million and 24 forward sale commitments with a total notional amount of $237.4 million, with maturities ranging from 25 days to 17 months, that were not designated as hedges in qualifying hedging relationships.

MSR purchase commitments

In July 2015, ACRE Capital entered into a purchase agreement with a third party to purchase the servicing rights for a HUD loan. Under the purchase agreement, the purchase price for the servicing rights was $325 thousand and ACRE Capital assumed the rights to service the loan in March 2016.

The table below presents the fair value of ACRE Capital’s derivative financial instruments as well as their classification within the Company’s consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2015 ($ in thousands):



	As of December 31, 2015
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments	Balance Sheet Location		Fair Value
Loan commitments	Assets of discontinued operations	(1)	$	8,450
Forward sale commitments	Assets of discontinued operations	(1)	25
MSR purchase commitment	Assets of discontinued operations	(1)	330
Forward sale commitments	Liabilities of discontinued operations	(1)	(1,868		)
Total derivatives not designated as hedging instruments			$	6,937

_________________________________________________________________________


(1)	Derivative financial instruments are included in other assets or other liabilities as of December 31, 2015 in the reconciliation of the carrying amounts of major classes of assets and liabilities of the discontinued operations to assets

and liabilities of discontinued operations that are presented separately in the Company's consolidated balance sheet. See above for more information.

Income Tax

The net deferred tax liability is a retained liability of TRS Holdings. As a result of the ACRE Capital Sale, the Company no longer has a net deferred tax liability as of September 30, 2016.

The Company established a taxable REIT subsidiary, TRS Holdings, in connection with the acquisition of ACRE Capital. TRS Holdings' income tax provision consisted of the following for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 ($ in thousands):



	For the three months ended September 30,					For the nine months ended September 30,
	2016			2015		2016			2015
Current	$	(804	)	$	73	$	(1,206	)	$	(459	)
Deferred	1,367			1,155		2,049			1,823
Total income tax expense	$	563		$	1,228	$	843		$	1,364

Deferred income taxes reflected the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of the assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are presented net by tax jurisdiction and are included within assets or liabilities of discontinued operations in the Company's consolidated balance sheets. As of December 31, 2015, TRS Holdings’ U.S. tax jurisdiction was in a net deferred tax liability position. TRS Holdings was not subject to tax in any foreign tax jurisdiction.

The following table presents the U.S. tax jurisdiction and the tax effects of temporary differences on the respective net deferred tax assets and liabilities of TRS Holdings as of December 31, 2015 ($ in thousands):



	As of December 31, 2015
Deferred tax assets
Mortgage servicing rights	$	4,083
Net operating loss carryforward	2,906
Other temporary differences	1,762
Sub-total-deferred tax assets	8,751
Deferred tax liabilities
Basis difference in assets from acquisition of ACRE Capital	(2,709		)
Components of gains from mortgage banking activities	(9,344		)
Amortization of intangible assets	(297		)
Sub-total-deferred tax liabilities	(12,350		)
Net deferred tax liability	$	(3,599	)

Based on TRS Holdings’ assessment, it was more likely than not that the deferred tax assets would be realized through future taxable income.

TRS Holdings recognized interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits within net income from operations of discontinued operations, net of income taxes, in the Company's consolidated statements of operations. Accrued interest and penalties for TRS Holdings, if any, were included within liabilities of discontinued operations in the Company's consolidated balance sheets.

The following table is a reconciliation of TRS Holdings' statutory U.S. federal income tax rate to TRS Holdings' effective tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 :



	For the three months ended September 30,				For the nine months ended September 30,
	2016		2015		2016		2015
Federal statutory rate	35.0	%	35.0	%	35.0	%	35.0	%
State income taxes	4.4	%	3.6	%	4.4	%	3.6	%
Federal benefit of state tax deduction	(1.5	)%	(1.3	)%	(1.5	)%	(1.3	)%
Effective tax rate	37.9	%	37.3	%	37.9	%	37.3	%

As of September 30, 2016 , tax years 2012 through 2015 remained subject to examination by taxing authorities. TRS Holdings did not have any unrecognized tax benefits.

Intercompany Notes

In connection with the acquisition of ACRE Capital, the Company partially capitalized TRS Holdings with a $44.0 million note. In October 2014, the Company entered into an $8.0 million revolving promissory note with TRS Holdings (collectively, the two intercompany notes described above are referred to as the “Intercompany Notes”). In connection with the ACRE Capital Sale, the Intercompany Notes were repaid in full with the proceeds from the sale on September 30, 2016. As of December 31, 2015 , the outstanding principal balance of the Intercompany Notes was $51.9 million. The income statement effects of the Intercompany Notes were eliminated in consolidation for financial reporting purposes, but the interest income and expense from the Intercompany Notes affected the taxable income of the Company and TRS Holdings.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

See Note 9 included in these consolidated financial statements for more information on the Company's fair value of financial instruments policy.

Financial Instruments Reported at Fair Value

ACRE Capital had certain assets and liabilities that were required to be recorded at fair value on a recurring basis in accordance with GAAP. Financial instruments reported at fair value in the Company's consolidated financial statements included MSRs, MSR purchase commitments, loan commitments, forward sale commitments and loans held for sale. See above for more information on MSRs, MSR purchase commitments, loan commitments and forward sale commitments.

The following table summarizes the levels in the fair value hierarchy into which ACRE Capital’s financial instruments were categorized as of December 31, 2015 ($ in thousands):



	Fair Value as of December 31, 2015
	Level I		Level II		Level III			Total
Loans held for sale	$	—	$	30,612	$	—		$	30,612
Mortgage servicing rights	—		—		61,800			61,800
Derivative assets:
Loan commitments	—		—		8,450			8,450
Forward sale commitments	—		—		25			25
MSR purchase commitment	—		—		330			330
Derivative liabilities:
Forward sale commitments	—		—		(1,868		)	(1,868		)

There were no transfers between the levels as of December 31, 2015 . Transfers between levels were recognized based on the fair value of the financial instrument at the beginning of the period.

Loan commitments and forward sale commitments were valued based on a discounted cash flow model that incorporated changes in interest rates during the period. The MSRs and the MSR purchase commitment were valued based on discounted cash flow models that calculated the present value of estimated future net servicing income. The model considered contractually specified servicing fees, prepayment assumptions, delinquency rates, late charges, other ancillary revenue, costs to service and other economic factors. The loans held for sale were valued based on discounted cash flow models that incorporated quoted observable prices from market participants. The valuation of derivative instruments were determined using

widely accepted valuation techniques, including market yield analyses and discounted cash flow analysis on the expected cash flows of each derivative.

The following table summarizes the significant unobservable inputs ACRE Capital used to value financial instruments categorized within Level III as of December 31, 2015 ($ in thousands):

Unobservable Input

Fair

Primary

Weighted

Asset Category

Value

Valuation Technique

Input

Range

Average

Mortgage servicing rights

61,800

Discounted cash flow

Discount rate

8 - 14%

11.1%

Loan commitments and forward sale commitments

6,607

Discounted cash flow

Discount rate

8 - 12%

8.2%

MSR purchase commitment

330

Discounted cash flow

Discount rate

8.0%

The table above is not intended to be all-inclusive, but instead is intended to capture the significant unobservable inputs relevant to ACRE Capital’s determination of fair values. Changes in market yields, discount rates or EBITDA multiples, each in isolation, may have changed the fair value of the financial instruments. Generally, an increase in market yields or discount rates or a decrease in EBITDA multiples may have resulted in a decrease in the fair value of the financial instruments.

The Company’s management is responsible for the Company’s fair value valuation policies, processes and procedures related to Level III financial instruments. The Company’s management reports to the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, who has final authority over the valuation of the Company’s Level III financial instruments.

The following table summarizes the change in derivative assets and liabilities classified as Level III related to mortgage banking activities as of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 ($ in thousands):



Balance at December 31, 2015	$	6,937
Settlements	(35,680		)
Realized gains (losses) recorded in net income (1)	28,743
Unrealized gains (losses) recorded in net income (1)	6,618
Derivative assets and liabilities included in the ACRE Capital Sale	(6,618		)
Balance at September 30, 2016	$	—



Balance at December 31, 2014	$	1,670
Settlements	(22,537		)
Realized gains (losses) recorded in net income (1)	20,867
Unrealized gains (losses) recorded in net income (1)	4,364
Balance at September 30, 2015	$	4,364

______________________________________________________________________________


(1)	Realized and unrealized gains (losses) are included in gains from mortgage banking activities for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 in the reconciliation of net income from operations of discontinued operations, net of income taxes. See above for more information.

See above MSR reconciliation for the changes in MSRs that were classified as Level III.

As of December 31, 2015 , the total carrying value and fair value of ACRE Capital's Warehouse Lines of Credit classified as Level II in the fair value hierarchy were both $ 24.8 million. The Warehouse Lines of Credit were recorded at outstanding principal, which was the Company’s best estimate of the fair value. The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, due to affiliate liability and accrued expenses approximate their fair values due to their short-term nature.

Related Party Transactions

Summarized below are the related party costs incurred by the Company related to discontinued operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 and amounts payable to the Company's Manager as of December 31, 2015 ($ in thousands):



	Incurred								Payable
	For the three months ended September 30,				For the nine months ended September 30,				As of
	2016		2015		2016		2015		December 31, 2015
Affiliate Payments
Management fees (1)	$	154	$	139	$	446	$	407	$	144
General and administrative expenses (1)	185		113		622		368		84
Direct costs (1)	35		4		68		20		6
Total	$	374	$	256	$	1,136	$	795	$	234

(1)

Related party costs payable are included in due to affiliate as of December 31, 2015 in the reconciliation of the carrying amounts of major classes of assets and liabilities of the discontinued operations to assets and liabilities of discontinued operations that are presented separately in the Company's consolidated balance sheets. Management fees incurred are included in management fees to affiliate, general and administrative expenses incurred are included in general and administrative expenses reimbursed to affiliate and direct costs incurred are included in general and administrative expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 in the reconciliation of net income from operations of discontinued operations, net of income taxes.

14. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

The Company’s management has evaluated subsequent events through the date of issuance of the consolidated financial statements included herein. There have been no subsequent events that occurred during such period that would require disclosure in this Form 10-Q or would be required to be recognized in the consolidated financial statements as of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 , except as disclosed below.

On November 3, 2016 , the Company declared a cash dividend of $ 0.26 per common share for the fourth quarter of 2016 . The fourth quarter 2016 dividend is payable on January 17, 2017 to common stockholders of record as of December 30, 2016 .

Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Some of the statements contained in this quarterly report constitute forward-looking statements, within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and we intend such statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions contained therein. The information contained in this section should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q. This description contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ significantly from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements due to the factors set forth in “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 . In addition, some of the statements in this quarterly report (including in the following discussion) constitute forward-looking statements, which relate to future events or the future performance or financial condition of Ares Commercial Real Estate Corporation (“ACRE” and, together with its consolidated subsidiaries, the “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our”). The forward-looking statements contained in this report involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including statements concerning:


•	our business and investment strategy;


•	our projected operating results;


•	the return or impact of current and future investments;


•	the timing of cash flows, if any, from our investments;


•	estimates relating to our ability to make distributions to our stockholders in the future;


•	defaults by borrowers in paying debt service on outstanding indebtedness;


•	our ability to obtain and maintain financing arrangements, including securitizations;


•	market conditions and our ability to access alternative debt markets and additional debt and equity capital;


•	the amount of commercial mortgage loans requiring refinancing;


•	our expected investment capacity and available capital;


•	financing and advance rates for our target investments;


•	our expected leverage;


•	changes in interest rates and the market value of our investments;


•	effects of hedging instruments on our target investments;


•	rates of default or decreased recovery rates on our target investments;


•	rates of prepayments on our mortgage loans and the effect on our business of such prepayments;


•	the degree to which our hedging strategies may or may not protect us from interest rate volatility;


•	availability of investment opportunities in mortgage-related and real estate-related investments and securities;


•	the ability of Ares Commercial Real Estate Management LLC ("ACREM" or our "Manager") to locate suitable investments for us, monitor, service and administer our investments and execute our investment strategy;


•	allocation of investment opportunities to us by our Manager;


•	our ability to successfully complete and integrate any acquisitions;


•	our ability to maintain our qualification as a real estate investment trust ("REIT") for U.S. federal income tax purposes;


•	our ability to maintain our exemption from registration under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act");


•	our understanding of our competition;


•	general volatility of the securities markets in which we may invest;


•	adverse changes in the real estate, real estate capital and credit markets and the impact of a protracted decline in the liquidity of credit markets on our business;


•	changes in governmental regulations, tax law and rates, and similar matters (including interpretation thereof);


•	actions and initiatives of the U.S. Government and changes to U.S. Government policies;


•	the state of the U.S. economy generally or in specific geographic regions;


•	uncertainty surrounding the financial stability of the United States, European Union and China;


•	global economic trends and economic recoveries;


•	market trends in our industry, interest rates, real estate values, the debt securities markets or the general economy; and


•	our ability to redeploy the net proceeds from the sale of ACRE Capital Holdings LLC ("TRS Holdings"), the holding company that owned our mortgage banking subsidiary, ACRE Capital LLC ("ACRE Capital").

We use words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “expects,” “intends,” “will,” “should,” “may” and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. Our actual results could differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements for any reason, including the factors set forth under “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 and elsewhere in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q.

We have based the forward-looking statements included in this quarterly report on information available to us on the date of this quarterly report, and we assume no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements.

Overview

We are a specialty finance company primarily engaged in originating and investing in commercial real estate loans and related investments. We are externally managed by our Manager, a subsidiary of Ares Management, L.P. (NYSE: ARES) ("Ares Management"), a publicly traded, leading global alternative asset manager, pursuant to the terms of the management agreement dated April 25, 2012, as amended, between us and our Manager (the "Management Agreement"). From the commencement of our operations in late 2011, we have been primarily focused on directly originating and managing a diversified portfolio of commercial real estate ("CRE") debt-related investments for our own account.

We were formed and commenced operations in late 2011. We are a Maryland corporation and completed our initial public offering in May 2012. We have elected and qualified to be taxed as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, commencing with our taxable year ended December 31, 2012. We generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income taxes on our REIT taxable income, determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid and excluding net capital gains, to the extent that we annually distribute all of our REIT taxable income to stockholders and comply with various other requirements as a REIT. We also operate our business in a manner that will permit us to maintain our exemption from registration under the 1940 Act.

We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, or the JOBS Act, and we are eligible to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not “emerging growth companies.” In addition, Section 107 of the JOBS Act also provides that an “emerging growth company” can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, for complying with new or revised accounting standards. However, we chose to “opt out”

of such extended transition period, and as a result, we will comply with new or revised accounting standards on the relevant dates on which adoption of such standards is required for non-emerging growth companies. Section 107 of the JOBS Act provides that our decision to opt out of the extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards is irrevocable.

We could remain an “emerging growth company” for up to five years, or until the earliest of (i) the last day of the first fiscal year in which our annual gross revenues exceed $1.0 billion, (ii) the date that we become a “large accelerated filer” as defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act which would occur if the market value of our common stock that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of the last business day of our most recently completed second fiscal quarter, or (iii) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt during the preceding three-year period.

Sale of Mortgage Banking Subsidiary

On June 28, 2016, we entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement (as amended, the “Agreement”) with Barings Real Estate Advisers LLC (formerly known as Cornerstone Real Estate Advisers LLC), a Delaware limited liability company (the “Buyer”), to sell TRS Holdings, the holding company that owned our mortgage banking subsidiary, ACRE Capital. Under the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Agreement, on September 30, 2016, the Buyer purchased from us all of the outstanding common units of TRS Holdings (the “ACRE Capital Sale”). ACRE Capital primarily originated, sold and serviced multifamily and senior-living related loans under programs offered by government-sponsored enterprises and by government agencies.

Under the terms of the Agreement, the Buyer paid approximately $93 million in cash as consideration for the ACRE Capital Sale. The purchase price is subject to certain post-closing final working capital adjustments. We recognized a net gain on the sale of TRS Holdings of approximately $ 10.2 million.

The ACRE Capital Sale provides us with additional capital to reinvest in our core business. As a result of the sale of TRS Holdings, the operations of the Mortgage Banking segment have been reclassified as discontinued operations in all periods presented. After giving effect to the ACRE Capital Sale, we no longer provide segment reporting.

Developments During the Third Quarter of 2016 :


•	ACRE originated a $159.2 million senior mortgage loan collateralized by a portfolio of assets comprised of self-storage, retail and office properties across a multi-state area.


•	ACRE originated a $99.0 million senior mortgage loan collateralized by a portfolio of assets comprised of self-storage and retail properties across a multi-state area.


•	ACRE originated a $89.7 million senior mortgage loan on a multifamily property located in Florida.

• ACRE originated a $72.0 million senior mortgage loan on an office property located in Illinois.


•	ACRE originated a $62.5 million senior mortgage loan on an office property located in California.


•	ACRE originated a $45.4 million senior mortgage loan on a multifamily property located in Florida.


•	ACRE originated a $34.1 million senior mortgage loan on a multifamily property located in Minnesota.


•	ACRE originated a $23.3 million senior mortgage loan on a multifamily property located in Florida.


•	ACRE originated a $20.1 million senior mortgage loan on an office property located in Pennsylvania.


•	ACRE amended its $250.0 million master repurchase facility (the “Citibank Facility”) with Citibank, N.A., which added an accordion feature that provides for an increase in the $250.0 million commitment amount with respect to approved assets, as determined by Citibank, N.A. in its sole discretion.


•	ACRE amended and restated the existing $50.0 million Bridge Loan Warehousing Credit and Security Agreement with Bank of America, N.A. (the “BAML Facility”) to increase its commitment size from $50.0 million to $125.0 million.


•	ACRE repaid in full its $75.0 million revolving funding facility (the “July 2014 CNB Facility”) and its terms were not extended.


•	ACRE entered into a $125.0 million master repurchase and securities contract (the "U.S. Bank Facility") with U.S. Bank National Association ("U.S. Bank").


•	ACRE drew the remaining $80.0 million commitment under the Credit and Guaranty Agreement (the ‘‘Secured Term Loan”) with Highbridge Principal Strategies, LLC, as administrative agent, and DBD Credit Funding LLC, as collateral agent.


•	ACRE closed the ACRE Capital Sale.

Factors Impacting Our Operating Results

The results of our operations are affected by a number of factors and primarily depend on, among other things, the level of our net interest income, the market value of our assets and the supply of, and demand for, commercial mortgage loans, CRE debt and other financial assets in the marketplace. Our net interest income, which reflects the amortization of origination fees and direct costs, is recognized based on the contractual rate and the outstanding principal balance of the loans we originate. Interest rates will vary according to the type of investment, conditions in the financial markets, credit worthiness of our borrowers, competition and other factors, none of which can be predicted with any certainty. Our operating results may also be impacted by credit losses in excess of initial anticipations or unanticipated credit events experienced by borrowers.

Stock Buyback Program

In May 2015, we announced that our board of directors authorized us to repurchase up to $20.0 million of our outstanding common stock over a period of one year (the "Stock Buyback Program"). In February 2016, we announced that our board of directors increased the size of the existing $20.0 million Stock Buyback Program to $30.0 million and extended the Stock Buyback Program through March 31, 2017. Purchases made pursuant to the Stock Buyback Program will be made in either the open market or in privately negotiated transactions, from time to time and as permitted by federal securities laws and other legal requirements. Repurchases may be suspended or discontinued at any time. In connection with this Stock Buyback Program, in March 2016, we entered into a Rule 10b5-1 plan to repurchase shares of our common stock in accordance with certain parameters set forth in the Stock Buyback Program. During the nine months ended September 30, 2016 , we repurchased a total of 129,916 shares of our common stock in the open market for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $ 1.4 million, including expenses paid. The shares were repurchased at an average price of $ 11.06 per share, including expenses paid.

Investment Portfolio

As of September 30, 2016 , we have originated or co-originated 34 loans held for investment, excluding 42 loans that were repaid or sold since inception. Such investments are referred to herein as our investment portfolio. As of September 30, 2016 , the aggregate originated commitment under these loans at closing was approximately $ 1.6 billion and outstanding principal was $ 1.4 billion, excluding non-controlling interests held by third parties. During the nine months ended September 30, 2016 , we funded approximately $ 784.3 million of outstanding principal and received repayments of $ 481.2 million of outstanding principal, excluding non-controlling interests held by third parties. As of September 30, 2016 , 81.2% of our loans have London Interbank Offered Rates ("LIBOR") floors, with a weighted average floor of 0.36% , calculated based on loans with LIBOR floors. References to LIBOR or “L” are to 30-day LIBOR (unless otherwise specifically stated).

As of September 30, 2016 , all loans were paying in accordance with their contractual terms. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 , there were no impairments with respect to our loans held for investment.

Our loans held for investment are accounted for at amortized cost. The following table summarizes our loans held for investment as of September 30, 2016 ($ in thousands):



	As of September 30, 2016
	Carrying Amount (1)		Outstanding Principal (1)		Weighted Average Interest Rate		Weighted Average Unleveraged Effective Yield (2)		Weighted Average Remaining Life (Years)
Senior mortgage loans	$	1,263,459	$	1,271,000	4.7	%	5.4	%	1.9
Subordinated debt and preferred equity investments	163,882		165,977		10.7	%	11.2	%	4.9
Total loans held for investment portfolio (excluding non-controlling interests held by third parties)	$	1,427,341	$	1,436,977	5.4	%	6.1	%	2.2

_____________________________________________________________________________


(1)	The difference between the Carrying Amount and the Outstanding Principal face amount of the loans held for investment consists of unamortized purchase discount, deferred loan fees and loan origination costs.

(2)

Unleveraged Effective Yield is the compounded effective rate of return that would be earned over the life of the investment based on the contractual interest rate (adjusted for any deferred loan fees, costs, premium or discount) and assumes no dispositions, early prepayments or defaults. The Total Weighted Average Unleveraged Effective Yield is calculated based on the average of Unleveraged Effective Yield of all loans held by us as of September 30, 2016 as weighted by the Outstanding Principal balance of each loan.

Non-Controlling Interests

The non-controlling interests held by third parties in our consolidated financial statements represent the equity interests in ACRC KA Investor LLC ("ACRC KA") that are not owned by us. See Notes 6 and 12 to our consolidated financial statements included in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q for more information about ACRC KA.

A reconciliation of our loans held for investment portfolio, excluding non-controlling interests held by third parties, to our loans held for investment as included within our consolidated balance sheets is as follows ($ in thousands):



	As of September 30, 2016
	Carrying Amount		Outstanding Principal
Total loans held for investment portfolio (excluding non-controlling interests held by third parties)	$	1,427,341	$	1,436,977
Non-controlling interest investment held by third parties	46,579		46,579
Loans held for investment	$	1,473,920	$	1,483,556

For more information about our investment portfolio, see Note 3 to our consolidated financial statements included in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q .

A reconciliation of our interest income from loans held for investment, excluding non-controlling interests, to our interest income from loans held for investment as included within our consolidated statements of operations is as follows ($ in thousands):



	For the three months ended September 30, 2016		For the nine months ended September 30, 2016
Interest income from loans held for investment, excluding non-controlling interests	$	19,473	$	54,573
Interest income from non-controlling interest investment held by third parties	1,303		3,882
Interest income from loans held for investment	$	20,776	$	58,455

Critical Accounting Policies

Our consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), which require management to make estimates and assumptions that affect reported amounts. The estimates and assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors management believes to be reasonable. Actual results may differ from those estimates and assumptions. There have been no significant changes to our critical accounting policies as disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015 . See Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements included in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q , which describes recently issued accounting pronouncements not yet required to be adopted by us.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following table sets forth a summary of our consolidated results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 ($ thousands):



	For the three months ended September 30,						For the nine months ended September 30,
	2016			2015			2016			2015
Net interest margin	$	11,758		$	12,242		$	32,497		$	37,545
Total expenses	3,918			3,506			10,599			10,310
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	7,840			8,736			21,898			27,235
Income tax expense (benefit), including excise tax	161			3			168			(15		)
Net income from continuing operations	7,679			8,733			21,730			27,250
Net income from operations of discontinued operations, net of income taxes	1,866			2,977			4,221			5,018
Gain on sale of discontinued operations	10,196			—			10,196			—
Net income attributable to ACRE	19,741			11,710			36,147			32,268
Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests	(1,299		)	(2,331		)	(3,876		)	(6,860		)
Net income attributable to common stockholders	$	18,442		$	9,379		$	32,271		$	25,408

The following tables set forth select details of our consolidated results of operations from continuing operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 ($ thousands):

Net Interest Margin



	For the three months ended September 30,						For the nine months ended September 30,
	2016			2015			2016			2015
Interest income from loans held for investment	$	20,776		$	20,949		$	58,455		$	65,131
Interest expense	(9,018		)	(8,707		)	(25,958		)	(27,586		)
Net interest margin	$	11,758		$	12,242		$	32,497		$	37,545

For the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 , net interest margin was approximately $ 11.8 million and $12.2 million, respectively. For the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 , interest income from loans held for investment of $ 20.8 million and $20.9 million, respectively, was generated by weighted average earning assets of $ 1.2 billion, offset by $ 9.0 million and $8.7 million, respectively, of interest expense, unused fees and amortization of deferred loan costs. The weighted average borrowings under the Wells Fargo Facility, the Citibank Facility, the BAML Facility, the March 2014 CNB Facility, the July 2014 CNB Facility, the MetLife Facility, the UBS Facilities and the U.S. Bank Facility (individually defined above or below and collectively, the "Secured Funding Agreements") and securitization debt, the Secured Term Loan and convertible notes were $ 850.9 million and $894.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 , respectively. The decrease in net interest margin for the three months ended September 30, 2016 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2015 primarily relates to a decrease in interest income from non-controlling interests for the three months ended September 30, 2016 .

For the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 , net interest margin was approximately $ 32.5 million and $37.5 million, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 , interest income from loans held for investment of $ 58.5 million and $65.1 million, respectively, was generated by weighted average earning assets of $ 1.2 billion and $1.3 billion, respectively, offset by $ 26.0 million and $27.6 million, respectively, of interest expense, unused fees and amortization of deferred loan costs. The weighted average borrowings under the Secured Funding Agreements and securitization debt, the Secured Term Loan and convertible notes were $ 843.5 million and $956.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 , respectively. The decrease in net interest margin for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2015 primarily relates to a decrease in our weighted average earning assets and a decrease in interest income from non-controlling interests for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 .

Operating Expenses

The operating expenses below do not include expenses of ACRE Capital. See Note 13 to our consolidated financial statements included in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q for more information about the operating expenses of ACRE Capital.



	For the three months ended September 30,				For the nine months ended September 30,
	2016		2015		2016		2015
Management and incentive fees to affiliate	$	1,690	$	1,351	$	4,380	$	4,040
Professional fees	678		617		1,703		1,535
General and administrative expenses	690		698		2,099		2,144
General and administrative expenses reimbursed to affiliate	860		840		2,417		2,591
Total expenses	$	3,918	$	3,506	$	10,599	$	10,310

For the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 , we incurred operating expenses of $ 3.9 million and $3.5 million, respectively. The increase in operating expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2016 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2015 primarily relates to incentive fees due to our Manager and an increase in our use of third party professionals for the three months ended September 30, 2016 .

For the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 , we incurred operating expenses of $ 10.6 million and $10.3 million, respectively. The increase in operating expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2015 primarily relates to incentive fees due to our Manager for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 .

Related Party Expenses

For the three months ended September 30, 2016 , related party expenses included $ 1.4 million in management fees due to our Manager and $ 0.9 million for our share of allocable general and administrative expenses for which we were required to reimburse our Manager pursuant to the Management Agreement. For the three months ended September 30, 2015 , related party expenses included $1.4 million in management fees due to our Manager and $0.8 million for our share of allocable general and administrative expenses for which we were required to reimburse our Manager pursuant to the Management Agreement. For the three months ended September 30, 2016 , related party expenses also included $ 0.3 million in incentive fees due to our Manager. For the three months ended September 30, 2015 , there were no incentive fees due to our Manager.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2016 , related party expenses included $ 4.1 million in management fees due to our Manager and $ 2.4 million for our share of allocable general and administrative expenses for which we were required to reimburse our Manager pursuant to the Management Agreement. For the nine months ended September 30, 2015 , related party expenses included $4.0 million in management fees due to our Manager and $2.6 million for our share of allocable general and administrative expenses for which we were required to reimburse our Manager pursuant to the Management Agreement. For the nine months ended September 30, 2016 , related party expenses also included $ 0.3 million in incentive fees due to our Manager. For the nine months ended September 30, 2015 , there were no incentive fees due to our Manager.

Other Expenses

For the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 , professional fees were $ 0.7 million and $0.6 million, respectively. The increase in professional fees for the three months ended September 30, 2016 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2015 primarily relates to an increase in our use of third party professionals. For both the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 , general and administrative expenses were $ 0.7 million.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 , professional fees were $ 1.7 million and $1.5 million, respectively. The increase in professional fees for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2015 primarily relates to an increase in our use of third party professionals. For both the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 , general and administrative expenses were $ 2.1 million.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Liquidity is a measure of our ability to meet potential cash requirements, including ongoing commitments to repay borrowings, fund and maintain our assets and operations, make distributions to our stockholders and other general business needs. We use significant cash to purchase our target investments, make principal and interest payments on our borrowings, make distributions to our stockholders and fund our operations. Our primary sources of cash generally consist of unused borrowing capacity under the Secured Funding Agreements, the net proceeds of future offerings, payments of principal and

interest we receive on our portfolio of assets and cash generated from our operating activities. However, principal repayments from mortgage loans in the collateralized loan obligation ("CLO") securitization are applied sequentially, first going to pay down the senior CLO notes, and accordingly, we will not receive any proceeds from repayment of loans in the CLO until all senior notes are repaid in full. Subject to maintaining our qualification as a REIT and our exemption from the 1940 Act, we expect that our primary sources of financing will be, to the extent available to us, through (a) credit, secured funding and other lending facilities, (b) securitizations, (c) other sources of private financing, including warehouse and repurchase facilities, and (d) public or private offerings of our equity or debt securities. See “Recent Developments” included in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q for information on our available capital as of November 2, 2016 . We may seek to sell certain of our investments in order to manage liquidity needs, interest rate risk, meet other operating objectives and adapt to market conditions.

Cash Flows

The following table sets forth changes in cash and cash equivalents for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 , which are inclusive of amounts related to discontinued operations ($ in thousands):



	For the nine months ended September 30,
	2016			2015
Net income	$	36,147		$	32,268
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:	(35,962		)	172,308
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	185			204,576
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(242,456		)	197,259
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	275,044			(407,987		)
Change in cash and cash equivalents	$	32,773		$	(6,152	)

During the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 , cash and cash equivalents increased by $ 32.8 million and decreased by $6.2 million, respectively.

Operating Activities

For the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 , net cash provided by operating activities totaled $ 0.2 million and $204.6 million, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2016 , adjustments to net income related to operating activities primarily included originations of mortgage loans held for sale of $ 639.4 million, sale of mortgage loans held for sale to third parties of $ 571.7 million, change in the fair value of mortgage servicing rights (“MSRs”) of $ 6.5 million, gain on sale of discontinued operations of $ 10.2 million and change in other assets of $ 39.7 million. For the nine months ended September 30, 2015 , adjustments to net income related to operating activities primarily included originations of mortgage loans held for sale of $575.0 million, sale of mortgage loans held for sale to third parties of $685.1 million, change in the fair value of MSRs of $7.0 million, change in restricted cash of $41.9 million and change in other assets of $18.9 million.

Investing Activities

For the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015 , net cash provided by (used in) investing activities totaled $ (242.5) million and $197.3 million, respectively. This change in net cash provided by (used in) investing activities was primarily as a result of the cash used for the origination of new loans held for investment exceeding the cash received from principal repayment of loans held for investment and cash received from the sale of discontinued operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 .

Financing Activities

For the nine months ended September 30, 2016 , net cash provided by financing activities totaled $ 275.0 million and primarily related to proceeds from our Secured Funding Agreements of $ 1.3 billion, proceeds from our secured term loan of $ 80.0 million and proceeds from our Warehouse Lines of Credit (defined below) of $ 863.4 million, partially offset by repayments of our Secured Funding Agreements of $ 932.4 million, repayments of debt of consolidated variable interest entities (“VIEs”) of $ 197.4 million and repayments of our Warehouse Lines of Credit of $ 795.7 million. For the nine months ended September 30, 2015 , net cash used in financing activities totaled $408.0 million and primarily related to repayments of our Secured Funding Agreements of $201.6 million, repayments of debt of consolidated VIEs of $243.7 million and repayments of

our Warehouse Lines of Credit (defined below) of $777.7 million, partially offset by proceeds from our Secured Funding Agreements of $170.5 million and proceeds from our Warehouse Lines of Credit (defined below) of $668.1 million.

We, through our previously owned subsidiary, ACRE Capital, borrowed funds under the ASAP Line of Credit and the BAML Line of Credit (individually defined below and together, the “Warehouse Lines of Credit”). ACRE Capital was party to a $80.0 million multifamily as soon as pooled sale agreement (the “ASAP Line of Credit”) with the Federal National Mortgage Association ("Fannie Mae") to finance installments received from Fannie Mae. ACRE Capital was party to a $135.0 million line of credit agreement with Bank of America, N.A. (as amended and restated, the “BAML Line of Credit”), which was used to finance mortgage loans originated by ACRE Capital.

Summary of Financing Agreements

The sources of financing under our Secured Funding Agreements and the Secured Term Loan (collectively, the "Financing Agreements") are described in the following table ($ in thousands):



	As of
	September 30, 2016									December 31, 2015
	Total Commitment			Outstanding Balance		Interest Rate		Maturity Date		Total Commitment		Outstanding Balance		Interest Rate		Maturity Date
Secured funding agreements:
Wells Fargo Facility	$	325,000	(1)	$	229,255	LIBOR+1.75 to 2.35%		December 14, 2017	(1)	$	225,000	$	101,473	LIBOR+1.75 to 2.35%		December 14, 2016	(1)
Citibank Facility	250,000		(2)	319,925		LIBOR+2.00 to 2.50%		December 8, 2016	(2)	250,000		112,827		LIBOR+2.00 to 2.50%		December 8, 2016	(2)
BAML Facility	125,000		(3)	77,679		LIBOR+2.25 to 2.75%		May 25, 2017	(3)	50,000		—		LIBOR+2.25 to 2.75%		May 26, 2016	(3)
March 2014 CNB Facility	50,000			—		LIBOR+3.00%		March 11, 2017	(4)	50,000		—		LIBOR+3.00%		March 11, 2016	(4)
July 2014 CNB Facility	—			—		—		—	(5)	75,000		66,200		LIBOR+3.00%	(5)	July 31, 2016	(5)
MetLife Facility	180,000			111,999		LIBOR+2.35%		August 12, 2017	(6)	180,000		109,474		LIBOR+2.35%		August 12, 2017	(6)
April 2014 UBS Facility	140,000			82,004		LIBOR+1.88 to 2.28%	(7)	October 21, 2018		140,000		75,558		LIBOR+1.88 to 2.28%	(7)	October 21, 2018
December 2014 UBS Facility	—			—		—		—	(8)	57,243		57,243		LIBOR+2.74%		July 6, 2016
U.S. Bank Facility	125,000			58,240		LIBOR+2.25%		July 31, 2019	(9)	—		—		—		—
Subtotal	$	1,195,000		$	879,102					$	1,027,243	$	522,775

Secured Term Loan	$	155,000		$	155,000	LIBOR+6.00%	(10)	December 9, 2018		$	155,000	$	75,000	LIBOR+6.00%	(10)	December 9, 2018
Total	$	1,350,000		$	1,034,102					$	1,182,243	$	597,775

______________________________________________________________________________

(1)

The maturity date of the master repurchase funding facility with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (the “Wells Fargo Facility”) is subject to two 12-month extensions at our option provided that certain conditions are met and applicable extension fees are paid. Beginning on December 14, 2015, new advances under the Wells Fargo Facility accrue interest at a per annum rate equal to the sum of (i) 30 day LIBOR plus (ii) a pricing margin range of 1.75% to 2.35%. Advances on loans made prior to December 14, 2015 under the Wells Fargo Facility continue to accrue interest at a per annum rate equal to the sum of (i) 30 day LIBOR plus (ii) a pricing margin range of 2.00% to 2.50%. In June 2016, we amended the Wells Fargo Facility to, among other things, increase the size of the facility from $225.0 million to $325.0 million and extend the initial maturity date to December 14, 2017.

(2)

The Citibank Facility is subject to three 12-month extensions at our option provided that certain conditions are met and applicable extension fees are paid. In July 2016, we entered into an amendment to the Citibank Facility, which added an accordion feature that provides for an increase in the $250.0 million commitment amount with respect to approved assets, as determined by Citibank, N.A. in its sole discretion.


(3)	In August 2016, we amended and restated the existing BAML Facility to increase its commitment size from $50.0 million to $125.0 million. Individual advances on loans under the BAML Facility generally have a two-year maturity, subject to a 12-month extension at our option provided that certain conditions are met and applicable extension fees are paid.


(4)	We have one 12-month extension at our option provided that certain conditions are met and applicable extension fees are paid, which, if exercised, would extend the final maturity of the secured revolving funding facility with City National Bank (the “March 2014 CNB Facility”) to March 10, 2018.


(5)	The interest rate of the July 2014 CNB Facility was LIBOR plus 3.00%, comprised of LIBOR plus 1.50% and a credit support fee of 1.50% payable to Ares Management. In July 2016, we amended the July 2014 CNB Facility to extend the maturity date to September 30, 2016. On September 30, 2016, the July 2014 CNB Facility was repaid in full and its terms were not extended.


(6)	The revolving master repurchase facility with Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (the "MetLife Facility") is subject to two 12-month extensions at our option provided that certain conditions are met and applicable extension fees are paid.

(7)

The price differential (or interest rate) on the revolving master repurchase facility with UBS Real Estate Securities Inc. (the “April 2014 UBS Facility”) is one-month LIBOR plus (i) 1.88% per annum, for assets that are subject to an advance for one year or less, (ii) 2.08% per annum, for assets that are subject to an advance in excess of one year but less than two years, and (iii) 2.28% per annum, for assets that are subject to an advance for more than two years; in each case, excluding amortization of commitment and exit fees.


(8)	The global master repurchase agreement with UBS AG (the “December 2014 UBS Facility,” and together with the April 2014 UBS Facility, the "UBS Facilities") has been repaid in full and its terms were not extended.

(9)

The U.S. Bank Facility is subject to two 12-month extensions at our option provided that certain conditions are met and applicable extension fees are paid. Advances under the U.S. Bank Facility accrue interest at a per annum rate of one-month LIBOR plus a spread of 2.25%, unless otherwise agreed between U.S. Bank and the Company, depending upon the mortgage loans sold to U.S. Bank in the applicable transaction.


(10)	The Secured Term Loan has a LIBOR floor of 1.0% on drawn amounts.

Our Financing Agreements contain various affirmative and negative covenants, including negative pledges, and provisions related to events of default that are normal and customary for similar financing agreements. See Note 4 to our consolidated financial statements included in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q for more information on our Financing Agreements.

Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities and Collateralized Loan Obligations

We may seek to enhance the returns on our senior mortgage loan investments through securitizations, if available. To the extent available, we intend to securitize the senior portion of some of our loans, while retaining the subordinate securities in our investment portfolio. The securitization of this senior portion will be accounted for as either a “sale” and the loans will be removed from our balance sheet or as a “financing” and will be classified as “loans held for investment” in our consolidated balance sheets, depending upon the structure of the securitization.

The following table summarizes our securitizations debt as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 ($ in thousands):



	As of
	September 30, 2016				December 31, 2015
	Carrying Amount		Outstanding Principal		Carrying Amount		Outstanding Principal
Commercial mortgage-backed securitization debt (consolidated VIE)	$	—	$	—	$	61,815	$	61,856
Collateralized loan obligation securitization debt (consolidated VIE)	57,787		57,830		192,528		193,419
Securitizations debt	$	57,787	$	57,830	$	254,343	$	255,275

See Note 12 to our consolidated financial statements included in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q for additional terms and details of our securitizations.

Capital Markets

We may periodically raise additional capital through public offerings of debt and equity securities to fund new investments. In June 2016, we filed a registration statement on Form S-3 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), which became effective on August 29, 2016, in order to permit us to offer, from time to time, in one or more offerings or series of offerings up to $1.25 billion of our common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, subscription rights to purchase shares of our common stock, warrants representing rights to purchase shares of our common stock, preferred stock or debt securities, or units.

Other Sources of Financing

In addition to the sources of liquidity described above, in the future, we may also use other sources of financing to fund the origination or acquisition of our target investments or to refinance expiring Financing Agreements and securitizations, including other credit facilities, warehouse facilities, repurchase facilities, non-convertible or convertible debt, securitized financings and other public and private forms of borrowing. These financings may be issued by us or our subsidiaries, be collateralized or non-collateralized, accrue interest at either fixed or floating rates and may involve one or more lenders.

Leverage Policies

We intend to use prudent amounts of leverage to increase potential returns to our stockholders. To that end, subject to maintaining our qualification as a REIT and our exemption from registration under the 1940 Act, we intend to continue to use borrowings to fund the origination or acquisition of our target investments. Given current market conditions and our focus on first or senior mortgages, we currently expect that such leverage would not exceed, on a debt-to-equity basis, a 4-to-1 ratio. Our charter and bylaws do not restrict the amount of leverage that we may use. The amount of leverage we will deploy for particular investments in our target investments will depend upon our Manager’s assessment of a variety of factors, which may include, among others, the anticipated liquidity and price volatility of the assets in our investment portfolio, the potential for losses and extension risk in our portfolio, the gap between the duration of our assets and liabilities, including hedges, the availability and cost of financing the assets, our opinion of the creditworthiness of our financing counterparties, the health of the U.S. economy generally or in specific geographic regions and commercial mortgage markets, our outlook for the level and volatility of interest rates, the slope of the yield curve, the credit quality of our assets, the collateral underlying our assets, and our outlook for asset spreads relative to the LIBOR curve.

Dividends

We elected to be taxed as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes and, as such, anticipate distributing at least 90% of our REIT taxable income, excluding net capital gains and determined without regard to the deduction for dividends paid. To the extent that we distribute less than 100% of our REIT taxable income in any tax year (taking into account any distributions made in a subsequent tax year under Sections 857(b)(9) or 858 of the Internal Revenue Code), we will pay tax at regular corporate rates on that undistributed portion. If a REIT distributes less than the sum of 85% of its ordinary income for the calendar year, 95% of its capital gain net income for the calendar year plus any undistributed shortfall from its prior calendar year (the “Required Distribution”) to its stockholders during any calendar year (including any distributions declared by the last day of the calendar year but paid in the subsequent year), then it is required to pay an excise tax equal to 4% of any shortfall between the Required Distribution and the amount that was actually distributed. Any of these taxes would decrease cash available for distribution to our stockholders. If we determine that our estimated current year taxable income will be in excess of estimated dividend distributions for the current year from such income, we accrue excise tax on estimated excess taxable income as such taxable income is earned.

Before we make any distributions, whether for U.S. federal income tax purposes or otherwise, we must first meet both our operating requirements and debt service on our Financing Agreements and other debt payable. If our cash available for distribution is less than our REIT taxable income, we could be required to sell assets or borrow funds to make cash distributions or we may make a portion of the Required Distribution in the form of a taxable stock distribution or distribution of debt securities.

OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS

We have commitments to fund various senior mortgage loans, as well as subordinated debt and preferred equity investments in our portfolio.

Other than as set forth in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q , we do not have any relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, such as entities often referred to as structured investment vehicles, special purpose entities or VIEs, established to facilitate off-balance sheet arrangements or other contractually narrow or limited purposes. Further, we have not guaranteed any obligations of unconsolidated entities or entered into any commitment or intend to provide additional funding to any such entities.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

As of November 2, 2016 , we had approximately $ 132 million in capital, either in cash or in approved but undrawn capacity under our borrowing facilities. After holding in reserve $10 million in liquidity requirements, we expect to have

approximately $ 122 million in capital available to fund new loans, fund outstanding commitments on existing loans, repurchase our common shares and for other working capital and general corporate purposes. Assuming that we use all such amounts as capital to make new senior loans and we are able to leverage such amounts under our secured funding agreements at a debt‑to‑equity ratio of 2.5:1, we would have the capacity to fund approximately $ 425 million of additional senior loans.

As of November 2, 2016 , the total unfunded commitments for our existing loans held for investment were approximately $ 92 million. In addition, borrowings under our Secured Funding Agreements were approximately $ 852 million, borrowings under our Secured Term Loan was approximately $ 155 million and debt issued in the form of CLO was approximately $ 21 million.

On November 3, 2016 , we declared a cash dividend of $ 0.26 per common share for the fourth quarter of 2016 . The fourth quarter 2016 dividend is payable on January 17, 2017 to common stockholders of record as of December 30, 2016 .

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

As part of our risk management strategy, our Manager closely monitors our portfolio and actively manages the credit, interest rate, market, prepayment, real estate inflation and financing risks associated with holding a portfolio of our target investments. We manage our portfolio through an interactive process with our Manager and Ares Management and service our target investments through a combination of direct servicing by ACRE Capital and use of our Manager's servicer. ACRE Capital and one of its subsidiaries serve as the primary servicer of our investments. ACRE Capital is a Standard & Poor’s rated commercial primary servicer that is also included on Standard & Poor’s Select Servicer List. Our Manager's servicer, which is a Standard & Poor's rated commercial special servicer that is included on Standard & Poor's Select Servicer List, serves as the special servicer for non-routine investment servicing issues. Our Manager has an Investment Committee that oversees compliance with our investment strategy and guidelines, investment portfolio holdings and financing strategy. We seek to manage our risks related to the credit quality of our assets, interest rates, liquidity, prepayment speeds and market value while, at the same time, seeking to provide an opportunity to stockholders to realize attractive risk-adjusted returns through ownership of our capital stock. While we do not seek to avoid risk completely, we believe the risks can be quantified from historical experience and seek to actively manage those risks, to earn sufficient compensation to justify taking those risks and to maintain capital levels consistent with the risks we undertake.

Credit Risk

We are subject to varying degrees of credit risk in connection with holding our target investments. We have exposure to credit risk on our CRE loans and other target investments in our business. Our Manager seeks to manage credit risk by performing our due diligence process prior to origination or acquisition and through the use of non-recourse financing, when and where available and appropriate. Credit risk is also addressed through our Manager’s ongoing review of our investment portfolio. In addition, with respect to any particular target investment, our Manager’s investment team evaluates, among other things, relative valuation, comparable analysis, supply and demand trends, shape of yield curves, delinquency and default rates, recovery of various sectors and vintage of collateral.

Interest Rate Risk

Interest rates are highly sensitive to many factors, including fiscal and monetary policies and domestic and international economic and political considerations, as well as other factors beyond our control. We are subject to interest rate risk in connection with our assets and our related financing obligations, including our borrowings under the Financing Agreements. We primarily originate or acquire floating rate mortgage assets and finance those assets with index-matched floating rate liabilities. As a result, we significantly reduce our exposure to changes in portfolio value and cash flow variability related to changes in interest rates. However, we regularly measure our exposure to interest rate risk and assess interest rate risk and manage our interest rate exposure on an ongoing basis by comparing our interest rate sensitive assets to our interest rate sensitive liabilities. Based on that review, we determine whether or not we should enter into hedging transactions and derivative financial instruments, such as forward sale commitments and interest rate floors in order to mitigate our exposure to changes in interest rates.

While hedging activities may mitigate our exposure to adverse fluctuations in interest rates, certain hedging transactions that we may enter into in the future, such as interest rate swap agreements, may also limit our ability to participate in the benefits of lower interest rates with respect to our investments. In addition, there can be no assurance that we will be able to effectively hedge our interest rate risk.

In addition to the risks related to fluctuations in asset values and cash flows associated with movements in interest rates, there is also the risk of non-performance on floating rate assets. In the case of a significant increase in interest rates, the additional debt service payments due from our borrowers may strain the operating cash flows of the real estate assets underlying our mortgages and, potentially, contribute to non-performance or, in severe cases, default.

Interest Rate Effect on Net Interest Margin

Our operating results depend in large part on differences between the income earned on our assets and our cost of borrowing. The cost of our borrowings generally is based on prevailing market interest rates. During a period of rising interest rates, our borrowing costs generally increase while the yields earned on our leveraged fixed-rate mortgage assets remain static, which could result in a decline in our net interest spread and net interest margin.

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 , the following fluctuations in the average 30-day LIBOR would have resulted in the following increases in net interest margin on our loans held for investment ($ in millions):



Change in Average 30-Day LIBOR	For the three months ended September 30, 2016		For the nine months ended September 30, 2016
Up 300 basis points	$	1.6	$	5.1
Up 200 basis points	$	1.0	$	3.4
Up 100 basis points	$	0.4	$	1.7
Down to 0 basis points	$	0.2	$	0.3

The severity of any such impact depends on our asset/liability composition at the time as well as the magnitude and duration of the interest rate increase and any applicable floors and caps. Further, an increase in short-term interest rates could also have a negative impact on the market value of our target investments. If any of these events happen, we could experience a decrease in net income or incur a net loss during these periods, which could adversely affect our liquidity and results of operations.

Interest Rate Cap and Floor Risk

We primarily originate or acquire floating rate mortgage assets. These are assets in which the mortgages may be subject to periodic and lifetime interest rate caps and floors, which limit the amount by which the asset’s interest yield change during any given period. However, our borrowing costs pursuant to our financing agreements sometimes are not subject to similar restrictions or have different floors and caps. As a result, in a period of increasing interest rates, interest rate costs on our borrowings could increase without limitation by caps, while the interest rate yields on our floating rate mortgage assets could be limited if we do not implement effective caps. In addition, floating rate mortgage assets may be subject to periodic payment caps that result in some portion of the interest being deferred and added to the principal outstanding. This could result in our receipt of less cash income on such assets than we would need to pay the interest cost on our related borrowings. In addition, in a period of decreasing interest rates, the interest rate yields on our floating rate mortgage assets could decrease, while the interest rate costs on certain of our borrowings could be fixed at a higher floor. These factors could lower our net interest income or cause a net loss during periods of decreasing interest rates, which would harm our financial condition, cash flows and results of operations.

Market Risk

The estimated fair values of our investments fluctuate primarily due to changes in interest rates and other factors. Generally, in a rising interest rate environment, the estimated fair value of the fixed-rate securities would be expected to decrease; conversely, in a decreasing interest rate environment, the estimated fair value of the fixed-rate securities would be expected to increase. As market volatility increases or liquidity decreases, the fair value of our investments may be adversely impacted.

Prepayment and Securitizations Repayment Risk

Our net income and earnings may be affected by prepayment rates on our existing CRE loans. When we originate our CRE loans, we anticipate that we will generate an expected yield. When borrowers prepay their CRE loans faster than we expect, we may be unable to replace these CRE loans with new CRE loans that will generate yields which are as high as the prepaid CRE loans. Additionally, principal repayment proceeds from mortgage loans in the CLO are applied sequentially, first going to pay down the senior CLO notes. We will not receive any proceeds from repayment of loans in the CLO until all senior notes are repaid in full.

Financing Risk

We borrow funds under our Financing Agreements to finance our target assets. Over time, as market conditions change, in addition to these financings, we may use other forms of leverage. Weakness or volatility in the financial markets, the commercial real estate and mortgage markets and the economy generally could adversely affect one or more of our potential lenders and could cause one or more of our potential lenders to be unwilling or unable to provide us with financing or to increase the costs of that financing.

Real Estate Risk

Commercial mortgage assets are subject to volatility and may be affected adversely by a number of factors, including, but not limited to, national, regional and local economic conditions (which may be adversely affected by industry slowdowns

and other factors); local real estate conditions; changes or continued weakness in specific industry segments; local markets with a significant exposure to the energy sector; construction quality, age and design; demographic factors; and retroactive changes to building or similar codes. In addition, decreases in property values reduce the value of the collateral and the potential proceeds available to a borrower to repay the underlying loan or loans, as the case may be, which could also cause us to suffer losses. We seek to manage these risks through our underwriting and asset management processes.

Inflation Risk

Virtually all of our assets and liabilities are sensitive to interest rates. As a result, interest rates and other factors influence our performance far more so than does inflation. Changes in interest rates do not necessarily correlate with inflation rates or changes in inflation rates. In each case, in general, our activities and balance sheet are measured with reference to historical cost and/or fair market value without considering inflation.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

The Company's management, with the participation of the Company's Co-Chief Executive Officers and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act). Based upon such evaluation, the Company's Co-Chief Executive Officers and Chief Financial Officer concluded that its disclosure controls and procedures were effective, as of September 30, 2016 , to provide assurance that information that is required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported, within the time periods specified by the SEC's rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company's management, including its Co-Chief Executive Officers and Chief Financial Officer, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. During the three months ended September 30, 2016 , there was no change in our internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II — OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

In the normal course of business, we may be subject to various legal proceedings from time to time. Furthermore, third parties may try to seek to impose liability on us in connection with our loans. As of September 30, 2016 , we were not subject to any material pending legal proceedings.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

There have been no material changes to the risk factors previously disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 . You should carefully consider the risk factors discussed in Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 , which could materially affect our business, financial condition and/or operating results. The risks described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K are not the only risks facing our Company. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and/or operating results.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

Stock Buyback Program

In May 2015, we announced that the Company's board of directors authorized us to repurchase up to $20.0 million of our outstanding common stock over a period of one year. In February 2016, we announced that the Company's board of directors increased the size of the existing $20.0 million Stock Buyback Program to $30.0 million and extended the Stock Buyback Program through March 31, 2017. Purchases made pursuant to the Stock Buyback Program will be made in either the open market or in privately negotiated transactions, from time to time and as permitted by federal securities laws and other legal requirements. Repurchases may be suspended or discontinued at any time. In connection with this Stock Buyback Program, in March 2016, we entered into a Rule 10b5-1 plan to repurchase shares of our common stock in accordance with certain parameters set forth in the Stock Buyback Program.

Repurchases of our common stock under our Stock Buyback Program were as follows (in thousands, except shares and per share data):



Period	Total Number of Shares Purchased	Average Price Paid Per Share (1)		Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs	Maximum (or Approximate Dollar Value) of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs
January 1, 2016 through January 31, 2016	—	—		—	$	20,000
February 1, 2016 through February 29, 2016	—	—		—	$	30,000
March 1, 2016 through March 31, 2016	34,854	$	10.28	34,854	$	29,642
April 1, 2016 through April 30, 2016	95,062	$	11.34	95,062	$	28,563
May 1, 2016 through May 31, 2016	—	—		—	$	28,563
June 1, 2016 through June 30, 2016	—	—		—	$	28,563
July 1, 2016 through July 31, 2016	—	—		—	$	28,563
August 1, 2016 through August 31, 2016	—	—		—	$	28,563
September 1, 2016 through September 30, 2016	—	—		—	$	28,563
Total	129,916	$	11.06	129,916

______________________________________________________________________________


(1)	Amount includes expenses paid.

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

None.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable.

Item 5. Other Information

None.

Item 6. Exhibits

EXHIBIT INDEX



Exhibit Number			Exhibit Description
2.1*			Purchase and Sale Agreement, among Ares Commercial Real Estate Corporation and Cornerstone Real Estate Advisers LLC. (1)
2.2*			Waiver and Amendment to Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated as of September 29, 2016, among Ares Commercial Real Estate Corporation and Barings Real Estate Advisers LLC (formerly known as Cornerstone Real Estate Advisers LLC).
3.1*			Articles of Amendment and Restatement of Ares Commercial Real Estate Corporation. (2)
3.2*			Amended and Restated Bylaws of Ares Commercial Real Estate Corporation. (3)
10.1*			Amendment No. 3 to Bridge Loan Warehousing Credit and Security Agreement dated as of May 26, 2016, among ACRC Lender B LLC and Bank of America, N.A. (4)
10.2*			Amendment No. 6 to Amended and Restated Master Repurchase and Securities Contract and Amended and Restated Guarantee Agreement dated as of June 30, 2016, among ACRC Lender W LLC, ACRC Lender W TRS LLC and Ares Commercial Real Estate Corporation and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association. (5)
10.3*			Amendment No. 5 to Sixth Amended and Restated Mortgage Warehousing Credit and Security Agreement, dated as of June 30, 2016, by and among ACRE Capital LLC, Bank of America, N.A., as Agent and Lender and the other Lenders party thereto. (5)
10.4*			First Amendment to Master Repurchase Agreement and Guaranty dated as of July 13, 2016, among ACRC Lender C LLC, as borrower, Ares Commercial Real Estate Corporation, as guarantor, and Citibank, N.A., as lender. (7)
10.5*			Second Amendment to Master Repurchase Agreement and Guaranty dated as of July 13, 2016, among ACRC Lender C LLC, as borrower, Ares Commercial Real Estate Corporation, as guarantor, and Citibank, N.A., as lender. (6)
10.6*			Amendment No. 2 to Credit Agreement dated as of July 29, 2016, by and among ACRC Lender LLC, City National Bank, a national banking association, as arranger and administrative agent, and the lenders party thereto. (7)
10.7*			Amendment No. 6 to Sixth Amended and Restated Mortgage Warehousing Credit and Security Agreement dated as of July 29, 2016, by and among ACRE Capital LLC, Bank of America, N.A., as Agent and Lender and the other Lenders party thereto. (7)
10.8*			Master Repurchase and Securities Contract dated as of August 1, 2016, between ACRC Lender US LLC and U.S. Bank National Association. (7)
10.9*			Payment Guaranty, dated as of August 1, 2016, by Ares Commercial Real Estate Corporation in favor of U.S. Bank National Association. (7)
10.10*			Amended and Restated Bridge Loan Warehousing Credit and Security Agreement, dated as of August 8, 2016, by and among ACRC Lender B LLC, Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent and Lender and the other Lenders. (8)
10.11			Amendment to Guaranty, dated as of September 22, 2016, by Ares Commercial Real Estate Corporation, as guarantor, and Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, as buyer.
10.12			Amended No. 7 to Sixth Amended and Restated Mortgage Warehousing Credit and Security Agreement dated as of September 27, 2016, by and among ACRE Capital LLC, Bank of America, N.A., as Agent and Lender and the other Lenders party thereto.
31.1			Certification of Co-Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Rule 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
31.2			Certification of Co-Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Rule 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
31.3			Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Rule 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.1			Certification of Co-Chief Executive Officers and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
101.INS			XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH			XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL			XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.LAB			XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE			XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
101.DEF			XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document

* Previously filed


(1)	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K (File No. 001-35517), filed on June 29, 2016.


(2)	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Form 10-K (File No. 001-35517), filed on March 1, 2016.


(3)	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Form S-8 (File No. 333-181077), filed on May 1, 2012.


(4)	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K (File No. 001-35517), filed on June 1, 2016.


(5)	Incorporated by reference to Exhibits 10.1 and 10.2, as applicable, to the Company’s Form 8-K (File No. 001-35517), filed on July 7, 2016.


(6)	Incorporated by reference to Exhibits 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K (File No. 001-35517), filed on July 19, 2016.


(7)	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4, 10.6, 10.7, 10.8 and 10.9 to the Company’s Form 10-Q (File No. 001-35517), filed on August 4, 2016.


(8)	Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K (File No. 001-35517), filed on August 11, 2016.

SIGNATURES

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 thereunto duly authorized.



	ARES COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE CORPORATION


Date: November 3, 2016	By	/s/ John Jardine
		John Jardine
		Co-Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)

Date: November 3, 2016	By	/s/ Robert L. Rosen
		Robert L. Rosen
		Interim Co-Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)

Date: November 3, 2016	By	/s/ Tae-Sik Yoon
		Tae-Sik Yoon
		Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

AMENDMENT TO GUARANTY

THIS AMENDMENT TO GUARANTY (this “ Amendment ”) is entered into as of September 22, 2016 by ARES COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE CORPORATION, a Maryland corporation (“ Guarantor ”), and METROPOLITAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, a New York corporation (“ Buyer ”).

RECITALS

WHEREAS , Guarantor entered into that certain Guaranty in favor of Buyer, dated as of August 13, 2014 (the “ Original Guaranty ”) relating to that certain Master Repurchase Agreement, dated as of August 13, 2014, between ACRC Lender ML LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Seller ”) and Buyer (as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Repurchase Agreement ”); and

WHEREAS , on the date hereof, Seller and Guarantor have requested certain amendments and modifications be made to the Original Guaranty, and Buyer has agreed to amend the Original Guaranty as more specifically set forth herein (the Original Guaranty, as amended pursuant to this Amendment and as the same may be further amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Guaranty ”).

NOW THEREFORE , in consideration of the premises and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, Guarantor and Buyer hereby agree to amend the Original Guaranty as follows:

Section 1. Definitions . Unless otherwise indicated, capitalized terms that are used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Original Guaranty, and if not defined in the Original Guaranty, the meanings ascribed to them in the Repurchase Agreement.

Section 2. Amendment . The Original Guaranty is hereby amended as follows:

2.1 Amendment to Section 1 of the Original Guaranty . Each of the following defined terms set forth in Section 1 of the Original Guaranty is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

““ Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio ” means EBITDA (as determined in accordance with GAAP) for the immediately preceding twelve (12) month period ending on the last date of the applicable Test Period, divided by the Fixed Charges for the immediately preceding twelve (12) month period ending on the last date of the applicable Test Period; provided, that the “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” and associated components thereof shall be determined without regard to the effects of consolidation of any issuer of a Specified Third Party Securitization on the financial statements of Guarantor under Accounting Standards Codification Section 810, as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, or otherwise under GAAP to the extent relating to the consolidation of any issuer

76290774v3

of any Specified Third Party Securitization on the financial statements of Guarantor.”

““ Indebtedness ” means with respect to any Person: (i) all indebtedness, whether or not represented by bonds, debentures, notes, securities, or other evidences of indebtedness, for the repayment of money borrowed, (ii) all indebtedness representing deferred payment of the purchase price of property or assets, (iii) all indebtedness under any lease which, in conformity with GAAP, is required to be capitalized for balance sheet purposes, (iv) all indebtedness under guaranties, endorsements, assumptions, or other contingent obligations, in respect of, or to purchase or otherwise acquire, indebtedness of others, and (v) all indebtedness secured by a lien existing on property owned, subject to such lien, whether or not the indebtedness secured thereby shall have been assumed by the owner thereof; provided, that “Indebtedness” shall be determined without regard to the effects of consolidation of any issuer of a Specified Third Party Securitization on the financial statements of such Person under Accounting Standards Codification Section 810, as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, or otherwise under GAAP to the extent relating to the consolidation of any issuer of any Specified Third Party Securitization on the financial statements of such Person. ”

““ Tangible Net Worth ” means with respect to any Person and any date, all amounts that would be included under capital or shareholder's equity (or any like caption) on the balance sheet of such Person, minus (a) amounts owing to that Person from any Affiliate thereof, or from officers, employees, partners, members, directors, shareholders or other Persons similarly affiliated with such Person or any Affiliate thereof, (b) intangible assets, and (c) prepaid taxes and/or expenses, plus deferred origination fees, net of deferred origination costs, all on or as of such date; provided, that “Tangible Net Worth” shall be determined without regard to the effects of consolidation of any issuer of a Specified Third Party Securitization on the financial statements of such Person under Accounting Standards Codification Section 810, as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, or otherwise under GAAP to the extent relating to the consolidation of any issuer of any Specified Third Party Securitization on the financial statements of such Person. For sake of clarity, mortgage servicing rights shall not be deemed to be intangible assets.”

2.2 Additional Amendment to Section 1 of the Original Guaranty . The following defined term is to be added to Section 1 of the Original Guaranty in alphabetical order:

““S pecified Third Party Securitization ” means any securitization transaction that was not established or sponsored by Guarantor or any of its Affiliates.”

2.3 Amendment to Section 9(a) of the Original Guaranty . Section 9(a) of the Original Guaranty is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

“(a) Maximum Indebtedness to Tangible Net Worth Ratio . At the end of each Test Period, Guarantor (on a consolidated basis) shall maintain its ratio of Indebtedness to Tangible Net Worth to be not more than 4.00 to 1.00.”

2.4 Amendment to Section 9(b) of the Original Guaranty . Section 9(b) of the Original Guaranty is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

“(b) Maximum Recourse Debt to Tangible Net Worth Ratio . At the end of each Test Period, Guarantor shall maintain its ratio of Recourse Debt to Tangible Net Worth to be not more than 3.00 to 1.00.”

Section 3. Reaffirmation; Acknowledgement . Guarantor hereby absolutely and unconditionally reaffirms its obligations under the Original Guaranty, as amended by this Amendment.

Section 4. Representations and Warranties .

4.1 Representations and Warranties of Guarantor . As of the date of this Amendment (except to the extent specifically related to a different date), all representations and warranties of Guarantor contained in the Original Guaranty are true and correct in all material respects and Guarantor hereby confirms each such representation and warranty made by it with the same effect as if set forth in full herein. Guarantor is in full compliance with all of the terms and provisions set forth in the Transaction Documents to which it is a party on its part to be observed and performed.

4.2 Representations and Warranties of Seller . Seller hereby represents and warrants to Buyer that, as of the date of this Amendment, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

Section 5. Limited Effect . Except as expressly set forth herein, the Original Guaranty remains unmodified and in full force and effect. After the date hereof, all references in the Guaranty to “this Agreement”, “this Guaranty”, “hereof’, “herein” or words of similar effect in referring to the Original Guaranty shall be deemed to be references to the Original Guaranty as amended by this Amendment. All references to the Guaranty contained in any of the other Transaction Documents shall be deemed to be references to the Original Guaranty as amended by this Amendment.

Section 6. Conditions to Effectiveness . This Amendment shall be effective as of the first date Buyer shall have received a counterpart of this Amendment duly executed by the parties hereto.

Section 7. Counterparts . This Amendment may be executed in counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which when taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart hereof by facsimile or other electronic means shall be deemed to be an original.

Section 8. Governing Law . THIS AMENDMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

Section 9. Expenses . Guarantor agrees to pay and reimburse Buyer for all out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by Buyer in connection with the preparation, execution and delivery of this Amendment, including, without limitation, the fees and disbursements of outside counsel to Buyer.

Section 10. Headings . Section headings in this Amendment are included herein for convenience of reference only and shall not constitute a part of this Amendment or are given any substantive effect.

[Signature Page Follows]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the undersigned have caused this Amendment to be duly executed by its officers thereunto duly authorized as of the date first above written.

ARES COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE CORPORATION , a Maryland corporation

By: /s/ Anton Feingold

Name: Anton Feingold

Title: Vice President

METROPOLITAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY , a New York corporation

By: /s/ Jiawei Ding

Name: Jiawei Ding

Title: Director

Acknowledged and Agreed as of the date hereof

solely for purposes of Section 4.2 hereof:

ACRC LENDER ML LLC , a Delaware limited liability company, as Seller

By: /s/ Anton Feingold

Name: Anton Feingold

Title: Vice President

AMENDMENT NO. 7
TO
SIXTH AMENDED AND RESTATED

MORTGAGE WAREHOUSING CREDIT AND SECURITY AGREEMENT

This Amendment No. 7 to Sixth Amended and Restated Mortgage Warehousing Credit and Security Agreement (this “ Amendment ”) is entered into as of September 27, 2016 by and among ACRE Capital LLC, a Michigan limited liability company (the “ Borrower ”), the financial institutions party to the Credit Agreement (as defined below) from time to time as lenders (the “ Lenders ”) and Bank of America, N.A., as agent for itself and the other Lenders (in such capacity, the “ Agent ”).

R E C I T A L S

A. The Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower are parties to that certain Sixth Amended and Restated Mortgage Warehousing Credit and Security Agreement, dated as of May 1, 2014 (as amended and/or restated from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the same meanings herein as ascribed to them in the Credit Agreement;

B. The Borrower has informed the Agent and the Lenders that ACRE has entered into that certain Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated as of June 28, 2016, as delivered to the Agent prior to the date hereof (the “ P&S Agreement ”), with Cornerstone Real Estate Advisers LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (now known as Barings Real Estate Advisers LLC) (“ Barings ”), pursuant to which ACRE will, upon satisfaction or waiver of all conditions precedent set forth in the P&S Agreement, including, without limitation, receipt of the consent of the Agent and the Lenders, sell to Barings all of ACRE’s membership interests of ACRE Capital Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ ACRE Capital Holdings ”) (which is the holder of one hundred percent (100%) of the membership interests of the Borrower), which represent all of the issued and outstanding membership interests of ACRE Capital Holdings (the “ P&S ”);

C. In connection with the P&S, (i) the Borrower intends to file a Certificate of Amendment to the Articles of Organization of the Borrower with the Secretary of State of the State of Michigan in order to change its legal name to “Barings Multifamily Capital LLC” (the “ Borrower Name Change ”) and (ii) ACRE Capital Corporation intends to file a Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation of ACRE Capital Corporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in order to change its legal name to “Barings Multifamily Capital Corporation” (the “ ACRE Capital Corporation Name Change ” and, together with the Borrower Name Change, the “ Name Changes ”); and

D. At the Borrower’s request, the Agent and the Lenders have agreed to amend and waive certain provisions of the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, it being the intention of the parties that such amendments shall not constitute a novation of the obligations of the Borrower under the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

- 1 -

NOW THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged by the Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower, the parties hereto agree, upon the satisfaction in full of all of the terms, conditions, covenants, representations and warranties set forth in this Amendment, as follows:

Section 1 . Consent and Waiver . In accordance with Section 11.4 of the Credit Agreement, and in reliance upon (a) the satisfaction in full of all terms, conditions, covenants, representations and warranties set forth in this Amendment and (b) the description of the P&S set forth in the P&S Agreement, the Agent and the Lenders hereby (i) consent to and ratify (x) the execution and delivery of the P&S Agreement, (y) the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the P&S Agreement, and (z) the Name Changes; and (ii) solely with respect to the execution and delivery of, and consummation of the transactions contemplated by, the P&S Agreement and the Name Changes, expressly waive the terms of Sections 7.17.3 and 9.1.12 of the Credit Agreement that would otherwise prohibit the execution and delivery of, and consummation of the transactions contemplated by, the P&S Agreement or the Name Changes, or give rise to a Default or an Event of Default in connection therewith.

Section 2 . Amendments to Credit Agreement Upon P&S . Effective immediately upon receipt by the Agent of the documents listed as Items 1 and 2 in the “Post-Closing Obligations with respect to P&S” section of the Closing Checklist attached hereto as Exhibit A in form and substance acceptable to the Agent (the “ Change of Control Post-Closing Deliverables ”), the Credit Agreement shall be hereby amended as follows:

Section 2.1 . Amendment to Change of Control . The definition of “Change of Control” set forth in Exhibit A to the Credit Agreement shall be hereby amended by deleting it in its entirety and replacing it with the following:

“ Change of Control means that, at any time, either (a) Barings or an Affiliate thereof ceases to directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries Control the Borrower, or (b) Barings or an Affiliate thereof ceases to directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries own greater than fifty percent (50%) of the ownership and economic interests of the Borrower, or (c) a Barings Change of Control has occurred.”

Section 2.2 . Additional Definitions . The Credit Agreement shall be hereby amended by adding the following definitions to Exhibit A to the Credit Agreement in the appropriate alphabetical order:

“ Barings means Barings Real Estate Advisers LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, or any successor entity resulting from a merger of Barings into an Affiliate thereof.”

“ Barings Change of Control means that, at any time, either (a) MassMutual ceases to directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries control Barings, or (b) MassMutual ceases to directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries own greater than fifty percent (50%) of the ownership

and economic interests of Barings. For the purposes of this definition, ‘control’ means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of Barings, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract, or otherwise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an internal reorganization of MassMutual resulting in the merger of Barings into an Affiliate of MassMutual shall not constitute a ‘Barings Change of Control’ hereunder.”

“ MassMutual means Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company, a Massachusetts corporation.”

Section 2.3 . Elimination of Definitions .

(a) The definition of “ACRE” set forth in Exhibit A to the Credit Agreement shall be hereby amended by deleting it in its entirety.

(b) The definition of “ACRE Change of Control” set forth in Exhibit A to the Credit Agreement shall be hereby amended by deleting it in its entirety.

Section 2.4 . Amendment to Disclosure Schedule . The Disclosure Schedule to the Credit Agreement shall be hereby amended by replacing it in its entirety with the Disclosure Schedule attached hereto as Exhibit B .

Section 3 . Amendment to Credit Agreement Upon Name Changes . Upon receipt by the Agent of the document listed as Item 3 in the “Post-Closing Obligations with respect to P&S” section of the Closing Checklist attached hereto as Exhibit A in form and substance acceptable to the Agent (the “ Name Change Post-Closing Deliverable ”), the Credit Agreement shall be hereby amended as follows:

Section 3.1 . Borrower Name Change . The definition of “Borrower” set forth in the initial paragraph of the Credit Agreement shall be hereby amended, effective immediately as of the effective time of the Borrower’s filing with the Secretary of State of the State of Michigan in order to evidence and effectuate the Borrower Name Change, by deleting the reference to “ACRE Capital LLC” contained therein and replacing it with “Barings Multifamily Capital LLC”. All references to the term “Borrower” and “ACRE Capital LLC” in the Loan Documents shall mean “Barings Multifamily Capital LLC”.

Section 3.2 . ACRE Capital Corporation Name Change . Effective immediately as of the effective time of ACRE Capital Corporation’s filing with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in order to evidence and effectuate the ACRE Capital Corporation Name Change, the Credit Agreement shall be hereby amended as follows:

(a) The Credit Agreement shall be hereby amended by adding the following definition to Exhibit A to the Credit Agreement in the appropriate alphabetical order:

“ Barings Multifamily Capital Corporation means Barings Multifamily Capital Corporation, a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Borrower.”

(b) The definition of “ACRE Capital Corporation” set forth in Exhibit A to the Credit Agreement shall be hereby amended by deleting it in its entirety.

(c) All references to the term “ACRE Capital Corporation” in the Loan Documents shall mean “Barings Multifamily Capital Corporation”.

Section 4 . Representations and Warranties . The Borrower represents and warrants to the Agent and to the Lenders as of the effective date of this Amendment, and as of the “Closing Date” under and as defined in the P&S Agreement, that: (i) no Default or Event of Default is in existence, from and after, or will result from, the execution and delivery of this Amendment or the consummation of any transactions contemplated hereby, including, without limitation, the P&S; (ii) each of the representations and warranties of the Borrower in the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents is true and correct in all material respects on the effective date of this Amendment (except for representations and warranties limited as to time or with respect to a specific event, which representations and warranties shall continue to be limited to such time or event); and (iii) this Amendment and the Credit Agreement (as amended by this Amendment) are legal, valid and binding agreements of the Borrower and are enforceable against it in accordance with their terms.

Section 5 . Ratification . Except as expressly hereby waived and amended, the Credit Agreement, all other Loan Documents and each provision thereof are hereby ratified and confirmed in every respect and shall continue in full force and effect, and this Amendment shall not be, and shall not be deemed to be, a waiver of any Default or Event of Default or of any covenant, term or provision of the Credit Agreement or the other Loan Documents.

Section 6 . Conditions Precedent . The consent, waiver, representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth in this Amendment (other than in Section 2 and Section 3 of this Amendment, as described below) are conditional and this Amendment shall not be effective until (a) receipt by the Agent of a fully-executed counterpart original of this Amendment; (b) receipt by the Agent of the agreements, certificates and other documents, and performance by the Borrower of all of its obligations, listed on the Closing Checklist attached hereto as Exhibit A in form and substance acceptable to the Agent (except for the Change of Control Post-Closing Deliverables and the Name Change Post-Closing Deliverable); and (c) payment by the Borrower of all of the Agent’s fees, costs and expenses associated with the preparation, negotiation, execution and delivery and administration of this Amendment and the Credit Agreement accrued through the date hereof, including, without limitation, the Agent’s attorneys’ fees. The agreements set forth in Section 2 of this Amendment are conditional and shall not be effective until receipt by the Agent of the Change of Control Post-Closing Deliverables. The agreements set forth in Section 3 of this Amendment are conditional and shall not be effective until receipt by the Agent of the Name Change Post-Closing Deliverable.

Section 7 . Counterparts . This Amendment may be executed and delivered in any number of counterparts with the same effect as if the signatures on each counterpart were upon the same instrument.

Section 8 . Amendment as Loan Document . Each party hereto agrees and acknowledges that this Amendment constitutes a “Loan Document” under and as defined in the Credit Agreement.

Section 9 . Governing Law . This Amendment shall in all respects be governed, construed, applied and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York without regard to principles of conflicts of laws other than for sections 5-1401 and 5-1402 of the New York General Obligations Law.

Section 10 . Successors and Assigns . This Amendment shall be binding upon each of the Borrower, the Lenders, the Agent and their respective successors and assigns, and shall inure to the benefit of each of the Borrower, the Lenders and the Agent.

Section 11 . Headings . Section headings in this Amendment are included herein for convenience of reference only and shall not constitute a part of this Amendment for any other purpose.

Section 12 . Expenses . The Borrower agrees to promptly reimburse the Agent and the Lenders for all expenses, including, without limitation, reasonable fees and expenses of outside legal counsel, it has heretofore or hereafter incurred or incurs in connection with the preparation, negotiation and execution of this Amendment and all other instruments, documents and agreements executed and delivered in connection with this Amendment.

Section 13 . Integration . This Amendment contains the entire understanding of the parties hereto with regard to the subject matter contained herein. This Amendment supersedes all prior or contemporaneous negotiations, promises, covenants, agreements and representations of every nature whatsoever with respect to the matters referred to in this Amendment, all of which have become merged and finally integrated into this Amendment. Each of the parties hereto understands that in the event of any subsequent litigation, controversy or dispute concerning any of the terms, conditions or provisions of this Amendment, no party shall be entitled to offer or introduce into evidence any oral promises or oral agreements between the parties relating to the subject matter of this Amendment not included or referred to herein and not reflected by a writing included or referred to herein.

Section 14 . No Course of Dealing . The Agent and the Lenders have entered into this Amendment on the express understanding with the Borrower that in entering into this Amendment the Agent and the Lenders are not establishing any course of dealing with the Borrower. The Agent’s and the Lenders’ rights to require strict performance with all of the terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not in any way be impaired by the execution of this Amendment. None of the Agent and the Lenders shall be obligated in any manner to execute any further amendments or waivers and if such waivers or amendments are requested in the future, assuming the terms and conditions thereof are satisfactory to them, the Agent and the Lenders may require the payment of fees in connection therewith. The Borrower agrees that none of the

ratifications and reaffirmations set forth herein, nor the Agent’s nor any Lender’s solicitation of such ratifications and reaffirmations, constitutes a course of dealing giving rise to any obligation or condition requiring a similar or any other ratification or reaffirmation from the Borrower with respect to any subsequent modification, consent or waiver with respect to the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document.

Section 15 . Jury Trial Waiver . THE BORROWER, THE AGENT AND THE LENDERS BY ACCEPTANCE OF THIS AMENDMENT MUTUALLY HEREBY KNOWINGLY, VOLUNTARILY AND INTENTIONALLY WAIVE THE RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION BASED HEREON, ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AMENDMENT, THE CREDIT AGREEMENT, OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT CONTEMPLATED TO BE EXECUTED IN CONNECTION HEREWITH, OR ANY COURSE OF CONDUCT, COURSE OF DEALINGS, STATEMENTS (WHETHER VERBAL OR WRITTEN) OR ACTIONS OF ANY PARTY, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY COURSE OF CONDUCT, COURSE OF DEALINGS, STATEMENTS OR ACTIONS OF THE AGENT OR ANY LENDER RELATING TO THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE LOAN OR ENFORCEMENT OF THE LOAN DOCUMENTS, AND AGREE THAT NO PARTY WILL SEEK TO CONSOLIDATE ANY SUCH ACTION WITH ANY OTHER ACTION IN WHICH A JURY TRIAL CANNOT BE OR HAS NOT BEEN WAIVED.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank; signatures appear on next page]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed and delivered this Amendment as of the date first set forth above.

BORROWER: ACRE CAPITAL LLC

By: /s/ Rachel Vinson

Name: Rachel Vinson

Title: Chief Financial Officer

AGENT AND LENDER: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A

By: /s/ Chris Guthrie

Name: Chris Guthrie

Title: Vice President

3248573.6

Exhibit 31.1

Certification of Co-Chief Executive Officer

of Periodic Report Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Rule 15d-14(a)

I, John Jardine, certify that:


1.	I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Ares Commercial Real Estate Corporation;


2.	Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;


3.	Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;


4.	The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:


(a)	Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;


(b)	Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;


(c)	Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and


(d)	Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and


5.	The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):


(a)	All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and


(b)	Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

Date: November 3, 2016



/s/ John Jardine
John Jardine Co-Chief Executive Officer, Director and President

Exhibit 31.2

Certification of Co-Chief Executive Officer

of Periodic Report Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Rule 15d-14(a)

I, Robert L. Rosen, certify that:


1.	I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Ares Commercial Real Estate Corporation;


2.	Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;


3.	Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;


4.	The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:


(a)	Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;


(b)	Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;


(c)	Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and


(d)	Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and


5.	The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):


(a)	All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and


(b)	Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

Date: November 3, 2016



/s/ Robert L. Rosen
Robert L. Rosen Interim Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chairman

Exhibit 31.3

Certification of Chief Financial Officer

of Periodic Report Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Rule 15d-14(a)

I, Tae-Sik Yoon, certify that:


1.	I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Ares Commercial Real Estate Corporation;


2.	Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;


3.	Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;


4.	The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:


(a)	Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;


(b)	Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;


(c)	Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and


(d)	Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and


5.	The registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):


(a)	All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and


(b)	Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

Date: November 3, 2016



/s/ Tae-Sik Yoon
Tae-Sik Yoon Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

Exhibit 32.1

Certification of Co-Chief Executive Officers and Chief Financial Officer

Pursuant to

18 U.S.C Section 1350

In connection with the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Ares Commercial Real Estate Corporation (the "Company") for the quarter ended September 30, 2016 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), John Jardine, as Co-Chief Executive Officer of the Company, Robert L. Rosen, as Interim Co-Chief Executive Officer of the Company and Tae-Sik Yoon, as Chief Financial Officer of the Company, each hereby certifies, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to the best of his knowledge:


1.	The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and


2.	The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Date: November 3, 2016



/s/ John Jardine
John Jardine Co-Chief Executive Officer, Director and President

/s/ Robert L. Rosen
Robert L. Rosen Interim Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chairman

/s/ Tae-Sik Yoon
Tae-Sik Yoon Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906, or other document authenticating, acknowledging, or otherwise adopting the signature that appears in typed form within the electronic version of this written statement required by Section 906, has been provided to the Company and will be retained by the Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.