Document


 
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
 
______________________________________

FORM 8-K
 
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 
Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): December 14, 2018
 
Ares Commercial Real Estate Corporation
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
Maryland
 
001-35517
 
45-3148087
(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation)
 
(Commission
File Number)
 
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)
 
245 Park Avenue, 42nd Floor, New York, NY
 
10167
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
 
(Zip Code)
 
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (212) 750-7300
 
N/A
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
 
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
 
o            Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
 
o            Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
 
o            Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
 
o            Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company o

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  o 
 






Item 1.01  Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

On December 14, 2018, ACRC Lender W LLC and ACRC Lender W TRS LLC (collectively, “ACRC Lender W”), each a subsidiary of Ares Commercial Real Estate Corporation, entered into an amendment to its Master Repurchase and Securities Contract (the “Wells Facility”) with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association. The purpose of the amendment was to, among other things, extend the initial maturity date and funding period of the Wells Facility to December 14, 2020 and decrease the interest rate on advances under the Wells Facility to a rate of one-month LIBOR plus a pricing margin which ranges from 1.50% to 2.25% (or as otherwise agreed in the related confirmation). The funding period of the Wells Facility is subject to one one-year extension option (the extension option extending the funding period to December 14, 2021). The maturity date of the Wells Facility is subject to three one-year extension options (the first extension option extending the maturity date to December 14, 2021, the second extension option extending the maturity date to December 14, 2022 and the third extension option extending the maturity date to December 14, 2023), each of which may be exercised at ACRC Lender W’s option, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions and applicable extension fees being paid.

The foregoing description is only a summary of certain material provisions of the amendment to the Wells Facility and is qualified in its entirety by reference to a copy of such agreement, which is filed herewith as Exhibit 10.1.

Item 2.03 Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.

The information required by Item 2.03 contained in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01  Financial Statements and Exhibits.
 
(d)                           Exhibits:

Exhibit Number
 
Exhibit Description
 
Amendment Number One to the Second Amended and Restated Master Repurchase and Securities Contract dated as of December 14, 2018, by and among, ACRC Lender W LLC, as seller, ACRC Lender W TRS LLC, as seller, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as buyer.






SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
 
Date:       December 20, 2018
 
 
ARES COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE CORPORATION
 
 
 
 
 By:
/s/ Anton Feingold
 
 Name:
Anton Feingold
 
 Title:
Vice President and Secretary