Ares Commercial Real Estate Corporation Announces Tax Reporting Information for Calendar Year 2012

  Ares Commercial Real Estate Corporation Announces Tax Reporting Information
  for Calendar Year 2012

Business Wire

CHICAGO -- February 1, 2013

Ares Commercial Real Estate Corporation (NYSE: ACRE) (the “Company”) today
announced the tax treatment for the Company's distributions on its common
stock (CUSIP # 04013V-10-8) with respect to calendar year 2012 (excluding
distributions made prior to the Company’s initial public offering):

 
                                                                           Return
                                  Total              Ordinary Income       of
Record         Distribution                          Per
Date                              Distribution                             Capital
               Date                                  Share                 Per
                                  Per Share          (Non-Qualified)
                                                                           Share
                                                                          
06/29/12       07/12/12           $0.0600            $0.0252               $0.0348
                                                                            
10/02/12       10/11/12           $0.0600            $0.0252               $0.0348
 

As the Company's aggregate distributions exceeded its earnings and profits,
the January 2013 distribution declared in the fourth quarter of 2012 and
payable to shareholders of record as of December 31, 2012 will be treated as a
2013 distribution for federal tax purposes. This distribution is not included
on the 2012 Form 1099. Stockholders are encouraged to consult with their own
tax advisors as to their specific tax treatment of the Company's
distributions.

About Ares Commercial Real Estate Corporation

Ares Commercial Real Estate Corporation is a specialty finance company that
originates, invests in and manages middle-market commercial real estate loans
and other commercial real estate investments. Through its national direct
origination platform, Ares Commercial Real Estate Corporation provides
flexible financing solutions for middle market borrowers. Ares Commercial Real
Estate Corporation intends to elect to be taxed as a real estate investment
trust and is externally managed by an affiliate of Ares Management LLC, a
global alternative asset manager with approximately $59 billion in committed
capital under management as of December 31, 2012. For more information, please
visit our website at arescre.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements included herein may constitute “forward-looking statements” within
the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which
relate to future events or our future performance or financial condition.
These statements are not guarantees of future performance, condition or
results and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results may
differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of
a number of factors, including those described from time to time in our
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Ares Commercial Real
Estate Corporation undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statements
made herein.

Contact:

Ares Commercial Real Estate Corporation
Carl Drake, 404-814-5204
cdrake@aresmgmt.com