Exhibit 10.1

 

EXECUTION COPY

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

This Registration Rights Agreement (this “Agreement”), is made and entered into as of April 25, 2012, by Ares Commercial Real Estate Corporation, a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), and Ares Investments Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Investor”).

 

WHEREAS, the Investor owns 1,500,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock (as defined below) that it previously purchased pursuant to certain subscription agreements; and

 

WHEREAS, concurrently with the completion of the Company’s proposed initial public offering (the “IPO”), the parties desire to enter into this Agreement in order to grant certain registration rights to the Investor as set forth below.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual and dependent covenants hereinafter set forth, the parties agree as follows:

 

1.             Defined Terms.  As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

“Affiliate” of a Person means any other Person that directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person.  The term “control” (including the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”) means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

 

“Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

“Board” means the board of directors of the Company (and any successor governing body of the Company or any successor of the Company).

 

“Capital Stock” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.

 

“Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other federal agency administering the Securities Act and the Exchange Act at the time.

 

“Common Stock” means the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company and any other common equity securities issued by the Company, and any other shares of stock issued or issuable with respect thereto (whether by way of a stock dividend or stock split or in exchange for or upon conversion of such shares or otherwise in connection with a combination of shares, distribution, recapitalization, merger, consolidation or other corporate reorganization).

 

“Company” has the meaning set forth in the preamble and includes the Company’s successors by merger, acquisition, reorganization or otherwise.

 

“Demand Registration” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(b).

 











 

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor federal statute, and the rules and regulations thereunder, which shall be in effect from time to time.

 

“Governmental Authority” means any federal, state, local or foreign government or political subdivision thereof, or any agency or instrumentality of such government or political subdivision, or any self-regulated organization or other non-governmental regulatory authority or quasi-governmental authority (to the extent that the rules, regulations or orders of such organization or authority have the force of law), or any arbitrator, court or tribunal of competent jurisdiction.

 

“Investor” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

“IPO” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

“Lock-Up Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.

 

“Lock-Up Securities” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.

 

“Long-Form Registration” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a).

 

“Person” means an individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, Governmental Authority, unincorporated organization, trust, association or other entity.

 

“Piggyback Registration” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(a).

 

“Prospectus” means the prospectus or prospectuses included in any Registration Statement, as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement and by all other amendments and supplements to the prospectus, including post-effective amendments and all material incorporated by reference in such prospectus or prospectuses.

 

“Registrable Securities” means (a) any shares of Common Stock held by the Investor or its Affiliates or issuable upon conversion, exercise or exchange of any securities owned by the Investor or its Affiliates at any time, and (b) any shares of Common Stock issued or issuable with respect to any shares described in subsection (a) above by way of a stock dividend or stock split or in connection with a combination of shares, recapitalization, merger, consolidation or other reorganization (it being understood that for purposes of this Agreement, a Person shall be deemed to be a holder of Registrable Securities whenever such Person has the right to then acquire or obtain from the Company any Registrable Securities, whether or not such acquisition has actually been effected).  As to any particular Registrable Securities, such securities shall cease to be Registrable Securities when (i) a Registration Statement covering such securities has been declared effective by the Commission and such securities have been disposed of pursuant to such effective Registration Statement, (ii) such securities are sold under circumstances in which all of the applicable conditions of Rule 144 (or any similar provisions then in force) under the Securities Act are met, (iii) such securities are otherwise transferred and such securities may be

 

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resold without subsequent registration under the Securities Act, or (iv) such securities shall have ceased to be outstanding.

 

“Registration Statement” means any registration statement of the Company that covers any of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, including the Prospectus, amendments and supplements to such Registration Statement, including post-effective amendments, all exhibits and all materials incorporated by reference in such Registration Statement.

 

“Rule 144” means Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act or any successor rule thereto or any complementary rule thereto (such as Rule 144A).

 

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any successor federal statute, and the rules and regulations thereunder, which shall be in effect from time to time.

 

“Selling Expenses” means all underwriting discounts, selling commissions and stock transfer taxes applicable to the sale of Registrable Securities, and fees and disbursements of counsel for any holder of Registrable Securities, except for the fees and disbursements of counsel for the holders of Registrable Securities required to be paid by the Company pursuant to Section 6.

 

“Short-Form Registrations” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(b).

 

2.             Demand Registration.

 

(a)           At any time after the first anniversary of the IPO, the Investor may request registration under the Securities Act of all or any portion of Registrable Securities held by it or its Affiliates on Form S-1 or any successor form thereto (each a “Long-Form Registration”).  Each request for a Long-Form Registration shall specify the approximate number of Registrable Securities required to be registered.  Upon receipt of such request, the Company shall promptly (but in no event later than five business days following receipt thereof) deliver notice of such request to all other holders of Registrable Securities who shall then have five business days from the date such notice is given to notify the Company in writing of their desire to be included in such registration.  The Company shall cause a Registration Statement on Form S-1 (or any successor form) to be filed within 90 days after the date on which the initial request is given and shall use its best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to be declared effective by the Commission as soon as practicable thereafter.

 

(b)           After the first anniversary of the IPO, the Company shall use its best efforts to qualify and remain qualified to register securities under the Securities Act pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-3 or any successor form thereto.  At such time as the Company shall have qualified for the use of a Registration Statement on Form S-3, the Investor shall have the right to request an unlimited number of registrations of Registrable Securities on Form S-3 or any similar short-form registration (each a “Short-Form Registration” and, together with each Long-Form Registration, a “Demand Registration”).  Each request for a

 

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Short-Form Registration shall specify the approximate number of Registrable Securities requested to be registered.  Upon receipt of any such request, the Company shall promptly (but in no event later than five business days following receipt thereof) deliver notice of such request to all other holders of Registrable Securities who shall then have five business days from the date such notice is given to notify the Company in writing of their desire to be included in such registration.  The Company shall cause a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (or any successor form) to be filed within 45 days after the date on which the initial request is given and shall use its best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to be declared effective by the Commission as soon as practicable thereafter.

 

(c)           The Company shall not be obligated to effect any Long-Form Registration within six months after (i) the effective date of a previous Demand Registration Statement or (ii) a previous registration under which the holders of the Registrable Securities had piggy-back rights pursuant to Section 3 hereof wherein the holders of Registrable Securities were permitted to register at least 50% of the Registrable Securities requested to be included therein.  The Company may postpone for up to 45 days the filing or effectiveness of a Registration Statement for a Demand Registration if the Company’s Board determines in its reasonable good faith judgment that such Demand Registration would (i) materially interfere with a significant acquisition, corporate organization or other similar transaction involving the Company; (ii) require premature disclosure of material information that the Company has a bona fide business purpose for preserving as confidential; or (iii) render the Company unable to comply with requirements under the Securities Act or Exchange Act.  The Company may delay a Demand Registration hereunder only once in any period of twelve consecutive months.

 

(d)           If the Investor requesting a Demand Registration elects to distribute the Registrable Securities covered by its request in an underwritten offering, it shall so advise the Company as a part of its request made pursuant to Section 2(a) or Section 2(b), and the Company shall include such information in its notice to the other holders of Registrable Securities.  The Investor shall select the investment banking firm or firms to act as the managing underwriter or underwriters in connection with such offering.

 

(e)           The Company shall not include in any Demand Registration any securities that are not Registrable Securities without the prior written consent of the Investor, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.  If a Demand Registration involves an underwritten offering and the managing underwriter of the requested Demand Registration advises the Company and the holders of Registrable Securities in writing that in its opinion the number of shares of Common Stock proposed to be included in the Demand Registration, including all Registrable Securities and all other shares of Common Stock proposed to be included in such underwritten offering, exceeds the number of shares of Common Stock that can be sold in such underwritten offering and/or the number of shares of Common Stock proposed to be included in such registration would adversely affect the price per share of the Registrable Securities proposed to be sold in such

 

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underwritten offering, the Company shall include in such Demand Registration (i) first, the number of shares of Common Stock that the holders of Registrable Securities propose to sell, and (ii) second, the number of shares of Common Stock proposed to be included therein by any other Persons (including shares of Common Stock to be sold for the account of the Company and/or other holders of Common Stock) allocated for the purposes of this clause (ii) among such Persons in such manner as they may agree.  If the managing underwriter determines that less than all of the Registrable Securities proposed to be sold can be included in such offering, then the Registrable Securities that are included in such offering shall be allocated pro rata among the respective holders thereof on the basis of the number of Registrable Securities owned by each such holder.

 

3.             Piggyback Registration.

 

(a)           Whenever the Company proposes to register any shares of its Common Stock under the Securities Act (other than a registration effected solely to implement an employee benefit plan or a transaction to which Rule 145 of the Securities Act is applicable, or a Registration Statement on Form S-4, S-8 or any successor form thereto or another form not available for registering the Registrable Securities for sale to the public), whether for its own account or for the account of one or more stockholders of the Company and the form of Registration Statement to be used may be used for any registration of Registrable Securities (a “Piggyback Registration”), the Company shall give prompt written notice (in any event no later than 10 business days prior to the filing of such Registration Statement) to the holders of Registrable Securities of its intention to effect such a registration and, subject to Section 3(b) and Section 3(c), shall include in such registration all Registrable Securities with respect to which the Company has received written requests for inclusion from the holders of Registrable Securities within 10 business days after the Company’s notice has been given to each such holder.  A Piggyback Registration shall not be considered a Demand Registration for purposes of Section 2 of this Agreement.

 

(b)           If a Piggyback Registration is initiated as a primary underwritten offering on behalf of the Company and the managing underwriter advises the Company and the holders of Registrable Securities (if any holders of Registrable Securities have elected to include Registrable Securities in such Piggyback Registration) in writing that in its opinion the number of shares of Common Stock proposed to be included in such registration, including all Registrable Securities and all other shares of Common Stock proposed to be included in such underwritten offering, exceeds the number of shares of Common Stock that can be sold in such offering and/or that the number of shares of Common Stock proposed to be included in any such registration would adversely affect the price per share of the Common Stock to be sold in such offering, the Company shall include in such registration (i) first, the number of shares of Common Stock that the Company proposes to sell; (ii) second, the number of shares of Common Stock requested to be included therein by holders of Registrable Securities, allocated pro rata among all such holders on the basis of the number of Registrable Securities owned by each such

 

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holder or in such manner as they may otherwise agree; and (iii) third, the number of shares of Common Stock requested to be included therein by holders of Common Stock (other than holders of Registrable Securities), allocated among such holders in such manner as they may agree.

 

(c)           If a Piggyback Registration is initiated as an underwritten offering on behalf of a holder of Common Stock other than Registrable Securities, and the managing underwriter advises the Company in writing that in its opinion the number of shares of Common Stock proposed to be included in such registration, including all Registrable Securities and all other shares of Common Stock proposed to be included in such underwritten offering, exceeds the number of shares of Common Stock that can be sold in such offering and/or that the number of shares of Common Stock proposed to be included in any such registration would adversely affect the price per share of the Common Stock to be sold in such offering, the Company shall include in such registration (i) first, the number of shares of Common Stock requested to be included therein by the holder(s) requesting such registration and by the holders of Registrable Securities, allocated pro rata among such holders on the basis of the number of shares of Common Stock (on a fully diluted, as converted basis) and the number of Registrable Securities, as applicable, owned by all such holders or in such manner as they may otherwise agree; and (ii) second, the number of shares of Common Stock requested to be included therein by other holders of Common Stock, allocated among such holders in such manner as they may agree.

 

(d)           If any Piggyback Registration is initiated as a primary underwritten offering on behalf of the Company, the Company shall select the investment banking firm or firms to act as the managing underwriter or underwriters in connection with such offering.

 

4.             Lock-up Agreement.  Each holder of Registrable Securities agrees that at the request of a managing underwriter of any public offering of the Company’s Common Stock or other equity securities, it will agree, for a commercially reasonable period in no event to exceed 60 days following the effective date of such registration (the “Lock-Up Period”), to not (a) offer, pledge (other than pursuant to a bona fide lending transaction), sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, or otherwise transfer or dispose of any shares of the Company’s Common Stock or preferred stock or other capital stock (collectively, “Capital Stock”) or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock or other Capital Stock, whether now owned or hereafter acquired by the undersigned or with respect to which the undersigned has or hereafter acquires the power of disposition (collectively, the “Lock-Up Securities”), or enter into any swap or other agreement, arrangement or transaction that transfers to another, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Lock-Up Securities, whether any such swap or transaction described in clause (a) or (b) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock, other Capital Stock, other securities, in cash or otherwise, or publicly announce an intention to do any of the foregoing.  Moreover, if (i) during the last 17 days of the Lock-Up Period the Company issues an earnings release or

 

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material news or a material event relating to the Company occurs, or (ii) prior to the expiration of the Lock-Up Period the Company announces that it will release earnings results during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the Lock-Up Period, the Lock-Up Period shall be extended and the restrictions imposed by this agreement shall continue to apply until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the date of issuance of the earnings release or the occurrence of the material news or material event, as the case may be, unless the managing underwriter of the public offering waives, in writing, such extension. The foregoing provisions of this Section 4 shall not apply to sales of Registrable Securities to be included in such offering pursuant to Section 2(a), Section 2(b) or Section 3(a), and shall be applicable to the holders of Registrable Securities only if all officers and directors of the Company are subject to the same restrictions.  In addition, at the request of the Investor, the Company will agree to any similar provision requested by the managing underwriter with respect to the Company’s Common Stock or other equity securities.  Each holder of Registrable Securities agrees to execute and deliver such other agreements as may be reasonably requested by the Company or the managing underwriter that are consistent with the foregoing or that are necessary to give further effect thereto.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 4, each holder of Registrable Securities shall be released, pro rata, from any lock-up agreement entered into pursuant to this Section 4 in the event and to the extent that the managing underwriter or the Company permit any discretionary waiver or termination of the restrictions of any lock-up agreement pertaining to any officer or director.

 

5.             Registration Procedures.  If and whenever the holders of Registrable Securities request that any Registrable Securities be registered pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, the Company shall use its best efforts to effect the registration and the sale of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method of disposition thereof, and pursuant thereto the Company shall as soon as practicable:

 

(a)           subject to Section 2(a) and Section 2(b), prepare and file with the Commission a Registration Statement with respect to such Registrable Securities and use its best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective;

 

(b)           prepare and file with the Commission such amendments, post-effective amendments and supplements to such Registration Statement and the Prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective for a period of not less than two years after the date of effectiveness of the Registration Statement days, or if earlier, until all of such Registrable Securities have been disposed of and to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended methods of disposition set forth in such Registration Statement;

 

(c)           within a reasonable time before filing such Registration Statement, Prospectus or amendments or supplements thereto, furnish to one counsel selected by the Investor copies of such documents proposed to be filed, which documents shall be subject to the review, comment and approval of such counsel;

 

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(d)           notify each selling holder of Registrable Securities, promptly after the Company receives notice thereof, of the time when such Registration Statement has been declared effective or a supplement to any Prospectus forming a part of such Registration Statement has been filed;

 

(e)           furnish to each selling holder of Registrable Securities such number of copies of the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement (including each preliminary Prospectus) and any supplement thereto (in each case including all exhibits and documents incorporated by reference therein) and such other documents as such seller may request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such seller;

 

(f)            use its best efforts to register or qualify such Registrable Securities under such other securities or “blue sky” laws of such jurisdictions as any selling holder requests and do any and all other acts and things which may be necessary or advisable to enable such holders to consummate the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities owned by such holders; provided, that the Company shall not be required to qualify generally to do business, subject itself to general taxation or consent to general service of process in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to do so but for this Section 5(f);

 

(g)           notify each selling holder of such Registrable Securities, at any time when a Prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of the happening of any event as a result of which the Prospectus included in such Registration Statement contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits any fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and, at the request of any such holder, the Company shall prepare a supplement or amendment to such Prospectus so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of such Registrable Securities, such Prospectus shall not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading;

 

(h)           make available for inspection by any selling holder of Registrable Securities, any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to such Registration Statement and any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by any such holder or underwriter (collectively, the “Inspectors”), all financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company, and cause the Company’s officers, directors and employees to supply all information requested by any such Inspector in connection with such Registration Statement;

 

(i)            provide a transfer agent and registrar (which may be the same entity) for all such Registrable Securities not later than the effective date of such registration;

 

(j)            use its best efforts to cause such Registrable Securities to be listed on each securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed or, if the Common Stock is not then listed, on a national securities exchange selected by the Investor;

 

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(k)           in connection with an underwritten offering, enter into such customary agreements (including underwriting and lock-up agreements in customary form) and take all such other customary actions as the holders of such Registrable Securities or the managing underwriter of such offering request in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities (including, without limitation, making appropriate officers of the Company available to participate in “road show” and other customary marketing activities (including one-on-one meetings with prospective purchasers of the Registrable Securities);

 

(l)            otherwise use its best efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission and make available to its stockholders an earnings statement (in a form that satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder) no later than 30 days after the end of the 12-month period beginning with the first day of the Company’s first full fiscal quarter after the effective date of such Registration Statement, which earnings statement shall cover said 12-month period, and which requirement will be deemed to be satisfied if the Company timely files complete and accurate information on Forms 10-Q, 10-K and 8-K under the Exchange Act and otherwise complies with Rule 158 under the Securities Act; and

 

(m)          furnish to each selling holder of Registrable Securities and each underwriter, if any, with (i) a legal opinion of the Company’s outside counsel, dated the effective date of such Registration Statement (and, if such registration includes an underwritten public offering, dated the date of the closing under the underwriting agreement), in form and substance as is customarily given in opinions of the Company’s counsel to underwriters in underwritten public offerings; and (ii) a “comfort” letter signed by the Company’s independent certified public accountants in form and substance as is customarily given in accountants’ letters to underwriters in underwritten public offerings;

 

(n)           without limiting Section 5(f) above, use its best efforts to cause such Registrable Securities to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary by virtue of the business and operations of the Company to enable the holders of such Registrable Securities to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities in accordance with their intended method of distribution thereof;

 

(o)           notify the holders of Registrable Securities promptly of any request by the Commission for the amending or supplementing of such Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional information;

 

(p)           advise the holders of Registrable Securities, promptly after it shall receive notice or obtain knowledge thereof, of the issuance of any stop order by the Commission suspending the effectiveness of such Registration Statement or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose and promptly use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or to obtain its withdrawal at the earliest possible moment if such stop order should be issued;

 

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(q)           permit any holder of Registrable Securities which holder, in its sole and exclusive judgment, might be deemed to be an underwriter or a controlling person of the Company, to participate in the preparation of such Registration Statement and to require the insertion therein of language, furnished to the Company in writing, which in the reasonable judgment of such holder and its counsel should be included; and

 

(r)            otherwise use its best efforts to take all other steps necessary to effect the registration of such Registrable Securities contemplated hereby.

 

6.             Expenses.  All expenses (other than Selling Expenses) incurred by the Company in complying with its obligations pursuant to this Agreement and in connection with the registration and disposition of Registrable Securities, including, without limitation, all registration and filing fees, underwriting expenses (other than fees, commissions or discounts), expenses of any audits incident to or required by any such registration, fees and expenses of complying with securities and “blue sky” laws, printing expenses, fees and expenses of the Company’s counsel and accountants and fees and expenses of one counsel for the holders of Registrable Securities participating in such registration as a group (selected by the Investor), shall be paid by the Company.  All Selling Expenses relating to Registrable Securities registered pursuant to this Agreement shall be borne and paid by the holders of such Registrable Securities, in proportion to the number of Registrable Securities registered for each such holder.

 

7.             Indemnification.

 

(a)           The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by law, each holder of Registrable Securities, such holder’s officers, directors, managers, members, partners, stockholders and Affiliates, each underwriter, broker or any other Person acting on behalf of such holder of Registrable Securities and each other Person, if any, who controls any of the foregoing Persons within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, against all losses, claims, actions, damages, liabilities and expenses, joint or several, to which any of the foregoing Persons may become subject under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, actions, damages, liabilities or expenses arise out of or are based upon any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement, Prospectus, preliminary Prospectus, free writing prospectus (as defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act) or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or any violation or alleged violation by the Company of the Securities Act or any other similar federal or state securities laws or any rule or regulation promulgated thereunder applicable to the Company and relating to action or inaction required of the Company in connection with any such registration, qualification or compliance; and shall reimburse such Persons for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by any of them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, action, damage or liability, except insofar as the same are

 

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caused by or contained in any information furnished in writing to the Company by such holder expressly for use therein or by such holder’s failure to deliver a copy of the Registration Statement, Prospectus, free-writing prospectus (as defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act) or any amendments or supplements thereto (if the same was required by applicable law to be so delivered) after the Company has furnished such holder with a sufficient number of copies of the same prior to any written confirmation of the sale of Registrable Securities.  The indemnification provided for under this Section 7(a) shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the indemnified party or any officer, director or controlling Person of such indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of the Registrable Securities by the Investor pursuant to Section 14.

 

(b)                                 In connection with any registration in which a holder of Registrable Securities is participating, each such holder shall furnish to the Company in writing such information and affidavits as the Company reasonably requests for use in connection with any such Registration Statement or Prospectus and, to the extent permitted by law, shall indemnify and hold harmless, the Company, each director of the Company, each officer of the Company who shall sign such Registration Statement, each underwriter, broker or other Person acting on behalf of the holders of Registrable Securities and each Person who controls any of the foregoing Persons within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act against any losses, claims, actions, damages, liabilities or expenses resulting from any untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact contained in the Registration Statement, Prospectus, preliminary Prospectus, free writing prospectus (as defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act) or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but only to the extent that such untrue statement or omission is contained in any information or affidavit so furnished in writing by such holder; provided, that the obligation to indemnify shall be several, not joint and several, for each holder and shall be limited to the net proceeds (after underwriting fees, commissions or discounts) actually received by such holder from the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement.

 

(c)                                  Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party of notice of the commencement of any action involving a claim referred to in this Section 7, such indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is made against an indemnifying party, give written notice to the latter of the commencement of such action.  The failure of any indemnified party to notify an indemnifying party of any such action shall not (unless such failure shall have a material adverse effect on the indemnifying party) relieve the indemnifying party from any liability in respect of such action that it may have to such indemnified party hereunder.  In case any such action is brought against an indemnified party, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate in and to assume the defense of the claims in any such action that are subject or potentially subject to indemnification hereunder, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified to the extent that it may wish, with counsel

 

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reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party, and after written notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be responsible for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by the indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof; provided, that if (i) any indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be one or more legal or equitable defenses available to such indemnified party which are additional to or conflict with those available to the indemnifying party, or that such claim or litigation involves or could have an effect upon matters beyond the scope of the indemnity provided hereunder, or (ii) such action seeks an injunction or equitable relief against any indemnified party or involves actual or alleged criminal activity, the indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume the defense of such action on behalf of such indemnified party without such indemnified party’s prior written consent (but, without such consent, shall have the right to participate therein with counsel of its choice) and such indemnifying party shall reimburse such indemnified party and any Person controlling such indemnified party for that portion of the fees and expenses of any counsel retained by the indemnified party which is reasonably related to the matters covered by the indemnity provided hereunder.  If the indemnifying party is not entitled to, or elects not to, assume the defense of a claim, it shall not be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of more than one counsel for all parties indemnified by such indemnifying party with respect to such claim, unless in the reasonable judgment of any indemnified party a conflict of interest may exist between such indemnified party and any other of such indemnified parties with respect to such claim.  In such instance, the conflicting indemnified parties shall have a right to retain one separate counsel, chosen by the Investor, at the expense of the indemnifying party.  No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any litigation or proceeding commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever in respect of which (i) any indemnified person is or could have been a party and (ii) indemnification or contribution could be sought under this Section 7, unless such settlement, compromise or consent (x) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such litigation, investigation, proceeding or claim and (y) does not include any statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

 

(d)                                 If the indemnification provided for hereunder is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to an indemnified party with respect to any loss, claim, damage, liability or action referred to herein, then the indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party hereunder, shall contribute to the amounts paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such loss, claim, damage, liability or action in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party on the one hand and of the indemnified party on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as well as any other relevant equitable considerations; provided, that the maximum amount of liability in

 

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respect of such contribution shall be limited, in the case of each holder of Registrable Securities, to an amount equal to the net proceeds (after underwriting fees, commissions or discounts) actually received by such seller from the sale of Registrable Securities effected pursuant to such registration.  The relative fault of the indemnifying party and of the indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the indemnifying party or by the indemnified party and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.  The parties agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant hereto were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method or allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to herein.  No Person guilty or liable of fraudulent misrepresentation shall be entitled to contribution from any Person.

 

8.                                      Participation in Underwritten Registrations.  No Person may participate in any registration hereunder which is underwritten unless such Person (a) agrees to sell such Person’s securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Person or Persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements and (b) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements; provided, that no holder of Registrable Securities included in any underwritten registration shall be required to make any representations or warranties to the Company or the underwriters (other than representations and warranties regarding such holder, such holder’s ownership of its shares of Common Stock to be sold in the offering and such holder’s intended method of distribution) or to undertake any indemnification obligations to the Company or the underwriters with respect thereto, except as otherwise provided in Section 7.

 

9.                                      Rule 144 Compliance.  With a view to making available to the holders of Registrable Securities the benefits of Rule 144 under the Securities Act and any other rule or regulation of the Commission that may at any time permit a holder to sell securities of the Company to the public without registration or pursuant to a registration on Form S-3 (or any successor form), the Company shall:

 

(a)                                 make and keep public information available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act, at all times after the date of registration;

 

(b)                                 use best efforts to file with the Commission in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Company under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, at any time after the Company has become subject to such reporting requirements; and

 

(c)                                  furnish to any holder so long as the holder owns Registrable Securities, promptly upon request, a written statement by the Company as to its compliance with the

 

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reporting requirements of Rule 144 under the Securities Act and of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Company, and such other reports and documents so filed or furnished by the Company as such holder may request in connection with the sale of Registrable Securities without registration.

 

10.                               Preservation of Rights.  The Company shall not (a) grant any registration rights to third parties that are more favorable than or inconsistent with the rights granted hereunder, or (b) enter into any agreement, take any action, or permit any change to occur, with respect to its securities that violates or subordinates the rights expressly granted to the holders of Registrable Securities in this Agreement.

 

11.                               Termination.  This Agreement shall terminate and be of no further force or effect when there shall no longer be any Registrable Securities outstanding; provided, that the provisions of Section 6 and Section 7 shall survive any such termination.

 

12.                               Notices.  All notices, requests and demands to or upon the respective parties hereto to be effective shall be in writing (including by facsimile), and, unless otherwise expressly provided herein, shall be deemed to have been duly given or made when delivered against receipt or upon actual receipt of (i) personal delivery, (ii) delivery by reputable overnight courier, (iii) delivery by facsimile transmission with telephonic confirmation or (iv) delivery by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, addressed as set forth below (or to such other address as may be hereafter notified by the respective parties hereto in accordance with this Section 12.):

 

	
The   Company:
    	
Ares   Commercial Real Estate Corporation
    
	
 
    	
Two North LaSalle Street, Suite 925
    
	
 
    	
Chicago, IL 60602
    
	
 
    	
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
    
	
 
    	
Fax: (312) 324-5901
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
with   a copy to:
    	
Ares   Commercial Real Estate Corporation
    
	
 
    	
Two North LaSalle Street, Suite 925
    
	
 
    	
Chicago, IL 60602
    
	
 
    	
Attention: Legal Department
    
	
 
    	
Fax: (312) 324-5901
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Proskauer Rose LLP
    
	
 
    	
2049 Century Park East, 32nd Floor
    
	
 
    	
Los Angeles, CA 90067
    
	
 
    	
Attention: Monica J. Shilling
    
	
 
    	
Fax: (310) 557-2193
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
The   Investor:
    	
Ares   Investments Holdings LLC
    
	
 
    	
2000 Avenue of the Stars, 12th Floor
    
	
 
    	
Los Angeles, CA 90067
    


 

 

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Attention: Richard Davis
    
	
 
    	
Fax   no.: (310) 201-4170
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
with   a copy to:
    	
Ares Investments Holdings LLC
    
	
 
    	
2000 Avenue of the Stars, 12th Floor
    
	
 
    	
Los Angeles, CA 90067
    
	
 
    	
Attention: Michael Weiner
    
	
 
    	
Fax no.: (310) 201-4170
    


 

13.                               Entire Agreement.  This Agreement contains the entire agreement and understanding among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements, understandings, inducements and conditions, express or implied, oral or written, of any nature whatsoever with respect to the subject matter hereof.  The express terms hereof control and supersede any course of performance and/or usage of the trade inconsistent with any of the terms hereof.

 

14.                               Successor and Assigns.  This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective heirs, personal representatives, successors and permitted assigns as provided herein.  The Investor may assign its rights hereunder to any purchaser or transferee of Registrable Securities; provided, that such purchaser or transferee shall, as a condition to the effectiveness of such assignment, be required to execute a counterpart to this Agreement agreeing to be treated as the Investor whereupon such purchaser or transferee shall have the benefits of, and shall be subject to the restrictions contained in, this Agreement as if such purchaser or transferee was originally included in the definition of the Investor herein and had originally been a party hereto.  To the extent that the Investor assigns a portion of its Registrable Securities to one or more non-affiliated assignees, any determinations to be made by the “Investor” shall be made by the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities then outstanding.

 

15.                               No Third-Party Beneficiaries.  This Agreement is for the sole benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns and nothing herein, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other Person any legal or equitable right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever, under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

16.                               Headings.  The section and subsection headings in this Agreement are for convenience in reference only and shall not be deemed to alter or affect the interpretation of any provisions hereof.

 

17.                               Amendment, Modification and Waiver.  The provisions of this Agreement may only be amended, modified, supplemented or waived with the prior written consent of the Company and the Investor.  No failure to exercise and no delay in exercising, on the part of a party hereto, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege.  The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and

 

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privileges provided by law. No waiver of any provision hereunder shall be effective unless it is in writing and is signed by the party granting such waiver.

 

18.                               Severability.  Any provision of this Agreement that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

 

19.                               Remedies.  Each holder of Registrable Securities, in addition to being entitled to exercise all rights granted by law, including recovery of damages, shall be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this Agreement.  The Company acknowledges that monetary damages would not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of a breach by it of the provisions of this Agreement and the Company hereby agrees to waive the defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate.

 

20.                               Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction.  This Agreement and the rights and obligations of the parties under this Agreement shall be governed by, and construed and interpreted in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.  each of the parties hereto irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the state of New York and the United States District Court for any district within such state for the purpose of any action or judgment relating to or arising out of this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby and to the laying of venue in such court.

 

21.                               Waiver of Jury Trial.  Each party hereto acknowledges and agrees that any controversy that may arise under this Agreement is likely to involve complicated and difficult issues, and, therefore, each such party hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any right such party may have to a trial by jury in respect to any action directly or indirectly arising out of, under or in connection with or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

22.                               Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed by the parties to this Agreement on any number of separate counterparts (including by facsimile), and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument.

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on the date first written above.

 

	
 
    	
Ares   Commercial Real Estate Corporation
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Richard S. Davis
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Richard   S. Davis
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Chief   Financial Officer
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Ares   Investments Holdings LLC
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/   Daniel F. Nguyen
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Daniel   F. Nguyen
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Vice   President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer