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  Exhibit 10.4    
    

 
 

  FORM OF
  RESTRICTED STOCK AGREEMENT
  PURSUANT TO THE
  ARES COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE CORPORATION
  2012 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN    
    

        THIS AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is entered into
on                        , 20            
between Ares Commercial Real Estate Corporation, a Maryland corporation (the "Company"),
and                                    (the
"Participant"). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Ares Commercial Real Estate Corporation
2012 Equity Incentive Plan (the "Plan"). 

 
 

W I T N E S S E T H:    
    

        WHEREAS, the Company has adopted the Plan, a copy of which has been delivered to the
Participant, which is administered by the Committee; 

        WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 4 of the Plan, the Committee may grant Restricted
Stock to Eligible Persons; and 

        WHEREAS, the Participant is an Eligible Person under the Plan. 

        NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows: 

        1.    Grant of Shares.    Subject in all respects to the Plan and the terms and conditions set
forth herein and therein, effective on [DATE] (the "Grant Date"), the Company hereby awards to the Participant
[    •    ] shares of validly issued Common Stock (the "Shares"). Pursuant to  Section 2 hereof, the
Shares are subject to certain restrictions, which restrictions shall lapse at the times provided under  Section 2(b) hereof. While such restrictions are in effect, the Shares subject to such
restrictions shall be referred to herein as
"Restricted Stock." The Shares shall be credited to a book entry account maintained by the Company (or its designee) on behalf of the Participant and
such book entry shall be noted appropriately to record the restrictions on the Shares imposed hereby. 

        2.    Restricted Stock.    

        (a)    Rights with Regard to Restricted Stock; Restrictions on Transfer.    The Participant
will have the right to vote the Restricted Stock, to receive and retain any dividends payable to holders of record of Common Stock on and after the Grant Date (although such dividends shall be
treated, to the extent required by applicable law, as additional compensation for tax purposes if paid on Restricted Stock), and to exercise all other rights, powers and privileges of a holder of
Common Stock with respect to the Restricted Stock set forth in the Plan, with the exception that the Participant may not voluntarily or involuntarily sell, assign, transfer, pledge, exchange,
encumber, hypothecate or otherwise dispose (each, a "Disposition") of the Restricted Stock. Any attempted Disposition of the Shares in violation of the
foregoing sentence or of the Plan shall be void and of no effect and the Company shall have the right to disregard the same on its books and records and to issue "stop transfer" instructions to its
transfer agent. 

        (b)    Vesting.    The Restricted Stock granted pursuant to  Section 1 hereof shall vest and cease to be "Restricted
Stock" in [    •    ] equal
installments on the first business day of each of the [    •    ] consecutive fiscal quarters beginning on [DATE];
provided that [the Participant has not 

1

 

incurred
a Termination of Service prior to the applicable vesting date](1). There shall be no proportionate or partial vesting in the periods between the vesting dates. 

        (c)    Forfeiture.    The Participant shall forfeit to the Company, without compensation, any
and all unvested Restricted Stock upon [the Participant's Termination of Service for any reason](2). 

        (d)    Withholding.    Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, as a condition
precedent to the vesting of the Restricted Stock pursuant to Section 2(b), the Participant shall pay, or make arrangements to pay, in a manner
satisfactory to the Company, an amount equal to the amount of all applicable federal, state, local or other taxes of any kind that the Company is required to withhold with respect to the vesting of
the Restricted Stock. 

        (e)    Section 83(b).    If the Participant properly elects (as permitted by
Section 83(b) of the Code) within 30 days after the issuance of the Restricted Stock to include in gross income for federal income tax purposes in the year of issuance the fair market
value of such Restricted Stock, the Participant shall pay to the Company or make arrangements satisfactory to the Company to pay to the Company upon such election, any federal, state, local or other
taxes of any kind that the Company is required to withhold with respect to the Restricted Stock. The Participant acknowledges that it is his or her sole responsibility, and not the Company's, to file
timely and properly the election under Section 83(b) of the Code and any corresponding provisions of state tax laws if he or she elects to utilize such election. 

        (f)    Certificates.    If, after the Grant Date, certificates are issued with respect to the
Shares, such issuance and delivery of certificates shall be in accordance with the applicable terms of the Plan. 

        3.    Rights to Employment or Other Service.    Nothing in the Plan or in this Agreement shall
confer on any person any right to continue in the employ or other service of the applicable Participating Company or interfere in any way with the right of the applicable Participating Company and its
stockholders to terminate such person's employment or other service at any time. 

        4.    Provisions of Plan Control.    This Agreement is subject to all the terms, conditions
and provisions of the Plan, and to such rules, regulations and interpretations relating to the Plan as may be adopted by the Committee and as may be in effect from time to time. The Plan is
incorporated herein by reference. By
signing and returning this Agreement, the Participant acknowledges having received and read a copy of the Plan and agrees to comply with it, this Agreement and all applicable laws and regulations. If
and to the extent that this Agreement conflicts or is inconsistent with the terms, conditions and provisions of the Plan, the Plan shall control, and this Agreement shall be deemed to be modified
accordingly. This Agreement contains the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any prior agreements between the Company and the Participant with
respect to the subject matter hereof. 

   

   

 

 	(1)
	With
respect to Restricted Stock granted to the Manager, replace bracketed language with: "vesting will cease if the Management Agreement, dated as of
                        , 2012, between the Company and the Manager (the "Management
Agreement") is terminated by the Company pursuant to Section 12(a)
thereof or by the Manager pursuant to Section 10(d) thereof. All shares of Restricted Stock hereunder shall be deemed to have vested immediately prior to any termination of the Management
Agreement by the Company or the Manager, other than a termination of the Management Agreement by the Company pursuant to Section 12(a) thereof or by the Manager pursuant to Section 10(d)
thereof".

	(2)
	With
respect to Restricted Stock granted to the Manager, replace bracketed language with: "the termination of the Management Agreement". 

2

 

        5.    Amendment.    The Board or the Committee may at any time and from time to time amend, in
whole or in part, any or all of the provisions of this Agreement to comply with any applicable law and may also amend, suspend or terminate this Agreement subject to the terms of the Plan. Except as
otherwise provided in the Plan, no modification or waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be effective unless in writing by the party against whom it is sought to be enforced. 

        6.    Notices.    All notices hereunder shall be in writing, and if to the Company or the
Committee, shall be delivered to the Board or mailed to its principal office, addressed to the attention of the Board; and if to the Participant, shall be delivered personally, sent by facsimile
transmission or mailed to the Participant at the address appearing in the records of the applicable Participating Company. 

        7.    Miscellaneous.    

        (a)   This
Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective heirs, legal representatives, successors and assigns. 

        (b)   This
Agreement shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of Maryland (regardless of the law that might otherwise govern under applicable Maryland
principles of conflict of laws). With respect to any suit, action or proceeding ("Proceeding") arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any
transaction contemplated hereby, each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of (i) the United States District Court for the District of Maryland or
(ii) in the event that such court lacks jurisdiction to hear the claim, the state courts of Maryland located in Baltimore, Maryland (the "Selected
Courts"), and waives any objection to venue being set in the Selected Courts, whether based on the grounds of forum non
conveniens or otherwise, and hereby agrees not to commence any such Proceeding other than before one of the Selected Courts; provided, however, that a party may commence any
Proceeding in a court other than a Selected Court solely for the purpose of enforcing an order or judgment issued by one of the Selected Courts. 

        (c)   EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHTS TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE PLAN OR THIS
AGREEMENT.

        (d)   This
Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which taken together shall constitute one contract. 

        (e)   The
failure of any party hereto at any time to require performance or insist on strict compliance by another party of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect
the right of such party to require performance of or compliance with that provision, and any waiver by any party of any breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not be construed as a waiver of
any continuing or succeeding breach of such provision, a waiver of the provision itself, or a waiver of any right under this Agreement. 

        (f)    This
Agreement, together with the Plan, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior
agreements, written or oral, with respect hereto. 

3

 

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

 

					
	 	 	 ARES COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE CORPORATION
	

 	
 	
By:	
 	
    
	 	 	 	 	

  
	 	 	Name:	 	 
	 	 	Title:	 	 
	
 PARTICIPANT	
 	
 	
 	
 
	
  

  Name:	
 	
 	
 	
 

 

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Exhibit 10.4

FORM OF RESTRICTED STOCK AGREEMENT PURSUANT TO THE ARES COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE CORPORATION 2012 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

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  Exhibit 10.5    
    

 
 

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT    
    

        THIS INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is made and entered into as of
the                        day
of                                    , 2012, between
Ares Commercial Real Estate Corporation, a Maryland corporation (the "Company"),
and                                    ("Indemnitee"). 

        WHEREAS,
at the request of the Company, Indemnitee will serve as a director or officer of the Company and may, therefore, be subjected to claims, suits or proceedings arising as a result
of his or her service; and 

        WHEREAS,
as an inducement to Indemnitee to continue to serve as such director and/or officer of the Company, the Company has agreed to indemnify and to advance expenses and costs
incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any such claims, suits or proceedings, to the maximum extent permitted by law; and 

        WHEREAS,
the parties by this Agreement desire to set forth their agreement regarding indemnification and advance of expenses; 

        NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants contained herein, the Company and Indemnitee do hereby covenant and agree as follows: 

        Section 1.    Definitions.    For purposes of this Agreement: 

        (a)   "Change
in Control" means a change in control of the Company occurring after the Effective Date of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to
Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A (or in response to any similar item on any similar schedule or form) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(the "Exchange Act"), whether or not the Company is then subject to such reporting requirement; provided, however, that, without limitation, such a Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred
if, after the Effective Date (i) any "person" (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) is or becomes the "beneficial owner" (as defined in
Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 15% or more of the combined voting power of all of the Company's
then-outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors without the prior approval of at least two-thirds of the members of the Board of Directors
in office immediately prior to such person's attaining such percentage interest; (ii) there occurs a proxy/contest, or the Company is a party to a merger, consolidation, sale of assets, plan of
liquidation or other reorganization not approved by at least two-thirds of the members of the Board of Directors then in office, as a consequence of which members of the Board of Directors
in office immediately prior to such transaction or event constitute less than a majority of the Board of Directors thereafter; or (iii) at any time, a majority of the members of the Board of
Directors are not individuals (A) who were directors as of the Effective Date or (B) whose election by the Board of Directors or nomination for election by the Company's stockholders was
approved by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then in office who were directors as of the Effective Date or whose election or nomination for election was
previously so approved. 

        (b)   "Corporate
Status" means the status of a person as a present or former director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or as a director, trustee, officer, partner,
manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other enterprise that such person
is or was serving in such capacity at the request of the Company. As a clarification and without limiting the circumstances in which Indemnitee may be serving at the request of the Company, service by
Indemnitee shall be deemed to be at the request of the Company: (i) if Indemnitee serves or served as a director, trustee, officer, partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or
agent of any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other 

 

enterprise
(1) of which a majority of the voting power or equity interest is owned directly or indirectly by the Company or (2) the management of which is controlled directly or
indirectly by the Company, or (ii) if, as a result of Indemnitee's service to the Company or any of its affiliated entities, Indemnitee is subject to duties by, or required to perform services
for, an employee benefit plan or its participants or beneficiaries, including as a deemed fiduciary thereof. 

        (c)   "Disinterested
Director" means a director of the Company who is not and was not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification and/or advance of Expenses
is sought by Indemnitee. 

        (d)   "Effective
Date" means the date set forth in the first paragraph of this Agreement. 

        (e)   "Expenses"
means any and all reasonable and out-of-pocket attorneys' fees and costs, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts,
witness fees, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees, federal, state, local or foreign taxes imposed on Indemnitee as a
result of the actual or deemed receipt of any payments under this Agreement, ERISA excise taxes and penalties and any other disbursements or expenses incurred in connection with prosecuting,
defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, being or preparing to be a witness in or otherwise participating in a Proceeding. Expenses shall also include Expenses incurred in
connection with any appeal resulting from any Proceeding including, without limitation, the premium for, security for and other costs relating to any cost bond, supersedeas bond or other appeal bond
or its equivalent. 

        (f)    "Independent
Counsel" means a law firm, or a member of a law firm, that is experienced in matters of corporation law and neither is, nor in the past five years has been,
retained to represent: (i) the Company or Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party (other than with respect to matters concerning Indemnitee under this Agreement or of other
indemnitees under similar indemnification agreements), or (ii) any other party to or participant or witness in the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification or advance of Expenses
hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term "Independent Counsel" shall not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict
of interest in representing either the Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee's rights under this Agreement. 

        (g)   "Proceeding"
means any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing
or any other proceeding, whether brought by or in the right of the Company or otherwise and whether of a civil (including intentional or unintentional tort claims), criminal, administrative or
investigative (formal or informal) nature,
including any appeal therefrom, except one pending or completed on or before the Effective Date, unless otherwise specifically agreed in writing by the Company and Indemnitee. If Indemnitee reasonably
believes that a given situation may lead to or culminate in the institution of a Proceeding, such situation shall also be considered a Proceeding. 

        Section 2.    Services by Indemnitee.    Indemnitee serves as a director and/or officer of the Company.
However, this Agreement shall not impose any independent obligation on Indemnitee or the Company to continue Indemnitee's service to the Company beyond any period otherwise required by law or by other
agreements or commitments of the parties, if any. This Agreement shall not be deemed an employment contract between the Company (or any other entity) and Indemnitee. 

        Section 3.    General.    The Company shall indemnify, and advance Expenses to, Indemnitee (a) as
provided in this Agreement and (b) as otherwise to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law in effect on the Effective Date and as amended from time to time; provided, however, that no
change in Maryland law shall have the effect of reducing the benefits available to Indemnitee hereunder based on Maryland law as in effect on the Effective Date. The rights of Indemnitee provided in
this Section 3 

2

 

shall
include, without limitation, the rights set forth in the other sections of this Agreement, including any additional indemnification permitted by Section 2-418(g) of the
Maryland General Corporation Law (the "MGCL"). 

        Section 4.    Standard for Indemnification.    If, by reason of Indemnitee's Corporate Status, Indemnitee is,
or is threatened to be, made a party to any Proceeding, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement and all Expenses actually and
reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee's behalf in connection with any such Proceeding unless it is established by clear and convincing evidence that (a) the act or omission of
Indemnitee was material to the matter giving rise to the Proceeding and (i) was committed in bad faith or (ii) was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty, (b) Indemnitee
actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services or (c) in the case of any criminal Proceeding, Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct
was unlawful. 

        Section 5.    Certain Limits on Indemnification.    Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement
(other than Section 6), Indemnitee shall not be entitled to: 

        (a)   indemnification
hereunder if the Proceeding was by or in the right of the Company and Indemnitee is adjudged to be liable to the Company; 

        (b)   indemnification
hereunder if Indemnitee is adjudged to be liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received in any Proceeding charging improper personal
benefit to Indemnitee, whether or not involving action in the Indemnitee's Corporate Status; or 

        (c)   indemnification
or advance of Expenses hereunder if the Proceeding was brought by Indemnitee, unless: (i) the Proceeding was brought to enforce indemnification
under this Agreement, and then only to the extent in accordance with and as authorized by Section 12 of this Agreement, or (ii) the Company's charter or Bylaws, a resolution of the
stockholders entitled to vote generally in the election of directors or of the Board of Directors or an agreement approved by the Board of Directors to which the Company is a party, expressly provides
otherwise. 

        Section 6.    Court-Ordered Indemnification.    Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, a court
of appropriate jurisdiction, upon application of Indemnitee and such notice as the court shall require, may order indemnification of Indemnitee by the Company in the following circumstances: 

        (a)   if
such court determines that Indemnitee is entitled to reimbursement under Section 2-418(d)(1) of the MGCL, the court shall order indemnification, in
which case Indemnitee shall be entitled to recover the Expenses of securing such reimbursement; or 

        (b)   if
such court determines that Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification in view of all the relevant circumstances, whether or not Indemnitee
(i) has met the standards of conduct set forth in Section 2-418(b) of the MGCL or (ii) has been adjudged liable for receipt of an improper personal benefit under
Section 2-418(c) of the MGCL, the court may order such indemnification as the court shall deem proper. However, indemnification with respect to any Proceeding by or in the right of
the Company or in which liability shall have been adjudged in the circumstances described in Section 2-418(c) of the MGCL shall be limited to Expenses. 

        Section 7.    Indemnification for Expenses of an Indemnitee Who is Wholly or Partially Successful.
    Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, and without limiting any such provision, to the extent that Indemnitee was or is, by reason of his or her Corporate Status, made a
party to (or otherwise becomes a participant in) any Proceeding and is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of such Proceeding, Indemnitee shall be indemnified for all Expenses
actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee's behalf in connection therewith. If Indemnitee is not wholly 

3

 

successful
in such Proceeding but is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims, issues or matters in such Proceeding, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee
under this Section 7 for all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee's behalf in connection with each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter, allocated on
a reasonable and proportionate basis. For purposes of this Section 7, and without limitation, the termination of any claim, issue or matter in such a Proceeding by dismissal, with or without
prejudice, shall be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue or matter. 

        Section 8.    Advance of Expenses for Indemnitee.    If, by reason of Indemnitee's Corporate Status, Indemnitee
is, or is threatened to be, made a party to (or otherwise becomes a participant in) any Proceeding, the Company shall, without requiring a preliminary determination of Indemnitee's ultimate
entitlement to indemnification hereunder, advance all reasonable Expenses incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with such Proceeding. Such advance or advances shall be made within ten
days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements requesting such advance or advances from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of such Proceeding, and may be in
the form of, in the reasonable discretion of Indemnitee (but without duplication) (a) payment of such Expenses directly to third parties on behalf of Indemnitee, (b) advancement to
Indemnitee of funds in an amount sufficient to pay such Expenses or (c) reimbursement to Indemnitee for Indemnitee's payment of such Expenses. Such statement or statements shall reasonably
evidence the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee and shall include or be preceded or accompanied by a written affirmation by Indemnitee of Indemnitee's good faith belief that the standard of conduct
necessary for indemnification by the Company as authorized by law and by this Agreement has been met and a written undertaking by or on behalf of Indemnitee, in substantially the form attached hereto
as Exhibit A or in such form as may be required under applicable law as in effect at the time of the execution thereof, to reimburse the portion
of any Expenses advanced to Indemnitee relating to claims, issues or matters in the Proceeding as to which it shall ultimately be established, by clear and convincing evidence, that the standard of
conduct has not been met by Indemnitee and which have not been successfully resolved as described in Section 7 of this Agreement. To the extent that Expenses advanced to Indemnitee do not
relate to a specific claim, issue or matter in the Proceeding, such Expenses shall be allocated on a reasonable and proportionate basis. The undertaking required by this Section 8 shall be an
unlimited general obligation by or on behalf of Indemnitee and shall be accepted without reference to Indemnitee's financial ability to repay such advanced Expenses and without any requirement to post
security therefor. 

        Section 9.    Indemnification and Advance of Expenses as a Witness or Other Participant.    Notwithstanding any
other provision of this Agreement, to the extent that Indemnitee is or may be, by reason of Indemnitee's Corporate Status, made a witness or otherwise asked to participate in any Proceeding, whether
instituted by the Company or any other party, and to which Indemnitee is not a party, Indemnitee shall be advanced all reasonable Expenses and indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably
incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee's behalf in connection therewith within ten days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements requesting any such advance or indemnification
from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of such Proceeding. Such statement or statements shall reasonably evidence the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee. 

        Section 10.    Procedure for Determination of Entitlement to Indemnification.    

        (a)   To
obtain indemnification under this Agreement, Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a written request, including therein or therewith such documentation and
information as is reasonably available to Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification. Indemnitee may submit one or more
such requests from time to time and at such time(s) as Indemnitee deems appropriate in Indemnitee's sole discretion. The officer of the Company receiving any such request from Indemnitee shall, 

4

 

promptly
upon receipt of such a request for indemnification, advise the Board of Directors that Indemnitee has requested indemnification. 

        (b)   Upon
written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to Section 10(a) above, a determination, if required by applicable law, with respect to
Indemnitee's entitlement thereto shall promptly be made in the specific case: (i) if a Change in Control shall have occurred, by Independent Counsel, in a written opinion to the Board of
Directors, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee, which Independent Counsel shall be selected by Indemnitee and approved by the Board of Directors in accordance with
Section 2-418(e)(2)(ii) of the MGCL, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld; or (ii) if a Change in Control shall not have occurred, (A) by the Board of
Directors by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of Disinterested Directors or, if such a quorum cannot be obtained, then by a majority vote of a duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors
consisting solely of one or more Disinterested Directors, (B) if Independent Counsel has been selected by the Board of Directors in accordance with Section 2-418(e)(2)(ii) of
the MGCL and approved by Indemnitee, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, by Independent Counsel, in a written opinion to the Board of Directors, a copy of which shall be delivered to
Indemnitee or (C) if so directed by a majority of the members of the Board of Directors, by the stockholders of the Company. If it is so determined that Indemnitee is entitled to
indemnification, payment to Indemnitee shall be made within ten days after such determination. Indemnitee shall cooperate with the person, persons or entity making such determination with respect to
Indemnitee's entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such person, persons or entity upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise
protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to such determination in the discretion of the Board of Directors or Independent Counsel if retained
pursuant to clause (ii)(B) of this Section 10(b). Any Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person, persons or entity making such determination shall be borne by the
Company (irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitee's entitlement to indemnification) and the Company shall indemnify and hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom. 

        (c)   The
Company shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of Independent Counsel, if one is appointed. 

        Section 11.    Presumptions and Effect of Certain Proceedings.    

        (a)   In
making any determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the person or persons or entity making such determination shall presume that
Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement if Indemnitee has submitted a request for indemnification in accordance with Section 10(a) of this Agreement, and the Company
shall have the burden of proof to overcome that presumption in connection with the making of any determination contrary to that presumption. 

        (b)   The
termination of any Proceeding or of any claim, issue or matter therein, by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, upon a plea of nolo
contendere or its equivalent, or entry of an order of probation prior to judgment, does not create a presumption that Indemnitee did not meet the requisite standard of conduct
described herein for indemnification. 

        (c)   The
knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any other director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or any other director, trustee, officer, partner,
manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other
enterprise shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining any other right to indemnification under this Agreement. 

5

 

        Section 12.    Remedies of Indemnitee.    

        (a)   If
(i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 10(b) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement,
(ii) advance of Expenses is not timely made pursuant to Sections 8 or 9 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have been made pursuant
to Section 10(b) of this Agreement within 60 days after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification, (iv) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to
Sections 7 or 9 of this Agreement within ten days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor, or (v) payment of indemnification pursuant to any other section of this
Agreement or the charter or Bylaws of the Company is not made within ten days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an
adjudication in an
appropriate court located in the State of Maryland, or in any other court of competent jurisdiction, of Indemnitee's entitlement to such indemnification or advance of Expenses. Alternatively,
Indemnitee, at Indemnitee's option, may seek an award in arbitration to be conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association.
Indemnitee shall commence a proceeding seeking an adjudication or an award in arbitration within 180 days following the date on which Indemnitee first has the right to commence such proceeding
pursuant to this Section 12(a); provided, however, that the foregoing clause shall not apply to a proceeding brought by Indemnitee to enforce his or her rights under Section 7 of this
Agreement. Except as set forth herein, the provisions of Maryland law (without regard to its conflicts of laws rules) shall apply to any such arbitration. The Company shall not oppose Indemnitee's
right to seek any such adjudication or award in arbitration. 

        (b)   In
any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 12, Indemnitee shall be presumed to be entitled to indemnification or advance of
Expenses, as the case may be, under this Agreement and the Company shall have the burden of proving that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification or advance of Expenses, as the case may be. If
Indemnitee commences a judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to this Section 12, Indemnitee shall not be required to reimburse the Company for any advances pursuant to Section 8 of
this Agreement until a final determination is made with respect to Indemnitee's entitlement to indemnification (as to which all rights of appeal have been exhausted or lapsed). The Company shall, to
the fullest extent not prohibited by law, be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 12 that the procedures and presumptions of
this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court or before any such arbitrator that the Company is bound by all of the provisions of this Agreement. 

        (c)   If
a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 10(b) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company shall be bound by
such determination in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 12, absent a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact
necessary to make Indemnitee's statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification. 

        (d)   In
the event that Indemnitee is successful in seeking, pursuant to this Section 12, a judicial adjudication of or an award in arbitration to enforce Indemnitee's
rights under, or to recover damages for breach of, this Agreement, Indemnitee shall be entitled to recover from the Company, and shall be indemnified by the Company for, any and all Expenses actually
and reasonably incurred by him or her in such judicial adjudication or arbitration. If it shall be determined in such judicial adjudication or arbitration that Indemnitee is entitled to receive part
but not all of the indemnification or advance of Expenses sought, the Expenses incurred by 

6

 

Indemnitee
in connection with such judicial adjudication or arbitration shall be appropriately prorated. 

        (e)   Interest
shall be paid by the Company to Indemnitee at the maximum rate allowed to be charged for judgments under the Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article of the
Annotated Code of Maryland for amounts which the Company pays or is obligated to pay for the period (i) commencing with either the tenth day after the date on which the Company was requested to
advance Expenses in accordance with Sections 8 or 9 of this Agreement or the 60th day after the date on which the Company was requested to make the determination of
entitlement to indemnification under Section 10(b) of this Agreement, as applicable, and (ii) ending on the date such payment is made to Indemnitee by the Company. 

        Section 13.    Defense of the Underlying Proceeding.    

        (a)   Indemnitee
shall notify the Company promptly in writing upon being served with or receiving any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint, indictment, notice, request or
other document relating to any Proceeding which may result in the right to indemnification or the advance of Expenses hereunder and shall include with such notice a description of the nature of the
Proceeding and a summary of the facts underlying the Proceeding. The failure to give any such notice shall not disqualify Indemnitee from the right, or otherwise affect in any manner any right of
Indemnitee, to indemnification or the advance of Expenses under this Agreement unless the Company's ability to defend in such Proceeding or to obtain proceeds under any insurance policy is materially
and adversely prejudiced thereby, and then only to the extent the Company is thereby actually so prejudiced. 

        (b)   Subject
to the provisions of the last sentence of this Section 13(b) and of Section 13(c) below, the Company shall have the right to defend Indemnitee in
any Proceeding which may give rise to indemnification hereunder; provided, however, that the Company shall notify Indemnitee of any such decision to defend within 15 calendar days following receipt of
notice of any such Proceeding under Section 13(a) above. The Company shall not, without the prior written consent of Indemnitee, which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, consent to
the entry of any judgment against Indemnitee or enter into any settlement or compromise of a claim against Indemnitee which (i) includes an admission of fault of Indemnitee, (ii) does
not include, as an unconditional term thereof, the full release of Indemnitee from all liability in respect of such Proceeding, which release shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to
Indemnitee or (iii) would impose any Expense, judgment, fine, penalty or limitation on Indemnitee. This Section 13(b) shall not apply to a Proceeding brought by Indemnitee under
Section 12 of this Agreement. 

        (c)   Notwithstanding
the provisions of Section 13(b) above, if in a Proceeding to which Indemnitee is a party by reason of Indemnitee's Corporate Status,
(i) Indemnitee reasonably concludes, based upon an opinion of counsel approved by the Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, that Indemnitee may have separate defenses or
counterclaims to assert with respect to any issue which may not be consistent with other defendants in such Proceeding, (ii) Indemnitee reasonably concludes, based upon an opinion of counsel
approved by the Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, that an actual or apparent conflict of interest or potential conflict of interest exists between Indemnitee and the Company,
or (iii) if the Company fails to assume the defense of such Proceeding in a timely manner, Indemnitee shall be entitled to be represented by separate legal counsel of Indemnitee's choice,
subject to the prior approval of the Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, at the expense of the Company. In addition, if the Company fails to comply with any of its obligations
under this Agreement or in the event that the Company or any other person takes any action to declare this Agreement void or unenforceable, or institutes any Proceeding to deny or to recover from 

7

 

Indemnitee
the benefits intended to be provided to Indemnitee hereunder, Indemnitee shall have the right to retain counsel of Indemnitee's choice, subject to the prior approval of the Company, which
approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, at the expense of the Company (subject to Section 12(d) of this Agreement), to represent Indemnitee in connection with any such matter. 

        Section 14.    Non-Exclusivity; Survival of Rights; Subrogation.    

        (a)   The
rights of indemnification and advance of Expenses as provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at any time
be entitled under applicable law, the charter or Bylaws of the Company, any agreement or a resolution of the stockholders entitled to vote generally in the election of directors or of the Board of
Directors, or otherwise. Unless consented to in writing by Indemnitee, no amendment, alteration or repeal of this Agreement or of any provision hereof shall limit or restrict any right of Indemnitee
under this Agreement in respect of any action taken or omitted by such Indemnitee in his or her Corporate Status prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal, regardless of whether a claim with
respect to such action or inaction is raised prior or subsequent to such amendment, alteration or repeal. No right or remedy herein conferred is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy,
and every other right or remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to every other right or remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion of any
right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prohibit the concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy. 

        (b)   In
the event of any payment under this Agreement, the Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee, who shall
execute all papers required and take all action necessary to secure such rights, including execution of such documents as are necessary to enable the Company to bring suit to enforce such rights. 

        Section 15.    Insurance.    

        (a)   The
Company will use its reasonable best efforts to acquire directors and officers liability insurance, on terms and conditions deemed appropriate by the Board of
Directors, with the advice of counsel, covering Indemnitee or any claim made against Indemnitee by reason of his or her Corporate Status and covering the Company for any indemnification or advance of
Expenses made by the Company to Indemnitee for any claims made against Indemnitee by reason of his or her Corporate Status. 

        (b)   Without
in any way limiting any other obligation under this Agreement, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee for any payment by Indemnitee arising out of the amount of
any deductible or retention and the amount of any excess of the aggregate of all judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with a Proceeding over the
coverage of any insurance referred to in the previous sentence. The purchase, establishment and maintenance of any such insurance shall not in any way limit or affect the rights or obligations of the
Company or Indemnitee under this Agreement except as expressly provided herein, and the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company and Indemnitee shall not in any way limit or affect the
rights or obligations of the Company under any such insurance policies. If, at the time the Company receives notice from any source of a Proceeding to which Indemnitee is a party or a participant (as
a witness or otherwise), the Company has director and officer liability insurance in effect, the Company shall give prompt notice of such Proceeding to the insurers in accordance with the procedures
set forth in the respective policies. 

        Section 16.    Coordination of Payments.    The Company shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any
payment of amounts otherwise indemnifiable or payable or reimbursable as Expenses hereunder if and to the extent that Indemnitee has otherwise actually received such payment under any insurance
policy, contract, agreement or otherwise. 

8

 

        Section 17.    Contribution.    If the indemnification provided in this Agreement is unavailable in whole or in
part and may not be paid to Indemnitee for any reason, other than for failure to satisfy the standard of conduct set forth in Section 4 or due to the provisions of Section 5, then, with
respect to any Proceeding in which the Company is jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such Proceeding), to the fullest extent permissible under applicable law, the Company, in
lieu of indemnifying and holding
harmless Indemnitee, shall pay, in the first instance, the entire amount incurred by Indemnitee, whether for Expenses, judgments, penalties, and/or amounts paid or to be paid in settlement, in
connection with any Proceeding without requiring Indemnitee to contribute to such payment, and the Company hereby waives and relinquishes any right of contribution it may have at any time against
Indemnitee. 

        Section 18.    Reports to Stockholders.    To the extent required by the MGCL, the Company shall report in
writing to its stockholders the payment of any amounts for indemnification of, or advance of Expenses to, Indemnitee under this Agreement arising out of a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company
with the notice of the meeting of stockholders of the Company next following the date of the payment of any such indemnification or advance of Expenses or prior to such meeting. 

        Section 19.    Duration of Agreement; Binding Effect.    

        (a)   This
Agreement shall continue until and terminate on the later of (i) the date that Indemnitee shall have ceased to serve as a director, officer, employee or
agent of the Company or as a director, trustee, officer, partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other foreign or domestic corporation, real estate investment trust,
partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise that such person is or was serving in such capacity at the request of the Company and
(ii) the date that Indemnitee is no longer subject to any actual or possible Proceeding (including any rights of appeal thereto and any Proceeding commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to
Section 12 of this Agreement). 

        (b)   The
indemnification and advance of Expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Agreement shall be binding upon and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their
respective successors and assigns (including any direct or indirect successor by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company),
shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or a director, trustee, officer, partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or
agent of any other foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise that such person is or was serving in such
capacity at the request of the Company, and shall inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and Indemnitee's spouse, assigns, heirs, devisees, executors and administrators and other legal representatives. 

        (c)   The
Company shall require and cause any successor (whether direct or indirect by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all, substantially all or a substantial
part, of the business and/or assets of the Company, by written agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Indemnitee, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner
and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place. 

        (d)   The
Company and Indemnitee agree that a monetary remedy for breach of this Agreement, at some later date, may be inadequate, impracticable and difficult of proof, and
further agree that such breach may cause Indemnitee irreparable harm. Accordingly, the parties hereto agree that Indemnitee may
enforce this Agreement by seeking injunctive relief and/or specific performance hereof, without any necessity of showing actual damage or irreparable harm and that by seeking injunctive relief and/or
specific performance, Indemnitee shall not be precluded from seeking or obtaining any other relief to which Indemnitee may be entitled. 

9

 

Indemnitee
shall further be entitled to such specific performance and injunctive relief, including temporary restraining orders, preliminary injunctions and permanent injunctions, without the
necessity of posting bonds or other undertakings in connection therewith. The Company acknowledges that, in the absence of a waiver, a bond or undertaking may be required of Indemnitee by a court, and
the Company hereby waives any such requirement of such a bond or undertaking. 

        Section 20.    Severability.    If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid,
illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of
any Section, paragraph or sentence of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any
way be affected or impaired thereby and shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law; (b) such provision or provisions shall be deemed reformed to the extent necessary to
conform to applicable law and to give the maximum effect to the intent of the parties hereto; and (c) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without
limitation, each portion of any Section, paragraph or sentence of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, illegal or
unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested thereby. 

        Section 21.    Identical Counterparts.    This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of
which shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement. One such counterpart signed by the party against whom enforceability is
sought shall be sufficient to evidence the existence of this Agreement. 

        Section 22.    Headings.    The headings of the paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only
and shall not be deemed to constitute part of this Agreement or to affect the construction thereof. 

        Section 23.    Modification and Waiver.    No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be
binding unless executed in writing by both of the parties hereto. No waiver of any of the provisions
of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions hereof (whether or not similar) nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing waiver. 

        Section 24.    Notices.    All notices, requests, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in
writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if (i) delivered by hand and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed, on the day of
such delivery, or (ii) mailed by certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, on the third business day after the date on which it is so mailed: 

 

				
	 	 
	 	 

	 	(a)	 	If to Indemnitee, to the address set forth on the signature page hereto.
	
 	
 (b)	
 	
If to the Company, to:
	
 	

 	
 	
Ares Commercial Real Estate Corporation

2000 Avenue of the Stars

12th Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90067

Attn: General Counsel

 

 or
to such other address as may have been furnished in writing to Indemnitee by the Company or to the Company by Indemnitee, as the case may be. 

        Section 25.    Governing Law.    This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance
with, the laws of the State of Maryland, without regard to its conflicts of laws rules. 

10

 
[SIGNATURE
PAGE FOLLOWS] 

11

 

        IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written. 

 

							
	 	 	 ARES COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE CORPORATION
	

 	
 	
  By:	
 	
    
	 	 	 	 	

  
	 	 	 	 	Name:	 	 
	 	 	 	 	Title:	 	 
	

 	
 	
 INDEMNITEE
	

 	
 	
    	
 	

 
	 	 	

  
	 	 	Name:	 	 	 	 
	 	 	Address:	 	 	 	 

 

 12

 
 

  EXHIBIT A    
    

AFFIRMATION
AND UNDERTAKING TO REPAY EXPENSES ADVANCED 

	To:
	The
Board of Directors of Ares Commercial Real Estate Corporation

	Re:
	Affirmation
and Undertaking 

Ladies
and Gentlemen: 

        This
Affirmation and Undertaking is being provided pursuant to that certain Indemnification Agreement, dated
the                        day
of                                    ,
                        , between Ares
Commercial Real Estate Corporation, a Maryland corporation (the "Company"), and the undersigned Indemnitee (the "Indemnification Agreement"), pursuant to which I am entitled to advance of Expenses in
connection with [Description of Proceeding] (the "Proceeding"). 

        Terms
used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings specified in the Indemnification Agreement. 

        I
am subject to the Proceeding by reason of my Corporate Status or by reason of alleged actions or omissions by me in such capacity. I hereby affirm my good faith belief that at all
times, insofar as I was involved as a director or officer of the Company, in any of the facts or events giving rise to the Proceeding, I (1) did not act with bad faith or active or deliberate
dishonesty, (2) did not receive any improper personal benefit in money, property or services and (3) in the case of any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that any
act or omission by me was unlawful. 

        In
consideration of the advance of Expenses by the Company for reasonable attorneys' fees and related Expenses incurred by me in connection with the Proceeding (the "Advanced Expenses"),
I hereby agree that if, in connection with the Proceeding, it is established that (1) an act or omission by me was material to the matter giving rise to the Proceeding and (a) was
committed in bad faith or (b) was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty or (2) I actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services or (3) in
the case of any criminal proceeding, I had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful, then I shall promptly reimburse the portion of the Advanced Expenses relating to the
claims, issues or matters in the Proceeding as to which the foregoing findings have been established. 

        IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, I have executed this Affirmation and Undertaking on this                        day
of                                    , 20    .

 

					
	 	 	

  Name:

 

 

QuickLinks

Exhibit 10.5

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

EXHIBIT A

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