Ares Commercial (NYSE: ACRE) CEO sale to cover tax withholding shares

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Ares Commercial Real Estate Corp. Chief Executive Officer Bryan Patrick Donohoe reported selling 21,761 shares of common stock on January 14, 2026. The shares were sold at a weighted average price of $4.9276 per share to cover tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of common stock. After this transaction, he beneficially owned 250,197 shares of the company’s common stock, including 99,166 restricted stock units that each convert into one share upon vesting.

SEC Form 4

FORM 4

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

OMB APPROVAL

OMB Number:			3235-0287
Estimated average burden
hours per response:			0.5

Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

Check this box to indicate that a transaction was made pursuant to a contract, instruction or written plan for the purchase or sale of equity securities of the issuer that is intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c). See Instruction 10.

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person^*

Donohoe Bryan Patrick

(Last) (First) (Middle)

C/O ARES COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE CORP.

245 PARK AVENUE, 42ND FLOOR

(Street)

NEW YORK NY 10167

(City) (State) (Zip)

2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
Ares Commercial Real Estate Corp [ ACRE ]

5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)

	Director		10% Owner
X	Officer (give title below)		Other (specify below)
	Chief Executive Officer

3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
01/14/2026

4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)

6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)

X	Form filed by One Reporting Person
	Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3)	2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed Of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)			5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4)	6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
			Code	V	Amount	(A) or (D)	Price
Common Stock	01/14/2026		S		21,761(1)	D	$4.9276(2)	250,197(3)	D

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)	2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)	3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)	4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)		5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4)		8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)	9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)	10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)	11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
				Code	V	(A)	(D)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares

Explanation of Responses:

1. Represents the number of shares of common stock sold by the reporting person to cover tax withholding obligations in connection with the vesting of the common stock.

2. The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price. These shares were sold on January 14, 2026 in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $4.89 to $4.97, inclusive. The reporting person undertakes to provide to Ares Commercial Real Estate Corporation (the "Issuer"), any security holder of the Issuer, or the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price within the range set forth in footnote.

3. Includes 99,166 restricted stock units granted under the Ares Commercial Real Estate Corporation Amended and Restated 2012 Equity Incentive Plan. The restricted stock units vest in installments with the applicable restricted stock unit award agreement. Each restricted stock unit represents the right to receive one share of the Issuer's common stock upon vesting.

Remarks:

	/s/ Anton Feingold, by power of attorney	01/15/2026
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB Number.

FAQ

What insider transaction did Ares Commercial Real Estate Corp (ACRE) report?

Ares Commercial Real Estate Corp reported that Chief Executive Officer Bryan Patrick Donohoe sold 21,761 shares of common stock on January 14, 2026.

At what price were the ACRE shares sold in this insider transaction?

The 21,761 shares of Ares Commercial Real Estate Corp common stock were sold at a weighted average price of $4.9276 per share, with individual trades ranging from $4.89 to $4.97.

Why did Ares Commercial CEO Bryan Patrick Donohoe sell 21,761 ACRE shares?

The filing states the 21,761 shares were sold to cover tax withholding obligations in connection with the vesting of common stock, rather than as a discretionary sale of investment holdings.

How many Ares Commercial Real Estate Corp shares does the CEO own after the sale?

After the reported transaction, Chief Executive Officer Bryan Patrick Donohoe beneficially owned 250,197 shares of Ares Commercial Real Estate Corp common stock.

What restricted stock units does the ACRE CEO hold following this transaction?

The beneficial ownership total includes 99,166 restricted stock units granted under the company’s equity incentive plan, each representing the right to receive one share of common stock upon vesting in installments.

Was this Ares Commercial (ACRE) insider sale executed under a Rule 10b5-1 plan?

The document includes a checkbox for transactions made pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1(c) plan, but the excerpt does not indicate that this particular sale was made under such a plan.