Ares Commercial Real Estate (ACR) will raise its quarterly dividend to $0.27 per share.

The dividend will be payable on April 17, 2017 to common stockholders of record on March 31,2017.

“Our strong fourth quarter results concluded a very good year for our company as we executed well on many of our strategic objectives,” commented Robert L. Rosen, Chairman of the Board and Interim Co-Chief Executive Officer of Ares Commercial Real Estate Corporation. “During 2016, we generated record origination volume, maintained excellent credit quality, expanded our access to cost efficient capital, refocused our business after the successful sale of our mortgage banking platform and delivered a solid total return from dividends and increases in our book value. Looking forward, we expect to benefit from our deep market relationships and broad coverage as we seek to invest our available capital into attractive investments to improve our profitability and deliver more stable and recurring cash earnings. Given our full year outlook for 2017, our board has authorized an increase in our first quarter dividend to $0.27 per share, representing the second year in a row that we have increased our dividend.”

Ares Commercial Real Estate Corporation is a specialty finance company primarily engaged in originating and investing in commercial real estate loans and related investments. The Company provides financing solutions for commercial real estate owners and operators. The Company originates senior mortgage loans, as well as subordinate financings, mezzanine debt and preferred equity, with an emphasis on providing value added financing on a variety of properties located in liquid markets across the United States. Ares Commercial Real Estate Corporation elected and qualified to be taxed as a real estate investment trust and is externally managed by a subsidiary of Ares Management, L.P. (ARES).