8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): February 25, 2015

Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Maryland	001-34452	27-0467113
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

c/o Apollo Global Management, LLC 9 West 57th Street, 43rd Floor New York, New York	10019
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (212) 515-3200

n/a

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

ITEM 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On February 25, 2015, Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc. (the “Company”) issued an earnings release announcing its financial results for the quarter ended December 31, 2014 and the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014. A copy of the earnings release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.

On February 25, 2015, the Company posted supplemental financial information on the Investor Relations section of its website (www.apolloreit.com). A copy of the supplemental financial information is furnished as Exhibit 99.2 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.

The information in Item 2.02 of this Current Report, including Exhibits 99.1 and 99.2, is being furnished and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section. The information in this Current Report shall not be incorporated by reference into any registration statement or other document pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, unless it is specifically incorporated by reference therein.

ITEM 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

Exhibit No.	Description
99.1	Earnings Release dated February 25, 2015
99.2	Supplemental Financial Information for the quarter ended December 31, 2014

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc.
By:	/s/ Stuart A. Rothstein
Name:	Stuart A. Rothstein
Title:	President and Chief Executive Officer

Date: February 25, 2015

Exhibit Index

Exhibit No.	Description
99.1	Earnings Release dated February 25, 2015
99.2	Supplemental Financial Information for the quarter ended December 31, 2014

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NYSE:ARI

CONTACT: Hilary Ginsberg

Investor Relations

(212) 822-0767

APOLLO COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE FINANCE, INC. REPORTS

FOURTH QUARTER AND FULL YEAR 2014 FINANCIAL RESULTS AND

INCREASES QUARTERLY DIVIDEND PER SHARE OF COMMON STOCK BY 10%

— 17.4% Annual Increase in Operating Earnings Per Share of Common Stock –

— Declares $0.44 Dividend Per Share of Common Stock –

New York, NY, February 25, 2015 – Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc. (the “Company” or “ARI”) (NYSE:ARI) today reported financial results for the quarter and twelve month period ended December 31, 2014.

Fourth Quarter 2014 Highlights

• Reported Operating Earnings (a non-GAAP financial measure defined below) per diluted share of common stock of $0.45 for the quarter ended December 31, 2014, an increase of 15.4% as compared to Operating Earnings per diluted share of common stock of $0.39 for the quarter ended December 31, 2013;

• Generated $27.0 million of net interest income from the Company’s $1.6 billion commercial real estate debt portfolio, which had a weighted average underwritten internal rate of return (“IRR”) of approximately 13.3% at December 31, 2014; and

• Completed $446.1 million of commercial real estate debt investments.

2014 Highlights

• Reported Operating Earnings (a non-GAAP financial measure defined below) per diluted share of common stock of $1.69 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2014, an increase of 17.4% as compared to Operating Earnings per diluted share of common stock of $1.44 for the twelve months ended December 31, 2013;

• Committed to invest $1.1 billion of equity into $1.5 billion of commercial real estate debt investments;

• Raised $158.4 million of capital through a common stock offering; and

• Completed two offerings of the Company’s 5.50% Convertible Senior Notes due 2019 for total aggregate principal amount of $254.8 million.

“2014 was a tremendously successful year for ARI, as the Company originated over $1.5 billion of new investments, expanded the capital base, diversified the investment portfolio and meaningfully grew operating earnings,” said Stuart Rothstein, Chief Executive Officer of the Company. “Given ARI’s strong start to 2015, we believe the Company’s robust pipeline and the significant amount of embedded future fundings will continue to drive ARI’s earnings growth. As a result, ARI’s Board of Directors voted to increase the quarterly dividend per share of common stock by 10% to $0.44.”

Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2014 Operating Results

The Company reported Operating Earnings of $21.2 million, or $0.45 per diluted share of common stock, for the three months ended December 31, 2014, representing a per share increase of 15.4% as compared to Operating Earnings of $14.5 million, or $0.39 per diluted share of common stock, for the three months ended December 31, 2013. Net income available to common stockholders for the three months ended December 31, 2014 was $20.2 million, or $0.43 per share of common stock, as compared to net income available to common stockholders of $14.0 million, or $0.37 per share of common stock, for the three months ended December 31, 2013.

For the twelve months ended December 31, 2014, the Company reported Operating Earnings of $74.0 million, or $1.69 per diluted share of common stock, representing a 17.4% per share increase as compared to Operating Earnings of $51.4 million, or $1.44 per diluted share of common stock, for the twelve months ended December 31, 2013. Net income available to common stockholders for the twelve months ended December 31, 2014 was $75.3 million, or $1.72 per share of common stock, as compared to net income available to common stockholders of $45.0 million, or $1.26 per share of common stock, for the twelve months ended December 31, 2013.

Fourth Quarter 2014 Investment and Portfolio Activity

New Investments – During the fourth quarter, ARI closed $446.1 million of commercial real estate debt investments, including the following transactions:

• $340.3 million of first mortgage loans ($195.3 million of which were funded at closing) with a weighted average levered IRR of approximately 13%;

• $82.5 million of subordinate loans ($54.2 million of which were funded during the quarter) with a weighted average IRR of approximately 13%; and

• $4.7 million of equity for the acquisition of CMBS with an aggregate purchase price of $23.3 million. The CMBS have a weighted average life of 3.0 years and have been underwritten to generate an IRR of approximately 15%.

Loan Repayments – During the fourth quarter, ARI received four loan repayments totaling $167 million including a $27 million principal repayment from a first mortgage loan secured by an office condominium in New York City, $59 million principal repayments from two loans for New York City hotels and an $81 million principal repayment from a whole loan secured by a condominium conversion project in New York City.

Quarter End Commercial Real Estate Debt Portfolio Summary

The following table sets forth certain information regarding the Company’s commercial real estate debt portfolio at December 31, 2014 ($ amounts in thousands):

Description	Amortized Cost		Weighted Average Yield			Debt		Cost of Funds			Equity at Cost(1)		Current Weighted Average Underwritten IRR (2)			Levered Weighted Average Underwritten IRR(2)(3)
First mortgage loans	$	458,520		8.5	%	$	168,124		2.7	%	$	290,396		12.6	%		12.9	%
Subordinate loans(4)		625,881		12.1			—		—			625,881		13.1			13.1
CMBS		534,222		6.4			454,070		3.3			110,279		16.2			16.2
Total/Weighted Average	$	1,618,623		9.2	%	$	622,194		3.2	%	$	1,026,556		13.3	%		13.4	%

Please see chart footnotes at the end of the press release.

Loan-to-Value

At December 31, 2014, the Company’s commercial real estate loan portfolio, which includes CMBS, held-to-maturity, had a weighted average LTV of 62%. Within the commercial real estate loan portfolio, the first mortgage loans had a weighted average LTV of 59% and the subordinate loans and CMBS, held-to-maturity, had a weighted average LTV of 63%.

Book Value

The Company’s book value per share at December 31, 2014 was $16.39. For purposes of GAAP accounting, the Company carries loans at amortized cost and its CMBS are marked to market. Management has estimated that the fair value of the Company’s loan portfolio at December 31, 2014 was approximately $12.5 million greater than the carrying value as of the same date.

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Subsequent Events

New Investments – Subsequent to quarter end, ARI closed three loans totaling $164.5 million. Details of some of the transactions include the following:

• $92.5 million ($72.5 million of which was funded at closing) first mortgage loan for the predevelopment of a mixed-use multifamily and retail development aggregating approximately 330,000 square feet in downtown Brooklyn, New York. The two-year, floating-rate first mortgage loan has an appraised LTV of 57% and has been underwritten to generate an IRR of approximately 21% on a levered basis; and

• £35 million (approximately $52 million) five-year, floating-rate mezzanine loan secured by a portfolio of 44 senior housing facilities located throughout the United Kingdom. The mezzanine loan has an appraised LTV of 70% and was underwritten to generate an IRR of approximately 10%.

Credit Facilities – Subsequent to quarter end, ARI amended an existing credit facility and closed an additional credit facility. Details of the facilities include:

• JP Morgan Facility –ARI amended and restated the JPMorgan Facility to increase the borrowing capacity from $175.0 million to $300.0 million. In addition, the JPMorgan Facility now has a two-year term plus a one-year extension option and the interest rate spread ranges from LIBOR + 2.25% to LIBOR + 4.75% depending on the collateral pledged, which may include mortgage and mezzanine loans secured by properties located in the United States, England or Wales; and

• Goldman Sachs Loan – ARI entered into a $52.5 million repurchase agreement with Goldman Sachs Bank USA (the “Goldman Sachs Loan”). The Goldman Sachs Loan bears interest at LIBOR + 3.5% and is for the purchase and sale of certain participation interests in a first mortgage loan secured by a portfolio of international destination homes. The maturity date on the Goldman Sachs Loan is the earlier of April 30, 2019 or the repayment or sale of the purchased loan.

Dividend – ARI’s Board of Directors declared a dividend of $0.44 per share of common stock, which is payable on April 15, 2015 to common stockholders of record on March 31, 2015.

Definition of Operating Earnings

Operating Earnings is a non-GAAP financial measure that is used by the Company to approximate cash available for distribution and is defined by the Company as net income available to common stockholders, computed in accordance with GAAP, adjusted for (i) equity-based compensation expense (a portion of which may become cash-based upon final vesting and settlement of awards should the holder elect net share settlement to satisfy income tax withholding); (ii) any unrealized gains or losses or other non-cash items included in net income available to common stockholders; (iii) unrealized income from equity investments; and (iv) the non-cash amortization expense related to the reclassification of a portion of the senior convertible notes to stockholders’ equity in accordance with GAAP.

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Reconciliation of Operating Earnings to Net Income Available to Common Stockholders

The tables below reconcile Operating Earnings and Operating Earnings per share of common stock with net income available to common stockholders and net income available to common stockholders per share of common stock for the three and twelve month periods ended December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 ($ amounts in thousands, except share and per share data):

	Three Months Ended December 31, 2014			Earnings Per Share (Diluted)			Three Months Ended December 31, 2013			Earnings Per Share (Diluted)
Operating Earnings:
Net income available to common stockholders	$	20,182		$	0.43		$	14,004		$	0.37
Adjustments:
Income from unconsolidated joint venture		69			—			—			—
Unrealized (gain)/loss on securities		639			0.01			(908	)		(0.02	)
Unrealized (gain)/loss on derivative instruments		(2,137	)		(0.04	)		—			—
Equity-based compensation expense		481			0.01			1,392			0.04
Foreign currency loss		1,413			0.03			—			—
Amortization of convertible notes related to equity reclassification		532			0.01			—			—
Total adjustments:		997			0.02			484			0.02
Operating Earnings	$	21,179		$	0.45		$	14,488		$	0.39
Basic weighted average shares of common stock outstanding:		46,852,646						36,886,619
Diluted weighted average shares of common stock outstanding:		47,085,617						37,390,369
	Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2014			Earnings Per Share (Diluted)			Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2013			Earnings Per Share (Diluted)
Operating Earnings:
Net income available to common stockholders	$	75,299		$	1.72		$	45,045		$	1.26
Adjustments:
Income from unconsolidated joint venture		157			—			—			—
Unrealized (gain)/loss on securities		(4,147	)		(0.09	)		3,065			0.09
Unrealized (gain)/loss on derivative instruments		(4,070	)		(0.09	)		(155	)		(0.01	)
Equity-based compensation expense		1,576			0.04			3,488			0.10
Foreign currency loss		4,050			0.09			—			—
Amortization of convertible notes related to equity reclassification		1,117			0.02			—			—
Total adjustments:		(1,317	)		(0.03	)		6,398			0.18
Operating Earnings	$	73,982		$	1.69		$	51,443		$	1.44
Basic weighted average shares of common stock outstanding:		43,464,225						35,212,211
Diluted weighted average shares of common stock outstanding:		43,684,805						35,679,755

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Teleconference Details:

The Company will host a conference call to discuss its financial results on Thursday, February 26, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. Members of the public who are interested in participating in the Company’s fourth quarter 2014 earnings teleconference call should dial from the U.S., (877) 331-6553, or from outside the U.S., (760) 666-3769, shortly before 10:00 a.m. and reference the Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc. Teleconference Call (number 69564272). Please note the teleconference call will be available for replay beginning at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 26, 2015, and ending at midnight on Thursday, March 5, 2015. To access the replay, callers from the U.S. should dial (855) 859-2056 and callers from outside the U.S. should dial (404) 537-3406, and enter conference identification number 69564272.

Webcast:

The conference call will also be available on the Company’s website at www.apolloreit.com. To listen to a live broadcast, please go to the site at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time in order to register, download and install any necessary audio software. A replay of the call will also be available for 30 days on the Company’s website.

Supplemental Information

The Company provides supplemental financial information to offer more transparency into its results and make its reporting more informative and easier to follow. The supplemental financial information is available in the investor relations section of the Company’s website at www.apolloreit.com.

About Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc.

Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc. (NYSE: ARI) is a real estate investment trust that primarily originates, acquires, invests in and manages performing commercial real estate mortgage loans, subordinate financings, CMBS and other commercial real estate-related debt investments. The Company is externally managed and advised by ACREFI Management, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and an indirect subsidiary of Apollo Global Management, LLC, a leading global alternative investment manager with approximately $160 billion of assets under management at December 31, 2014.

Additional information can be found on the Company’s website at www.apolloreit.com.

Dividend Reinvestment Plan

The Company adopted a Direct Stock Purchase and Dividend Reinvestment Plan (the “Plan”). The Plan provides new investors and existing holders of the Company’s common stock with a convenient and economical method to purchase shares of its common stock. By participating in the Plan, participants may purchase additional shares of the Company’s common stock by reinvesting some or all of the cash dividends received on their shares of the Company’s common stock. In addition, the Plan permits participants to make optional cash investments of up to $10,000 per month, and, with the Company’s prior approval, optional cash investments in excess of $10,000 per month, for the purchase of additional shares of the Company’s common stock.

The Plan is administered by a division of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. (“Wells”). Stockholders and other persons may obtain a copy of the Plan prospectus and an enrollment form by contacting Wells at (800) 468-9716 or (651) 450-4064, if outside the United States, or visiting Wells’ website at www.shareowneronline.com.

This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking statements as such term is defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and such statements are intended to be covered by the safe harbor provided by the same. Forward-looking statements are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and are generally beyond the Company’s control. These forward-looking statements include information about possible or assumed future results of the Company’s business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, plans and objectives. When used in this release, the words believe, expect, anticipate, estimate, plan, continue, intend, should, may or similar expressions, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Statements regarding the following subjects, among others, may be forward-looking: the return on equity; the yield on investments; the ability to borrow to finance assets; the Company’s ability to deploy the proceeds of its capital raises or acquire its target assets; and risks associated with investing in real estate assets, including changes in business conditions and the general

5

economy. For a further list and description of such risks and uncertainties, see the reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements, and other risks, uncertainties and factors are based on the Company’s beliefs, assumptions and expectations of its future performance, taking into account all information currently available to the Company. Forward-looking statements are not predictions of future events. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Footnotes

(1) CMBS includes $30,127 of restricted cash related to the Company’s repurchase facility with UBS AG.

(2) The underwritten IRR for the investments shown in the above table and elsewhere in this press release reflect the returns underwritten by ACREFI Management, LLC, the Company’s external manager, calculated on a weighted average basis assuming no dispositions, early prepayments or defaults but assuming that extension options are exercised and that the cost of borrowings remains constant over the remaining term. With respect to certain loans, the underwritten IRR calculation assumes certain estimates with respect to the timing and magnitude of future fundings for the remaining commitments and associated loan repayments, and assumes no defaults. IRR is the annualized effective compounded return rate that accounts for the time-value of money and represents the rate of return on an investment over a holding period expressed as a percentage of the investment. It is the discount rate that makes the net present value of all cash outflows (the costs of investment) equal to the net present value of cash inflows (returns on investment). It is derived from the negative and positive cash flows resulting from or produced by each transaction (or for a transaction involving more than one investment, cash flows resulting from or produced by each of the investments), whether positive, such as investment returns, or negative, such as transaction expenses or other costs of investment, taking into account the dates on which such cash flows occurred or are expected to occur, and compounding interest accordingly. There can be no assurance that the actual IRRs will equal the underwritten IRRs shown in the table. See “Item 1A—Risk Factors—The Company may not achieve its underwritten internal rate of return on its investments which may lead to future returns that may be significantly lower than anticipated” included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 for a discussion of some of the factors that could adversely impact the returns received by the Company from the investments shown in the table over time.

(3) The Company’s ability to achieve its underwritten levered weighted average IRR with regard to its portfolio of first mortgage loans is additionally dependent upon the Company utilizing its master repurchase agreement with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (the “JPMorgan Facility”) or any replacement facility with similar terms and re-borrowing approximately $6,753 in total. Without such re-borrowing, the levered weighted average underwritten IRRs will be as indicated in the current weighted average underwritten IRR column above.

(4) Subordinate loans also include CMBS, held-to-maturity, which represents a loan the Company closed during May 2014 that was subsequently contributed to a securitization during August 2014. During May 2014, the Company closed a $155,000 floating-rate whole loan secured by the first mortgage and equity interests in an entity that owns a resort hotel in Aruba. During June 2014, the Company syndicated a $90,000 senior participation in the loan and retained a $65,000 junior participation. During August 2014, both the $90,000 senior participation and the Company’s $65,000 junior participation were contributed to a CMBS securitization. In exchange for contributing its $65,000 junior participation, the Company received a CMBS secured solely by the $65,000 junior participation. ARI presents the participation sold as both assets and non-recourse liabilities because the participation does not qualify as a sale according to GAAP. At December 31, 2014, ARI had one such participation sold with a carrying amount of $89,584.

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Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in thousands—except share and per share data)

	December 31, 2014			December 31, 2013
Assets:
Cash	$	40,641		$	20,096
Restricted cash		30,127			30,127
Securities available-for-sale, at estimated fair value		17,105			33,362
Securities, at estimated fair value		522,730			158,086
Securities, held-to-maturity		154,283			—
Commercial mortgage loans, held for investment, net		458,520			161,099
Subordinate loans, held for investment, net		561,182			497,484
Investment in unconsolidated joint venture		37,016			—
Derivative instrument		4,070			—
Interest receivable		10,829			6,022
Deferred financing costs, net		7,444			628
Other assets		1,200			600
Total Assets	$	1,845,147		$	907,504
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Liabilities:
Borrowings under repurchase agreements	$	622,194		$	202,033
Convertible senior notes, net		246,464			—
Participations sold		89,584			—
Accounts payable and accrued expenses		7,578			2,660
Payable to related party		3,240			2,628
Dividends payable		21,018			17,227
Total Liabilities		990,078			224,548
Stockholders’ Equity:
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized and 3,450,000 shares issued and outstanding in 2014 and 2013 ($86,250 aggregate liquidation preference)		35			35
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 450,000,000 shares authorized, 46,900,442 and 36,888,467 shares issued and outstanding in 2014 and 2013, respectively		469			369
Additional paid-in-capital		868,035			697,610
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)		(10,485	)		(14,188	)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(2,985	)		(870	)
Total Stockholders’ Equity		855,069			682,956
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity	$	1,845,147		$	907,504

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Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations

(in thousands—except share and per share data)

	Three months ended December 31,						Twelve months ended December 31,
	2014			2013			2014			2013
Net interest income:
Interest income from securities	$	8,275		$	3,633		$	21,189		$	12,267
Interest income from securities, held to maturity		3,165			—			4,613			—
Interest income from commercial mortgage loans		9,328			3,812			27,802			16,034
Interest income from subordinate loans		17,021			14,026			69,743			49,162
Interest expense		(10,740	)		(1,450	)		(26,541	)		(4,356	)
Net interest income		27,049			20,021			96,806			73,107
Operating expenses:
General and administrative expenses (includes $481 and $1,576 of equity-based compensation in 2014 and $1,392 and $3,488 in 2013, respectively)		(1,796	)		(2,438	)		(6,151	)		(7,563	)
Management fees to related party		(3,236	)		(2,627	)		(11,960	)		(10,012	)
Total operating expenses		(5,032	)		(5,065	)		(18,111	)		(17,575	)
Income from unconsolidated joint venture		(69	)		—			(157	)		—
Interest income from cash balances		9			1			34			20
Unrealized gain/(loss) on securities		(639	)		908			4,147			(3,065	)
Foreign currency loss		(1,413	)		—			(4,050	)		—
Gain/(loss) on derivative instruments (includes $2,137 and $4,070 of unrealized gains in 2014 and $0 and $155 of unrealized gains in 2013, respectively)		2,137			(1	)		4,070			(2	)
Net income		22,042			15,864			82,739			52,485
Preferred dividend		(1,860	)		(1,860	)		(7,440	)		(7,440	)
Net income available to common stockholders	$	20,182		$	14,004		$	75,299		$	45,045
Basic and diluted net income per share of common stock	$	0.43		$	0.37		$	1.72		$	1.26
Basic weighted average shares of common stock outstanding		46,852,646			36,886,619			43,464,255			35,212,211
Diluted weighted average shares of common stock outstanding		47,085,617			37,390,369			43,684,805			35,679,755
Dividend declared per share of common stock	$	0.40		$	0.40		$	1.60		$	1.60

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EX-99.2

Exhibit 99.2

Supplemental Financial Information Presentation

Q4 2014

February 26, 2015

Information is as of December 31, 2014 except as otherwise noted.

It should not be assumed that investments made in the future will be profitable or will equal the performance of investments in this document.

Legal Disclaimer

This presentation may contain forward-looking statements that are within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and such statements are intended to be covered by the safe harbor provided by the same. Forward-looking statements are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and are generally beyond management’s control. These forward-looking statements include information about possible or assumed future results of Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc.’s (“ARI” or the “Company”) business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, plans and objectives. When used in this presentation, the words “believe,”“expect,”“anticipate,”“estimate,”“plan,”“continue,”“intend,”“should,”“may” or similar expressions, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Statements regarding the following subjects, among others, may be forward-looking: ARI’s business and investment strategy; ARI’s operating results; ARI’s ability to obtain and maintain financing arrangements; the return on equity, the yield on investments and risks associated with investing in real estate assets, including changes in business conditions and the general economy.

The forward-looking statements are based on management’s beliefs, assumptions and expectations of future performance, taking into account all information currently available to ARI. Forward-looking statements are not predictions of future events. These beliefs, assumptions and expectations can change as a result of many possibleeventsor factors, not all of which are known to ARI. Some of these factors are described under “Risk Factors,” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” as included in ARI’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013 and other periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), which are accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. If a change occurs, ARI’s business, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations may vary materially from those expressed in ARI’s forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made. New risks and uncertainties arise over time, and it is not possible for management to predict those events or how they may affect ARI. Except as required by law, ARI is not obligated to, and does not intend to, update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

This presentation contains information regarding ARI’s financial results that is calculated and presented on the basis of methodologies other than in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”), including Operating Earnings and Operating Earnings per share. Please refer to slide 3 for a definition of “Operating Earnings” and the reconciliation of “Operating Earnings” to the applicable GAAP financial measure set forth on slide 17.

This presentation may contain statistics and other data that in some cases has been obtained from or compiled from information made available by third-party service providers. ARI makes no representation or warranty, expressed or implied, with respect to the accuracy, reasonableness or completeness of such information.

Past performance is not indicative nor a guarantee of future returns.

Index performance and yield data are shown for illustrative purposes only and have limitations when used for comparison or for other purposes due to, among other matters, volatility, credit or other factors (such as number and types of securities). Indices are unmanaged, do not charge any fees or expenses, assume reinvestment of income and do not employ special investment techniques such as leveraging or short selling. No such index is indicative of the future results of any investment by ARI.

1

Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc. 2014 Fourth Quarter Earnings Call

February 26, 2015

Stuart Rothstein

Chief Executive Officer and President

Scott Weiner

Chief Investment Officer of the Manager

Megan Gaul

Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary

Hilary Ginsberg

Investor Relations Manager

2

ARI – Financial Summary

($ amounts in thousands, except per share data) Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended

Income Statement December 31, 2014 December 31, 2013 % Change December 31, 2014 December 31, 2013 % Change

Interest income $ 37,789 $ 21,471 76.0% $ 123,347 $ 77,463 59.2% Interest expense $ (10,740) $ (1,450) 640.7% $ (26,541) $ (4,356) 509.3% Net interest income $ 27,049 $ 20,021 35.1% $ 96,806 $ 73,107 32.4%

Operating earnings(1) $ 21,179 $ 14,488 46.2% $ 73,982 $ 51,443 43.8% Operating earnings per share(1) $ 0.45 $ 0.39 15.4% $ 1.69 $ 1.44 17.4% Diluted weighted average shares of common 47,085,617 37,390,369 25.9% 43,684,805 35,679,755 22.4% stock outstanding

Balance sheet December 31, 2014 December 31, 2013 % Change

Investments at amortized cost (2) $ 1,618,623 $ 848,761 90.7% Net equity in investments at cost $ 1,026,556 $ 676,855 51.7%

Common stockholders’ equity $ 768,819 $ 596,706 28.8% Preferred stockholders’ equity $ 86,250 $ 86,250 -Outstanding repurchase agreement borrowings $ 622,194 $ 202,033 208.0% Convertible senior notes $ 246,464 $ —100.0%

Debt to common equity(3) 1.2x 0.4x Fixed charge coverage(4) 2.8x 5.3x

(1) Operating Earnings is a non-GAAP financial measure that is used by the Company to approximate cash available for distribution and is defined by the Company as net income available to common stockholders, computed in accordance with GAAP, adjusted for (i) equity-based compensation expense (a portion of which may become cash-based upon final vesting and settlement of awards should the holder elect net share settlement to satisfy income tax withholding), (ii) any unrealized gains or losses or other non-cash items included in net income, (iii) unrealized income from equity investments and (iv) the non-cash amortization expense related to the reclassification of a portion of the senior convertible notes to stockholders’ equity in accordance with GAAP. Please see slide 17 for a reconciliation of Operating Earnings and Operating Earnings per Share to GAAP Net Income and GAAP Net Income per share.

(2) Includes Commercial Mortgage Backed Securities, (“CMBS”) held-to-maturity, which are net of a participation sold during June 2014. ARI presents the participation sold as both assets and non-recourse liabilities because the participation does not qualify as a sale according to GAAP. At December 31, 2014, ARI had one such participation sold with a carrying amount of $89,584.

(3) Debt to common equity is net of participations sold.

(4) Fixed charge coverage is EBITDA divided by interest expense plus the preferred stock dividends.

3

ARI – Historical Financial Overview

Operating Earnings ($000s) (1) Operating Earnings per Share of Common Stock(1)

$90,000 $2.00

$73,982 $1.69

$75,000 $1.50

$1.60 $1.47 $1.44

$21,179 $0.27 $0.45

$60,000

$51,443 $1.20 $0.39 $0.39

$45,000 $14,488 $0.44 $0.44

$20,768

$33,914 $0.38 $0.35

$0.80

$28,054

$30,000 $7,376 $13,272

$8,277 $9,218 $18,045 $0.40 $0.41 $0.31 $0.42

$15,000 $7,643 $11,721 $0.40

$8,526

$7,086 $0.42 $0.39 $0.37

$8,796 $11,963 $13,991 $0.29

$0 $5,047 $0.00

2011 2012 2013 2014 2011 2012 2013 2014

Net Interest Income ($000s) Dividends per Share of Common Stock

$2.00

$105,000

$96,806

$90,000 $1.60 $1.60 $1.60 $1.60

$1.60

$27,049

$75,000 $73,107 $0.40 $0.40 $0.40 $0.40

$1.20

$20,021

$60,000

$48,677 $26,570 $0.40 $0.40 $0.40 $0.40

$45,000 $38,464 $12,303 $18,786 $0.80

$10,946 $0.40 $0.40 $0.40 $0.40

$30,000 $13,236 $23,784

$17,233

$10,236 $0.40

$15,000 $11,951

$9,683 $19,403 $0.40 $0.40 $0.40 $0.40

$17,067

$7,599 $11,187

$0 $0.00

2011 2012 2013 2014 2011 2012 2013 2014

(1) Operating Earnings is a non-GAAP financial measure that is used by the Company to approximate cash available for distribution and is defined by the Company as net income available to common stockholders, computed in accordance with GAAP, adjusted for (i) equity-based compensation

investments expense (a portion and (iv) of the which non-cash may become amortization cash-based expense upon related final vesting to the reclassification and settlement of of a awards portion should of the the senior holder convertible elect net notes share to settlement stockholders’ to satisfy equity income in accordance tax withholding), with GAAP. (ii) any Please unrealized see slide gains 17 or for losses a reconciliation or other non-cash of Operating items Earnings included in and net Operating income, (iii) Earnings unrealized per Share income to from GAAP equity Net

Income and GAAP Net Income per share.

4

ARI – Q4 Financial Highlights

ARI – Q4 Financial Highlights

Operating Earnings for the year ended December 31, 2014 of $74.0 million, or $1.69 per diluted share of common stock, a 17.4% per share increase as compared to Operating Earnings of $51.4 million, or $1.44 per diluted share of common stock for the year ended December 31, 2013(1)

Net interest income of $96.8 million

Total expenses of $18.1 million, comprised of management fees of $12.0 million, G&A of $4.5 million and equity-based compensation of $1.6 million Net income available to common stockholders for the year ended December 31, 2014 of $75.3 million, or $1.72 per diluted share of common stock

Dividends

Declared a dividend of $0.40 per share of common stock for the quarter ended December 31, 2014

Declared a divided of $0.44 per share of common stock for the quarter ending March 31, 2015, a 10% increase from the prior quarter Declared a dividend on the Company’s 8.625% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock of $0.5391 per share for stockholders of record on December 31, 2014

Book Value

? GAAP book value of $16.39 per share as of December 31, 2014

(1) Operating Earnings is a non-GAAP financial measure that is used by the Company to approximate cash available for distribution and is defined by the Company as net income available to common stockholders, computed in accordance with GAAP, adjusted for (i) equity-based compensation expense (a portion of which may become cash-based upon final vesting and settlement of awards should the holder elect net share settlement to satisfy income tax withholding) (ii) any unrealized gains or losses or other non-cash items included in net income (iii) unrealized income from equity investments and (iv) the non-cash amortization expense related to the reclassification of a portion of the senior convertible notes to stockholders’ equity in accordance with GAAP. Please see slide 17 for a reconciliation of Operating Earnings and Operating Earnings per Share to GAAP Net Income and GAAP Net Income per share.

5

ARI – Q4 New Investments

Summary of New Investments

12 Months

Quarter Ended Ended

12/31/2014 12/31/2014

Number of Loans Closed 5 16

Capital Committed to Loans ($ in thousands) $ 351,184 $ 967,850

Fixed Rate %/Floating Rate %(1) 14%/86% 26%/74%

First Mortgage %/Subordinate Loan % 76%/24% 74%/26%

Weighted Average Loan-to-Value 61.0% 61.7%

Equity Invested in CMBS ($ in thousands) $ 4,657 $ 75,001

Weighted Average Duration of CMBS 3.0 years 2.8 years

Total Capital Committed ($ in thousands) $ 351,184 $ 1,092,326

Weighted Average IRR(2) 12.8% 12.6%

(1) Based upon committed amount of loan.

(2) The Internal Rate of Return (“IRR”) for the investments shown in this presentation reflect the returns underwritten by ACREFI Management, LLC, the Company’s external manager (the “Manager”), calculated on a weighted average basis assuming no dispositions, early prepayments or defaults but assuming that extension options are exercised and that the cost of borrowings remains constant over the remaining term. With respect to certain loans, the IRR calculation assumes certain estimates with respect to the timing and magnitude of future fundings for the remaining commitments and associated loan repayments, and assumes no defaults. IRR is the annualized effective compounded return rate that accounts for the time-value of money and represents the rate of return on an investment over a holding period expressed as a percentage of the investment. It is the discount rate that makes the net present value of all cash outflows (the costs of investment) equal to the net present value of cash inflows (returns on investment). It is derived from the negative and positive cash flows resulting from or produced by each transaction (or for a transaction involving more than one investment, cash flows resulting from or produced by each of the investments), whether positive, such as investment returns, or negative, such as transaction expenses or other costs of investment, taking into account the dates on which such cash flows occurred or are expected to occur, and compounding interest accordingly. There can be no assurance that the actual IRRs will equal the underwritten IRRs shown above. See “Item 1A—Risk Factors—The Company may not achieve its underwritten internal rate of return on its investments which may lead to future returns that may be significantly lower than anticipated” included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 for a discussion of some of the factors that could adversely impact the returns received by the Company from the investments shown in the table over time. IRR calculation excludes ARI’s investment in BKB Bank.

6

ARI – Commercial Real Estate Debt Portfolio Overview

Current Levered

Remaining Weighted Weighted

Weighted Average Average

Asset Type Amortized Equity Average Life Underwritten Underwritten

($000s) Cost Borrowings at Cost(1) (years )(2) IRR(3)(4) IRR(3)(4)(5)

First Mortgage Loans $ 458,520 $ 168,124 $ 290,396 37. 12.6% 12.9%

Subordinate Loans(6) 625,881 — 625,881 3.5 13.1 13.1

CMBS 534,222 454,070 110,279 2.3 16.2 16.2

Investments at December 31, 2014 $ 1,618,623 $ 622,194 $ 1,026,556 3.2 Years 13.3% 13.4%

(1) CMBS includes $30.1 million of restricted cash related to the Company’s master repurchase agreement with UBS AG (the “UBS Facility”). (2) Remaining Weighted Average Life assumes all extension options are exercised.

(3) Borrowings under the Company’s master repurchase agreement with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (the “JPMorgan Facility”) bear interest at LIBOR plus 250 basis points, or 2.7% at December 31, 2014. The IRR calculation further assumes the JPMorgan Facility or any replacement facility will remain available over the life of these investments.

(4) The underwritten IRR for the investments shown in this table reflect the returns underwritten by the Manager, calculated on a weighted average basis assuming no dispositions, early prepayments or defaults but assuming that extension options are exercised and that the cost of borrowings remains constant over the remaining term. With respect to certain loans, the underwritten IRR calculation assumes certain estimates with respect to the timing and magnitude of future fundings for the remaining commitments and associated loan repayments, and assumes no defaults. IRR is the annualized effective compounded return rate that accounts for the time-value of money and represents the rate of return on an investment over a holding period expressed as a percentage of the investment. It is the discount rate that makes the net present value of all cash outflows (the costs of investment) equal to the net present value of cash inflows (returns on investment). It is derived from the negative and positive cash flows resulting from or produced by each transaction (or for a transaction involving more than one investment, cash flows resulting from or produced by each of the investments), whether positive, such as investment returns, or negative, such as transaction expenses or other costs of investment, taking into account the dates on which such cash flows occurred or are expected to occur, and compounding interest accordingly. There can be no assurance that the actual IRRs will equal the underwritten IRRs shown in the table. See “Item 1A—Risk Factors—The Company may not achieve its underwritten internal rate of return on its investments which may lead to future returns that may be significantly lower than anticipated” included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 for a discussion of some of the factors that could adversely impact the returns received by the Company from the investments shown in the table over time (5) The Company’s ability to achieve its underwritten levered weighted average IRR with regard to its portfolio of first mortgage loans is additionally dependent upon the Company re-borrowing approximately $6,753 in total under the JPMorgan Facility or any replacement facility with similar terms. Without such re-borrowing, the levered weighted average underwritten IRRs will be as indicated in the current weighted average underwritten IRR column above.

(6) Subordinate loans also include CMBS, held-to-maturity, which represents a loan the Company closed during May 2014 that was subsequently contributed to a securitization during August 2014. During May 2014, the Company closed a $155,000 floating-rate whole loan secured by the first mortgage and equity interests in an entity that owns a resort hotel in Aruba. During June 2014, the Company syndicated a $90,000 senior participation in the loan and retained a $65,000 junior participation. During August 2014, both the $90,000 senior participation and the Company’s $65,000 junior participation were contributed to a CMBS securitization. In exchange for contributing its $65,000 junior participation, the Company received a CMBS secured solely by the $65,000 junior participation. ARI presents the participation sold as both assets and non-recourse liabilities because the participation does not qualify as a sale according to GAAP. At December 31, 2014, ARI had one such participation sold with a carrying amount of $89,584.

7

ARI – Commercial Real Estate Debt Portfolio Overview

Net Invested Equity at Amortized Cost Basis(1)

Net Invested Equity at Amortized Cost Basis(1)

CMBS 11%

First Mortgage Subordinate Loans Loans 61% 28%

Property Type by Net Equity(1) Geographic Diversification by Net Equity(1)

International

Securities 15%

Residential—for 14% New York City sale 28%

31% Southwest 3%

Residential -rental 19%

West 15%

Northeast (excluding

Retail NYC)

2% 4% Ski Resort Industrial

5% 3% Midwest

Healthcare 10% Securities

Hotel

4% 16% 14% Office Mixed Use Mid-Atlantic Southeast

3% 3%

7% 4%

(1) Subordinate loans include CMBS, held-to-maturity which are net of a participation sold during June 2014. ARI presents the participation sold as both assets and non-recourse liabilities because the participation does not qualify as a sale according to GAAP. At December 31, 2014, ARI had one such participation sold with a carrying amount of $89,584.

8

ARI – Loan Portfolio—Maturity and Type

Fully Extended Loan Maturities and Future Fundings Loan Position and Rate Type(1)(3)

(1)(2)(3)(4)

$500

$461.8

$450 Senior Loan Fixed

Senior Loan 16%

Floating

$400 27%

$350

Millions) $300

in $244.5

$ $250

(

$200 $185.1 $188.8 Subordinate Loan

$164.9 Fixed

$150 $139.6 $142.8 27%

$100 Subordinate Loan

$50.0 Floating

$50 $30.1 $30.2 $32.0 30%

$0

2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023

Fully extended maturity Future funding commitment

57% Floating Rate/43% Fixed Rate

(1) Based upon Face Amount of Loans; Does not include CMBS, but does include CMBS, held-to-maturity. (2) Maturities reflect the fully funded amounts of the loans.

(3) Subordinate loans include CMBS, held-to-maturity which are net of a participation sold during June 2014. ARI presents the participation sold as both assets and non-recourse liabilities because the participation does not qualify as a sale according to GAAP. At December 31, 2014, ARI had one such participation sold with a carrying amount of $89,584.

(4) Future funding dates are based upon the Manager’s projections and are subject to change.

9

ARI – Loan Portfolio – Loan Level LTV (Through Last Invested Dollar)

First Mortgage Loans

Balance at

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%

Description ($ in thousands) Location 12/31/2014 Starting LTV Ending LTV First Mortgage—Destination homes Various $ 100,046 0% 49% First Mortgage—Pre-development loan New York $ 67,300 0% 58% First Mortgage—Multifamily North Dakota $ 57,792 0% 72% First Mortgage—Destination homes New York/Hawaii $ 50,000 0% 75% First Mortgage—Hotel Pennsylvania $ 34,000 0% 65% First Mortgage—Condo conversion(1) New York $ 33,846 0% 30% First Mortgage—Multifamily New York $ 30,000 0% 63% First Mortgage—Condo development Maryland $ 28,000 0% 65% First Mortgage—Hotel Maryland $ 24,590 0% 66% First Mortgage—Retail Ohio $ 20,000 0% 55% First Mortgage—Condo development Maryland $ 20,000 0% 66% Total/Weighted Average $ 465,574 59%

Subordinate Financings

Balance at

Description ($ in thousands) Location 12/31/2014 Starting LTV Ending LTV 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Subordinate—Condo development(2) New York $ 76,344 32% 47% Subordinate—Resort hotel(3) Aruba $ 65,000 35% 60% Subordinate—Pre-development loan(4) London $ 56,450 45% 78% Subordinate—Healthcare portfolio Various $ 50,000 57% 62% Subordinate—Condo construction New York $ 50,000 50% 60% Subordinate—Pre-development loan New York $ 44,000 56% 83% Subordinate—Ski resort California $ 40,000 37% 58% Subordinate—Hotel portfolio Various $ 34,042 44% 51% Subordinate—Industrial portfolio Various $ 32,000 65% 73% Subordinate—Condo conversion(1) New York $ 29,751 30% 56% Subordinate—Hotel portfolio Minnesota $ 24,486 56% 68% Subordinate—Mixed-use Pennsylvania $ 22,500 54% 69% Subordinate—Hotel New York $ 20,000 50% 61% Subordinate—Multifamily/Condo/Hotel(5) Various $ 19,464 80% 90% Subordinate—Ski resort Montana $ 15,000 46% 59% Subordinate—Multifamily New York $ 14,608 35% 47% Subordinate—Office New York $ 14,000 61% 70% Subordinate—Office Missouri $ 9,711 60% 70% Subordinate—Office Michigan $ 8,813 41% 53% Subordinate—Mixed-use North Carolina $ 6,525 62% 75% Total/Weighted Average $ 632,694 63%

(1) Both loans are for the same property; Mezzanine loan ending LTV includes committed amount plus PIK. (2) LTV is based upon the committed amount plus PIK.

(3) This is CMBS, held-to-maturity and is net of a participation sold. ARI presents the participation sold as both assets and non-recourse liabilities because the participation does not qualify as a sale according to GAAP. At December 31, 2014, this participation sold had a carrying amount of $89,584.

(4) Based upon £32.1 face amount converted to USD based upon the conversion rate on December 31, 2014. (5) Ending LTV is based upon the committed amount of $19.5 million.

10

ARI – CMBS Portfolio(1)

CUSIP Description CUSIP Description

07388YAB8 BSCMS 07-PW16 A2 59025KAG7 MLMT 2007-C1 AM 61754KAC9 MSC 07-IQ14 A2 22546BAH3 CSMC 2007-C5 AM 92978YAB6 WBCMT 07-C32 A2 36159XAH3 GECMC 2007-C1 AM 61751NAD4 MSC 2007-HQ11 A31 46627QBC1 JMPCC 2006-CB15 AM 92978TAB7 WBCMT 2007-C31 A2 46631BAJ4 JPMCC 2007-LD11 AM 92978PAJ8 WBCMT 2006-C29 AJ 14986DAJ9 CD 2006-CD3 AJ 07388QAH2 BSCMS 2007-PW17 AJ 17311QBN9 CGCMT 2007-C6 AJ 07401DAH4 BSCMS 2007PW18 AJ 17313KAK7 CGCMT 2008-C7 AJ 46625YVZ3 JPMCC 2005-CB13 AJ 20047QAH8 COMM 2006-C7 AJ 50180CAG5 LBUBS 2006-C7 AJ 61755YAK0 MSC 2007-IQ15 AJ 60688CAJ5 MLCFC 2007-9 AJ 46629YAH2 JPMCC 2007-CB18AJ 05947US25 BACM 2005-3 AJ 173311QAE0 CGCMT 2007-C6 AJFX 61756VAJ0 MSC 2007-1Q16 AJ

Remaining Weighted

Average Life with Estimated Net Equity Face Amortized Cost Extensions (years) Fair Value Debt at Cost(2)

CMBS – Total $ 544,190 $ 534,222 2.3 Years $ 539,835 $ 454,070 $ 110,279

(1) Does not include CMBS, held-to-maturity.

(2) Includes $30.1 million of restricted cash related to the UBS Facility

11

Portfolio Metrics – Quarterly Migration Summary

Portfolio Metrics ($ in thousands)

Q4 2014 Q3 2014 Q2 2014 Q1 2014 Q4 2013

(Investment balances represent amortized cost)

First Mortgage Loans $ 458,520 $ 369,924 $ 343,810 $ 185,516 $ 161,099 Subordinate Loans(1) 625,881 650,084 659,045 484,979 497,484 CMBS 534,222 511,445 339,724 173,174 190,178

Total Investments $ 1,618,623 $ 1,531,453 $ 1,342,579 $ 843,669 $ 848,761

(Investment balances represent net equity, at cost)

First Mortgage Loans $ 290,396 $ 247,202 $ 197,112 $ 185,513 $ 140,716 Subordinate Loans(1) 625,881 650,084 659,045 484,979 497,484 CMBS 110,279 (4) 99,988 (5) 70,325 (4) 36,310 (4) 38,655 (4) Net Equity in Investments at Cost $ 1,026,556 $ 997,274 $ 926,482 $ 706,802 $ 676,855

Levered Weighted e Av ve erag ge e Unde derwritten ri IRR R(2) 13.4% (6) 13.7% (6) 13.9% (6) 14.1% (6) 14.1% (6) Weighted Average Duration 3.2 Years 3.0 Years 3.2 Years 3.2 Years 3.3 Years Loan Portfolio Weighted Average Ending LTV(3) 62.0% 58.0% 58.0% 58.0% 58.0% Borrowings Under Repurchase Agreements $ 622,194 $ 537,766 $ 446,224 $ 166,994 $ 202,033 Convertible Senior Notes $ 246,464 $ 246,054 $ 139,362 $ 139,163 $ -Debt-to-Common Equity 1.2x (7) 1.1x (7) 0.8x (7) 0.5x 0.4x

(1) Subordinate loans include CMBS, held-to-maturity which are net of a participation sold during June 2014. ARI presents the participation sold as both assets and non-recourse liabilities because the participation does not qualify as a sale according to GAAP. At December 31, 2014, ARI had one such participation sold with a carrying amount of $89,584.

(2) The underwritten IRR for the investments shown in this presentation reflect the returns underwritten by the Manager, calculated on a weighted average basis assuming no dispositions, early prepayments or defaults but assuming that extension options are exercised and that the cost of borrowings remains constant over the remaining term. With respect to certain loans, the underwritten IRR calculation assumes certain estimates with respect to the timing and magnitude of future fundings for the remaining commitments and associated loan repayments, and assumes no defaults. IRR is the annualized effective compounded return rate that accounts for the time-value of money and represents the rate of return on an investment over a holding period expressed as a percentage of the investment. It is the discount rate that makes the net present value of all cash outflows (the costs of investment) equal to the net present value of cash inflows (returns on investment). It is derived from the negative and positive cash flows resulting from or produced by each transaction (or for a transaction involving more than one investment, cash flows resulting from or produced by each of the investments), whether positive, such as investment returns, or negative, such as transaction expenses or other costs of investment, taking into account the dates on which such cash flows occurred or are expected to occur, and compounding interest accordingly. There can be no assurance that the actual IRRs will equal the underwritten IRRs shown in the table. See “Item 1A—Risk Factors—The Company may not achieve its underwritten internal rate of return on its investments which may lead to future returns that may be significantly lower than anticipated” included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 for a discussion of some of the factors that could adversely impact the returns received by the Company from the investments shown in the table over time (3) Does not include CMBS.

(4) Includes $30.1 million of restricted cash related to the UBS Facility.

(5) Includes $30.1 million of restricted cash related to the UBS Facility and $26.5 million related to investments purchased not yet settled.

(6) Represents an underwritten levered weighted average IRR. The Company’s ability to achieve the underwritten levered weighted average IRR additionally depends upon the Company re-borrowing approximately $6,753 under the JPMorgan Facility or any replacement facility with similar terms with regard to its portfolio of first mortgage loans. Without such re-borrowing, the levered weighted average underwritten IRR will be lower than the amount shown above, as indicated in the current weighted average underwritten IRR column on slide 7.

(7) Net of participation sold.

12

Financing Overview

ARI had total borrowings outstanding of $622 million at December 31, 2014:

Weighted Average

Remaining Weighted

Facility ($000s) Debt Balance Maturity(1) Average Rate

Wells Facility $ 20,166 0.2 years 1.0%

UBS Facility 133,899 3.7 years 2.8%

Deutsche Bank Facility 300,005 3.3 years 3.7%

JPMorgan Facility(2) 168,124 0.1 years 2.7%

Total Borrowings at December 31, 2014 $ 622,194 3.2 years 3.2%

ARI’s borrowings had the following remaining maturities at December 31, 2014:

Less than 1

Facility ($000s) year 1 to 3 years 3 to 5 years Total

Wells Facility $ 20,166 $ — $ — $ 20,166

UBS Facility(1) — 133,899 — 133,899

Deutsche Bank Facility 40,476 213,654 45,875 300,005

JPMorgan Facility(2) 168,124 — — 168,124

Total Borrowings at December 31, 2014 $ 228,766 $ 347,553 $ 45,875 $ 622,194

(1) Assumes extension options on the UBS Facility are exercised.

(2) The JPMorgan Facility was amended and restated in January, 2015 for a term of two years with a one year extension option.

13

Financials

14

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in thousands—except share and per share data)

December 31, 2014 December 31, 2013

Assets:

Cash $ 40,641 $ 20,096

Restricted cash 30,127 30,127

Securities available-for-sale, at estimated fair value 17,105 33,362

Securities, at estimated fair value 522,730 158,086

Securities, held-to-maturity 154,283 -

Commercial mortgage loans, held for investment, net 458,520 161,099

Subordinate loans, held for investment, net 561,182 497,484

Investment in unconsolidated joint venture 37,016 -

Derivative instrument 4,070 -

Interest receivable 10,829 6,022

Deferred financing costs, net 7,444 628

Other assets 1,200 600

Total Assets $ 1,845,147 $ 907,504

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

Liabilities:

Borrowings under repurchase agreements $ 622,194 $ 202,033

Convertible senior notes, net 246,464 -

Participations sold 89,584 -

Accounts payable and accrued expenses 7,578 2,660

Payable to related party 3,240 2,628

Dividends payable 21,018 17,227

Total Liabilities 990,078 224,548

Stockholders’ Equity:

Preferred stock, $0.01 par value,ue 50,000,000 shares authorized and 3,450,000 shares issued and outstanding in 2014

and 2013 ($86,250 aggregate liquidation preference) 35 35

Common stock, $0.01 par value, 450,000,000 shares authorized 46,900,422 and 36,888,467 shares issued and

outstanding in 2014 and 2013, respectively 469 369

Additional paid-in-capital 868,035 697,610

Retained earnings (accumulated deficit) (10,485) (14,188)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss (2,985) (870)

Total Stockholders’ Equity 855,069 682,956

Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity $ 1,845,147 $ 907,504

15

Consolidated Statement of Operations

Three months ended Twelve months ended

December 31, December 31, December 31, December 31,

2014 2013 2014 2013

Net interest income:

Interest income from securities $ 8275, $ 3,633 $ 21,189 $ 12,267

Interest income from securities, held to maturity 3,165 — 4,613 -

Interest income from commercial mortgage loans 9,328 3,812 27,802 16,034

Interest income from subordinate loans 17,021 14,026 69,743 49,162

Interest expense (10,740) (1,450) (26,541) (4,356)

Net interest income 27,049 20,021 96,806 73,107

Operating expenses:

General and administrative expenses (includes $481 and $1,576 of

equity-based compensation in 2014 and $1,392 and $3,488 in 2013,

respectively) (1,796) (2,438) (6,151) (7,563)

Management fees to related party (3,236) (2,627) (11,960) (10,012)

Total operating expenses (5,032) (5,065) (18,111) (17,575)

Income from unconsolidated joint venture (69) — (157) -

Interest income from cash balances 9 1 34 20

Unrealized gain/(loss) on securities (639) 908 4,147 (3,065)

Foreign currency loss (1,413) — (4,050) -

Gain/(loss) on derivative instruments (includes $2,137 and $4,070 of

unrealized gains in 2014 and $0 and $155 of unrealized gains in 2013,

respectively) 2,137 (1) 4,070 (2)

Net income $ 22,042 $ 15,864 $ 82,739 $ 52,485

Preferred dividends (1,860) (1,860) (7,440) (7,440)

Net income available to common stockholders $ 20,182 $ 14,004 $ 75,299 $ 45,045

Basic and diluted net income per share of common stock $ 0.43 $ 0.37 $ 1.72 $ 1.26

Basic weighted average shares of common stock outstanding 46,852,646 36,886,619 43,464,255 35,212,211

Diluted weighted average shares of common stock outstanding 47,085,617 37,390,369 43,684,805 35,679,755

Dividend declared per share of common stock $ 0.40 $ 0.40 $ 1.60 $ 1.60

16

Reconciliation of Operating Earnings to Net Income

Three Months Ended

Earnings Per Share Earnings Per Share

December 31, 2014 (Diluted) December 31, 2013 (Diluted)

Operating Earnings:

Net income available to common stockholders $ 20,182 $ 0.43 $14,004 $ 0.37

Adjustments:

Income from unconsolidated joint venture 69 — — -

Unrealized (gain)/loss on securities 639 0.01 (908) (0.02)

Unrealized (gain)/loss on derivative instruments (2,137) (0.04) — -

Equity-based compensation expense 481 0.01 1,392 0.04

Foreign currency loss 1,413 0.03 — -

Amortization of convertible notes related to equity reclassification 532 0.01 — -

Total adjustments: 997 0.02 484 0.02

Operating Earnings $ 21,179 $ 0.45 $ 14,488 $ 0.39

Basic weighted average shares of common stock outstanding 46,852,646 36,886,619

Diluted weighted average shares of common stock outstanding 47,085,617 37,390,369

Twelve Months Ended

Earnings Per Share Earnings Per Share

December 31, 2014 (Diluted) December 31, 2013 (Diluted)

Operating Earnings:

Net income available to common stockholders $ 75,299 $ 1.72 $ 45,045 $ 1.26

Adjustments:

Income from unconsolidated joint venture 157 — — -

Unrealized (gain)/loss on securities (4,147) (0.09) 3,065 0.09

Unrealized (gain)/loss on derivative instruments (4,070) (0.09) (155) (0.01)

Equity-based compensation expense 1,576 0.04 3,488 0.10

Foreign currency loss 4,050 0.09 — -

Amortization of convertible notes related to equity reclassification 1,117 0.02 — -

Total adjustments: (1,317) (0.03) 6,398 0.18

Operating Earnings $ 73,982 $ 1.69 $ 51,443 $ 1.44

Basic weighted average shares of common stock outstanding 43,464,225 35,212,211

Diluted weighted average shares of common stock outstanding 43,684,805 35,679,755

17

Financial Metrics – Quarterly Migration Summary

Financial Metrics

($ in thousands, except per share data) Q4 2014 Q3 2014 Q2 2014 Q1 2014 Q4 2013

Net Interest Income $ 27,049 $ 26,570 $ 23,784 $ 19,403 $ 20,021

Management Fee 3,236 3,193 2,966 2,565 2,627

General and Administrative Costs 1,315 1,126 1,117 1,016 1,046

Non-Cash Stock Based Compensation 481 308 362 426 1,392

Net Income Available to Common Stockholders $ 20,182 $ 17,299 $ 22,098 $ 15,720 $ 14,004

GAAP Diluted EPS $ 0.43 $ 0.37 $ 0.51 $ 0.42 $ 0.37

Operating Earnings(1) $ 21,179 $ 20,768 $ 18,045 $ 13,991 $ 14,488

Operating EPS(1) $ 0.45 $ 0.44 $ 0.42 $ 0.37 $ 0.39

Distributions Declared to Common Stockholders $ 0.40 $ 0.40 $ 0.40 $ 0.40 $ 0.40

GAAP Book Value per Share of Common Stock $ 16.39 $ 16.42 $ 16.30 $ 16.21 $ 16.18

Total Stockholders’ Equity $ 855,069 $ 855,686 $ 849,998 $ 687,912 $ 682,956

Diluted weighted average shares of common stock outstanding 47,085,617 47,068,929 43,099,354 37,341,050 37,390,369

Return on Common Equity Based on Operating Earnings(2) 11.0% 10.8% 10.6% 9.4% 9.7%

(1) Operating Earningsisa non-GAAP financial measure that is used by the Company to approximate cash available for distribution and is defined by the Company as net income available to common stockholders, computed in accordance with GAAP, adjusted for (i) equity-based compensation expense (a portion of which may become cash-based upon final vesting and settlement of awards should the holder elect net share settlement to satisfy income tax withholding) (ii) any unrealized gains or losses or other non-cash items included in net income (iii) unrealized income from equity investments and (iv) the non-cash amortization expense related to the reclassification of a portion of the senior convertible notes to stockholders’ equity in accordance with GAAP. Please see slide 17 for a reconciliation of Operating Earnings and Operating Earnings per Share to GAAP net income and GAAP net income per share.

(2) Return on common equity is calculated as annualized Operating Earnings for the period as a percentage of average stockholders’ equity for the period.

18