Ares Management

What Ares Management does

Ares Management Corporation is a publicly traded (NYSE: ARES) global alternative asset manager founded in 1997, headquartered in Los Angeles, with approximately 4,400 employees, 60+ offices across 35+ countries, and $644.3 billion of assets under management as of March 31, 2026. The firm operates a platform-plus-modules architecture across five core business segments — Credit, Real Estate, Infrastructure, Private Equity, and Secondaries — distributing products through publicly listed entities (ARES, ARCC, ACRE, ARDC), evergreen/perpetual wealth vehicles (ASIF, APMF, AREIT, AIREIT, ACIF), closed-end funds (Pathfinder asset-based finance), and specialized strategies (Ares Systematic Credit, the secondaries platform anchored by Lexington Partners and Ares Secondaries). Customers span over 3,500 institutional investors (pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, foundations), 480+ insurance companies, and a growing private wealth channel, with Ares targeting $125 billion from wealth clients by September 2028.

Ares generates revenue primarily through recurring management fees on its AUM base — approximately 93% of management fees derive from perpetual or long-dated capital — augmented by performance fees, carried interest, and realized net performance income. Q1 2026 management fees exceeded $1 billion for the first time, on full-year 2025 revenue of approximately $6.5 billion. The firm monetizes proprietary technology through acquired platforms: BlueCove Limited (systematic fixed-income, $5.5B AUM, 60 professionals) and SLR Consulting (ESG and sustainability services, 2,300+ employees), alongside organic capabilities such as the U.S. direct lending platform that closed $53 billion across 348 transactions in the trailing twelve months. The platform has grown aggressively through serial acquisitions (American Capital 2016, Black Creek 2021, Landmark Partners 2021 at $1.08B, Capital Automotive 2022 at $3.8B, Crescent Point 2023, GCP International 2024–2025 at up to $5.2B, Whitestone REIT 2026 at $1.7B) and operates with $158 billion of available capital, including record Q1 2026 fundraising of $30 billion (up 45%+ year over year).

Name

Ares Management

Legal name

Ares Management Corporation

Website

https://aresmgmt.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Ares Management is a publicly traded global alternative asset manager (NYSE: ARES) operating across credit, real estate, infrastructure, private equity, and secondaries. It manages $644 billion in AUM, serving over 3,500 institutions, 480+ insurance companies, and a growing private wealth channel.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Alternative Asset Management

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Open-End Investment Funds (525910), Other Investment Pools and Funds (5259), Miscellaneous Financial Investment Activities (523999)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282), Life Insurance (6311), Asset-Backed Securities (6189)

akta.pro primary industry

Institutional Separate Accounts & SMAs (Mandates) (FSAAAGAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Multi-Asset Solutions for Institutional (Pensions/Endowments/Sovereigns) (FSAAAJAJ), Insurance-Integrated Wealth Managers (RIA + Insurance Solutions) (FSAAACAI)

Keywords

• Alternative asset management
• Private credit lending
• Real estate investment
• Infrastructure debt
• Private equity investing

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Management Fees: Management fees charged on assets under management across credit, real estate, infrastructure, private equity, and secondaries strategies. Fees are predominantly derived from perpetual or long-dated capital (approximately 93% of management fees), providing earnings stability. Management fees exceeded $1 billion for the first time in Q1 2026, with fee-paying AUM growing 19% year over year.
2. Performance / Incentive Fees (Carried Interest): Performance income and realized net performance income from investment activities, particularly from European carry structures. Expected approximately $75 million in Q1 2026 realized net performance income, up from $41 million a year earlier, with European carry expected to rise from $150 million in 2025 to $350 million in 2026.
3. Diversified Alternative Investment Management: Full spectrum of alternative investment strategies including credit (direct lending, asset-based finance, systematic credit), real estate (debt and equity), infrastructure (debt and equity), private equity, and secondaries. Serves institutional investors, insurance companies, and private wealth clients globally.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Ares Management is a global alternative asset manager that invests across five core business segments: credit, real estate, infrastructure, private equity, and secondaries. The firm manages $644.3 billion in assets under management as of March 31, 2026, delivering investment solutions through direct lending, asset-based finance, systematic credit, infrastructure debt, real estate equity and debt, private equity, and secondary market strategies. It serves institutional investors (3,500+), insurance companies (480+ globally), and financial advisors/wealth management professionals through both closed-end funds and evergreen/perpetual vehicles, as well as publicly listed entities on the NYSE.

Product overview

Ares Management is a global alternative asset manager operating a platform-plus-modules architecture across five core business segments: Credit, Real Estate, Infrastructure, Private Equity, and Secondaries. The platform offers publicly listed entities (ARES, ARCC, ACRE, ARDC), evergreen/perpetual strategies (ASIF, APMF, SME Opps, AREIT, AIREIT, AREX, ACI), closed-end funds, and specialized strategies including Ares Systematic Credit and Pathfinder asset-based finance funds. The firm manages $644 billion in assets under management as of March 31, 2026, serving institutional investors, financial advisors, insurance companies, and high net worth individuals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ares Credit Group: The credit investment arm of Ares Management covering various credit strategies including direct lending, structured credit, and liquid credit.
• Ares Systematic Credit
• Ares Alternative Credit
• Ares Infrastructure Debt

Products and services

• Ares Capital Corporation (ARCC)
• Ares Commercial Real Estate Corporation (ACRE)
• Ares Dynamic Credit Allocation Fund (ARDC)
• Ares Strategic Income Fund (ASIF)
• Ares Private Markets Fund (APMF)
• Ares Sports, Media and Entertainment Opportunities (SME Opps)
• Ares Real Estate Income Trust (AREIT)
• Ares Industrial Real Estate Income Trust (AIREIT)
• Ares Real Estate Exchange (AREX)
• Ares Core Infrastructure Fund (ACI)
• Ares Global Credit Income Fund (AGCIF)
• Ares Diversified Credit Fund (ADCF)
• Ares Systematic Credit
• Pathfinder Fund III
• Ares Acquisition III (SPAC)

Quantifiable outcome

• $30 billion record Q1 2026 fundraising, up 45%+ year over year
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and notable.

• Ares Capital Corporation (ARCC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 June 2026Ares Capital Corporation is Ares Management's NYSE-listed business development company (BDC), externally managed by Ares Capital Management. A shareholder derivative lawsuit filed May 26, 2026 alleges ARCC's advisory fees rose 53% over five years to $773 million in 2025, with concerns about software concentration and leverage masking.
• Scion GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 May 2026Ares Management and Scion Group formed a joint venture to acquire a 12-property, 7,578-bed U.S. student housing portfolio for approximately $910 million from Harrison Street Asset Management. The portfolio spans 10 states near major universities including Notre Dame, Ohio State, and James Madison. Scion becomes the world's largest owner of student housing with this acquisition.
• Baker HughesminorOthers · 15 May 2026Baker Hughes provides compression equipment for the $13 billion CommonWealth LNG export terminal backed by Ares Management and project financing partners. The 9.5 million tonnes per annum facility is expected to begin operations in 2030.
• Energy Transfer LPnotableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 April 2026The Rover Pipeline is operated by an affiliate of Energy Transfer LP, which connects the Appalachian Basin — the largest U.S. natural gas-producing region — to demand centers across North America.
• BlueCove LimitedcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 February 2026Ares Management completed its acquisition of BlueCove Limited, a London-based systematic fixed-income manager, integrating the business as Ares Systematic Credit within the Ares Credit Group. The acquisition added approximately $5.5 billion in AUM and a team of 60 professionals, bringing the Ares Credit Group's total AUM to $397 billion as of September 30, 2025.
• Crescent PointcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 October 2023Ares Management completed its acquisition of Crescent Point on October 2, 2023, primarily through issuance of Ares Class A common shares. The transaction was immediately accretive and involved legal representation from Latham & Watkins, Kirkland & Ellis LLP, and Milbank LLP.
• SLR Consulting LimitednotableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 June 2022Ares Management acquired SLR Consulting Limited from Charterhouse Capital Partners in September 2022. Under Charterhouse's ownership, SLR expanded significantly in ESG and sustainability services, growing to over 2,300 employees worldwide and transforming into a leading ESG consultancy.
• Capital Automotive LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 February 2022Ares Management acquired Capital Automotive LLC from Brookfield Asset Management Inc. for $3.8 billion, including cash and debt. The deal was in progress for two years before completion.
• Point Vision GroupnotableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 October 2021Ares Management acquired a majority stake in Point Vision Group, a French ophthalmology network comprising 48 ophthalmology centers, from Abenex. Bpifrance held a minority stake and founders held a reinvestment stake. The transaction concluded after a competitive bidding process.
• Apex Clean EnergynotableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 October 2021Funds managed by Ares Management acquired a majority stake in Apex Clean Energy in 2021 to support its transition to a renewable energy independent power producer (IPP). The transaction provided growth capital for expansion in energy storage, distributed energy resources, and green fuels.

Scale indicators24 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Blackstone: Blackstone is the world's largest alternative asset manager and Ares' most direct competitor across private credit, real estate, infrastructure, and secondaries. Recent transactions (e.g., Rover Pipeline stake sale to Ares) confirm significant overlap in strategies, deal sourcing, and institutional LP relationships.
• Apollo Global Management: Apollo is a leading global alternative asset manager with a particularly strong credit and insurance (Athene) franchise directly comparable to Ares' credit and Aspida platforms. Co-investing alongside Ares in deals (e.g., GoodLife financing) underscores overlapping coverage and direct competition for the same institutional and insurance clients.
• KKR & Co. KKR is a global alternative asset manager with comparable scale across credit, real estate, infrastructure, and private equity. Like Ares, KKR has expanded its insurance and private wealth channels and competes head-to-head in direct lending and asset-based finance fundraising.
• Brookfield Asset Management: Brookfield is a major global alternative manager with leading infrastructure, real estate, and credit franchises. Sold Capital Automotive LLC to Ares for $3.8B, demonstrating both overlap and transactional overlap with Ares' real estate and infrastructure strategies.
• Carlyle Group: Carlyle is a global alternative asset manager with comparable credit, private equity, and real estate offerings. Ares' Q1 2026 first-time investment in Carlyle Secured Lending (per 13F filing) reflects the increasingly intertwined BDC ecosystem where the two firms compete for similar middle-market lending opportunities.
• Blue Owl Capital: Blue Owl is a leading alternative asset manager focused on private credit, GP strategic capital, and real estate — directly comparable to Ares' credit and secondaries franchises. Ares increased its stake in Blue Owl Technology Finance in Q1 2026, highlighting BDC ecosystem overlap and head-to-head competition in direct lending.
• Oaktree Capital Management: Oaktree is a credit-focused alternative manager (now part of Brookfield) with deep expertise in high-yield, distressed, and private credit. Highly comparable to Ares' Ares Credit Group across both liquid credit (where BlueCove adds parallel systematic capability) and private credit.
• Golub Capital: Golub Capital is a large direct-lending and asset-based lending firm with a publicly listed BDC (GBDC). Ares increased its stake in Golub Capital BDC in Q1 2026, signaling both BDC ecosystem overlap and direct competition for middle-market sponsor-backed lending opportunities.
• Bain Capital: Bain Capital is a major private equity, credit, and secondaries manager with comparable fundraising scale and institutional LP relationships. Joined Ares Secondaries and Lexington Partners in the Osaic recapitalization, demonstrating direct overlap in continuation vehicle and secondary transaction activity.

Emerging players

• StepStone Group: StepStone is a global private markets investment firm with a growing secondaries and co-investment platform, partially overlapping with Ares' Secondaries segment (Lexington Partners). Comparable as a complementary capital partner and competitor in continuation vehicles and fund-of-funds solutions.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ares_management
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ares_management/featured
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ares-management
• Instagraminstagram.com/ares_mgmt/?hl=en
• Facebookfacebook.com/aresmanagementlp

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds5 records

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A44 records

Investments179 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ares Management