NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / February 25, 2026 / Ares Management Corporation announced today that its Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Michael Arougheti, is scheduled to present at the 2026 RBC Capital Markets Global Financial Institutions Conference on Wednesday, March 11, 2026 at 12:15pm ET. A live audio webcast of the presentation will be available on the Investor Resources section of the Company's website at www.aresmgmt.com. ...

Assets Under Management (AUM) - The company reported a significant increase in assets under management (AUM), reaching $X billion, representing a Y% growth compared to the previous year[19]. - Fee paying AUM (FPAUM) increased to $X billion, which is a Y% rise year-over-year, indicating strong demand for the company's investment products[20]. - The company anticipates a continued upward trend in AUM, projecting an increase of Y% for the upcoming fiscal year[19]. - Assets under management (AUM) grew to $622.5 billion as of December 31, 2025, from $94.0 billion a decade earlier, achieving a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 26% over the past five years and 21% over the past ten years[26]. - As of December 31, 2025, $470.1 billion, or 76%, of Ares' total AUM of $622.5 billion is attributed to direct institutional relationships[110]. - 30% of direct institutional AUM, amounting to $139.6 billion, is managed through separately managed accounts (SMAs) as of December 31, 2025[115]. - Publicly-traded funds and perpetual wealth vehicles account for $108.4 billion, or 17%, of Ares' total AUM as of December 31, 2025[118]. Investment Strategies and Performance - The effective management fee rate was reported at X%, reflecting a stable revenue generation from management fees[20]. - The management team expressed confidence in achieving a net income growth of Y% in the next fiscal year, driven by operational improvements and market expansion[19]. - The company emphasizes a rigorous, credit-oriented investment approach across its investment groups, contributing to strong investment performance and product expansion[31]. - The investment process leverages extensive market knowledge and proprietary research to identify attractive risk-adjusted return opportunities while emphasizing capital preservation[30]. - The company recognizes the importance of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors in its investment process to generate attractive risk-adjusted returns[35]. - The Real Assets Group manages equity and debt strategies across real estate and infrastructure investments, differentiating through cycle-tested leadership and demonstrated performance[32]. - The company has a robust sourcing model that generates a pipeline of high-quality investment opportunities across its platform[31]. Capital Deployment and Fundraising - In 2025, Ares raised $113.2 billion in gross new capital commitments across more than 190 investment vehicles, with $77.4 billion from over 540 institutional investors, including 235 new investors[53]. - 79% of fundraising from direct institutional investors in 2025 came from existing investors committing to new products or subsequent fund vintages, indicating strong investor satisfaction[58]. - Ares invested $145.8 billion across its global platform in 2025, with $69.1 billion coming from drawdown funds[62][66]. - In 2025, Ares' capital deployment included $111.1 billion in Credit and $23.5 billion in Real Assets[60]. Organizational Initiatives and Culture - The company is actively pursuing strategic acquisitions to expand its market presence, with a target of $X billion in potential deals over the next year[17]. - New product offerings are expected to contribute an additional $X million in revenue, enhancing the company's market position[17]. - Research and development investments in new technologies are projected to increase by Y%, aimed at improving operational efficiency[17]. - The company has identified $X million in available capital for future investments, positioning itself for growth opportunities[20]. - The firm has a commitment to donate a minimum of 10% of carried interest from specific funds to global health and educational charities[52]. - Ares Foundation, launched in 2021, focuses on providing career preparation and reskilling initiatives to improve economic mobility[46]. - Ares offers a comprehensive set of employee programs, including education sponsorship and internal training, to foster professional development[44]. - The firm emphasizes diversity, equity, and inclusion as integral to its talent processes and business practices[43]. Regulatory and Compliance Environment - The company is subject to extensive regulations, including compliance with the SEC, FINRA, and various state and federal laws, which may increase operational costs and liabilities[135]. - The SEC requires investment advisers managing over $150 million in private fund assets to file quarterly reports on Form PF, leading to increased administrative costs[137]. - The company’s funds are advised by SEC-registered investment advisers, which face more stringent regulatory requirements compared to unregistered advisers[137]. - The company operates under the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and other privacy laws, which are evolving and may impact financial performance if compliance fails[134]. - The company’s wealth distribution platform, AWMS, is regulated as a broker-dealer and must comply with the SEC's net capital rule, ensuring liquidity[140]. - The company is preparing for compliance with the EU Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) and the EU Artificial Intelligence Act, which will require enhancements in technology and risk management[146][147]. - The company’s operations in the U.K. and EU are affected by Brexit, with ongoing regulatory complexities that may impact business operations[142]. Market Competition and Challenges - The company faces competition in the investment management industry, competing for fund investors based on performance, service quality, and fees[150]. - Competition in direct lending and investment activities is intensifying, with larger competitors having greater financial and marketing resources, potentially leading to reduced pricing inefficiencies[152]. - The company is advancing its capabilities in artificial intelligence and data science to remain competitive, but risks falling behind if unable to keep pace with industry developments[153]. Financial Risks and Sensitivities - Management fees from funds impacted by market value changes were approximately 4% for the year ended December 31, 2025, indicating a potential resilience to short-term market fluctuations[835]. - A hypothetical 10% decrease in the fair value of managed funds' investments would result in declines of $180.7 million in principal investment income and $107.5 million in unrealized gains[840]. - The company has a $1.840 billion revolving line of credit with an accordion feature of $660 million, maturing on April 22, 2030, with $1.380 billion borrowings outstanding as of December 31, 2025[844]. - A 100 basis point increase in interest rates could lead to increased interest expenses and negatively affect the fair value of fixed-rate securities held by the company[846]. - The company is exposed to credit risk through agreements with counterparties, which may impact financial performance if counterparties fail to meet obligations[847]. - Investments include lower-rated and unrated distressed instruments, which are more sensitive to adverse market conditions, necessitating a rigorous credit-oriented investment approach[849].

Core Insights - Generative AI is viewed as a transformative technology by Amazon's CEO Andy Jassy, indicating its potential to significantly enhance customer experiences across the company [1] - Elon Musk predicts that by 2040, humanoid robots could create a market worth $250 trillion, representing a major shift in the global economy driven by AI innovation [2][3] - Major firms like PwC and McKinsey acknowledge the potential of AI to unlock multi-trillion-dollar opportunities, reinforcing the optimistic outlook on AI's economic impact [3] Company and Industry Analysis - A breakthrough in AI technology is believed to be redefining work, learning, and creativity, leading to increased interest from hedge funds and top investors [4] - There is speculation about an under-owned company that may play a crucial role in the AI revolution, suggesting that it could be a significant investment opportunity [4][6] - Prominent figures in technology and finance, including Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, recognize AI as a major technological advancement with the potential for substantial social benefits [8]

Core Insights - Investor confidence in private credit has been shaken following Blue Owl's decision to halt redemptions from its fund, raising concerns about the stability of other private-debt funds and BDCs [3][5][12] - The situation is being viewed as either a company-specific issue or indicative of broader industry problems, particularly with lending to software companies facing disruption from artificial intelligence [2][15] - The shares of asset managers involved in private credit have experienced significant declines, with Blue Owl's shares dropping around 12% in one week, and other firms like Blackstone and Apollo also facing losses [5][12] Group 1: Market Reactions - Shares of asset managers have been under pressure due to concerns over underwriting standards and the recent selloff in software companies, which are heavily represented in their loan portfolios [4][6] - The VanEck BDC Income ETF has seen a 1.9% weekly loss and has dropped over 25% in the past year, reflecting investor worries about the BDC sector [9] - Apollo Global's shares fell more than 4%, while Blackstone and Ares Management saw losses of 6.6% and 8% respectively during the same week [12] Group 2: Industry Concerns - The liquidity mismatch in publicly traded vehicles that package private loans is becoming apparent, leading to increased scrutiny from investors [8] - U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent expressed concerns about the growth of private credit outside the banking system and its potential impact on the regulated financial system [13][14] - The current economic expansion, despite a slowdown, may provide some support for private-credit managers, although fears of a recession could lead to higher default rates [14][15] Group 3: Company-Specific Developments - Blue Owl announced it would return 30% of OBDC II investors' capital at book value, aiming to alleviate concerns over liquidity [13] - The firm emphasized that it is not halting investor liquidity, but rather accelerating capital returns to shareholders [13] - The private-equity giants like Blackstone, Apollo, and KKR have significantly contributed to the growth of private credit, which is now facing scrutiny [11][10]

Core Viewpoint - The recent decline in asset-manager stocks is primarily attributed to investor concerns regarding the lending standards in the private-credit industry, particularly linked to a fund managed by Blue Owl Capital [1] Group 1: Market Impact - Shares of Blue Owl Capital (ticker: OWL) experienced a significant drop, with weekly losses reaching approximately 12% [1] - Other asset managers with exposure to private-credit businesses, including Ares Management (ARES), Blackstone (BX), Apollo Global Management (APO), and KKR & Co. (KKR), also saw declines in their stock prices during the week [1] Group 2: Investor Sentiment - Investor fears have intensified regarding the potential spillover effects from the private-credit sector, leading to broader anxiety in the market [1] - The selling pressure on asset managers indicates a growing concern about the stability and lending practices within the private-credit industry [1]

Market Overview - Markets opened cautiously on February 20, with benchmark indices trading in a narrow range after a significant sell-off that resulted in a loss of nearly ₹6.79 lakh crore in market capitalization [1] - The Sensex opened at 82,272.49 and was trading at 82,591.30, up ₹93.16 or 0.11% [2] - The Nifty 50 opened around 25,400 and was trading at 25,503.60, up 49.25 points or 0.19% [2] Sector Performance - The sell-off on Thursday was broad-based, with reality and media indices losing nearly 2% each, marking the steepest sectoral declines [2] - Banking, auto, FMCG, metals, and aviation stocks were also significantly impacted [3] - Information technology stocks continued to drag the market, with Tech Mahindra falling 1.39% and Infosys dropping 1.34% [11] Investor Activity - Both foreign institutional investors (FIIs) and domestic institutional investors (DIIs) turned net sellers, offloading ₹459.90 crore and ₹1,082.15 crore, respectively, in the cash market [3] - Analysts suggest that investors optimistic about a potential deal can use the current market weakness to buy fairly valued high-quality stocks in various sectors [12] Geopolitical Influences - The primary trigger for the risk-off mood was escalating US–Iran geopolitical tensions, with President Trump warning of potential consequences if a deal is not reached [4] - Crude oil prices surged above $66 per barrel, climbing more than 7% over two days due to concerns over potential disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz [4] Global Market Impact - Wall Street closed lower, with the Dow Jones falling 267 points, the Nasdaq down 70 points, and the S&P 500 dipping 19 points [5] - The US Dollar Index rose to near 97.80, impacting emerging market assets, while gold remained above $5,000 per troy ounce due to safe-haven demand [9] Technical Analysis - The Nifty has slipped below its 20-, 50-, and 100-day exponential moving averages, indicating a bearish trend [12] - Immediate support for the Nifty lies at 25,400–25,300, with resistance at 25,600 [12] - The Bank Nifty is hovering above the crucial support zone of 60,500–60,300, with a breach below this level potentially dragging the index toward 60,000–59,800 [12]

Core Insights - The private credit market is facing significant pressure as Blue Owl Capital announced the sale of $1.4 billion in assets across three credit funds, which is aimed at returning capital to investors and reducing leverage [13] - The announcement has led to a broader selloff among alternative asset managers, indicating the interconnectedness of private markets and publicly traded financial stocks [2][10] Group 1: Market Reactions - The announcement from Blue Owl Capital unsettled investors, contributing to declines in shares of major firms such as Apollo Global Management, Ares Management, Blackstone, KKR, and Carlyle Group, reflecting anxiety about credit quality and valuation transparency [13] - The developments in private markets have quickly transmitted to publicly traded equities, highlighting how closely listed alternative managers are tied to sentiment around private credit [2][10] Group 2: Credit Quality Concerns - Industry participants have been grappling with questions around credit quality, particularly for portfolios with significant exposure to software and technology companies, as a notable share of the loans being sold is tied to this sector [5][13] - The weakness in private credit has coincided with declines in technology benchmarks within the broader S&P 500, linking concerns in private credit to wider movements in US equities [6][10] Group 3: Liquidity and Restructuring - The asset sale involves loans to over a hundred portfolio companies across multiple industries, with proceeds earmarked for investor distributions and debt reduction, reflecting a balancing act between providing liquidity and maintaining portfolio stability [7][13] - The restructuring follows earlier attempts to merge funds and manage redemption pressures, indicating the cautious approach of private credit managers in the current economic climate [7][8] Group 4: Systemic Risk and Financial Stability - Economist Mohamed El-Erian has indicated that developments in private credit could revive discussions about broader financial stability, prompting investors to reassess whether stresses in less liquid markets could foreshadow tighter conditions elsewhere [9][10] - The situation serves as a reminder that liquidity shifts and valuation adjustments in private assets can have significant repercussions on the US stock market, particularly in sectors like software and leveraged lending [11][10]

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Ares Management Corporation (ARES) is a prominent global alternative investment manager headquartered in Los Angeles, California. The firm provides a broad range of investment solutions across credit, private equity, real estate, and infrastructure asset classes, serving institutional investors worldwide. Ares Management has a market cap of $42.7 billion. Shares of this company have underperformed the broader market over the past year. ARES has slumped almost 30% over this time frame, while the broader S ...