Ares Management

Ares Management Corporation was founded in 1997 by Antony Ressler, Michael Arougheti, David Kaplan, John Kissick, and Bennett Rosenthal. The firm has grown into one of the largest players in the private debt market and operates across four primary business units: Credit, Private Equity, Real Estate, and Strategic Initiatives (including Ares SSG). The company went public on the New York Stock Exchange in 2014 and is currently a component of the S&P 500 index.

The firm's history is marked by significant geographic and strategic expansion, including the establishment of its European platform in 2006 and the acquisition of a controlling stake in the Hong Kong-based SSG Capital Management in 2020. Ares has also significantly expanded its real estate capabilities through the acquisition of Black Creek Group's U.S. advisory business in 2021 and the international business of GLP Capital Partners in 2024.

Ares manages a diverse array of investment vehicles, including Ares Capital Corporation (a leading business development company) and Ares Commercial Real Estate Corporation. The firm's private equity group focuses on opportunistic majority or shared-control investments, particularly in under-capitalized middle-market companies, as well as power and infrastructure assets. Recent notable activities include a minority investment in the Miami Dolphins and the planned acquisition of Whitestone REIT.