Key Takeaways
- • Ares Management raised $31 billion in Q3 2026, driven by its private credit, real estate and infrastructure businesses, according to Reuters.
- • Over half of Q3 inflows ($31 billion total) came from non-credit businesses, with the real assets division raising $11.2 billion and the credit group $15.2 billion.
- • Ares deployed $34.8 billion of capital in the quarter and is on track for its best-ever fundraising year, with CEO Michael Arougheti citing visibility for a strong fourth quarter.
- • Assets under management rose 16% to $690.6 billion as of September 30, while fee-related earnings grew 11% to $524.2 million.
- • Uninvested capital climbed 16% to $173.8 billion, and the company expects investing activity to pick up in Q4.
Summary
Ares Management raised $31 billion in the third quarter of 2026, with strength across its private credit, real estate and infrastructure businesses, according to Reuters. The Los Angeles-based alternative asset manager has broadened its footprint beyond private credit following last year's acquisition of GCP International, which strengthened its position in real estate and digital infrastructure. Over half of the inflows came from non-credit businesses. The real assets division raised $11.2 billion in the quarter, while the credit group raised $15.2 billion.
Ares is on track for its best-ever fundraising year as institutional investors maintain strong allocations to alternative assets. CEO Michael Arougheti said the firm continues to expect another record year, with visibility for a strong fourth quarter, "driven by sustained demand in our global institutional and wealth channel." Reuters reported that Ares' asset gathering is largely institutional, which insulates it from fundraising volatility in private credit among wealthy investors. Recent notable fundraises include a roughly $4 billion Japan-focused logistics real estate development fund and a $4.2 billion debut secondaries fund.
Deployment totaled $34.8 billion, driven by US and European direct lending, alternative credit, and infrastructure debt and equity strategies. Deal activity across private credit remained slow in the quarter, reflecting subdued buyout activity and competition from the broadly syndicated loan market. Uninvested capital rose 16% to $173.8 billion as of September 30, and the company expects investing activity to pick up in the fourth quarter. Arougheti said that "recent market volatility is driving increased demand for our scaled and reliable capital" as the firm heads into its strongest seasonal quarter.
Assets under management increased 16% to $690.6 billion for the three months ended September 30, and fee-related earnings rose 11% to $524.2 million. After-tax realized income per Class A share was $1.26, compared with $1.19 a year earlier. Reuters noted that investors would focus on management commentary regarding the AI infrastructure boom, as a recent selloff in AI stocks has increased scrutiny on asset managers financing the buildout.
Ares is on track for its best-ever fundraising year as institutional investors maintain strong allocations to alternative assets. CEO Michael Arougheti said the firm continues to expect another record year, with visibility for a strong fourth quarter, "driven by sustained demand in our global institutional and wealth channel." Reuters reported that Ares' asset gathering is largely institutional, which insulates it from fundraising volatility in private credit among wealthy investors. Recent notable fundraises include a roughly $4 billion Japan-focused logistics real estate development fund and a $4.2 billion debut secondaries fund.
Deployment totaled $34.8 billion, driven by US and European direct lending, alternative credit, and infrastructure debt and equity strategies. Deal activity across private credit remained slow in the quarter, reflecting subdued buyout activity and competition from the broadly syndicated loan market. Uninvested capital rose 16% to $173.8 billion as of September 30, and the company expects investing activity to pick up in the fourth quarter. Arougheti said that "recent market volatility is driving increased demand for our scaled and reliable capital" as the firm heads into its strongest seasonal quarter.
Assets under management increased 16% to $690.6 billion for the three months ended September 30, and fee-related earnings rose 11% to $524.2 million. After-tax realized income per Class A share was $1.26, compared with $1.19 a year earlier. Reuters noted that investors would focus on management commentary regarding the AI infrastructure boom, as a recent selloff in AI stocks has increased scrutiny on asset managers financing the buildout.
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