Ares Closes $12.3bn in Q3 2024 U.S. Direct Lending Commitments

Ares Management Corporation (NYSE:ARES), a leader in alternative asset management, has announced significant direct lending activity for the third quarter of 2024. The financial services giant demonstrated its continued dominance in the U.S. market here are the key details:

Ares closed approximately $12.3 billion in U.S. direct lending commitments across 86 transactions during the third quarter of 2024.

For the 12 months ended September 30, 2024, Ares closed approximately $44.5 billion in direct lending commitments across 328 transactions. This represents a new record for the U.S. Direct Lending business.

The company's strong performance in Q3 2024 contributed to this record-breaking 12-month period.

Ares was involved in several notable transactions during Q3 2024, including:

• Supporting Genstar and TA Associates' acquisition of AffiniPay, a provider of practice management software and integrated payments for professionals.

• Facilitating Clearlake Capital and Francisco Partners' acquisition of Black Duck Software, a market-leading provider of application security testing software solutions.

• Supporting H.I.G. Capital's continued growth plans for Capstone Logistics, an outsourced supply chain solutions provider.

• Backing Meaningful Partners' acquisition of Fitness Ventures, a major franchisee and operator of Crunch Fitness clubs.

Ares served in key roles such as administrative agent, lead arranger, and bookrunner for multiple senior secured credit facilities across various sectors including technology, insurance, healthcare, and logistics.

The company's involvement in these transactions spans diverse industries, demonstrating its broad reach and strategic positioning in the market.

This level of activity indicates strong demand for direct lending solutions and reflects positively on Ares' ability to capitalize on this market segment. The high volume of transactions could potentially lead to increased interest income and origination fees for Ares, enhancing its profitability.

Our Opinion

Ares's impressive numbers highlight more than just their magnitude—it's the diversity of transactions driving them. Positioned across multiple sectors, Ares exemplifies the adaptability of alternative lending.

Emerging trends include:

• Private credit increasingly substituting traditional loans

• Sponsor-backed deals as a key force in direct lending

• Comfort with larger transactions among alternative lenders

• Sector diversification as a sign of success in direct lending

Ares's central role as administrative agent, lead arranger, and bookrunner shows that alternative lenders are shaping, not just joining, the lending landscape. Clearly, alternative lending is transitioning from a niche option to a mainstream financing solution.

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