/C O R R E C T I O N -- MGT/

Rhea-AI Summary

MGT (ARES) said it closed a $350 million strategic investment from Ares Credit funds on Dec 3, 2025, valuing the company at $1.25 billion, creating what the company calls the first unicorn in the SLED services industry. The transaction brings Ares Management (reported $595 billion AUM as of Sept 30, 2025) alongside existing backers Vistria, J.P. Morgan, and WhiteHorse Capital.

MGT said it has tripled enterprise value since Vistria's April 2023 majority investment, operates with 1,100+ employee-owners, serves over 2,500 clients, and is midway through a four-year value-creation plan focused on M&A and business transformation.

Positive

• $350M strategic investment from Ares Credit funds
• Company valuation at $1.25B following the deal
• Enterprise value tripled since April 2023 majority investment
• 1,100+ employee-owners serving 2,500 clients

Negative

• None.

/C O R R E C T I O N – MGT/ In the news release, MGT and Ares Management Combine Forces to Create First Unicorn in SLED Services Industry, issued 03-Dec-2025 by MGT over PR Newswire, we are advised by the company that changes have been made. The complete, corrected release follows, with additional details at the end:

MGT Receives Strategic Investment from Ares Management Resulting in First Unicorn in SLED Services Industry

TAMPA, Fla., Dec. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- MGT (the "Company"), a national technology and advisory solutions leader serving state, local, and education (SLED) government clients, announced it has closed a $350 million investment from Ares Credit funds, valuing the Company at $1.25 billion. Ares Management, a leading global alternative investment manager with over $595 billion in assets under management as of September 30, 2025, joins existing MGT backers The Vistria Group, J.P. Morgan, and WhiteHorse Capital.

"We believe this investment validates both our strategy and our commitment to building the category-of-one social impact and performance leader in SLED," said Trey Traviesa, chief executive officer of MGT. "With Ares' support, we significantly expand our capacity to undertake larger acquisitions and accelerate the high-impact growth and transformation we set out to achieve in our ambitious value-creation plan."

"We are excited to provide strategic capital to MGT as it seeks to advance its impressive growth trajectory," said Craig Snyder, Co-Head of Opportunistic Credit at Ares Management. "MGT's demonstrated sector leadership, robust M&A pipeline and history of successful integrations reinforce our conviction in its long-term value potential. We look forward to working with Trey, Vistria and MGT's other investors as the Company continues to enhance its differentiated position in the SLED services industry and deliver benefits to its clients, communities and other stakeholders."

MGT is midway through a four-year value-creation plan following Vistria's majority investment in April 2023. Since then, the Company has tripled in enterprise value with rapid growth driven by its programmatic M&A strategy, strong organic growth, and ambitious business transformation execution. Steeped in SLED domain expertise, MGT's 1,100+ employee-owners now serve over 2,500 clients, impacting over 200 million people annually, including 20 million K12 students. The Company's broad portfolio of specialized technology and advisory solutions addresses mission-critical priorities – including technology modernization and AI, cyber and campus security, human capital, fiscal and facilities management, and K12 school improvement – for state and local government agencies, K12 districts, and higher education institutions across the U.S.

Founded in 1975, MGT has expanded rapidly under new leadership since 2016, through a combination of organic growth and 13 strategic acquisitions. In 2025, MGT ranked No. 830 on the Inc. 5000, recognizing the nation's fastest-growing private companies, and No. 6 on CRN's Fast Growth 150 list, honoring the fastest-growing technology companies in North America.

For more information on MGT, visit mgt.us or download the Annual Impact Report at mgt.us/2024_impact_report.

About The Vistria Group
The Vistria Group is building a new kind of private investment firm that seeks to deliver both financial returns and societal impact. It invests in essential industries like healthcare, knowledge and learning solutions, financial services, and housing, which deliver value for investors as well as communities, employees, and consumers. With $17 billion in assets under management, The Vistria Group works alongside management teams as true partners, drawing on its deep sector knowledge, operational expertise, unique network, diverse team, and impact orientation to achieve transformational growth.

About Ares Management Corporation 
Ares Management Corporation (NYSE: ARES) is a leading global alternative investment manager offering clients complementary primary and secondary investment solutions across the credit, real estate, private equity and infrastructure asset classes. We seek to advance our stakeholders' long-term goals by providing flexible capital that supports businesses and creates value for our investors and within our communities. By collaborating across our investment groups, we aim to generate consistent and attractive investment returns throughout market cycles. As of September 30, 2025, Ares Management Corporation's global platform had over $595 billion of assets under management, with operations across North America, South America, Europe, Asia Pacific and the Middle East.

Media Contact:
Lawrence Cowan
COO, Revenue Operations, MGT
801‑556‑2164
lcowan@mgt.us 

Correction: Changes have been made all throughout the release.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mgt-and-ares-management-combine-forces-to-create-first-unicorn-in-sled-services-industry-302631210.html

SOURCE MGT

FAQ

What did MGT (ARES) announce on December 3, 2025 regarding new investment?

MGT announced a $350 million strategic investment from Ares Credit funds valuing the company at $1.25 billion.

How does the Ares investment affect MGT's valuation and unicorn status?

The investment sets MGT's post-money valuation at $1.25 billion, which the company characterizes as creating the first SLED services unicorn.

Who joined MGT's investor group with the December 2025 transaction?

Ares Management joined existing investors Vistria, J.P. Morgan, and WhiteHorse Capital as a strategic backer.

What growth track record did MGT cite when announcing the Ares deal?

MGT said it has tripled enterprise value since Vistria's April 2023 majority investment and is mid-way through a four-year value-creation plan.

How large is MGT's workforce and client base after the Ares investment?

MGT reported 1,100+ employee-owners serving over 2,500 clients and impacting about 200 million people annually.