Ares Management Corporation Stock Price, News & Analysis

Ares Management (NYSE: ARES) has announced that its Credit fund will serve as the administrative and collateral agent for a financing package exceeding $1 billion to support the recapitalization of Global Healthcare Exchange (GHX).

GHX, founded in 2000, is a leading provider of supply chain software automation solutions in healthcare, connecting suppliers, providers, and distributors. The company serves most healthcare manufacturers, distributors, and GPOs, along with hospitals representing a significant portion of U.S. hospital beds.

The strategic financing aims to strengthen GHX's capital structure and provide flexibility for long-term strategic objectives. Ares has been providing financing to GHX since 2014. GHX is currently a portfolio company of Temasek, with Warburg Pincus as a significant minority owner.

Ares Management (NYSE:ARES) reported significant lending activity for Q4 and full-year 2024. The company closed $13.8 billion in U.S. direct lending commitments across 90 transactions during Q4 2024, and achieved a record $48.2 billion in commitments across 341 transactions for the full year ended December 31, 2024.

Notable Q4 transactions included financing support for major acquisitions and growth initiatives, such as Novo Holdings' acquisition of Catalent, Bansk Group's take-private of PetIQ, and Badia Spices' acquisition by Bia Foods. Ares served in various capacities including administrative agent, lead arranger, and bookrunner for these transactions, supporting companies across diverse sectors including pharmaceuticals, pet wellness, aerospace, defense, and digital services.

Ares Management (NYSE:ARES) reported strong financial results for Q4 and full year 2024. The company achieved $177.3 million in GAAP net income for Q4, with earnings per share of $0.72. After-tax realized income reached $434.7 million with $1.23 per share, while fee-related earnings stood at $396.2 million for the quarter.

The company set several financial records in 2024, including $93 billion in new fund raising and ended the year with $484 billion in AUM. Additionally, Ares has $95 billion of assets under management not yet paying fees. The company declared a quarterly dividend of $1.12 per share of Class A and non-voting common stock, payable March 31, 2025, and a quarterly dividend of $0.84375 per share of Series B preferred stock, payable April 1, 2025.

Ares Capital (ARCC) has announced its Q4 and full-year 2024 financial results, along with declaring a Q1 2025 dividend of $0.48 per share. Key financial highlights include:

- Q4 2024 GAAP net income of $0.55 per share, compared to $0.72 in Q4 2023
- Full-year 2024 GAAP net income of $2.44 per share, versus $2.75 in 2023
- Net investment income for Q4 2024 was $359 million ($0.55 per share)
- Portfolio investments reached $26.72 billion at fair value by end of 2024

In Q4 2024, ARCC made new investment commitments of $3.8 billion, with 88% in first lien senior secured loans. The company maintained a stable debt/equity ratio of 1.03x and increased its net assets per share to $19.89. ARCC also completed a $544 million term debt securitization and amended several funding facilities to enhance liquidity.

Ares Capital (NASDAQ: ARCC) has announced a significant leadership transition, with Co-President Kort Schnabel appointed as Chief Executive Officer, effective April 30, 2025. Current CEO Kipp deVeer will step down but remain on the Board of Directors and continue serving on the Investment Committee of Ares Capital's investment adviser.

Jim Miller, appointed as Co-President in October 2024, will transition to sole President. Schnabel, who joined Ares Management in 2001, was a founding member of its U.S. Direct Lending strategy in 2004 and currently serves as Partner and Co-Head of the U.S. Direct Lending strategy.

The transition represents a continuation of leadership from within, with Schnabel bringing extensive experience in private credit investing and a long-standing commitment to the company's collaborative culture and relationship-oriented approach.

Ares Management (NYSE: ARES) has appointed Kipp deVeer and Blair Jacobson as Co-Presidents, effective immediately. Both will report to CEO Michael Arougheti while continuing to be based in New York and London, respectively.

The executives will transition from their Credit Group management roles to focus on firm-wide strategic initiatives, investor relations, and leadership development. Mitchell Goldstein and Michael Smith will continue as Co-Heads of Ares' Credit Group, while Michael Dennis and Matt Theodorakis will lead the European Direct Lending strategy.

In a related move, Kort Schnabel will become CEO of Ares Capital effective April 30, 2025, with Jim Miller continuing as sole President. deVeer, who joined Ares in 2004, has been instrumental in building the Credit Group, while Jacobson, who joined in 2012, established Ares' European Direct Lending platform.

Ares Capital (NASDAQ: ARCC) has disclosed its tax treatment for 2024 common stock distributions. The company will distribute $1.92 per share throughout 2024, paid in four quarterly installments of $0.48 each on March 29, June 28, September 30, and December 30.

Of the total distributions, 83.66% ($1.606291 per share) is classified as ordinary income, while 16.34% ($0.313709 per share) represents long-term capital gains. The company has designated these distributions as qualified dividend income and eligible for the dividends received deduction for U.S. domestic corporations. Additionally, specific percentages of each dividend payment are designated as interest-related dividends under IRC section 871(k).

ID.me, a digital identity wallet provider, has secured a $275 million credit facility from Ares Management (NYSE: ARES), which also plans to make a substantial equity investment in the company. ID.me has demonstrated significant growth with over 139 million users in its digital wallet, including 65 million users verified to federal IAL2 standards. The company's revenue has grown over 450% from 2020 through 2024.

ID.me's platform is uniquely positioned as the only digital wallet meeting federal government standards for secure login and multi-factor authentication, offering online, video chat, and in-person identity verification options. The company serves 19 federal agencies, 44 state government agencies, 66 healthcare organizations, and over 600 consumer brands. The new financing will support ID.me's continued growth and path to sustainable profitability.

Form Technologies, a global leader in precision-engineered components, announced its acquisition by Ares Management funds. The transaction includes approximately $304 million in new equity capital, consisting of $154 million in common equity from investors including Ares, D. E. Shaw group and Onex Credit, plus $150 million in preferred equity from D. E. Shaw group and Ripple Industries.

The company operates 32 facilities across 22 countries, specializing in die casting, investment casting, and metal injection molding. Form Technologies serves nearly 2,000 customers across automotive, aerospace, healthcare, and enterprise technology sectors. The new capital will support investment in operational capabilities and accelerate commercial strategy, following a platform-wide strategic repositioning over the past two years.