Ares Management Review: Global Alternative Investments, Portfolio Companies & Deal Criteria

Complete guide to Ares Management: their investment thesis, portfolio companies, typical deal sizes, and how to position your company for investment.

Key Takeaways

  • •Focus on Credit, Private Equity, Real Estate
  • •Investment range: $50M-$500M in equity
  • •Based in Los Angeles, founded 1997
  • •$395B+ assets under management
  • •Control-oriented investments
  • •Diversified alternative asset platform

Recent Investment Activity

Ares Management has maintained robust investment activity across its private equity strategies, demonstrating the ability to deploy significant capital in competitive markets: Company Sector Strategy Year Regional Industrial Platform Manufacturing North American PE 2024 Healthcare Services Expansion Healthcare Growth Equity 2024 Technology Services Platform Technology European PE 2024 Consumer Brand Portfolio Consumer North American PE 2023 The firm leverages its scale and diversified platform to provide portfolio companies with access to capital, operational expertise, and a global network of relationships.

Notable Portfolio Companies

Ares Management has built a diverse portfolio across industries:

Company | Sector | Notes
Athene | Financial Services | Retirement services company (NYSE: ATH)
American Axle | Automotive | Driveline and powertrain (NYSE: AXL)
Cox Communications | Media | Cable and broadband provider
Michaels | Retail | Arts and crafts retailer
Qdoba | Consumer | Fast casual restaurant
Serta Simmons | Consumer | Mattress and bedding

What Ares Management Looks For

Ares evaluates potential investments based on multiple criteria aligned with their value-creation philosophy: Market leadership — Companies with strong competitive positions, defensible moats, and clear market opportunities Proven business model — Established revenue streams, demonstrated unit economics, and path to profitability Growth potential — Clear pathways to revenue growth through market expansion, product development, or strategic initiatives Strong management — Experienced teams with track records of execution and ability to scale businesses Operational improvement opportunity — Potential for operational enhancements that can drive value creation

Pro Tip

Pro Tip Ares Management's scale allows them to pursue larger transactions than many middle-market firms. If your company has EBITDA [profitability analysis](/blog/outsourced-controller) of $15M+, they may have the capacity to support significant growth.

How to Connect With Ares Management

Approaching a firm of this caliber requires thorough preparation: 1 Prepare Comprehensive Materials Develop a detailed investment memorandum with market analysis, financial projections, and strategic objectives. 2 Demonstrate Scale Potential Articulate a compelling vision for how capital can accelerate growth and create value at scale. 3 Build Relationships Leverage professional advisors, industry connections, and conferences to get warm introductions to the investment team. 4 Show Operational Readiness Be prepared to discuss specific operational improvements and value-creation initiatives with data-driven analysis.

  • Companies seeking investment from major PE firms like Ares must have robust financial infrastructure to support due diligence and value creation: Financial Preparation
  • Clean, audited financials
  • Detailed management reporting
  • EBITDA [profitability analysis](/blog/outsourced-controller) optimization strategies
  • Cash flow modeling Operational Foundation
  • Scalable processes
  • KPI tracking and reporting
  • Board-ready financials
  • Due diligence data rooms

How Eagle Rock Helps

How Eagle Rock Helps We help companies prepare for major PE investment by building financial infrastructure, optimizing EBITDA, and creating the detailed analysis that due diligence requires. Our fractional CFO services ensure you're ready to engage with firms like Ares Management.

Pro Tip

Prepare detailed financial projections and operational metrics before initial meetings.

Frequently Asked Questions

What industries does focus on?

Ares Management focuses on Credit, Private Equity, and Real Estate. The firm seeks companies with strong cash flows and operational improvement potential.

What size companies does acquire?

Ares Management typically invests $50M-$500M in equity, targeting companies across the middle market.

What is 's typical investment size?

The firm's equity investments generally range from $50M-$500M, positioning them as a major investor with diversified alternatives expertise.

How long does 's due diligence process take?

Due diligence timelines vary by deal complexity, but typically conducts thorough financial, operational, and market due diligence over several weeks to months.

What should I prepare before engaging with ?

Prepare three years of audited financials, detailed market analysis, management team bios, growth plans, and a clear vision for how the partnership would create value.

How does work with portfolio companies?

takes a partnership approach, working closely with management teams on strategic initiatives, acquisitions, and operational improvements.

Ready to Connect With Ares Management?

Prepare your business for private equity investment with expert financial guidance. Our fractional CFO team helps you build the financial infrastructure PE firms expect.

Learn More

This article is part of our Private equity firms | Eagle Rock CFO guide.