Ares Management Corp Annual Report, Year Ended Dec 31, 2019

Ares Management Corporation, a global alternative investment manager, reported strong growth in Assets Under Management (AUM) to $148.9 billion as of December 31, 2019, a significant increase from $34.0 billion a decade prior, driven by a compound annual growth rate of 16% over that period. The company's diversified platform spans Credit, Private Equity, and Real Estate, with substantial fundraising of $23.8 billion in gross new capital during 2019, sourced from both institutional and retail investors. In 2019, Ares deployed over $27.4 billion in capital across its strategies, highlighting active capital deployment. Strategic initiatives for growth include the launch of Aspida Financial to expand its insurance platform and the pending acquisition of SSG Capital Holdings Limited, an Asian alternative asset management firm, to broaden its geographic reach and product offerings. The company's financial performance shows substantial increases in revenues, particularly driven by management fees and carried interest, reflecting successful fundraising and investment performance. Key highlights for investors include the company's robust AUM growth, diversified business segments, successful capital raising and deployment, strategic expansion efforts into insurance and Asia, and a focus on delivering strong risk-adjusted returns through market cycles. The company also declared quarterly dividends for its Class A common stock, indicating a commitment to returning capital to shareholders.