Group 1 - RWE and Apollo Global Management have successfully closed a partnership transaction for a joint venture aimed at funding power grid upgrades in Germany [1]

Core Viewpoint - Optimum Communications has filed a lawsuit against Apollo Capital Management, BlackRock, and six other financial firms, alleging collusion to prevent the company from refinancing billions of dollars in debt [1] Group 1 - The lawsuit was filed in federal court located in Manhattan [1] - The financial firms are accused of blocking Optimum Communications' efforts to refinance its debt [1]

Core Viewpoint - Apollo Global Management's CEO Marc Rowan argues that concerns regarding systemic risks from private assets in retirement and insurance portfolios are exaggerated, emphasizing that most private credit held by insurers and pension funds is rated investment grade [1][2]. Group 1: Private Credit and Transparency - Rowan highlights that private credit offers lenders direct access to borrowers' management, countering claims that this asset class lacks transparency compared to traditional loans [1]. - Apollo's exchange-traded private credit fund with State Street provides daily price updates, showcasing the firm's commitment to transparency in its investment-grade private credit business, which has traded $6 billion recently [2]. Group 2: Industry Dynamics and Risks - Alternative asset managers, including Apollo, have increasingly acquired insurers to secure a stable source of long-term capital, with Apollo's insurance arm, Athene, investing in products created by its asset-management division, giving it a first-mover advantage [3]. - Recent scrutiny has arisen regarding the close ties between private equity and insurers, particularly following credit losses from firms like First Brands Group and Tricolor Holdings, raising concerns about the financial industry's stability [3]. Group 3: Economic Outlook and Capital Shortfalls - Economists at the Bank for International Settlements estimate that publicly traded North American life insurers could face a capital shortfall of approximately $150 billion in a severe economic downturn, a figure that has more than tripled over the past two decades [4]. - UBS Group AG Chairman Colm Kelleher expressed concerns about looming systemic risks in the insurance business, which Rowan refuted during Apollo's third-quarter earnings call, stating that Athene does not rely on certain ratings agencies under scrutiny [5].

Core Viewpoint - Apollo Global Management's CEO Marc Rowan argues that concerns regarding systemic risks from adding private assets to retirement and insurance portfolios are exaggerated [1][3]. Group 1: Private Credit and Transparency - Most private credit held by insurers and pension funds is rated investment grade, countering the perception that this asset class lacks transparency compared to traditional loans [2]. - Apollo's exchange-traded private credit fund with State Street Corp. offers daily price updates, enhancing transparency [2]. - The firm has traded $6 billion in its investment-grade private credit business, showcasing its significant involvement in this sector [2]. Group 2: Industry Dynamics and Investment Strategies - Alternative asset managers, including Apollo, have increasingly acquired insurers to secure a stable source of long-term capital for investments, with Apollo being a pioneer in this model through its insurance arm, Athene [4]. - The close relationship between private equity and insurers has come under scrutiny, especially as insurers traditionally invested in more liquid assets like high-grade bonds and stocks [5]. Group 3: Economic Concerns and Capital Shortfalls - Economists at the Bank for International Settlements estimate that publicly traded North American life insurers could face a capital shortfall of approximately $150 billion in a severe economic downturn, a figure that has more than tripled over the past two decades [6]. - UBS Group AG Chairman Colm Kelleher expressed concerns about looming systemic risks in the insurance business, which Rowan refuted during Apollo's third-quarter earnings call [7].

Core Insights - The company is presenting an update on its Retirement Services Business for 2025, emphasizing a narrative of long-term success, profitable growth, and consistent value creation [2] Group 1 - The session aims to provide transparency and leading disclosure in areas of market interest, reflecting the company's commitment to educating stakeholders [2] - The update includes tactical business discussions from the current year while continuing a broader strategic narrative [2]

Group 1 - The article does not provide any specific content or key points related to a company or industry [1]

Core Insights - The legal sector is capitalizing on the opportunity to help private equity firms attract retail investors, particularly through 401(k) plans, as large institutions retreat from these investments [1][2][3] Group 1: Market Opportunity - Nearly $13 trillion is available in 401(k) accounts and other defined-contribution retirement plans, presenting a significant opportunity for private equity firms and their legal advisors [3] - The number of semi-liquid private-market funds aimed at retail investors has doubled since 2020, reaching approximately 380 [7] Group 2: Legal Fees and Demand - Legal fees for structuring private-market funds for retail investors can reach up to $1.5 million, with ongoing legal work costing hundreds of thousands annually [4] - Law firms are experiencing unprecedented demand for fund specialists, with some legal professionals receiving numerous inquiries from private-market firms seeking to enter the 401(k) market [5][6] Group 3: Industry Trends - Major law firms like Simpson Thacher & Bartlett and Kirkland & Ellis are expanding their teams to meet the growing demand for retail fund services, with Simpson Thacher increasing its retail team from a few to 21 partners and 125 lawyers [10][11] - The push into the 401(k) market has been facilitated by regulatory changes, notably under the Trump administration, prompting firms like Apollo and Blackstone to launch new funds targeting retail investors [8][9]

Summary of Apollo Global Management (NYSE: APO) Update / Briefing November 24, 2025 Company Overview - **Company**: Apollo Global Management - **Business Segment**: Retirement Services - **Focus**: Profitable growth and value creation in the retirement income market Key Points and Arguments Industry Context - The retirement income market is projected to grow significantly, with a 40% increase in the population over 65 by 2050, indicating a sustained demand for guaranteed retirement income [4][4] - The company emphasizes the societal need for retirement services, stating that the market will not peak until 2050 [4][4] Business Strategy - Apollo has developed a robust origination machinery for investment-grade assets, which is crucial for success in the retirement services sector [5][5] - The company focuses on originating investment-grade assets rather than below investment-grade assets, which are deemed less capital productive [5][5] - A stable source of liabilities is essential, with the company preferring to originate liabilities rather than purchase them in the secondary market [6][6] Financial Performance - Apollo originated $273 billion of assets in the last 12 months, with $190 billion being A-rated investment grade [21][21] - The company expects to produce approximately $880 million of spread-related earnings in Q4 2025 and anticipates a 10% growth in spread-related earnings through 2029 [25][25] - The company has faced headwinds in 2024 and 2025, including interest rates and asset prepayment, but these are expected to dissipate [24][24] Competitive Advantages - Apollo's unique position allows it to originate private investment-grade assets, which are increasingly in demand [12][12] - The company has a fortress balance sheet with $35 billion of statutory capital and lower leverage than peers, providing a competitive edge [32][32] - Apollo's origination capabilities are unmatched in the industry, allowing it to capture a larger share of the market [10][10] Market Dynamics - The company highlights the importance of private assets in the current market, noting that the demand for private credit is expanding [12][12] - The media's portrayal of private credit is often misleading, conflating it with riskier segments, while Apollo maintains a focus on investment-grade private assets [16][16] Future Outlook - The company is optimistic about growth opportunities, particularly in the retail annuity market, where it has become the largest player [36][36] - Apollo plans to expand its market presence, particularly in Asia-Pacific and new markets like stable value and structured settlements [43][43] - The management team believes that the best is yet to come for Athene, Apollo's retirement services arm [43][43] Risk Management - Apollo emphasizes a disciplined approach to risk management, opting to take less risk during periods of market volatility [26][26] - The company has a strong performance culture focused on long-term growth rather than short-term gains [32][32] Additional Important Insights - The company has a self-funded model with predictable and stable liabilities, which is a significant advantage in the retirement services market [29][29] - Apollo's operational efficiency is highlighted by the fact that it has fewer employees today than when it acquired Aviva USA, yet it has significantly increased its origination volume [31][31] - The company is actively working to improve its distribution channels and expand its market share in the annuity space [36][36] This summary encapsulates the key points discussed during the Apollo Global Management update, focusing on the company's strategic positioning, financial performance, competitive advantages, and future growth prospects in the retirement services industry.

Apollo's Origination Platform Strategy - Apollo's origination platforms power Athene and grow Apollo, focusing on investment-grade assets with excess spread and a track record of low losses[21] - Apollo has invested billions of dollars over 10+ years to build a large origination ecosystem[21, 70] - Apollo's asset-backed finance franchise has experienced low losses over a long period, especially for investment-grade tranches and post-crisis for all tranches[44, 45] - Apollo's ABF business has over \$200 billion in asset-backed originations to date[50, 55] Private Credit Market - The private credit market is large, with an addressable market of approximately \$40 trillion, and Apollo is focused on areas with attractive risk/reward[41, 42, 43] - The majority of private credit across Apollo is investment grade, with the origination ecosystem primarily focused on asset-backed finance[43] MidCap Financial - MidCap Financial has over \$14 billion in assets originated LTM 3Q'23 and cumulative credit losses of 27 bps since 2008[125] - MidCap Financial manages \$48.4 billion in total managed commitments as of 3Q 2023[125, 137] - MidCap generates a ~17% return on equity[152, 153] Wheels - Wheels has approximately \$4 billion in assets originated LTM 3Q'23 and average charge-offs of less than 1bp over the last 15 years[165, 209] - Wheels manages a vehicle fleet of approximately 800,000 vehicles as of 3Q'23[165] ATLAS SP Partners - ATLAS SP Partners had approximately \$40 billion in funded AUM at launch in February 2023 and has originated approximately \$10 billion in assets since acquisition[216] - ATLAS SP Partners has less than 1bp in aggregate impairments on originations over the last 7 years[216, 247] Earnings Power - Apollo has approximately \$95 billion of directly originated assets within Athene's investment portfolio[281] - Apollo's capital solutions fees were approximately \$420 million YTD 3Q'23[299]

Group 1 - Apollo Global Management, Inc. (NYSE:APO) is receiving increased attention from Wall Street analysts, with Morgan Stanley raising its price target to $180.00 from $151.00 and upgrading the stock from Equalweight to Overweight, citing confidence in over 20% fee-related earnings growth [1] - Goldman Sachs also raised its price target for Apollo Global Management to $155.00 from $151.00, maintaining a 'Buy' rating, indicating a potential upside of nearly 23% due to the company's strong origination capabilities [2] - Apollo Global Management is projected to achieve over 20% growth in fee-related earnings (FRE) for 2026, with better-than-expected guidance for spread-related earnings (SRE), leading to an average EPS forecast increase of around 4% for 2026/2027 [3] Group 2 - Apollo Global Management is a New York-based private equity firm that specializes in private equity, infrastructure, credit, secondaries, and real estate investments, founded in 1990 [4]