CHICAGO, Nov. 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- XAI Octagon Floating Rate & Alternative Income Trust (NYSE: XFLT) (the “Trust”) today announced that it plans to host the Trust’s Quarterly Webinar on December 2, 2025, at 12:00 pm (Eastern Time). Kevin Davis, Managing Director at XA Investments (“XAI”) will moderate the Q&A style webinar with Kimberly Flynn, President at XAI, and Lauren Law, Senior Portfolio Manager at Octagon Credit Investors. TO JOIN VIA WEB: Please go to the Knowledge Bank section of xainvestme ...

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KKR is opening an office in Abu Dhabi’s financial center, part of the alternative investment firm’s efforts to bolster its presence in the emirate as it increasingly becomes a magnet for global capital https://t.co/qzudQl6GY2 ...

Financial Performance - GAAP net income was $5 million, or $0.08 per diluted common share[12] - Distributable Earnings were $6 million, or $0.10 per diluted common share[12] - Excluding realized losses of $2 million or $0.03 per diluted common share, Distributable Earnings were $7 million, or $0.13 per diluted common share[12] - Book value was $521 million, or $9.47 per common share ($11.60 per common share excluding CECL reserve)[12] Portfolio & Balance Sheet - The company collected $162 million of repayments in 3Q 2025, bringing the YTD repayments to $498 million[12] - The company reduced office loans by $29 million QoQ to $495 million, a decrease of 6% QoQ and 26% YoY[12] - The company maintained a strong balance sheet with $173 million of available capital as of September 30, 2025, including $88 million of cash[12] - The company's total portfolio is $1.4 billion, comprised of loans held for investment and REO properties[15] CECL Reserve - The CECL reserve is $117 million, representing 9% of outstanding principal balance of loans held for investment[12,45] - 95% of the CECL reserve relates to risk rated 4 and 5 loans[46] - 90% of the CECL reserve relates to office and residential/condo loans[46] Ares Management Overview - Ares Management has approximately $596 billion in assets under management[22] - Ares Real Estate has $109 billion+ in Real Estate AUM[30]

Core Viewpoint - Ares Management Corporation is a prominent alternative asset manager with a focus on diversifying revenue streams and expanding its presence in the energy infrastructure sector [1][3][4]. Group 1: Company Overview - Ares Management operates through various segments including Tradable Credit, Direct Lending, Private Equity, and Real Estate, catering to diverse investment needs [1]. - The company competes with major asset managers such as Blackstone and Apollo Global Management in the alternative investment market [1]. Group 2: Stock Performance and Analyst Sentiment - The consensus price target for Ares Management's stock has decreased from $191.88 to $180.67 over the past year, indicating a slight adjustment in analysts' expectations [2]. - Despite the decrease, the price target has remained stable over the last month and quarter, reflecting steady analyst sentiment [2][5]. Group 3: Strategic Initiatives - Ares is actively expanding in the energy infrastructure sector and is focusing on private wealth and insurance to diversify its revenue streams [3][5]. - The company has successfully raised $5.3 billion for infrastructure projects, aiming to attract high-net-worth clients to enhance its higher-margin business [3]. - Ares anticipates margin expansion as synergies from acquisitions are realized, supported by strong free cash flow yield and robust dividend growth [4].

Core Insights - Cboe Global Markets has appointed JJ Kinahan as Senior Vice President, Head of Retail Expansion and Alternative Investment Products, to lead a new business vertical focused on alternative investment products for retail customers [2]. Group 1: Leadership and Strategy - JJ Kinahan will oversee product strategy, regulatory alignment, and market execution for innovative offerings such as event-based trading, prediction markets, crypto derivatives, and tokenized instruments [2]. - Rob Hocking, Global Head of Derivatives at Cboe, emphasized the significant opportunity for growth in areas where Cboe can lead and differentiate, highlighting Kinahan's exceptional track record and commitment to investor education [2]. - Craig Donohue, CEO of Cboe, noted that the company has strengthened its leadership team with strategic hires, positioning Cboe to capitalize on emerging opportunities in retail-oriented digital, crypto, and event markets [2]. Group 2: Background of JJ Kinahan - Prior to joining Cboe, Kinahan was the CEO of IG US Holdings, overseeing multiple trading platforms, and has held significant roles at TD Ameritrade and Charles Schwab [2]. - Kinahan's experience includes being a market maker at the Chicago Board Options Exchange and positions at ING Bank and Van Der Moolen, showcasing his extensive background in the financial industry [2]. Group 3: Cboe's Market Position - Cboe Global Markets is recognized as a leading derivatives and securities exchange network, providing trading solutions across multiple asset classes globally [3]. - The company is committed to building a trusted and inclusive global marketplace, enabling individuals to pursue sustainable financial futures [3].

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported GAAP net income for the quarter of $1.2 billion, with distributable earnings increasing nearly 50% year-on-year to $1.9 billion or $1.52 per common share [5][8] - A dividend of $1.29 per share was declared, payable to holders of record as of November 3 [5] - Total assets under management (AUM) rose 12% year-over-year to $1.24 trillion, while fee-earning AUM grew 10% to $906 billion [32] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Fee-related earnings increased 26% year-over-year to $1.5 billion, driven by strong growth in fee revenues [34] - The private credit market saw AUM cross the $500 billion milestone, up 18% year-over-year, while the infrastructure and asset-based credit business grew 29% year-over-year to $107 billion [19][20] - The private wealth channel's AUM grew 15% year-over-year to nearly $290 billion, with over $11 billion raised in the third quarter, more than doubling year-over-year [24][25] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Inflows reached $54 billion, marking the fourth consecutive quarter in excess of $50 billion, totaling $225 billion for the last 12 months [8] - The company executed three successful IPOs in the last three months, with a robust pipeline for the next 12 months [10][35] - Commercial real estate values are showing signs of recovery, with transaction activity increasing by 25% year-over-year in U.S. logistics [30] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to leverage structural tailwinds in the alternative sector, focusing on private market solutions and expanding into digital and energy infrastructure, private credit, and Asia [8][9] - The firm is positioned to capture opportunities in the defined contribution market as it opens to alternatives over time [8] - The company emphasizes a long-term approach to investing, focusing on sectors with strong fundamentals such as data centers, logistics, and rental housing [38] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the firm's growth prospects, citing a resilient economy and declining cost of capital as positive indicators for capital markets activity [10][39] - The company anticipates a resurgence in capital markets activity, which should lead to greater realizations and support fundraising and deployment [10][39] - Management acknowledged potential increases in defaults as the cycle progresses but believes their structural advantages will continue to yield superior results [12] Other Important Information - The company celebrated its 40th anniversary, highlighting its growth from a startup to the largest alternative asset manager in the world [14][17] - The firm has achieved significant organic growth, distinguishing itself from competitors who often rely on acquisitions [14] Q&A Session Summary Question: Changes in credit quality across the portfolio - Management clarified that recent credit issues were related to bank-led credits and do not reflect the private credit market, with minimal realized losses currently [41][42] Question: Plans for the defined contribution business - Management indicated a focus on building capabilities in this area and plans to work with existing partners while awaiting regulatory frameworks [44][45] Question: Brand strategy and marketing evolution - Management discussed targeted marketing efforts, including a recent launch in Japan, and emphasized the importance of expanding their footprint in private wealth [47][49] Question: Feedback on BCRED's dividend cut - Management noted that the reaction in the wealth channel has been understanding, with expectations for strong flows in BCRED moving forward [78]

Core Insights - Brookfield has launched the Brookfield Private Equity Fund (Canada) (BPE-CAD), which offers an evergreen investment strategy with monthly subscriptions and a low minimum investment requirement [1][2] Group 1: Fund Overview - BPE-CAD builds on Brookfield's 25-year history of investing in and transforming companies that are vital to the global economy, providing investors with a diversified portfolio of high-quality businesses [2] - The Fund leverages Brookfield's operational expertise to create long-lasting value for its investors [2] Group 2: Investment Strategy - The private equity strategy is characterized as simple, consistent, and successful, focusing on operational transformation in essential industrial and business services [3] - Brookfield's global scale, disciplined investment strategy, and deep operational expertise present unique opportunities for diversification and long-term value for advisors and their clients [3] Group 3: Market Position - Brookfield manages $150 billion in assets with a team of 160 investment professionals and 142,000 operating employees globally, specializing in the operational transformation of essential businesses [3] - The company emphasizes the growing trend of allocations to alternative investments among both institutions and individual investors [3] Group 4: Company Background - Brookfield Asset Management is a leading global alternative asset manager with over $1 trillion in assets under management across various sectors, including infrastructure, renewable power, private equity, real estate, and credit [4] - The company focuses on investing client capital for the long term, targeting real assets and essential service businesses that are foundational to the global economy [4]

Core Insights - The interval and tender offer fund market has reached a significant milestone with a total of 304 funds, indicating a growing popularity and demand for these investment vehicles [2][4] - The market is expected to continue its positive trajectory with substantial opportunities for expansion in the remainder of 2025 and into 2026 [2][4] Market Overview - The non-listed closed-end fund market has a combined net asset value of $215 billion and total managed assets of $252 billion as of September 30, 2025 [4] - Interval funds account for 58% of total managed assets, amounting to $145.9 billion, while tender offer funds represent 42% with $105.7 billion [4] Fund Launch Activity - In Q3 2025, 20 new funds were launched, with 70% being interval funds, reflecting strong investor preference for this type of fund [5][6] - The interval fund market is dominated by alternative investment firms, holding a 69% market share [6] Regulatory Environment - The number of funds in the SEC registration process decreased from 51 to 41 in Q3 2025, attributed to a high number of fund launches and a slowdown in new registrations [7] - The recent government shutdown may further delay the SEC registration process for new funds [7] Market Dynamics - The market share of the top 20 funds has decreased to 58% in Q3 2025 from 59% in Q2 2025, indicating a diversification in the market [8] - Interval and tender offer funds experienced positive net flows totaling over $13 billion in Q2 2025, with 63% of funds reporting positive net flows [9] Investor Accessibility - 55% of interval and tender offer funds do not impose suitability restrictions at the fund level, enhancing accessibility for investors [10] - Following a change in SEC staff position, 16 funds have removed accredited investor requirements, suggesting a trend towards greater accessibility [10][11] Future Expectations - The expectation is for more funds to reduce suitability requirements in the next six months, with alternative funds without restrictions gathering significant assets [12]

Definition - An alternative investment is a financial asset outside conventional categories like stocks, bonds, or cash [1]