Ares Management Conference Call Summary Company Overview - **Company**: Ares Management (NYSE: ARES) - **Date**: March 11, 2026 - **Focus**: Discussion on growth strategy, acquisitions, market insights, and cultural values within the company Key Points Growth Strategy and Acquisitions - Ares has achieved significant growth through acquisitions, contributing approximately **25%** of its historic growth, while maintaining a strong organic growth trajectory [14][15] - Recent acquisitions include Landmark Partners, SSG in Asia, Black Creek Group, and GLP Capital Partners, with a focus on allowing these platforms to retain autonomy to drive growth [13][21] - The company emphasizes the importance of having an origination edge in private markets to provide differentiated exposure and outperformance for clients [14][15] - Ares has successfully expanded its private credit business into Europe, becoming the largest player in that market [15] Market Insights - Ares has a significant information edge due to its investments in thousands of middle-market companies globally, allowing it to gather valuable data on market trends and economic strength [41][46] - Despite market anxieties, Ares reports strong fundamentals, including **double-digit cash flow growth** in its credit and equity portfolios and high occupancy rates in real estate [45][46] - The company notes a disconnect in the market narrative regarding the durability of the trend from public to private markets, highlighting that their non-traded BDC has **0% non-accrual** [46] AI and Technology - Ares has been proactive in considering the risks and opportunities presented by AI, with **25 in-flight projects** utilizing AI tools to enhance efficiency and productivity [55] - The company is focusing on growth in digital infrastructure and renewable energy sectors, leveraging AI to drive transformation [52] Sports Investment Strategy - Ares has reoriented its sports investment strategy since March 2020, focusing on providing liquidity solutions during market disruptions [62] - The firm has established a leadership position in sports investments by engaging with league commissioners and owners to unlock value in various aspects of sports assets [63][64] - The value of unscripted live content in sports is seen as a significant growth opportunity, with sports assets being inflation-protected and uncorrelated to other portfolio investments [68][69] Culture and Leadership - Ares emphasizes a culture of collaboration and trust, which is viewed as a competitive advantage in building long-term relationships with clients [27][30] - The company has initiated a charitable foundation, committing a percentage of performance income to philanthropic causes, which has fostered a sense of purpose among employees [94][96] - Leadership is focused on maintaining humility and grace while navigating market volatility, ensuring that the company takes advantage of opportunities without exploiting others' distress [105][106] Market Structure and Transparency - Ares acknowledges the need for improved transparency in private markets, particularly for individual investors, while asserting that institutional investors already receive comprehensive performance data [75][78] - The firm believes that as more individuals gain access to private markets, the governance and transparency standards will evolve [75][80] Future Outlook - Ares anticipates continued consolidation in the asset management industry, with larger players benefiting from diversification, scale, and strong relationships [86] - The company is well-positioned with approximately **$160 billion** of uninvested dry powder, allowing it to capitalize on market opportunities [85] This summary encapsulates the core discussions and insights shared during the Ares Management conference call, highlighting the company's strategic focus, market positioning, and cultural values.

Core Insights - ICG plc reported a total AUM of $127 billion as of 31 December 2025, with fee-earning AUM at $85 billion, reflecting a 1% increase quarter-on-quarter and an 11% increase year-on-year [6][11] - The company raised $4.4 billion in fundraising during the quarter, with significant contributions from Europe IX ($1.6 billion), Metropolitan II ($0.6 billion), and LP Secondaries II ($0.3 billion) [6][5] - The total available liquidity for ICG is £1.4 billion, with net financial debt reduced to £239 million [6] Fundraising and Deployment - Fundraising activities for Q3 FY26 included $2.5 billion in Structured Capital and Secondaries, $0.6 billion in Real Assets, and $1.3 billion in Debt [5][7] - Deployment of funds in Q3 FY26 amounted to $2.8 billion for Structured Capital and Secondaries, $0.6 billion for Real Assets, and $1.6 billion for Debt [5][7] - Realisations during the same period were $0.1 billion for Structured Capital and Secondaries, $0.2 billion for Real Assets, and $1.7 billion for Debt [5][7] Financial Performance - The company experienced a net addition of $1.328 billion in AUM, with structured capital and secondaries contributing $1.538 billion, while real assets and debt saw net reductions [3] - Year-on-year changes in AUM showed a 22% increase in Structured Capital, a 17% increase in Secondaries, a 3% decrease in Real Assets, and an 11% overall increase [3] - The total balance sheet return was positive at both the group level for the quarter and year-to-date [6] Market Conditions - The company noted variability in transaction activity across different asset classes, indicating a modest recovery in market conditions [6] - The foreign exchange rates for GBP to EUR and GBP to USD showed slight fluctuations, which may impact financial results [8]

Fund Performance - Baron Fifth Avenue Growth Fund gained 5.7% in Q3 2025, underperforming the Russell 1000 Growth Index's 10.5% gain and the S&P 500 Index's 8.1% return [1] - Year-to-date, the fund is up 14.4%, compared to 17.2% for the Russell 1000 Growth Index and 14.8% for the S&P 500 Index [1] KKR & Co. Inc. Overview - KKR & Co. Inc. is an equity and real estate investment firm with a market capitalization of $113.138 billion and a share price of $122.19 as of December 01, 2025 [2] - The one-month return for KKR & Co. Inc. was 3.30%, while it experienced a 22.62% decline over the last 52 weeks [2] Investment Strategy in KKR - The fund increased its position in KKR & Co. Inc. to capitalize on price volatility towards the end of Q3 2025 [3] - KKR manages $686 billion in assets across Private Equity, Private Credit, and Real Assets, and is in a three-year fundraising super-cycle expecting to raise over $300 billion [3] - KKR has diversified its business beyond traditional buyout private equity into alternative asset classes, maintaining over $150 billion in assets under management in each of its three scaled businesses [3] - KKR's asset management business generates highly recurring fees, and it also owns Global Atlantic, an insurance company involved in the retirement assets market [3]

Core Insights - The global economy is expected to continue growing in 2026, avoiding recession despite ongoing risks, supported by strong fundamentals in equities and a new inflation regime affecting fixed income investors [1][3][4] - Active management is emphasized due to structural divergence within asset classes, with a preference for equities over bonds [2][3] Global Economic Outlook - Resilience in the global economy is noted, with supportive policies and lower interest rates expected to enhance economic momentum [3] - Real GDP growth is projected to remain under 2% globally, with the U.S. and Canada leading at an estimated annual growth of 1.5% [4] Asset Class Highlights - **U.S. Equities**: Strong fundamentals support equities, but stretched valuations and narrow leadership indicate a need for selectivity [3] - **Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS)**: Inflation is expected to remain above average at about 3%, making TIPS a compelling hedge [3] - **Global Bonds**: Diversification through global government bonds is recommended as reliance on U.S. Treasurys is outdated [3] - **Private Assets**: The private credit landscape is evolving, with a shift towards more complex strategies due to tight spreads [3] - **Real Assets**: Infrastructure investments are highlighted as beneficiaries of long-term trends in technology and energy transition, providing resilience against inflation [3]

Financial Performance Highlights - Fee Related Earnings (FRE) reached R$7706 million in 3Q'25, a 43% increase year-over-year, resulting in R$122 per share[8] - Adjusted Distributable Earnings (Adj DE) increased by 28% year-over-year to R$7309 million in 3Q'25, with Adj DE per share at R$116[8] - The FRE margin was 323% in 3Q'25[8] - Capital formation & appreciation reached R$19 billion in 3Q'25[8] Assets Under Management (AuM) - Total AuM reached R$3163 billion, a 349% increase year-over-year, driven by the combination with Compass and the acquisition of Lacan[17] - Capital formation in 3Q'25 totaled R$84 billion, driven by net inflows and capital subscriptions across Global IP&S and Credit strategies[17] - Portfolio appreciation of R$105 billion in 3Q'25 was partially offset by R$60 billion in negative FX variation and R$06 billion in capital returned to investors[17] Segment Performance - Global IP&S AuM was R$2412 billion in 3Q'25, with R$76 billion in net inflows and R$88 billion of appreciation[51] - Credit AuM totaled R$33 billion, up 263% year-over-year[55] - Private Equity AuM was R$16 billion, down 2% year-over-year[59] - Real Assets AuM was R$12 billion, up 17% year-over-year[65] Investment Related Earnings (IRE) - Fair Value of Investments accounted for R$7264 million[42] - Total capital called of R$7812 million, representing 548% of the total capital committed to proprietary funds as of September 30, 2025[42]

Core Insights - The company reported a strong performance in Q3, with net flows and key operational metrics improving year-on-year, leading to a group AUMA of GBP 542 billion, which is a 6% increase year-to-date, driven by positive market conditions [1] Group Performance - Interactive investor has shown continued strong performance, with significant growth in customers and assets, supported by a pipeline of innovative new propositions and increasing brand awareness [2] - In the adviser segment, customer services have improved, and net flows were 50% better than in Q3 of the previous year, although the company is still experiencing outflows. The focus remains on returning to growth and achieving a net flows target of GBP 1 billion by 2026 [3] Investment Trends - In the investments sector, while equity flows remain challenging, there have been encouraging net inflows in fixed income, real assets, quants, and commodities, indicating growth potential across all investment areas [4]

AUM and Financial Performance - Vinci Compass's total Assets Under Management (AUM) reached R$304.1 billion, a 339% year-over-year increase, primarily due to the combination with Compass and the acquisition of Lacan[36] - The company reported Adjusted Distributable Earnings (Adj DE) of R$75.8 million, or R$1.20 per share, for the second quarter of 2025, representing a 30% year-over-year increase[50] - Fee Related Revenues (FRR) totaled R$232.7 million for the quarter, up 85% year-over-year, driven by growth in management and advisory fees, as well as the addition of other revenue streams[45] - The company declared a quarterly dividend of US$0.15 per common share[29] Segment Highlights - Global Investment Products & Solutions (Global IP&S) reported AUM of R$230 billion[13], with Fee Related Earnings (FRE) increasing by 250% year-over-year to R$12.5 million[76] - Credit segment AUM reached R$30 billion, a 258% year-over-year increase, with FRE up 97% year-over-year[82] - Private Equity AUM stood at R$16 billion[19], with a gross MOIC of 2.3x and a gross IRR of 64.6% for the VCP strategy[20] - Real Assets AUM totaled R$12 billion[23], with approximately 82% of the AUM in vehicles with 10+ years lock-ups[23] Capital and Investments - New capital formation in the second quarter of 2025 totaled R$3.6 billion, driven by net inflows and capital subscriptions across Global IP&S, Credit, and Real Assets[36] - The final closing of VICC brought the total fund size to R$1.8 billion[30] - Total capital committed to proprietary funds reached R$1.4 billion, with R$771.1 million already called as of June 30, 2025[65]

Core Viewpoint - Intermediate Capital Group (ICG) reported strong growth in assets under management (AUM) and fundraising activities for the first quarter of FY26, indicating a positive investment landscape and robust demand for its funds [2][4][12]. AUM Performance - As of June 30, 2025, ICG's AUM reached $123 billion, reflecting a 3% growth over the last three months and a 15% increase year-on-year, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18% over the last five years [2][4]. - Fee-earning AUM stood at $82 billion, up 4% in the quarter and 11% year-on-year [2][4]. Fundraising and Deployment - Total fundraising for Q1 FY26 amounted to $3.4 billion, driven primarily by Europe IX ($1.5 billion) and Infrastructure Europe II ($1.2 billion) [3][4]. - The deployment of funds in Q1 FY26 was $2.8 billion, with realisations totaling $1.1 billion [3][4]. Investment Strategies - The investment landscape remains attractive for various strategies, including structured capital, secondaries, and real assets equity [4]. - Infrastructure Europe II has shown strong momentum, with a total fund size of €2.5 billion, significantly higher than its predecessor [4]. Financial Metrics - At the end of Q1 FY26, ICG had $34 billion in dry powder, indicating substantial available capital for future investments [5]. - The balance sheet investment portfolio was valued at £2.9 billion, with total available liquidity of £1.1 billion and net financial debt of £477 million [14]. Foreign Exchange Rates - The average GBP to EUR exchange rate for Q1 FY26 was 1.1759, while the GBP to USD rate was 1.3507, reflecting fluctuations that may impact international operations [9]. Company Overview - ICG is a global alternative asset manager with over three decades of experience, focusing on generating attractive returns across various investment strategies [12][13].

KKR Overview - KKR has $664 billion in Assets Under Management (AUM) as of March 31, 2025, distributed across Credit & Liquid Strategies ($284 billion), Private Equity ($209 billion), and Real Assets ($171 billion)[10] - KKR's employees own approximately 30% of the outstanding KKR stock as of December 31, 2024[13] - KKR's AUM has grown +2.3x since 2019, reaching $664 billion in 1Q'25 LTM[16] Financial Performance - KKR's Fee Related Earnings (FRE) reached $3.4 billion in the Last Twelve Months (LTM) of 1Q'25, a 37% increase year-over-year[20] - KKR's Adjusted Net Income (ANI) reached $4.4 billion in the LTM of 1Q'25, a 37% increase year-over-year[20] - KKR raised $114 billion of new capital in the trailing twelve months at 1Q'25, compared to $88 billion in the trailing twelve months at 1Q'24[22] Global Atlantic (Insurance) - Global Atlantic has $197 billion in Assets Under Management (AUM)[56] - Global Atlantic's AUM has grown at a +23% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR)[56] - Global Atlantic generated $10 billion in LTM 1Q'25 Insurance Operating Earnings[56] KKR Capital Markets - KKR Capital Markets has facilitated over $2 trillion in cumulative debt & equity raised Inception-to-Date (ITD)[83] - KKR Capital Markets has earned over $6 billion in fees cumulatively ITD[83]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported strong portfolio performance with positive NOI and EBITDA growth, indicating resilience in its financials [3][4] - The alternative credit business is valued at $40 billion, reflecting a robust position in the market [3] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Direct lending portfolios maintain a loan-to-value ratio of 42%, suggesting a strong backing by institutional equity [7][30] - The company has seen a 61% increase in deployment despite a 7% decline in US M&A volumes, showcasing effective management of capital [25][26] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Credit spreads have widened by 50 to 75 basis points post-Liberation Day, but the total return in direct lending remains attractive at around 10% [18][21] - The secondary market for private equity is experiencing significant growth, with an estimated $160 billion in secondary deployment last year, indicating a healthy demand for liquidity solutions [62] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The acquisition of GCP enhances the company's position in industrial real estate and digital infrastructure, aligning with its strategic roadmap for growth in Asia and data centers [57][58] - The company aims to double its asset-based finance business to $75-80 billion, focusing on sub-investment grade and investment grade opportunities [36][38] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expresses cautious optimism about the economy, noting strong fundamentals despite concerns over inflation and economic growth [4][5] - The company maintains its five-year fee-related earnings growth guidance of 16% to 20%, reflecting confidence in its business model and market position [85][86] Other Important Information - The company emphasizes the importance of maintaining a balance between retail and institutional fundraising to ensure sustainable growth and performance [78][79] - Management highlights the educational efforts made to improve investor understanding of asset-based finance, which is crucial for market expansion [42][44] Q&A Session Summary Question: What are the biggest risks to the private credit market? - Management believes that private credit is one of the last places to see losses due to the high quality of borrowers and the structure of the market [8][9] Question: How is the integration of the GCP acquisition progressing? - The acquisition is on track to enhance the company's capabilities in industrial real estate and data centers, with significant growth potential identified [57][58] Question: How does the company manage the conflict between retail and institutional flows? - The company focuses on building investment capacity to ensure that it can meet the demands of both retail and institutional investors without compromising performance [78][79]