Ares Management Corporation announced the launch of its first European Long-Term Investment Fund vehicle, the Ares European Strategic Income ELTIF Fund ("AESIF ELTIF"), a semi-liquid perpetual direct lending fund that will provide individual investors in the European Economic Area with expanded access to Ares' leading European Direct Lending strategy. AESIF ELTIF is the latest offering through the wealth channel and its first under the updated ELTIF regime. Designed to deliver a diversified portfolio largely comprising directly originated, senior secured floating rate loans to businesses in Western Europe, AESIF ELTIF seeks to provide a durable income solution with downside protection and yield stability.
AESIF ELTIF are intended to widen individual investor participation in Ares' European Direct Lending strategy through lower investment minimums relative to traditional alternative investment products. Ares launched its European Direct Lending strategy in 2007, gaining a first mover advantage, and has established itself as a market leader. The strategy comprises approximately 95 investment professionals operating across seven offices in Europe and managed over $77 billion in assets, as of March 31, 2025.
Since its inception, the European Direct Lending business has completed over 390 investments totaling more than EUR73 billion. Since the launch of the wealth channel in 2021, Ares has remained focused on scaling its wealth platform to deliver private markets access and education to financial advisors and their clients. With a growing team of approximately 150 professionals located in offices throughout the U.S., Europe and Asia, Ares' wealth channel represents one of the most resourced wealth distribution and client service platforms in the alternatives industry today.
