Ares raises $1.7bn for third U.S. opportunistic real estate fund

Ares raises $1.7bn for third U.S. real estate opportunistic fund

Ares Management Corporation has closed its third Ares U.S. Real Estate Opportunity Fund III, L.P. (AREOF III) with $1.7 billion of commitments, exceeding the fund’s $1.5 billion target.

This marks the largest U.S. real estate equity fundraise for Ares to date and is a significant increase from the $1 billion of commitments raised for the predecessor fund and related vehicles.

“We are very pleased with the strong support from both new and existing investors in this fund series,” said Bill Benjamin, Partner and Head of the Ares Real Estate Group.

“Our investors recognize the importance of being aligned with a cycle-tested team that can effectively capitalize on the current market opportunity,” he added.

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“We have been able to draw on our team’s deep market coverage, longstanding relationships and ability to navigate shifting market dynamics, and the experience of our U.S. real estate equity Partners Jay Glaubach, Andrew Holm and Howard Huang, in an effort to source differentiated investment opportunities. Looking ahead, the unprecedented change in space utilization has potentially widened the opportunity set for both attractive undercapitalized assets and assets within sectors experiencing accelerated demand,” said David Roth, Head of U.S. Real Estate Private Equity.

“We believe that we are well positioned with our flexible mandate and experienced team to continue to build upon the great progress that the Fund has already achieved.”

”The fund, which targets distressed, repositioning, and selective development opportunities, has already capitalized on what we believe is an attractive market opportunity post-COVID-19 with nine investments committed to date,” said Ares in a statement.