Ares Management x Laplace
Description
Through this award submission, Ares Management and Laplace - Groupe Crystal showcase their strategic collaboration through distribution of the Ares European Strategic Income ELTIF Fund (“AESIF ELTIF”). This semi-liquid, open-ended direct lending vehicle, structured under the European Long Term Investment Fund (“ELTIF”) framework, offers individual investors institutional grade access to the European private credit market.
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 is 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 125 investment professionals operating across seven offices in Europe and manages around $92 billion in assets, as of September 30, 2025. Since its inception, Ares' European Direct Lending business has completed over 420 investments totalling more than €80 billion.
This collaboration brings together Ares’ deep private credit expertise and Laplace – Groupe Crystal, with its 28 billion euros under management & 400 advisors reach to make private markets more accessible. By combining strengths, we believe we are opening doors for a wider pool of qualifying individual investors to participate in strategies that were once reserved for institutions.