Key Takeaways
- • Ares Management Corporation (NYSE: ARES) hired James Kim as Partner and Head of European Special Opportunities in its Private Equity Group, based in London, according to a Business Wire release dated September 13, 2022.
- • Kim brings more than 18 years of global private equity and leveraged finance experience, including over 11 years at Apollo Global Management, where he most recently served as Partner and European Co-Head of Hybrid Value.
- • Kim will lead Ares' Special Opportunities activities in Europe, leveraging the firm's European private credit and real estate platforms alongside its growing private equity presence in the region.
- • Ares' Private Equity Group had approximately $33.4 billion in assets under management and 90 investment professionals as of June 30, 2022, while Ares overall had approximately $334 billion in AUM.
Summary
Ares Management Corporation announced that James Kim has joined the firm as a Partner and Head of European Special Opportunities within its Private Equity Group, according to a Business Wire release. Based in London, Kim will lead Ares' Special Opportunities activities in Europe, adding to the firm's expanding private equity footprint in the region while drawing on its European private credit and real estate platforms.
Scott Graves, Partner, Co-Head of the Ares Private Equity Group and Head of Special Opportunities, said he had developed a strong working relationship with Kim over the past decade and described his experience in partnering with European businesses on bespoke debt and non-control equity solutions as an asset to the team. Graves said Ares expects its sourcing and execution capabilities to benefit from an enhanced local presence, given what it sees as significant opportunities in Europe.
Matt Cwiertnia, Partner and Co-Head of the Ares Private Equity Group, said the firm sees a significant opportunity to expand its private equity franchise in Europe. He noted that Kim and Stephane Etroy, who has led the European Corporate Private Equity strategy since 2020, are positioned to drive that growth.
Kim said he expects to work closely with both the Corporate Private Equity and Direct Lending teams in Europe, citing a growing need for partnership capital to provide bespoke financing solutions in the region.
Kim has more than 18 years of global private equity and leveraged finance experience. He spent over 11 years at Apollo Global Management, most recently as Partner and European Co-Head of Hybrid Value, where he focused on innovative debt and equity solutions for European corporates and served on Apollo's European Operating, Strategic and Risk committees. Earlier, he was a Senior Associate in Citi's European Leveraged Finance team, structuring and syndicating European leveraged loans and high yield bonds, and worked in the private equity team at the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan. He holds an Honours in Business Administration from the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario.
According to the release, the Ares Private Equity Group, which has a two-decade track record, provides control and non-control hybrid capital primarily to middle market companies in North America and Europe. As of June 30, 2022, it managed approximately $33.4 billion across 90 investment professionals. Ares Management overall had approximately $334 billion in assets under management.
Scott Graves, Partner, Co-Head of the Ares Private Equity Group and Head of Special Opportunities, said he had developed a strong working relationship with Kim over the past decade and described his experience in partnering with European businesses on bespoke debt and non-control equity solutions as an asset to the team. Graves said Ares expects its sourcing and execution capabilities to benefit from an enhanced local presence, given what it sees as significant opportunities in Europe.
Matt Cwiertnia, Partner and Co-Head of the Ares Private Equity Group, said the firm sees a significant opportunity to expand its private equity franchise in Europe. He noted that Kim and Stephane Etroy, who has led the European Corporate Private Equity strategy since 2020, are positioned to drive that growth.
Kim said he expects to work closely with both the Corporate Private Equity and Direct Lending teams in Europe, citing a growing need for partnership capital to provide bespoke financing solutions in the region.
Kim has more than 18 years of global private equity and leveraged finance experience. He spent over 11 years at Apollo Global Management, most recently as Partner and European Co-Head of Hybrid Value, where he focused on innovative debt and equity solutions for European corporates and served on Apollo's European Operating, Strategic and Risk committees. Earlier, he was a Senior Associate in Citi's European Leveraged Finance team, structuring and syndicating European leveraged loans and high yield bonds, and worked in the private equity team at the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan. He holds an Honours in Business Administration from the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario.
According to the release, the Ares Private Equity Group, which has a two-decade track record, provides control and non-control hybrid capital primarily to middle market companies in North America and Europe. As of June 30, 2022, it managed approximately $33.4 billion across 90 investment professionals. Ares Management overall had approximately $334 billion in assets under management.
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