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Feb 5, 2026 4:00 PM

Ares CEO Calls Private Credit Jitters 'Overblown Noise'

Ares Management Corp (NYSE:ARES) is unfazed by a recent wave of market skepticism over private credit.

On the alternative investment manager’s fourth-quarter earnings call Thursday, co-founder and chief executive officer Michael Arougheti said the risks related to the emerging asset class have been exaggerated, adding the firm has continued see robust net inflows.

"With some of this, in my opinion, overblown noise around private credit, you are seeing some outflows, but on a net basis, inflows are still quite strong. And what we're hearing on the ground from advisors [is they] are looking to take advantage of the liquidity opportunity," he said on the call.

Arougheti noted that redemption queues are largely being driven by a small group of investors eager to "get to the front of the line." Ares saw "very strong flows" of $1.2 billion in January and is seeing similar momentum in February, he added.

"The demand is broad‑based. We're seeing good flows in the private credit product, good flows in the core infrastructure product, and that's been a big bright spot for us," he said.

The executive also emphasized that even a modest slowdown—though not expected—would not affect the firm's ability to generate profit from fee‑paying assets under management or fee‑related earnings.

Ares Seeks To Grow Its Private Equity Platform 

Arougheti said Ares ...