Ares Management Corporation (Ares), a global alternative investment manager, has held the final closing of its Ares Special Opportunities Fund II (ASOF II) at its hard cap of $7.1 billion of commitments, including General Partner commitments, way in excess of its $4.0 billion target.

In January 2017, the Ares Private Equity Group developed its Special Opportunities strategy as an expansion of its flexible capital investment activities and to be a non-control complement to Ares’ existing for-control private equity strategy. 

The Special Opportunities strategy seeks to invest in a range of private, special-situation opportunities and flexes into stressed/distressed public market debt when deemed attractive. Further, the team aims to partner with companies to enhance enterprise values and fill the void between for-control private equity and private debt. To date, the Special Opportunities strategy has deployed nearly $12 billion across a diverse portfolio, of which ASOF II has invested or committed approximately $3 billion, or roughly 45% of its investable capital base.

Read more: Private Equity Wire