Ares and Euroclear FundsPlace broaden wealth access to private markets

Global alternative investment manager Ares and Euroclear FundsPlace have formed a strategic collaboration to expand access to private markets funds for the wealth segment.

By working together, Euroclear FundsPlace and Ares intend to help match “institutional-grade” investment opportunities with the needs of private wealth investors, through access to private market strategies and lowering the barriers that have, historically, “made these products difficult to access”.

Since the start of the year, concerns about credit quality in private debt have prompted nervy investors in the US wealth market to seek redemptions from business development companies, including those of Blue Owl and BlackRock.

However, the industry has sought to allay investor fears about private credit amid perceived over-exposure to the software sector, which is being upended by artificial intelligence.

Ares’ primary and secondary investment solutions invest across the credit, real estate, private equity and infrastructure asset classes.

In recent years, the firm has grown its wealth distribution capabilities, delivering access to alternative investment opportunities via partnerships with banks, platforms and advisory networks.

Mark Serocold, partner and head of EMEA wealth management solutions at Ares, said that the firm continues to invest in “the strategic relationships and technology needed to support more efficient distribution and servicing of alternative investment products”. “Through this collaboration, Euroclear FundsPlace and Ares expect to broaden access to investment offerings,” he added.

Euroclear FundsPlace, which is the end-to-end fund distribution solution of post-trade services provider Euroclear, offers access to mutual funds, alternative and private funds and exchange-traded funds. “Private markets are entering a new phase of adoption in the wealth segment, but operational complexity remains a barrier,” said Vincent Clause, managing director and global head of Euroclear FundsPlace. “Ares brings deep expertise across credit, private equity and real assets. This collaboration underscores FundsPlace’s commitment to providing innovative solutions that remove complexity and make private market investing more accessible.”

Euroclear, which serves a global client base of more than 3,000 fund distributors and 2,500 asset managers, connects 250,000 funds representing nearly €4tn (£3.5tn) in assets.