Ares Infrastructure Opportunities
Hi all,
I’m currently preparing for the case study with the Infrastructure Opportunities team at Ares and was hoping to get some insight from anyone who has gone through the process.
Does anyone know what segment the case typically focuses on? Is it renewables, transportation, conventional energy, or something else? Also, any infofrmation if the case is more likely to be greenfield or brownfield focused?
I would greatly appreciate any guidance on the format, modeling depth, or key areas to prioritize in preparation. If anyone is willing to share past case studies from the team, that would be incredibly helpful as well.
Based on the most helpful WSO content, here are some insights that might help you prepare for your case study with the Ares Infrastructure Opportunities team:
Segment Focus: Ares has shown a strong interest in energy infrastructure, including renewables, as well as other infrastructure sectors. While renewables are a growing focus across many infrastructure PE groups, Ares also has exposure to broader infrastructure segments. It’s worth preparing for a case that could touch on renewables, transportation, or even conventional energy, as their strategy spans multiple areas.
Greenfield vs. Brownfield: While there isn’t specific information on whether Ares leans more towards greenfield or brownfield in their case studies, infrastructure PE groups often evaluate both. Brownfield assets are typically more common due to their contracted nature and lower risk profile, but greenfield opportunities might also be included, especially in renewables or energy transition projects.
Modeling Depth: For infrastructure-focused case studies, you should be prepared to build or analyze a financial model that includes:
Key Areas to Prioritize:
Additional Tips:
Unfortunately, specific past case studies from the team are not available in the WSO dataset, but focusing on the areas above should help you prepare effectively. Good luck!
Sources: Thoughts on Power and Renewables IB, Ares Capital Management - Culture, Status, Word on the Street, —, Renewable Energy PE Overview
following
What level are you looking at? Send me a PM. Can offer some insight.
Bumping, good luck!
Bump as well!
It's a renewables asset - make sure you know how to value solar / wind assets cold as the case is quite technical and on the harder end.
EDIT: People are PMing me about this so adding some more context for everyone: My recommendation is don't take the case unless you are already in a role that lives and breathes renewables (e.g., power & utilities banking / investing, project finance, tax equity, etc.). You should have multiple deal experience either on the buy-side and/or sell-side evaluating renewable platform / asset transactions and be in a position where you can comfortably run analysis independently based on a CIM / model. I don't think this is a case that you can really prepare in a few days or a week.
Could you please give an overview of your recruitment process? # of rounds/interviews? any prior networking or did you cold apply? Any additional context/thoughts on case study and overall process? Happy to PM if preferred, thanks!
Anyone know what Ares associate 1 comp looks like?
OP did you get the job?
an impossible test - need to have multiple years of project finance / renewable experience
Perhaps it has changed since I did it in 2021 but it is a pretty straightforward infra/energy modelling test + case study. You are given a CIM and an excel with some assumptions and 5 hours to complete a model plus investment case ppt - it is based on a wind asset they acquired in 2019. The project financing / tax equity component is simplified so makes the rest of the process pretty straightforward. I can imagine it might be a little challenging if you have no/limited prior experience with infra / renewables. Happy to share what I did / the case with anyone who is actually taking the test or recruiting for infra / renewables roles
Full process was:
x 2 - Principal interviews - 0.5hr each
x 1 - HR interview - 0.25hr
x 1 - Case Study - 5hr
x 1 - Case Study Debrief w/ Principal - 0.75hr
x 2 - "Junior" MD - 0.5hr each
x 2 - Co-Heads of Infra Opps - 0.5hr each
Took about 2.5 - 3 months from initial application to decision. I was basically at offer stage but they went with a US based candidate with tax equity exp. - I am London based. Impression of the team and group was very very positive, and at the time they were doing extremely well. Got the vibe it was a tiny bit sweaty (comes with territory) but didn't come across any hardos, head of infra opps group is pretty awesome as well! This was 5 years ago though so I'm not really sure how performance has held up given how the clean energy and broader infra market has evolved
Not in this process but just curious about simplified TE / project financing assumptions for renewables tests. By simplified do you mean they provide a static time series input of the split of Class A / B cash flows & depreciation allocation versus a yield flip calc which would require a goal seek or macro? Assuming on the financing they would still expect a DSCR sculpt if people are complaining about difficulty.
Edit: Also just worth noting for anyone reading, a super complex renewables case study is not the norm for an infra seat. I’m somewhat familiar with their strategy which is split into two products, one of which is heavily focused on minority investments into core (namely renewables) so I can see why they’d want someone who is more plug and play.
How can you be at offer stage and they offer it to someone else? Did they retract the offer after giving it to you?
For sure - so it is even simpler than that. The case instructions assume:
You are correct that the focus of the modelling vis-a-vis financing is on sizing back leverage - they ask you to make assumptions and defend them. The other modelling task is to work out what the sale premium would be for the project assuming target Ares returns and a reasonable target exit valuation for the developer (i.e. equity discount rate). In retrospect for candidates who aren't familiar with pricing and financing renewable energy projects it's totally understandble why it wouldn't be straightforward, but quite a bit less complicated than it appears.
Echoing your thoughts on the nature of the case - definitely not the norm for a typical infra seat, the Infra Opportunities team at least back then were heavily focused on energy transition and a lot of their recent hires at the SrAss / VP level came from PF backgrounds at RE developers/banks or other clean energy infra funds.
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