Ares Private Equity Low Returns

Read an article recently that references a 4.8% net IRR for Ares Management's $8B flagship PE fund closed in 2017. Seems low for this kind of vehicle, given how market valuations have increased much more than that since then.

Anyone know why returns are so low? Apparently they're currently in the market for an even bigger follow on fund. Why would investors give them even more money with those returns?

Article in question: https://nypost.com/2021/05/25/atlanta-hawks-owner…

11 Comments
 

I mean check out any of the MF returns on Calpers - it's not like those guys are consistently above a net 15% either, especially with newer vintages.  This industry has rapidly matured over the past 20 years and LPs seemed to be more concerned with pace of deployment and overall portfolio diversification between public and private markets versus chasing the absolute highest returns. 

 

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