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res Management is expanding its real estate platform through a planned acquisition of GCP International for $3.7 billion. The deal will nearly double Ares' real estate assets under management, bringing its total assets across North America, Europe, Asia, and Latin America to around $96 billion.

    GCP International manages $44 billion in real assets and private equity, with operations spanning the globe except for GLP Capital Partners' Greater China business. Following the acquisition, GCP International will remain independent and based in Singapore, while its president Michael Steele and leadership teams from various regions will join Ares.

    Ares' CEO Michael Arougheti stated that the combined business will create a powerhouse in global real assets investing. The co-heads of Ares Real Estate, Bill Benjamin and Julie Solomon, added that there are attractive strategic synergies between the two firms, which will enhance their position as a global market leader in real estate.

    The acquisition is part of Ares' strategy to capitalize on growing demand for industrial real estate driven by e-commerce. Fitch Ratings highlighted GLP's strength in high-growth sectors across Asia, and Oppenheimer analyst Chris Kotowski noted that alternative asset managers are positioning themselves for the multi-trillion-dollar opportunity of building out digital infrastructure.

    Ares has been expanding its real estate platform through strategic acquisitions, including a planned purchase of Walton Street Capital Mexico. The transaction with GCP International is expected to close in the first half of 2025.