07:39 AM EDT, 04/10/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Ares Management ( ARES ) is planning to launch a flagship US direct lending fund with a preliminary target size of roughly $20 billion, significantly smaller than its previous record-breaking investment vehicle of $33.6 billion, Bloomberg News reported Friday, citing people with knowledge of the matter.

The private credit manager is gauging the opinions of investors ahead of a formal launch in the summer, the report said, citing the people.

Ares didn't immediately respond to MT Newswires' request for comment.

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