Ares Strategic Income Fund Reports $259.9M in Private Share Sales

Ares Strategic Income Fund Advances Capital Base and Maintains Steady Performance Through Q3 2025

Ares Strategic Income Fund continued to scale its operations in October, locking in $259.9 million through a private placement of Class I shares. The shares were priced based on net asset value (NAV) as of September 30, reflecting the fund’s focus on maintaining alignment with underlying portfolio valuations.

The capital raise comes as the Fund reports an NAV of $10.2 billion and total investments of $19.6 billion. Debt stood at $8.9 billion as of quarter-end, translating to a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.90x.

These figures point to a portfolio that’s both leveraged and actively managed—positioned to deploy capital while maintaining visibility into its liabilities.

Distributions Stay on Track Through Year-End

The Fund is holding its distribution strategy steady. For October, shareholders across all three classes—Class I, Class S, and Class D—will receive gross distributions of $0.21430 per share. Net distribution amounts adjust based on class-specific fees: Class I shares aren’t subject to shareholder servicing or distribution fees, while Class S and Class D shares carry modest deductions.

Looking ahead, the Fund confirmed November and December distribution amounts will match October’s. Payment dates are staggered across late December and late January, depending on share class and whether investors have opted into the reinvestment plan.

Portfolio Snapshot: 93% Floating Rate, Broad Sector Coverage

As of September 30, the Fund held investments in 832 companies. Its portfolio is primarily composed of floating-rate instruments, which made up 93% of debt investments at fair value—a notable detail in the context of rate-sensitive investment strategies.

First lien senior secured loans remain the core of the portfolio, accounting for just under 83% of total fair value. Other holdings include smaller allocations to second lien and subordinated loans, corporate bonds, CLOs, and equity positions.

From a sector standpoint, the Fund has concentrated exposure in:

• Software and services – 20.6%


• Healthcare equipment and services – 11.7%


• Commercial and professional services – 9%

The top ten industries together make up a broad mix of business services, capital goods, financials, and consumer-facing sectors.

Capital Formation: Public Offering and Private Placements

Ares Strategic Income Fund is currently offering up to $15 billion in common shares through a registered continuous offering. At the same time, it has actively used private placements to raise additional capital.

To date, the Fund has issued over 384 million common shares through both channels, totaling $10.5 billion in gross proceeds. Roughly 60% of that amount came through private placements, particularly from Class I shares. Sales figures exclude shares issued via the distribution reinvestment plan.

While the Fund doesn’t charge an upfront sales load, investors should be aware that transaction-related fees may apply depending on the selling agent and share class. Fee caps are in place—2.0% for Class I and Class D shares, and 3.5% for Class S shares—based on NAV.

What Comes Next

With a steady inflow of capital, ongoing distributions, and a diverse, mostly floating-rate portfolio, the Fund is positioned to continue operating at scale. The October private placement adds to an already sizable capital base and supports continued portfolio expansion as new opportunities emerge.

The Fund plans to keep raising capital through monthly sales under both its public and private programs, using that liquidity to remain active across markets and sectors.