Ares Management Corporation operates as an alternative asset manager in the United States, Europe, and Asia. The company's Tradable Credit Group segment manages various types of investment funds for institutional investors, and publicly traded vehicles and sub-advised funds for retail investors. Its Direct Lending Group segment provides financing solutions to small-to-medium sized companies. Ares Management Corporation was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in Los Angeles, California. The company's Private Equity Group segment focuses on majority or shared-control investments primarily in under-capitalized companies.