As part of the ongoing effort to bridge the gap between sophisticated institutional investments and individual affluent clients, Euroclear and Ares Management have announced a strategic collaboration. Through Euroclear’s innovative FundsPlace platform, the partnership seeks to make alternative investment opportunities more readily available to private wealth clients worldwide.
The alliance focuses on private markets, which encompass asset classes like credit, private equity, real estate, and infrastructure.
Historically, these investments have been largely reserved for institutional players due to their complexity and high entry barriers.
By joining forces, Euroclear FundsPlace and Ares aim to simplify the entire investment process, from access to ongoing management, thereby lowering hurdles that have previously limited participation.
Euroclear FundsPlace stands as a fund distribution system designed to provide efficient, scalable access to a vast array of investment vehicles, including mutual funds, alternative strategies, private placements, and exchange-traded funds.
The platform currently facilitates connections for approximately 250,000 funds with nearly €4 trillion in combined assets.
It supports over 3,000 fund distributors and collaborates with 2,500 asset managers, offering global reach and enhanced operational efficiencies.
Ares, recognized as a prominent global alternative investment firm, manages more than $622 billion in assets as of the end of 2025.
The company offers integrated solutions across multiple asset classes and has been actively strengthening its distribution channels to better serve wealth management networks, including banks, advisory platforms, and other intermediaries.
Vincent Clause, Managing Director and Global Head of Euroclear FundsPlace, highlighted the evolving landscape:
“Alternative investments are gaining traction among wealth clients, marking a stage of growth in this sector.”
Yet challenges related to operations continue to impede wider adoption.
With Ares’ knowledge in credit, private equity, and tangible assets, this partnership reinforces our dedication to delivering tools that eliminate unnecessary complications and facilitate smoother entry into private markets.
Mark Serocold, Partner and Head of EMEA Wealth Management Solutions at Ares, noted:
“We are committed to building partnerships and leveraging technology to improve how alternative products are distributed and serviced. Collaborating with Euroclear FundsPlace will help expand the range of investment choices available, supporting better portfolio diversification and the potential for stronger performance over the long term.”
Euroclear, a key player focused on post-trade financial services, provides settlement and custody solutions for various securities and funds.
Operating an international network that includes seven central securities depositories and Euroclear Bank—which oversees more than €43 trillion in assets under custody—the group emphasizes risk reduction, automation, and efficiency to foster economic development.
This collaboration comes at a time when demand for private market exposure among private wealth investors is rising, driven by the pursuit of higher returns and diversification beyond traditional stocks and bonds.
By integrating Ares’ expertise with FundsPlace’s technological infrastructure, the partnership is poised to transform how wealth advisors and their clients engage with these sophisticated strategies.
Industry observers anticipate that such initiatives will accelerate the mainstreaming of private assets in wealth portfolios, potentially reshaping asset allocation practices across Europe and other jurisdictions. As barriers continue to fall, both retail and high-net-worth investors stand to benefit from greater opportunities in these markets.