Ares Commercial Finance Served as Lead and Agent for the Financing of a $210 Million Senior Secured Cross-Border Revolving Line of Credit to MicroStar Logistics

LOS ANGELES – January 5, 2022 – Ares Commercial Finance (“ACF”) announced that it has led the financing of a $210 million senior secured cross-border revolving line of credit to MicroStar Logistics (“MicroStar”), a portfolio company of Freeman Spogli.  The credit facility provides significant availability and the ability to support growth in the US, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Syndicate partners included Wingspire Capital LLC, MidCap Financial Trust and Siena Lending Group LLC.

About MicroStar Logistics

Founded in 1996, MicroStar Logistics is the world’s leading provider of outsourced keg supply chain solutions and sets the global benchmark in keg repair and maintenance. Now with its new Kegstar Division (servicing markets outside of the US providing a global growth platform), MicroStar is the largest independent owner of kegs in the world with nearly 6 million high-quality, reusable, shareable steel kegs.  This scale and know-how enables brewers to benefit from the most efficient and environmentally sustainable keg solution in the world. For more information, please visit microstarlogistics.com and kegstar.com.

About Freeman Spogli

Freeman Spogli & Co. is a private equity firm dedicated exclusively to investing in and partnering with management in growth-oriented consumer and distribution companies. Since its founding in 1983, Freeman Spogli has invested over $5 billion in 66 portfolio companies with an aggregate transaction value of over $25 billion, and is currently making investments from FS Equity Partners VIII, L.P, a $1.85 billion fund. Freeman Spogli has offices in Los Angeles and New York. For additional information, please visit www.freemanspogli.com.

About Ares Commercial Finance

Ares Commercial Finance is the asset-based lending team of Ares Management Corporation. ACF is focused on providing credit facilities up to $300 million to middle market and lower-middle market, private and public companies; and addresses a wide scope of industries including manufacturing, distribution, wholesale, retail and service companies.  These facilities include revolving lines of credit and term loans, asset-based and cash flow stretch loans, and asset-backed facilities to specialty finance companies. Leveraging the breadth and experience of the Ares platform, ACF works with borrowers to deliver creative, flexible and customized financing solutions.  These financing solutions may be structured as working capital financing, bridge financing, turnaround financing, acquisition financing, debtor-in-possession financing, and special accommodation financing. For more information about Ares Commercial Finance, visit www.arescommercialfinance.com.

About Ares Management Corporation

Ares Management Corporation (NYSE: ARES) is a leading global alternative investment manager offering clients complementary primary and secondary investment solutions across the credit, private equity, real estate and infrastructure asset classes. We seek to provide flexible capital to support businesses and create value for our stakeholders and within our communities. By collaborating across our investment groups, we aim to generate consistent and attractive investment returns throughout market cycles. As of September 30, 2021, Ares Management Corporation's global platform had approximately $282 billion of assets under management, with approximately 2,000 employees operating across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and the Middle East. For more information, please visit www.aresmgmt.com. Follow Ares on Twitter @Ares_Management.

Contact

Mendel Communications
Bill Mendel, 212-397-1030
bill@mendelcommunications.com

Ares Management Corporation
Jacob Silber, 212-301-0376
jsilber@aresmgmt.com