Exhibit 10.1


 


SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT



by and between



SUMITOMO MITSUI BANKING CORPORATION



and



ARES MANAGEMENT CORPORATION



March 27, 2020


 



    


     


    




 


TABLE OF CONTENTS


 





	 	 	Page
	 	 	 
	Article I
	 
	Definitions
	 
	1.1	Definitions	2
	1.2	Other Defined Terms	6
	 	 	 
	Article II
	 
	Purchase and Sale of the Securities
	 
	2.1	Closing	7
	 	 	 
	Article III
	 
	Representations and Warranties of the Company
	 
	3.1	Organization and Power	7
	3.2	Authorization	8
	3.3	The Shares	8
	3.4	Capitalization	8
	3.5	No Conflict	9
	3.6	Consents	9
	3.7	SEC Documents; Financial Statements	9
	3.8	Disclosure and Accounting Controls	10
	3.9	Independent Accountants	10
	3.10	Litigation	10
	3.11	Title to Properties	10
	3.12	Intellectual Property	11
	3.13	No Undisclosed Relationships	11
	3.14	Permits	11
	3.15	Labor Matters	11
	3.16	Environmental Compliance	11
	3.17	Compliance with ERISA	12
	3.18	Taxes	12
	3.19	Insurance	12
	3.20	No Unlawful Payments	12
	3.21	Compliance with Anti-Money Laundering Laws	13
	3.22	No Conflicts with Sanctions Laws	13
	3.23	No Restrictions on Subsidiaries	13
	3.24	Securities Law Exemptions	14
	3.25	Absence of Certain Changes	14



 



    


     


    




 


	3.26	No Defaults	14
	3.27	Brokers	14
	3.28	NYSE	15
	3.29	Investment Company Act	15
	3.30	Investment Advisers Act	15
	3.31	Sarbanes-Oxley Act	15
	3.32	No Downgrade	15
	3.33	No Other Representations and Warranties	16
	 	 	 
	Article IV
	 
	Representations and Warranties of the Investor
	 
	4.1	Organization	16
	4.2	Authorization	16
	4.3	No Conflict	16
	4.4	Consents	16
	4.5	Brokers	17
	4.6	Purchase Entirely for Own Account	17
	4.7	Investor Status	17
	4.8	Information	17
	4.9	Securities Not Registered	17
	4.10	No Other Representations or Warranties	18
	 	 	 
	Article V
	 
	Covenants
	 
	5.1	Public Announcements	18
	5.2	Amended and Restated Charter	19
	5.3	Efforts	19
	5.4	Post-Closing Covenants	19
	 	 	 
	Article VI
	 
	Conditions PRECEDENT
	 
	6.1	Mutual Conditions of Closing	19
	6.2	Conditions to the Obligation of the Investor to Consummate the Closing	19
	6.3	Conditions to the Obligations of the Company to Consummate the Closing	21
	 	 	 
	Article VII
	 
	Termination
	 
	7.1	Conditions of Termination	21
	7.2	Effect of Termination	22



 



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	Article VIII
	 
	Miscellaneous Provisions
	 
	8.1	Survival	22
	8.2	Interpretation	23
	8.3	Notices	23
	8.4	Severability	24
	8.5	Governing Law; Jurisdiction; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL	25
	8.6	Delays or Omissions; Waiver	25
	8.7	Specific Performance	26
	8.8	Fees; Expenses	26
	8.9	Assignment	26
	8.10	No Third Party Beneficiaries	26
	8.11	Counterparts	26
	8.12	Entire Agreement; Amendments	27
	8.13	Drafting	27
	 	 	 
	EXHIBITS
	 
	Exhibit A	Form of Amended and Restated Charter	 
	Exhibit B	Form of Investor Rights Agreement	 
	Exhibit C	Form of Stockholder Written Consent	 
	Exhibit D	Wire Information	 
	Exhibit E	Form of AST Acknowledgement Letter	 
	Exhibit F	Form of Opinion	 




 



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SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT


 


SHARE PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”),
dated as of March 27, 2020, by and between Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, a Japanese joint stock company (the “Investor”),
and Ares Management Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”).


 


WHEREAS, the Investor and the Company desire
to collaborate across three areas which are expected to strengthen the existing businesses of the Company and the Investor and
their respective Affiliates’ and enhance each such Person’s ability to support its clients’ needs on a global
basis. In connection therewith, the Investor and the Company plan to: (i) enter into a strategic distribution agreement to market
the Company’s investment products to the Investor’s clients in the Japanese market, (ii) utilize the Investor’s
and its Affiliates’ capital to make investments that will support the launch of certain new businesses, and accelerate the
advancement of certain existing platforms, of the Company, with a particular focus on private credit markets, and (iii) coordinate
on certain capital markets financing activities in the US and Asian leveraged finance markets;


 


WHEREAS, the Investor and the Company intend
to enter into, on the Closing Date, the Investor Rights Agreement whereby the Company and the Investor will agree to certain matters
with respect to the Investor’s investment in the Company;


 


WHEREAS, the Investor desires to purchase
from the Company, and the Company desires to issue and sell to the Investor, 12,130,540 shares (the “Shares”)
of newly issued Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (“Common
Stock”), on the terms and subject to the conditions contained in this Agreement (such purchase and sale of the
Shares, the “Share Purchase”);


 


WHEREAS, the Investor and the Company desire
to make certain representations, warranties, covenants and agreements in connection with the Share Purchase; and


 


WHEREAS, each of the Investor and the Company
has approved the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby
by it in accordance with applicable Law, upon the terms and conditions contained herein.


 






    


     


    

 


NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual
agreements, representations, warranties and covenants herein contained, the parties agree as follows:


 


Article I


 


Definitions


 


1.1             
Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following respective meanings:


 


“Action”
shall mean any legal, governmental or regulatory investigation, action, suit, litigation, arbitration, administrative proceeding
or other proceeding by or before any Governmental Entity.


 


“Advisers
Act” shall mean the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, 15 USC § 80b-1 et seq., as amended, and the rules, regulations
and interpretations promulgated thereunder.


 


“Affiliate”
shall mean, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls,
is controlled by or is under common control with, such specified Person. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (a) the Company and the
Investor shall not be deemed to be Affiliates of each other and (b) any portfolio company or investment of, or special purpose
entity formed to acquire any portfolio company or investment of the Ares Funds shall not be deemed to be an Affiliate of the Company,
or the Investor.


 


“Amended
and Restated Charter” means the amended and restated certificate of incorporation of the Company, substantially
in the form attached to this Agreement as Exhibit A.


 


“Amended
and Restated Charter Requirements” shall mean: (i) the filing of a Definitive Information Statement on Schedule 14C
relating to the Amended and Restated Charter with the SEC (the “Information
Statement”) and (ii) the expiration of the twenty (20) calendar day period following the filing of the Information
Statement.


 


“AOG Class A Unit” shall
mean an “Ares Operating Group Unit” as defined in the Certificate of Incorporation.


 


“Ares
Equity Incentive Plan” shall mean the Ares 2014 Equity Incentive Plan described in the SEC Reports.


 


“Ares
Funds” shall mean, collectively, all Funds (excluding their portfolio companies and investments and all special
purpose entities formed to acquire any such portfolio companies and investments, including collateralized loan obligations) (i)
sponsored or promoted by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) for which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries acts as
(A) a general partner or managing member (or in a similar capacity) or (B) an investment adviser or investment manager.


 


“Ares
Operating Group Partnerships” shall mean Ares Holdings L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, Ares Offshore Holdings
L.P., a Cayman Islands exempted limited partnership and Ares Investments L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.


 


“AST”
shall mean American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC.


 


“Board”
shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.


 


“Business
Day” shall mean any day, other than a Saturday, Sunday and any day which is a legal holiday under the laws of
the State of New York or Tokyo, Japan, or is a day on which banking institutions located in the State of New York or Tokyo, Japan
are authorized or required by Law or other governmental action to close.


 


“Class
C Common Stock” shall mean the Company’s Class C common stock, $0.01 par value per share.


 






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“control”
(including the terms “controlling,”
 “controlled by” and “under
common control with”) with respect to any Person shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power
to direct or cause the direction of the management policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of Equity Securities,
by contract or otherwise.


 


“Delaware
Secretary” means the Secretary of State for the State of Delaware.


 


“Equity
Securities” shall mean, with respect to any Person, (i) shares of stock, partnership interests or limited liability
company interests (however designated, whether voting or non-voting) (“Capital
Stock”) or other equity or voting interest in, such Person, (ii) any securities convertible into or exchangeable
for shares of Capital Stock of, or other equity or voting interest in, such Person, and (iii) options, warrants, rights or other
commitments or agreements to acquire from such Person, or that obligates such Person to issue, any Capital Stock of, or other equity
or voting interest in, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of Capital Stock of, or other equity or voting
interest in, such Person.


 


“Exchange
Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and all of the rules and regulations of the SEC
promulgated thereunder.


 


“Fund”
shall mean any collective investment vehicle (whether open-ended or closed-ended) including an investment company, a general or
limited partnership, a trust and any other business entity or investment vehicle organized in any jurisdiction that provides for
management fees or “carried interest” (or other similar profits allocations) to be borne by investors therein; provided
that “Fund” shall not include any investment vehicle or account for which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries would
not be deemed an Affiliate.


 


“GAAP”
shall mean U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.


 


“Governmental
Entity” means any (a) international, supranational, national, provincial, regional, federal, state, municipal,
local or other government, (b) administrative, regulatory or self-regulatory agency, commission, body, task force or other authority
(including any securities exchange, banking institution or other self-regulatory organization in the securities, financial services,
investment or commodity industries, including NYSE), (c) quasi-governmental or private body exercising any regulatory, Tax or other
governmental authority, (d) other Person that is treated as a “government entity” under the Advisers Act or (e) instrumentality,
subdivision, court, tribunal or judicial or arbitral body of any Person described in the foregoing clauses (a) through (d).


 


“Intentional
Fraud” with respect to a party means (i) an intentional misrepresentation by such party with respect to the making
of the representations and warranties of such party as expressly set forth in this Agreement with the intent by such party that
the other party to this Agreement rely on such misrepresentation to such other party’s material detriment and (ii) such other
party reasonably relies on, and suffers losses as a result of, such misrepresentation.


 


“Investor
Rights Agreement” shall mean the Investor Rights Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, by and between the Company
and the Investor, substantially in the form attached to this Agreement as Exhibit B.


 






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“Law”
shall mean any applicable law, statute, code, ordinance, rule, regulation, or agency requirement of any Governmental Entity, including
common law.


 


“Lien”
shall mean any lien, charge, pledge, security interest, restriction, or other encumbrance.


 


“Material
Adverse Effect” shall mean any change, event, effect, occurrence or circumstance (each, an “Effect”)
that, individually or taken together with all other Effects that have occurred prior to, and are continuing as of, the date of
determination of the occurrence of the Material Adverse Effect, (A) has a material adverse effect on the business, properties,
management, financial position, partners’ or members’ capital, shareholders’ equity, results of operations of
the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole or (B) would reasonably be expected to prevent or materially delay or materially
impede the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement, including consummation of the Share Purchase,
effecting the Class C Issuance and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, solely
for purposes of the foregoing clause (A), the term “Material Adverse Effect” shall exclude any such Effect directly
or indirectly resulting from, relating to or arising from: (a) changes in global, United States or foreign (i) national or regional
economic, financial, regulatory or political conditions or events or (ii) credit, debt, financial, banking, energy or capital markets
or in interest or exchange rates or (b) national or international disasters, acts of God, sabotage, war, any military conflict,
outbreak of hostilities or acts of terrorism, or any escalation or worsening thereof, epidemics, pandemics or disease outbreak
(including the COVID-19 virus), except, with respect to clauses (a) and (b), to the extent that the impact of such Effect
is disproportionately adverse to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, relative to other similarly situated alternative
asset management companies.


 


“NYSE”
shall mean the New York Stock Exchange.


 


“Order”
shall mean any writ, judgment, decree (including a consent decree), injunction, settlement, cease-and-desist order or similar order
or enforcement action of any Governmental Entity (in each case, whether preliminary or final).


 


“Organizational
Document” shall mean, as applicable, an entity’s agreement or certificate of limited partnership, limited
liability company agreement, certificate of formation, certificate or articles of incorporation, bylaws or other similar organizational
documents.


 


“Person”
shall mean any individual, corporation, limited liability company, limited or general partnership, joint venture, association,
joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, Governmental Entity, or other “Person” as contemplated by
Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act.


 


“Representatives”
shall mean, with respect to any Person, such Person’s Affiliates and such Person’s and each such Affiliate’s
respective directors, officers, employees, managers,


 


trustees, principals, stockholders, members, general or limited
partners, accountants, attorneys, consultants, advisors, agents and other representatives.


 


“SEC”
shall mean the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.


 






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“SEC
Reports” shall mean (i) the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, filed on February
28, 2020, and (ii) the portions of the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A that are incorporated by
reference into the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018.


 


“Securities
Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and all of the rules and regulations promulgated of the
SEC thereunder.


 


“SSG
Transaction” shall mean the contemplated acquisition, in a single transaction, of a majority of the Capital Stock
of SSG Capital Holdings Limited and certain of its affiliated entities by one or more Subsidiaries of the Company.


 


“Stockholder
Written Consent” shall mean the written consent of Ares Owners Holdings L.P. and Ares Voting LLC, substantially
in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C, irrevocably approving and adopting the Amended and Restated Charter in accordance
with the Organizational Documents of the Company and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”).


 


“Subsidiary”
shall mean, with respect to any Person, any other Person of which at least a majority of the securities or ownership interests
having by their terms ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or managers (or other similar governing
body) is directly or indirectly owned or controlled by such Person and/or by one or more of its Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding the
forgoing, the Subsidiaries of the Company shall not include the Ares Funds or their portfolio companies or investments, or special
purpose entities formed to acquire any such portfolio companies or investments, including collateralized loan obligations.


 


“Tax
Returns” shall mean returns, reports, information statements, claims for refund, declarations of estimated Taxes
and similar filings, including any schedule or attachment thereto and any amendment thereof, with respect to Taxes filed or required
to be filed with the Internal Revenue Service of the United States or any other taxing authority.


 


“Taxes”
shall mean any and all taxes, levies, fees, imposts, duties and charges of whatever kind (including any interest, penalties or
additions to the tax imposed in connection therewith or with respect thereto) imposed by any Governmental Entity, including taxes
imposed on, or measured by, income, franchise, profits or gross receipts, and any ad valorem, value added, sales, use, service,
real or personal property, Equity Security, license, payroll, withholding, employment, social security, workers’ compensation,
unemployment compensation, utility, severance, production, excise, stamp, occupation, premium, windfall profits, transfer and gains
taxes and customs or duties.


 









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1.2             
Other Defined Terms. In addition, the following terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the corresponding
Section of this Agreement:


  



	Agreement	 	Preamble
	Ares Operating Group Units	 	3.4 (c)
	Bankruptcy and Equity Exception	 	3.2
	CFTRA	 	3.21
	Class C Issuance	 	6.2 (d)
	Closing	 	2.1 (a)
	Closing Date	 	2.1 (a)
	Code	 	3.17
	Common Stock	 	Recitals
	Company	 	Preamble
	Consent	 	3.6
	Delaware Court	 	8.5 (b)
	Delaware RULPA	 	3.4 (b)
	Environmental Laws	 	3.16
	ERISA	 	3.17
	ERISA Affiliate	 	3.17
	Investment Company Act	 	3.29
	Investor	 	Preamble
	Investor Adverse Effect	 	6.3(b), 4.3
	Other Anti-Money Laundering Laws	 	3.21
	Outside Date	 	7.1
	Plan	 	3.17
	Preliminary Information Statement	 	5.2
	SEC Documents	 	3.7 (a)
	Share Purchase	 	Recitals
	Shares	 	Recitals
	Transaction Litigation	 	8.5 (a)






 






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Article II


 


Purchase
and Sale of the Securities


 


2.1             
Closing.


 


(a)              
The closing of the Share Purchase (the “Closing”)
shall take place (i) remotely via the exchange of documents and signatures at 8:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the second (2nd)
Business Day immediately following the date of this Agreement, subject to the satisfaction or, to the extent permitted by applicable
Law, waiver by the party or parties entitled to the benefit thereof of the conditions set forth in Article VI (other
than those conditions that by their terms are to be satisfied at the Closing or on the Closing Date, but subject to the satisfaction
or, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, waiver by the party or parties entitled to the benefit thereof of those conditions
at the Closing) or (ii) at such other place, time or date as may be mutually agreed upon in writing by the parties (the date on
which the Closing takes place being the “Closing
Date”).


 


(b)              
At the Closing:


 


(i)                
The Company will issue, sell, transfer and deliver to the Investor all the Shares, which Shares shall be issued, sold, transferred
and delivered with full legal and beneficial title and ownership, free and clear of all Liens (other than those arising under applicable
securities Laws, the Investor Rights Agreement or as a result of the actions of the Investor) together with all rights attached
thereto, and the Investor shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Company, an aggregate purchase price equal to $383,810,300
to the account set forth on Exhibit D by wire transfer of immediately available funds; and


 


(ii)             
the Company shall (A) instruct AST, or cause AST to be instructed, to create a book-entry account for the Investor and credit
the Investor’s account with the Shares, (B) deliver to the Investor evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Investor of the
foregoing and that the Shares have been issued to the Investor in book-entry form and (C) take all other actions as may be necessary
to issue, sell, transfer and deliver to the Investor all the Shares in book-entry form.


 


Article III


 


Representations
and Warranties of the Company


 


The Company hereby represents and warrants,
as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date (except to the extent that any representation or warranty is expressly
made as of an earlier date, in which case such representation or warranty needs only be true and correct as of such earlier date),
to the Investor as follows. Each representation and warranty contained in this Article III is subject to, and qualified
by, the disclosures in the SEC Documents (other than any disclosures in any SEC Documents contained in (i) the “Risk Factors”
or “Forward-Looking Statements” sections or (ii) other forward-looking statements to the extent that they are predictive
or forward-looking in nature).


 


3.1             
Organization and Power. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries and each of the Ares Funds (a) have been duly organized
and are validly existing and in good standing (to the extent such concept exists in the jurisdiction in question) under the laws
of their respective jurisdictions of organization, (b) are duly qualified to do business and are in good standing in each jurisdiction
in which their respective ownership or lease of property or the conduct of their respective businesses requires such qualification,
and (c) have all power and authority necessary to own or hold their respective properties and to conduct the businesses in which
they are engaged, except, in each case (except, in the case of clause (a), in respect of the Company), where the failure
to be so qualified or in good standing or have such power or authority would not, individually or in the aggregate, have or reasonably
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company does not own or control, directly or indirectly, any corporation, association
or other entity other than (i) the subsidiaries listed in Exhibit 21.1 to the Company’s Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, (ii) subsidiaries omitted from Exhibit 21.1 that, if considered in the aggregate
as a single subsidiary, would not constitute a “significant subsidiary” of the Company as defined in Rule 1-02(w)
of Regulation S-X or (iii) the Ares Funds or their portfolio companies or investments or special purpose entities formed
to acquire any such portfolio companies or investments, including collateralized loan obligations.


 






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3.2             
Authorization. The Company has full right, power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform
its obligations hereunder, including consummation of the purchase and sale of the Shares, the filing of the Amended and Restated
Charter with the Delaware Secretary (subject to receipt of the Stockholder Written Consent and satisfaction of the Amended and
Restated Charter Requirements) and to effect the Class C Issuance. All action required to be taken for the due and proper authorization,
execution and delivery by it of this Agreement and the due and proper authorization of the consummation by it of the transactions
contemplated hereby has been duly and validly taken and, assuming due execution and delivery by the Investor, this Agreement constitutes
a valid and binding agreement of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy,
insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar Laws of general applicability relating to or affecting
creditors’ rights and to general equity principles (the “Bankruptcy
and Equity Exception”). This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.


 


3.3             
The Shares. The Shares have been duly authorized and, when issued in accordance with the terms of this Agreement,
will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. The issuance of the Shares will not be subject to any right of first refusal,
preemptive rights, co-sale rights or other similar rights.


 


3.4             
Capitalization.


 


(a)              
As of March 26, 2020, the issued and outstanding Capital Stock of the Company consisted of the following: (i) 120,231,891
shares of Common Stock, (ii) 1,000 shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share, (iii) 1 share of Class C Common Stock
(which is held by Ares Voting LLC) and (iv) 12,400,000 shares of 7.00% Series A Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share. As
of March 26, 2020, there are 115,199,621 AOG Class A Units issued and outstanding, other than those issued and outstanding AOG
Class A Units held by the Company and its Subsidiaries. All of the outstanding shares of Capital Stock have been duly authorized
and validly issued, and are fully paid and non-assessable. Except as otherwise disclosed in the SEC Reports or as set forth in
the Investor Rights Agreement, there are no restrictions upon the voting or transfer of any Shares pursuant to any agreement or
instrument to which any of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of such entities may be bound.


 


(b)               Except
as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, all of the outstanding shares of Equity Securities of
each Subsidiary that are owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company (i) have been duly and validly authorized and
issued and are fully paid (in the case of any Subsidiaries that are organized as limited liability companies, limited
partnerships or other business entities, to the extent required under the applicable limited liability company, limited
partnership or other organizational agreement) and non-assessable (except in the case of interests held by general partners
or similar entities under the applicable laws of other jurisdictions, and in the case of any Subsidiaries that are organized
as limited liability companies, as such non-assessability may be affected by Section 18-607 or Section 18-804 of
the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act or similar provisions under the applicable laws of other jurisdictions or the
applicable limited liability company agreement and, in the case of any Subsidiaries that are organized as limited
partnerships, as such non-assessability may be affected by Section 17-607 or Section 17-804 of the Delaware Revised
Uniform Limited Partnership Act (the “Delaware
RULPA”) or similar provisions under the applicable laws of other jurisdictions or the applicable limited
partnership agreement) and (ii) are owned, directly or indirectly by the Company, free and clear of any Liens.


 


(c)              
All of the outstanding partnership units, and the partnership interests represented thereby, of each of the Ares Operating
Group Partnerships (collectively, the “Ares
Operating Group Units”) have been duly and validly authorized and issued and the holders thereof will have no
obligation to make payments or contributions to the Ares Operating Group Partnerships solely by reason of their ownership of such
Ares Operating Group Units (except in the case of interests held by general partners or similar entities under the applicable laws
of other jurisdictions and as such non-assessability may be affected by Section 17-607 or Section 17-804 of the Delaware
RULPA or similar provisions under the applicable laws of other jurisdictions or the applicable partnership agreements of the Ares
Operating Group Partnerships). All Ares Operating Group Units that are owned directly or indirectly by Ares Holdings Inc., a Delaware
corporation, Ares Offshore Holdings, Ltd., a Cayman Islands limited company, Ares AI Holdings L.P., a Delaware limited partnership,
and the Company, as described in the SEC Reports, are owned free and clear of any Liens.


 






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(d)              
Except (i) as described in the SEC Reports, (ii) in connection with the SSG Transaction, or (iii) for issuances under the
Ares 2014 Equity Incentive Plan, there are no preemptive rights or other rights to subscribe for or to purchase, any Equity Securities
of the Company or any of the Ares Operating Group Partnerships, as applicable, and there are no outstanding options, warrants or
other securities exercisable for, or any other securities convertible into or exchangeable for, any securities of the Company or
any of the Ares Operating Group Partnerships.


 


3.5              No
Conflict. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement, the issuance and sale of the Shares
pursuant to this Agreement by the Company and the consummation of the purchase and sale of the Shares and the other
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including filing of the Amended and Restated Charter with the Delaware Secretary
(subject to receipt of the Stockholder Written Consent and satisfaction of the Amended and Restated Charter Requirements) and
the Class C Issuance, will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or
constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of, any Liens upon any property or assets of the Company
or any of the Ares Operating Group Partnerships pursuant to any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other
agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of the Ares Operating Group Partnerships is a party, or by which the
Company or any of the Ares Operating Group Partnerships are bound, or to which any of the property or assets of the Company
or any of the Ares Operating Group Partnerships is subject, (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the
Organizational Documents of the Company or any of the Ares Operating Group Partnerships or (iii) result in the violation of
any Law or Order, except in the case of clauses (i) and (iii) above, for any such conflict, breach, violation or default
that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have or reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.


 


3.6             
Consents. No consent, approval, authorization, order, license, registration or qualification of or with any Governmental
Entity (any of the foregoing being a “Consent”)
is required for the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement, the issuance and sale of the Shares and
the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including filing of the Amended and Restated Charter with
the Delaware Secretary and the Class C Issuance, except, (a) in the case of the Amended and Restated Charter, for receipt of the
Stockholder Written Consent and the Amended and Restated Charter Requirements and (b) in each case, for such Consents (i) as may
be required under applicable state securities laws in connection with the Share Purchase by the Investor or (ii) the absence of
which would not, individually or in the aggregate, have or reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.


 


3.7             
SEC Documents; Financial Statements.


 


(a)              
Each of the documents filed by the Company with the SEC (the “SEC
Documents”) since January 1, 2017, as of its respective filing date, complied in all material respects with the
requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, as the case may be, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated
thereunder applicable to such SEC Document. Except to the extent that information contained in any SEC Document has been revised
or superseded by a later filed SEC Document filed and publicly available prior to the date of this Agreement, as of their respective
filing dates, none of the SEC Documents contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading.


 


(b)              
The consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries included
or incorporated by reference in the SEC Reports present fairly in all material respects the financial position of the Company and
its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the dates indicated and the results of their operations and the changes in their cash flows
for the periods specified. Such consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. GAAP applied on a
consistent basis throughout the periods covered thereby; and the other financial information included or incorporated by reference
in the SEC Reports has been derived from the accounting records of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries, presents fairly
in all material respects the information shown thereby, and has been compiled on a basis consistent in all material respects with
that of the audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the SEC Reports.


 






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3.8             
Disclosure and Accounting Controls.


 


(a)               The
Company maintains a system of “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange
Act) that has been designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or
submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the
SEC’s rules and forms, including controls and procedures designed to ensure that such information is accumulated and
communicated to the Company’s management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. The
Company and its Subsidiaries have carried out evaluations of the effectiveness of their disclosure controls and procedures as
required by Rule 13a-15 of the Exchange Act.


 


(b)              
The Company maintains systems of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions
are (A) executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations and (B) recorded as necessary to permit
preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain asset accountability, (ii) access to assets is permitted
only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, (iii) the recorded accountability for assets is compared
with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences and (iv) interactive
data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language included or incorporated by reference in each of the SEC Reports is prepared in
all material respects in accordance with the SEC’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto. Except as disclosed in the SEC
Reports, since the end of the Company’s predecessors’ most recent audited fiscal year, there has been no change in
the Company’s or its predecessors’ internal control over financial reporting that has materially adversely affected,
or is reasonably likely to materially adversely affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Except as
disclosed in the SEC Reports, the Company is not aware of any material weakness in its internal controls over financial reporting.


 


3.9             
Independent Accountants. Ernst & Young LLP, who has certified certain financial statements of the Company and
its consolidated subsidiaries included or incorporated by reference in the SEC Reports is, and was during the periods covered by
such reports, an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the entities purported to be covered thereby within
the applicable rules and regulations adopted by the SEC and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) and as
required by the Securities Act.


 


3.10         
Litigation. Except as (a) described in the SEC Reports or (b) disclosed to the Investor or its Representatives in
writing prior to the date of this Agreement, there are no Actions pending to which the Company or any Ares Operating Group Partnership
is or may be a party or to which any property or assets of the Company or any Ares Operating Group Partnership is or, to the knowledge
of the Company, may become subject that, individually or in the aggregate, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, have or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No Actions are, to the knowledge of the Company,
threatened in writing or contemplated by any Governmental Entity or threatened in writing by any other Person, in each case, except
for those which would not, individually or in the aggregate, have or reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.


 


3.11         
Title to Properties. Except as disclosed in the SEC Reports, the Company and its Subsidiaries have good and marketable
title to, or have valid and marketable rights to lease or otherwise use, all items of real and personal property and assets that
are material to the respective businesses of the Company and its Subsidiaries, in each case free and clear of all Liens and defects
and imperfections of title except those that (i) do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such
property by the Company and its Subsidiaries or (ii) would not, individually or in the aggregate, have or reasonably be expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect.


 






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3.12         
Intellectual Property. The Company and its Subsidiaries own or possess, or can acquire on reasonable terms adequate
rights to use, all material patents, patent applications, trademarks, service marks, trade names, trademark registrations, service
mark registrations, copyrights, licenses and know-how (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary
or confidential information, systems or procedures) necessary for the conduct of their respective businesses as currently conducted,
except where the failure to own or possess such rights would not, individually or in the aggregate, have or reasonably be expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company and its Subsidiaries have not received any notice of any claim of infringement,
misappropriation or conflict with the asserted rights of others in connection with its patents, patent rights, licenses, inventions,
trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights and know-how, which would, individually or in the aggregate, have or reasonably
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.


 


3.13         
No Undisclosed Relationships. No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among any of the Company and
its Subsidiaries or any Ares Fund, on the one hand, and any related person (as defined in Item 404 of Regulation S-K under the
Securities Act) thereof, on the other, that is required to be described in the SEC Reports and that is not so described in the
SEC Reports.


 


3.14         
Permits. The Company and its Subsidiaries possess all licenses, certificates, permits and other authorizations issued
by, and have made all declarations and filings with, the appropriate Governmental Entities that are necessary for the ownership
or lease of their respective properties or the conduct of their respective businesses as described in the SEC Reports, except where
the failure to possess or make the same would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as
described in the SEC Reports or as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have or reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received written notice of any revocation or modification of
any such license, certificate, permit or authorization or has any reason to believe that any such license, certificate, permit
or authorization will not be renewed in the ordinary course.


 


3.15         
Labor Matters. No labor disturbance by or dispute with employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries exists
or, to the knowledge of the Company, is contemplated or threatened, and the Company and the Ares Operating Group Partnerships are
not aware of any existing or imminent labor disturbance by, or dispute with, the employees of the Company’s or any of its
Subsidiaries’ principal suppliers, contractors or customers, except, in each case, as would not reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect.


 


3.16          Environmental
Compliance. The Company and its Subsidiaries (a) are in compliance with any and all applicable federal, state, local and
foreign laws and regulations relating to the protection of human health and safety, the environment or hazardous or toxic
substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (“Environmental
Laws”), (b) have received all permits, licenses or other approvals required of them under applicable
Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses and (c) are in compliance with all terms of any such permit,
license or approval, except where failure to receive or comply with such permits, licenses or other approvals or comply with
such Environmental Laws or would not, individually or in the aggregate, have or reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect.


 






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3.17         
Compliance with ERISA. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have or reasonably be expected to have
a Material Adverse Effect, (i) each employee benefit plan, within the meaning of Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”),
that is subject to Title IV of ERISA (each, a “Plan”)
and is maintained, administered or contributed to by the Company or any of its Affiliates, that together with the Company would
be deemed a “single employer” within the meaning of Section 4001(b)(1) of ERISA (each, an “ERISA
Affiliate”) for employees or former employees of the Company and its ERISA Affiliates, other than a “multiemployer
plan” within the meaning of Section 3(37) of ERISA has been maintained in compliance with its terms and the requirements
of all applicable statutes, orders, rules and regulations, including ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
 “Code”),
(ii) the Company, each member of its controlled group and each Ares Fund are, and at all times have been, in compliance with ERISA,
(iii) no prohibited transaction, within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, excluding transactions
effected pursuant to a class, statutory or administrative exemption, has occurred with respect to any such Plan or with respect
to the Company, any member of its controlled group or any Ares Fund, (iv) for each such Plan that is subject to the funding rules
of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, the minimum funding standard of Section 412 of the Code has been satisfied
(without taking into account any waiver thereof), (v) no “reportable event” (within the meaning of Section 4043(c)
of ERISA) has occurred with respect to any such Plan for which the Company would have material liability, other than events for
which the 30-day notice period has been waived, and (vi) neither the Company nor any of its ERISA Affiliates has incurred or reasonably
expects to incur any liability under Title IV of ERISA (other than contributions to the Plan or premiums to the Pension Benefit
Guaranty Corporation, in the ordinary course and without default) with respect to any such Plan.


 


3.18         
Taxes. Except as otherwise disclosed in the SEC Reports or as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have or
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect: (i) the Company and its Subsidiaries and the Ares Funds have paid
(A) all Taxes required to be paid by them through the Closing Date, except for Taxes being contested in good faith by appropriate
proceedings for which adequate reserves are maintained in accordance with GAAP in the consolidated financial statements and the
related notes thereto of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries and (B) any and all assessments, fines, interest, fees and
penalties levied against them or any of them to the extent that any of the foregoing has become due and payable through the Closing
Date, (ii) the Company and its Subsidiaries and the Ares Funds have filed (or requested valid extensions thereof) all Tax Returns
required to be filed through the Closing Date, (iii) there is no Tax deficiency that has been, or would reasonably be expected
to be, asserted against any of the Company or its Subsidiaries, any of the Ares Funds or any of their respective properties or
assets, and (iv) there are no Tax audits or investigations currently ongoing with respect to the Company, its Subsidiaries,
or the any of the Ares Funds, of which the Company or its Subsidiaries have written notice.


 


3.19         
Insurance. (a) The Company and its Subsidiaries have insurance covering their respective properties, operations,
personnel and businesses, which insurance is in such amounts and insures against such losses and risks as the Company reasonably
believes to be commercially reasonable and customary for the businesses in which they are engaged; and (b) neither the Company
nor any of its Subsidiaries has (i) received notice from any insurer or agent of such insurer that capital improvements or other
expenditures are required or necessary to be made in order to continue such insurance or (ii) any reason to believe that it will
not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires, or to obtain similar coverage at reasonable
cost from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business, except in the case of each of clauses (a) and b), as would
not have or reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.


 


3.20         
No Unlawful Payments. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries or any of the Ares Funds, nor, to the knowledge
of the Company, any director, officer agent, employee or other person associated with or acting on behalf of any of the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries or any of the Ares Funds has (i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment
or other unlawful expense relating to political activity, (ii) made any direct or indirect unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic
government official or employee from corporate funds, (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the Foreign Corrupt
Practices Act of 1977, as amended or (iv) made any bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment.
None of the proceeds from the sale of the Shares will be used in a way that would have led to a breach of the Company’s representations
in Section 3.20 (i) to (iv) had such proceeds been used in such way prior to or on the Closing Date.


 






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3.21         
Compliance with Anti-Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries and the Ares Funds
are, and have been conducted at all times in compliance with, (i) applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements
of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended (the “CFTRA”),
and (ii) all applicable money laundering statutes, applicable rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules,
regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any other governmental agency (collectively, the “Other
Anti-Money Laundering Laws”) having jurisdiction over any of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of
the Ares Funds; and no Action involving any of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of the Ares Funds with respect to
the CFTRA or Other Anti-Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened. None of the proceeds
from the sale of the Shares will be used in violation of the CFTRA or Other Anti-Money Laundering Laws having jurisdiction over
any of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of the Ares Funds.


 


3.22         
No Conflicts with Sanctions Laws. None of the Company or its Subsidiaries, the Ares Funds or, to the knowledge of
the Company, any of their respective directors, officers, agents, employees or Affiliates is currently subject to any sanctions
administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the United National Security Council,
the European Union or Her Majesty’s Treasury, and none of the proceeds from the sale of the Shares will be used in violation
of any of the foregoing sanction laws.


 


3.23         
No Restrictions on Subsidiaries. No Subsidiary of the Company is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, under
any agreement or other instrument to which it is a party or is subject, from paying any dividends to the Company, from making any
other distribution on such Subsidiary’s Capital Stock, from repaying to the Company any loans or advances to such Subsidiary
from the Company or from transferring any of such Subsidiary’s properties or assets to the Company or any other Subsidiary
of the Company, except as disclosed in the SEC Reports or as would not reasonably be expected to materially reduce the distributions
to be received by the Ares Operating Group Partnerships, taken as a whole, from their direct and indirect Subsidiaries.


 






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3.24         
Securities Law Exemptions. Assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Investor in this Agreement,
it is not necessary under applicable Law, in connection with the issuance and sale of the Shares to the Investor, for the Company
to register the Shares under the Securities Act.


 


3.25         
Absence of Certain Changes. Since December 31, 2019, (a) there has not been any Material Adverse Effect, and (b)
except as disclosed to the Investor or its Representatives in writing prior to the date of this Agreement, neither the Company
nor any of its Subsidiaries has entered into any transaction or agreement that is material to the Company and its Subsidiaries,
taken as a whole, or incurred any liability or obligation, direct or contingent, that is material to the Company and its Subsidiaries,
taken as a whole, excluding, for purposes of this clause (b), (i) any liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent, resulting
from, relating to or arising from epidemics, pandemics or disease outbreaks, (including the COVID-19 virus), including all related
impacts therefrom on economic, financial or energy market conditions, and (ii) the SSG Transaction.


 


3.26         
No Defaults. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is: (a) in violation of its charter or bylaws or similar
Organizational Documents; (b) in default, and no event has occurred that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute
such a default, in the due performance or observance of any term, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed
of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
is subject; or (c) in violation of any Law or Order, except, in the case of (i) the foregoing clause (a) (solely as to the
Company’s Subsidiaries), for any such violation that would not be material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as
a whole, and (ii) the foregoing clauses (b) and (c), for any such default or violation that would not, individually or in
the aggregate, have or reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.


 


3.27         
Brokers. The Company has not retained, utilized or been represented by any broker, investment banker, financial advisor
or finder in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement whose fees or expenses the Investor could be required
to pay.


 






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3.28          NYSE.
Shares of the Common Stock are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and are listed on NYSE. There is no
Action (i) pending by the Company, (ii) pending by any other Person and for which the Company has received written notice
prior to the date of this Agreement or (iii) to the knowledge of the Company, pending or threatened by any other Person
otherwise to terminate the registration of the Common Stock under the Exchange Act or to delist the Common Stock from NYSE.
The Company has not received any notification that the SEC or NYSE is currently contemplating terminating such registration
or listing. The issuance and sale of the Shares and the performance by the Company of its other obligations hereunder does
not and will not contravene NYSE rules or regulations or require any vote of the shareholders of the Company under the NYSE
rules or regulations (except for the receipt of the Stockholder Written Consent).


 


3.29         
Investment Company Act. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is not, and, immediately after giving effect to
the sale of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement by the Company, none of them will be, required to register as an “investment
company” or an entity “controlled” by an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder (collectively, the “Investment
Company Act”).


 


3.30         
Investment Advisers Act. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries and the Ares Funds (i) that is required to
be in compliance with, or registered, licensed or qualified pursuant to, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and the
rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, the Investment Company Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder,
or the U.K. Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, is in compliance with,
or registered, licensed or qualified pursuant to, such laws, rules and regulations (and such registration, license or qualification
is in full force and effect), to the extent applicable, except as disclosed in the SEC Reports or where the failure to be in such
compliance or so registered, licensed or qualified would not, individually or in the aggregate, have or reasonably be expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) that is required to be registered, licensed or qualified as a broker-dealer or as
a commodity trading advisor, a commodity pool operator or a futures commission merchant or any or all of the foregoing, as applicable,
is so registered, licensed or qualified in each jurisdiction where the conduct of its business requires such registration, license
or qualification (and such registration, license or qualification is in full force and effect), and is in compliance with all applicable
laws requiring any such registration, licensing or qualification, except as disclosed in the SEC Reports or where the failure to
be so registered, licensed, qualified or in compliance would not, individually or in the aggregate, have or reasonably be expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect.


 


3.31         
Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The Company and its Subsidiaries are in material compliance with all provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002, as amended and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith that are then in effect and with which
the Company and its Subsidiaries are required to comply.


 


3.32         
No Downgrade. Since December 31, 2019, no downgrading has occurred in the rating accorded any debt securities or
preferred stock of, or guaranteed by, the Company, any of the Ares Operating Group Partnerships or Ares Finance Co. LLC that is
rated by a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization,” as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(62) of
the Exchange Act, and no such organization has publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review with possible negative
implications, or has changed its outlook with respect to, its rating of any such debt securities or preferred stock (other than
an announcement with positive implications of a possible upgrading).


 






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3.33         
No Other Representations and Warranties. Except for the representations and warranties contained in Article IV
and any schedules or certificates delivered in connection herewith, the Company (i) acknowledges that the Investor has made no
other representation or warranty, express or implied, written or oral, and (ii) to the maximum extent permitted by applicable Law,
disclaims any such representation or warranty, whether by the Investor or any other Person, with respect to the Investor or with
respect to any other information provided to or made available to the Company or any of its Representatives in connection with
the transactions contemplated hereby.


 


Article IV


 


Representations
and Warranties of the Investor


 


The Investor hereby represents and warrants,
as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date (except to the extent that any representation or warranty is expressly
made as of an earlier date, in which case such representation or warranty needs only be true and correct as of such earlier date),
to the Company as follows:


 


4.1             
Organization. The Investor is a legal entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws
of the jurisdiction of its organization.


 


4.2             
Authorization. The Investor has full right, power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform
its obligations hereunder. All action required to be taken for the due and proper authorization, execution and delivery by it of
this Agreement and the due and proper authorization of the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby has been
duly and validly taken and, assuming due execution and delivery by the Company, this Agreement constitutes a valid and binding
agreement of the Investor enforceable against the Investor in accordance with its terms, subject to the Bankruptcy and Equity Exception.
This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Investor.


 


4.3             
No Conflict. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Investor, the purchase of the Shares,
and the consummation of the other transactions contemplated hereby, do not and will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach
or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any
Lien upon any property or assets of the Investor or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust,
loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Investor or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Investor
or any of its Subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Investor or any of its Subsidiaries is subject,
(ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the Organizational Documents of the Investor or any of its Subsidiaries or (iii)
result in the violation of any Law or Order, except, in the case of each of clauses (i) and (iii), as would not, individually
or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to prevent or materially delay or materially impede the ability of the Investor to
perform its obligations under this Agreement (a “Investor
Adverse Effect”).


 


4.4              Consents.
No Consent is required for the execution, delivery and performance by the Investor in connection with the execution, delivery
or performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, except for such Consents the
failure of which to make or obtain would not, individually or in the aggregate, have or reasonably be expected to have an
Investor Adverse Effect.


 






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4.5             
Brokers. The Investor has not retained, utilized or been represented by any broker or finder in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement whose fees the Company could be required to pay.


 


4.6             
Purchase Entirely for Own Account. The Investor (a) is acquiring the Shares for its own account solely for the purpose
of investment, not as nominee or agent, and not with a view to, or for sale in connection with, any distribution of the Shares
in violation of the Securities Act, (b) has no present intention of selling, granting any participation in, or otherwise distributing
the same and (c) has no present agreement, undertaking, arrangement, obligation or commitment providing for the disposition of
the Shares.


 


4.7             
Investor Status. The Investor is an “accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501 of Regulation D promulgated
under the Securities Act.


 


4.8             
Information. The Investor and its Representatives, if any, have been furnished with all materials relating to the
business, finances and operations of the Company and materials relating to the offer and sale of the Shares that have been requested
by it. The Investor and its Representatives, if any, have been afforded the opportunity to ask questions of the Company. Neither
such inquiries nor any other due diligence investigations conducted by the Investor or its Representatives, if any, shall modify,
amend or affect the Investor’s right to rely on the Company’s representations and warranties contained herein. The
Investor understands that its investment in the Shares involves a high degree of risk. The Investor has sought such accounting,
legal and tax advice as it has considered necessary to make an informed investment decision with respect to its acquisition of
the Shares.


 


4.9             
Securities Not Registered.


 


(a)              
The Investor understands that the Shares will not have been registered pursuant to the Securities Act or any applicable
state securities laws, that the Shares will be characterized as “restricted securities” under federal securities laws,
and that under such laws and applicable regulations the Shares cannot be sold or otherwise disposed of without registration under
the Securities Act or an exemption therefrom.


 


(b)              
The Investor understands that any book-entry shares notations evidencing the Shares and any securities issued in respect
thereof or in exchange therefor, will bear the following legends (or substantially similar legends) to the extent applicable (along
with any other legends that may be required under applicable Law):


 


“THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE OFFERED,
SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF REGISTRATION UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES
ACT”), OR AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION THEREFROM.


 


THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY AGREES FOR THE
BENEFIT OF THE COMPANY THAT (A) THIS SECURITY MAY BE OFFERED, RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED, ONLY (I) PURSUANT TO ANY
EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, INCLUDING RULE 144 OR REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT
(IF AVAILABLE), (II) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (III) TO THE COMPANY OR ANY OF
ITS SUBSIDIARIES, IN EACH OF CASES (I) THROUGH (III) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED
STATES, AND (B) THE HOLDER WILL, AND EACH SUBSEQUENT HOLDER IS REQUIRED TO, NOTIFY ANY SUBSEQUENT INVESTOR OF THIS SECURITY FROM
IT OF THE RESALE RESTRICTIONS REFERRED TO IN (A) ABOVE.”


 






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4.10         
No Other Representations or Warranties. The Investor has (a) conducted its own independent inquiry and (b) relied
only upon the advice of its own legal counsel, accountant, financial and other advisors and the representations and warranties
contained in Article III in determining the legal, tax, financial and other consequences of this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby for the Investor. Except for the representations and warranties contained in Article III
and any certificates delivered in connection herewith, the Investor (i) acknowledges that the Company has made no other representation
or warranty, express or implied, written or oral, and (ii) to the maximum extent permitted by applicable Law, disclaims the existence
of, reliance upon or inducement by, any such representation or warranty, whether by the Company or any other Person, with respect
to the Company or with respect to any other information (including pro forma financial information, financial projections or other
forward-looking statements) provided to or made available to the Investor or any of its Representatives in connection with the
transactions contemplated hereby.


 


Article V


 


Covenants


 


5.1              Public
Announcements. The initial press release to be issued with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
shall be in the form heretofore agreed to by the Investor and the Company. Except with respect to any dispute between the
parties regarding this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, the Investor and the Company shall provide an
opportunity for the other party to review and comment upon any press release or other public statements or any filings with
any third party or any Governmental Entity relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, including the
Share Purchase, and shall not, and shall not permit any of their Affiliates to, issue any such press release or make any such
public statement or filing prior to providing such opportunity to review and comment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing
in this Section 5.1 shall restrict or limit the right or ability of either party from engaging in, or require
disclosure to or consultation with the other party in connection with engaging in, (i) the making of such public statements
or filings as such party may reasonably determine are required by applicable Law, Governmental Entity, court process or by
obligations pursuant to any listing agreement with any national securities exchange or national securities quotation system,
(ii) communications with rating agencies and regulators, including with the Federal Reserve Board, or (iii) the making of
internal announcements to their respective employees or other public communications, in either case, that are consistent in
all material respects with the prior public disclosures regarding the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.


 






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5.2             
Amended and Restated Charter. Promptly following the date of this Agreement, the Company shall use its commercially
reasonable efforts to obtain the approval of the Amended and Restated Charter by the holders of a majority of the voting power
of the Outstanding Designated Stock (as defined in the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation). Promptly following the Closing,
the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to file a Preliminary Information Statement on Schedule 14C relating
to the Amended and Restated Charter (the “Preliminary
Information Statement”) with the SEC. Promptly following the 10-day period following the filing with the SEC of
the Preliminary Information Statement provided for in Rule 14c-5 under the Exchange Act, the Company shall use its commercially
reasonable efforts to file the Information Statement with the SEC. Promptly following the expiration of the 20-calendar day period
following the filing of the Information Statement, the Company shall execute and deliver to the Delaware Secretary the Amended
and Restated Charter.


 


5.3             
Efforts. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Investor and the Company shall cooperate
with each other and use (and shall cause their respective Affiliates to use) their respective commercially reasonable efforts to
take or cause to be taken all actions, and to do or cause to be done, all things reasonably necessary, proper or advisable on their
part under this Agreement and applicable Law, to consummate the transactions contemplated under this Agreement as promptly as practicable.


 


5.4             
Post-Closing Covenants. From the Closing until such time as the Amended and Restated Charter is duly executed and
delivered to the Delaware Secretary and effective under the DGCL, the Company shall not (and shall cause its Subsidiaries not to)
take any action that would or would reasonably be expected to result in the Investor’s “voting percentage” (as
that concept is calculated and interpreted pursuant to 12 C.F.R. 225.2(u) or in any successor regulation or published interpretation
of the Federal Reserve Board then in effect for purposes of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended, and all related rules,
regulations and published guidance) of the Company to exceed 4.90%, including any buy-back or repurchase of Common Stock by the
Company.


 


Article VI


 


Conditions
PRECEDENT


 


6.1             
Mutual Conditions of Closing. The obligations of the Company and the Investor to consummate the transactions to be
consummated at the Closing is subject to the satisfaction, or mutual written waiver, of the following conditions precedent:


 


(a)              
There shall not be any Law or Order in effect that enjoins, prohibits, prevents or materially alters the terms of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.


 


(b)              
There shall not be any Action pending by any Governmental Entity of competent jurisdiction that seeks any Order that would
reasonably be expected to enjoin, prohibit, prevent or materially alter the terms of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.


 


6.2             
Conditions to the Obligation of the Investor to Consummate the Closing. The obligation of the Investor to consummate
the transactions to be consummated at the Closing, and to purchase and pay for the Shares pursuant to this Agreement, is subject
to the satisfaction, or due waiver in writing by the Investor, of the following conditions:


 


(a)              
the Company shall have performed and complied in all material respects with all of the covenants and agreements contained
in this Agreement that are required to be performed or complied with by it on or prior to the Closing Date;


 






    19


     


    

 


(b)              
the representations and warranties of the Company contained in (i) Article III (other than those representations
and warranties contained in the first sentence of Section 3.1(a) (solely in respect of the Company) and Sections 3.2,
3.3, 3.5(ii), 3.25(a) and 3.27) shall be true, complete and correct, determined without regarding to
any qualification as to materiality or “Material Adverse Effect,” at and as of the date of this Agreement and at and
as of the Closing Date as though made at and as of the Closing Date (except in the case of representations and warranties that
are made as of a specified date, which shall be true, complete and correct, determined without regarding to any qualification as
to materiality or “Material Adverse Effect,” at and as of as of such specified date), except, in each case, for such
failures to be true, complete and correct as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have or reasonably be expected to have
a Material Adverse Effect; (ii) the first sentence of Section 3.1(a) (solely in respect of the Company) and Sections 3.2,
3.3, 3.5(ii) and 3.27 shall be true, complete and correct in all respects at and as of the date of this Agreement
and at and as of the Closing Date as though made at and as of the Closing Date (except in the case of representations and warranties
that are made as of a specified date, which shall be true, complete and correct, at and as of as of such specified date), except,
in each case, for de minimis failures to be true, complete and correct; and (iii) Section 3.25(a) shall be true,
complete and correct in all respects at and as of the date of this Agreement and at and as of the Closing Date as though made at
and as of the Closing Date;


 


(c)              
the Company shall have delivered to the Investor a certificate, dated as of the Closing Date, executed by the Chief Executive
Officer of the Company, to the effect that the conditions set forth in Sections 6.2(a) and (b) have been satisfied;


 


(d)              
the Investor shall have received an acknowledgement from AST, substantially in the form attached to this Agreement as Exhibit E,
that (i) AST has been instructed by the Company to create a book-entry account for the Investor and credit the Investor’s
account with the Shares and (ii) the Company has issued 115,199,620 shares of Class C Common Stock to Ares Voting LLC (the “Class
C Issuance”);


 


(e)              
the Company shall have delivered to the Investor the Investor Rights Agreement, duly executed by the Company;


 


(f)               
the Investor shall have received an executed opinion from counsel for the Company, dated as of the Closing Date, in the
form attached to this Agreement as Exhibit F;


 


(g)              
the Investor shall have received evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Investor that the Company shall have (i) filed
a supplemental listing application with the NYSE with respect to the issuance of the Shares and (ii) the Shares have been approved
for listing on the NYSE; and


 


(h)              
the Investor shall have received the duly executed Stockholder Written Consent.


 






    20


     


    

 


6.3             
Conditions to the Obligations of the Company to Consummate the Closing. The obligation of the Company to consummate
the transactions to be consummated at the Closing, and to sell to the Investor the Shares pursuant to this Agreement, is subject
to the satisfaction of the following conditions:


 


(a)              
the Investor shall have performed and complied in all material respects with all of the covenants and agreements contained
in this Agreement that are required to be performed or complied with by it on or prior to the Closing Dates;


 


(b)              
the representations and warranties of the Investor contained in (i) Article IV (other than those representations
and warranties contained in Sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.3(ii) and 4.5) shall be true, complete and correct,
determined without regarding to any qualification as to materiality or “Investor
Adverse Effect” at and as of the date of this Agreement and at and as of the Closing Date as though made at and
as of the Closing Date (except in the case of representations and warranties that are made as of a specified date, which shall
be true, complete and correct, determined without regarding to any qualification as to materiality or “Investor Adverse Effect,”
at and as of as of such specified date), except for such failures to be true, complete and correct as would not, individually or
in the aggregate, have or reasonably be expected to have an Investor Adverse Effect; and (ii) Sections 4.1, 4.2,
4.3(ii) and 4.5 shall be true, complete and correct in all respects at and as of the date of this Agreement and at
and as of the Closing Date as though made at and as of the Closing Date (except in the case of representations and warranties that
are made as of a specified date, which shall be true, complete and correct, at and as of as of such specified date), except for
de minimis failures to be true, complete and correct;


 


(c)              
the Investor shall have delivered to the Company a certificate, dated the Closing Date and executed by a duly authorized
officer of the Investor, to the effect that the conditions set forth in Sections 6.3(a) and (b) have been satisfied;
and


 


(d)              
the Investor shall have delivered to the Company the Investor Rights Agreement, duly executed by the Investor.


 


Article VII


 


Termination


 


7.1             
Conditions of Termination. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, this Agreement may be terminated
at any time before the Closing: (a) by the mutual written consent of the Company and the Investor, (b) by either the Company or
the Investor if the Closing shall not have occurred on or before April 9, 2020 (the “Outside
Date”), (c) by the Company if (i) the Investor shall have breached any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement
of the Investor set forth in this Agreement, (ii) such breach or misrepresentation is not cured or capable of being cured by the
Outside Date, and (iii) such breach or misrepresentation would cause any of the conditions set forth in Section 6.3(a)
or (b) not to be satisfied, (d) by the Investor if (i) the Company shall have breached any representation, warranty, covenant
or agreement of the Company set forth in this Agreement, (ii) such breach or misrepresentation is not cured or capable of being
cured by the Outside Date, and (iii) such breach or misrepresentation would cause any of the conditions set forth in Section 6.2(a)
or (b) not to be satisfied or (e) by the Investor if a duly executed copy of the Stockholder Written Consent shall not have
been delivered to the Investor by 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on March 30, 2020. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the right to
terminate this Agreement pursuant to the preceding clause (b) shall not be available to a party whose failure to fulfill any
obligation under this Agreement shall have been the principal cause of, or shall have primarily resulted in, the failure of the
Closing to occur on or prior to such date.


 






    21


     


    

 


7.2             
Effect of Termination. In the event of any termination pursuant to Section 7.1, this Agreement shall
become null and void and have no further effect, with no liability on the part of the Company or the Investor or their respective
Affiliates or Representatives, with respect to this Agreement, except (a) for the terms of this Section 7.2 and Article VIII
which shall survive the termination of this Agreement, (b) nothing in this Section 7.2 shall relieve any party from
liability or damages incurred or suffered by any other party resulting or arising from any willful and intentional (x) breach of
any representation or warranty of such first party or (y) failure of such first party to perform a covenant herein or (c) for fraud.


 


Article VIII


 


Miscellaneous
Provisions


 


8.1             
Survival. The (i) representations and warranties set forth in the first sentence of Section 3.1, Sections 3.2,
3.3, 3.5(ii),  3.27, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3(ii) and 4.5 shall survive the execution and
delivery of this Agreement and the Closing indefinitely, (ii) representations and warranties set forth in the second sentence
of Section 3.7(a), including any rights arising out of any breach of such representations and warranties, shall survive
the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Closing for a period of twenty four (24) months following the Closing Date
and shall thereafter terminate and (iii) all other representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement and/or in any certificate,
statement or instrument delivered pursuant to this Agreement, including any rights arising out of any breach of such representations
and warranties, shall terminate effective as of Closing Date and shall not survive the Closing, in each case, regardless of any
investigation made by or on behalf of the Company or the Investor. The covenants made in this Agreement shall survive the Closing
indefinitely until fully performed in accordance with their terms, and remain operative and in full force and effect in accordance
with their terms, regardless of acceptance of any of the Shares and payment therefor and repayment, conversion or repurchase thereof.
From and after the Closing, (A) the right to bring a claim arising out of a breach of any representation (subject to the survival
periods set forth above) is the sole and exclusive remedy of the parties with respect to any and all rights, claims and causes
of action resulting from, arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the Share Purchase (whether at law or equity, in contract,
in tort or otherwise) and (B) each party waives, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable Law, any and all other rights,
claims and causes of action resulting from, arising out of or relating to, this Agreement or the Share Purchase that it may have
against the other party or their Representatives (whether at law or equity, in contract, in tort or otherwise). The foregoing
sentence shall not preclude any party from seeking any remedy, or asserting any right, claim or cause of action, (x) with respect
to covenants made in this Agreement until fully performed in accordance with their terms, (y) pursuant to the Investor Rights
Agreement or (z) with respect to Intentional Fraud.


 






    22


     


    

 


8.2             
Interpretation. Except as the context otherwise requires, the terms “either,” “or,” “neither,”
 “nor,” and “any” when used in this Agreement are not exclusive. The words “hereof,” “herein”
and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement will refer to this Agreement as a whole and
not to any particular provision of this Agreement, and section and subsection references are to this Agreement unless otherwise
specified. The headings in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and will not limit or otherwise affect
the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. All references to any Article, Section, subsection, clause or Exhibit are to the
corresponding Article, Section, subsection or clause of, or Exhibit to, this Agreement. References to a party or the parties means
a party to this Agreement or the parties to this Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires. Whenever the words “include,”
 “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they will be deemed to be followed by the words “without
limitation.” The phrases “the date of this Agreement,” “the date hereof” and terms of similar import,
unless the context otherwise requires, will be deemed to refer to the date set forth in the first paragraph of this Agreement.
The meanings given to terms defined herein will be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of such terms. The
term “dollars” and character “$”means United States dollars. All matters to be agreed to by any party must
be agreed to in writing by such party unless otherwise indicated herein. Except as otherwise specified herein, references to agreements,
policies, standards, guidelines or instruments, or to statutes or regulations, are to such agreements, policies, standards, guidelines
or instruments, or statutes or regulations, as amended or supplemented from time to time (or to successors thereto). All references
in this Agreement to the Subsidiaries of a Person shall be deemed to include all direct and indirect Subsidiaries of such Person,
unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires. References to “days” shall refer to calendar days unless
Business Days are specified. References to any party shall include such party’s successors and permitted assigns. Accounting
terms not otherwise defined have the meaning assigned to them in accordance with United States GAAP. The word “extent”
in the phrase “to the extent” shall mean the degree to which a subject or other theory extends, and such phrase shall
not mean “if.”


 


8.3              Notices.
All notices, requests, consents, and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed
delivered (a) three (3) Business Days after being sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage
prepaid, (b) one (1) Business Day after being sent via a reputable nationwide overnight courier service guaranteeing next
business day delivery or (c) on the date of delivery if delivered personally or (d) on the date of delivery if delivered via
facsimile or e-mail (if confirmation of transmission is received by the sender or no failure message is generated), in each
case to the intended recipient as set forth below:


 


(a)          
if to the Company, addressed as follows:


 


Ares Management Corporation


2000 Avenue of the Stars


12th Floor


Los Angeles, CA 90067


Attention: Naseem Sagati Aghili, General Counsel

Email: nsagati@aresmgmt.com


 






    23


     


    

 


with copies (which shall not constitute notice) to:


 


Kirkland & Ellis LLP

2049 Century Park East

Suite 3700

Los Angeles, California 90067

Attention: Jonathan Benloulou, P.C.; Pippa Bond, P.C.

Fax: (310) 552-5900

Email:      jonathan.benloulou@kirkland.com,

                 pippa.bond@kirkland.com


 


(b)              
if to the Investor, addressed as follows:


 


Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation


277 Park Avenue


New York, NY 10172, U.S.A.

Attn:       Daisuke Tanaka


               Tomohiro
Homma


               Atsushi Kubo


Email:     Daisuke_Tanaka_ny@smbcgroup.com


               Tomohiro_Homma@smbcgroup.com


               Atsushi_Kubo@smbcgroup.com


 


with copies (which shall not constitute notice) to:


 


Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

One Manhattan West, 401 9th Avenue

New York, New York 10001

Attention:          Sven G. Mickisch

                           Michael J. Zeidel

Email:                Sven.Mickisch@skadden.com

                           Michael.Zeidel@skadden.com


 


Any party may change the address to which notices, requests,
consents or other communications hereunder are to be delivered by giving the other parties notice in the manner set forth in this
Section 8.3. Legal counsel for any party (as specified in this Section 8.3) may send to any other party
any notices, requests, demands or other communications required or permitted to be given under this Agreement by such party on
behalf of such party.


 


8.4             
Severability. In the event that any provision of this Agreement, or the application thereof, becomes, or is declared
by a court of competent jurisdiction to be, illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of this Agreement will continue in full
force and effect and the application of such provision to other persons or circumstances will be interpreted so as reasonably to
effect the intent of the parties. The parties further agree to replace such void or unenforceable provision of this Agreement with
a valid and enforceable provision that will achieve, to the extent possible, the economic, business and other purposes of such
void or unenforceable provision.


 






    24


     


    

 


8.5             
Governing Law; Jurisdiction; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.


 


(a)              
This Agreement, and all claims or causes of action (whether in contract, tort or otherwise) that may be based upon, arise
out of or relate to this Agreement, or the negotiation, execution, administration, performance or enforcement of this Agreement
(“Transaction Litigation”),
shall be governed by and enforced and construed in accordance with the Laws of the State of Delaware (including its statute of
limitations), regardless of the Laws that might otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflicts of law thereof.


 


(b)              
Each of the parties irrevocably (i) agrees that any action, suit, proceeding or counterclaim brought by any party arising
out of or based upon any Transaction Litigation shall be instituted in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (provided,
that if jurisdiction is not then available in such court, then any such action, suit, proceeding or counterclaim shall be brought
in any federal court located in the State of Delaware or in any other Delaware state court) (any of the foregoing Delaware courts,
a “Delaware Court”);
(ii) waives, to the fullest extent it may effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of
venue of any such proceeding; and (iii) submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of a Delaware Court in any such action, suit,
proceeding or counterclaim. Any final and nonappealable judgment against any party in any Transaction Litigation shall be conclusive
and may be enforced in any other jurisdiction within or outside the United States by suit on judgment, a certified copy of which
shall be conclusive evidence of the fact and amount of such judgment.


 


(c)               EACH
OF THE PARTIES HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY TRANSACTION LITIGATION. EACH PARTY AGREES AND
ACKNOWLEDGES THAT: (I) NO REPRESENTATIVE OF THE OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY
WOULD NOT, IF THERE IS ANY TRANSACTION LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER; (II) SUCH PARTY UNDERSTANDS AND HAS
CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS WAIVER; (III) SUCH PARTY MAKES THIS WAIVER VOLUNTARILY; AND (IV) THE OTHER PARTY HAS BEEN
INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATES IN THIS SECTION 8.5(c).


 


8.6             
Delays or Omissions; Waiver. No delay or omission to exercise any right, power, or remedy accruing to a party upon
any breach or default of another party under this Agreement shall impair any such right, power, or remedy of such party, nor shall
it be construed to be a waiver of any such breach or default, or an acquiescence therein, or of or in any similar breach or default
thereafter occurring. Nor shall any waiver of any single breach or default be deemed a waiver of any other breach or default theretofore
or thereafter occurring. No waiver of any term, provision or condition of this Agreement, whether by conduct or otherwise, in any
one or more instances, shall be deemed to be, or be construed as, a further or continuing waiver of any such term, provision or
condition or as a waiver of any other term, provision or condition of this Agreement. Any agreement on the part of a party or the
parties to any waiver shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed on behalf of such party or parties, as
applicable, from whom such waiver is sought. Any delay in exercising any right under this Agreement shall not constitute a waiver
of such right.


 






    25


     


    

 


8.7             
Specific Performance. The parties agree that the obligations imposed on them in this Agreement are special, unique
and of an extraordinary character, and that irreparable damages for which money damages, even if available, would not be an adequate
remedy, would occur in the event that the parties do not perform the provisions of this Agreement in accordance with its specified
terms or otherwise breach such provisions. The parties acknowledge and agree that the parties shall be entitled to an injunction,
specific performance and other equitable relief to prevent or restrain breaches or threatened breaches of this Agreement and to
enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof. The rights in this Section 8.7 are in addition to any other remedy
to which a party may be entitled at law or in equity, and the exercise by a party of one remedy shall not preclude the exercise
of any other remedy. The parties further agree to waive any requirement for the securing or posting of any bond or other security
in connection with the obtaining of any such injunctive or other equitable relief. Each of the parties agrees that it will not
oppose the granting of an injunction, specific performance and other equitable relief as provided herein on the basis that (x)
any party has an adequate remedy at law or (y) an award of specific performance is not an appropriate remedy for any reason at
law or equity.


 


8.8             
Fees; Expenses. All fees and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated
hereby and thereby shall be paid by the party incurring them, whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby are
consummated.


 


8.9             
Assignment. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations under this Agreement shall be
assigned, in whole or in part, by operation of Law or otherwise by either of the parties without the prior written consent of the
other party. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement shall be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable
by the parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns. Any purported assignment other than in compliance with the
terms hereof shall be void ab initio.


 


8.10          No
Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties and their
respective successors and permitted assigns. This Agreement does not create any rights, claims or benefits inuring to any
Person that is not a party to this Agreement nor create or establish any third party beneficiary hereto. Without limiting the
foregoing, the representations and warranties in this Agreement are the product of negotiations among the parties and are for
the sole benefit of the parties. In some instances, the representations and warranties in this Agreement may represent an
allocation among the parties of risks associated with particular matters regardless of the knowledge of either of the
parties. Consequently, Persons other than the parties to this Agreement may not rely upon the representations and warranties
in this Agreement as characterizations of actual facts or circumstances as of the date of this Agreement or as of any other
date.


 


8.11         
Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed and delivered (including by facsimile or electronic transmission) in
any number of counterparts, and by the different parties in separate counterparts, each of which when executed shall be deemed
an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute a single instrument.


 






    26


     


    

 


8.12         
Entire Agreement; Amendments. This Agreement and the documents and instruments and other agreements among the parties
to this Agreement as contemplated by or referred to herein, including Exhibit A and Exhibit B, constitute
the entire agreement between the parties respecting the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior agreements, negotiations,
understandings, representations and statements respecting the subject matter hereof, whether written or oral. No modification,
alteration or change in any of the terms of this Agreement shall be valid or binding upon the parties unless made in writing and
duly executed by the Company and the Investor.


 


8.13         
Drafting. Each of the parties acknowledges that it has (a) been represented by independent counsel of its choice
throughout all negotiations that have preceded the execution of this Agreement and (b) executed the same with consent and upon
the advice of said independent counsel. The parties have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement.
Consequently, in the event an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if
drafted jointly by the parties, and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of
the authorship of any of the provisions of this Agreement.


 


[Remainder of the Page Intentionally
Left Blank]


 






    27


     


    

 


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused
this Agreement to be executed by their duly appointed officers as of the date first above written.


	 	 
	 	INVESTOR:
	 	 
	 	SUMITOMO MITSUI BANKING 

CORPORATION
	 	 
	 	By:	      /s/ Yoshihiro Hyakutome
	 	   Name: Yoshihiro Hyakutome
	 	   Title:   Managing Executive Officer

               CEO,
    Americas Division
	 	 
	 	COMPANY:
	 	 
	 	ARES MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
	 	 
	 	By:	      /s/ Michael J Arougheti
	 	  Name: Michael J Arougheti
	 	  Title:   Chief Executive Officer




 


[Signature Page
to Share Purchase Agreement]


 






     


     


    

 


Exhibit A


 


Form of Amended and Restated Charter


 


(see attached)


 






     


     


    

 


Exhibit B


 


Form of Investor Rights Agreement


 


(see attached)


 






     


     


    

 


Exhibit C


 


Form of Stockholder Written Consent


 


(see attached)


 






     


     


    

 


Exhibit D


 


Wire Information


 









     


     


    

 


Exhibit E


 


AST Acknowledgement Letter


 


(see attached)


 






     


     


    

 


Exhibit F


 


Form of Opinion


 


(see attached)