UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported) September 14, 2012

ARES CAPITAL CORPORATION

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (212) 750-7300

N/A

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

o            Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o            Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o            Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o            Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

On September 14, 2012, Ares Capital Corporation (the “Registrant”) and Ares Capital JB Funding LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Registrant (“ACJB LLC”), entered into an amendment (the “SMBC Amendment”) to the documents governing ACJB LLC’s revolving funding facility (the “SMBC Funding Facility”) with Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation and each of the other parties thereto.  The SMBC Amendment, among other things, (a) increased the size of the SMBC Funding Facility from $200 million to $400 million, (b) extended the reinvestment period from January 20, 2015 to September 14, 2015, and (c) extended the stated maturity date from January 20, 2020 to September 14, 2020.  The interest charged on the SMBC Funding Facility remained unchanged at LIBOR plus 2.125% (with no floor) or at a “base rate” (which is the greater of a prime rate and the federal funds rate plus 0.50%) plus 1.125% (with no floor).

Borrowings under the SMBC Funding Facility are subject to various covenants and the leverage restrictions contained in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

The description above is only a summary of the material provisions of the SMBC Amendment and is qualified in its entirety by reference to a copy of the SMBC Amendment, which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this current report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference herein.

Item 2.03 Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of Registrant.

The information contained in Item 1.01 to this current report on Form 8-K is by this reference incorporated in this Item 2.03.

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.

On September 17, 2012, the Registrant issued a press release announcing that it entered into the SMBC Amendment.  A copy of the press release is filed herewith as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

The information disclosed under this Item 7.01, including Exhibit 99.1 hereto, is being furnished and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing made under the Securities Act of 1933, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)           Exhibits:

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

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Exhibit Index

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