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) June 22, 2020

ARES CAPITAL CORPORATION

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

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

(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):

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

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

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

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

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b-2 of this chapter).

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨

Item 5.07 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

Annual Meeting of Stockholders

On June 22, 2020, Ares Capital Corporation (the “Company”) held its annual meeting of stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”). The issued and outstanding shares of stock of the Company entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting consisted of the 425,092,393 shares of common stock outstanding at the close of business on the record date, March 25, 2020. At the Annual Meeting, the Company’s stockholders voted on the following proposals and the Company’s inspector of election certified the vote tabulations indicated below.

Proposal 1

The nominees listed below were elected as Class I directors of the Company to serve until the 2023 annual meeting of stockholders, and until their respective successors are duly elected and qualify, based on the following votes:

Proposal 2

The proposal to ratify the selection of KPMG LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2020 was approved, based on the following votes:

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.