<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001104659-05-007876
<TYPE>8-K
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>2
<PERIOD>20050223
<ITEMS>7.01
<ITEMS>9.01
<FILING-DATE>20050223
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20050223
<FILER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>ARES CAPITAL CORP
<CIK>0001287750
<IRS-NUMBER>331089684
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>MD
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>8-K
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>814-00663
<FILM-NUMBER>05632939
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>1999 AVENUE OF THE STARS
<STREET2>SUITE 1900
<CITY>LOS ANGELES
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>900067
<PHONE>3102014100
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>1999 AVENUE OF THE STARS
<STREET2>SUITE 1900
<CITY>LOS ANGELES
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>900067
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</FILER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>8-K
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a05-4046_18k.htm
<DESCRIPTION>8-K
<TEXT>
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<p style="font-weight:bold;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="5" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:18.0pt;">UNITED STATES<br>
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">WASHINGTON,
DC 20549</font></b></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<div align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">

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</font></div>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="font-weight:bold;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="5" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:18.0pt;">FORM 8-K</font></b></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="font-weight:bold;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:12.0pt;">CURRENT REPORT<br>
Pursuant to Section&nbsp;13 or 15(d) of the<br>
Securities Exchange Act of 1934</font></b></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Date of report (Date of earliest event
reported) <b><font style="font-weight:bold;">February&nbsp;23, 2005</font></b></font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="5" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:18.0pt;font-weight:bold;">ARES
CAPITAL CORPORATION</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in
Charter)</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="border:none;border-collapse:collapse;width:100.0%;">
 <tr>
  <td width="32%" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:32.0%;">
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Maryland</font></b></p>
  </td>
  <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.0%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>
  </td>
  <td width="32%" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:32.0%;">
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">000-50697</font></b></p>
  </td>
  <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.0%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>
  </td>
  <td width="32%" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:32.0%;">
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">33-1089684</font></b></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="32%" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:32.0%;">
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(State or Other Jurisdiction<br>
  of Incorporation)</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.0%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="32%" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:32.0%;">
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(Commission<br>
  File Number)</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.0%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="32%" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:32.0%;">
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(IRS Employer<br>
  Identification No.)</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="32%" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:32.0%;">
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.0%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="32%" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:32.0%;">
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.0%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="32%" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:32.0%;">
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="66%" colspan="3" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:66.0%;">
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">780 Third Avenue, 46<sup>th</sup> Floor, New York,
  NY 10017</font></b></p>
  </td>
  <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.0%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="32%" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:32.0%;">
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="66%" colspan="3" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:66.0%;">
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(Address of Principal Executive Offices)</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.0%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="32%" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:32.0%;">
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(Zip Code)</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
</table>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Registrant&#146;s
telephone number, including area code <b><font style="font-weight:bold;">(212)
750-7300</font></b></font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">N/A</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(Former
Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">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 (<i><font style="font-style:italic;">see</font></i> General
Instruction A.2. below):</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-autospace:none;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font> Written communications pursuant to Rule 425
under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)</p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#168;</font> Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12
under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)</p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#168;</font> Pre-commencement communications pursuant to
Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))</p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-autospace:none;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#168;</font> Pre-commencement communications pursuant to
Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))</p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<div style="border:none;border-top:double windowtext 9.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;">

<p style="border:none;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;padding:0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

</div>

<div style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">

<hr size="2" width="100%" noshade color="gray" align="left">

</font></div>

</div>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Item
7.01.</font></u></b><b><u><font style="font-weight:bold;"> Regulation
FD Disclosure</font></u></b><u> </u></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">The Registrant issued a press release, filed
herewith as Exhibit 99.1 and by this reference incorporated herein, on February&nbsp;23,
2005 announcing the declaration of a first quarter dividend of $0.30 per
share.&#160; The record date for the dividend
is March&nbsp;7, 2005 and it will be paid on April&nbsp;15, 2005.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="border-collapse:collapse;width:100.0%;">
 <tr>
  <td width="13%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:13.34%;">
  <p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Item 9.01</font></u>.</b></p>
  </td>
  <td width="86%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:86.66%;">
  <p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Financial Statements and Exhibits</font></u>.</b></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="13%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:13.34%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="86%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:86.66%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="13%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:13.34%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(c)</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="86%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:86.66%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Exhibits:</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
</table>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="border-collapse:collapse;width:100.0%;">
 <tr>
  <td width="11%" valign="bottom" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:11.66%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Exhibit Number</font></b></p>
  </td>
  <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.68%;">
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>
  </td>
  <td width="85%" valign="bottom" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:85.66%;">
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Description</font></b></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="11%" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:11.66%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.68%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="85%" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:85.66%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="11%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:11.66%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">99.1</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.68%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="85%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:85.66%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Press
  Release, dated as of February&nbsp;23, 2005.</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
</table>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">2</font></p>

<div style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">

<hr size="2" width="100%" noshade color="gray" align="left">

</font></div>

</div>
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<div>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">SIGNATURES</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">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.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="border-collapse:collapse;width:100.0%;">
 <tr>
  <td width="52%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:52.78%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="47%" colspan="3" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:47.22%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">ARES CAPITAL CORPORATION</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="52%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:52.78%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="47%" colspan="3" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:47.22%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="52%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:52.78%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Date:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;February&nbsp;23,
  2005</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="47%" colspan="3" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:47.22%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="52%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:52.78%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="47%" colspan="3" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:47.22%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="52%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:52.78%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="3%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.74%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">By:</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="16%" valign="top" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:16.88%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">/s/ Daniel F. Nguyen</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="26%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:26.6%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="52%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:52.78%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="3%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:3.74%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="16%" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:16.88%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="26%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:26.6%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="52%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:52.78%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="47%" colspan="3" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:47.22%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Name: Daniel F. Nguyen</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="52%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:52.78%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="47%" colspan="3" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:47.22%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Title: Chief Financial Officer</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
</table>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-indent:0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-indent:0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">3</font></p>

<div style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">

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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;text-indent:0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">EXHIBIT INDEX</font></u></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="border-collapse:collapse;width:100.0%;">
 <tr>
  <td width="11%" valign="bottom" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:11.66%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Exhibit Number</font></b></p>
  </td>
  <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.92%;">
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&nbsp;</font></b></p>
  </td>
  <td width="85%" valign="bottom" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:85.42%;">
  <p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Description</font></b></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
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  <td width="11%" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:11.66%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.92%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="85%" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:85.42%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="11%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:11.66%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">99.1</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="2%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.92%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="85%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:85.42%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Press
  Release, dated as of February&nbsp;23, 2005.</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
</table>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">4</font></p>

<div style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">

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<p align="right" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:right;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Exhibit
99.1</font></b></p>

<p align="right" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:right;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">ARES
CAPITAL CORPORATION</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">DECLARES
CASH DIVIDEND OF $0.30 PER SHARE</font></b></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">New York, NY &#150; February&nbsp;23, 2005 &#150; Ares
Capital Corporation (Nasdaq:&nbsp; ARCC) announced that its Board of Directors
has declared a first quarter cash dividend of $0.30 per share, payable on April&nbsp;15,
2005 to shareholders of record as of March&nbsp;7, 2005.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">About Ares Capital
Corporation</font></b></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<h5 style="font-weight:normal;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Ares Capital Corporation is a
closed-end, non-diversified management investment company that is regulated as
a business development company under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Its
investment objectives are to generate both current income and capital
appreciation through debt and equity investments. Ares Capital Corporation
invests primarily in first and second lien senior loans and mezzanine debt,
which in some cases may include an equity component, and, to a lesser extent,
in equity investments in private middle market companies.</font></h5>

<h5 style="font-weight:normal;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></h5>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Forward-Looking
Statements</font></b></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Statements included herein may constitute &#147;forward-looking
statements&#148; within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995.&nbsp; These statements are not guarantees of future performance or
results and involve a number of risks and uncertainties.&nbsp; Actual results
may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result
of a number of factors, including those described from time to time in our
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.&nbsp; The Company
undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statements made herein.</font></p>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p style="font-size:10.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">CONTACT</font></b>:&nbsp;
Merritt S. Hooper of Ares Capital Corporation, 310-201-4200</p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p>

<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">1</font></p>

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