<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001104659-05-060104
<TYPE>8-K
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>2
<PERIOD>20051212
<ITEMS>7.01
<ITEMS>9.01
<FILING-DATE>20051212
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20051212
<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>051257008
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>780 THIRD AVENUE
<STREET2>46TH FLOOR
<CITY>NEW YORK
<STATE>NY
<ZIP>10017
<PHONE>2127507300
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>780 THIRD AVENUE
<STREET2>46TH FLOOR
<CITY>NEW YORK
<STATE>NY
<ZIP>10017
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</FILER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>8-K
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a05-21551_18k.htm
<DESCRIPTION>CURRENT REPORT OF MATERIAL EVENTS OR CORPORATE CHANGES
<TEXT>
<html>

<head>





</head>

<body lang="EN-US">

<div style="font-family:Times New Roman;">

<div style="border:none;border-top:double windowtext 9.0pt;padding:1.0pt 0in 0in 0in;">

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

<p style="border:none;font-weight:bold;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;padding:0in;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 style="border:none;font-weight:bold;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;padding:0in;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">WASHINGTON, DC 20549</font></b></p>

</div>

<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;">

<hr size="1" width="25%" noshade color="black" align="center">

</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&nbsp;8-K</font></b></p>

<p style="font-weight:bold;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></b></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)&nbsp;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 style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Date of report&#160; (Date of earliest event reported)&#160; <b><font style="font-weight:bold;">December&nbsp;12,
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 align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><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="100%" colspan="5" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:100.0%;">
  <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>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="100%" colspan="5" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:100.0%;">
  <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) (Zip Code)</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="100%" colspan="5" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:100.0%;">
  <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="100%" colspan="5" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:100.0%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><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>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="100%" colspan="5" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:100.0%;">
  <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="100%" colspan="5" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:100.0%;">
  <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;">N/A</font></b></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="100%" colspan="5" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:100.0%;">
  <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>
  </td>
 </tr>
</table>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><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;">Check the
appropriate box below if the Form&nbsp;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 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;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font> Written communications
pursuant to Rule&nbsp;425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)</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;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font> Soliciting material
pursuant to Rule&nbsp;14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)</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;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font> Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;14d-2(b)&nbsp;under the Exchange Act (17
CFR 240.14d-2(b))</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;text-indent:.5in;"><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font> Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;13e-4(c)&nbsp;under the Exchange Act (17
CFR 240.13e-4(c))</p>

<div style="border:none;border-bottom: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>

<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman">&nbsp;</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>
<!-- SEQ.=1,FOLIO='',FILE='C:\JMS\skannan\05-21551-1\task700260\21551-1-ba.htm',USER='skannan',CD='Dec  9 23:34 2005' -->


<br clear="all" style="page-break-before:always;">


<div style="font-family:Times New Roman;">

<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;"><b><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Item 7.01. Regulation
FD Disclosure</font></u></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;">The Registrant issued a press release, filed
herewith as Exhibit&nbsp;99.1 and by this reference incorporated herein, on December&nbsp;12,
2005 announcing the declaration of a fourth quarter dividend of $0.34 per
share.&#160; The record date for the dividend
is December&nbsp;22, 2005 and it will be paid on January&nbsp;16, 2006.</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><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Item
9.01</font></u>.</b><b><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;font-weight:bold;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><u>Financial
Statements and Exhibits</u>.</b></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 1.0in;text-indent:-1.0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(c)</font><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font>Exhibits:</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="11%" valign="top" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:11.58%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Exhibit&nbsp;Number</font></b></p>
  </td>
  <td width="5%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:5.84%;">
  <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="82%" valign="top" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:82.58%;">
  <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:11.58%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="5%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:5.84%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="82%" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:82.58%;">
  <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:11.58%;">
  <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="5%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:5.84%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="82%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:82.58%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Press
  Release, dated as of December&nbsp;12, 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>
<!-- SEQ.=1,FOLIO='2',FILE='C:\JMS\skannan\05-21551-1\task700260\21551-1-ba.htm',USER='skannan',CD='Dec  9 23:34 2005' -->


<br clear="all" style="page-break-before:always;">


<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 style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><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="60%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:60.5%;">
  <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="39%" colspan="3" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:39.5%;">
  <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="60%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:60.5%;">
  <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="39%" colspan="3" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:39.5%;">
  <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="5%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:5.42%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Date:</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="94%" colspan="4" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:94.58%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">December 12,
  2005</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
  <td width="60%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:60.5%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="39%" colspan="3" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:39.5%;">
  <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="60%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:60.5%;">
  <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:3.5%;">
  <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="33%" valign="top" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:33.66%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;&nbsp;/s/ Daniel F. Nguyen</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="2%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:2.34%;">
  <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="60%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:60.5%;">
  <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="39%" colspan="3" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:39.5%;">
  <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="60%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:60.5%;">
  <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="39%" colspan="3" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:39.5%;">
  <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="60%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:60.5%;">
  <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="39%" colspan="3" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:39.5%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:0in;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Title:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Chief Financial Officer</font></p>
  </td>
 </tr>
 <tr height="0">
  <td width="40" style="border:none;"></td>
  <td width="412" style="border:none;"></td>
  <td width="26" style="border:none;"></td>
  <td width="252" style="border:none;"></td>
  <td width="18" style="border:none;"></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;">3</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>
<!-- SEQ.=1,FOLIO='3',FILE='C:\JMS\skannan\05-21551-1\task700260\21551-1-ba.htm',USER='skannan',CD='Dec  9 23:34 2005' -->


<br clear="all" style="page-break-before:always;">


<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;"><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">EXHIBIT&nbsp;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="top" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:11.58%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="1" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:8.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Exhibit&nbsp;Number</font></b></p>
  </td>
  <td width="5%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:5.66%;">
  <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="82%" valign="top" style="border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:82.76%;">
  <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:11.58%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="5%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:5.66%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="82%" valign="top" style="border:none;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:82.76%;">
  <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:11.58%;">
  <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="5%" valign="bottom" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:5.66%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
  </td>
  <td width="82%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:82.76%;">
  <p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Press
  Release, dated as of December&nbsp;12, 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;">

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

</font></div>

</div>
<!-- SEQ.=1,FOLIO='4',FILE='C:\JMS\skannan\05-21551-1\task700260\21551-1-ba.htm',USER='skannan',CD='Dec  9 23:34 2005' -->


</body>

</html>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99.1
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>a05-21551_1ex99d1.htm
<DESCRIPTION>EXHIBIT 99
<TEXT>
<html>

<head>





</head>

<body lang="EN-US">

<div style="font-family:Times New Roman;">

<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&nbsp;99.1</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;"><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
DIVIDEND OF $0.34 PER SHARE</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;">New York, NY &#150; December&nbsp;12, 2005 &#150; Ares
Capital Corporation (Nasdaq:&nbsp; ARCC) announced that its Board of Directors
has declared a fourth quarter dividend of $0.34 per share, payable on January&nbsp;16,
2006 to stockholders of record as of December&nbsp;22, 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;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Ares Capital Corporation currently estimates
that 100% of distributions paid for the year ending December 31, 2005 will be
generated from ordinary taxable income. This allocation is only an estimate and
should not be relied upon for tax reporting purposes. Definitive tax reporting
information on Form 1099-DIV regarding distributions paid for 2005 is expected
to be mailed to shareholders in January 2006.</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>

<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>
<!-- SEQ.=1,FOLIO='1',FILE='C:\JMS\sjayara\05-21551-1\task700749\21551-1-mm.htm',USER='sjayaraman',CD='Dec 10 06:05 2005' -->


</body>

</html>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
