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) July 30, 2014

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 5.02.  Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

On July 30, 2014, the board of directors (the “Board”) of Ares Capital Corporation (the “Company”) appointed (i) Michael J. Arougheti and current Chairman Bennett Rosenthal to serve as Co-Chairmen of the Board, (ii) R. Kipp deVeer as Chief Executive Officer of the Company to replace Mr. Arougheti, who most recently served as Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and (iii) Mitchell S. Goldstein and Michael L. Smith as Co-Presidents of the Company to replace Mr. deVeer, who most recently served as President of the Company.

Biographical and other information about Messrs. Arougheti, deVeer, Goldstein, Rosenthal and Smith can be found in the Company’s definitive proxy statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 18, 2014 and is incorporated by reference into this Item 5.02.

Item 7.01  Regulation FD Disclosure.

On August 5, 2014, the Company issued a press release, included herewith as Exhibit 99.1, announcing the appointments set forth in Item 5.02.

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:

2

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.

3

Exhibit Index

4