Ares Capital Corporation (NASDAQ: ARCC) is a specialty finance company that provides one-stop debt and equity financing solutions to U.S. middle market companies and private equity sponsors. We invest primarily in first and second lien loans (including unitranche loans) and mezzanine debt, which in some cases includes an equity component like warrants. To a lesser extent, we also make equity investments. We seek current income and capital appreciation through our debt and equity investments. We seek to originate investments in market-leading companies with a history of stable cash flows, proven competitive advantages and experienced management teams. Ares Capital strategy is to serve as a lead agent or investor in order to optimize due diligence and capital structure as well as enable active monitoring of the investment. Our strategy is to maximize risk-adjusted returns throughout economic cycles. As of March 31, 2013, our portfolio had a fair value of approximately $6.0 billion and consisted of 156 portfolio companies backed by 97 different private equity sponsors.

Ares Capital is a closed-end, non-diversified management investment company that has elected to be regulated as a business development company under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. Ares Capital is externally managed by Ares Capital Management LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ares Management LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser and alternative asset investment management firm with approximately $59 billion ⁽¹⁾ of committed capital under management as of March 31, 2013. We leverage off of the Ares Management platform, benefiting from its relationships, infrastructure, industry research, reputation and significant multi-asset class management expertise.