10-Q – 2025-10-28 – arcc-20250930.htm

Investments for which market quotations are readily available are typically valued at such market quotations. In order to validate market quotations, the Valuation Designee looks at a number of factors to determine if the quotations are representative of fair value, including the source and nature of the quotations. Debt and equity securities that are not publicly traded or whose market prices are not readily available (i.e., substantially all of our investments) are valued at least quarterly at fair value as determined in good faith by the Valuation Designee, subject to the oversight of our board of directors, based on, among other things, the input of our independent third‑party valuation providers (“IVPs”) that have been engaged to support the valuation of such portfolio investments quarterly, beginning as of the third quarter after origination (with certain de minimis exceptions) and under a valuation policy and a consistently applied valuation process. The valuation process is conducted at the end of each fiscal quarter by the Valuation Designee, and beginning with the first quarter of 2025, substantially all investments in our investment portfolio at fair value are subject to review by an IVP each quarter, as discussed further below. However, we may use these IVPs to review the value of our investments more frequently, including in connection with the occurrence of significant events or changes in value affecting a particular investment. In addition, our independent registered public accounting firm obtains an understanding of, and performs select procedures relating to, our valuation process within the context of performing our integrated audit.
 
As part of the valuation process, the Valuation Designee may take into account the following types of factors, if relevant, in determining the fair value of our investments: the enterprise value of a portfolio company (the entire value of the portfolio company to a market participant, including the sum of the values of debt and equity securities used to capitalize the enterprise at a point in time), the nature and realizable value of any collateral, the portfolio company’s ability to make payments and its earnings and discounted cash flow, the markets in which the portfolio company does business, a comparison of the portfolio company’s securities to any similar publicly traded securities, changes in the interest rate environment and the credit markets, which may affect the price at which similar investments would trade in their principal markets and other relevant factors. When an external event such as a purchase transaction, public offering or subsequent sale occurs, the Valuation Designee considers the pricing indicated by the external event to corroborate the valuation.

Because there is not a readily available market value for most of the investments in our portfolio, substantially all of our portfolio investments are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Valuation Designee, as described herein. Due to the inherent uncertainty of determining the fair value of investments that do not have a readily available market value, the fair value of our investments may fluctuate from period to period. Additionally, the fair value of our investments may differ significantly from the values that would have been used had a ready market existed for such investments and may differ materially from the values that we may ultimately realize. Further, such investments are generally subject to legal and other restrictions on resale or otherwise are less liquid than publicly traded securities. If we were required to liquidate a portfolio investment in a forced or liquidation sale, we could realize significantly less than the value at which we have recorded it.

In addition, changes in the market environment and other events that may occur over the life of the investments may cause the gains or losses ultimately realized on these investments to be different than the unrealized gains or losses reflected in the valuations currently assigned.

The Valuation Designee, subject to the oversight of our board of directors, undertakes a multi‑step valuation process each quarter, as described below:

• Our quarterly valuation process begins with a preliminary valuation being prepared by the investment professionals responsible for the portfolio investment in conjunction with our portfolio management and valuation team.

• Preliminary valuations are reviewed and discussed by the valuation committee of the Valuation Designee.

• When a portfolio investment is reviewed by an IVP:

◦ Relevant information related to the portfolio investment is made available by the Valuation Designee to the IVP, who does not independently verify such information.

◦ The IVP reviews and analyzes the information provided by the Valuation Designee, along with relevant market and economic data, and independently determines a range of values for the portfolio investment.

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◦ The IVP provides its analysis to the Valuation Designee to support the IVP’s valuation methodology and calculations.

• The valuation committee of the Valuation Designee determines the fair value of each investment in our portfolio without a readily available market quotation in good faith based on, among other things, the input of the IVPs, where applicable.

• When a portfolio investment is reviewed by an IVP, a positive assurance opinion or independent valuation report is issued by the IVP that confirms the fair value determined by the Valuation Designee for the portfolio investment is within the range of values independently calculated by such IVP.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

We follow ASC 825-10, R ecognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities (“ASC 825-10”), which provides companies the option to report selected financial assets and liabilities at fair value. ASC 825-10 also establishes presentation and disclosure requirements designed to facilitate comparisons between companies that choose different measurement attributes for similar types of assets and liabilities and a better understanding of the effect of the company’s choice to use fair value on its earnings. ASC 825-10 also requires entities to display the fair value of the selected assets and liabilities on the face of the balance sheet. We have not elected the ASC 825-10 option to report selected financial assets and liabilities at fair value. With the exception of the line items entitled “other assets” and “debt,” which are reported at amortized cost, the carrying value of all other assets and liabilities approximate fair value.

We also follow ASC 820-10, which expands the application of fair value accounting. ASC 820-10 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in accordance with GAAP and expands disclosure of fair value measurements. ASC 820-10 determines fair value to be the price that would be received for an investment in a current sale, which assumes an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. ASC 820-10 requires us to assume that the portfolio investment is sold in its principal market to market participants or, in the absence of a principal market, the most advantageous market, which may be a hypothetical market. Market participants are defined as buyers and sellers in the principal or most advantageous market that are independent, knowledgeable, and willing and able to transact. In accordance with ASC 820-10, we have considered its principal market as the market in which we exit our portfolio investments with the greatest volume and level of activity. ASC 820-10 specifies a hierarchy of valuation techniques based on whether the inputs to those valuation techniques are observable or unobservable. In accordance with ASC 820-10, these inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:

• Level 1 - Valuations based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that we have the ability to access.

• Level 2 - Valuations based on quoted prices in markets that are not active or for which all significant inputs are observable, either directly or indirectly.

• Level 3 - Valuations based on inputs that are unobservable and significant to the overall fair value measurement.

In addition to using the above inputs in investment valuations, the Valuation Designee continues to employ its net asset valuation policy and procedures that have been reviewed by our board of directors in connection with their designation of our investment adviser as the valuation designee and are consistent with the provisions of Rule 2a-5 under the Investment Company Act and ASC 820-10. Consistent with its valuation policy and procedures, the Valuation Designee evaluates the source of inputs, including any markets in which our investments are trading (or any markets in which securities with similar attributes are trading), in determining fair value. Because there is not a readily available market value for most of the investments in our portfolio, the fair value of the investments must typically be determined using unobservable inputs.

Our portfolio investments (other than as described below in the following paragraph) are typically valued using two different valuation techniques. The first valuation technique is an analysis of the enterprise value (“EV”) of the portfolio company. EV means the entire value of the portfolio company to a market participant, including the sum of the values of debt and equity securities used to capitalize the enterprise at a point in time. The primary method for determining EV uses a multiple analysis whereby appropriate multiples are applied to the portfolio company’s EBITDA (generally defined as net income before net interest expense, income tax expense, depreciation and amortization). EBITDA multiples are typically determined based upon review of market comparable transactions and publicly traded comparable companies, if any. The Valuation Designee may also employ other valuation multiples to determine EV, such as revenues or, in the case of certain portfolio companies in the power generation industry, kilowatt capacity. The second method for determining EV uses a discounted cash flow analysis
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whereby future expected cash flows of the portfolio company are discounted to determine a present value using estimated discount rates (typically a weighted average cost of capital based on costs of debt and equity consistent with current market conditions). The EV analysis is performed to determine the value of equity investments, the value of debt investments in portfolio companies where we have control or could gain control through an option or warrant security, and to determine if there is credit impairment for debt investments. If debt investments are credit impaired, an EV analysis may be used to value such debt investments; however, in addition to the methods outlined above, other methods such as a liquidation or wind-down analysis may be utilized to estimate EV. The second valuation technique is a yield analysis, which is typically performed for non-credit impaired debt investments in portfolio companies where we do not own a controlling equity position. To determine fair value using a yield analysis, a current price is imputed for the investment based upon an assessment of the expected market yield for a similarly structured investment with a similar level of risk. In the yield analysis, the Valuation Designee considers the current contractual interest rate, the maturity and other terms of the investment relative to the risk of the company and the specific investment. A key determinant of risk, among other things, is the leverage through the investment relative to the EV of the portfolio company. As debt investments held by us are substantially illiquid with no active transaction market, the Valuation Designee depends on primary market data, including newly funded transactions, as well as secondary market data with respect to high yield debt instruments and syndicated loans, as inputs in determining the appropriate market yield, as applicable.

For other portfolio investments such as investments in the SDLP Certificates and IHAM, discounted cash flow analysis is the primary technique utilized to determine fair value. Expected future cash flows associated with the investment are discounted to determine a present value using a discount rate that reflects estimated market return requirements.

See Note 8 to our consolidated financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 for more information on our valuation process.

Item 3.    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

We are subject to financial market risks, including changes in interest rates and the valuations of our investment portfolio. Uncertainty with respect to the imposition of tariffs on and trade disputes with certain countries, the fluctuations in global interest rates, the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, the conflicts in the Middle East and concerns over future increases in inflation or adverse investor sentiment generally, introduced significant volatility in the financial markets, and the effects of this volatility has materially impacted and could continue to materially impact our market risks, including those listed below. For more information concerning these risks and their potential impact on our business and our operating results, see “Risk Factors—General Risk Factors—Global economic, political and market conditions, including uncertainty about the financial stability of the United States, could have a significant adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations”, “Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Investments—Economic recessions or downturns could impair our portfolio companies and harm our operating results” and “Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Business—Inflation has adversely affected and may continue to adversely affect the business, results of operations and financial condition of our portfolio companies” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, filed with the SEC on February 5, 2025.

Investment Valuation Risk

Because there is not a readily available market value for most of the investments in our portfolio, substantially all of our portfolio investments are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by our investment adviser, as the valuation designee, subject to the oversight of our board of directors based on, among other things, the input of our independent third-party valuation providers (“IVPs”) that have been engaged to support the valuation of each portfolio investment without a readily available market quotation quarterly, beginning as of the third quarter after origination (with certain de minimis exceptions). Due to the inherent uncertainty of determining the fair value of investments that do not have a readily available market value, the fair value of our investments may fluctuate from period to period. Additionally, the fair value of our investments may differ significantly from the values that would have been used had a ready market existed for such investments and may differ materially from the values that we may ultimately realize. Further, such investments are generally subject to legal and other restrictions on resale or otherwise are less liquid than publicly traded securities. If we were required to liquidate a portfolio investment in a forced or liquidation sale, we could realize significantly less than the value at which we have recorded it. In addition, changes in the market environment and other events that may occur over the life of the investments may cause the gains or losses ultimately realized on these investments to be different than the unrealized gains or losses reflected in the valuations currently assigned. See “Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Critical Accounting Estimates” as well as Notes 2 and 8 to our consolidated financial statements for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 for more information relating to our investment valuation.

Interest Rate Risk
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Interest rate sensitivity refers to the change in our earnings that may result from changes in the level of interest rates. Because we fund a portion of our investments with borrowings, our net investment income is affected by the difference between the rate at which we invest and the rate at which we borrow. As a result, there can be no assurance that a significant change in market interest rates will not have a material adverse effect on our net investment income. See “Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Business—We are exposed to risks associated with changes in interest rates, including the current interest rate environment” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, filed with the SEC on February 5, 2025.
 
In a prolonged low interest rate environment, the difference between the total interest income earned on interest earning assets and the total interest expense incurred on interest bearing liabilities may be compressed, reducing our net income and potentially adversely affecting our operating results. Conversely, in a rising interest rate environment, such difference could potentially increase thereby increasing our net income as indicated per the table below.

As of September 30, 2025, 71% of the investments at fair value in our portfolio bore interest and dividends at variable rates (including our investment in the SDLP Certificates which accounted for 4% of our total investments at fair value), 12% bore interest at fixed rates, 9% were non-income producing, 1% were on non-accrual status and 7% was our equity investment in IHAM which generally pays a quarterly dividend. Additionally, excluding our investment in the SDLP Certificates, 98% of the remaining variable rate investments at fair value contained interest rate floors. The Credit Facilities, the April 2036 CLO Notes and the October 2036 CLO Secured Loans bear interest at variable rates with no interest rate floors. The Unsecured Notes bear interest at fixed rates, except that the January 2027 Notes, the March 2029 Notes, the July 2029 Notes and the September 2030 Notes have been swapped from a fixed rate to a floating rate through interest rate swaps. The January 2031 Notes and March 2032 Notes have been swapped from a fixed rate to a floating rate through a forward starting interest rate swap, with an effective date of July 15, 2026 and January 8, 2026, respectively. See Note 5 to our consolidated financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 for more information on our debt obligations. See Note 6 to our consolidated financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 for more information on the interest rate swaps.
 
We regularly measure our exposure to interest rate risk. We assess interest rate risk and manage our interest rate exposure on an ongoing basis by comparing our interest rate sensitive assets to our interest rate sensitive liabilities. Based on that review, we determine whether or not any hedging transactions are necessary to mitigate exposure to changes in interest rates.

Based on our September 30, 2025 balance sheet, the following table shows the annualized impact on net income of base rate changes in interest rates (considering interest rate floors for variable rate instruments) assuming no changes in our investment and borrowing structure:

(in millions)
Basis Point Change Interest and Dividend
Income Interest
Expense(1) Net
Income(2)
Up 300 basis points $ 618  $ 281  $ 337 
Up 200 basis points $ 412  $ 187  $ 225 
Up 100 basis points $ 206  $ 94  $ 112 
Down 100 basis points $ (206) $ (94) $ (112)
Down 200 basis points $ (408) $ (187) $ (221)
Down 300 basis points $ (602) $ (281) $ (321)

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(1) Includes the impact to interest expense related to the interest rate swaps.

(2) Excludes the impact of any income based fee. See Note 3 to our consolidated financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025 for more information on the income based fee.

Item 4.    Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures (as that term is defined in Rules 13a‑15(e) and 15d‑15(e) under the Exchange Act) that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports under the Exchange Act is
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recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures. Any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives. Our management, with the participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of September 30, 2025. Based upon that evaluation and subject to the foregoing, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that, as of September 30, 2025, the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to accomplish their objectives at the reasonable assurance level.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a‑15(f) and 15d‑15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the quarter ended September 30, 2025 that have materially affected, or that are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II — OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.    Legal Proceedings
    
From time to time, we, our executive officers, directors and our investment adviser, its affiliates and/or any of their respective principals and employees are subject to legal proceedings, including those arising from our investments in our portfolio companies, and as a result, incur significant costs and expenses in connection with such legal proceedings.

We and our investment adviser are also subject to extensive regulation, which, from time to time, results in requests for information from us or our investment adviser or regulatory proceedings or investigations against us or our investment adviser, respectively. We incur significant costs and expenses in connection with any such information requests, proceedings and investigations.

Item 1A.     Risk Factors

In addition to the other information set forth in this report, you should carefully consider the risk factors described in Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, which could materially affect our business, financial condition and/or operating results. The risks described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, are not the only risks facing us. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and/or operating results.

Item 2.     Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
 
We did not sell any equity securities during the period covered in this report that were not registered under the Securities Act.

Dividend Reinvestment Plan

During the quarter ended September 30, 2025, as part of our dividend reinvestment plan for our common stockholders, we did not purchase shares of our common stock in the open market in order to satisfy the reinvestment portion of our dividends.

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Stock Repurchase Program

In February 2025, our board of directors authorized an amendment to our existing stock repurchase program to extend the expiration date of the program from February 15, 2025 to February 15, 2026. Under the program, we may repurchase up to $1.0 billion in the aggregate of our outstanding common stock in the open market at certain thresholds below our net asset value per share, in accordance with the guidelines specified in Rule 10b-18 of the Exchange Act. The timing, manner, price and amount of any share repurchases will be determined by us, in our sole discretion, based upon an evaluation of economic and market conditions, stock price, applicable legal and regulatory requirements and other factors. The stock repurchase program will be in effect through February 15, 2026, unless extended or until the approved dollar amount has been used to repurchase shares. The stock repurchase program does not require us to repurchase any specific number of shares of common stock or any shares of common stock at all. Consequently, we cannot assure stockholders that any specific number of shares of common stock, if any, will be repurchased under the stock repurchase program. The program may be suspended, extended, modified or discontinued at any time.

During the quarter ended September 30, 2025, there were no repurchases of our common stock under our stock repurchase program. As of September 30, 2025, the approximate dollar value of shares that may yet be purchased under the program was $1.0 billion.

Item 3.     Defaults Upon Senior Securities
 
Not applicable.

Item 4.     Mine Safety Disclosures
 
Not applicable.

Item 5.    Other Information

Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plans

During the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2025, none of our directors or executive officers adopted or terminated any contract, instruction or written plan for the purchase or sale of our securities intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c) or any “non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement.”

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Item 6.     Exhibits.    
  EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit Number   Description
3.1
  Articles of Amendment and Restatement, as amended (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Form 10-Q (File No. 814-00663) for the quarter ended March 31, 2023, filed on April 25, 2023).
3.2
  Third Amended and Restated Bylaws, as amended (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Form 10-K (File No. 814-00663) for the year ended December 31, 2018, filed on February 12, 2019).
4.1
Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of September 9, 2025, relating to the 5.100% Notes due 2031, between the Company and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Form 8-K (File No. 814-00663), filed on September 9, 2025).
4.2
Form of 5.100% Notes due 2031 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Company’s Form 8-K (File No. 814-00663), filed on September 9, 2025).

10. 1
Amendment No. 12, dated as of July 25, 2025, among Ares Capital JB Funding LLC, as borrower, Ares Capital Corporation, as servicer and transferor, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, as administrative agent, lender and collateral agent, Citizens Bank, N.A., as lender, and Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, Limited, New York Branch, as lender (amending the Loan and Servicing Agreement, dated as of January 20, 2012) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Form 10-Q (File No. 814-00663) for the quarter ended June 30, 2025, filed on July 29, 2025).
10. 2
Amendment No. 18 to Loan and Servicing Agreement, dated as of July 28, 2025, among Ares Capital CP Funding LLC, as the borrower, Ares Capital Corporation, as the servicer, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as the agent, the lenders party thereto, U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee and U.S. Bank National Association, as bank and collateral custodian (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Form 10-Q (File No. 814-00663) for the quarter ended June 30, 2025, filed on July 29, 2025).

31.1
  Certification by Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002*
31.2
  Certification by Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002*
32.1
  Certification by Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002**
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*    Filed herewith
**    This certification is not deemed filed by the SEC and is not to be incorporated by reference in any filing we make under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, irrespective of any general incorporation language in any filings.
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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 thereunto duly authorized.

  
  ARES CAPITAL CORPORATION
   
   
Date: October 28, 2025 By /s/ M. KORT SCHNABEL
    M. Kort Schnabel
Chief Executive Officer
     
Date: October 28, 2025 By /s/ SCOTT C. LEM
    Scott C. Lem
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

Date: October 28, 2025 By /s/ PAUL CHO
    Paul Cho
Chief Accounting Officer

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