Ares Capital Corporation is a specialty finance company, which primarily invests in U.S. middle-market companies. The company offers customized financing solutions, ranging from senior-debt instruments to equity capital, with a focus on senior secured debt. Other major investment areas were commercial & professional services, diversified financials, and insurance services. Ares Capital is structured as a non-diversified closed-end management investment company, regulated as a business development company under the Investment Company Act of 1940. It is treated as a regulated investment company ('RIC') for income-tax purposes. To maintain its RIC status, Ares Capital must distribute the majority of its investment income.