Ares Capital (NASDAQ:ARCC) is a specialty finance provider offering small and mid-sized businesses customized financing solutions. Ares Capital Management LLC, a subsidiary of Ares Management Corporation, manages the company. ARCC specializes in acquisition, mezzanine debt, recapitalization, restructuring and leveraged buyout transactions. Ares Commercial Finance provides asset-based cash flow solutions to small and mid-market companies.
ARCC’s investment activities focus on industries such as software, health care services, commercial and professional services, diversified financials, etc. The company offers a range of debt instruments, from senior debt instruments to equity capital, focusing on senior secured debt and debt investments ranging from $10 million to $100 million. ARCC invests through revolvers, first-lien loans, second-lien loans, unitranche (flexible business debt) structures, warrants, mezzanine debt, private high yield, subordinated debt, junior capital and non-control preferred and common equity. The company’s commitment and hold range is $30 to $500 million, and the EBITDA range is $10 to $250 million for corporate customers.
ARCC seeks to generate current income and capital appreciation through debt and equity investments and works to maximize risk-adjusted returns throughout economic cycles. ARCC’s investment committee has over 28 years of relevant experience. It invests across various industries targeting leading companies with a history of stable demonstrated competitive advantages, cash flows, identifiable growth prospects and experienced management teams.
Benefits to portfolio companies, investors and financial sponsors include dedicated and experienced professionals, access to relationships and market intelligence, deal flow, research, infrastructure, due diligence and experience with the broader Ares Management Corporation platform. Shareholder returns come from net interest and dividends from fee income, investments, and in some cases, net capital gains from equity investments. ARCC’s long-term and short-term strategies focus on maximizing relative value through economic cycles and a multi-asset class track record and experience, disciplined growth concentrated on long-term value creation, capital preservation and a long-term patient investor with permanent capital.
On January 12, 2023, Ares Capital Corporation revealed its intention to make a public offering of 9 million shares of common stock with the possibility of an additional 1.35 million shares. This offering increased from their previous offering size of nine million shares and allowed the underwriters to purchase an additional 1.5 million shares. The necessary registration statement was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 3, 2021, and became effective on the day of filing. Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, BofA Securities, UBS Investment Bank, RBC Capital Markets, LLC and Wells Fargo Securities were joint lead book-running managers.
The proceeds from the offering will repay outstanding debt from its debt facilities. Ares Capital may also use the money for general corporate purposes, such as investing in portfolio companies following its investment objective. As of December 31, 2022, Ares Capital is regulated as a business development company (BDC) and is the largest publicly traded BDC by market capitalization.
With its experienced investment committee, diverse industry investments and potential for long-term capital appreciation, ARCC is a unique finance provider in the specialty finance market.
