Ares Capital Corporation Leads New Senior Debt Financing for Blacksmith Brands

Consumer Products Industry Veterans to Unlock Value in Portfolio of Established
Over-the-Counter Brands
NEW YORK--(Business Wire)--
Ares Capital Corporation (NASDAQ: ARCC) announced today that it structured and
lead arranged a $65 million senior secured debt financing for Blacksmith Brands,
Inc., a newly formed consumer products company backed by Charlesbank Capital
Partners LLC. Ares Capital`s investment in the senior secured debt is $32.5
million. The proceeds will be used in Blacksmith Brand`s acquisition of five
over-the-counter consumer product brands from McNEIL-PPC, Inc.

"We are confident in the ability of Blacksmith Brands` proven, experienced
management team to unlock additional value in its portfolio of branded consumer
products as they execute on the company`s growth strategy," commented Michael
Smith, Partner of Ares Capital. "We are also excited to close another deal with
our valued private equity sponsor client, Charlesbank Capital Partners."

"I am delighted to be partnering with Ares Capital," Peter Mann, Chairman and
CEO of Blacksmith, commented. "Its financial support and institutional industry
knowledge will better enable us to execute on our significant growth plans for
the business."

"Ares Capital`s creativity, speed and industry experience made the firm a
natural partner for us in our formation of Blacksmith Brands," Andrew Janower,
Managing Director of Charlesbank Capital Partners, said. "Ares Capital`s ability
to lead the financing and structure a one-stop, single security solution set the
firm apart from others-which is especially relevant given the current
difficulties in today`s financing marketplace."

"This transaction is a good example of the current opportunity we have at Ares
to take advantage of the attractive investing environment in the new-issue
market," commented Michael Arougheti, President of Ares Capital Corporation.
"Our platform is well positioned for today`s credit market environment, and we
are in a strong position to continue providing one-stop financing to leading
middle market companies as well as their sponsors."

About Blacksmith Brands Inc.

On October 29, 2009, Charlesbank Capital Partners announced the formation of
Blacksmith Brands, Inc. with the acquisition of five over-the-counter consumer
products brands from McNEIL-PPC, Inc. Blacksmith acquired the following branded
consumer products: EFFERDENT denture cleaner, EFFERGRIP denture adhesive cream,
LUDEN`S throat drops, PEDIACARE children`s cough and cold medicine and PEDIACARE
Gentle Vapors waterless vaporizer, and NASALCROM, a nasal allergy relief spray.
Blacksmith was created in partnership with 35 year industry veteran and former
Chief Executive Officer of Prestige Brands, Peter Mann, who will serve as
Chairman and CEO. Mr. Mann and his senior management team at Blacksmith have
worked together for more than 20 years, building numerous over-the-counter
brands.

About Charlesbank Capital Partners

Charlesbank Capital Partners, LLC is a middle-market private equity investment
firm managing more than $2 billion of capital. Charlesbank focuses on
management-led buyouts and growth capital financings, typically investing $50
million to $100 million per transaction in companies with enterprise values of
$100 million to $750 million. The firm seeks to partner with strong management
teams to build companies with sustainable competitive advantages and excellent
prospects for growth. For more information, visit www.charlesbank.com.

About Ares Capital Corporation

Ares Capital Corporation is a specialty finance company that provides integrated
debt and equity financing solutions to U.S. middle-market companies. Ares
Capital Corporation invests primarily in first- and second-lien loans and
mezzanine debt, which in some cases includes an equity component. To a lesser
extent, Ares Capital Corporation also makes equity investments. Ares Capital
Corporation is externally managed by Ares Capital Management LLC, an affiliate
of Ares Management LLC, an SEC registered investment advisor and alternative
asset investment management firm with approximately $30.0 billion of committed
capital under management as of September 30, 2009. Ares Capital Corporation 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. For additional information, please visit our website at
www.arescapitalcorp.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Statements included herein may constitute "forward-looking statements," which
relate to future events or our future performance or financial condition. These
statements are not guarantees of future performance or results and involve a
number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from
those in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors,
including those described from time to time in Ares Capital Corporation`s
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Ares Capital Corporation
undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statements made herein.

Ares Capital Corporation
Investors:
Carl G. Drake, CFA, 404-814-5204

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