**Exhibit 3.1**

 

**[Conformed Copy as of November 2, 2012]**

 

**CHARTER**

 

**OF**

 

**ARES CAPITAL CORPORATION**

 

**ARTICLE I**

 

**NAME**

 

The name of the corporation (the “Corporation”) is:

 

Ares Capital Corporation

 

**ARTICLE II**

 

**PURPOSE**

 

The purposes for which the Corporation is formed are to conduct and carry on the business of a business development company, subject to making an election under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules promulgated thereunder (the “1940 Act”), and to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the general laws of the State of Maryland as now or hereafter in force.

 

**ARTICLE III**

 

**PRINCIPAL OFFICE IN STATE AND RESIDENT AGENT**

 

The address of the principal office of the Corporation in the State of Maryland is c/o The Corporation Trust Incorporated, 300 East Lombard Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202.  The name and address of the resident agent of the Corporation are The Corporation Trust Incorporated, 300 East Lombard Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202.  The resident agent is a Maryland corporation.

 

----

 

**ARTICLE IV**

 

**PROVISIONS FOR DEFINING, LIMITING**

**AND REGULATING CERTAIN POWERS OF THE**

**CORPORATION AND OF THE STOCKHOLDERS AND DIRECTORS**

 

Section 4.1             Number, Classification****and Election of Directors.  The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed under the direction of the Board of Directors.  The number of directors of the Corporation is five, which number may be increased or decreased only by the Board of Directors pursuant to the Bylaws, but shall never be less than the minimum number required by the Maryland General Corporation Law (the “MGCL”).  The names of the directors who shall serve until the first annual meeting of stockholders and until their successors are duly elected and qualify are:

 

Antony P. Ressler

 

Bennett Rosenthal

 

Douglas E. Coltharp

 

Robert L. Rosen

 

Eric B. Siegel

 

These directors may increase the number of directors and may fill any vacancy, whether resulting from an increase in the number of directors or otherwise, on the Board of Directors occurring before the first annual meeting of stockholders in the manner provided in the Bylaws.

 

The Corporation elects, at such time as it becomes eligible to make the election provided for under Section 3-802(b) of the MGCL, that, subject to any requirements of the 1940 Act applicable to the Corporation and except as may be provided by the Board of Directors in setting the terms of any class or series of stock pursuant to Section 5.4 hereof, any and all

 

----

 

vacancies on the Board of Directors may be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors in office, even if the remaining directors do not constitute a quorum, and any director elected to fill a vacancy shall serve for the remainder of the full term of the directorship in which such vacancy occurred and until a successor is duly elected and qualifies.

 

On the first date on which the Corporation shall have more than one stockholder of record, the directors (other than any director elected solely by holders of one or more classes or series of stock established pursuant to Section 5.4 hereof) shall be classified, with respect to the terms for which they severally hold office, into three classes, as nearly equal in number as possible as determined by the Board of Directors, one class to hold office initially for a term expiring at the next succeeding annual meeting of stockholders, another class to hold office initially for a term expiring at the second succeeding annual meeting of stockholders and another class to hold office initially for a term expiring at the third succeeding annual meeting of stockholders, with the members of each class to hold office until their successors are duly elected and qualify.  At each annual meeting of the stockholders, the successors to the class of directors whose term expires at such meeting shall be elected to hold office for a term expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders held in the third year following the year of their election and until their successors are duly elected and qualify.

 

Section 4.2             Extraordinary Actions.  Except as specifically provided in Section 4.9 (relating to removal of directors), and in Section 6.2 (relating to certain actions and certain amendments to the charter), notwithstanding any provision of the MGCL requiring any action to be taken or approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of shares entitled to cast a greater number of votes, any such action shall be effective and valid if declared advisable by the Board

 

----

 

of Directors and taken or approved by the affirmative vote of holders of shares entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on the matter.

 

Section 4.3             Election of Directors.  Except as otherwise provided in the Bylaws of the Corporation, directors shall be elected by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of stock outstanding and entitled to vote thereon.

 

Section 4.4             Quorum.  The presence in person or by proxy of the holders of shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to cast a majority of the votes entitled to be cast (without regard to class) shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of stockholders, except with respect to any such matter that, under applicable statutes or regulatory requirements, requires approval by a separate vote of one or more classes of stock, in which case the presence in person or by proxy of the holders of shares entitled to cast a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by each such class on such a matter shall constitute a quorum.

 

Section 4.5             Authorization by Board of Stock Issuance.  The Board of Directors may authorize the issuance from time to time of shares of stock of the Corporation of any class or series, whether now or hereafter authorized, or securities or rights convertible into shares of its stock of any class or series, whether now or hereafter authorized, for such consideration as the Board of Directors may deem advisable (or without consideration in the case of a stock split or stock dividend), subject to such restrictions or limitations, if any, as may be set forth in the charter or the Bylaws.

 

Section 4.6             Preemptive Rights.  Except as may be provided by the Board of Directors in setting the terms of classified or reclassified shares of stock pursuant to Section 5.4 or as may otherwise be provided by contract, no holder of shares of stock of the Corporation 

 

----

 

shall, as such holder, have any preemptive right to purchase or subscribe for any additional shares of stock of the Corporation or any other security of the Corporation which it may issue or sell.

 

Section 4.7             Appraisal Rights.  No holder of stock of the Corporation shall be entitled to exercise the rights of an objecting stockholder under Title 3, Subtitle 2 of the MGCL or any successor statute unless the Board of Directors, upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of Directors, shall determine that such rights apply, with respect to all or any classes or series of stock, to one or more transactions occurring after the date of such determination in connection with which holders of such shares would otherwise be entitled to exercise such rights.

 

Section 4.8             Determinations by Board.  The determination as to any of the following matters, made in good faith by or pursuant to the direction of the Board of Directors consistent with the charter shall be final and conclusive and shall be binding upon the Corporation and every holder of shares of its stock:  the amount of the net income of the Corporation for any period and the amount of assets at any time legally available for the payment of dividends, redemption of its stock or the payment of other distributions on its stock; the amount of paid-in surplus, net assets, other surplus, annual or other net profit, net assets in excess of capital, undivided profits or excess of profits over losses on sales of assets; the amount, purpose, time of creation, increase or decrease, alteration or cancellation of any reserves or charges and the propriety thereof (whether or not any obligation or liability for which such reserves or charges shall have been created shall have been paid or discharged); any interpretation of the terms, preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers or rights, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or distributions, qualifications or terms or conditions of redemption of any class or series of stock of the Corporation; the fair value, or any sale, bid or asked price to be applied in determining the fair value, of any asset owned or held by the

 

----

 

Corporation or of any shares of stock of the Corporation; the number of shares of stock of any class of the Corporation; any matter relating to the acquisition, holding and disposition of any assets by the Corporation; or any other matter relating to the business and affairs of the Corporation or required or permitted by applicable law, the charter or Bylaws or otherwise to be determined by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 4.9             Removal of Directors.  Subject to the rights of holders of one or more classes or series of stock established pursuant to Section 5.4 hereof to elect or remove one or more directors, any director, or the entire Board of Directors, may be removed from office at any time only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast generally in the election of directors.** **For the purpose of this paragraph, “cause” shall mean, with respect to any particular director, conviction of a felony or a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction holding that such director caused demonstrable, material harm to the Corporation through bad faith or active and deliberate dishonesty.

 

Section 4.10           Investment Activities.  No officer or director of the Corporation, including any officer or director who also serves as a director, officer or employee of any entity that provides investment advisory services or as a member of the investment committee of any  such entity, shall be obligated to offer to the Corporation the opportunity to participate in any business or investing activity or venture that is presented to such person other than in his or her capacity as an officer or director of the Corporation.

 

----

 

**ARTICLE V**

 

**STOCK**

 

Section 5.1             Authorized Shares.  The Corporation has authority to issue 500,000,000 shares of stock, initially consisting of 500,000,000 shares of Common Stock, $.001 par value per share (“Common Stock”).  The aggregate par value of all authorized shares of stock having par value is $500,000.  If shares of one class of stock are classified or reclassified into shares of another class of stock pursuant to this Article V, the number of authorized shares of the former class shall be automatically decreased and the number of shares of the latter class shall be automatically increased, in each case by the number of shares so classified or reclassified, so that the aggregate number of shares of stock of all classes that the Corporation has authority to issue shall not be more than the total number of shares of stock set forth in the first sentence of this paragraph.  A majority of the entire Board of Directors, without any action by the stockholders of the Corporation, may amend the charter from time to time to increase or decrease the aggregate number of shares of stock or the number of shares of stock of any class or series that the Corporation has authority to issue.

 

Section 5.2             Common Stock.  Each share of Common Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to one vote.  The Board of Directors may reclassify any unissued shares of Common Stock from time to time in one or more classes or series of stock.

 

Section 5.3             Preferred Stock.  The Board of Directors may classify any unissued shares of stock and reclassify any previously classified but unissued shares of stock of any class or series from time to time, in one or more classes or series of preferred stock (“Preferred Stock”).

 

----

 

Section 5.4             Classified or Reclassified Shares.  Prior to issuance of classified or reclassified shares of any class or series, the Board of Directors by resolution shall: (a) designate that class or series to distinguish it from all other classes and series of stock of the Corporation; (b) specify the number of shares to be included in the class or series; (c) set or change, subject to the express terms of any class or series of stock of the Corporation outstanding at the time, the preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption for each class or series; and (d) cause the Corporation to file articles supplementary with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland (“SDAT”).  Any of the terms of any class or series of stock set or changed pursuant to clause (c) of this Section 5.4 may be made dependent upon facts or events ascertainable outside the charter (including determinations by the Board of Directors or other facts or events within the control of the Corporation) and may vary among holders thereof, provided that the manner in which such facts, events or variations shall operate upon the terms of such class or series of stock is clearly and expressly set forth in the articles supplementary or other charter document.

 

Section 5.5             Inspection of Books and Records.  A stockholder that is otherwise eligible under applicable law to inspect the Corporation’s books of account or stock ledger or other specified documents of the Corporation shall have no right to make such inspection if the Board of Directors determines that such stockholder has an improper purpose for requesting such inspection.

 

Section 5.6             Charter and Bylaws.  The rights of all stockholders of the Corporation, and the terms of all shares of stock in the Corporation, are subject to the provisions

 

----

 

of the charter and the Bylaws.  The Board of Directors of the Corporation shall have the exclusive power to make, alter, amend or repeal the Bylaws.

 

**ARTICLE VI**

 

**AMENDMENTS; CERTAIN EXTRAORDINARY TRANSACTIONS**

 

Section 6.1             Amendments Generally.  The Corporation reserves the right from time to time to make any amendment to its charter, now or hereafter authorized by law, including any amendment altering the terms or contract rights, as expressly set forth in the charter, of any shares of outstanding stock.  All rights and powers conferred by the charter on stockholders, directors and officers are granted subject to this reservation.

 

Section 6.2             Approval of Certain Extraordinary Actions and Charter Amendments.

 

(a)  Required Votes.  The affirmative vote of the holders of shares entitled to cast at least 80 percent of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter, each voting as a separate class, shall be necessary to effect:

 

(i)  Any amendment to the charter of the Corporation to make the Corporation’s Common Stock a “redeemable security” or to convert the Corporation, whether by merger or otherwise, from a “closed-end company” to an “open-end company” (as such terms are defined in the 1940 Act);

 

(ii)  The liquidation or dissolution of the Corporation and any amendment to the charter of the Corporation to effect any such liquidation or dissolution; and

 

(iii)  Any amendment to Section 4.1, Section 4.2, Section 4.9, Section 6.1 or this Section 6.2;

 

----

 

provided, however, that, if the Continuing Directors (as defined herein), by a vote of at least two-thirds of such Continuing Directors, in addition to approval by the Board of Directors, approve such proposal or amendment, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the votes entitled to be cast shall be required to approve such matter.

 

(b)  Continuing Directors.  “Continuing Directors” means the directors identified in Article IV, Section 4.1 and the directors whose nomination for election by the stockholders or whose election by the directors to fill vacancies is approved by a majority of the Continuing Directors then on the Board.

 

**ARTICLE VII**

 

**LIMITATION OF LIABILITY; INDEMNIFICATION AND ADVANCE OF EXPENSES**

 

Section 7.1             Limitation of Liability.  To the maximum extent that Maryland law in effect from time to time permits limitation of the liability of directors and officers of a corporation, no director or officer of the Corporation shall be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for money damages.

 

Section 7.2             Indemnification and Advance of Expenses.  The Corporation shall have the power, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law in effect from time to time, to obligate itself to indemnify, and to pay or reimburse reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding to, (a) any individual who is a present or former director or officer of the Corporation or (b) any individual who, while a director of the Corporation and at the request of the Corporation, serves or has served as a director, officer, partner or trustee of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or any other enterprise from and against any claim or liability to which such person may become subject or which such person may incur by reason of his status as a present or former director or officer of the Corporation.

 

----

 

The Corporation shall have the power, with the approval of the Board of Directors, to provide such indemnification and advancement of expenses to a person who served a predecessor of the Corporation in any of the capacities described in (a) or (b) above and to any employee or agent of the Corporation or a predecessor of the Corporation.

 

Section 7.3             1940 Act.  The provisions of this Article VII shall be subject to the limitations of the 1940 Act applicable to the Corporation.

 

Section 7.4             Amendment or Repeal.  Neither the amendment nor repeal of this Article VII, nor the adoption or amendment of any other provision of the charter or Bylaws inconsistent with this Article VII, shall apply to or affect in any respect the applicability of the preceding sections of this Article VII with respect to any act or failure to act which occurred prior to such amendment, repeal or adoption.

 

----