SCHEDULE 13G/A: First Trust Entities Amend Stake in Ares Acquisition Corp II, Disclosing Sub-5% Beneficial Ownership

First Trust Merger Arbitrage Fund and affiliated entities, First Trust Capital Management L.P., First Trust Capital Solutions L.P., and FTCS Sub GP LLC, have filed an amended Schedule 13G/A disclosing their beneficial ownership in Ares Acquisition Corp II's Class A Ordinary Shares as of March 31, 2025.

Summary

• This document is an Amendment No. 1 to a Schedule 13G filing, reporting beneficial ownership of Class A Ordinary Shares of Ares Acquisition Corp II (CUSIP G33033104).
• The reporting persons are First Trust Merger Arbitrage Fund (VARBX), First Trust Capital Management L.P. (FTCM), First Trust Capital Solutions L.P. (FTCS), and FTCS Sub GP LLC (Sub GP), filing jointly.
• As of March 31, 2025, First Trust Merger Arbitrage Fund (VARBX) beneficially owned 1,830,891 shares, representing 3.66% of the Class A Ordinary Shares.
• First Trust Capital Management L.P., First Trust Capital Solutions L.P., and FTCS Sub GP LLC collectively beneficially owned 1,982,210 shares, representing 3.96% of the Class A Ordinary Shares.
• All reporting persons maintain sole voting and sole dispositive power over their respective reported shares.
• The shares were acquired and are held in the ordinary course of business and not for the purpose of changing or influencing the control of Ares Acquisition Corp II.

Sentiment

Score: 5

Explanation: Neutral. This is a factual disclosure of beneficial ownership, not containing information that would inherently indicate positive or negative sentiment about the issuer's performance or prospects.

Positives

• The filing indicates continued investment by institutional funds, which can be interpreted as a sign of ongoing confidence in the issuer.
• The reported ownership is passive, explicitly stating it is not for the purpose of changing or influencing control of the issuer, which suggests stability in the ownership structure.

Future Outlook

NA

Industry Context

NA

Stakeholder Impact

• Shareholders: Provides transparency regarding significant institutional ownership stakes, confirming the passive nature of these holdings.

Key Dates

Keywords

Ares Acquisition Corp II, Class A Ordinary Shares, Schedule 13G/A, Beneficial Ownership, First Trust Merger Arbitrage Fund, First Trust Capital Management, Investment Fund, SEC Filing, Equity Stake, Passive Investment