# EDGAR Filing Document

**Accession Number:** 0001829432
**File Stem:** 0001628280-23-007413
**Filing Date:** 2023-3
**Character Count:** 122864
**Document Hash:** 065f3250bd34778fb20ce40338ecdf29
**Contains OCR:** False
**Source Format:** 

## Filing Content

## Filing Summary
**0001628280-23-007413.hdr.sgml**: 20230310

**ACCESSION NUMBER**: 0001628280-23-007413

**CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE**: 10-K/A

**PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT**: 50

**CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT**: 20221231

**FILED AS OF DATE**: 20230310

**DATE AS OF CHANGE**: 20230309

**FILER**: 

**COMPANY DATA:**
- **COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:** Ares Acquisition Corp
- **CENTRAL INDEX KEY:** 0001829432
- **STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:** FABRICATED PLATE WORK (BOILER SHOPS) [3443]
- **IRS NUMBER:** 000000000
- **STATE OF INCORPORATION:** E9
- **FISCAL YEAR END:** 1231

**FILING VALUES:**
- **FORM TYPE:** 10-K/A
- **SEC ACT:** 1934 Act
- **SEC FILE NUMBER:** 001-39972
- **FILM NUMBER:** 23721426

**BUSINESS ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** C/O ARES MANAGEMENT LLC
- **STREET 2:** 245 PARK AVENUE, 42ND FLOOR
- **CITY:** NEW YORK
- **STATE:** NY
- **ZIP:** 10167
- **BUSINESS PHONE:** 310-201-4100

**MAIL ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** C/O ARES MANAGEMENT LLC
- **STREET 2:** 245 PARK AVENUE, 42ND FLOOR
- **CITY:** NEW YORK
- **STATE:** NY
- **ZIP:** 10167

?xml version="1.0" ? aac-20221231

<u>[**Table of Contents**](#i8d1f80a6d2074878a8b1fd2ae2b85277_10)</u>

**UNITED STATES**

**SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION**

**Washington, D.C. 20549**

**FORM 10-K/A**

**(Amendment No. 1)**

☒ **ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934**

**For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022** 

**OR**

☐ **TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934**

**For the transition period from&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; to&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;** 

**Commission File No. 001-39972** 

**ARES ACQUISITION CORPORATION** 

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **Cayman Islands** | **001-39972** | **98-1538872** |
| (State or other jurisdiction of<br>incorporation or organization) | (Commission<br>File Number) | (I.R.S. Employer<br>Identification Number) |

---

**245 Park Avenue, 44th Floor, New York, NY 10167** 

(Address of principal executive office) (Zip Code)

**(310) 201-4100** 

(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

**N/A**

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

**Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:**

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **Title of each class** | **Trading Symbol(s)** | **Name of each exchange on which registered** |
| Units, each consisting of one Class A Ordinary Share, $0.0001 par value, and one fifth of one redeemable warrant | AAC.U | New York Stock Exchange |
| Class A Ordinary Shares included as part of the units | AAC | New York Stock Exchange |
| Redeemable warrants, included as part of the units, each whole warrant exercisable for one Class A Ordinary Share at an exercise price of $11.50 | AAC WS | New York Stock Exchange |

---

**Securities registered pursuant to section 12(g) of the Act: None**

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act: Yes ☐ No ⌧

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.: Yes ☐ No ⌧

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days: Yes ⌧ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ⌧ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company." and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large Accelerated Filer ☒ Accelerated Filer ☐ Non-Accelerated Filer ☐ Smaller Reporting Company ☐ Emerging Growth Company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management's assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☐

If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that require a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant's executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☒ No ☐

The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant on June 30, 2022, based on the closing price on that date of $9.83 on the New York Stock Exchange, was approximately $983,000,000.

The Registrant's Units began trading on the New York Stock Exchange on February 2, 2021 and the Registrant's Class A ordinary shares began separate trading on the New York Stock Exchange on March 25, 2021.

As of February 21, 2023, 46,997,081 Class A ordinary shares, par value $0.0001, and 25,000,000 Class B ordinary shares, par value $0.0001, were issued and outstanding.

Documents Incorporated by Reference: None.

------

<u>[**Table of Contents**](#i8d1f80a6d2074878a8b1fd2ae2b85277_10)</u>

**EXPLANATORY NOTE**

Ares Acquisition Corporation, a Cayman Islands exempted company incorporated with limited liability (the "Company"), is filing this Amendment No. 1 on Form 10-K/A (the "First Amendment") to amend the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K (the "Original 10-K") for the year ended December 31, 2022, originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on February 28, 2023. This First Amendment is being filed solely to correct a typographical error in the Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, included as part of the Financial Statements to the Original 10-K, which incorrectly stated that the Company's independent auditor, WithumSmith+Brown, PC, did not perform an audit of the Company's internal control over financial reporting. The First Amendment clarifies that WithumSmith+Brown, PC did perform an audit of the Company's internal control over financial reporting. Pursuant to Rule 12b-15 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, we have repeated the entire text of Item 8, Item 15 and Item 16 of the Original 10-K in this First Amendment. However, there have been no changes to the text of such items other than the clarification of the audit performed on the Company's internal control over financial reporting.

In addition, the Company is including in this First Amendment currently dated certifications from its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer as required by Sections 302 and 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 as Exhibits 31.1 and 31.2 and Exhibits 32.1 and 32.2, respectively.

Except as expressly set forth above, this First Amendment does not reflect events that may have occurred subsequent to the filing date of the Original 10-K, nor does it modify or update in any way disclosure made in the Original 10-K other than to reflect the amendments discussed above and reflected below. Accordingly, this First Amendment should be read in conjunction with the Original 10-K and our other filings with the SEC.

------

**ARES ACQUISITION CORPORATION**

**Table of Contents** 

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| | **Page** |
| <u>[PART II](#i8d1f80a6d2074878a8b1fd2ae2b85277_40)</u> | <u>[4](#i8d1f80a6d2074878a8b1fd2ae2b85277_40)</u> |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<u>[Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data](#i8d1f80a6d2074878a8b1fd2ae2b85277_58)</u> | <u>[4](#i8d1f80a6d2074878a8b1fd2ae2b85277_58)</u> |
| <u>[PART IV](#i8d1f80a6d2074878a8b1fd2ae2b85277_94)</u> | <u>[4](#i8d1f80a6d2074878a8b1fd2ae2b85277_94)</u> |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<u>[Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules](#i8d1f80a6d2074878a8b1fd2ae2b85277_97)</u> | <u>[4](#i8d1f80a6d2074878a8b1fd2ae2b85277_97)</u> |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<u>[Item 16. Form 10–K Summary](#i8d1f80a6d2074878a8b1fd2ae2b85277_100)</u> | <u>[4](#i8d1f80a6d2074878a8b1fd2ae2b85277_100)</u> |

---

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<u>[**Table of Contents**](#i8d1f80a6d2074878a8b1fd2ae2b85277_10)</u>

**PART II**

**Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.**

The financial statements required by this item are set forth following Item 16 of this First Amendment to the annual report on Form 10-K and is included herein by reference.

**PART IV**

**Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules.**

(a) The following documents are filed as part of this First Amendment to the annual report on Form 10-K:

Reference is made to the Index to Financial Statements of the Company under Item 8 of Part II of the Original Form 10-K.

(b) Financial Statement Schedules. All schedules are omitted for the reason that the information is included in the financial statements or the notes thereto or that they are not required or are not applicable.

(c) Exhibits: The exhibits listed in the accompanying index to exhibits are filed or incorporated by reference as part of this First Amendment to the annual report on Form 10-K.

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| **Exhibit No.** | **Description** |
| <u>[31.1](q42022exhibit31110-ka.htm)</u>\* | Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
| <u>[31.2](q42022exhibit31210-ka.htm)</u>\* | Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
| <u>[32.1](q42022exhibit32110-ka.htm)</u>\*\* | Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
| <u>[32.2](q42022exhibit32210-ka.htm)</u>\*\* | Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
| 101.INS\* | XBRL Instance Document |
| 101.SCH\* | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document |
| 101.CAL\* | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document |
| 101.DEF\* | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document |
| 101.LAB\* | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Linkbase Document |
| 101.PRE\* | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document |
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File - the cover page interactive data file does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document. |

---

\* Filed herewith

\*\* These certifications are not deemed filed by the SEC and are not to be incorporated by reference in any filing we make under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, irrespective of any general incorporation language in any filings.

**Item 16. Form 10–K Summary**

Not applicable.

------

<u>[**Table of Contents**](#i8d1f80a6d2074878a8b1fd2ae2b85277_10)</u>

**SIGNATURES**

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| | ARES ACQUISITION CORPORATION | ARES ACQUISITION CORPORATION |
| Dated: March 10, 2023 | By: | /s/ David B. Kaplan |
|  | Name: | David B. Kaplan |
|  | Title: | Chief Executive Officer and Co-Chairman |
|  |  | (Principal Executive Officer) |
| Dated: March 10, 2023 | By: | /s/ Jarrod Phillips |
|  | Name: | Jarrod Phillips |
|  | Title: | Chief Financial Officer |
|  |  | (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |

---

------

<u>[**Table of Contents**](#i8d1f80a6d2074878a8b1fd2ae2b85277_10)</u>

**ARES ACQUISITION CORPORATION**

**INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** 

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID: 100) | <u>[F-2](#i8d1f80a6d2074878a8b1fd2ae2b85277_112)</u> |
| Financial Statements: |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2022 and 2021 | <u>[F-5](#i8d1f80a6d2074878a8b1fd2ae2b85277_118)</u> |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 and for the period from January 24, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2020 | <u>[F-6](#i8d1f80a6d2074878a8b1fd2ae2b85277_121)</u> |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity (Deficit) for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 and for the period from January 24, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2020 | <u>[F-7](#i8d1f80a6d2074878a8b1fd2ae2b85277_124)</u> |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 and the period from January 24, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2020 | <u>[F-8](#i8d1f80a6d2074878a8b1fd2ae2b85277_127)</u> |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Notes to Financial Statements | <u>[F-9](#i8d1f80a6d2074878a8b1fd2ae2b85277_133)</u> |

---

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<u>[**Table of Contents**](#i8d1f80a6d2074878a8b1fd2ae2b85277_10)</u>

**Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm**

To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of

Ares Acquisition Corporation

**Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting**

We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of Ares Acquisition Corporation (the "Company") as of December 31, 2022, based on criteria established in 2013 Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2022, based on criteria established in 2013 Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by (COSO).

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) ("PCAOB"), the financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2022, of the Company and our report dated February 28, 2023, expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements.

**Basis for Opinion**

The Company's management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management's Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

**Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting**

A company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company's internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

/s/ WithumSmith+Brown, PC

We have served as the Company's auditor since 2020.

New York, New York

February 28, 2023

PCAOB Number 100

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<u>[**Table of Contents**](#i8d1f80a6d2074878a8b1fd2ae2b85277_10)</u>

**Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm**

To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of

Ares Acquisition Corporation

**Opinion on the Financial Statements**

We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Ares Acquisition Corporation (the "Company") as of December 31, 2022, and 2021, the related statements of operations, changes in shareholders' deficit and cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2022, and December 31, 2021, and for the period from January 24, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2020, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the "financial statements"). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2022, and 2021, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2022, and December 31, 2021, and for the period from January 24, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2020, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) ("PCAOB"), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2022, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

**Going Concern**

The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 1 to the financial statements, if the Company is unable to raise additional funds to alleviate liquidity needs and complete a business combination by August 4, 2023, then the Company will cease all operations except for the purpose of liquidating. The liquidity condition and date for mandatory liquidation and subsequent dissolution raise substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern. Management's plans in regard to these matters are also described in Note 1. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

**Basis for Opinion**

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) ("PCAOB") and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

**Critical Audit Matter**

The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective or complex judgments. The communication of the critical audit matter does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.

*Accounting for and Valuation of Private Placement Warrants* 

Description:

As described in Notes 2, 7 and 8 to the financial statements, the Company accounts for its private placement warrants based on an assessment of the instruments' specific terms and the applicable accounting standards. The private placement warrants are stated at fair value at each reporting period with the change in fair value recorded on the statement of operations. The fair value of the warrants on the date of issuance and through September 30, 2022, were estimated using a Black Scholes Model and as of

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<u>[**Table of Contents**](#i8d1f80a6d2074878a8b1fd2ae2b85277_10)</u>

December 31, 2022, using the fair value of the Public Warrants. As of December 31, 2022, 15,333,333 private placement warrants at a fair value of $7.150 million remained outstanding resulting in $6.73 million of gain related to the change in fair value for the year ended December 31, 2022. The principal considerations for our determination that performing procedures relating to the accounting for and valuation of the private placement warrants are a critical audit matter are (i) the significant judgment by management when determining the accounting for and valuation; (ii) the high degree of auditor judgment, subjectivity, and effort in performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence related to the accounting for the private placement warrants, and management's significant assumptions related to expected volatility while relying on the Black Scholes Model prior to the change in valuation methodology; (iii) the judgment to determine that the private placement warrants qualified as a similar security to the public warrant in an active market and (iv) the audit effort involved the use of professionals with specialized skill and knowledge.

Response:

Addressing the matter involved performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence in connection with forming our overall opinion on the financial statements. These procedures included, among others, reading the agreements, evaluating the accounting for the private placement warrants, testing the internal controls over management's process for determining the fair value estimates. Testing management's process included (i) evaluating the internal controls and methodology used by management to determine the fair value of the private placement warrants; (ii) testing the mathematical accuracy of management's model; (iii) evaluating the reasonableness of management's significant assumptions (if any); and (iv) testing the completeness and accuracy of the underlying data used. Professionals with specialized skill and knowledge were used to assist in (i) evaluating management's accounting for the private placement warrants at the beginning of the period; (ii) evaluating the methodology to determine the fair value; (iii) testing the mathematical accuracy of the models; (iv) evaluating the reasonableness of the significant assumptions used at the beginning of the period related to implied volatility and probability of executing a successful business combination by considering consistency with external market data, and (v) evaluating the private placement warrants' characteristics and settlement options to determine that it qualified as a similar security to the public warrant.

Reference:

Notes 2, 7 and 8

/s/ WithumSmith+Brown, PC

We have served as the Company's auditor since 2020.

New York, New York

February 28, 2023

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<u>[**Table of Contents**](#i8d1f80a6d2074878a8b1fd2ae2b85277_10)</u>

**ARES ACQUISITION CORPORATION**

 **BALANCE SHEETS**

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| | **As of December 31,** | **As of December 31,** |
| | **2022** | **2021** |
| **Assets** |  |  |
| Current assets: |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Cash | $37982 | $749510 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Prepaid expenses | 57577 | 536382 |
| **Total current assets** | 95559 | 1285892 |
| Investments held in Trust Account | 1013382491 | 1000284779 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;**Total assets** | $**1013478050** | $**1001570671** |
| **Liabilities and shareholders' deficit** |  |  |
| Current liabilities |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Accrued expenses | $8114773 | $3476416 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Accrued expenses - related party | 60921 | 46900 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Working capital loan | 1500000 |  |
| **Total current liabilities** | 9675694 | 3523316 |
| Warrant liabilities | 16475933 | 31704522 |
| Deferred underwriting commissions | 35000000 | 35000000 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;**Total liabilities** | 61151627 | 70227838 |
| **Commitments and contingencies** |  |  |
| Class A ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value; 100,000,000 shares subject to possible redemption at $10.13 and $10.00 per share at December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively | 1013282491 | 1000000000 |
| **Shareholders' deficit** |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Preference shares, $0.0001 par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Class A ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value; 300,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding (excluding 100,000,000 shares subject to possible redemption) |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Class B ordinary shares, $0.0001 par value; 30,000,000 shares authorized; 25,000,000 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2022 and 2021 | 2500 | 2500 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Accumulated deficit | (60958568) | (68659667) |
| **Total shareholders' deficit** | (60956068) | (68657167) |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;**Total liabilities and shareholders' deficit** | $**1013478050** | $**1001570671** |

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The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

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<u>[**Table of Contents**](#i8d1f80a6d2074878a8b1fd2ae2b85277_10)</u>

**ARES ACQUISITION CORPORATION**

 **STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS**

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| | **For the year ended December 31, 2022** | **For the year ended December 31, 2021** | **For the period from January 24, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2020** |
| | **For the year ended December 31, 2022** | **For the year ended December 31, 2021** | **For the period from January 24, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2020** |
| General and administrative expenses | $7342712 | $6461616 | $13845 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;**Loss from operations** | **(7342712)** | **(6461616)** | **(13845)** |
| Other income (expense): |  |  |  |
| Investment income on investments held in Trust Account | 13097713 | 284779 |  |
| Offering costs associated with warrants recorded as liabilities |  | (1677518) |  |
| Change in fair value of warrant liabilities | 15228589 | 23703427 |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;**Total other income** | **28326302** | **22310688** | **—** |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;**Net income (loss)** | $**20983590** | $**15849072** | $**(13845)** |
| **Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding of Class A ordinary shares** | **100000000** | **100000000** | **—** |
| **Basic and diluted net income per share, Class A ordinary shares** | $**0.17** | $**0.13** | $**—** |
| **Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding of Class B ordinary shares**<sup>(1)</sup> | **25000000** | **25000000** | **25000000** |
| **Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share, Class B ordinary shares** | $**0.17** | $**0.13** | $**(0.00)** |

---

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

(1) On February 4, 2021, the Company consummated the sale of Over-Allotment Units pursuant to the underwriters' partial exercise of their over-allotment option. Share amount as of December 31, 2020 has been retroactively restated to account for the share recapitalization events as discussed in Note 4.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

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<u>[**Table of Contents**](#i8d1f80a6d2074878a8b1fd2ae2b85277_10)</u>

**ARES ACQUISITION CORPORATION**

**STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)**

---

| | | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| | **Ordinary Shares** | **Ordinary Shares** | **Additional Paid-in Capital** | **Accumulated Deficit** | **Total Shareholders' Equity (Deficit)** |
| | **Class B** | **Class B** | **Additional Paid-in Capital** | **Accumulated Deficit** | **Total Shareholders' Equity (Deficit)** |
| | **Shares** | **Amount** | **Additional Paid-in Capital** | **Accumulated Deficit** | **Total Shareholders' Equity (Deficit)** |
| **Balance at January 24, 2020 (inception)** |  | $— | $— | $— | $— |
| Issuance of Class B ordinary shares to Sponsor | 25000000 | 2500 | 22500 |  | 25000 |
| Net loss |  |  |  | (13845) | (13845) |
| **Balance at December 31, 2020**<sup>(1)</sup> | **25000000** | $**2500** | $**22500** | $**(13845)** | $**11155** |
| Accretion of Class A ordinary shares to redemption amount |  |  | (22500) | (84494894) | (84517394) |
| Net income |  |  |  | 15849072 | 15849072 |
| **Balance at December 31, 2021** | **25000000** | $**2500** | $**—** | $**(68659667)** | $**(68657167)** |
| Accretion of Class A ordinary shares to redemption amount |  |  |  | (13282491) | (13282491) |
| Net income |  |  |  | 20983590 | 20983590 |
| **Balance at December 31, 2022** | **25000000** | $**2500** | $**—** | $**(60958568)** | $**(60956068)** |

---

(1) On February 4, 2021, the Company consummated the sale of Over-Allotment Units pursuant to the underwriters' partial exercise of their over-allotment option. Share amount as of December 31, 2020 has been retroactively restated to account for the share recapitalization events as discussed in Note 4.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

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<u>[**Table of Contents**](#i8d1f80a6d2074878a8b1fd2ae2b85277_10)</u>

**ARES ACQUISITION CORPORATION**

 **STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS**

---

| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| | **For the year ended December 31, 2022** | **For the year ended December 31, 2021** | **For the period from January 24, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2020** |
| | **For the year ended December 31, 2022** | **For the year ended December 31, 2021** | **For the period from January 24, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2020** |
| **Cash flows from operating activities:** | | | |
| **Net income (loss)** | $**20983590** | $**15849072** | $**(13845)** |
| Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash used in operating activities: |  |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Investment income earned on investments held in Trust Account | (13097713) | (284779) |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Offering costs associated with warrants recorded as liabilities |  | 1677518 |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Change in fair value of warrant liabilities | (15228589) | (23703427) |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Excess of fair value over cost on sale of Private Placement Warrants |  | 2146129 |  |
| Changes in operating assets and liabilities |  |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Prepaid expenses | 478806 | (536382) |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Accrued expenses | 4638357 | 3391416 |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Accrued expenses - related party | 14021 | 46900 |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Payment of formation costs through issuance of Class B ordinary shares |  |  | 13845 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;**Net cash used in operating activities** | **(2211528)** | **(1413553)** | **—** |
| **Cash flows from investing activities:** |  |  |  |
| Cash deposited in Trust Account |  | (1000000000) |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;**Net cash used in investing activities** | **—** | **(1000000000)** | **—** |
| **Cash flows from financing activities:** |  |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Proceeds received from working capital loan | 1500000 |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Proceeds received from initial public offering, gross |  | 1000000000 |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Proceeds received from sale of Private Placement Warrants |  | 23000000 |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Payment of underwriter commissions |  | (20000000) |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Payment of offering costs |  | (836937) |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;**Net cash provided by financing activities** | **1500000** | **1002163063** | **—** |
| Net change in cash | (711528) | 749510 |  |
| Cash – beginning of period | 749510 |  |  |
| **Cash – end of period** | $**37982** | $**749510** | $**—** |
| **Supplemental disclosure of non-cash activities** |  |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Deferred offering costs included in accrued offering costs | $— | $— | $364935 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Formation and offering costs paid by Sponsor in exchange for issuance of Class B ordinary shares | $— | $— | $25000 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Deferred offering costs paid by the Sponsor through promissory note | $— | $— | $147385 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Accrued offering costs | $— | $85000 | $— |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Deferred underwriter's commissions in connection with the initial public offering | $— | $35000000 | $— |

---

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

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<u>[**Table of Contents**](#i8d1f80a6d2074878a8b1fd2ae2b85277_10)</u>

**ARES ACQUISITION CORPORATION**

**NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** 

**1. ORGANIZATION**

Ares Acquisition Corporation (the "Company") was incorporated in Cayman Islands on January 24, 2020. The Company was formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses (the "Business Combination").

The Company is not limited to a particular or geographic region for purposes of consummating a Business Combination.

As of December 31, 2022, the Company had not commenced any operations. All activity for the period from January 24, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2022 relates to the Company's formation, the initial public offering ("Initial Public Offering") described below and since the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the search for a prospective initial business combination. The Company will not generate any operating revenues until after the completion of its initial Business Combination, at the earliest. The Company generates non-operating income in the form of interest income from the proceeds derived from the Initial Public Offering.

The registration statement for the Company's Initial Public Offering was declared effective on February 1, 2021. On February 4, 2021, the Company consummated its Initial Public Offering of 100,000,000 (the "Units" and, with respect to the shares Class A ordinary shares included in the Units being offered, the "Public Shares") at $10.00 per Unit, including 13,000,000 additional Units to cover over-allotments (the "Over-Allotment Units"), at $10.00 per Unit, which is discussed in Note 3, generating gross proceeds of $1.0 billion, and incurring offering costs of approximately $55.9 million, of which $35.0 million was for deferred underwriting commissions (see Note 5). Each Unit consists of one Class A ordinary share and one-fifth of one redeemable warrant ("Public Warrant").

Simultaneously with the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the Company consummated the sale of 15,333,333 warrants (the "Private Placement Warrants"), including 1,733,333 additional Private Placement Warrants to cover over-allotments, for an aggregate purchase price of $23.0 million, in a private placement to Ares Acquisition Holdings L.P., a Cayman Island limited partnership (the "Sponsor") (see Note 4).

Upon the closing of the Initial Public Offering and the Private Placement, $1.0 billion ($10.00 per Unit) of the net proceeds of the Initial Public Offering and certain of the proceeds of the Private Placement were placed in a trust account ("Trust Account") located in the United States and invested in U.S. government securities, within the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Investment Company Act"), with a maturity of 185 days or less or in any open-ended investment company that holds itself out as a money market fund selected by the Company meeting the conditions of Rule 2a-7 of the Investment Company Act, as determined by the Company, until the earlier of (i) the consummation of a Business Combination and (ii) the distribution of the Trust Account, as described below.

The Company's management has broad discretion with respect to the specific application of the net proceeds of the Initial Public Offering and the sale of the Private Placement Warrants, although substantially all of the net proceeds are intended to be applied generally toward consummating a Business Combination. The Company's initial Business Combination must be with one or more target businesses that together have a fair market value of at least 80% of the assets held in the Trust Account (excluding the deferred underwriting discounts and taxes payable on the income earned on the Trust Account) at the time of the agreement to enter into a Business Combination. The Company will only complete a Business Combination if the post-business combination company owns or acquires 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the target or otherwise acquires a controlling interest in the target sufficient for it not to be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act.

The Company will provide its holders of the outstanding Public Shares (the "Public Shareholders") with the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their Class A ordinary shares upon the consummation of a Business Combination either (i) in connection with a shareholder meeting called to approve the Business Combination or (ii) by means of a tender offer. The decision as to whether the Company will seek shareholder approval of a Business Combination or conduct a tender offer will be made by the Company, solely in its discretion. The Public Shareholders will be entitled to convert their Public Shares for a pro rata portion of the amount then in the Trust Account (initially $10.00 per Public Share, plus any pro rata interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Company to pay its tax obligations). The per-share amount to be distributed to the Public Shareholders who redeem their Public Shares will not be reduced by the deferred underwriting commissions the Company will pay to the underwriters (see Note 5). The Public Shares will be classified as temporary equity upon the completion of the Initial Public Offering in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards

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<u>[**Table of Contents**](#i8d1f80a6d2074878a8b1fd2ae2b85277_10)</u>

**ARES ACQUISITION CORPORATION**

**NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** 

Board ("FASB") Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 480, "Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity". If a shareholder vote is not required by law and the Company does not decide to hold a shareholder vote for business or other legal reasons, the Company will, pursuant to its Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association, conduct the redemptions pursuant to the tender offer rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and file tender offer documents with the SEC prior to completing a Business Combination. If, however, shareholder approval of the transactions is required by law, or the Company decides to obtain shareholder approval for business or legal reasons, the Company will offer to redeem shares in conjunction with a proxy solicitation pursuant to the proxy rules and not pursuant to the tender offer rules. Additionally, each Public Shareholder may elect to redeem their Public Shares irrespective of whether they vote for or against the proposed transaction or vote at all. If the Company seeks shareholder approval in connection with a Business Combination, the Company's Sponsor, officers and directors (the "initial shareholders") have agreed to vote their Class B ordinary shares (as defined in Note 4) and any Public Shares purchased during or after the Initial Public Offering in favor of a Business Combination. Subsequent to the consummation of the Initial Public Offering, the Company will adopt an insider trading policy which will require insiders to (i) refrain from purchasing shares during certain blackout periods and when they are in possession of any material non-public information and (ii) to clear all trades with the Company's legal counsel prior to execution.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company seeks shareholder approval of a Business Combination and it does not conduct conversion pursuant to the tender offer rules, the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association provide that a public shareholder, together with any affiliate of such shareholder or any other person with whom such shareholder is acting in concert or as a "group" (as defined under Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")), will be restricted from converting its shares with respect to more than an aggregate of 15% or more of the Public Shares, without the prior consent of the Company.

The initial shareholders have agreed (i) to waive their redemption rights with respect to their Class B ordinary shares and Public Shares held by them in connection with the completion of a Business Combination and (ii) not to propose an amendment to (a) modify the substance or timing of the Company's obligation to provide for the redemption of its Public Shares in connection with a Business Combination or to redeem 100% of the Company's Public Shares if the Company does not complete a Business Combination by the Combination Period (as defined below) or (b) with respect to any other material provisions relating to shareholders' rights or pre-initial Business Combination activity, unless the Company provides the Public Shareholders with the opportunity to redeem their Public Shares in conjunction with any such amendment.

The Company has until August 4, 2023 to complete a Business Combination (the "Combination Period"). If the Company is unable to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period, the Company will (i) cease all operations except for the purpose of winding up, (ii) as promptly as reasonably possible but not more than ten business days thereafter, redeem 100% of the outstanding Public Shares for a pro rata portion of the funds held in the Trust Account including interest earned on the funds held in the Trust Account and not previously released to the Company to pay its taxes (less $100,000 of interest to pay dissolution expenses), which redemption will completely extinguish Public Shareholders' rights as shareholders (including the right to receive further liquidating distributions, if any), subject to applicable law, and (iii) as promptly as reasonably possible following such redemption, subject to the approval of the Company's remaining shareholders and the Company's board of directors, dissolve and liquidate, subject in each case to the Company's obligations under Cayman Islands law to provide for claims of creditors and the requirements of other applicable law. There will be no redemption rights or liquidating distributions with respect to the Company's warrants, which will expire worthless if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period.

The initial shareholders have agreed to waive their liquidation rights with respect to the Class B ordinary shares if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period. However, if the initial shareholders acquire Public Shares in or after the Initial Public Offering, such Public Shares will be entitled to liquidating distributions from the Trust Account if the Company fails to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period. The underwriters have agreed to waive their rights to their deferred underwriting commissions (see Note 5) held in the Trust Account in the event the Company does not complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period and, in such event, such amounts will be included with the funds held in the Trust Account that will be available to fund the redemption of the Public Shares. In the event of such distribution, it is possible that the per share value of the assets remaining available for distribution will be less than the Initial Public Offering price per Unit ($10.00).

In order to protect the amounts held in the Trust Account, the Sponsor has agreed to be liable to the Company if and to the extent any claims by a third party for services rendered or products sold to the Company, or a prospective target business with which the Company has discussed entering into a transaction agreement, reduce the amounts in the Trust Account to below (i) $10.00 per Public Share or (ii) such lesser amount per Public Share held in the Trust Account as of the date of the liquidation

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<u>[**Table of Contents**](#i8d1f80a6d2074878a8b1fd2ae2b85277_10)</u>

**ARES ACQUISITION CORPORATION**

**NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** 

of the Trust Account due to reductions in the value of the trust assets, in each case net of the interest which may be withdrawn to pay taxes. This liability will not apply with respect to any claims by a third party who executed a waiver of any and all rights to seek access to the Trust Account and except as to any claims under the Company's indemnity of the underwriters of the Initial Public Offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). Moreover, in the event that an executed waiver is deemed to be unenforceable against a third party, the Sponsor will not be responsible to the extent of any liability for such third party claims. The Company will seek to reduce the possibility that the Sponsor will have to indemnify the Trust Account due to claims of creditors by endeavoring to have all material vendors, service providers (except the Company's independent registered public accounting firm), prospective target businesses or other entities with which the Company does business, execute agreements with the Company waiving any right, title, interest or claim of any kind in or to monies held in the Trust Account.

**Recent Developments**

***Proposed Business Combination***

On December 5, 2022 (the "Signing Date"), the Company entered into a Business Combination Agreement (as it may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with its terms, the "Business Combination Agreement"), among the Company, X-Energy Reactor Company, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company ("X-energy") and, solely for purposes of Section 1.01(f), Section 6.25 and Article IX of the Business Combination Agreement, each of The Kamal S. Ghaffarian Revocable Trust, IBX Company Opportunity Fund 1, LP, a Delaware limited partnership, IBX Company Opportunity Fund 2, LP, a Delaware limited partnership, IBX Opportunity GP, Inc., a Delaware corporation, GM Enterprises LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and X-Energy Management, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company. The transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement are referred to as the "Proposed Business Combination".

Following the time of the closing (the "Closing," and the date on which the Closing occurs, the "Closing Date") of the Business Combination, the combined company will be organized in an umbrella partnership C corporation structure, in which substantially all of the assets and the business of the combined company will be held by X-energy. The combined company's business will continue to operate through X-energy and its subsidiaries. In connection with the Closing, the Company will change its name to "X-Energy, Inc." (such company after the Closing, "New X-energy").

The Business Combination Agreement and the Proposed Business Combination were approved by the boards of directors of each of the Company (including, in the case of the Company, the special committee of the board of directors, which consists of its independent directors, (the "Special Committee")) and X-energy.

***The Recapitalization***

Immediately prior to the Closing, X-energy will effectuate a recapitalization (the "Recapitalization") whereby all outstanding equity securities of X-energy will be converted or exchanged into common units (each, an "X-energy Common Unit" and collectively, the "X-energy Common Units") and unvested earn out units (each, an "Earn Out Unit" and collectively, the "Earn Out Units"), as applicable.

***Member Earn-Out***

As part of the Recapitalization, up to 25,000,000 Earn Out Units will be subject to vesting at the Closing and will be earned, released and delivered upon satisfaction of certain milestones pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement and on the terms and subject to the conditions thereof.

***Sponsor Support Agreement***

Concurrently with the execution of the Business Combination Agreement, the Company entered into the Sponsor Support Agreement (the "Sponsor Support Agreement") with X-energy, the Sponsor and each of the Company's independent directors (the "Company Independent Directors," collectively with the Sponsor, the "Purchaser Support Parties," and each, a "Purchaser Support Party"), pursuant to which the Purchaser Support Parties agreed to, among other things: (i) vote in favor of adoption of the Transaction Proposals; (ii) vote against any Alternative Transaction (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement) and any merger agreement or merger other than the Transaction Proposals, the Business Combination Agreement and the Business Combination; (iii) vote against any change in the business, management or board of directors of the Company (other than in connection with the Transaction Proposals or pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement or ancillary

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<u>[**Table of Contents**](#i8d1f80a6d2074878a8b1fd2ae2b85277_10)</u>

**ARES ACQUISITION CORPORATION**

**NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** 

agreements); and (iv) vote against any proposal, action or agreement that would: (a) impede, interfere, frustrate, prevent or nullify any provision of the Sponsor Support Agreement, the Business Combination Agreement or the Business Combination; (b) result in a breach in any respect of any covenant, representation, warranty or any other obligation or agreement of the Company under the Business Combination Agreement; (c) result in any of the closing conditions of the Business Combination Agreement not being fulfilled; (d) result in a breach of any covenant, representation or warranty or other obligation or agreement of the Purchaser Support Party in the Sponsor Support Agreement; or (e) change in any manner the dividend policy or capitalization of, including the voting rights of any class of capital stock of, the Company. Each officer and director of the Company previously entered into a letter agreement with the Company in connection with the Company's Initial Public Offering, pursuant to which they agreed to vote any the Company ordinary shares held by them in favor of the Business Combination. If at any time following the Signing Date and until the termination of the Business Combination Agreement, the board of directors of the Company or the Special Committee effect a Modification in Recommendation, then the obligations to vote or consent in accordance with the foregoing clauses (i)-(iv), (x) with respect to the Purchaser Support Parties other than the Sponsor, shall cease to apply and each of the Company's independent directors shall be expressly permitted to vote or provide consent in respect of their respective Company ordinary shares in their sole discretion and (y) with respect to the Sponsor, shall automatically be deemed to be modified such that the Sponsor will vote or provide its consent with respect to its Cayman Class B shares in the same proportion to the votes cast or consent provided, as applicable, of the Company's Public Shareholders.

Pursuant to the Sponsor Support Agreement, until the earliest of the Closing, termination of the Business Combination Agreement and the liquidation of X-energy, no Purchaser Support Party shall (subject to limited and customary exceptions), without the prior written consent of X-energy: (i) sell, offer to sell, contract or agree to sell, hypothecate or pledge, grant any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of or agree to dispose of, directly or indirectly, any Cayman Class B Shares or Cayman Purchaser Warrants (together, the "Sponsor Subject Securities"); (ii) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another any of the economic consequences of ownership of any Sponsor Subject Securities; (iii) take any action in furtherance of any of the matters described in the foregoing clauses (i) or (ii); or (iv) publicly announce any intention to effect any transaction specified in the foregoing clauses (i) or (ii).

***Member Support Agreement***

Concurrently with the execution of the Business Combination Agreement, certain Members entered into the Member Support Agreement (the "Member Support Agreement"), pursuant to which such Members have agreed to, among other things, vote (or act by written consent): (i) to approve and adopt the Business Combination Agreement and the consummation of the Business Combination, including the Recapitalization; (ii) against any Alternative Transaction or any proposal relating to an Alternative Transaction; (iii) against any merger agreement or merger (other than the Business Combination Agreement and the Business Combination), consolidation, combination, sale of substantial assets, reorganization, recapitalization, dissolution, liquidation or winding up of or by X-energy; (iv) against any change in the business, management or board of directors of X-energy (other than pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement or the ancillary agreements); and (v) against any proposal, action or agreement that would: (a) impede, interfere, frustrate, prevent or nullify any provision of the Member Support Agreement, the Business Combination Agreement or the Business Combination; (b) result in a breach in any respect of any covenant, representation, warranty or any other obligation or agreement of X-energy under the Business Combination Agreement; (c) result in any of the closing conditions of the Business Combination Agreement not being fulfilled; (d) result in a breach of any covenant, representation or warranty or other obligation or agreement of such Member contained in the Member Support Agreement; or (e) change in any manner the dividend policy or capitalization of, including the voting rights of any class of capital stock of, X-energy.

***Tax Receivable Agreement***

At the Closing, New X-energy will enter into a Tax Receivable Agreement (the "Tax Receivable Agreement") with X-energy and certain members of X-energy (the "TRA Holders"). Pursuant to the Tax Receivable Agreement, among other things, New X-energy will be required to pay to each TRA Holder 85% of certain tax benefits, if any, that it realizes (or in certain cases is deemed to realize) as a result of the increases in tax basis resulting from any exchange of X-energy Common Units for New X-energy Class A Common Stock or cash in the future and certain other tax benefits arising from payments under the Tax Receivable Agreement. In certain cases, New X-energy's obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement may accelerate and become due and payable, based on certain assumptions, upon a change in control and certain other termination events, as defined in the Tax Receivable Agreement.

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<u>[**Table of Contents**](#i8d1f80a6d2074878a8b1fd2ae2b85277_10)</u>

**ARES ACQUISITION CORPORATION**

**NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** 

***Lock-Up Agreements***

*Sponsor Lock-Up Agreement*

At the Closing, the Purchaser Support Parties and New X-energy will enter into a Lock-Up Agreement (the "Sponsor Lock-Up Agreement"), pursuant to which the Purchaser Support Parties and each of their respective permitted assigns will agree not to, without the prior written consent of the New X-energy Board, prior to the date that is one year after the Closing Date (the "Lock-Up Period"): (i) sell, offer to sell, contract or agree to sell, hypothecate or pledge, grant any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, or agree to dispose of or establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act (as defined in the Business Combination Agreement) with respect to: (a) any shares of New X-energy Class A Common Stock the Purchaser Support Parties received upon conversion of its Cayman Class B Shares in connection with the Domestication; and (b) New X-energy Warrants received upon conversion of its the Company private placement warrants in connection with the Domestication (or the shares of New X-energy Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants) (the securities specified in clauses (a) and (b), collectively, the "Sponsor Lock-Up Shares"); (ii) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any Sponsor Lock-Up Shares, whether any such transaction is to be settled by delivery of such securities in cash or otherwise; (iii) take any action in furtherance of any of the matters described in the foregoing clauses (i) or (ii); or (iv) publicly announce any intention to effect any transaction specified in the foregoing clauses (i) or (ii). The Sponsor Lock-Up Agreement provides for certain customary permitted transfers, including but not limited to, transfers to certain affiliates or family members and the exercise of certain stock options and warrants.

*X-energy Lock-Up Agreement*

At the Closing, New X-energy, certain equityholders of X-energy (the "Lock-Up Holders") will enter into a Lock-Up Agreement (the "X-energy Lock-Up Agreement"), pursuant to which the Lock-Up Holders will agree not to, without the prior written consent of the New X-energy Board, prior to the date that is one year after the Closing: (i) sell, offer to sell, contract or agree to sell, hypothecate or pledge, grant any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of or agree to dispose of, directly or indirectly, or establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act with respect to: (a) any shares of New X-energy Class A Common Stock; or (b) any securities convertible into, or exercisable, redeemable or exchangeable for, New X-energy Class A Common Stock held by such holder immediately after the consummation of the Business Combination (the shares of New X-energy Class A Common Stock and securities specified in clauses (a) and (b), collectively, the "Lock-Up Shares"); (ii) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any Lock-Up Shares, whether any such transaction is to be settled by delivery of such securities in cash or otherwise; (iii) take any action in furtherance of any of the matters described in the foregoing clauses (i) or (ii); or (iv) publicly announce any intention to effect any transaction specified in the foregoing clauses (i) or (ii). The X-energy Lock-Up Agreement provides for certain customary permitted transfers, including but not limited to, transfers to certain affiliates or family members and the exercise of certain stock options and warrants.

***Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement***

At the Closing, the Company, the Sponsor and certain securityholders of X-energy will enter into an amended and restated registration rights agreement (the "A&R Registration Rights Agreement"), pursuant to which, among other things, the Sponsor and such other securityholders will be granted certain customary registration rights, on the terms and subject to the conditions in the A&R Registration Rights Agreement, with respect to securities of New X-energy that they will hold following the Business Combination.

***Commitment Letter***

On December 5, 2022, the Company and X-energy entered into a commitment letter (the "Commitment Letter") with AAC Holdings II LP (the "Investor"), an affiliate of Ares Management Corporation and the Sponsor. On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Commitment Letter and the summary of terms attached to the Commitment Letter, pursuant to which among other things, the Investor has committed that it or its affiliated vehicles or designees will purchase in a private placement, to close immediately prior to the closing of the Business Combination, 45,000 shares of Series A preferred stock of the Company (the "Series A Preferred Stock") at a purchase price of $1,000.00 per share, resulting in gross proceeds to the Company of up to $45.0 million (the "PIPE Commitment") as such amounts may be reduced as described below.

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<u>[**Table of Contents**](#i8d1f80a6d2074878a8b1fd2ae2b85277_10)</u>

**ARES ACQUISITION CORPORATION**

**NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** 

***Extension***

On February 2, 2023, the Company held a special meeting of shareholders and approved a proposal to amend the Company's amended and restated memorandum and articles of association to extend the date by which the Company has to consummate an initial business combination from February 4, 2023 to August 4, 2023, or such earlier date as the board of directors of the Company may determine in its sole discretion (the "Extension"). In connection with the approval of the Extension, shareholders elected to redeem an aggregate of 53,002,919 ordinary shares, of which the Company paid cash from the Trust Account in the aggregate amount of approximately $539.0 million (approximately $10.17 per share) to redeeming shareholders.

**Basis of Presentation**

The accompanying financial statements are presented in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC.

**Risks and Uncertainties** 

Management is continuing to evaluate the impact of increases in inflation and interest rates, the COVID-19 pandemic and the conflict in Ukraine and the surrounding region, and has concluded that while it is reasonably possible that the risks and uncertainties related to or resulting from these events could have a negative effect on the Company's financial position, results of its operations and/or ability to complete an initial Business Combination, the specific impact is not readily determinable as of the date of these financial statements. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of these risks and uncertainties.

**Going Concern Considerations, Liquidity and Capital Resources**

As of December 31, 2022, the Company had investments held in the Trust Account of approximately $1.0 billion consisting of cash and a money market fund that invests in U.S. government securities. Interest income on the balance in the Trust Account may be used by the Company to pay taxes, and to pay up to $100,000 of any dissolution expenses. The Company's liquidity needs to date have been satisfied through a contribution of $25,000 from Sponsor to cover for certain expenses in exchange for the issuance of the Class B ordinary shares, a loan of $278,085 from the Sponsor pursuant to the Promissory Note (see Note 4), and the proceeds from the consummation of the Private Placement not held in the Trust Account. The Company repaid the Promissory Note in full on February 4, 2021. Borrowings under the Promissory Note are no longer available. The Company is also party to a working capital loan agreement with the Sponsor, pursuant to which the Company may borrow up to $2,500,000, for ongoing business expenses and the Business Combination. As of December 31, 2022, there was $1,500,000 outstanding under the Working Capital Loan (see Note 4).

As of December 31, 2022, the Company had a working capital deficit of approximately $9.6 million, current liabilities of $9.7 million and approximately $38,000 in its operating bank account. The Company does not have sufficient liquidity to meet its anticipated obligations over the next year from the date of issuance of these financial statements. In connection with the Company's assessment of going concern considerations in accordance with Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2014-15, "Disclosures of Uncertainties about an Entity's Ability to Continue as a Going Concern," management has determined that the extended mandatory liquidation as approved on February 2, 2023 and subsequent dissolution raise substantial doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern through August 4, 2023, the extended mandatory liquidation date of the Company, if it is unsuccessful in consummating an initial Business Combination prior to such date. The Company has access to funds from the Sponsor that are sufficient to fund the working capital needs of the Company until a potential business combination or up to the extended mandatory liquidation. Management further intends to close the Proposed Business Combination before the extended mandatory liquidation date.

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<u>[**Table of Contents**](#i8d1f80a6d2074878a8b1fd2ae2b85277_10)</u>

**ARES ACQUISITION CORPORATION**

**NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** 

**2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES**

***Use of Estimates***

The preparation of these financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires the Company's management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting period.

Making estimates requires management to exercise significant judgment. It is at least reasonably possible that the estimate of the effect of a condition, situation or set of circumstances that existed at the date of the financial statements, which management considered in formulating its estimate, could change in the near term due to one or more future confirming events. One of the more significant accounting estimates included in these financial statements is the determination of the fair value of the warrant liabilities. Such estimates may be subject to change as more current information becomes available and accordingly the actual results could differ significantly from those estimates.

***Cash and Cash Equivalents***

The Company considers all short-term investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company had no cash equivalents held outside the Trust Account.

***Investments Held in Trust Account***

The Company's portfolio of investments is comprised solely of U.S. government securities, within the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act, with a maturity of 185 days or less, or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act that invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligation. The Company's investments held in the Trust Account are classified as trading securities. Trading securities are presented on the balance sheets at fair value at the end of each reporting period. Gains and losses resulting from the change in fair value of these securities are included in investment income on investments held in Trust Account in the accompanying statements of operations. The estimated fair values of investments held in the Trust Account are determined using available market information.

***Concentration of Credit Risk*** 

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist of a cash account in a financial institution, which, at times, may exceed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation limit of $250,000. As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company has not experienced losses on this account and management believes the Company is not exposed to significant risks on such account.

***Fair Value of Financial Instruments***

Fair value is defined as the price that would be received for sale of an asset or paid for transfer of a liability, in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. GAAP establishes a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value.

The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). These tiers include:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Level 1, defined as observable inputs such as quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Level 2, defined as inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are either directly or indirectly observable such as quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets or quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• Level 3, defined as unobservable inputs in which little or no market data exists, therefore requiring an entity to develop its own assumptions, such as valuations derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs or significant value drivers are unobservable.

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<u>[**Table of Contents**](#i8d1f80a6d2074878a8b1fd2ae2b85277_10)</u>

**ARES ACQUISITION CORPORATION**

**NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** 

In some circumstances, the inputs used to measure fair value might be categorized within different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In those instances, the fair value measurement is categorized in its entirety in the fair value hierarchy based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

At December 31, 2022 and 2021, the carrying values of cash, accounts payable, accrued expenses, accrued expenses - related party and advances from related party approximate their fair values due to the short-term nature of the instruments. The Company's portfolio of investments held in the Trust Account is comprised of investments in U.S. government securities, within the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(16) of the Investment Company Act, with a maturity of 185 days or less, or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 promulgated under the Investment Company Act that invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligation. The fair value for trading securities is determined using quoted market prices in active markets.

***Offering Costs Associated with the Initial Public Offering***

Offering costs consisted of legal, accounting, underwriting fees and other costs incurred that were directly related to the Initial Public Offering. Offering costs were allocated on a relative fair value basis between temporary equity and expense. Offering costs associated with warrant liabilities were expensed as incurred, presented as other expenses in the statements of operations. Offering costs associated with the Class A ordinary shares were charged to temporary equity upon the completion of the Initial Public Offering. Offering costs totaled $55.9 million (consisting of $20.0 million of underwriting fees, $35.0 million of deferred underwriting fees and $0.9 million of other offering costs), of which $1.7 million was expensed and $54.3 million was charged to temporary equity.

***Class A Ordinary Shares Subject to Possible Redemption***

The Company accounts for its Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption in accordance with the guidance in ASC Topic 480, "Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity." Class A ordinary shares subject to mandatory redemption (if any) are classified as liability instruments and are measured at fair value. Conditionally redeemable Class A ordinary shares (including Class A ordinary shares that feature redemption rights that are either within the control of the holder or subject to redemption upon the occurrence of uncertain events not solely within the Company's control) are classified as temporary equity. At all other times, Class A ordinary shares are classified as shareholders' equity. The Company's Class A ordinary shares features certain redemption rights that are considered to be outside of the Company's control and subject to the occurrence of uncertain future events. Accordingly, at December 31, 2022 and 2021, 100,000,000 Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption are presented as temporary equity, outside of the shareholders' deficit section of the Company's balance sheets.

The Company recognizes changes in redemption value immediately as they occur and adjusts the carrying value of redeemable ordinary shares to equal the redemption value at the end of each reporting period. This method would view the end of the reporting period as if it were also the redemption date for the security. Immediately upon the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the Company recognized the accretion from initial book value to redemption amount value. The change in the carrying value of redeemable Class A ordinary shares resulted in charges against additional paid-in capital and accumulated deficit.

At December 31, 2022 and 2021, the Class A ordinary shares reflected in the accompanying balance sheets are reconciled in the following table:

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| Gross proceeds | $1000000000 |
| Less: |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Proceeds allocated to Public Warrants | (30261819) |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Class A ordinary shares issuance costs | (54255575) |
| Plus: |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Accretion of carrying value to redemption value | 84517394 |
| **Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption as of December 31, 2021** | **1000000000** |
| Plus: |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Accretion of carrying value to redemption value | 13282491 |
| **Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption as of December 31, 2022** | $**1013282491** |

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<u>[**Table of Contents**](#i8d1f80a6d2074878a8b1fd2ae2b85277_10)</u>

**ARES ACQUISITION CORPORATION**

**NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** 

***Income Taxes***

ASC 740 prescribes a recognition threshold and a measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. For those benefits to be recognized, a tax position must be more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. The Company has determined that the Cayman islands is the Company's only major tax jurisdiction. The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense. There were no unrecognized tax benefits and no amounts accrued for interest and penalties as of December 31, 2022 and 2021. The Company is currently not aware of any issues under review that could result in significant payments, accruals or material deviation from its position.

There is currently no taxation imposed on income by the Government of the Cayman Islands. In accordance with Cayman income tax regulations, income taxes are not levied on the Company. Consequently, income taxes are not reflected in the Company's financial statements.

***Net Income (Loss) per Ordinary Share***

The Company complies with accounting and disclosure requirements of FASB ASC Topic 260, "Earnings Per Share". The Company has two classes of shares, which are referred to as Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares. Income and losses are shared pro rata between the two classes of shares. Net income (loss) per ordinary share is computed by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the period. Accretion associated with the redeemable shares of Class A ordinary shares is excluded from earnings per share as the redemption value approximates fair value.

The calculation of diluted income (loss) per share does not consider the effect of the Public Warrants issued in connection with the Initial Public Offering and the sale of the Private Placement Warrants, because the exercise of the warrants is contingent upon the occurrence of future events.

The following table reflects the calculation of basic and diluted net income (loss) per ordinary share:

---

| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| | **For the year ended December 31, 2022** | **For the year ended December 31, 2021** | **For the period from January 24, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2020** |
| | **For the year ended December 31, 2022** | **For the year ended December 31, 2021** | **For the period from January 24, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2020** |
| **Class A ordinary shares** | | | |
| Numerator: |  |  |  |
| Net income attributable to Class A ordinary shares | $16786872 | $12679258 | $— |
| Denominator: |  |  |  |
| Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding, Class A ordinary shares | 100000000 | 100000000 |  |
| **Basic and diluted net income per share, Class A ordinary shares** | $**0.17** | $**0.13** | $**—** |
| **Class B ordinary shares** |  |  |  |
| Numerator: |  |  |  |
| Net income (loss) attributable to Class B ordinary shares | $4196718 | $3169814 | $(13845) |
| Denominator: |  |  |  |
| Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding, Class B ordinary shares | 25000000 | 25000000 | 25000000 |
| **Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share, Class B ordinary shares** | $**0.17** | $**0.13** | $**(0.00)** |

---

***Warrant Liabilities***

The Company does not use derivative instruments to hedge exposures to cash flow, market, or foreign currency risks. The Company evaluates all of its financial instruments, including issued share purchase warrants, to determine if such instruments are derivatives or contain features that qualify as embedded derivatives, pursuant to ASC 480 and ASC 815-15. The classification of derivative instruments, including whether such instruments should be recorded as liabilities or as equity, is re-assessed at the end of each reporting period.

The Company accounts for its 20,000,000 Public Warrants and 15,333,333 Private Placement Warrants as warrant liabilities in accordance with ASC 815-40. Accordingly, the Company recognizes the warrant instruments as liabilities at fair value and adjusts the instruments to fair value at each reporting period. The liabilities are subject to re-measurement at each balance sheet date until exercised, and any change in fair value is recognized in the Company's statements of operations. The

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<u>[**Table of Contents**](#i8d1f80a6d2074878a8b1fd2ae2b85277_10)</u>

**ARES ACQUISITION CORPORATION**

**NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** 

Public Warrants issued in connection with the Initial Public Offering were initially measured at fair value using a modified Black-Scholes model and subsequently measured based on the listed market price of such warrants, whereas the fair value of the Private Placement Warrants was initially measured using a Black-Scholes option pricing model and subsequently measured using an observable market quote for a similar asset in an active market.

***Recent Accounting Pronouncements***

Management does not believe that any recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting pronouncements, if currently adopted, would have a material effect on the Company's financial statements.

**3. INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING**

On February 4, 2021, the Company consummated its Initial Public Offering of its 100,000,000 Units, including 13,000,000 additional Units to cover over-allotments (the "Over Allotment Units"), at $10.00 per Unit, generating gross proceeds of $1.0 billion, and incurring offering costs of approximately $55.9 million, of which $35.0 million was for deferred underwriting commissions (see Note 5).

**4. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS**

***Class B Ordinary Shares***

On June 5, 2020, the Sponsor paid $25,000 to cover certain offering and formation costs of the Company in consideration of the Company's Class B ordinary shares. On January 13, 2021, the Sponsor transferred 50,000 Class B ordinary shares to each of the Company's independent directors. These 150,000 Class B ordinary shares were not subject to forfeiture in the event the underwriters' over-allotment was not exercised. The Sponsor had agreed to forfeit up to 3,262,500 Class B ordinary shares to the extent that the underwriters' over-allotment option was not exercised in full so that the Class B ordinary shares would represent, on an as-converted basis, 20% of the Company's issued and outstanding shares after the Initial Public Offering. Through February 4, 2021, the Company effectuated share recapitalizations resulting in the Sponsor (and its permitted transferees) holding an aggregate of 25,012,500 Class B ordinary shares. On February 4, 2021, the underwriters partially exercised their over-allotment option; thus, 12,500 shares of Class B ordinary shares were forfeited. The Class B ordinary shares will automatically convert into Class A ordinary shares upon consummation of a Business Combination on a one-for-one basis, subject to certain adjustments, as described in Note 6.

The initial shareholders agreed not to transfer, assign or sell any of the Class B ordinary shares (except to certain permitted transferees) until the earlier of (i) one year after the date of the consummation of a Business Combination, or (ii) subsequent to the consummation of a Business Combination, (a) if the last reported sale price of the Company's Class A ordinary shares equals or exceeds $12.00 per share (as adjusted for share subdivisions, share capitalizations, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within any 30-trading day period commencing at least 150 days after the Business Combination, or (b) subsequent to a Business Combination, the date on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, share exchange or other similar transaction which results in all of the Company's shareholders having the right to exchange their ordinary shares for cash, securities or other property.

***Promissory Note***

On June 5, 2020, the Company issued a promissory note to the Sponsor, pursuant to which the Sponsor agreed to loan the Company up to an aggregate of $300,000 to be used for the payment of costs related to the Initial Public Offering, which was amended and restated on December 31, 2020 (the "Promissory Note"). The Promissory Note was non-interest bearing, unsecured and payable upon the completion of the Initial Public Offering. The Company had borrowed $278,085 under the Promissory Note and fully repaid the Promissory Note on February 4, 2021. Borrowings under the Promissory Note are no longer available.

***Private Placement Warrants***

Simultaneously with the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the Company consummated the Private Placement of 15,333,333 Private Placement Warrants, including 1,733,333 additional Private Placement Warrants to cover over-allotments, for an aggregate purchase price of $23.0 million, in a private placement to the Sponsor. Each Private Placement Warrant is exercisable to purchase one share of Class A ordinary shares at a price of $11.50 per share. A portion of the proceeds from the Private Placement Warrants was added to the proceeds from the Initial Public Offering to be held in the Trust Account. If the

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<u>[**Table of Contents**](#i8d1f80a6d2074878a8b1fd2ae2b85277_10)</u>

**ARES ACQUISITION CORPORATION**

**NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** 

Company does not complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period, the proceeds of the sale of the Private Placement Warrants will be used to fund the redemption of the Public Shares (subject to the requirements of applicable law), and the Private Placement Warrants will expire worthless.

***Working Capital Loan***

On March 1, 2022, the Company entered into a working capital loan agreement with the Sponsor (the "Working Capital Loan"), pursuant to which the Company may borrow up to $2,500,000, for ongoing business expenses and the Business Combination. The Working Capital Loan is non-interest bearing, unsecured and payable upon the consummation of the Business Combination. If the Company completes a Business Combination, the Company would repay the Working Capital Loan out of the proceeds of the Trust Account released to the Company. Otherwise, the Working Capital Loan would be repaid only out of funds held outside the Trust Account. In the event that a Business Combination does not close, the Company may use a portion of proceeds held outside the Trust Account to repay the Working Capital Loan, but no proceeds held in the Trust Account would be used to repay the Working Capital Loan. The Working Capital Loan would either be repaid upon consummation of a Business Combination, without interest, or, at the lender's discretion, up to $1,500,000 of such Working Capital Loan may be convertible into warrants of the post-Business Combination entity at a price of $1.50 per warrant. The warrants would be identical to the Private Placement Warrants. As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company had $1,500,000 and no outstanding borrowings under the Working Capital Loan, respectively.

***Administrative Service Fee***

The Company has agreed, commencing on the date of the prospectus, to pay an affiliate of the Sponsor, a monthly fee of $16,667 for general and administrative services including office space, utilities, secretarial and administrative support. This arrangement will terminate upon completion of a Business Combination or the distribution of the Trust Account to the Public Shareholders. The Company incurred $200,004 and $183,337 in expenses in connection with such services for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. These expenses were presented within general and administrative expenses in the accompanying statements of operations. The Company did not incur administrative service fee for the period from January 24, 2020 (inception) through December 31, 2020. As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company had no outstanding balance in accrued expenses - related party in connection with such services as reflected in the accompanying balance sheets.

***Advances from Related Parties***

Affiliates of the Sponsor paid certain operating costs on behalf of the Company. These advances are due on demand and are non-interest bearing. As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, there were $60,921 and $46,900, respectively, in accrued expenses - related party as reflected in the accompanying balance sheets.

**5. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES**

***Registration Rights***

The holders of the Class B ordinary shares, Private Placement Warrants (and the Class A ordinary shares underlying such Private Placement Warrants) and Private Placement Warrants that may be issued upon conversion of the Working Capital Loan were entitled to registration rights to require the Company to register a sale of any of its securities held by them pursuant to a registration rights agreement signed upon consummation of the Initial Public Offering. The holders of these securities were entitled to make up to three demands, excluding short form registration demands, that the Company register such securities for sale under the Securities Act. In addition, these holders were entitled to "piggy-back" registration rights to include their securities in other registration statements filed by the Company, subject to certain limitations. The Company will bear the expenses incurred in connection with the filing of any such registration statements.

***Underwriting Agreement***

The Company granted the underwriters a 45-day option from the final prospectus relating to the Initial Public Offering to purchase up to 13,050,000 additional Units to cover over-allotments, if any, at $10.00 per Unit, less the underwriting discounts and commissions. On February 4, 2021, the underwriters partially exercised its over-allotment option for an additional 13,000,000 Units. The remaining 50,000 units are no longer available to be exercised.

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<u>[**Table of Contents**](#i8d1f80a6d2074878a8b1fd2ae2b85277_10)</u>

**ARES ACQUISITION CORPORATION**

**NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** 

The underwriters were entitled to a cash underwriting discount of $0.20 per Unit, or $20.0 million in the aggregate, paid upon the closing of the Initial Public Offering. In addition, $0.35 per Unit, or $35.0 million in the aggregate will be payable to the underwriters for deferred underwriting commissions. The deferred underwriting commissions will become payable to the underwriters from the amounts held in the Trust Account solely in the event that the Company completes a Business Combination, subject to the terms of the underwriting agreement.

***Contingent Fees***

The Company has entered into fee arrangement with certain service providers pursuant to which certain transaction fees and service fees will become payable only if the Company consummates the Proposed Business Combination. If the Proposed Business Combination with X-energy does not occur, the Company will not be required to pay these contingent fees. As of December 31, 2022, the amount of these contingent fees with the service providers were approximately $13.2 million.

The Company has entered into a fee arrangement with capital markets advisors pursuant to which the Company will pay to each capital markets advisor an incentive fee of $2,250,000 so long as the sum of any funds raised in a securities private placement plus the funds raised in X-energy's interim financing transactions plus funds in the Trust Account exceed $500,000,000, and if the Company consummates the Proposed Business Combination with X-energy.

Additionally, the Company has entered into a fee arrangement with placement agents pursuant to which certain placement fees ranging from 2.25% to 4.5% of funds raised in a private placement transaction (net of proceeds invested by affiliates of the Company or the Sponsor), will become payable only if the Company consummates the Proposed Business Combination with X-energy.

**6. SHAREHOLDERS' DEFICIT**

***Preference Shares*** — The Company is authorized to issue 1,000,000 preference shares with a par value of $0.0001 per share with such designation, rights and preferences as may be determined from time to time by the board of directors of the Company. At December 31, 2022 and 2021, there were no preference shares issued or outstanding.

***Class A Ordinary Shares*** — The Company is authorized to issue 300,000,000 Class A ordinary shares with a par value of $0.0001 per share. Holders of Class A ordinary shares are entitled to one vote for each share. At December 31, 2022 and 2021, there were no shares issued and outstanding, excluding 100,000,000 shares that are subject to possible redemption and are presented as temporary equity, outside of the shareholders' deficit section of the balance sheets.

***Class B Ordinary Shares*** — The Company is authorized to issue 30,000,000 Class B ordinary shares with a par value of $0.0001 per share. Holders of the Company's Class B ordinary shares are entitled to one vote for each ordinary share. On February 4, 2021, the Company consummated the sale of Over-Allotment Units pursuant to the underwriters' partial exercise of their over-allotment option. At December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, there were 25,000,000 Class B ordinary shares issued and outstanding.

Holders of Class A ordinary shares and Class B ordinary shares will vote together as a single class on all other matters submitted to a vote of shareholders except as required by law.

The Class B ordinary shares will automatically convert into Class A ordinary shares at the time of a Business Combination on a one-for-one basis, subject to adjustment. In the case that additional Class A ordinary shares or equity-linked securities are issued or deemed issued in excess of the amounts offered in the Initial Public Offering and related to the closing of a Business Combination, the ratio at which Class B ordinary shares shall convert into Class A ordinary shares will be adjusted (unless the holders of a majority of the outstanding Class B ordinary shares agree to waive such adjustment with respect to any such issuance or deemed issuance) so that the number of Class A ordinary shares issuable upon conversion of all Class B ordinary shares will equal, in the aggregate, on an as-converted basis, 20% of the sum of the total number of all ordinary shares outstanding upon completion of the Initial Public Offering plus all Class A ordinary shares and equity-linked securities issued or deemed issued in connection with a Business Combination (excluding any shares or equity-linked securities issued, or to be issued, to any seller in a Business Combination and any private placement-equivalent warrants issued to the Sponsor or its affiliates upon conversion of loans made to the Company).

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<u>[**Table of Contents**](#i8d1f80a6d2074878a8b1fd2ae2b85277_10)</u>

**ARES ACQUISITION CORPORATION**

**NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** 

**7. WARRANTS**

As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, there were 35,333,333 warrants outstanding (15,333,333 Private Placement Warrants and 20,000,000 Public Warrants). Public Warrants may only be exercised for a whole number of shares. No fractional shares will be issued upon exercise of the Public Warrants. The Public Warrants will become exercisable on the later of (i) 30 days after the completion of a Business Combination or (ii) 12 months from the closing of the Initial Public Offering. The Public Warrants will expire five years after the completion of a Business Combination or earlier upon redemption or liquidation.

The Company will not be obligated to deliver any Class A ordinary shares pursuant to the exercise of a warrant and will have no obligation to settle such warrant exercise unless a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to the Class A ordinary shares underlying the warrants is then effective and a prospectus relating thereto is current, subject to the Company satisfying its obligations with respect to registration. No warrant will be exercisable and the Company will not be obligated to issue Class A ordinary shares upon exercise of a warrant unless the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon such warrant exercise has been registered, qualified or deemed to be exempt under the securities laws of the state of residence of the registered holder of the warrants.

The Company has agreed that, as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 20 business days, after the closing of a Business Combination, the Company will use its best efforts to file with the SEC a registration statement for the registration, under the Securities Act, of the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants. The Company will use its best efforts to cause the same to become effective within 60 days after such closing, and to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement, and a current prospectus relating thereto, until the expiration of the warrants in accordance with the provisions of the warrant agreement. Notwithstanding the above, if the Class A ordinary shares is at the time of any exercise of a warrant not listed on a national securities exchange such that it satisfies the definition of a "covered security" under Section 18(b)(1) of the Securities Act, the Company may, at its option, require holders of Public Warrants who exercise their warrants to do so on a "cashless basis" in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act and, in the event the Company so elects, the Company will not be required to file or maintain in effect a registration statement, but will be required to use its best efforts to register or qualify the shares under applicable blue sky laws to the extent an exemption is not available.

Once the warrants become exercisable, the Company may redeem the Public Warrants:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• in whole and not in part;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• at a price of $0.01 per warrant;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• upon not less than 30 days' prior written notice of redemption; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• if, and only if, the reported last sale price of the Company's Class A ordinary shares equals or exceeds $18.00 per share for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period ending three business days prior to the date on which the Company sends the notice of redemption to the warrant holders.

In addition, if (i) the Company issues additional Class A ordinary shares or equity-linked securities for capital raising purposes in connection with the closing of a Business Combination at an issue price or effective issue price of less than $9.20 per Class A ordinary share (with such issue price or effective issue price to be determined in good faith by the Company's board of directors and, in the case of any such issuance to the Sponsor or its affiliates, without taking into account any Class B ordinary shares held by the Sponsor or its affiliates, prior to such issuance) (the "Newly Issued Price"), (ii) the aggregate gross proceeds from such issuances represent more than 60% of the total equity proceeds, and interest thereon, available for the funding of a Business Combination on the date of the consummation of a Business Combination (net of redemptions), and (iii) the volume weighted average trading price of the Company's ordinary shares during the 20 trading day period starting on the trading day prior to the day on which the Company consummates a Business Combination (such price, the "Market Value") is below $9.20 per share, the exercise price of the warrants will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 115% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price, and the $18.00 per share redemption trigger price described above will be adjusted (to the nearest cent) to be equal to 180% of the higher of the Market Value and the Newly Issued Price.

The Private Placement Warrants are identical to the Public Warrants underlying the Units sold in the Initial Public Offering, except that the Private Placement Warrants and the Class A ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise of the Private Placement Warrants will not be transferable, assignable or salable until 30 days after the completion of a Business

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<u>[**Table of Contents**](#i8d1f80a6d2074878a8b1fd2ae2b85277_10)</u>

**ARES ACQUISITION CORPORATION**

**NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** 

Combination, subject to certain limited exceptions. Additionally, the Private Placement Warrants will be exercisable on a cashless basis and be non-redeemable so long as they are held by the initial purchasers or their permitted transferees. If the Private Placement Warrants are held by someone other than the initial purchasers or their permitted transferees, the Private Placement Warrants will be redeemable by the Company and exercisable by such holders on the same basis as the Public Warrants.

If the Company calls the Public Warrants for redemption, management will have the option to require all holders that wish to exercise the Public Warrants to do so on a "cashless basis," as described in the warrant agreement. The exercise price and number of ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants may be adjusted in certain circumstances including in the event of a share dividend, or recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation. However, the warrants will not be adjusted for issuance of ordinary shares at a price below its exercise price. Additionally, in no event will the Company be required to net cash settle the warrants. If the Company is unable to complete a Business Combination within the Combination Period and the Company liquidates the funds held in the Trust Account, holders of warrants will not receive any of such funds with respect to their warrants, nor will they receive any distribution from the Company's assets held outside of the Trust Account with the respect to such warrants. Accordingly, the warrants may expire worthless.

**8. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS**

The fair value of the Company's financial assets and liabilities reflects management's estimate of amounts that the Company would have received in connection with the sale of the assets or paid in connection with the transfer of the liabilities in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. In connection with measuring the fair value of its assets and liabilities, the Company seeks to maximize the use of observable inputs (market data obtained from independent sources) and to minimize the use of unobservable inputs (internal assumptions about how market participants would price assets and liabilities). The following fair value hierarchy is used to classify assets and liabilities based on the observable inputs and unobservable inputs used in order to value the assets and liabilities:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• ***Level 1:*** Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. An active market for an asset or liability is a market in which transactions for the asset or liability occur with sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• ***Level 2:*** Observable inputs other than Level 1 inputs. Examples of Level 2 inputs include quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities and quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in markets that are not active.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• ***Level 3:*** Unobservable inputs based on the Company's assessment of the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability.

At December 31, 2022 and 2021, assets held in the Trust Account were comprised of $1.0 billion investments in U.S. government securities. During the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, the Company did not withdraw any interest income from the Trust Account.

------

<u>[**Table of Contents**](#i8d1f80a6d2074878a8b1fd2ae2b85277_10)</u>

**ARES ACQUISITION CORPORATION**

**NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** 

The following tables present information about the Company's financial assets and financial liabilities that are measured at fair value as of December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, and indicate the fair value hierarchy of the valuation techniques that the Company utilized to determine such fair value:

---

| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Description** | **Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)** | **Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)** | **Significant Other Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)** |
| **As of December 31, 2022:** | | | |
| **Assets, at fair value** | | | |
| Investments held in Trust Account: | $1013382491 | $— | $— |
| **Liabilities, at fair value** |  |  |  |
| Public Warrants | $9326000 | $— | $— |
| Private Placement Warrants | $— | $7149933 | $— |
| **Description** | **Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)** | **Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)** | **Significant Other Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)** |
| **As of December 31, 2021:** |  |  |  |
| **Assets, at fair value** |  |  |  |
| Investments held in Trust Account: | $1000284779 | $— | $— |
| **Liabilities, at fair value** |  |  |  |
| Public Warrants | $17822000 | $— | $— |
| Private Placement Warrants | $— | $— | $13882522 |

---

The Public Warrants and Private Placement Warrants were accounted for as liabilities in accordance with ASC 815-40 and are presented within warrant liabilities on the Company's balance sheets. The warrant liabilities are measured at fair value at inception and on a recurring basis, with changes in fair value presented within change in fair value of warrant liabilities in the Company's statements of operations.

The Public Warrants issued in connection with the Initial Public Offering were initially measured at fair value using a modified Black-Scholes model and subsequently measured based on the listed market price of such warrants, whereas the fair value of the Private Placement Warrants was initially and subsequently measured using a Black-Scholes option pricing model at each measurement date. As the fair value of the Public Warrants is based on the use of an observable market quote in an active market, the Public Warrants are classified as Level 1.

At December 31, 2021, the fair value of the Private Placement Warrants was estimated using a Black-Scholes option pricing model. The underlying assumptions in the Black-Scholes option pricing model include the underlying share price, risk-free interest rate, estimated volatility and the expected term. The underlying share price is based on the trading ordinary share price or implied from the unit price (before the ordinary shares are trading separately), which consists of one ordinary share and one-fifth Public Warrant. The expected share price volatility is based on (i) the observed volatility of a group of comparable publicly traded companies observed over a historical period equal to the expected remaining life of the warrants and (ii) the implied volatility of the Public Warrants calculated using publicly observable prices. The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect on the date of valuation equal to the remaining expected life of the warrants. The dividend yield percentage is zero because the Company does not currently pay dividends, nor does it intend to do so during the expected term of the warrants. The expected life of the warrants is assumed to be equivalent to their remaining contractual term. The primary significant unobservable input used in the fair value measurement of the Company's Private Placement Warrants is the expected volatility of the ordinary share. Significant increases (decreases) in the expected volatility in isolation would result in a significantly higher (lower) fair value measurement. In determining the expected volatility, the Company derived the expected volatility from observable pricing of the Public Warrants.

------

<u>[**Table of Contents**](#i8d1f80a6d2074878a8b1fd2ae2b85277_10)</u>

**ARES ACQUISITION CORPORATION**

**NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** 

Inputs are re-evaluated each quarterly reporting period to estimate the fair market value of the Private Placement Warrants as of the reporting period. The fair value of the Private Placement Warrants was estimated using the following assumptions:

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| | **As of December 31, 2021** |
| Exercise price | $11.50 |
| Share price | $9.74 |
| Term (in years) | 5.00 |
| Volatility | 15.00% |
| Risk-free interest rate | 1.26% |

---

At December 31, 2022, the Private Placement Warrants transferred to Level 2 due to the use of an observable market quote for a similar asset in an active market.

The changes in the fair value of the Level 3 warrant liabilities for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 are summarized as follows:

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| Warrant liabilities at December 31, 2020 | $— |
| Issuance of Public and Private Placement Warrants | 55407948 |
| Transfer of Public Warrants to Level 1 | (17500000) |
| Change in fair value recognized in earnings | (24025426) |
| Warrant liabilities at December 31, 2021 | 13882522 |
| Change in fair value recognized in earnings | (6732589) |
| Transfer of Private Placement Warrants to Level 2 | (7149933) |
| Warrant liabilities at December 31, 2022 | $— |

---

Transfers to/from Levels 1, 2, and 3 are recognized at the end of the reporting period. As disclosed above, transfers between levels for the periods presented include the transfer from Level 3 to Level 1 of the Public Warrants, which started trading on an active market in February 2021, and the transfer from Level 3 to Level 2 of the Private Placement Warrants, which began use of an observable market quote for a similar asset in an active market.

**9. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS**

Management has evaluated subsequent events to determine if events or transactions occurring through the date the financial statements were issued require potential adjustment to or disclosure in the financial statements. Other than as described below, the Company concluded that there have been no events that have occurred that would require adjustments to the financial statements.

Subsequent to December 31, 2022, the Company drew $600,000 against the Working Capital Loan with the Sponsor for ongoing business expenses and the Business Combination. As of February 28, 2023, the Company had $2,100,000 outstanding borrowings under the Working Capital Loan.

On January 26, 2023, the Company entered into a non-interest bearing promissory note with the Sponsor, pursuant to which the Sponsor agreed to make monthly deposits directly to the Trust Account of $0.03 for each outstanding Class A ordinary share, up to a maximum of $1.2 million per month, beginning on February 3, 2023. The promissory note will be repaid on the earlier of (i) the close of the Proposed Business Combination, or (ii) August 4, 2023. In February, 2023, the Sponsor deposited approximately $1.1 million into the Trust Account.

On February 2, 2023, the Company held a special meeting of shareholders and approved a proposal to amend the Company's amended and restated memorandum and articles of association to extend the date by which the Company has to consummate an initial business combination from February 4, 2023 to August 4, 2023, or such earlier date as the Company's board of directors may determine in its sole discretion. In connection with the approval of the Extension, shareholders elected to redeem an aggregate of 53,002,919 ordinary shares, of which the Company paid cash from the Trust Account in the aggregate amount of approximately $539.0 million (approximately $10.17 per share) to redeeming shareholders.

## Exhibit 31.1

**Exhibit 31.1**

**CERTIFICATION**

**PURSUANT TO RULES 13a-14(a) AND 15d-14(a)**

**UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO**

**SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002**

I, David B. Kaplan, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K, as amended by Amendment No. 1 on Form 10-K/A, of Ares Acquisition Corporation;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the period presented in this report;

4. The registrant's other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the registrant and have:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;a.Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;b.[Paragraph intentionally omitted in accordance with SEC Release Nos. 34-47986 and 34-54942];

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;c.Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;d.Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant's other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;a.All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;b.Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal controls over financial reporting.

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| Dated: March 10, 2023 | By: | /s/ David B. Kaplan |
|  | Name: | David B. Kaplan |
|  | Title: | Chief Executive Officer and Co-Chairman |

---

## Exhibit 31.2

**Exhibit 31.2**

**CERTIFICATION**

**PURSUANT TO RULES 13a-14(a) AND 15d-14(a)**

**UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO**

**SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002**

I, Jarrod Phillips, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K, as amended by Amendment No. 1 on Form 10-K/A, of Ares Acquisition Corporation;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the period presented in this report;

4. The registrant's other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the registrant and have:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;a.Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;b.[Paragraph intentionally omitted in accordance with SEC Release Nos. 34-47986 and 34-54942];

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;c.Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;d.Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant's other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;a.All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;b.Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal controls over financial reporting.

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| Dated: March 10, 2023 | By: | /s/ Jarrod Phillips |
|  | Name: | Jarrod Phillips |
|  | Title: | Chief Financial Officer |

---

## Exhibit 32.1

**Exhibit 32.1**

**CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO** 

**18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO** 

**SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002**

In connection with the annual report on Form 10-K, as amended by Amendment No. 1 on Form 10-K/A, of Ares Acquisition Corporation (the "Company") for the year ended December 31, 2022, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), I, David B. Kaplan, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Chairman of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to my knowledge:

(1) the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2) the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| Dated: March 10, 2023 | By: | /s/ David B. Kaplan |
|  | Name: | David B. Kaplan |
|  | Title: | Chief Executive Officer and Co-Chairman |

---

## Exhibit 32.2

**Exhibit 32.2**

**CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO** 

**18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO** 

**SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002**

In connection with the annual report on Form 10-K, as amended by Amendment No. 1 on Form 10-K/A, of Ares Acquisition Corporation (the "Company") for the year ended December 31, 2022, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), I, Jarrod Phillips, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to my knowledge:

(1) the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2) the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| Dated: March 10, 2023 | By: | /s/ Jarrod Phillips |
|  | Name: | Jarrod Phillips |
|  | Title: | Chief Financial Officer |

---

<br>