ares acquisition Corporation II and Kodiak Robotics, Inc. Confirm Registration Statement Effectiveness, Set Shareholder Vote for September 23
NEW YORK - September 2, 2025 – Ares Acquisition Corporation II (AACII) and Kodiak Robotics, Inc. jointly announced today that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has declared effective the registration statement for the proposed business combination. This paves the way for a shareholder vote on September 23, 2025, to approve the merger that will result in Kodiak becoming a publicly listed company.
The transaction positions Kodiak, a leading autonomous trucking company, for accelerated growth in a rapidly expanding market. If approved, the combined company will trade on the nasdaq under the ticker symbol “KOAK.” The business combination is expected to provide Kodiak with approximately $550 million in gross proceeds, comprised of AACII’s trust account and a concurrent private investment in public equity (PIPE) offering.These funds will be used to support Kodiak’s continued technology progress, fleet expansion, and commercial deployment of its autonomous trucking technology.
Kodiak Robotics focuses on long-haul, hub-to-hub autonomous trucking, aiming to address driver shortages and improve efficiency in the logistics industry. The company has established partnerships with leading freight providers and is currently operating autonomous trucks in multiple states.Shareholders of record as of September 16, 2025, will be entitled to vote on the proposed business combination. Further details regarding the special meeting and voting process are outlined in the definitive proxy statement/prospectus filed with the SEC.
Contact Facts:
Dan Allred, Kodiak Robotics, dan@kodiak.ai
Stacy Morris, Futuristacommunications, stacy.morris@futuristacommunications.com, +1 310-415-9188
Lauren Sloane, The Blueshirt Group for Kodiak, Lauren@blueshirtgroup.com
Jacob Silber, Ares Media Relations, media@aresmgmt.com
Greg Mason, Ares Investor Relations, ir@aresacquisitioncorporationii.com, +1 888-818-5298
Source: View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250901226655/en/
