Filed by Churchill Capital Corp IX pursuant to Rule 425
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
and deemed filed pursuant to Rule 14a-12
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
Subject Company: Churchill Capital Corp IX (File No. 001-42041)
Set forth below is an email from David Liu, the Chief Executive Officer of Plus Automation, Inc. (“Plus”), to all employees of Plus on June 5, 2025 announcing the proposed business combination (the “Business Combination”) between Churchill Capital Corp IX (“Churchill IX”) and Plus.
Subject Line: An exciting new chapter for Plus
Plus Team,
Today is an exciting day! This morning, we announced a new milestone that will allow us to invest in our growth and development of our products: We’re officially taking the next step toward becoming a public company by entering into a business combination agreement with Churchill Capital Corp IX, a special purpose acquisition company (or “SPAC”).
The proposed transaction ascribes a pre-money equity value to Plus of $1.2 billion. Upon closing this transaction—which we expect to happen in Q4 2025—Plus will combine with Churchill IX to become a publicly listed company. We’ll then return to our roots by going back to the name PlusAI: Our team, values, and the mission will remain the same. But as a result of this deal, we expect to have more capital to invest aggressively in our growth and expansion.
It’s important to remember that this deal has not closed yet. It’s still subject to a number of key steps, including governmental and shareholder approvals, as well as our continued business performance. So, the best thing we can do now is stay as focused on our mission and our values as we’ve been since 2016, and keep executing with excellence as we continue to grow Plus as a great company.
At 9:00 a.m. PT, we’ll have an All-Hands to share more details and answer questions. We will schedule follow-up sessions for employees to cover additional details. Please note the following restrictions which are important to keep top of mind as we go through this process:
| • | Do not make any statements about this news yet (on social media or to anyone outside of Plus). During that meeting, we’ll share more information and resources including details on how you can share the good news. Please refamiliarize yourself with the social media guidelines in our Employee Handbook in the meantime. If you’re contacted by a member of the media, please do not provide any information about Plus and instead direct them to Lauren Kwan at [email protected]. |
| • | Do not buy, sell, or make recommendations to others to buy/sell Churchill IX stock (CCIX/CCIXW) or share confidential information regarding Plus. Employees of Plus are highly likely to have non-public information, and it’s important that you do not act on that information about Plus or this deal. We will discuss this further in a forthcoming insider trading training. |
| • | As always, do not share any projections, business metrics, financial information or anything else that could be interpreted as trying to affect the value of Plus or Churchill IX externally. The Securities Exchange Commission (“SEC”) has strict guidelines that we must follow. We will share more details shortly. |
If I’m feeling one thing today, it’s gratitude for the many team members—past and present—who’ve helped us reach this phase of growth. It’s through your passion for our mission and dedication to our core values that we’ve been able to achieve this milestone. Thanks to your efforts, we’re looking to a future with exceptional optimism. We believe we’re at the beginning of what could be a great period of value creation for Plus. I’m proud of what we’ve created together, and I’m equally excited about our continued growth.
We will keep communicating with you throughout this process, and you’ll receive a calendar invitation for the All-Hands meeting shortly.
David
* * *
Important Privacy Considerations
The Securities Exchange Commission (“SEC”) has strict guidelines that we must follow. As a result, we have new restrictions on how we share business metrics, financial information, and other details that we’ll share with you shortly.
As stated above, please refrain from making any statements about this news (on social media or to anyone outside of Plus). If you’re contacted by a member of the media, please do not provide any information about Plus and instead direct them to Lauren Kwan at [email protected].
We will share FAQs and additional resources following today’s meeting.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION AND WHERE TO FIND IT
The proposed transaction will be submitted to shareholders of Churchill IX for their consideration. Churchill IX intends to file a registration statement on Form S-4 (the “Registration Statement”) with the SEC, which will include preliminary and definitive proxy statements to be distributed to Churchill IX’s shareholders in connection with Churchill IX’s solicitation of proxies for the vote by Churchill IX’s shareholders in connection with the proposed transaction and other matters to be described in the Registration Statement, as well as the prospectus relating to the offer of the securities to be issued to Plus’s shareholders in connection with the completion of the proposed transaction. After the Registration Statement has been filed and declared effective, a definitive proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement and other relevant documents will be mailed to Plus stockholders and Churchill IX shareholders as of the record date established for voting on the proposed transaction. Before making any voting or investment decision, Churchill IX and Plus stockholders and other interested persons are advised to read, once available, the preliminary proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement and any amendments thereto and, once available, the definitive proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement, as well as other documents filed with the SEC by Churchill IX in connection with the proposed transaction, as these documents will contain important information about Churchill IX, Plus and the proposed transaction. Shareholders may obtain a copy of the preliminary or definitive proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement, once available, as well as other documents filed by Churchill IX with the SEC, without charge, at the SEC’s website located at www.sec.gov or by directing a written request to Churchill Capital Corp. IX, 640 Fifth Avenue, 12th Floor, New York, NY 10019.
PARTICIPANTS IN THE SOLICITATION
Churchill IX, Plus and certain of their respective directors, executive officers and other members of management and employees may, under SEC rules, be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from Churchill IX’s shareholders in connection with the proposed transaction. Information regarding the persons who may, under SEC rules, be deemed participants in the solicitation of Churchill IX’s shareholders in connection with the proposed transaction will be set forth in proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement when it is filed by Churchill IX with the SEC. You can find more information about Churchill IX’s directors and executive officers in Churchill IX’s final prospectus related to its initial public offering filed with the SEC on May 1, 2024 and in the Annual Reports on Form 10-K filed by Churchill IX with the SEC. Additional information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests will be included in the proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement when it becomes available. Shareholders, potential investors and other interested persons should read the proxy statement/prospectus/consent solicitation statement carefully when it becomes available before making any voting or investment decisions. You may obtain free copies of these documents from the sources described above.
NO OFFER OR SOLICITATION
This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. This communication is not, and under no circumstances is to be construed as, a prospectus, an advertisement or a public offering of the securities described herein in the United States or any other jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or exemptions therefrom. INVESTMENT IN ANY SECURITIES DESCRIBED HEREIN HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED BY THE SEC OR ANY OTHER REGULATORY AUTHORITY NOR HAS ANY AUTHORITY PASSED UPON OR ENDORSED THE MERITS OF THE OFFERING OR THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This communication includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as “estimate,” “plan,” “project,” “forecast,” “intend,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “seek,” “target,” “continue,” “could,” “may,” “might,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict” or similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. We have based these forward-looking statements on current expectations and projections about future events. These statements include: projections of market opportunity and market share; estimates of customer adoption rates and usage patterns; projections regarding the value of autonomous driving solutions; projections of development and commercialization costs and timelines; expectations regarding Plus’s ability to execute its business model and the expected financial benefits of such model; expectations regarding Plus’s ability to attract, retain, and expand its customer base; Plus’s deployment of virtual driver software; Plus’s expectations concerning relationships with strategic partners, suppliers, governments, regulatory bodies and other third parties; Plus’s ability to maintain, protect, and enhance its intellectual property; future ventures or investments in companies, products, services, or technologies; development of favorable regulations and government incentives affecting Plus’s markets; the potential benefits of the proposed transaction and expectations related to its terms and timing; and the potential for Plus to increase in value.
These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on as, a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions, many of which are beyond the control of Plus and Churchill IX. These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. Such risks and uncertainties include: that Plus is pursuing an emerging technology, faces significant technical challenges and may not achieve commercialization or market acceptance; Plus’s historical net losses and limited operating history; Plus’s expectations regarding future financial performance, capital requirements and unit economics; Plus’s use and reporting of business and operational metrics; Plus’s competitive landscape; Plus’s dependence on members of its senior management and its ability to attract and retain qualified personnel; the capital requirements of Plus’s business plans and the potential need for additional future financing; Plus’s ability to manage growth and expand its operations; potential future acquisitions or investments in companies, products, services or technologies; Plus’s reliance on strategic partners and other third parties; Plus’s ability to maintain, protect and defend its intellectual property rights; risks associated with privacy, data protection or cybersecurity incidents and related regulations; the use and regulation of artificial intelligence and machine learning; uncertainty or changes with respect to laws and regulations; uncertainty or changes with respect to taxes, trade conditions and the macroeconomic environment; the combined company’s ability to maintain internal control over financial reporting and operate a public company; the possibility that required regulatory approvals for the proposed transaction are delayed or are not obtained, which could adversely affect the combined company or the
expected benefits of the proposed transaction; the risk that shareholders of Churchill IX could elect to have their shares redeemed, leaving the combined company with insufficient cash to execute its business plans; the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the business combination agreement; the outcome of any legal proceedings or government investigations that may be commenced against Plus or Churchill IX; failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the proposed transaction; the ability of Churchill IX or the combined company to issue equity or equity-linked securities in connection with the proposed transaction or in the future; and other factors described in Churchill IX’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Additional information concerning these and other factors that may impact such forward-looking statements can be found in filings and potential filings by Plus, Churchill IX or the combined company resulting from the proposed transaction with the SEC, including under the heading “Risk Factors.” If any of these risks materialize or assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. In addition, these statements reflect the expectations, plans and forecasts of Plus’s and Churchill IX’s management as of the date of this communication; subsequent events and developments may cause their assessments to change. While Plus and Churchill IX may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, they specifically disclaim any obligation to do so. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed upon these statements.
In addition, statements that “we believe” and similar statements reflect our beliefs and opinions on the relevant subject. These statements are based upon information available to us as of the date of this communication, and while we believe such information forms a reasonable basis for such statements, such information may be limited or incomplete, and our statements should not be read to indicate that we have conducted an exhaustive inquiry into, or review of, all potentially available relevant information. These statements are inherently uncertain and investors are cautioned not to unduly rely upon these statements.
An investment in Churchill IX is not an investment in any of our founders’ or sponsors’ past investments, companies or affiliated funds. The historical results of those investments are not indicative of future performance of Churchill IX, which may differ materially from the performance of our founders’ or sponsors’ past investments.