QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | |
(Address of principal executive offices) |
(Zip Code) |
Title of each class |
Trading Symbol(s) |
Name of each exchange on which registered | ||
one-quarter of one redeemable warrant |
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Large accelerated filer | ☐ | Accelerated filer | ☐ | |||
☒ | Smaller reporting company | |||||
Emerging growth company |
CHURCHILL CAPITAL CORP IX
FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 2025
TABLE OF CONTENTS
i
March 31, 2025 |
December 31, 2024 |
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(Unaudited) | ||||||||
Assets: |
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Current assets: |
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Cash |
$ | $ | ||||||
Prepaid expenses |
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Short term prepaid insurance |
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Total current assets |
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Long term prepaid insurance |
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Marketable securities and cash held in Trust account |
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Total Assets |
$ |
$ |
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Liabilities, Class A Ordinary Shares Subject to Redemption and Shareholders’ Deficit: |
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Current liabilities: |
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Accrued expenses |
$ | $ | ||||||
Total current liabilities |
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Deferred underwriting fee payable |
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Total Liabilities |
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Commitments and Contingencies (Note 6) |
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Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption, |
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Shareholders’ Deficit |
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Preference shares, $ |
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Class A ordinary shares, $ |
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Class B ordinary shares, $ |
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Additional paid-in capital |
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Accumulated deficit |
( |
) | ( |
) | ||||
Total Shareholders’ Deficit |
( |
) |
( |
) | ||||
Total Liabilities, Class A Ordinary Shares Subject to Redemption and Shareholders’ Deficit |
$ |
$ |
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For the Three Months Ended March 31, |
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2025 |
2024 |
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General and administrative expenses |
$ | $ | ||||||
Loss from operations |
( |
) |
( |
) | ||||
Other income: |
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Interest income earned on Trust Account |
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Total other income |
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Net income (loss) |
$ |
$ |
( |
) | ||||
Basic and diluted weighted average Class A redeemable ordinary shares outstanding |
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Basic and diluted net income per Class A redeemable ordinary share |
$ |
$ |
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Basic and diluted weighted average non-redeemable Class A and B ordinary shares outstanding |
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Basic and diluted net income (loss) per non-redeemable Class A and B ordinary share |
$ |
$ |
( |
) | ||||
Class A Ordinary Shares |
Class B Ordinary Shares |
Additional Paid-in Capital |
Accumulated Deficit |
Total Shareholders’ Deficit |
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Shares |
Amount |
Shares |
Amount |
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Balance as of January 1, 2025 |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
( |
) |
$ |
( |
) | |||||||||||||||||||
Accretion for Class A ordinary shares to redemption amount |
— | — | — | — | — |
( |
) | ( |
) | |||||||||||||||||||
Net income |
— | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance as of March 31, 2025 |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
( |
) |
$ |
( |
) | |||||||||||||||||||
Class A Ordinary Shares |
Class B Ordinary Shares |
Additional Paid-in Capital |
Accumulated Deficit |
Total Shareholders’ (Deficit) Equity |
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Shares |
Amount |
Shares |
Amount |
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Balance as of January 1, 2024 |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
( |
) |
$ |
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Net loss |
— | — | — | — | — | ( |
) | ( |
) | |||||||||||||||||||
Balance as of March 31, 2024 |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
( |
) |
$ |
( |
) | |||||||||||||||||||
For the Three Months Ended March 31, |
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2025 |
2024 |
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Cash Flows from Operating Activities: |
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Net income (loss) |
$ | $ | ( |
) | ||||
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash used in operating activities: |
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Formation and operating expenses paid by Sponsor |
— | |||||||
Interest income earned on Trust Account |
( |
) | — | |||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: |
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Prepaid expenses |
( |
) | — | |||||
Prepaid insurance |
— | |||||||
Accrued expenses |
( |
) | ||||||
Net cash used in operating activities |
( |
) |
— |
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Net Change in Cash |
( |
) |
— | |||||
Cash – Beginning of period |
— | |||||||
Cash – End of period |
$ | $ | — | |||||
Non-Cash investing and financing activities: |
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Deferred offering costs paid through promissory note – related party |
$ | — | $ | |||||
Deferred offering costs included in accrued offerings costs |
$ | — | $ | |||||
• | Level 1, defined as observable inputs such as quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical instruments in active markets; |
• | 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 |
• | 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. 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. |
For the Three Months Ended March 31, |
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2025 |
2024 |
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Class A Redeemable |
Class A and B Non-Redeemable |
Class A Redeemable |
Class B Non-Redeemable |
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Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share: |
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Numerator: |
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Allocation of net income (loss) |
$ | $ | $ | $ | ( |
) | ||||||||||
Denominator: |
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Weighted-average shares outstanding |
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Basic and diluted income (loss) per share |
$ | $ | $ | $ | ( |
) |
Gross proceeds |
$ | |||
Less: |
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Proceeds allocated to Public Warrants |
( |
) | ||
Class A ordinary shares issuance costs |
( |
) | ||
Plus: |
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Accretion of carrying value to redemption value |
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Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption, December 31, 2024 |
$ | |||
Plus: |
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Accretion of carrying value to redemption value |
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Class A ordinary shares subject to possible redemption, March 31, 2025 |
$ | |||
• | In whole and not in part; |
• | At a price of $ |
• | Upon not less than “30-day redemption period”); and |
• | if, and only if, the last sale price of the Class A ordinary shares equals or exceeds $ 30 trading day period and the |
Held to Maturity |
Level |
Amortized Cost |
Unrealized Gain (Loss) |
Fair Value |
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March 31, 2025 |
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Cash held in money markets |
1 | $ | $ | |||||||||||||
U.S. Treasury Securities (Matured on |
1 | $ | $ | $ | ||||||||||||
December 31, 2024 |
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Cash held in money markets |
1 | $ | $ | |||||||||||||
U.S. Treasury Securities (Matured on |
1 | $ | $ | $ |
May 6, 2024 |
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Market price of public shares |
$ | |||
Term (years) |
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Risk-free rate |
% | |||
Volatility |
% | |||
Market Pricing Adjustment |
% |
March 31, 2025 |
December 31, 2024 |
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Trust Account |
$ | $ | ||||||
Cash |
$ | $ |
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2025 |
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2024 |
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General and administrative costs |
$ | $ | ||||||
Interest income earned on Trust Account |
$ | $ |
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
References in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (this “Quarterly Report”) to “we,” “us” or the “Company” refer to Churchill Capital Corp IX. References to our “management” or our “management team” refer to our officers and directors, and references to the “Sponsor” refer to Churchill Sponsor IX LLC, an affiliate of M. Klein and Company, LLC. The following discussion and analysis of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the condensed financial statements and the notes thereto contained elsewhere in this Quarterly Report. Certain information contained in the discussion and analysis set forth below includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties.
Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this Quarterly Report including, without limitation, statements under this Item regarding our financial position, business strategy and the plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. When used in this Quarterly Report, words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend” and similar expressions, as they relate to us or our management, identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs of our management, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, our management. Actual results could differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors detailed in our filings with the SEC. All subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are qualified in their entirety by this paragraph.
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the unaudited condensed financial statements and the notes thereto included in this Quarterly Report under “Item 1. Financial Statements”.
Overview
We are a blank check company incorporated in the Cayman Islands on December 18, 2023, formed for the purpose of effecting a Business Combination with one or more businesses that we have not yet identified. We intend to effectuate our Business Combination using cash derived from the proceeds of the Initial Public Offering and the sale of the Private Placement Units, our shares, debt or a combination of cash, shares and debt.
We expect to continue to incur significant costs in the pursuit of our acquisition plans. We cannot assure our shareholders that our plans to complete a Business Combination will be successful.
In 2024, the SEC adopted additional rules and regulations relating to special purpose acquisition companies (“SPAC”)s, which became effective on July 1, 2024 (“2024 SPAC Rules”). The 2024 SPAC Rules require, among other matters, (i) additional disclosures relating to SPAC sponsors and related persons; (ii) additional disclosures relating to SPAC Business Combination transactions; (iii) additional disclosures relating to dilution and to conflicts of interest involving sponsors and their affiliates in connection with proposed Business Combination transactions; (iv) additional disclosures regarding projections included in SEC filings in connection with proposed Business Combination transactions; and (v) the requirement that both the SPAC and its target company be co-registrants in connection with registration statements relating to proposed Business Combination transactions. In addition, the SEC’s adopting release provided guidance describing circumstances in which a SPAC could become subject to regulation under the Investment Company Act, including its duration, asset composition, business purpose, and the activities of the SPAC and its management team. The 2024 SPAC Rules may materially affect our ability to negotiate and complete our Initial Business Combination and may increase the costs and time related thereto.
We may seek to extend the Combination Period consistent with applicable laws, regulations and stock exchange rules by amending our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association. Such an amendment would require the approval of our public shareholders, who will be provided the opportunity to redeem all or a portion of their Public Shares in connection with the vote on such approval. Such redemptions will decrease the amount held in our Trust Account and our capitalization, and may affect our ability to maintain our listing on Nasdaq. In addition, the Nasdaq rules currently require SPACs (such as us) to complete our initial Business Combination within 36 months following the effective date of our IPO Registration Statement. If we do not meet such 36-month requirement, our securities will likely be subject to a suspension of trading and delisting from Nasdaq.
Recent Developments
On April 18, 2025, the Company’s board of directors appointed Paul Lapping as a director and as a member of the audit committee and the compensation committee of the Board, effective as of April 18, 2025.
Results of Operations
We have neither engaged in any operations nor generated any revenues to date. Our only activities from December 18, 2023 (inception) through March 31, 2025 were organizational activities, those necessary to prepare for the Initial Public Offering, and subsequent to the Initial Public Offering, identifying a target company for a Business Combination. We do not expect to generate any operating revenues until after the completion of our Business Combination. We generate non-operating income in the form of interest income from the proceeds derived from the Initial Public Offering held in the Trust Account. We incur expenses as a result of being a public company (for legal, financial reporting, accounting and auditing compliance), as well as for due diligence expenses.
For the three months ended March 31, 2025, we had net income of $2,714,137, which includes $2,997,592 of interest income earned on Trust Account, offset by $283,455 of general and administrative costs.
For the three months ended March 31, 2024, we had net loss of $24,092, which primarily consisted of general and administrative costs.
Factors That May Adversely Affect our Results of Operations
Our results of operations and our ability to complete an Initial Business Combination may be adversely affected by various factors that could cause economic uncertainty and volatility in the financial markets, many of which are beyond our control. Our results of operations and our ability to complete an Initial Business Combination could be impacted by, among other things, downturns in the financial markets or in economic conditions, increases in oil prices, inflation, fluctuations in interest rates, increases in tariffs, supply chain disruptions, declines in consumer confidence and spending, public health considerations, and geopolitical instability, such as the military conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. We cannot at this time predict the likelihood of one or more of the above events, their duration or magnitude or the extent to which they may negatively impact our results of operations and our ability to complete an Initial Business Combination.
14
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Until the consummation of the Initial Public Offering, our only source of liquidity was an initial purchase of shares of Class B ordinary shares, par value $0.0001 per share, by the Sponsor and loans from the Sponsor.
On May 6, 2024, we consummated the Initial Public Offering of 28,750,000 Units, which included the full exercise by the underwriters of their over-allotment option in the amount of 3,750,000 Units, at $10.00 per Unit, generating gross proceeds of $287,500,000. Simultaneously with the closing of the Initial Public Offering and pursuant to a Private Placement Units Purchase Agreement, we consummated the sale of 725,000 Private Placement Units to the Sponsor at a price of $10.00 per Private Placement Unit, generating gross proceeds of $7,250,000.
Following the Initial Public Offering and the private placement, a total of $287,500,000 ($10.00 per Unit) was placed in the Trust Account. We incurred transaction costs of $14,560,986 consisting of $5,750,000 of upfront discount to the underwriters, $10,062,500 of deferred underwriting fees, and $557,236 of other offering costs, offset by reimbursement from the underwriters of $1,808,750.
We intend to use substantially all of the funds held in the Trust Account, including any amounts representing interest earned on the Trust Account (less permitted withdrawals and deferred underwriting discounts and commissions), to complete our Initial Business Combination. To the extent that our share capital or debt is used, in whole or in part, as consideration to complete our Initial Business Combination, the remaining proceeds held in the Trust Account will be used as working capital to finance the operations of the target business or businesses, make other acquisitions and pursue our growth strategies.
We intend to use the funds held outside the Trust Account primarily to identify and evaluate target businesses, perform business due diligence on prospective target businesses, travel to and from the offices, plants or similar locations of prospective target businesses or their representatives or owners, review corporate documents and material agreements of prospective target businesses, structure, negotiate and complete a Business Combination, and to pay for directors and officers liability insurance premiums.
In order to finance working capital deficit or to finance transaction costs in connection with an intended Initial Business Combination, the Sponsor or an affiliate of the Sponsor or certain of the Company’s officers and directors may, but are not obligated to, provide Working Capital Loans to the Company, as may be required. If the Company completes its Initial Business Combination, the Company would repay the Working Capital Loans. In the event that the Initial Business Combination does not close, the Company may use a portion of the working capital held outside the Trust Account to repay the Working Capital Loans but no proceeds from the Trust Account would be used to repay the Working Capital Loans. Up to $1,500,000 of the Working Capital Loans may be convertible into units of the post Business Combination entity at a price of $10.00 per unit at the option of the lender. The units and the underlying securities would be identical to the Private Placement Units. Additionally, to fund working capital, the Company has permitted withdrawals available from the Trust Account, up to an annual limit of $1,000,000. These permitted withdrawals are limited to only the interest available that has been earned in excess of the initial deposit in the Trust Account at the Initial Public Offering. During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company has fully withdrawn $1,000,000 working capital and as of March 31, 2025, the Company has no further amounts available for withdrawal until the 1-year anniversary of the Initial Public Offering.
To mitigate the risk that we might be deemed to be an investment company for purposes of the Investment Company Act, which risk increases the longer that we hold investments in the Trust Account, we may, at any time, (based on our management team’s ongoing assessment of all factors related to our potential status under the Investment Company Act) instruct the trustee to liquidate the investments held in the Trust Account and instead to hold the funds in the Trust Account in cash or in an interest-bearing demand deposit account at a bank.
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,” as of March 31, 2025, the Company has sufficient funds for the working capital needs of the Company until a minimum of one year from the date of issuance of these condensed financial statements. The Company cannot assure that its plans to consummate an Initial Business Combination will be successful.
The Company does not believe that it will need to raise additional funds in order to meet the expenditures required for operating its business. However, if the Company’s estimate of the costs of identifying a target business, undertaking in-depth due diligence and negotiating a Business Combination are less than the actual amount necessary to do so, the Company may have insufficient funds available to operate its business prior to the Initial Business Combination. Moreover, the Company may need to obtain additional financing either to complete its Business Combination or because the Company becomes obligated to redeem a significant number of Public Shares upon completion of the Business Combination, in which case the Company may issue additional securities or incur debt in connection with such Business Combination.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We have no obligations, assets or liabilities, which would be considered off-balance sheet arrangements as of March 31, 2025. We do not participate in transactions that create relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, often referred to as variable interest entities, which would have been established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements. We have not entered into any off-balance sheet financing arrangements, established any special purpose entities, guaranteed any debt or commitments of other entities, or purchased any non-financial assets.
15
Contractual obligations
We do not have any long-term debt, capital lease obligations, operating lease obligations or long-term liabilities, other than an agreement to pay an aggregate of $30,000 per month to the Sponsor or an affiliate thereof for office space, utilities, and secretarial and administrative support. We began incurring these fees on May 2, 2024 and will continue to incur these fees monthly until the earlier of the completion of the Business Combination and our liquidation.
Upon the completion of our Initial Business Combination, the underwriters are entitled to a deferred underwriting commission of 3.5% on the Units sold in the Initial Public Offering, or up to $10,062,500 in the aggregate, subject to the terms of the Initial Public Offering underwriting agreement.
Critical Accounting Estimates and Policies
The preparation of condensed financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires 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 condensed financial statements, and income and expenses during the periods reported. Making estimates requires management to exercise significant judgement. 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 condensed financial statements, which management considered in formulating its estimate, could change in the near term due to one or more future confirming events. Accordingly, actual results could materially differ from those estimates. As of March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024, we did not have any critical accounting estimates to be disclosed.
Recent Accounting Standards
In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures. The amendments in this ASU require disclosures, on an annual and interim basis, of significant segment expenses that are regularly provided to the CODM, as well as the aggregate amount of other segment items included in the reported measure of segment profit or loss. The ASU requires that a public entity disclose the title and position of the CODM and an explanation of how the CODM uses the reported measure(s) of segment profit or loss in assessing segment performance and deciding how to allocate resources. Public entities will be required to provide all annual disclosures currently required by Topic 280 in interim periods, and entities with a single reportable segment are required to provide all the disclosures required by the amendments in this ASU and existing segment disclosures in Topic 280. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. This ASU became effective as of December 31, 2024 and our management adopted this ASU in our condensed financial statements and related disclosures.
Management does not believe that any other recently issued, but not yet effective, accounting pronouncements, if currently adopted, would have a material effect on the Company’s financial statement.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
We are a smaller reporting company as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act and are not required to provide the information otherwise required under this Item.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Disclosure controls and procedures are controls and other procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer (together, the “Certifying Officers”), or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
16
Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Certifying Officers, we carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rules13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act. Based on the foregoing, our Certifying Officers concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2025.
We do not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures will prevent all errors and all instances of fraud. Disclosure controls and procedures, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the disclosure controls and procedures are met. Further, the design of disclosure controls and procedures must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all disclosure controls and procedures, no evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures can provide absolute assurance that we have detected all our control deficiencies and instances of fraud, if any. The design of disclosure controls and procedures also is based partly on certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Not Applicable.
17
PART II—OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
None.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
As a smaller reporting company under Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act, we are not required to include risk factors in this Quarterly Report. For additional risks relating to our operations, see the section titled “Risk Factors” contained in our final prospectus for the Initial Public Offering and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 31, 2025 (“Annual Report”). Any of these factors could result in a significant or material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition. Additional risk factors not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our business or results of operations. As of the date of this Quarterly Report, there have been no material changes to the risk factors disclosed in our final prospectus for the Initial Public Offering and in our Annual Report, except as set forth below and as we may disclose changes to such factors or disclose additional factors from time to time in our future filings with the SEC.
Changes in international trade policies, tariffs and treaties affecting imports and exports may have a material adverse effect on our search for an Initial Business Combination target or the performance or business prospects of a post-Business Combination company.
There have recently been significant changes to international trade policies and tariffs affecting imports and exports. Any significant increases in tariffs on goods or materials or other changes in trade policy could negatively affect our search for a target and/or our ability to complete our Initial Business Combination.
Recently, the U.S. has implemented a range of new tariffs and increases to existing tariffs. In response to the “tariffs announced by the U.S., other countries have imposed, are considering imposing, and may in the future impose new or increased tariffs on certain exports from the United States. There is currently significant uncertainty about the future relationship between the United States and other countries with respect to trade policies, taxes, government regulations and tariffs. and we cannot predict whether, and to what extent, current tariffs will continue or trade policies will change in the future.
Tariffs, or the threat of tariffs or increased tariffs, could have a significant negative impact on certain businesses (either due to domestic businesses’ reliance on imported goods or dependence on access to foreign markets, or foreign businesses’ reliance on sales into the United States). In addition, retaliatory tariffs could have a significant negative impact on foreign businesses that rely on imports from the United States, and domestic businesses that rely on exporting goods internationally. These tariffs and threats of tariffs and other potential trade policy changes could negatively affect the attractiveness of certain Initial Business Combination targets, or lead to material adverse effects on a post-Business Combination company. Among other things, historical financial performance of companies affected by trade policies and/or tariffs may not provide useful guidance as to the future performance of such companies, because future financial performance of those companies may be materially affected by new U.S. tariffs or foreign retaliatory tariffs, or other changes to trade policies. The business prospects of a particular target for a Business Combination could change even after we enter into a Business Combination agreement, as a result of tariffs or the threat of tariffs that may have a material impact on that target’s business, and it may be costly or impractical for us to terminate that Business Combination agreement. These factors could affect our selection of a Business Combination target.
We may not be able to adequately address the risks presented by these tariffs or other potential trade policy changes. As a result, we may deem it costly, impractical or risky to complete an Initial Business Combination with a particular target or with a target in a particular industry or from a particular country. Consequently, the pool of potential target companies may be reduced, which could impair our ability to identify a suitable target and to complete an Initial Business Combination. If we complete an Initial Business Combination with such a target, the post-Business Combination company’s operations and financial results could be adversely affected as a result of tariffs or changes to trade policies, which may cause the market value of the securities of the post-Business Combination company to decline.
Cyber incidents or attacks directed at us or third parties could result in information theft, data corruption, operational disruption and/or financial loss.
We depend on digital technologies, including information systems, infrastructure and cloud applications and services, including those of third parties with whom we may deal. Sophisticated and deliberate attacks on, or security breaches in, our systems or infrastructure, or the systems or infrastructure of third parties or the cloud, could lead to corruption or misappropriation of our assets, proprietary information and sensitive or confidential data. As an early-stage company without significant investments in data security protection, we may not be sufficiently protected against such occurrences. We also lack sufficient resources to adequately protect against, or to investigate and remediate any vulnerability to, cyber incidents. Any of these occurrences, or a combination of them, could have material adverse consequences on our business and lead to financial loss.
Changes in laws or regulations, or a failure to comply with any laws and regulations, may adversely affect our business, including our ability to negotiate and complete our Initial Business Combination, and results of operations.
We are subject to laws and regulations enacted by national, regional and local governments. In particular, we are required to comply with certain SEC and other legal requirements and numerous complex tax laws. Compliance with, and monitoring of, applicable laws and regulations may be difficult, time consuming and costly. Those laws and regulations and their interpretation and application may also change from time to time and those changes could have a material adverse effect on our business, investments and results of operations. In addition, a failure to comply with applicable laws or regulations, as interpreted and applied, could have a material adverse effect on our business, including our ability to negotiate and complete our Initial Business Combination, and results of operations.
On January 24, 2024, the SEC adopted the 2024 SPAC Rules requiring, among other matters, (i) additional disclosures relating to SPAC Business Combination transactions; (ii) additional disclosures relating to dilution and to conflicts of interest involving sponsors and their affiliates in both SPAC initial public offerings and Business Combination transactions; (iii) additional disclosures regarding projections included in SEC filings in connection with proposed Business Combination transactions; and (iv) the requirement that both the SPAC and its target company be co-registrants for Business Combination registration statements
In addition, the SEC’s adopting release provided guidance describing circumstances in which a SPAC could become subject to regulation under the Investment Company Act, including its duration, asset composition, business purpose, and the activities of the SPAC and its management team in furtherance of such goals.
Compliance with the 2024 SPAC Rules and related guidance may (i) increase the costs of and the time needed to negotiate and complete an initial Business Combination and (ii) constrain the circumstances under which we could affect our ability to complete an initial Business Combination.
If we are deemed to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act, we may be required to institute burdensome compliance requirements and our activities may be restricted, which may make it difficult for us to complete our initial Business Combination.
The SEC’s adopting release with respect to the 2024 SPAC Rules provided guidance relating to the potential status of SPACs as investment companies subject to regulation under the Investment Company Act and the regulations thereunder. Whether a SPAC is an investment company is dependent on specific facts and circumstances and we can give no assurance that a claim will not be made that we have been operating as an unregistered investment company.
If we are deemed to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act, our activities may be restricted, including (i) restrictions on the nature of our investments; and (ii) restrictions on the issuance of securities, each of which may make it difficult for us to complete our initial Business Combination.
In addition, we may have imposed upon us burdensome requirements, including: (i) registration as an investment company; (ii) adoption of a specific form of corporate structure; and (iii) reporting, record keeping, voting, proxy and disclosure requirements and other rules and regulations.
In order not to be regulated as an investment company under the Investment Company Act, unless we can qualify for an exclusion, we must ensure that we are engaged primarily in a business other than investing, reinvesting or trading in securities and that our activities do not include investing, reinvesting, owning, holding or trading “investment securities” constituting more than 40% of our total assets (exclusive of U.S. government securities and cash items) on an unconsolidated basis. We are mindful of the SEC’s investment company definition and guidance and intend to complete an initial Business Combination with an operating business, and not with an investment company, or to acquire minority interests in other businesses exceeding the permitted threshold.
We do not believe that our business activities will subject us to the Investment Company Act. To this end, the proceeds held in the Trust Account are invested only in U.S. government treasury obligations with a maturity of 180 days or less or in money market funds meeting certain conditions under Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act, which invest only in direct U.S. government treasury obligations; the holding of these assets in this form is intended to be temporary and for the sole purpose of facilitating the intended Business Combination. To mitigate the risk that we might be deemed to be an investment company for purposes of the Investment Company Act, which risk increases the longer that we hold investments in the Trust Account, we may, at any time, instruct Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, trustee of our Trust Account (“Continental”), as trustee of the Trust Account, to liquidate the investments held in the Trust Account and instead to hold the funds in the Trust Account in cash or in an interest bearing demand deposit account at a bank.
Pursuant to the Trust Agreement, Continental is not permitted to invest in securities or assets other than as described above. By restricting the investment of the proceeds to these instruments, and by having a business plan targeted at acquiring and growing businesses for the long term (rather than on buying and selling businesses in the manner of a merchant bank or private equity fund), we intended to avoid being deemed an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act. Our Initial Public Offering was not intended for persons who were seeking a return on investments in government securities or investment securities. The Trust Account is intended solely as a temporary depository for funds pending the earliest to occur of: (i) the completion of our initial Business Combination; (ii) the redemption of any Public Shares properly submitted in connection with a shareholder vote to amend our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association (x) in a manner that would affect the substance or timing of our obligation to redeem 100% of our Public Shares if we do not complete our initial Business Combination within the Combination Period; or (y) with respect to any other provision relating to the rights of holders of our Class A Ordinary Shares or pre-initial Business Combination activity; or (iii) absent an initial Business Combination within the Combination Period, our return of the funds held in the Trust Account to our public shareholders as part of our redemption of the Public Shares.
We are aware of litigation claiming that certain SPACs should be considered investment companies. Although we believe that these claims are without merit, we cannot guarantee that we will not be deemed to be an investment company and thus subject to the Investment Company Act. If we were deemed to be subject to the Investment Company Act, compliance with these additional regulatory burdens would require additional expenses for which we have not allotted funds and may hinder our ability to complete an initial Business Combination or may result in our liquidation. If we are unable to complete our initial Business Combination, our public shareholders may receive only approximately $[10.30] (as of March 31, 2025) per Public Share upon the liquidation of our Trust Account and our Warrants will expire worthless.
Military or other conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East or elsewhere may lead to increased volume and price volatility for publicly traded securities, or affect the operations or financial condition of potential target companies, which could make it more difficult for us to consummate an initial Business Combination.
Military or other conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East or elsewhere may lead to increased volume and price volatility for publicly traded securities, or affect the operations or financial condition of potential target companies, and to other company or industry-specific, national, regional or international economic disruptions and economic uncertainty, any of which could make it more difficult for us to identify a Business Combination target and consummate an initial Business Combination on acceptable commercial terms, or at all.
If our initial Business Combination involves a company organized under the laws of a state of the United States, it is possible a 1% U.S. federal excise tax will be imposed on us in connection with redemptions of our ordinary shares after or in connection with such initial Business Combination.
On August 16, 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 became law in the United States, which, among other things, imposes a 1% excise tax (the “Excise Tax”) on the fair market value of certain repurchases (including certain redemptions) of stock by publicly traded domestic (i.e., United States) corporations (and certain non-U.S. corporations treated as “surrogate foreign corporations”). The Excise Tax will apply to stock repurchases occurring in 2023 and beyond. The amount of the Excise Tax is generally 1% of the fair market value of the shares of stock repurchased at the time of the repurchase. The U.S. Department of the Treasury (the “Treasury”) has been given authority to provide regulations and other guidance to carry out, and prevent the abuse or avoidance of, the Excise Tax. In April 2024, the Treasury issued proposed regulations providing guidance with respect to the Excise Tax. Taxpayers may rely on these proposed regulations until final regulations are issued. Under the proposed regulations, liquidating distributions made by publicly traded domestic corporations are exempt from the Excise Tax. In addition, any redemptions that occur in the same taxable year as a liquidation is completed will also be exempt from such tax.
As an entity incorporated as a Cayman Islands exempted company, the 1% Excise Tax is not expected to apply to redemptions of our Class A Ordinary Shares (absent any regulations and other additional guidance that may be issued in the future with retroactive effect).
However, in connection with an initial Business Combination involving a company organized under the laws of the United States, it is possible that we domesticate and continue as a Delaware corporation prior to certain redemptions and, because our securities are trading on Nasdaq, it is possible that we will be subject to the Excise Tax with respect to any subsequent redemptions, including redemptions in connection with the initial Business Combination, that are treated as repurchases for this purpose (other than, pursuant to recently issued guidance from the Treasury Department, redemptions in complete liquidation of the company). In all cases, the extent of the Excise Tax that may be incurred will depend on a number of factors, including the fair market value of our stock redeemed, the extent such redemptions could be treated as dividends and not repurchases, and the content of any regulations and other additional guidance from the Treasury that may be issued and applicable to the redemptions. Issuances of stock by a repurchasing corporation in a year in which such corporation repurchases stock may reduce the amount of Excise Tax imposed with respect to such repurchase. The Excise Tax is imposed on the repurchasing corporation itself, not the shareholders from which stock is repurchased. The imposition of the Excise Tax as a result of redemptions in connection with the initial Business Combination could, however, reduce the amount of cash available to pay redemptions or reduce the cash contribution to the target business in connection with our initial Business Combination, which could cause the other shareholders of the combined company to economically bear the impact of such Excise Tax.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities
There were no sales of unregistered securities during the quarterly period covered by this Quarterly Report. However, simultaneously with the closing of the Initial Public Offering, the Sponsor purchased an aggregate of 725,000 Private Placement Units at a price of $10.00 per Private Placement Unit in a private placement. Each Unit consists of one Class A ordinary share and one-quarter of one Private Warrant. Each whole Private Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one Class A ordinary share at a price of $11.50 per shares, subject to adjustments.
Use of Proceeds
For a description of the use of the proceeds generated in the Initial Public Offering, see Part II, Item 2 of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2024, as filed with the SEC on June 7, 2024. There has been no material change in the planned use of proceeds from our Initial Public Offering and Private Placement as described in the IPO Registration Statement. The specific investments in our Trust Account may change from time to time.
Item 3. Defaults upon Senior Securities
None.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
None.
Item 5. Other Information
None.
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Item 6. Exhibits
The following exhibits are filed as part of, or incorporated by reference into, this Quarterly Report.
* | Filed herewith. |
** | Furnished herewith. |
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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.
CHURCHILL CAPITAL CORP IX | ||||||
Date: May 13, 2025 | By: | /s/ Michael Klein | ||||
Name: | Michael Klein | |||||
Title: | Chief Executive Officer, President, and Chairman of the Board of Directors (Principal Executive Officer) | |||||
Date: May 13, 2025 | By: | /s/ Jay Taragin | ||||
Name: | Jay Taragin | |||||
Title: | Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |
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