Company Announcements

Technology Veterans David C. Peterschmidt and Harry J. Harczak, Jr. to Join Board, Strengthening Governance

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 7, 2026-- PlusAI, a leader in AI software for autonomous trucks, today announced the appointment of two new Board members, David C. Peterschmidt and Harry J. Harczak, Jr., seasoned leaders with decades of public company experience in technology and finance. The appointment will become effective upon PlusAI’s planned public listing via a business combination with Churchill Capital Corp IX (NASDAQ: CCIX).

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Technology Veterans David C. Peterschmidt and Harry J. Harczak, Jr. to Join PlusAI Board

David C. Peterschmidt previously served as Chairman and CEO of Inktomi, a global pioneer in internet infrastructure software later acquired by Yahoo, and was the COO of Sybase, a relational database company, when it went public. Mr. Peterschmidt has served on multiple public boards including Business Objects and Savvis. He was co-founder of 280 Capital Partners, a private investment firm focused on mid-market enterprise software companies.

Harry J. Harczak, Jr. currently serves on the board and as audit committee chair of Array Digital Infrastructure, Inc. (NYSE: AD), an owner and operator of shared wireless communications infrastructure in the United States. He formerly served on the board and as audit committee chair of Tech Data Corporation (NASDAQ:TECD), a distributor of IT products, prior to its sale to a private equity firm in 2000. Mr. Harczak is managing director of Sawdust Investment Management, a private investment firm. He previously served as Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President Sales, Marketing, Product and Partner Management and Business Development of Fortune 500 technology solutions provider CDW Corporation and was an audit partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

“We are honored to welcome David and Harry to the PlusAI Board,” said David Liu, CEO and Co-founder of PlusAI. “Their addition to the board reinforces our commitment to robust governance and financial stewardship as we transition into the public markets and prepare for the commercial launch and scaling of factory-built autonomous trucks integrated with our SuperDrive^TM virtual driver.”

With these appointments, PlusAI strengthens its leadership bench in preparation for its next chapter of innovation, commercialization, and public market readiness. Peterschmidt and Harczak join a board committed to guiding PlusAI through its strategic milestones, including its planned business combination with Churchill Capital IX and deployment of safe, scalable autonomous trucking solutions.

Upon closing, the combined company will operate as “PlusAI” and is expected to be listed on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol “PLS.” The business combination remains subject to approval by Churchill IX shareholders, the Registration Statement being declared effective by the SEC, and other customary closing conditions. The business combination is expected to close in Q1 of 2026.

About PlusAI

PlusAI is an artificial intelligence company pioneering AI-based virtual driver software for factory-built autonomous trucks. Headquartered in Silicon Valley with operations in the United States and Europe, PlusAI was named by Fast Company as one of the World’s Most Innovative Companies. Partners including TRATON GROUP’s Scania, MAN, and International brands, Hyundai Motor Company, Iveco Group, Bosch, and DSV are working with PlusAI to accelerate the deployment of next-generation autonomous trucks. PlusAI announced in June 2025 that it plans to go public via a merger with Churchill Capital Corp IX (NASDAQ: CCIX). For more information, visit www.plus.ai or follow PlusAI on LinkedIn and YouTube.

About Churchill Capital Corp IX

Churchill IX is a blank check company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, amalgamation, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. It may pursue an initial business combination target in any business or industry.

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 has filed a registration statement on Form S-4 with the SEC, which includes and will include a preliminary proxy statement/prospectus and definitive proxy statement/prospectus, respectively, 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 described in the Registration Statement, as well as the prospectus relating to the offer of the securities to be issued to PlusAI stockholders in connection with the completion of the proposed transaction. After the Registration Statement has been filed and declared effective, a definitive proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant documents will be mailed to PlusAI 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 shareholders, PlusAI stockholders and other interested persons are advised to read the preliminary proxy statement/prospectus and any amendments thereto and, once available, the definitive proxy statement/prospectus, 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, PlusAI and the proposed transaction. Shareholders may obtain a copy of the preliminary proxy statement/prospectus, and the definitive proxy statement statement/prospectus 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.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release 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 “plan,” “project,” “will,” “estimate,” “intend,” “expect,” “believe,” “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: expectations regarding the completion of the business combination between PlusAI and Churchill IX; estimates of customer adoption rates and usage patterns; projections regarding the value and capabilities of autonomous driving solutions; projections of development and commercialization timelines; expectations regarding PlusAI’s ability to execute its business model; expectations regarding safety and system maturity of SuperDrive; PlusAI’s deployment of virtual driver software; PlusAI’s expectations concerning relationships with strategic partners, suppliers, governments, regulatory bodies and other third parties; future ventures or investments in companies, products, services, or technologies; the potential benefits of the proposed transaction and expectations related to its terms and timing; and the potential for PlusAI 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 PlusAI 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 PlusAI is pursuing an emerging technology, faces significant technical challenges and may not achieve commercialization or market acceptance; PlusAI’s historical net losses and limited operating history; PlusAI’s expectations regarding future financial performance, capital requirements and unit economics; PlusAI’s use and reporting of business and operational metrics; PlusAI’s competitive landscape; PlusAI’s dependence on members of its senior management and its ability to attract and retain qualified personnel; the capital requirements of PlusAI’s business plans and the potential need for additional future financing; PlusAI’s ability to manage growth and expand its operations; potential future acquisitions or investments in companies, products, services or technologies; PlusAI’s reliance on strategic partners and other third parties; PlusAI’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 PlusAI 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 SEC. Additional information concerning these and other factors that may impact such forward-looking statements can be found in filings and potential filings by PlusAI, 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 PlusAI’s and Churchill IX’s management as of the date of this communication; subsequent events and developments may cause their assessments to change. While PlusAI 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.

Participants in the Solicitation

Churchill IX, PlusAI 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.

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Investors Contact
Derrick Nueman
ir@plus.ai

Media Contact
Lauren Kwan
pr@plus.ai

Source: PlusAI