Filed by Zapp Electric Vehicles Group Limited
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: CIIG Capital Partners II, Inc.
Commission File No.: 001-40802
Memo to Employees Regarding Announcement of Proposed Business Combination
Important Message to Zapp Employees
Since Zapp was founded in 2017, we have created a new P2W category through our design-led personal urban mobility solutions. We bring high performance to urban mobility through our advanced design while emphasizing safety, quality, customer experience and full-cycle sustainability.
This morning we announced the next step in positioning our company for growth through a business combination with CIIG Capital Partners II, Inc. (NASDAQ: CIIG), or “CIIG II.” This transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2023, following which Zapp would be publicly listed on the Nasdaq.
This news doesn’t change any of our day-to-day work or focus. You’re still employees of Zapp, and we are committed to supporting one another and delivering the best service and experience with our customers and partners.
The transaction primarily provides us with a pathway to growth capital, accelerating our ability to take our business to new markets and build new products.
Press Inquiries
Should you receive any press inquiries, please immediately forward details of the inquiry to Zach Kadletz at Gateway Group, Inc. and Nick Francis at Influence Media Relations who will handle media requests appropriately during this sensitive time. Their email addresses are zach@gatewayir.com and pr@zappev.com.
During this exciting time and beyond, we ask that you remain focused on execution as we continue to serve our customers.
This is a big day for Zapp. We are very grateful for your hard work and dedication to our collective success and to advancing our vision and look forward to working with you in this next phase of our evolution.
Swin
Forward-Looking Statements
This document contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of U.S. federal securities laws with respect to the proposed business combination (the “Business Combination”) between Zapp Electric Vehicles Limited (“Zapp”), Zapp Electric Vehicles Group Limited (“PubCo”) and CIIG Capital Partners II, Inc. (“CIIG II”), including statements regarding the benefits of the transaction, the anticipated timing of the transaction, the anticipated growth in the industry in which Zapp operates and anticipated growth in demand for Zapp’s products, projections of Zapp’s future financial results and possible growth opportunities for Zapp. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “believe,” “project,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “strategy,” “future,” “budget,” “opportunity,” “plan,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “would,” “will be,” “will continue,” “will likely result,” and similar expressions. These statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from the information expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties.
Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this document, including but not limited to: (i) the risk that the transaction may not be completed in a timely manner or at all, which may adversely affect the price of CIIG II’s securities, (ii) the risk that the transaction may not be completed by CIIG II’s business combination deadline and the potential failure to obtain an extension of the business combination deadline if sought by CIIG II, (iii) the failure to satisfy the conditions to the consummation of the transaction, including the adoption of the business combination agreement by the stockholders of CIIG II, (iv) the lack of a third party valuation in determining whether or not to pursue the proposed Business Combination, (v) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the business combination agreement, (vi) the effect of the announcement or pendency of the transaction on Zapp’s business relationships, performance, and business generally, (vii) risks that the proposed Business Combination disrupts current plans of Zapp or diverts management’s attention from Zapp’s ongoing business operations and potential difficulties in Zapp’s employee retention as a result of the proposed Business Combination, (viii) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Zapp, PubCo, CIIG II or their respective directors or officers related to the proposed Business Combination, (ix) the ability of PubCo, CIIG II or a successor thereto to maintain the listing of its securities on The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC, (x) volatility in the price of the securities of PubCo, CIIG II or a successor thereto due to a variety of factors, including changes in the competitive and highly regulated industries in which Zapp plans to operate, variations in performance across competitors, changes in laws and regulations affecting Zapp’s business and changes in the combined capital structure, (xi) the ability to implement business plans, forecasts, and other expectations after the completion of the proposed Business Combination, and identify and realize additional opportunities, (xii) the risk of downturns in the highly competitive electric vehicle industry, (xiii) the ability of Zapp to build the Zapp brand and consumers’ recognition, acceptance and adoption of the Zapp brand, (xiv) the risk that Zapp may be unable to develop and manufacture electric vehicles of sufficient quality and on schedule and scale, that would appeal to a large customer base, (xv) the risk that Zapp has a limited operating history, has not yet released a commercially available electric vehicle and does not have experience manufacturing or selling a commercial product at scale and (xvi) the risk that Zapp may not be able to effectively manage its growth, including its design, research, development and maintenance capabilities.
The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties described in the “Risk Factors” section of PubCo’s registration statement on Form F-4, the proxy statement/prospectus discussed below, CIIG II’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and other documents filed by PubCo, CIIG II or a successor thereto from time to time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this document represent the views of Zapp, PubCo and CIIG II as of the date of this document. Subsequent events and developments may cause that view to change. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and all forward-looking statements in this document are qualified by these cautionary statements. Zapp, PubCo and CIIG II assume no obligation and do not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. None of Zapp, PubCo nor CIIG II gives any assurance that Zapp, PubCo or CIIG II will achieve its expectations. The inclusion of any statement in this document does not constitute an admission by Zapp, PubCo or CIIG II or any other person that the events or circumstances described in such statement are material.
Additional Information and Where to Find It
This document relates to the proposed Business Combination between CIIG II, Pubco and Zapp. This document does not constitute an offer to sell or exchange, or the solicitation of an offer to buy or exchange, any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, sale or exchange would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act.
In connection with the Business Combination, PubCo intends to file a registration statement on Form F-4 (as may be amended from time to time, the “Registration Statement”) including a preliminary proxy statement of CIIG II and a preliminary prospectus of PubCo, and after the Registration Statement is declared effective, CIIG II will mail a definitive proxy statement relating to the Business Combination to CIIG II’s stockholders. The Registration Statement, including the proxy statement/prospectus contained therein, when declared effective by the SEC, will contain important information about the Business Combination and the other matters to be voted upon at a meeting of CIIG II’s stockholders to be held to approve the Business Combination (and related
matters). PubCo and CIIG II may also file other documents with the SEC regarding the Business Combination. CIIG II stockholders and other interested persons are advised to read, when available, the preliminary proxy statement/prospectus and the amendments thereto and the definitive proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed in connection with the Business Combination, as these materials will contain important information about Zapp, PubCo, CIIG II and the Business Combination.
When available, the definitive proxy statement and other relevant materials for the Business Combination will be mailed to CIIG II stockholders as of a record date to be established for voting on the Business Combination. Stockholders will also be able to obtain copies of the preliminary proxy statement, the definitive proxy statement and other documents filed or that will be filed with the SEC by CIIG II through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov, from CIIG II’s website at https://ciigpartners.com/ or by written request to CIIG II at 40 West 57th Street, 29th Floor, New York, New York 10019.
INVESTMENT IN ANY SECURITIES DESCRIBED HEREIN HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED 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.
Participants in the Solicitation
CIIG II, Pubco and Zapp and their respective directors and officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from CIIG II’s stockholders in connection with the proposed Business Combination. Information regarding the persons who may, under SEC rules, be deemed participants in the solicitation of CIIG II’s stockholders in connection with the proposed transactions will be set forth in the proxy statement/prospectus when it is filed with the SEC. You can find more information about CIIG II’s directors and executive officers in CIIG II’s final prospectus filed with the SEC on September 14, 2021. Additional information regarding the interests of those persons and other persons who may be deemed participants in the proposed Business Combination may be obtained by reading the proxy statement/prospectus regarding the proposed Business Combination when it becomes available. You may obtain free copies of these documents as described in the preceding section.
No Offer or Solicitation
This document is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation to purchase any security of PubCo, Zapp, CIIG II or any of their respective affiliates. No such offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of section 10 of the Securities Act, or an exemption therefrom. The contents of this document have not been reviewed by any regulatory authority in any jurisdiction.
