Filed
under Rule 425
under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
and
deemed filed under Rule 14a-12
of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
Filing
by: Hennessy Capital Investment Corp. VII
Subject
Company: Hennessy Capital Investment Corp. VII
SEC
File No.: 001-42479
On
September 10, 2026, ONE Nuclear Energy LLC published the following press release:
ONE
Nuclear Launches 5 GW Louisiana Portfolio of Energy Projects Comprising Nuclear, Natural Gas and Battery Storage
Three
complementary projects unite dispatchable generation, grid-scale battery storage, datacenter infrastructure and a pathway for advanced
nuclear development
WEST
PALM BEACH, Fla.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—ONE Nuclear Energy LLC (“ONE Nuclear”), an independent developer of large-scale
energy solutions, today announced the Louisiana Portfolio, a 5 GW three-project energy and technology program for rapidly expanding datacenter,
advanced-manufacturing and industrial demand. Following its prior Project Cayman and Project Amberjack announcements, ONE Nuclear is
now presenting the complete Louisiana trilogy with three projects - Cayman, Amberjack and Barracuda - and the distinct role each is expected
to play in Louisiana’s energy future.
The
Louisiana Portfolio brings together speed, scale and long-term ambition: Cayman provides dispatchable power; Barracuda pairs dedicated
generation and storage with datacenter infrastructure; and Amberjack establishes a disciplined pathway toward advanced nuclear generation.
Each will advance on its own merits while together creating a compelling foundation for sustained investment in Louisiana.
“The
Louisiana trilogy offers three distinct, complementary solutions to answer America’s soaring power demand,” said Richard
Taylor, Chief Executive Officer of ONE Nuclear. “Cayman delivers scale, Barracuda connects dedicated power with digital infrastructure,
and Amberjack creates a disciplined path toward advanced nuclear power. Together, they demonstrate our long-term commitment to powering
Louisiana’s economic growth.”
Project
Cayman
Project
Cayman is being advanced as a 2.88 GW natural-gas generation and battery energy storage project with the potential for a co-located,
high-capacity datacenter technology campus. The project is intended to use modular, dispatchable generation and grid-scale storage to
support large industrial and digital-infrastructure loads while contributing reliable capacity in a region experiencing substantial transmission
and economic-development investment.
ONE
Nuclear has executed a binding letter of intent that provides site control for Cayman’s development. The project is expected to
advance in phases aligned with customer demand, fuel availability, utility requirements, interconnection studies, environmental review,
permitting and financing. No nuclear generation is included in Cayman’s current development plan.
Project
Amberjack
Project
Amberjack is being developed as a standalone, scalable, multi-unit small modular nuclear reactor (“SMR”) campus targeting
up to 1 GW of advanced SMR generation capacity. Its ultimate capacity, reactor technology and plant configuration will be established
through technology selection, detailed engineering, environmental review, transmission studies, commercial arrangements, financing and
the federal licensing process.
Having
achieved site control, Amberjack is advancing to additional technical and environmental evaluation. Planned work includes land, geotechnical
and environmental field studies; cooling-water and logistics evaluations; transmission and interconnection analysis; vendor-neutral SMR
technology screening; and continued engagement with local, state and community stakeholders and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
(“NRC”). The work completed to date does not constitute an NRC site approval, reactor license, environmental authorization
or final engineering determination.
Barracuda
Energy Park and Technology Campus
Barracuda
is being master-planned as an integrated 1.2 GW Energy Park and Technology Campus designed to provide a highly reliable, purpose-built
power environment for hyperscale and other large datacenter users. The current planning configuration includes:
| ● |
Up to approximately 1 GW of critical IT datacenter capacity |
| ● |
Approximately 1.2 GW of modular, dispatchable natural-gas generation |
| ● |
Approximately 300 MW / 1.2 GWh of four-hour battery energy
storage |
Barracuda’s
configuration is intended to retain flexibility to phase generation, storage and datacenter development in response to customer demand,
site diligence, utility requirements, permitting, fuel supply, commercial agreements and financing.
The
Louisiana Trilogy
At
current planning targets, Cayman and Barracuda together represent approximately 4.08 GW of dispatchable natural-gas generation, supported
by substantial grid-scale battery storage and datacenter infrastructure. Amberjack separately targets up to an additional 1 GW of advanced
nuclear generation. These figures are planning-level development objectives subject to final engineering designs, interconnection awards,
utility commitments, permits, customer contracts, financing commitments or construction decisions.
“The
Louisiana Portfolio is ambitious because Louisiana’s opportunity is extraordinary,” said Chris Hansmeyer, Chief Development
Officer of ONE Nuclear. “These projects are complementary, but they are not dependent on one another. We can advance proven dispatchable
generation and storage for near-term demand, purpose-built infrastructure for digital and industrial customers, and a rigorous, site-specific
pathway for advanced nuclear power.”
Community
Engagement
ONE
Nuclear plans to hold a public information meeting in October 2026 for residents, local officials, landowners, community organizations
and other stakeholders to introduce the three projects, explain the current planning and study process, outline the environmental, infrastructure
and permitting work ahead, answer questions and gather community feedback before major development decisions are made. ONE Nuclear intends
this meeting to begin an open, continuing dialogue as Cayman, Amberjack and Barracuda advance through their individual development milestones.
ONE
Nuclear is continuing site diligence, environmental and permitting analysis, engineering coordination, utility engagement, customer development
and commercial structuring across the portfolio. Additional milestones will be announced as individual projects complete material development
gates.
About
ONE Nuclear
ONE
Nuclear develops advanced nuclear and large-scale energy infrastructure designed to deliver reliable power, strengthen energy security
and enable American industrial growth. The company advances projects through disciplined site control, siting and constraints analysis,
regulatory planning, engineering coordination and project development. For more information, please visit www.onenuclearenergy.com.
On
August 24, 2026, ONE Nuclear’s previously announced business combination (the “Business Combination”) with Hennessy
Capital Investment Corp. VII (NASDAQ: HVII) (“Hennessy VII”) was approved by the Hennessy VII shareholders. The combined
company is expected to be listed on a national exchange under the ticker symbol “ONEN” following an anticipated transaction
close in the second half of 2026, subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions. For more information, visit https://www.onenuclearenergy.com/newsroom.
Forward-Looking
Statements
This
press release contains forward-looking statements, including but not limited to statements regarding ONE Nuclear’s and Hennessy
VII’s expectations, beliefs, intentions, strategies, and projections. All statements other than statements of historical facts
contained in this press release are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations and assumptions and
are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. Words such as “anticipate,”
“believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “project,” “should,”
“will,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, though not all forward-looking statements
contain these identifying words, and the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking
statements include, without limitation, the anticipated timing and benefits from the consummation of the Business Combination, ONE Nuclear’s
management team’s expectations concerning the outlook for its business, productivity, plans, growth and capital investments, operational
and cost performance, revenue generation, development timelines, potential generation capacities of specific sites, regulatory outlook,
future market conditions, success of strategic relationships, developments in the capital and credit markets, expected future financial
performance, as well as demand for nuclear energy and the economic outlook for the nuclear energy industry.
Forward-looking
statements speak only as of the date of this press release and are based on ONE Nuclear’s and Hennessy VII’s current beliefs
and assumptions. ONE Nuclear and Hennessy VII undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as
a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law. Actual results may differ materially due to various
risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to: (1) the risk that the Business Combination may not be completed in a timely manner
or at all, which may adversely affect the price of Hennessy VII’s securities; (2) the failure to satisfy the conditions to the
consummation of the Business Combination, including the receipt of certain regulatory approvals; (3) market risks; (4) the occurrence
of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of that certain Business Combination Agreement, dated
as of October 22, 2025 (as may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Business Combination Agreement”),
by and among Hennessy VII, Solis Merger Sub LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Hennessy
VII, and ONE Nuclear; (5) changes in the transaction structure of the Business Combination due to regulatory or legal requirements; (6)
the ability to meet listing standards; (7) the effect of the announcement or pendency of the Business Combination on ONE Nuclear’s
business relationships, performance, and business generally; (8) failure to realize anticipated benefits from the Business Combination;
(9) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against ONE Nuclear or Hennessy VII related to the Business Combination
or the Business Combination Agreement; (10) ONE Nuclear’s ability to execute on its business plan and to develop and maintain key
strategic relationships and enter into definitive agreements in connection therewith; (11) competition in ONE Nuclear’s industry;
(12) transaction-related costs; (13) the risk that changes in laws or regulations adversely affect ONE Nuclear’s business plans
and operations; (14) adverse economic or competitive conditions; (15) the level of redemptions by Hennessy VII shareholders in connection
with the Business Combination; (16) the risk that ONE Nuclear may not be able to successfully develop its exclusive sites or other sites
and the commercial viability of any such site; (17) the risk that ONE Nuclear will be unable to raise additional capital to execute its
business plan, which may not be available on acceptable terms or at all; and (18) other risks and uncertainties described in Hennessy
VII’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, which was filed with the SEC on March 6, 2026, and other
filings with the SEC, including the registration statement on Form S-4, the proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant materials filed
with the SEC in connection with the Business Combination from time to time. The foregoing list is not exhaustive, and there may be additional
risks that neither Hennessy VII nor ONE Nuclear presently knows or that Hennessy VII and ONE Nuclear currently believe are immaterial.
ONE Nuclear and Hennessy VII caution you against placing undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which reflect current beliefs
and are based on information currently available as of the date a forward-looking statement is made.
Contacts
For
Investors:
Caldwell
Bailey – ICR, Inc.
onenuclear@icrinc.com
For
Media:
Matt
Dallas – ICR, Inc.
onenuclear@icrinc.com
