# EDGAR Filing Document

**Accession Number:** 0001717310
**File Stem:** 0001140361-26-025586
**Filing Date:** 2026-6
**Character Count:** 135896
**Document Hash:** dfff70c2420d926b62d3644d0fff037e
**Contains OCR:** False
**Source Format:** 

## Filing Content

## Filing Summary
**0001140361-26-025586.hdr.sgml**: 20260617

**ACCESSION NUMBER**: 0001140361-26-025586

**CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE**: DEF 14A

**PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT**: 1

**CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT**: 20260716

**FILED AS OF DATE**: 20260617

**DATE AS OF CHANGE**: 20260617

**FILER**: 

**COMPANY DATA:**
- **COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:** Venture Lending & Leasing IX, Inc.
- **CENTRAL INDEX KEY:** 0001717310

**ORGANIZATION NAME:**
- **EIN:** 822040715
- **STATE OF INCORPORATION:** MD
- **FISCAL YEAR END:** 1231

**FILING VALUES:**
- **FORM TYPE:** DEF 14A
- **SEC ACT:** 1934 Act
- **SEC FILE NUMBER:** 814-01253
- **FILM NUMBER:** 261099068

**BUSINESS ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 104 LA MESA DRIVE, SUITE 102
- **CITY:** PORTOLA VALLEY
- **STATE:** CA
- **ZIP:** 94028
- **BUSINESS PHONE:** 6502344300

**MAIL ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 104 LA MESA DRIVE, SUITE 102
- **CITY:** PORTOLA VALLEY
- **STATE:** CA
- **ZIP:** 94028

**FORMER COMPANY:**
- **FORMER CONFORMED NAME:** Venture Lending & Leasing Fund IX, Inc.
- **DATE OF NAME CHANGE:** 20170918

#### **TABLE OF CONTENTS**

### UNITED STATES<br>

### SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION <br>

#### WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

### SCHEDULE 14A

#### Definitive Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the <br>

#### Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.)

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|:---|:---|
| Filed by the Registrant  | ☒  |
| Filed by a Party other than the Registrant  | ☐ |

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Check the appropriate box:

☐ <br> Preliminary Proxy Statement

☐ **Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a – 6(e)(2))**

☒ <br> Definitive Proxy Statement

☐<br> Definitive Additional Materials

☐<br> Soliciting Material Pursuant to § 240.14a-12

## Venture Lending & Leasing IX, Inc.

#### (Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

#### (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check all boxes that apply):

☒<br> No fee required.

☐<br> Fee paid previously with preliminary materials

☐<br> Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11

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#### **TABLE OF CONTENTS**

#### VENTURE LENDING & LEASING IX, INC.<br>

#### 104 La Mesa Drive, Suite 102<br>

#### Portola Valley, California 94028<br>
(650) 234-4300

June 17, 2026

To the Shareholder of Venture Lending & Leasing IX, Inc.:

We have called a special shareholder meeting for July 16, 2026 to commence at 9:00 a.m., Pacific Time, by tele/videoconference. At the special meeting, we will seek your approval of (i) the Plan of Liquidation included in the enclosed proxy statement under which Venture Lending & Leasing IX, Inc. (the " <u>Fund</u> " or " <u>Fund IX</u> ") will liquidate and dissolve, and distribute all of its assets to Venture Lending & Leasing IX, LLC (the " <u>LLC</u> "), a Delaware limited liability company and (ii) the termination of the Fund's status as a business development company (" <u>BDC</u> ") under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the " <u>1940 Act</u> ") (collectively, the " <u>Proposals</u> "). If the proposals are approved, we expect to implement them as soon as possible following the special shareholder meeting scheduled for July 16, 2026. After distributing its remaining assets to its sole shareholder, the LLC, and withdrawing its status as a BDC under the 1940 Act, the Fund will immediately thereafter de-register as a reporting company under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the " <u>Exchange Act</u> "), and withdraw its license as a finance lender under the California Finance Lenders Law. Neither of the Proposals will be implemented unless both are approved.

Fund IX was organized in 2017, raised $407.1 million in capital from its sole shareholder, the LLC, borrowed $293.0 million from its lenders, had total assets that peaked at over $539.3 million, and, to date, has distributed over $523.0 million to the LLC, inclusive of approximately $415.0 million in cash. At March 31, 2026, Fund IX retained approximately $59.3 million in total assets, inclusive of approximately $2.4 million in cash. As we continue the wind-down phase of Fund IX, there is a risk that, in the near term, the Fund will fail to meet the diversification requirements imposed upon it to qualify for favorable tax treatment as a "Regulated Investment Company" under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

We are submitting for your approval, as a member of the LLC and beneficial shareholder of Fund IX, a proposal that the Fund distribute its remaining assets to the LLC, which will oversee the collection and liquidation of the remaining assets of Fund IX and distribute the net proceeds to the members of the LLC. Terminating Fund IX's status as a BDC under the 1940 Act will enable us to achieve material savings in accounting and compliance expenses (including by eliminating the need for separate audits of Fund IX and the LLC, eliminating the expenses associated with being a reporting company under the Exchange Act and reducing the fees and expenses it pays for independent directors over the remaining life of the Fund) without adversely affecting the conduct of our business during this wind-down phase.

The wind-down, liquidation, and dissolution of Fund IX will be substantially similar to that of Venture Lending & Leasing III, Inc., Venture Lending & Leasing IV, Inc., Venture Lending & Leasing V, Inc., Venture Lending & Leasing VI, Inc., Venture Lending & Leasing VII, Inc. and Venture Lending & Leasing VIII, Inc.

The LLC will continue to be managed by Westech Investment Advisors LLC ("<u>Westech Advisors</u>"). Westech Advisors, together with its advisory affiliate, Venture Lending & Leasing IX GP, LLC, the sole managing member of the LLC (the "<u>GP</u>"), are herein referred to as "Westech." We are proposing no change in the duties or compensation of Westech, and Westech will oversee the wind-down of the portfolio of assets of the LLC and will receive the same compensation with respect to the assets of the LLC that it now receives from Fund IX. *See* "Effect of the Proposals on the Management of Fund IX's Loan and Securities Portfolio – The Existing Management Agreement" in the enclosed proxy statement.

We encourage you to carefully review the enclosed proxy statement, as it sets forth the details of the two proposals and the tax consequences thereof.

You do not need to attend the meeting to participate. **Whether you plan to attend the meeting or not, we urge you to sign, date, and return the enclosed proxy by email or fax in order that as many shares as possible may be represented at the meeting.** Your vote as a member of the LLC, the Fund's sole shareholder, is important and your cooperation in promptly returning your executed proxy would be appreciated. Your proxy is revocable and will not affect your right to vote. Therefore, even if you execute a proxy, you may still attend the shareholder meeting and vote your shares.

Your vote is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors of Fund IX.

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|:---|
| Very truly yours,  |
| /s/ Maurice C. Werdegar  |
| Maurice C. Werdegar  |
| Chairman |

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#### VENTURE LENDING & LEASING IX, INC.

#### NOTICE OF SPECIAL SHAREHOLDER MEETING <br>

#### TO BE HELD ON JULY 16, 2026
TO THE SOLE SHAREHOLDER OF VENTURE LENDING & LEASING IX, INC.:

A special meeting of the sole shareholder of Venture Lending & Leasing IX, Inc. (the " <u>Fund</u> " or " <u>Fund IX</u> ") will be held at 9:00 a.m., Pacific time, on July 16, 2026 by tele/videoconference, to consider and vote on the following matters (each a " <u>Proposal</u> " and together, the " <u>Proposals</u> "):

(1) Approval of the Plan of Liquidation included in this proxy statement as Appendix A (the "<u>Plan of</u> <u>Liquidation</u>"), pursuant to which Fund IX will distribute all of its assets to Venture Lending & Leasing IX, LLC (the "<u>LLC</u>"), the Fund's sole shareholder, and dissolve (the "<u>Liquidation Proposal</u>" or the "<u>Liquidation</u>"); and 

(2) Approval of the termination of the status of Fund IX as a business development company ("<u>BDC</u>") under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "<u>1940 Act</u>") (the "<u>BDC Termination Proposal</u>"), to occur immediately following Fund IX's distribution of its assets to the LLC. 

You should carefully consider the risk factors relating to the Proposals and our business, which are described under "Background of the Proposals and Risk Factors" in the enclosed proxy statement.

Members of the LLC beneficially owning Fund IX shares through the LLC, the Fund's sole shareholder, on the close of business on May 1, 2026 (the "<u>Record Date</u>") are entitled to vote at the meeting. You may attend and vote at the meeting, or may complete, date and sign the enclosed proxy and return it to us by e-mail. Your proxy is revocable and executing does not affect your ability to attend the meeting and vote there.

A full set of proxy materials will first be mailed to you pursuant to Rule 14a-16(n) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on June 17, 2026.

Your proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors of Fund IX.

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|:---|
| By order of the Board of Directors,  |
| /s/ Maurice C. Werdegar  |
| Maurice C. Werdegar <br>Chairman |

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June 17, 2026

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#### **TABLE OF CONTENTS**

#### VENTURE LENDING & LEASING IX, INC. <br>

#### 104 La Mesa Drive, Suite 102 <br>

#### Portola Valley, California 94028 <br>
(650) 234-4300

#### DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT <br>

#### SPECIAL SHAREHOLDER MEETING
June 17, 2026

 **Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Shareholder Meeting to be Held on July 16, 2026: This Proxy Statement, together with a Notice of Special Shareholder Meeting and Proxy Card, is available, with log-in information, online at: www.intralinks.com. Please contact Thomas Romero, at (650) 234-4310, or by e-mail to thomas@westerntech.com, if you require assistance accessing such website. A full set of proxy materials will first be delivered to the sole shareholder pursuant to Rule 14a-16(n) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the " <u>Exchange Act</u> ") on June 17, 2026.** 

Your vote at this special meeting is important to us. Please vote the shares of the Fund you beneficially hold as a member of the LLC, the Fund's sole shareholder, by completing the enclosed proxy and returning it to us. The enclosed proxy is solicited by Fund IX's board of directors (the "<u>Board of Directors</u>").

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#### **TABLE OF CONTENTS**

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|:---|:---|
|  | **PAGE**  |
| [SUMMARY OF PROPOSALS](#tSUM) | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;[1](#tSUM) |
| [GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT MEETING AND FUND IX](#tGEN) | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;[6](#tGEN) |
| [FUND IX'S BUSINESS](#tFUN) | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;[8](#tFUN) |
| [BACKGROUND OF THE PROPOSALS AND RISK FACTORS](#tBAC) | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;[9](#tBAC) |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;[THE LIQUIDATION PROPOSAL](#tPROP1) | &nbsp;&nbsp;[11](#tPROP1) |
| [THE BDC TERMINATION PROPOSAL](#tTM) | &nbsp;&nbsp;[18](#tTM) |
| [EFFECT OF THE PROPOSALS ON THE MANAGEMENT OF FUND IX'S LOAN AND SECURITIES PORTFOLIO](#tEOT) | &nbsp;&nbsp;[22](#tEOT) |
| [SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT](#tSEC) | &nbsp;&nbsp;[26](#tSEC) |
| [SUBMISSION OF SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS](#tSUB) | &nbsp;&nbsp;[27](#tSUB) |
| [INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE](#tINC) | &nbsp;&nbsp;[28](#tINC) |
| [FURTHER INFORMATION](#tFUR) | &nbsp;&nbsp;[29](#tFUR) |
| [PROXY CARD](#tPROXY) | [P-1](#tPROXY) |
| [APPENDIX A – PLAN OF LIQUIDATION](#tAPPA) | [A-1](#tAPPA) |

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#### SUMMARY OF PROPOSALS
The following is a summary of the Proposals to be presented at the special meeting and is qualified by reference to the more detailed discussion of the proposals appearing elsewhere in this proxy statement.

The costs of implementing the Proposals are expected to be minimal and will relate primarily to administrative and legal expenses. The estimated cost of implementing the Proposals is less than $20,000.

If approved, the Proposals are expected to be implemented as soon as is possible following the special shareholder meeting to be held on July 16, 2026.

For greater detail regarding the Proposals, see the sections entitled "The Liquidation Proposal" and "The BDC Termination Proposal" in this proxy statement.

#### Proposal 1 – The Liquidation Proposal

#### The Liquidation Proposal
Under the Liquidation Proposal, Fund IX would distribute all of its remaining assets to its sole shareholder, the LLC, and dissolve. The Liquidation Proposal would be implemented pursuant to the Plan of Liquidation attached as Appendix A to this proxy statement. *See* "The Liquidation Proposal."

#### Reason for the Liquidation Proposal
Given Fund IX's rapidly declining size and limited life cycle, we believe the benefits realized by the presence of independent directors, filing periodic reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "<u>SEC</u>"), and complying with the requirements of operating as both a BDC and a reporting company under the Exchange Act are outweighed by the costs. By not conducting business as a BDC, Fund IX will realize cost savings by eliminating the expenses associated with being an SEC reporting company, which savings can be passed on to the LLC, its sole shareholder, in the form of greater cash distributions. In this regard, as a BDC, Fund IX is required to file periodic reports with the SEC that include audited financial statements. Although Fund IX's sole shareholder, the LLC, will continue to provide its members with annual audited financial statements and quarterly unaudited financial statements that will include Fund IX on a consolidated basis, eliminating the requirement that Fund IX prepare its own separate annual audited financial statements will result in further cost savings that can be passed on to the LLC. *See* "The Liquidation Proposal."

Additionally, as Fund IX winds down its business, it runs the risk of no longer qualifying for favorable tax treatment as a "regulated investment company" ("<u>RIC</u>") under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "<u>Internal Revenue Code</u>"). RICs must meet certain diversification requirements with respect to their assets. Because of the diminishing size of Fund IX's portfolio, it runs the risk of not meeting these diversification requirements. By distributing the remaining assets of Fund IX to the LLC, the income from Fund IX's assets should continue to be subject to only one level of income taxation. Fund IX currently meets, and we anticipate that throughout the wind-down phase it will continue to meet, the diversification requirements applicable to RICs under

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the Internal Revenue Code. *See* "The Liquidation Proposal – Certain Tax Aspects of the Liquidation Proposal."

#### Liquidation Proceeds
Fund IX would distribute all of its remaining assets to the LLC. The members of the LLC would continue to own proportionate interests in an entity (the LLC) owning the investment portfolio formerly held by Fund IX. Distributions would be made by the LLC to its members in the discretion of Westech. Westech intends to follow the current distribution policy of the LLC and to make distributions to the members from the cash realized by the LLC, after payment of the expenses of the LLC and the reservation of monies for future expenses and contingencies as deemed appropriate by Westech. *See* "The Liquidation Proposal."

#### Effect of Liquidation Proposal
If the Liquidation Proposal is approved:

• The assets of the LLC would include those distributed to it by Fund IX.

• Under an existing investment management agreement (the "<u>Management Agreement</u>"), Westech Advisors serves as the investment adviser to Fund IX. Under a separate management services agreement (the "LLC Management Agreement"), Westech Advisors performs similar functions for the LLC. No change in the duties or compensation of Westech is contemplated by the Liquidation Proposal.

• The LLC currently has an advisory board (the "<u>Advisory Board</u>") consisting of Roger V. Smith, Scott C. Taylor and Robert Hutter, each of whom currently serves as an independent director of Fund IX.

• The outstanding shares of membership interest in the LLC ("<u>LLC Shares</u>"), as is the case with the outstanding shares of common stock of Fund IX ("<u>Fund Shares</u>"), would continue to not be traded on any securities market.

• The assets of Fund IX distributed to the LLC pursuant to the Liquidation Proposal would be held and liquidated by the LLC in an orderly fashion, as they would be if still held by Fund IX absent the Liquidation Proposal.

• It is anticipated that each member of the LLC will recognize a long-term capital loss of approximately $78 per LLC Share for tax year 2026. It is expected that the LLC will have additional capital gains and losses as long as it continues to operate. 

• There is no expectation that the LLC will wind down its business immediately following implementation

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of the Liquidation Proposal. The LLC is expected to wind down its business in the normal course by December 31, 2030, subject to up to five one-year extensions.

*See "Background of the Proposals and Risk Factors," and see "The Liquidation Proposal."* 

#### Risk Factors
The Liquidation Proposal carries certain risks, including, among others, the potential for taxable income without cash distributions. The LLC would also continue to be subject to Fund IX's business risks. *See* "Background of the Proposals and Risk Factors," and *see* "The Liquidation Proposal."

#### Rights of Members of the LLC
The LLC is the sole shareholder of Fund IX. The LLC is a Delaware limited liability company organized in 2017. The rights of the members of the LLC are governed by its Second Amended and Restated Operating Agreement dated December 15, 2017, as amended from time to time (the "<u>Operating Agreement</u>"). Unlike Fund IX, the LLC does not hold annual meetings of members. The GP may be removed as managing member by the members of the LLC by vote or consent of the members holding at least two-thirds of the outstanding LLC Shares, and then only for "cause," defined as (i) the conviction of a felony, or (ii) willful gross misconduct or willful gross neglect of duties which, in either case, has resulted in material economic harm to the LLC, unless the GP, in good faith, believed that its actions were in the best interests of the LLC. *See* "The Liquidation Proposal – How will the business of Fund IX differ from the business of the LLC?"

#### Tax Consequences
The sole shareholder of Fund IX, the LLC, will have a taxable income or loss measured by the difference between its adjusted basis in the Fund Shares and the fair market value of the assets (less liabilities, if any) distributed to the LLC. In connection with the liquidation, the members of the LLC, a pass through entity, will realize a portion of the LLC's net income or net loss on the Liquidation, in proportion to their ownership of LLC Shares. *See* "The Liquidation Proposal – Certain Tax Aspects of The Liquidation Proposal."

#### Vote Required
Approval of the Liquidation Proposal requires the approval of the holders of a majority of the outstanding Fund Shares.

The Operating Agreement of the LLC grants the members pass-through voting rights, meaning that the LLC may take no action as the sole shareholder of Fund IX without first securing the approval of the members of the LLC to the same extent as if the members of the LLC were shareholders of Fund IX. Accordingly, approval of the Liquidation Proposal requires the prior approval of the holders of a majority of the outstanding LLC Shares. *See* "The Liquidation Proposal – Vote Required." This Proxy Statement will be delivered to the members of the LLC.

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#### Appraisal Rights
You do not have "appraisal rights" as a shareholder of Fund IX or as a member of the LLC.

#### Recommendation
**The Board of Directors has unanimously approved and recommends that you vote "FOR" the Liquidation Proposal. *See* "The Liquidation Proposal – Recommendation of Venture Inc.'s Board of Directors."**

#### Proposal 2 – The BDC Termination Proposal

#### The BDC Termination Proposal
If the BDC Termination Proposal is approved, immediately after Fund IX distributes its remaining assets to the LLC, Fund IX will terminate its status as a BDC under the 1940 Act. *See* "The BDC Termination Proposal."

#### Reason for the BDC Termination Proposal
Given Fund IX's rapidly declining size and limited life cycle, we believe the benefits realized by the presence of independent directors, filing periodic reports with the SEC, and complying with the requirements of operating as both a BDC and a reporting company under the Exchange Act are outweighed by the costs. By not conducting business as a BDC, the Fund will realize cost savings by eliminating the expenses associated with being a reporting company under the Exchange Act and by reducing the fees and expenses it pays for independent directors over the remaining life of the Fund, which savings can be passed on to the members of the LLC in the form of greater cash distributions. Additionally, as a BDC, Fund IX is required to file periodic reports with the SEC that include audited financial statements. The LLC will continue to provide its members with annual audited financial statements, which will include the transferred Fund IX assets. The GP, as the managing member of the LLC, could, but does not currently plan to, seek to amend the LLC's Operating Agreement to eliminate the requirement that the LLC provide annual audited financial statements to its members as it further winds down its business. This would result in further cost savings being passed on to the LLC's members. In the unlikely event that the LLC's Operating Agreement is amended to eliminate the requirement that the LLC provide annual audited financial statements to its members, pursuant to Rule 206(4)-2 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the "Advisers Act"), the LLC will be subject to annual verification and examination of its assets by its independent auditors and will provide quarterly account statements and quarterly shareholder reports inclusive of financial statements to its members in lieu of audited financial statements. See "The BDC Termination Proposal – Why are we doing this?" and "The BDC Termination Proposal – How will the BDC Termination work?"

Fund IX's BDC status and registration under the Exchange Act, among other things, enabled the Fund to qualify as a RIC under the Internal Revenue Code. RICs must meet certain income requirements and diversification requirements with respect to their assets.

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Because of the diminishing size of Fund IX's portfolio, there is a risk that, in the near term, it will not meet these diversification requirements. Therefore, in view of the level of Fund IX's assets, the additional costs of maintaining Fund IX's status as a BDC and a reporting company under the Exchange Act outweigh any benefit Fund IX may derive from such status. Fund IX currently meets, and we anticipate that throughout the wind-down phase it will continue to meet, the diversification requirements applicable to RICs under the Internal Revenue Code. See "The BDC Termination Proposal – Certain Tax Aspects of the BDC Termination Proposal."

#### Risk Factors
Unlike Fund IX, which operates as a BDC, the LLC is not subject to the 1940 Act and will not be supervised by a board of directors the majority of whom are independent, and will not be subject to restrictions on the type of investments it can make and other regulatory protections. Furthermore, the LLC does not and will not file periodic reports with the SEC. In holding assets previously held by Fund IX, the LLC will be generally subject to the same risks attendant to the operation of the business by Fund IX. *See* "Background of the Proposals and Risk Factors," and *see* "The BDC Termination Proposal – How will the LLC be different from Fund IX?"

#### Vote Required
Approval of the BDC Termination Proposal requires the approval of the holders of a majority of the outstanding Fund Shares.

The Operating Agreement of the LLC grants the members pass-through voting rights, meaning that the LLC may take no action as the sole shareholder of Fund IX without first securing the approval of the members of the LLC to the same extent as if the members of the LLC were shareholders of Fund IX. Accordingly, approval of the BDC Termination Proposal requires the prior approval of the holders of a majority-in-interest of the outstanding LLC Shares. *See* "The BDC Termination Proposal – Vote Required." This Proxy Statement will be delivered to the members of the LLC.

#### Recommendation

#### The Board of Directors has unanimously approved and recommends that you vote "FOR" the BDC Termination Proposal. See "The BDC Termination Proposal – Recommendation."
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#### GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT MEETING AND FUND IX

#### Meeting Date; Time; and Location
July 16, 2026, 9:00 a.m. Pacific time by tele/videoconference.

#### Quorum
Holder of a majority of the issued and outstanding Fund Shares, present in person or by proxy, will constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at the meeting.

#### Record Date; Shares Entitled to Vote
The Record Date is May 1, 2026. Only the LLC, through its members as of the close of business on the Record Date, will be entitled to vote at the meeting. As of the close of business on the Record Date there were 100,000 shares of common stock, $.001 par value, of Fund IX outstanding and entitled to vote. Each of those Fund Shares is entitled to one vote on each matter to come before the meeting. Each fractional Fund Share is entitled to an identical fractional vote on each matter to come before the meeting.

#### Voting Procedure
After you read and consider the information in this proxy statement, mark your proxy with respect to each matter, and then email or fax to us your signed and dated proxy as promptly as possible. To make sure you are represented at the meeting, you should return your proxy whether or not you plan to attend. **Your failure to return a proxy will have the effect of voting AGAINST the Proposals.** You may revoke a proxy at any time before it is exercised by notifying the Secretary of Fund IX in writing at the above address, or by attending the meeting and voting there.

#### How Votes Will Be Counted
The Liquidation Proposal requires the approval of the holders of a majority of the outstanding LLC Shares, and the BDC Termination Proposal requires the approval of the holders of a majority-in-interest of the outstanding LLC Shares. Abstentions will have the effect of a vote AGAINST the Proposals. If a signed proxy is returned but not voted (for, against, or abstain) on a Proposal, then the management proxies will vote the shares represented by the proxy FOR the Proposal.

#### The Proposals as One Integrated Plan
Neither of the two Proposals will be implemented unless both are approved.

#### Proxy Solicitation
The proxy of the LLC, through its members, will be solicited primarily by e-mail. A full set of proxy materials will first be delivered to the LLC pursuant to Rule 14a-16(n) under Exchange Act on June 17, 2026. Proxy materials will also be available for review by members of the LLC at: www.intralinks.com. The cost of the proxy solicitation and the preparation of this proxy statement will be borne by Fund IX.

#### Fund IX's Investment Adviser
Fund IX's investment adviser is Westech Advisors, a California limited liability company located at 104 La Mesa Drive, Suite 102, Portola Valley, California 94028.

#### Annual and Quarterly Reports
You may obtain copies of Fund IX's 2025 annual report on Form 10-K (for the year ended December 31, 2025) and 2026 quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, without charge, by

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accessing the EDGAR Database on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov or by contacting Thomas Romero at (650) 234-4310 or thomas@westerntech.com.

#### Further Information
Questions concerning this proxy statement should be directed to Jared Thear, Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Compliance Officer, Secretary and Treasurer of Westech, at (650) 234-4326 or jared@westerntech.com.

#### Special Note About Forward-looking Statements
Except for the historical statements and discussions thereof contained in this proxy statement, statements in this proxy statement, including those set forth under the heading "Risk Factors," constitute "forward-looking statements." In addition, other written or oral statements which constitute forward-looking statements have been made and may be made in the future by one or all of Westech, Fund IX and the LLC.

You should not put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. We have an obligation to update and disclose any material developments related to information disclosed in this proxy statement through and including the date of the meeting. However, we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements that are or may be affected by developments which we do not deem material. When used or incorporated by reference in this proxy statement, the words "anticipate," "estimate," "project" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements.

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#### FUND IX'S BUSINESS
Fund IX is a non-diversified closed-end management investment company electing status as a BDC under the 1940 Act. The investment objective of Fund IX is to achieve a high total return by providing debt financing to portfolio companies. The Fund's investment activities focus primarily on private debt securities. Fund IX generally receives warrants to acquire equity securities in connection with its portfolio investments, and generally distributes such warrants upon receipt to the LLC.

The sole shareholder of Fund IX is the LLC. The capital of Fund IX has been contributed to it by the LLC, which in turn received capital contributions from its members pursuant to their capital commitments. The members of the LLC initially committed $460.0 million in capital to the LLC. Capital contributions were made by the members of the LLC from time to time upon call. The capital contributions made by members to the LLC total $460.0 million. The LLC stopped making capital calls on December 20, 2022.

From the capital contributions made by its members, the LLC contributed $407.1 million in capital to Fund IX. The remaining $52.9 million was retained by the LLC for direct equity investments.

Fund IX has completed its investment period and is now focused on efficiently managing and liquidating its portfolio. As of March 31, 2026, Fund IX had distributed approximately $523.0 million to the LLC, including approximately $415.0 million in cash and $108.0 million in warrants and other equity securities. As of May 1, 2026, the Fund assets that remain to be distributed include $5.7 million in cash, $0.2 million in non-loan receivables and $53.2 million in loans receivable.

As of March 31, 2026, the assets of Fund IX totaled approximately $59.3 million, and consisted of loans, with an estimated fair value of approximately $56.2 million, and cash and other assets of approximately $3.1 million. Fund IX's total liabilities at March 31, 2026 were approximately $0.5 million, consisting in large part of accrued expenses and management fees payable. Total shareholder equity of Fund IX at March 31, 2026 was approximately $58.8 million. Fund IX repaid in full its funded indebtedness on September 8, 2025, and therefore at March 31, 2026 it had no bank debt on its balance sheet.

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#### BACKGROUND OF THE PROPOSALS AND RISK FACTORS
Fund IX was organized as an investment vehicle with a limited life. Fund IX's Articles of Incorporation provide that Fund IX shall cease to exist at the close of business on December 31, 2028, except for the purpose of paying, satisfying, and discharging any existing debts or obligations, collecting and distributing its assets, and doing all other acts required to liquidate and wind up its business and affairs.

For the reasons discussed below Fund IX's Board of Directors recommends that Fund IX distribute its remaining assets to the LLC, dissolve and terminate its BDC election. If approved, the Proposals are expected to be implemented as soon as is possible following the special shareholder meeting to be held on July 16, 2026. There is no expectation that the LLC will wind down its business immediately following implementation of the Proposals. The LLC is expected to wind down its business in the normal course by December 31, 2030, subject to up to five one-year extensions.

The Board of Directors of Fund IX has unanimously approved the Liquidation Proposal and the BDC Termination Proposal and directed that they be submitted for the consideration and approval of the LLC.

Pursuant to the Liquidation Proposal, the assets of Fund IX would be distributed to the LLC, which would continue the business of Fund IX, holding and overseeing the liquidation of the remaining loan and investment portfolio of Fund IX. The risks attendant to the operation of these assets by the LLC are the same risks currently associated with the operation of the business by Fund IX. The risk factors set forth below focus principally on the termination of Fund IX's status as a BDC under the 1940 Act and as a reporting company under the Exchange Act. Along with the other information included in this proxy statement, you should carefully consider the following risks and uncertainties.

#### The LLC is Not Subject to the 1940 Act and Will Not Have Independent Directors or File Audited Financial Statements with the SEC
If the Proposals described herein are approved, then Fund IX will end its status as a BDC under the 1940 Act and will no longer need to comply with the related regulatory requirements, including having independent directors and providing the LLC with audited financial statements. The requirement that BDCs have independent directors is designed to protect the interests of investors. The LLC is not subject to the requirements of the 1940 Act, and if the Proposals are approved, the LLC will not be managed under the direction of a majority of individuals who are unaffiliated with Westech, and, therefore, the independent oversight of Fund IX will not exist for the LLC. Furthermore, the LLC will not be required to file audited financial statements with the SEC or provide such audited financial statements to its members. While the LLC, will continue to provide its members with annual audited financial statements, which will include Fund IX assets, the GP, as the managing member of the LLC, may seek to amend the LLC's Operating Agreement to eliminate the requirement that the LLC provide annual audited financial statements to its members as it further winds down its business. In the unlikely event that the LLC's Operating Agreement is amended to eliminate the requirement that the LLC provide annual audited financial statements to its members, pursuant to Rule 206(4)-2 under the Advisers Act, the LLC will be subject to annual verification and examination by its independent auditors and will provide quarterly account statements and quarterly shareholder reports inclusive of financial statements to its members in lieu of audited financial statements.

#### The LLC Will Not File Reports with the SEC and Will Not Be Subject to Regulation Under the Exchange Act
If the Proposals presented herein are approved, they are expected to be implemented as soon as possible following the special shareholder meeting scheduled for July 16, 2026. Fund IX will distribute its remaining assets to the LLC, withdraw its election as a BDC and, immediately thereafter, de-register as a reporting company under the Exchange Act and withdraw its license as a finance lender under the California Finance Lenders Law (the " <u>CA Lenders Law</u> "). Because of its limited number of members, the LLC has not registered as a reporting company under the Exchange Act, and therefore does not and will not prepare and file periodic reports with the SEC, such as annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, or current reports on Form 8-K. Further, the LLC will not file proxy statements in connection with any meetings of its members, and none of its officers or controlling persons are subject to regulation under Section 16 of the Exchange Act, which governs insider reporting and recovery of short-swing profits.

**When Fund IX No Longer Qualifies as a RIC, its Income Will Be Taxable at the Corporate Level and its Distributions Will Be Taxable to the LLC and its Members** 

As long as Fund IX qualifies as a RIC under the Internal Revenue Code, it does not pay any federal or state corporate income tax on income or gains that are distributed to its sole shareholder, the LLC (referred to as having "pass-through status"). If the Proposals are approved, Fund IX will no longer be eligible to qualify as a RIC, and Fund

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IX's income will be subject to an entity-level tax from the date it fails to qualify as a RIC through the date of liquidation. In this regard, Fund IX will be taxed as an ordinary C corporation on its taxable income for each year (even if that income is distributed to the LLC), and, to the extent any member of the LLC is not a tax-exempt entity, the member will be taxed on all distributions to the extent of Fund IX's accumulated or current earnings and profits. Distributions in excess of accumulated and current earnings and profits, if any, will generally be treated as a return of capital that is applied against and reduces, but not below zero, the LLC's basis in Fund Shares. Any remaining excess would be treated as gain realized from the disposition of Fund Shares. We do not anticipate that Fund IX will fail to qualify as a RIC prior to the liquidation of Fund IX.

#### The Liquidation of Fund IX Will Be Taxable to the LLC and its Members
If the Proposals presented herein are approved, the LLC, as the sole shareholder of Fund IX, will have taxable gain or loss measured by the difference between its adjusted basis in Fund Shares and the fair market value of the assets (less any liabilities, if any) distributed to it upon the Liquidation. Because the LLC is a "pass-through entity," the members of the LLC will be required to recognize a portion of the LLC's gain or loss on the Liquidation, in proportion to their ownership of LLC Shares. It is anticipated that each member will recognize a long-term capital loss of approximately $78 per LLC Share.

This is only a preliminary estimate. Two factors could cause the amount that the members of the LLC will be required to recognize to vary, perhaps significantly, from this preliminary estimate. First, the preliminary estimate reflects values as of March 31, 2026, but the amount of the member's gain or loss will depend on the value of the assets of Fund IX on the date that assets of the Fund are distributed to the LLC as part of the Liquidation. Second, most assets held by Fund IX are not publicly traded and there are no market quotes available to establish the fair market value of its assets with certainty. The Board of Directors will use the valuation methods it has customarily employed to estimate the value of Fund IX's assets as of the distribution date. The Internal Revenue Service (the "<u>IRS</u>"), however, will not be bound by the Board of Director's valuation and could assert that Fund IX's assets had a higher value on the distribution date than the value reported to the members of the LLC. As a result, any gain or loss realized by the members could vary significantly from the estimates disclosed in this proxy statement. *See* "Certain Tax Aspects of the Liquidation."

**Under the Operating Agreement of the LLC, the GP, as the Managing Member, May Be Removed for Cause by a Vote of Two-Thirds of the Membership Interests** 

While the existing Management Agreement between Fund IX and Westech can be cancelled on 60 days' notice by Fund IX's Board of Directors, the LLC's Operating Agreement permits the termination of the GP as the managing member of the LLC by vote of the members holding two-thirds of the outstanding membership interests of LLC, but only for "cause," defined to mean (i) the conviction of a felony or (ii) willful gross misconduct or willful gross neglect of its duties which, in either case, has resulted in material economic harm to the LLC unless the GP, in good faith, believed that its actions were in the best interest of the LLC.

#### The LLC Is Not Obligated to Make Any Cash Distributions With Respect to LLC Shares
The GP, as the LLC's managing member, has the discretion to retain future profits for anticipated expenses and for contingencies. The LLC anticipates continuing its current policy of making distributions as borrowers repay their loans and it liquidates its and Fund IX's other investment securities. There can be no assurance as to the amount or timing of such income or the resulting distributions to be made by the LLC to its members.

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#### THE LIQUIDATION PROPOSAL

#### Recommendation
The Board of Directors has determined that the Liquidation Proposal is advisable and is in the best interest of the LLC. In reaching its decision, the Board of Directors considered, among others, the following factors:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• the fact that, as Fund IX winds down its business, there is a risk it could fail to qualify for favorable tax treatment as a RIC under the Internal Revenue Code, meaning that, upon such failure, the income of Fund IX would thereafter be taxed at the corporate level, even if such income is distributed to the LLC, the Fund's sole shareholder;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• the anticipated timing of achieving maximum value for Fund IX's remaining assets during an orderly liquidation; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• the expenses, including, among other expenses, general administrative and ongoing expenses, related to various alternatives.

The Board of Directors primarily considered two alternatives to the Liquidation Proposal:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• liquidating Fund IX's assets while still in corporate form; or

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• transferring Fund IX's assets to a liquidating trust and then selling them.

#### Why not proceed with the other options considered?
Were Fund IX to remain in corporate form and fail to qualify as a RIC under the Internal Revenue Code, its income would be subject to double tax, first at the corporate level, based upon the taxable income of Fund IX, and then at the shareholder level, based upon the distributions made by Fund IX to the LLC from Fund IX's accumulated earnings and profits. On the other hand, a limited liability company, such as the LLC, is taxed as a partnership, meaning that it is not taxed at the "entity" level, but only at the "member" level, based upon the members' share of the taxable income of the limited liability company.

A liquidating trust was deemed inadvisable because of the complexity of establishing and operating a liquidating trust and the fact that establishing a liquidating trust would entail many of the same costs as operating the LLC.

The Board of Directors has carefully considered the Liquidation Proposal and has unanimously determined that it is advisable and in the best interests of the LLC. The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that you vote "FOR" the approval of the Liquidation Proposal.

#### How will the business of Fund IX differ from the business of the LLC?
The LLC is a Delaware limited liability company. As a result, its charter documents consist of a Certificate of Formation and Operating Agreement instead of Articles of Incorporation and By-laws. The terms of the charter documents of the LLC are described below, including the significant differences between the charter documents of the LLC and those of Fund IX.

#### Term
Fund IX's Articles of Incorporation provide that the Fund's period of existence ceases on December 31, 2028, except that it shall continue to exist for the purpose of paying, satisfying and discharging existing debts or obligations, collecting and distributing its assets, and doing all other acts required to liquidate and wind up its business.

The LLC's Operating Agreement provides that its term of existence shall continue until December 31, 2030, or such earlier time as it may be dissolved pursuant to the terms of the Operating Agreement. The GP, as the managing member of the LLC, with the consent of the Advisory Board, may extend the life of the LLC on an annual basis for up to five additional one-year terms.

The loan portfolio to be acquired by the LLC by distribution from Fund IX has due dates extending to August 1, 2028. Additionally, the LLC owns assets that have dates extending well beyond 2035. Unless earlier liquidated or sold, therefore, it is anticipated that the LLC will continue in business beyond 2030.

#### Capital Structure
Fund IX's capital structure consists of 10,000,000 authorized shares of common stock, $0.001 par value. As of the Record Date, 100,000 Fund Shares were issued and outstanding, all held by the LLC.

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The LLC's capital structure consists of one class of LLC Shares. Each LLC Share represents a capital contribution of $1,000. At March 31, 2026, there were 460,000.00 LLC Shares outstanding.

No member of the LLC has any continuing obligation to contribute capital to the LLC. Westech anticipates that the repayments of principal received and income generated by the LLC from its loan and securities portfolio will be sufficient to pay all operating expenses of the LLC.

#### Management
The LLC has no employees. It is managed by Westech. For information on Westech, see "Effect of The Proposals on the Management of Fund IX's Loan and Securities Portfolio – The Existing Management Agreement." The services rendered by Westech to the LLC are similar to the services rendered to Fund IX.

#### Advisory Board
Fund IX is managed under the supervision of its Board of Directors, a majority of whom are not "interested persons" of Fund IX or Westech, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act. The LLC does not have a board of directors, but is managed by Westech. Roger V. Smith, Scott C. Taylor, and Robert Hutter, currently the independent directors of Fund IX, serve on the Advisory Board to the LLC under its Operating Agreement. The Advisory Board has the authority to approve or disapprove certain transactions in which Westech has an actual or potential conflict of interest with the LLC, but generally has no other power to participate in the management of the LLC. Advisory Board members currently do not receive compensation for their services other than reimbursement of expenses for attending meetings. It is anticipated that if the Proposals are approved, each Advisory Board member will receive an annual fee, paid in quarterly installments, from the LLC of $25,000 for each twelve-month period he or she serves as an Advisory Board member following the Liquidation. This compensation arrangement is contemplated by and permissible under Section 7.7 of the LLC's Amended and Restated Operating Agreement dated December 15, 2017, as amended from time to time.

#### Voting Rights
Holders of LLC Shares:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• are entitled to one vote per LLC Share on all matters submitted to a vote of the members;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• are not entitled to cumulate their votes in any election; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• are entitled to take action by written consent without a meeting.

No additional consent of the LLC's members is required for the disposition of the remainder of the LLC's assets. The timing and terms of sale of the remaining assets of the LLC will be determined by Westech. It is anticipated that the remaining assets of the LLC will be distributed to the members of the LLC in the normal course by December 31, 2030 subject to up to five one-year extensions.

The LLC's Operating Agreement provides that the GP as the managing member shall call a special meeting of members upon the written request of holders of not less than 25% of the outstanding LLC Shares.

Under the Maryland General Corporation Law (the "<u>Maryland GCL</u>") and the Articles of Incorporation of Fund IX, the approval of the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding Fund Shares is required for the transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of Fund IX; no approval shall be required from the members of the LLC for the sale of its remaining assets. Otherwise, the voting rights of the members of the LLC, described above, are similar to the voting rights of the LLC as the sole shareholder of Fund IX.

As described under "Summary of Proposals – Vote Required" herein, the members of the LLC have pass-through voting rights with respect to any action required by the LLC, as sole shareholder of Fund IX. Accordingly, approval of the two Proposals submitted hereby requires the prior approval or consent of the members of the LLC. In the case of the Liquidation Proposal, approval or consent of the holders of a majority of the outstanding LLC Shares is required, and for the BDC Termination Proposal, approval or consent of the holders of a majority-in-interest of the outstanding LLC Shares is required. This Proxy Statement will be delivered to the members of the LLC.

#### Annual and Special Meetings of Members
Meetings of the members of the LLC may be called by the managing member, or by members holding not less than 25% of the outstanding LLC Shares. Meetings are held at the principal place of business of the LLC or as otherwise determined by the GP.

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Notice of any meeting of the members is to be given no fewer than ten (10) days and no more than sixty (60) days prior to the date of the meeting. Notices are to specify the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called.

The members may also act without a meeting, by written consent, setting forth the action so taken, signed by members having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting in which all members were present and voting. Prompt notice of the taking of any action without a meeting by less than unanimous consent is to be given in writing to those members who did not consent in writing.

For the purpose of determining the members entitled to notice of, and to vote at, a meeting of the members, or to give approvals without a meeting, the GP, as the managing member of the LLC, may set a record date which, in the case of a meeting or written approvals, shall be not less than ten (10) or more than sixty (60) days before (i) the date of the meeting (unless such requirement conflicts with any applicable law or regulation) or (ii) in the event approvals are sought without a meeting, the date by which members are requested in writing by the managing member to give such approvals.

#### Distributions
Distributions are made by the LLC to its members in the discretion of Westech. Westech intends to follow the current distribution policy of the LLC and to make distributions to the members from the cash realized by the LLC, after payment of the expenses of the LLC and the reservation of monies for future expenses and contingencies as deemed appropriate by Westech.

Under the LLC's Operating Agreement, distributions are generally made to members up to an amount equal to 8% cumulative, non-compounded annual return, calculated monthly, of the members' unreturned capital contributions (the "<u>Preferred Return</u>"). Thereafter, profits are allocated to the GP (the "<u>Catchup Distribution</u>") in an amount equal to 25% of the Preferred Return so that cumulatively the GP will have received 20% of the total distributions of the sum of the Preferred Return and the Catchup Distribution. Thereafter distributions are made 80% to the members in proportion to the number of LLC Shares owned by them, and 20% to the GP, as managing member, until each has received distributions equal to its cumulative profit allocations. Any remaining amounts are distributed in accordance with the capital accounts of the members and the managing member. However, under the terms of the LLC's Operating Agreement, if the Preferred Return is achieved and there are profits in excess of the Preferred Return, then the GP would be entitled to its 20% interest in the distributions made by the LLC which are represented by total profits. This discussion is intended only to summarize the way in which profits are distributed to members and allocated to the GP, and is in all respects to subject to and, as appropriate, modified by the more detailed description set forth in the Operating Agreement.

#### Indemnification of the GP as Managing Member
The provisions of the LLC's Operating Agreement governing indemnification of the GP as the managing member do not materially differ from the provisions governing indemnification of the Board of Directors and Westech under the charter documents and existing Management Agreement of Fund IX.

***The LLC. The indemnification of the managing member and agents of the LLC is governed by the provisions of Delaware's Limited Liability Company Act (the "<u>Delaware LLC Act</u>") and the LLC's Operating Agreement. Pursuant to the Delaware LLC Act, no person who acts as a manager of a Delaware limited liability company (a "<u>Delaware</u> <u>LLC</u>") is personally liable under any judgment of a court, or in any other manner, for any debt, obligation, or liability of a Delaware LLC solely by reason of being a manager of a Delaware LLC. The Delaware LLC Act also permits, subject to certain exceptions, the operating agreement of a Delaware LLC to provide for indemnification of its managers and members and other agents acting on behalf of the Delaware LLC.***

The indemnification of the managing member and other agents of the LLC is covered by Article 9 of the LLC's Operating Agreement. Under this Article, each of the managers, officers, employees, and agents of the LLC (each an "<u>LLC Indemnified Person</u>") is entitled to indemnification for all liabilities and expenses incurred in connection with any proceeding (other than a proceeding by or in the right of the LLC, a so-called "derivative" action) if the LLC Indemnified Person acted in good faith and in a manner the LLC Indemnified Person reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interest of the LLC, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the conduct was unlawful. With respect to a derivative action brought on behalf of the LLC, an LLC Indemnified Person is entitled to indemnification if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner it reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interest of the LLC, provided that no indemnification is to be made in respect of any

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claim or matter as to which the LLC Indemnified Person shall have been adjudged to be liable for gross negligence, recklessness, or willful misconduct in the performance of his or her duties to the LLC unless the court in which the action or suit is brought determines upon application that, in view of all of the circumstances, the LLC Indemnified Person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses, as the court shall deem proper.

LLC Indemnified Persons are also entitled to an advance of monies from the LLC to defend any action or proceeding brought against them arising out of conduct for and on behalf of the LLC, upon the LLC Indemnified Person's written undertaking to repay amounts advanced if it is ultimately determined that such person is not entitled to indemnification under the provisions of Article 9 or otherwise.

***Fund IX. As a Maryland corporation, Fund IX is governed by the Maryland GCL. Under the Maryland GCL, a corporation may indemnify any director made a party to any proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity, unless it is established that the act or omission of the director (i) was material to the matter giving rise to the proceeding, and (A) was committed in bad faith or (B) the result of active and deliberate dishonesty; or (ii) the director actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services; or (iii) in the case of any criminal proceeding, the director had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful. Under the Maryland GCL, if a proceeding is a derivative proceeding, brought by or in the right of the corporation, then indemnification may not be made in respect of any proceeding in which the director shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation. Maryland law incorporates the standards of director duty based upon the Model Business Corporation Act, and recognizes the business judgment rule, which is a presumption that in making a business decision the directors of a corporation act on an informed basis, in good faith, and in the honest belief that the action taken was in the best interest of the company.***

Under Fund IX's Articles of Incorporation, it is provided that, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law (but not in violation of any applicable requirement or limitation of the 1940 Act), no director or officer of Fund IX shall be liable to Fund IX or the LLC, its sole shareholder, for money damages, and Fund IX shall indemnify and advance expenses as provided in Fund IX's by-laws, to all present and past directors, officers, employees and agents of Fund IX.

Under Fund IX's by-laws, Fund IX's present and past directors, officers, employees and agents (each a "<u>Fund IX</u> <u>Indemnified Person</u>") are entitled to indemnification by Fund IX to the full extent provided by applicable provisions of the Maryland GCL (but not in violation of any applicable requirement or limitation of the 1940 Act), summarized above, and advances of expenses shall be made to such persons as permitted by the Maryland GCL. Fund IX's by-laws also permit the purchase of insurance on behalf of Fund IX Indemnified Person. Coverage under any such insurance may not protect any officer or director against liabilities for willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless disregard of duty.

#### Certain Tax Aspects of the Liquidation Proposal
The following is a summary of certain U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Liquidation Proposal. This summary is based upon the Internal Revenue Code, existing and proposed Treasury Regulations, rulings of the IRS, and judicial decisions which are in effect on the date of this proxy statement. No advance rulings have been or will be requested from the IRS regarding any matter discussed in this proxy statement, and there can be no assurance that the IRS will not challenge one or more of the legal conclusions discussed in this summary.

This summary does not discuss all of the U.S. federal income tax matters that may be relevant to Fund IX, the LLC, or its members. This summary also does not consider various tax rules or limitations applicable to persons subject to special rules under the Internal Revenue Code, including, among others, insurance companies, financial institutions, broker-dealers, foreign shareholders, and (except as specifically indicated) tax-exempt entities. Finally, this summary does not discuss taxation by foreign jurisdictions or state and local taxing authorities. Accordingly, you are urged to consult your own tax advisors to determine the federal, state, local and foreign income and other tax consequences of the Liquidation Proposal in light of your own particular tax circumstances.

#### Tax Consequences of the Liquidation Proposal to Fund IX
Upon Fund IX's distribution of its assets to the LLC, Fund IX will be treated as if all of its assets had been sold for their fair market value. Thus, Fund IX will have taxable gain or loss equal to the difference between the fair market value of its assets (less liabilities, if any) and the adjusted tax basis of its assets. As a RIC, Fund IX is entitled to a "dividends paid" deduction for dividends paid to the LLC, its sole shareholder, during the taxable year. Distributions made in complete liquidation of a RIC are generally treated as dividends that may be deducted from the RIC's taxable income.

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Because Fund IX will be treated for tax purposes as having distributed all of its assets in complete liquidation, Fund IX will have "dividend paid" deductions for the net assets it is deemed to have distributed to the LLC. These deductions should offset the taxable gain, if any, recognized by Fund IX as a result of the deemed sale of Fund IX's assets.

#### Tax Consequences of the Liquidation Proposal to the LLC and its Members
***Gain or Loss Recognized. The LLC, as the sole shareholder of Fund IX, will recognize gain or loss measured by the difference between its tax basis in Fund Shares and the fair market value of the assets (less liabilities, if any) distributed to the LLC by Fund IX. It is anticipated that the LLC will recognize a loss on the distribution by Fund IX of its assets to the LLC. Based on the Board of Director's preliminary estimate of the fair market value of its assets as of March 31, 2026, and the LLC's aggregate adjusted basis of approximately $59.3 million in the Fund Shares, the LLC will recognize an estimated loss of approximately $36.0 million upon completion of the Liquidation.***

Any gain or loss recognized by the LLC as a result of the Liquidation will be characterized as a capital gain or loss. The LLC has held its Fund Shares for at least one year, thus any gain or loss on the distribution of the assets of Fund IX will be long-term capital gain or loss.

This is only a preliminary estimate. Two factors could cause the amount that the LLC will be treated as receiving to vary, perhaps significantly, from this preliminary estimate. First, the preliminary estimate reflects values as of March 31, 2026, but the amount of the member's gain or loss will depend on the value of the assets and liabilities of Fund IX on the date that assets of Fund IX are distributed to the LLC as part of the Liquidation. Second, most assets held by Fund IX are not publicly traded and there are no market quotes available to establish the fair market value of its assets with certainty. The Board of Directors will use the valuation methods it has customarily employed to estimate the value of Fund IX's assets as of the distribution date. *See* "Valuation of the Assets to Be Distributed By Fund IX to the LLC" below. The IRS, however, will not be bound by the Board of Director's valuation and could assert that Fund IX's assets had a higher value on the distribution date than the value reported to the members of the LLC. As a result, any gain or loss realized by the members could vary significantly from the estimates disclosed in this proxy statement.

The LLC as an entity will not be subject to federal income tax. Each member is required to report separately on its federal income tax return its distributive share (as reported on Schedule K-1 to Form 1065) of income, gain, loss or deduction recognized by the LLC for the taxable year of the LLC ending with or within the taxable year of such member, including any gain or loss in connection with the Liquidation. Each member will be taxed on its distributive share of the LLC's gains and losses regardless of whether the member has received a distribution of cash or other assets from the LLC. Although Westech intends to make distributions sufficient for the members to pay income taxes attributable to their share of the LLC's income, there is no guarantee that distributions will be sufficient for this purpose. A member's income tax liability with respect to its allocable share of the LLC's income in a particular taxable year could exceed the LLC's distributions of cash or other assets to such member for the year.

***The LLC's Basis and Holding Period for Fund IX Assets. The LLC will take the assets of Fund IX with a tax basis equal to the fair market value the assets at the time of distribution. The LLC's holding period for the assets will begin on the effective date of the Liquidation so that any assets that the LLC disposes of during the first year after the Liquidation will not be eligible for long-term capital gain treatment. This will be true even if Fund IX has held the assets for more than a year because Fund IX's ownership will not be considered in determining the LLC's holding period.***

***Market Discount. Because the LLC's initial basis in loans acquired from Fund IX will be the fair market value of the loans, the basis of a loan may be less than its outstanding principal balance. This may occur, for example, if the creditworthiness of the borrower has declined. Any difference between the fair market value of the loan and its outstanding principal balance (if more than a de minimis amount) will be "market discount" that is treated for tax purposes as additional interest. When principal payments are received on a loan with market discount, the accrued market discount must be taken into account as ordinary income. Similarly, if a loan with market discount is sold or disposed of, gain (if any) is treated as ordinary income to the extent of the accrued market discount. Thus, to the extent any of Fund IX's loans have fair market values less than their outstanding principal balance, the LLC will have market discount with respect to the loans and will have to treat some principal repayments as ordinary income. The applicability of the "market discount" rules to debt instruments where the issuer is in severe financial distress is less clear, and the LLC may be able to stop accruing interest if the payment of such accrued interest by the issuer to the LLC is viewed as remote.***

***Bad Debt Deduction. Westech believes that the loans the LLC acquires from Fund IX will be treated as investments and not assets acquired in the course of a trade or business. Accordingly, Westech believes that the loans in***

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the LLC's loan portfolio will be classified as "non-business debts" under Section 166 of the Internal Revenue Code. As a result, if the LLC becomes entitled to any bad debt deduction on account of worthless loans, such deduction will be a capital loss rather than an ordinary loss to noncorporate members of the LLC. Also, a loss will only be allowed if the loan can be considered completely worthless.

***Members' Allocable Share of Interest Income. If the Liquidation Proposal is approved, the LLC will directly hold assets, principally loans, that were previously held by Fund IX. Prior to the Liquidation, the members of the LLC included in their respective returns their allocable share of the LLC's income, which primarily consisted of dividends from Fund IX. After the Liquidation, the LLC will have income from its investments and in the form of interest income from the loans, and the members will be required to include their allocable share of the interest income in their separate returns even if such interest is accrued rather than paid.***

***Limitations on Deductions. A member's share of the LLC's losses and expenses may not be fully deductible for federal income tax purposes because the Internal Revenue Code contains several limitations that may apply to members of the LLC. The following paragraphs discuss several of the limits that may apply to a member's allocable share of the LLC's expenses and losses. One or more of these limitations may be applicable to a member depending upon its particular circumstances.***

(i) *Trade or business status and limits on miscellaneous itemized deductions.* Because the purpose of the LLC is limited to managing and liquidating its investments, Westech believes that the LLC will not be engaged in a trade or business for federal income tax purposes. Therefore, its noncapital expenses will not be deductible as business expenses, but rather will be investment expenses deductible under Section 212 of the Internal Revenue Code. Such expenses are "miscellaneous itemized deductions." Under current law, miscellaneous itemized deductions are not deductible at all to individuals. Finally, miscellaneous itemized deductions are also not allowed for alternative minimum tax purposes. 

If, however, the LLC were found to be engaged in a trade or business for federal income tax purposes: (a) its noncapital expenses generally would be deductible as business expenses for purposes of both the regular income tax and the alternative minimum tax; and (b) it generally would not be subject to the complete disallowance of any miscellaneous itemized deduction, but with respect to individuals and certain trusts and closely-held corporations, such trade or business losses may be passive losses which could only offset other passive income which would not include portfolio income such as dividends or gains from stock sales.

(ii) *Other limits on deductions.* Other provisions of the Internal Revenue Code limit the deduction of losses and expenses connected with investments. For example, under Section 1211 of the Internal Revenue Code, capital losses are generally deductible only against capital gains. Individual taxpayers may, however, deduct up to an additional $3,000 per year in capital losses against ordinary income and carry forward unused capital losses to subsequent tax years. In addition, as noted above, Westech believes that the loans the LLC acquires from Fund IX will be treated as investments rather than assets acquired in the course of a trade or business, and that the loans in the LLC's loan portfolio will be classified as "non-business debts" under Section 166 of the Internal Revenue Code. As a result, if the LLC becomes entitled to any bad debt deduction on account of one or more worthless loans, such deduction generally will be a capital loss rather than an ordinary loss with respect to non-corporate members of the LLC. If, however, the LLC were found to be engaged in a trade or business for federal income tax purposes, the LLC's loans generally would be treated as "business debts" with the result that bad debt deductions on account of one or more worthless loans generally would be ordinary losses rather than capital losses.

This proxy statement does not describe all the limitations on deductions that apply generally to investments under the Internal Revenue Code, and you should consult your own tax advisors with respect to such questions.

***Tax-Exempt Members. Certain of the members of the LLC ("<u>Tax-Exempt Members</u>") are exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code. Such entities, however, are subject to tax on their unrelated business taxable income ("<u>UBTI</u>"). In this regard, UBTI is generally defined in Section 512(a) to mean income derived from an unrelated trade or business regularly carried on by the exempt organization. Westech believes that the LLC will not be engaged in a trade or business for federal income tax purposes, and that the income and distributions derived by Tax-Exempt Members from their LLC Shares will not be considered UBTI provided the LLC Shares are not debt-financed property. If the LLC were found to be engaged in a trade or business for federal income tax purposes, Westech anticipates that substantially all of its gross income may be UBTI.***

16<br>

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Section 514 of the Internal Revenue Code provides that a percentage of income derived from debt-financed property is considered UBTI. The assets of Fund IX are currently unencumbered by indebtedness, and the LLC does not intend to borrow money or issue any debt for the purpose of acquiring additional investments, and will not incur any debt unless Westech determines, in its reasonable judgment, based upon the advice of counsel, that such financing would not cause its assets to be debt-financed property.

*The above discussion of certain tax aspects does not attempt to comment on all tax matters that may affect Fund IX, the LLC, or its members, as a result of the BDC Termination Proposal. You should consult your own tax advisor with respect to the tax consequences to you of the Liquidation Proposal, particularly with respect to the application and effect of tax laws of any state or other jurisdiction in which you are subject to tax and the effect of tax laws other than income tax laws.* 

*To ensure compliance with United States Treasury Department Circular 230, you are hereby notified that any discussion of United States Federal Tax Issues herein is not intended or written to be relied upon, and cannot be relied upon, for the purpose of avoiding penalties that may be imposed on holders under the Internal Revenue Code.* 

#### Valuation of the Assets to Be Distributed By Fund IX to the LLC
If the Liquidation Proposal is approved, determining the fair market value of the assets to be distributed by Fund IX to the LLC will be necessary in order to determine the gain or loss to be recognized by the LLC and, therefore, the members of the LLC upon the Liquidation of Fund IX.

In determining the fair market value of the assets to be distributed to the LLC by Fund IX, Westech will base its determination upon the book value of the assets of Fund IX, net of its liabilities, as of the effective date of the Liquidation, as determined for financial reporting purposes. The policies that Fund IX has historically followed in valuing its assets for financial reporting purposes and that Fund IX will follow in determining the value of the assets of Fund IX for purposes of the Liquidation are summarized below.

Fund IX values its investments in loans at their original purchase price, less amortization of principal, unless, pursuant to procedures established by the Board of Directors, Westech determines that amortized cost does not represent fair value.

#### Vote Required
Adoption of the Plan of Liquidation of Fund IX requires the approval of the holders of a majority of the outstanding Fund Shares. The Operating Agreement of the LLC grants the members pass-through voting rights, meaning that the LLC may take no action as the sole shareholder of Fund IX without first securing the approval of the members of the LLC to the same extent as if the members of the LLC were shareholders of Fund IX. Accordingly, approval of the Liquidation Proposal requires the prior approval of the holders of a majority of the outstanding LLC Shares. This Proxy Statement will be delivered to the members of the LLC.

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#### THE BDC TERMINATION PROPOSAL

#### Recommendation
The Board of Directors of Fund IX unanimously recommends that you vote **FOR** the BDC Termination Proposal.

#### What does the BDC Termination Proposal mean for me?
If the BDC Termination Proposal is approved, Fund IX will withdraw its election as a BDC under the 1940 Act and will no longer be subject to regulation as a BDC. The LLC is not registered and will not register as a BDC under the 1940 Act, and therefore will not have a board of directors of which a majority are comprised of independent individuals. The cost savings from not maintaining an independent board of directors and from not preparing and filing reports with the SEC (discussed below) should increase the cash available for distribution to the members of the LLC.

#### Why are we doing this?
Given Fund IX's rapidly declining size and limited life cycle, we believe that the benefits realized by the expenditures for independent directors and the filing of SEC periodic reports for Fund IX are outweighed by the costs. Fund IX incurs significant administrative costs in order to comply with the regulations imposed by the 1940 Act and the Exchange Act. Westech devotes considerable time to issues relating to compliance with the 1940 Act and the Exchange Act, and Fund IX incurs a substantial amount of legal and accounting fees with respect to such matters. As the LLC will exist primarily for the purpose of an orderly liquidation of its assets and will not make any new investments (although it may add to existing investments), the protection afforded by BDC regulatory requirements appear to the Board of Directors to be less important to the LLC, the Fund's sole shareholder, than maximizing distributions from the Fund's remaining loan and securities portfolio.

Furthermore, as a BDC, Fund IX qualifies for favorable tax treatment as a RIC under the Internal Revenue Code. As Fund IX winds down its business, there is a risk it could fail to qualify for this status. By distributing the remaining assets of Fund IX to the LLC as part of the Liquidation, the income from Fund IX's assets should continue to be subject to only one level of income taxation, and the maintenance of Fund IX's BDC status for tax purposes will no longer be necessary. Therefore, in view of the level of Fund IX's assets, the additional costs of maintaining its status as a BDC and a reporting company under the Exchange Act outweigh any benefits Fund IX may derive from such status.

#### How will the BDC Termination work?
If the Proposals described herein are approved, immediately after the effectiveness of the Liquidation, Fund IX will file a notice with the SEC withdrawing its election of BDC status under the 1940 Act.

Immediately after the withdrawal of its election as a BDC under the 1940 Act, Fund IX will de-register as a reporting company under the Exchange Act and withdraw its license as a finance lender under the CA Lenders Law. From and after the date of such de-registration, Fund IX will no longer be obligated to file periodic reports under the Exchange Act, and, 90 days after such de-registration, Fund IX will no longer be subject to the proxy rules promulgated by the SEC under the Exchange Act in the conduct of shareholder meetings or the solicitation of shareholder consents (other than certain antifraud rules), and the officers and controlling persons of Fund IX will not be subject to the insider reporting and short-swing profit recovery provisions of Section 16 of the Exchange Act. Because of the limited number of its members, the LLC will not be required to register under the Exchange Act, and therefore will not be subject to any of the foregoing reporting or short-swing profit recovery provisions of the Exchange Act. The LLC will, however, provide its members with annual audited financial statements and quarterly unaudited financial statements, and will provide tax information to its members to enable them to report their share of the income, gain, or loss of the LLC. The GP, as the managing member of the LLC, could, but does not currently plan to, seek to amend the LLC's Operating Agreement to eliminate the requirement that it provide members with annual audited financial statements as the LLC further winds down its business. In the unlikely event that the LLC's Operating Agreement is amended to eliminate the requirement that the LLC provide annual audited financial statements to its members, pursuant to Rule 206(4)-2 under Advisers Act, the LLC will be subject to annual verification and examination by its independent auditors and will provide quarterly account statements and quarterly shareholder reports inclusive of financial statements to its members in lieu of audited financial statements. We anticipate additional cost savings from not being required to file periodic reports with the SEC for Fund IX under the Exchange Act.

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#### How will the LLC be different from Fund IX?
Because the LLC is not a BDC, it will not be subject to the 1940 Act and related regulatory requirements applicable to BDCs. The regulatory constraints that apply to the activities of Fund IX as a BDC, but that will not apply to the LLC, include:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• restrictions on the types of investments the LLC may make;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• restrictions on the LLC's ability to issue shares at a price below net asset value or to issue senior securities;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• restrictions on the LLC's ability to enter into transactions with affiliates;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• the requirement to have a board of directors the majority of which is comprised of independent directors, and requirements that the independent directors review and approve various policies and transactions; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;• the requirement that the independent directors annually approve the continuation of an investment management agreement with Westech.

Westech believes that, at this late stage in Fund IX's life, the benefit to investors of these regulatory protections under the 1940 Act is outweighed by the cost of complying with them. The only business of the LLC will be to effect an orderly liquidation of its assets. In light of this business objective, the Board of Directors of Fund IX believes that the regulatory protections of the 1940 Act are no longer necessary.

Fund IX has liquidated a significant portion of its assets and, as of March 31, 2026, had the following assets (unaudited):

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| Loans, at estimated fair value | $56.2 million  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Cash and other assets | $3.1 million  |
| Total Assets: | $59.3 million |

---

As a BDC, Fund IX must meet a number of regulatory requirements, many of which entail expense for Fund IX. For example, Fund IX must have a board of directors that includes a majority of independent directors, whose fees and expenses are paid by Fund IX and amounted to approximately $136.0 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2025, and $33.8 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2026. Fund IX is also required to file periodic reports with the SEC that include audited financial statements and its quarterly financial statements are subject to limited reviews by its auditors. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, Fund IX incurred approximately $204.8 thousand in audit and review expenses and an additional $184.9 thousand in other expenses inclusive of legal, and tax preparation fees. If the Proposals are approved, Fund IX will no longer be required to file audited financial statements. The LLC will continue to provide its members with annual audited financial statements, which will include Fund IX assets. The GP, as the managing member of the LLC, could, but does not currently plan to, seek to amend the LLC's Operating Agreement to eliminate the requirement that the LLC provide annual audited financial statements to its members as it further winds down its business. In the unlikely event that the LLC's Operating Agreement is amended to eliminate the requirement that the LLC provide annual audited financial statements to its members, pursuant to Rule 206(4)-2 under Advisers Act, the LLC will be subject to annual verification and examination by its independent auditors and will provide quarterly account statements and quarterly shareholder reports inclusive of financial statements to its members in lieu of audited financial statements.

Westech believes that, given Fund IX's rapidly declining size, to continue to incur these expenses, and to devote management time to meeting Fund IX's regulatory obligations under the 1940 Act, is unwarranted.

#### What happens if the BDC Termination Proposal is not approved?
If the BDC Termination Proposal is not approved, Fund IX will not withdraw its election as a BDC under the 1940 Act or de-register as a reporting company under the Exchange Act or withdraw its license as a finance lender under the CA Lenders Law. This means that the LLC, as the sole shareholder, would continue to benefit from the regulatory protections of the 1940 Act (as they apply to BDCs) and the Exchange Act. However, it also means that Fund IX would continue to incur all of the compliance costs associated with the regulatory requirements of being a BDC and a reporting company, and Westech would continue to devote a substantial amount of time to compliance, despite the fact that

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Fund IX would still be in a wind-down phase and have limited activity. Compliance costs include the expenses associated with filing periodic reports for Fund IX with the SEC, complying with the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, preparing audited financial statements, having independent directors on the Board of Directors, and the related legal and accounting fees.

Approval of the BDC Termination Proposal will result in Fund IX no longer qualifying as a RIC under the Internal Revenue Code. However, even if the BDC Termination Proposal is not approved, there is a likelihood that, in the near term, Fund IX will fail to meet the diversification requirements for RIC status, at which point in time it will be taxed as an "ordinary" C corporation, and be subject to corporate level U.S. federal income tax on its net investment income and realized capital gains. Fund IX currently meets, and we anticipate that throughout the wind-down phase it will continue to meet, the diversification requirements applicable to RICs under the Internal Revenue Code. *See* "Certain Tax Aspects of the BDC Termination Proposal."

#### Certain Tax Aspects of the BDC Termination Proposal
The following is a brief summary of certain U.S. federal income tax consequences of the BDC Termination Proposal and is based upon the Internal Revenue Code, existing and proposed Treasury Regulations, rulings of the IRS, and judicial decisions which are in effect on the date of this proxy statement. This summary does not discuss all of the U.S. federal income tax matters that may be relevant to Fund IX, the LLC, or its members. Nor does it consider various tax provisions which may be applicable to persons subject to special rules under the Internal Revenue Code, including, among others, insurance companies, financial institutions, broker-dealers, foreign members, and (except as specifically indicated) tax-exempt entities. Finally, this summary does not discuss taxation by foreign jurisdictions or state and local taxing authorities. Accordingly, you are urged to consult your own tax advisors to determine the federal, state, local and foreign income and other tax consequences of the BDC Termination Proposal in light of your own particular tax circumstances.

#### Tax Consequences to the LLC
The LLC as an entity is not subject to U.S. federal income tax. Each member of the LLC is required to report separately on its federal income tax return its distributive share (as reported on Schedule K-1 to Form 1065) of income, gain, loss or deduction recognized by the LLC for the taxable year of the LLC ending with or within the taxable year of such member. Each member will be taxed on such distributive share regardless of whether the member has received a distribution of cash or other assets from the LLC. The withdrawal of Fund IX's election to be treated as a BDC should have no effect on such treatment of the LLC.

As a RIC, Fund IX generally has been relieved of U.S. federal income tax on that part of its net investment income and realized capital gains which it distributed to the LLC. In other words, as a RIC, Fund IX has not been subject to corporate level U.S. federal income tax on its net investment income and realized capital gains since its distributions to the LLC were equal to or greater than such income or gain. If the BDC Termination Proposal is approved and Fund IX withdraws its election to be treated as a BDC prior to the liquidation of Fund IX, it will no longer qualify to be treated as a RIC under the Internal Revenue Code. Therefore, Fund IX would be subject to corporate level U.S. federal income tax on its net investment income and realized capital gains, whether or not it distributes such amounts to the LLC. It should be noted, that even if the BDC Termination Proposal is not approved, there is a risk that, as Fund IX continues its wind-down phase, it will fail to meet the diversification requirements to qualify as a RIC under the Internal Revenue Code. In any event, Fund IX anticipates that it will have sufficient losses to offset most of any income or gains it may realize, although no assurances in this regard can be given. Fund IX currently meets, and we anticipate that throughout the wind-down phase it will continue to meet, the diversification requirements applicable to RICs under the Internal Revenue Code.

#### Tax Consequences to Tax-Exempt Members of the LLC
Any members of the LLC that are qualified plans, Individual Retirement Accounts, or other investors exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (collectively, "<u>Tax-Exempt Entities</u>") are generally exempt from taxation except to the extent that they have unrelated business taxable income ("<u>UBTI</u>") (determined in accordance with Sections 511-514 of the Internal Revenue Code). Under Section 512(b) of the Internal Revenue Code, UBTI does not include dividends received by a Tax-Exempt Entity. If a Tax-Exempt Entity, however, borrows money to purchase its interests in the LLC, a portion of its income from the LLC will constitute UBTI pursuant to the "debt-financed property" rules of the Internal Revenue Code. Further, certain income that is generated by an activity that is a "trade or business" and is received by a Tax-Exempt Entity may be characterized as UBTI. The withdrawal of Fund IX's election to be treated as a BDC should have no effect on this treatment of Tax-Exempt Entities.

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Social clubs, voluntary employee benefit associations, supplemental unemployment benefit trusts, and qualified group legal service organizations that are exempt from taxation under Sections 501(c)(7), (9), (17) and (20), respectively, of the Internal Revenue Code, are subject to different UBTI rules, which generally will require them to characterize as UBTI their allocable share of income from the LLC. Dividend distributions by the LLC allocable to a charitable organization that is a private foundation should constitute investment income for purposes of the excise tax on net investment income of private foundations imposed by Section 4940 of the Internal Revenue Code.

*The above discussion of certain tax aspects does not attempt to comment on all tax matters that may affect Fund IX, the LLC, or its members, as a result of the BDC Termination Proposal. You should consult your own tax advisor with respect to the tax consequences to you of the BDC Termination Proposal, particularly with respect to the application and effect of tax laws of any state or other jurisdiction in which you are subject to tax and the effect of tax laws other than income tax laws.* 

*To ensure compliance with United States Treasury Department Circular 230, you are hereby notified that any discussion of United States Federal Tax Issues herein is not intended or written to be relied upon, and cannot be relied upon, for the purpose of avoiding penalties that may be imposed on holders under the Internal Revenue Code.* 

#### Vote Required
Adoption of the BDC Termination Proposal under Maryland law requires the approval of the holders of a majority of the outstanding Fund Shares. Only the LLC, as sole shareholder of Fund IX, may vote the outstanding Fund Shares. However, because the Operating Agreement grants the members of the LLC pass-through voting rights, the LLC may take no action as the sole shareholder of Fund IX to vote the Fund Shares without first securing the direction of a majority-in-interest of the members of the LLC. Accordingly, approval of the BDC Termination Proposal requires the prior approval of the holders of a majority-in-interest of the members of the LLC. This Proxy Statement will be delivered to the members of the LLC in connection with the exercise of their pass-through voting rights.

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#### EFFECT OF THE PROPOSALS ON THE MANAGEMENT OF <br>

#### FUND IX'S LOAN AND SECURITIES PORTFOLIO
Westech Advisors currently acts as the investment adviser to Fund IX, and as investment manager to the LLC, providing portfolio management and administrative services. The GP serves as the managing member of the LLC. If the Proposals described herein are adopted, then the existing Management Agreement between Fund IX and Westech Advisors would be terminated. In such event, Westech Advisors would continue to provide the same portfolio management and administrative services that it now provides with respect to the assets distributed by Fund IX to the LLC under the LLC Management Agreement. The compensation payable by the LLC to Westech for such services will be the same as the aggregate compensation payable by Fund IX and the LLC to Westech were Fund IX to remain in business until the final liquidation of its loan and securities portfolio.

#### The Existing Management Agreement
The existing Management Agreement between Fund IX and Westech is dated as of October 13, 2022, and was approved by the LLC, as Fund IX's sole shareholder, on September 30, 2022. It was first approved by the Board of Directors of Fund IX on August 11, 2022 (including by the independent directors) for a two-year term and last approved by the Board of Directors on December 5, 2025 for a one-year term. If the Proposals described herein are approved, then the existing Management Agreement will terminate, effective upon Fund IX's dissolution.

Under the existing Management Agreement, Westech Advisors serves as the investment adviser to Fund IX. Subject to the supervision of Fund IX's Board of Directors, Westech Advisors provides investment advice, portfolio management, and servicing of the loans and investments held in Fund IX's portfolio, and administers Fund IX's day-to-day affairs. The services rendered by Westech Advisors to Fund IX are not required to be exclusive; the existing Management Agreement does not limit or restrict Westech Advisors or its directors, officers, or employees from engaging in other businesses, whether of a similar or dissimilar nature to the business of Fund IX.

Under the existing Management Agreement, Fund IX is responsible for paying all expenses incurred by Fund IX in the conduct of its business, and for reimbursing Westech Advisors for any expenses incurred by them in the conduct of Fund IX's business. Westech Advisors however, is responsible for bearing certain internal expenses, including the costs of office space, equipment, and related overhead incurred in the conduct of Fund IX's business, and the cost of providing Fund IX with such corporate, administrative, and clerical personnel (including officers and directors of Fund IX who are interested persons of Westech Advisors and are acting in their respective capacities as officers and directors) as the Board of Directors of Fund IX reasonably deems necessary or advisable to perform the services required to be performed by Westech Advisors to Fund IX under the existing Management Agreement.

Fund IX has not directed and does not direct commissions to any affiliated broker, and Westech Advisors does not have any relationship with, or derive any benefits from, any broker affiliated with Fund IX, Westech Advisors, or their affiliates.

Under the existing Management Agreement, Westech Advisors is not liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by Fund IX in connection with the performance by Westech Advisors of its services under the existing Management Agreement, except for losses resulting from its willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence, or from reckless disregard by Westech Advisors of its obligations and duties under the existing Management Agreement.

The names and principal occupations of the principal executive officers and directors of Westech Advisors, as of March 31, 2026, are set forth below. The address of each officer is c/o Westech Investment Advisors LLC, 104 La Mesa Drive, Suite 102, Portola Valley, California 94028.

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **Name** | **Principal Occupation** | **Position with Fund IX**  |
| Maurice Werdegar | Chairman of the Board | Director, Chairman of the Board  |
| David R. Wanek | President and Chief Executive Officer | Chief Executive Officer  |
| Jared Thear | Chief Financial Officer, Chief Compliance Officer and Secretary | Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Compliance Officer, Secretary and Treasurer  |
| Rodolfo Ruano | Vice President, Assistant Secretary | None |

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Westech Advisors is 100% owned by Ridgepost Capital, LLC (formerly known as P10 Intermediate Holdings LLC) whose ultimate parent company is Ridgepost Capital, Inc. (formerly known as P10, Inc.).

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Westech Advisors provides services comparable to those provided to Fund IX to two other non-diversified, closed-end management investment companies electing to be treated as a BDC under the 1940 Act: WTI Fund X, Inc. ("<u>Fund X</u>") and WTI Fund XI, Inc. ("<u>Fund XI</u>").

At March 31, 2026, Fund IX had total assets of approximately $59.3 million (on an unaudited basis), Fund X had total assets of approximately $373.7 million (on an unaudited basis) and Fund XI had total assets of approximately $83.9 million (on an unaudited basis). Since entering into the management agreements with Fund IX and Fund X in 2022 and Fund XI, in 2023, Westech Advisors has not waived, reduced, or otherwise agreed to reduce their compensation under such management agreement.

Westech Advisors provided services comparable to those provided to Fund IX to prior registered investment companies electing BDC status that have now liquidated and/or withdrawn their BDC elections and withdrawn as reporting companies under the Exchange Act: Venture Lending & Leasing, Inc. (" <u>Fund I</u> "); Venture Lending & Leasing II, Inc. (" <u>Fund II</u> "); Venture Lending & Leasing III, Inc. (" <u>Fund III</u> "); Venture Lending & Leasing IV, Inc. (" <u>Fund IV</u> "); Venture Lending & Leasing V, Inc. (" <u>Fund V</u> "); Venture Lending & Leasing VI, Inc. (" <u>Fund VI</u> "), Venture Lending & Leasing VII, Inc. (" <u>Fund VII</u> ") and Venture Lending & Leasing VIII, Inc. (" <u>Fund VIII</u> "). The compensation payable by these eight funds was similar to that payable by Fund IX and the LLC to Westech Advisors. Pursuant to reorganizations approved by their shareholders in September 2002 and August 2003 respectively, each of Fund I and Fund II was succeeded by a limited liability company organized to hold and supervise the winding up of their investment portfolios. Pursuant to actions approved by its sole shareholder, Venture Lending & Leasing III, LLC (" <u>VLL3 LLC</u> "), in November 2005, Fund III was liquidated and dissolved into VLL3 LLC. Pursuant to actions approved by its sole shareholder, Venture Lending & Leasing IV, in October 2011, Fund IV withdrew its election as a BDC and reporting company under the Exchange Act. Pursuant to actions approved by its sole shareholder, Venture Lending & Leasing V, LLC, in August 2014, Fund V withdrew its election as a BDC and reporting company under the Exchange Act. Pursuant to actions approved by its sole shareholder, Venture Lending & Leasing VI, LLC, in September 2017 Fund VI withdrew its election as a BDC and reporting company under the Exchange Act. Pursuant to actions approved by its sole shareholder, Venture Lending & Leasing VII, LLC, in July 2021, Fund VII withdrew its election as a BDC and reporting company under the Exchange Act. And, pursuant to actions approved by its sole shareholder, Venture Lending & Leasing VIII, LLC, in October 2023, Fund VIII withdrew its election as a BDC and reporting company under the Exchange Act. As of their liquidations, Fund I had total assets of approximately $2.3 million, Fund II had total assets of approximately $28.6 million, Fund III had total assets of approximately $52.9 million, Fund IV had total assets of approximately $2.9 million, Fund V had total assets of approximately $22.1 million, Fund VI had total assets of approximately $17.5 million, Fund VII had total assets of approximately $40.4 million, and Fund VIII had total assets of approximately $29.4 million. During the period of time that Westech Advisors performed services for Fund I, Fund II, Fund III, Fund IV, Fund V, Fund VI, Fund VII and Fund VIII, it did not waive, reduce, or otherwise agree to reduce its compensation under the management agreements with the funds.

#### Westech Advisors' and the GP's Duties and Compensation
Under the Operating Agreement, the GP serves as the managing member of the LLC. Westech Advisors is the managing member of the GP and the investment manager of the LLC, in which capacity it supervises the management and administration of the LLC's investments and provides administrative services to the LLC.

Under the Management Agreement, Westech Advisors receives an investment management fee from the Fund (the "<u>Investment Management Fee</u>"). Under the LLC Management Agreement, Westech Advisors receives a management fee from the LLC (the "<u>LLC Management Fee</u>"), which is in addition to the Investment Management Fee. Following liquidation of the Fund, the Investment Management Fee which is due with respect to the calendar quarter during which such liquidation takes place and for each subsequent calendar quarter will be paid by the LLC. The Investment Management Fee and the LLC Management Fee comprise the "<u>Management Fee</u>," which will remain unchanged following the liquidation and termination of the Fund.

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The aggregate annual amount of Management Fee for each annual period (which is comprised of four (4) whole fiscal quarters) as a percent of committed capital is as follows:

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **Total**<br>**Management Fee** | **LLC Portion of** <br>**Management Fee** | **Fund IX Portion of** <br>**Management Fee**  |
| Year 1: | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1.750% | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;0.175% | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1.575%  |
| Year 2: | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2.000% | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;0.400% | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1.600%  |
| Year 3: | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2.250% | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;0.675% | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1.575%  |
| Year 4: | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2.500% | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1.000% | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1.500%  |
| Year 5: | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2.500% | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1.250% | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1.250%  |
| Year 6: | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2.250% | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1.350% | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;0.900%  |
| Year 7: | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2.000% | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1.400% | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;0.600%  |
| Year 8: | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1.750% | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1.400% | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;0.350%  |
| Year 9: | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1.500% | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1.350% | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;0.150%  |
| Year 10: | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1.500% | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1.500% | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;0.000% |

---

There is no Management Fee payable by the LLC or the Fund with respect to any fiscal quarter commencing following the ten year anniversary of the date of the first capital call issued by the LLC to its members.

In general, the Management Fee is payable in equal quarterly installments, in arrears, with the Management Fee for any partial period pro rated based on the ratio that the number of days in such partial period bears to the actual number of days in the applicable year.

For the year ended December 31, 2025, and for the three months ended March 31, 2026, Fund IX accrued and paid the following compensation to Westech for services rendered by it to Fund IX:

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **Year Ended December 31, 2025** | **Year Ended December 31, 2025** |
|  | **Accrued** | **Paid**  |
| Management Fee | $2.2 million | $2.5 million |

---

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **Three Months Ended March 31, 2026** | **Three Months Ended March 31, 2026** |
|  | **Accrued** | **Paid**  |
| Management Fee | $0.4 million | $0.4 million |

---

Accrued fees represent those fees determined under the accrual method of accounting under generally accepted accounting principles; the "paid" fees represent the fees actually paid by Fund IX to Westech for the periods indicated; they are larger than the accrued fees because they represent the payment of fees accrued in prior periods where the collective total Management Fee rates were higher.

Fund IX ceased making new loan commitments and investments as of December 2022, and made its last funding under existing loan agreements on December 28, 2023. Fund IX is now distributing to the LLC, its sole shareholder, all revenues, including revenues from principal repayments of loans, net of expenses and principal repayments of Fund IX's borrowings. The Plan of Liquidation provides that, upon approval of the Proposals, Fund IX will distribute all of its cash to the LLC and the LLC will be appointed Fund IX's disbursement agent to pay, from the cash distributed by Fund IX to the LLC, any Fund IX expenses not paid as of the distribution date. The LLC is only liable to pay such remaining expenses of Fund IX or to satisfy any liabilities, known or unknown, to the extent of the cash distributed by Fund IX to the LLC under the Plan of Liquidation. Fund IX will not maintain a reserve of cash, in trust or otherwise, to cover any expenses or liabilities that may arise following implementation of the Proposals. The Fund repaid its last indebtedness, in full, on September 8, 2025. It is estimated that $0.5 million in expenses of the Fund (in the form of $0.1 million in professional fees and $0.4 million in management fees) will be transferred to the LLC.

Under its Operating Agreement, the LLC's term of existence continues until December 31, 2030, subject to up to five one-year extensions, or such earlier time as it has liquidated its investments, paid its expenses, and distributed the net proceeds to its members. The term of the LLC's existence may be extended, on an annual basis, for up to five additional one-year periods, upon the decision of the GP, as managing member, with the consent of the Advisory Board.

The allocation of expenses under the LLC's Operating Agreement is similar to the allocation of expenses under the existing Management Agreement between Westech and Fund IX: the LLC is responsible for paying all expenses incurred by the GP in the conduct of the LLC's business, and to reimburse the GP for any expenses incurred by it in the

24<br>

------

conduct of the LLC's business. The GP and Westech, however, are responsible for bearing certain internal expenses, including the cost of office space, equipment, and related overhead incurred in the conduct of the LLC's business, and the cost of providing the LLC with such corporate, administrative, and clerical personnel as the GP and Westech each reasonably deem necessary or advisable to perform the services required to be performed by it under the Operating Agreement.

The GP is also entitled to a "<u>Post-Termination Interest</u>" if its tenure as managing member is terminated, for any reason prior to the final distribution and liquidation of all of the LLC's assets to its members. The "Post-Termination Interest" is determined by a formula, which is designed to provide the GP with a termination interest in the LLC equivalent to the "Carried Interest" it would otherwise earn from the assets of the LLC existing as of the date of the GP's termination as managing member. The GP's Post-Termination Interest is deemed an ownership interest in the LLC, entitling the GP to share in future distributions made by the LLC to the extent thereof, in addition to the extent of the LLC Shares then owned by the GP.

Any amendment to the LLC's Operating Agreement requires consent of the managing member, the GP, and a majority-in-interest of the members of the LLC. Amendments are prohibited, without the consent of the affected member, that would increase the member's obligation to make capital contributions to the LLC, impose upon that member liability for any debt or obligation of the LLC, or otherwise have a material adverse effect upon the member. As the managing member, the GP is granted the power to amend the Operating Agreement, without the consent of any member, to make ministerial changes to the Operating Agreement, to cure ambiguities or inconsistencies therein, to make changes required by changes in applicable Delaware law, or to prevent the company from being deemed an "investment company" subject to the provisions of the 1940 Act.

25<br>

------

#### SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN <br>

#### BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
As of March 31, 2026, there were 100,000 Shares of common stock of Fund IX, $0.001 par value, issued and outstanding, all owned by Fund IX's sole shareholder, the LLC.

Under the LLC's Operating Agreement, the LLC may take no action as shareholder of Fund IX without first soliciting and/or taking instructions from the LLC members, to the same extent as if the members of the LLC were shareholders of Fund IX, with ownership interests therein identical to their respective ownership of LLC Shares. Accordingly, for purposes of the table below, the respective ownership of LLC Shares by the members of the LLC is addressed as if such members owned an identical *pro rata* interest in the outstanding shares of Fund IX.

The table below identifies the beneficial ownership of Fund IX's Shares, as of the Record Date, by each person who we know beneficially owns more than 5% of the outstanding LLC Shares,<sup>\*</sup> by each executive officer and director of Fund IX, and by all directors and executive officers as a group:

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **Name and Address of Certain** <br>**Beneficial Owners and Management\*\*** | **Number of Fund** <br>**Shares** <br>**Beneficially** <br>**Owned** | **Percentage of** <br>**Fund Shares** <br>**Outstanding**  |
| Venture Lending & Leasing IX, LLC | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;100000 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;100%  |
| Westech Investment Advisors LLC\*\*\* | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;100000 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;100%  |
| Venture Lending & Leasing IX GP, LLC\*\*\* | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;100000 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;100%  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Ridgepost Capital, LLC and/or Ridgepost Capital, Inc.\*\*\* | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;100000 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;100%  |
| Cedarwood Ventures Pte. Ltd. | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;14130 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;14.13%  |
| Gordon E. and Betty I. Moore Foundation | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;14130 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;14.13%  |
| University of Notre Dame du Lac | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;7609 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;7.61%  |
| Master Trust Agreement Between Pfizer Inc. and The Northern Trust Company | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;8696 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;8.70%  |
| UNC Investment Fund, LLC | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;5435 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;5.43%  |
| All directors and executive officers as a group | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;100000 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;100% |

---

<sup>\*</sup> Each is an indirect beneficial owner of more than 5% of Fund Shares by virtue of owning more than a 5% membership interest in the LLC. 

<sup>\*\*</sup><br> The address of each of the shareholders listed in this Annex is c/o Westech Investment Advisors LLC, 104 La Mesa Drive, Suite 102, Portola Valley, California 94028.

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| <sup>\*\*\*</sup><br>| The GP may be deemed to be a beneficial owner of the 100,000 Shares of Fund IX owned by the LLC by virtue of its position as the managing member of the LLC. Westech may be deemed to be a beneficial owner of the 100,000 shares of Fund IX owned by the LLC by virtue of its position as the managing member of the GP. Ridgepost Capital, LLC (formerly known as P10 Intermediate Holdings LLC) whose ultimate parent company is Ridgepost Capital, Inc. (formerly known as P10, Inc.) may be deemed to be an indirect beneficial owner of the 100,000 shares of Fund IX owned by the LLC by virtue of its relationship to Westech, the managing member of the GP. Westech is 100% owned by Ridgepost Capital, LLC.  |

---

26<br>

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#### **TABLE OF CONTENTS**

#### SUBMISSION OF SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
If the Proposals described herein are approved at the meeting, then annual meetings of members will no longer be held, and the LLC will not be subject to the rules of the SEC governing the conduct of shareholder meetings or the solicitation of shareholder consents (other than certain antifraud rules), including the SEC's Rule 14a-8 governing shareholder proposals.

If the Proposals described herein are not approved at the meeting, then an LLC member wishing to submit proposals or director nominees for inclusion in a proxy statement for Fund IX's 2027 annual shareholder meeting should send its written proposals to the Secretary of Fund IX at 104 La Mesa Drive, Suite 102, Portola Valley, California 94028. To be included in the proxy statement for the 2027 annual shareholder meeting, proposals should be received prior to January 31, 2027.

27<br>

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#### **TABLE OF CONTENTS**

#### INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
This proxy statement incorporates documents by reference which are not presented in or delivered with it. This means that we can disclose certain information by referring to certain documents. These documents (other than the exhibits to such documents, unless specifically incorporated by reference) are available, without charge, upon written or oral request, directed to the Secretary of Westech, identified below.

The following documents, which have been filed by Fund IX with the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act (File No. 814-00731) are incorporated in this proxy statement by reference and shall be deemed to be a part hereof:

(a) <br> Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended [December 31, 2025](https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/1717310/000171731026000002/vll9-20251231.htm) ;

(b) <br> Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended [March 31, 2026](https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/1717310/000171731026000009/vll9-20260331.htm) ;

(c) <br> Current Report on Form 8-K filed on [May 26, 2026](https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/1717310/000114036126022849/ef20074868_8k.htm) ;

(d) Fund IX's Registration Statement on Form 10, filed with the SEC on [December 15, 2017](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1717310/000114036117046406/form10_12ga.htm) , registering the Fund common stock, $0.001 par value, pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act; and 

(e) <br> All documents filed by Fund IX with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of this proxy statement and prior to the date of the special shareholder meeting.

Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this proxy statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document that also is or is to be deemed to be incorporated by reference modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this proxy statement.

You may read and copy any Fund IX materials filed with the SEC at the SEC's Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at (800) SEC-0330. The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC, including Fund IX, at www.sec.gov.

28<br>

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#### **TABLE OF CONTENTS**

#### FURTHER INFORMATION
Questions concerning this proxy statement should be directed to Jared Thear, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of Westech, at (650) 234-4326, or by email to jared@westerntech.com.

Fund IX does not intend to present any other business at the meeting, nor is it aware of any LLC member that intends to do so. If, however, any other matter is properly brought before the meeting, the persons named in the accompanying proxy will vote thereon in accordance with their judgment.

---

| |
|:---|
| By Order of the Board of Directors,  |
| /s/ Maurice C. Werdegar  |
| Maurice C. Werdegar <br>Chairman |

---

June 17, 2026

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#### **TABLE OF CONTENTS**

#### PROXY CARD <br>

#### &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br>

#### Venture Lending & Leasing IX, Inc. <br>

#### Special Meeting of Shareholders – July 16, 2026
The undersigned hereby appoints as proxies Jared S. Thear and Rodolfo Ruano and each of them (with power of substitution) to vote for the undersigned all shares of common stock, $0.001 par value ("Shares") of the undersigned at the aforesaid meeting and any adjournment thereof with all the power the undersigned would have if personally present. The Shares represented by this proxy will be voted as instructed. **Unless otherwise indicated to the contrary for a proposal, this proxy shall be deemed to grant authority to vote "FOR" the proposals. This proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors of Venture Lending & Leasing IX, Inc.**

Please sign and date this proxy and return it to Westech Investment Advisors LLC by e-mail to thomas@westerntech.com.

#### Please indicate your vote by an "X" in the appropriate box below. The Board of Directors recommends a vote "FOR" the proposals below.
*The proposals are part of one integrated plan, and neither of the proposals will be implemented unless both are approved.* 

---

| | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| (1) | Approval of the Plan of Liquidation pursuant to which Venture Lending & Leasing IX, Inc. will distribute all of its assets to its sole shareholder, Venture Lending & Leasing IX, LLC, and dissolve. | FOR | AGAINST | ABSTAIN |
| (1) | Approval of the Plan of Liquidation pursuant to which Venture Lending & Leasing IX, Inc. will distribute all of its assets to its sole shareholder, Venture Lending & Leasing IX, LLC, and dissolve. |  |  |  |
| (2) | Approval of the termination of the status of Venture Lending & Leasing IX, Inc. as a business development company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.  | FOR | AGAINST | ABSTAIN |
| (2) | Approval of the termination of the status of Venture Lending & Leasing IX, Inc. as a business development company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.  |  |  |  |

---

 **Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Shareholder Meeting to be Held on July 16, 2026: The Proxy Statement, together with a Notice of Special Shareholder Meeting and Proxy Card, are available online at: www.intralinks.com. Please contact Thomas Romero, at (650) 234-4310, or by e-mail at thomas@westerntech.com, if you require assistance accessing such website.** 

#### Continued and to be signed on the next page.
P-1<br>

------

#### **TABLE OF CONTENTS**
If Shares are held jointly, each individual named should sign. If only one signs, his or her signature will be binding. If the LLC member is a corporation, the President or Vice President should sign in his or her own name, indicating title. If the LLC member is a partnership, a partner should sign in his or her own name, indicating that he or she is a "Partner." If the LLC member is a trust, an authorized officer of the trustee should sign, indicating title.

Please sign exactly as the Shares are registered (indicated below)

---

| |
|:---|
| Name of LLC Member  |
| Signature  |
| Title (if applicable) |
| Dated: , 2026 |

---

P-2<br>

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#### VENTURE LENDING & LEASING IX, INC.<br>

#### &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br>

#### PLAN OF LIQUIDATION
THIS PLAN OF LIQUIDATION (the "<u>Plan</u>"), sets forth the terms of the liquidation and dissolution of VENTURE LENDING & LEASING IX, INC., a Maryland corporation ("<u>Fund IX</u>").

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1. The Board of Directors of Fund IX (the "<u>Board</u>") has adopted this Plan and called a special meeting (the "<u>Meeting</u>") of Fund IX's sole stockholder, Venture Lending & Leasing IX, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the "<u>LLC</u>") to take action on the Plan. In adopting the Plan, the Board has determined that the Plan is advisable and in the best interests of the LLC. If the LLC votes a majority of Fund IX's outstanding shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the "<u>Fund Shares</u>"), in favor of (*i.e.* "FOR") the adoption of this Plan and the dissolution of Fund IX at the Meeting, at which a quorum of the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding Fund Shares is present, in person or by proxy, then the Plan shall constitute the adopted Plan of Fund IX as of the date of the Meeting, or at such later date at which the LLC may approve the Plan if the Meeting is adjourned, postponed, or continued to a later date (the "<u>Adoption Date</u>"); *provided, however,* that the Plan shall not be effective unless the LLC, at the Meeting (or at any adjournment, postponement, or continuation thereof), approves the termination of the status of Fund IX as a business development company ("<u>BDC</u>") under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "<u>1940 Act</u>").

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2. On or after the Adoption Date, Fund IX shall be voluntarily liquidated and dissolved. After the Adoption Date, Fund IX shall not engage in any business activity except to the extent necessary to implement this Plan, to wind-up its business and affairs, and to distribute its assets in accordance with this Plan.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;3. From and after the Adoption Date, Fund IX shall complete the following corporate actions:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(i) Provide notice to its creditors and to its employees pursuant to the provisions of Section 3-404 of the Maryland General Corporation Law (the "<u>MGCL</u>") that the dissolution of Fund IX has been approved by the LLC.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(ii) Transfer all of its assets to the LLC; *provided*, *however*, that Fund IX shall retain all rights associated with its licenses and registrations, including the rights associated with its status as a BDC under the 1940 Act, its status as a registrant under Section 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "<u>Exchange</u> <u>Act</u>"), and its status as a finance lender under the California Finance Lenders Law (the "<u>Lender's Law</u>"). The date that Fund IX transfers its assets to the LLC shall be the "<u>Distribution Date</u>" for all purposes of this Plan.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(iii) Prepare and file Articles of Dissolution substantially in the form attached hereto as <u>Exhibit 1</u> with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland (the "<u>Department</u>") pursuant to the provisions of Subtitle 4 of Title 3 of the MGCL.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;4. The implementation of this Plan shall be supervised by the Board, which shall have all right, power, and authority to (i) implement this Plan, (ii) delegate to one or more officers of Fund IX the right, power, and authority to implement this Plan, and (iii) conduct the winding up and dissolution of Fund IX under Sections 3-401 through 3-419, as applicable, of the MGCL. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, promptly after the Distribution Date, Fund IX shall withdraw its election to be treated as a BDC under the 1940 Act, de-register as an Exchange Act reporting company pursuant to Section 12(g)(4) of the Exchange Act, and withdraw its license as a finance lender under the Lenders Law.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;5. The distribution of Fund IX's assets to the LLC pursuant to Section 3 hereof shall be in complete redemption and cancellation of all outstanding Fund Shares. As a condition to the receipt of the Final Distribution to the LLC, the Board, in its absolute discretion, may require the LLC to (i) surrender its certificates, if any, representing the Fund Shares for cancellation, or (ii) furnish to Fund IX evidence satisfactory to the Board of the loss, theft, or destruction of its certificates evidencing the Fund Shares, together with such surety bond or other security or indemnity as may be required by and satisfactory to the Board.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;6. Fund IX hereby appoints the LLC as its disbursement agent to pay, from the cash distributed by Fund IX to the LLC pursuant to the provisions of Section 3 hereof, the expenses of Fund IX not paid by Fund IX as of the Distribution Date. The LLC shall have no responsibility, as disbursement agent hereunder, or otherwise, to pay any expenses or liabilities of Fund IX, whether known or unknown, fixed or contingent, to the extent that such expenses or liabilities exceed the amount of the cash distributed by Fund IX to the LLC pursuant to the provisions of Section 3 hereof.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;7. Notwithstanding the approval at the Meeting of this Plan and the transactions contemplated hereby by the LLC, the Board may modify or amend this Plan without further action by the LLC to the extent permitted by the MGCL.

A-1<br>

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#### **TABLE OF CONTENTS**
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;8. The Board is hereby authorized, without further action by the LLC, to do and perform any and all acts, and to make, execute, deliver, and adopt any and all agreements, resolutions, conveyances, certificates, and other documents of every kind which are deemed necessary, appropriate, or desirable, in the good faith discretion of the Board, to implement this Plan and the transactions contemplated thereby, including, without limitation, all filings or acts required by any law or regulation to wind up Fund IX's business under the MGCL or other applicable law. Fund IX, effective the date it files its Articles of Dissolution with the Department pursuant to the provisions of Subtitle 4 of Title 3 of the MGCL, hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints the LLC its true and lawful attorney-in-fact, with full power of substitution, in its name, place and stead, to execute, acknowledge, deliver, swear to, file, and record such documents or instruments as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the provisions of this Plan and the liquidation and dissolution of Fund IX, including, without limitation, all documents required to be filed by Fund IX pursuant to the provisions of the MGCL, and all final tax returns and returns of income required to be filed by Fund IX under the Internal Revenue Code or any applicable state or foreign income tax law. Any person dealing with Fund IX may conclusively presume and rely upon the fact that any instrument referred to herein, executed by the LLC as attorney-in-fact, is authorized, regular, and binding, without further inquiry.

This Plan of Liquidation was adopted by the Board of Directors of Fund IX at a meeting duly called, convened, and held on May 20, 2026.

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| VENTURE LENDING & LEASING IX, INC. | VENTURE LENDING & LEASING IX, INC. |
| By: | /S/ Jared Thear  |
|  | Jared Thear<br>Secretary |
| Dated: May 20, 2026 | Dated: May 20, 2026 |

---

[Continued on next page.]

A-2<br>

------

VENTURE LENDING & LEASING IX, LLC hereby agrees to perform all provisions of this Plan of Liquidation ("Plan") applicable to it, and agrees to execute and deliver all such further documents and instruments and to take such further action as may be necessary or desirable to carry out the intent and purposes of the Plan.

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| VENTURE LENDING & LEASING IX, LLC | VENTURE LENDING & LEASING IX, LLC |
| By: | /S/ Maurice C. Werdegar |
|  | Maurice C. Werdegar<br>Chairman |
| Dated: May 20, 2026 | Dated: May 20, 2026 |

---

A-3<br>

------

#### Exhibit 1<br>

#### &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br>

#### VENTURE LENDING & LEASING IX, INC. <br>

#### &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br>

#### FORM OF ARTICLES OF DISSOLUTION

------

#### **TABLE OF CONTENTS**

#### VENTURE LENDING & LEASING IX, INC.<br>

#### &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br>

#### ARTICLES OF DISSOLUTION
VENTURE LENDING & LEASING IX, INC., a Maryland corporation (hereinafter called the "<u>Corporation</u>"), hereby certifies to the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland that:

**FIRST: The name of the Corporation is as set forth above, and the address of the principal office of the Corporation is 1519 York Road, Lutherville, MD 21093.** 

**SECOND: The name and address of the resident agent of the Corporation in the State of Maryland, which shall serve for one year after dissolution and thereafter until the affairs of the Corporation are wound up, are:** 

Cogency Global, Inc. <br>

1519 York Road <br>

Lutherville, MD 21093

#### THIRD : The name and address of each director of the Corporation are as follows:

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| **Name** | **Address**  |
| Roger V. Smith | c/o Westech Investment Advisors LLC <br>104 La Mesa Drive, Suite 102<br>Portola Valley, California 94028  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Scott C. Taylor | c/o Westech Investment Advisors LLC <br>104 La Mesa Drive, Suite 102<br>Portola Valley, California 94028  |
| Robert Hutter | c/o Westech Investment Advisors, LLC <br>104 La Mesa Drive, Suite 102<br>Portola Valley, California 94028  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;Maurice C. Werdegar | c/o Westech Investment Advisors LLC <br>104 La Mesa Drive, Suite 102<br>Portola Valley, California 94028 |

---

#### FOURTH : The name, title and address of each officer of the Corporation are as follows:

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **Name** | **Title** | **Address**  |
| Maurice C. Werdegar | Chairman | c/o Westech Investment Advisors LLC <br>104 La Mesa Drive, Suite 102<br>Portola Valley, California 94028  |
| David R. Wanek | President and Chief Executive Officer | c/o Westech Investment Advisors LLC <br>104 La Mesa Drive, Suite 102<br>Portola Valley, California 94028  |
| Jared Thear | Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Compliance Officer, Secretary and Treasurer | c/o Westech Investment Advisors LLC <br>104 La Mesa Drive, Suite 102<br>Portola Valley, California 94028  |
| Rodolfo Ruano | Vice President and Assistant Secretary | c/o Westech Investment Advisors LLC <br>104 La Mesa Drive, Suite 102<br>Portola Valley, California 94028 |

---

**FIFTH: The dissolution of the Corporation has been approved in the manner and by the vote required by law and by the charter of the Corporation, as follows:** 

(a) By resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of the Corporation, declaring that the liquidation and dissolution of the Corporation is advisable and directing that the proposed liquidation and dissolution be submitted for consideration at a special meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation for action thereon; and 

(b) At a special meeting of stockholders entitled to vote on the dissolution held on July 16, 2026, the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock of the Corporation approved the dissolution of the Corporation as so proposed pursuant to the terms of a plan of liquidation. 

EX-1<br>

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#### **TABLE OF CONTENTS**
 **SIXTH : The Corporation had no known creditors as of July 16, 2026. Any outstanding liabilities of the Corporation will be paid by its sole shareholder, Venture Lending & Leasing IX, LLC, which will assume all assets of the Corporation pursuant to the terms of a plan of liquidation.** 

**SEVENTH: The undersigned officer of the Corporation acknowledges these Articles of Dissolution to be the corporate act of the Corporation and as to all matters or facts required to be verified under oath, the undersigned acknowledges that to the best of his knowledge, information and belief, these matters and facts are true in all material respects and that this statement is made under the penalties for perjury.** 

#### EIGHTH: The Corporation is hereby dissolved.
EX-2<br>

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#### **TABLE OF CONTENTS**
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused these Articles of Dissolution to be signed in its name and on its behalf by its President and Chief Executive Officer and attested by its Secretary on this<u> </u> day of<u> </u>, 2026.

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
|  | VENTURE LENDING & LEASING IX, INC.  | VENTURE LENDING & LEASING IX, INC.  |
|  | By:  |  |
|  |  | Maurice C. Werdegar <br>Chairman  |
| (SEAL)  | ATTEST:  |  |
|  | By:  |  |
|  |  | Jared Thear <br>Secretary  |

---

EX-3<br>

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#### CONSENT OF RESIDENT AGENT
The undersigned, the Maryland resident agent of Venture Lending and Leasing IX, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the "<u>Corporation</u>"), hereby consents to serve as the resident agent of the Corporation pursuant to the Maryland General Corporation Law.

---

| |
|:---|
| Cogency Global, Inc.  |
| By: |
| Its: |
| Date: |

---