Keo Capital Enters into a Non-Binding Letter of Intent for Proposed Business Combination of KEO Energy with Lionheart Holdings
Rhea-AI Summary
Lionheart Holdings (Nasdaq:CUB) and Keo Capital announced that, on 15 July 2026, Keo Capital entered a non-binding letter of intent with Lionheart, on behalf of Maha Energy (Indiana) ("KEO Energy"), for a proposed business combination that would result in a U.S.-listed holding company for KEO Energy on the Nasdaq Capital Market.
The LOI includes a preliminary indicative pre-money enterprise value of $400 million for KEO Energy, subject to due diligence and Venezuelan fiscal terms, and notes Lionheart currently holds about $200 million in a trust account. The potential Combined Company’s board is expected to have six directors, split evenly between KEO Energy and Lionheart appointees, with Paolo Fidanza as Executive Chairman. Closing would require OFAC and Venezuelan hydrocarbon approvals, audited financials, shareholder votes, and other customary conditions, and there is no assurance a definitive agreement, targeted for 17 August 2026, will be executed or the transaction completed.
Positive
- Indicative $400 million enterprise value for KEO Energy, subject to diligence and fiscal terms
- Lionheart trust account holds approximately $200 million from its June 2024 IPO
- Proposed Combined Company expected to list on Nasdaq Capital Market in the U.S.
Negative
- Letter of intent is non-binding with no assurance of a definitive agreement or closing
- Transaction subject to OFAC sanctions review and Venezuelan hydrocarbon ministry approvals
- Closing contingent on audited financials, multiple regulatory and shareholder approvals, and customary conditions
News Explained
The proposed structure would move both groups’ equityholders into one new holding company, while ownership and exchange terms remain undisclosed.
The non-binding LOI would, if completed, put Lionheart and KEO Energy equityholders into a newly formed holding company whose shares are expected to trade on Nasdaq, changing the entity in which their interests are held.
The release does not provide an exchange ratio, ownership split, or number of new shares, so the effect on existing Lionheart holders’ percentage ownership cannot yet be assessed; definitive agreements and the expected F-4 proxy statement/prospectus are the stated path to fuller terms before any shareholder vote.
News Market Reaction – CUB
In the Jul 20 session, CUB gained 0.19%, reflecting a mild positive market reaction. Trading volume was very high at 4.8x the daily average, suggesting strong buying interest.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Key Terms
loi financial
pre-money enterprise value financial
ofac regulatory
form f-4 regulatory
proxy statement/prospectus regulatory
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
STOCKHOLM, SE / ACCESS Newswire / July 20, 2026 / Keo Capital (STO:KEOC) - Keo Capital AB ("Keo Capital") has entered into a non-binding letter of intent ("LOI") on 15 July 2026 with Lionheart Holdings ("Lionheart"), on behalf of Maha Energy (Indiana) Inc. ("KEO Energy"), outlining the terms for a proposed business combination that would result in a U.S. listing of KEO Energy.
Under the proposed transaction, upon completion, equityholders of both companies would become equityholders of a newly formed holding company (the "Combined Company"), whose shares are expected to be listed on the Capital Market tier of the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC.
The LOI contemplates a preliminary indicative pre-money enterprise value for KEO Energy of
"This LOI is an important step toward building a pure-play, Nasdaq-listed Venezuela oil platform, and we look forward to completing this exciting merger with the KEO team."
- Ophir Sternberg, Chairman and CEO, Lionheart Holdings
"We're pleased to reach this milestone with Lionheart and believe it positions KEO Energy to access public capital markets and advance our growth plans."
- Paolo Fidanza, Chairman, Keo Capital
KEO Energy's principal asset is an indirect equity interest in a joint venture holding interests in the PetroUrdaneta Project in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. Consummation of the proposed transaction would be conditioned on, among other things, confirmation that the transaction is authorized under applicable U.S. and other economic sanctions, including those administered by the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control ("OFAC"), and receipt of required approvals from the Venezuelan ministry with jurisdiction over hydrocarbons.
Upon closing, the board of directors of the Combined Company is expected to consist of six directors, three appointed by KEO Energy and three appointed by Lionheart. Paolo Fidanza, Chairman of Keo Capital AB, is expected to serve as Executive Chairman, and Lionheart is expected to have the right to appoint a Vice Chairman and the chairs of the board's committees.
The parties intend to negotiate and execute a definitive agreement, targeted for 17 August 2026. The parties will announce additional details regarding the proposed business combination when a definitive agreement is executed. No assurances can be provided as to the entry into or timing of any definitive agreement or the consummation of any transaction. Any transaction would remain subject to satisfactory due diligence, the negotiation of a definitive agreement and related ancillary agreements providing for the proposed business combination, completion of audited financial statements, regulatory and governmental approvals, approval by the shareholders of both parties, and other customary closing conditions.
Contacts
Roberto Marchiori, CEO & CFO | Jakob Sintring, Head of IR
Phone: +46 8 611 05 11, E-mail: IR@keocapital.com
About Lionheart Holdings
Lionheart Holdings (Nasdaq:CUB) is a blank check company incorporated for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. Lionheart completed its initial public offering in June 2024 and currently holds approximately
About KEO Energy
KEO Energy is a wholly owned subsidiary of Keo Capital, with a principal asset consisting of an indirect equity interest in a joint venture holding interests in the PetroUrdaneta Project in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
About Keo Capital
Keo Capital AB (Nasdaq Stockholm:KEOC) is a listed technology-driven financial solutions provider focused on improving liquidity, security, transparency, and efficiency in B2B supply chain financing and corporate travel and expense management. Keo Capital operates a unified digital ecosystem that enables buyers and suppliers to interact through complementary solutions designed to address the full spectrum of corporate payables. The shares are listed on Nasdaq Stockholm (KEOC). For more information, please visit www.keocapital.com.
No Offer or Solicitation
This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or an exemption therefrom.
Important Information About the Proposed Transaction and Where to Find It
If the parties execute definitive agreements, the Combined Company and KEO Energy are expected to file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") a registration statement on Form F-4, which will include a preliminary proxy statement/prospectus of Lionheart. Lionheart will mail a definitive proxy statement/prospectus to its shareholders in connection with any vote on the proposed transaction. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION, WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Investors and security holders may obtain free copies of these documents, when available, at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov, or by directing a request to Lionheart Holdings to Ashley Spitz at ashley@Lheartcapital.com.
Participants in the Solicitation
Lionheart, KEO Energy, and their respective directors, executive officers and employees may be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies from Lionheart's shareholders in connection with the proposed transaction. Information about Lionheart's directors and officers is available in Lionheart's SEC filings. Information regarding the persons who may, under SEC rules, be deemed participants, and a description of their interests in the proposed transaction, will be included in the proxy statement/prospectus when it is filed with the SEC.
Forward-Looking Statements
All information in this press release concerning KEO Capital and KEO Energy has been provided solely by KEO Capital and has not been independently verified by Lionheart and all information concerning Lionheart has been provided solely by Lionheart and has not been independently verified by KEO Capital. Neither party makes any representation or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of the information provided by the other party and assumes no obligation to update the information in this press release, except as required by law. This press release includes "forward-looking statements" with respect to Lionheart and KEO Capital and KEO Energy. The expectations, estimates, and projections of the businesses of KEO Capital, KEO Energy and Lionheart may differ from their actual results and consequently, you should not rely on these forward looking statements as predictions of future events. Words such as "expect," "estimate," "project," "budget," "forecast," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "may," "will," "could," "should," "believes," "predicts," "potential," "continue," and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, the expected listing of the Combined Company's shares, the expected composition of the Combined Company's board of directors, the indicative valuation, expectations with respect to future performance and anticipated financial impacts of the proposed business combination, the satisfaction of the closing conditions to the proposed business combination, and the timing of the completion of the proposed business combination. These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the expected results. Most of these factors are outside of the control of Lionheart, KEO Energy and KEO Capital and are difficult to predict. Factors that may cause such differences include, but are not limited to: (a) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the negotiations and any subsequent definitive agreements with respect to the proposed business combination, and the possibility that the terms and conditions set forth in any definitive agreements with respect to the proposed business combination may differ materially from the terms and conditions set forth in the letter of intent, (b) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against the parties following the announcement of the proposed business combination and any definitive agreements with respect thereto; (c) the inability to complete the proposed business combination, including due to failure to obtain approval of the shareholders of Lionheart and KEO Capital, OFAC authorization and Venezuelan governmental approvals, or other conditions to closing; (d) changes in applicable sanctions or in Venezuelan law, including the Law Amending the Organic Law on Hydrocarbons; (e) the results of due diligence, including any resulting change to the indicative valuation; (f) the inability to obtain or maintain the listing of the combined company's securities on the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC or another national securities exchange following the proposed business combination; (g) the risk that the proposed business combination disrupts current plans and operations as a result of the announcement and consummation of the proposed business combination; (h) the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the proposed business combination, which may be affected by, among other things, competition, the ability of the combined company to grow and manage growth profitably and retain its key employees; (i) costs related to the proposed business combination; (j) changes in applicable laws or regulations; and (k) other risks and uncertainties included in documents filed or to be filed with the SEC by Lionheart, KEO Energy and the Combined Company. The foregoing list of factors is not exclusive. You should not place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Lionheart, KEO Energy and KEO Capital do not undertake or accept any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in their expectations or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law.
This information is information that Keo Capital is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact persons set out above, at 2026-07-20 19:42 CEST.
SOURCE: Keo Capital
View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire