CEPO (CEPO) files S-4 intent for merger with BSTR, lists convertible notes and PIPE
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
CEPO and BSTR Holdings intend to proceed with a business combination and related financings. Cantor Equity Partners I, Inc. (CEPO) and BSTR Holdings, Inc. (Pubco) state they will file a Registration Statement on Form S-4 in connection with the Business Combination pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement dated July 16, 2025. The disclosure describes planned Private Placement Investments including convertible senior secured notes, perpetual convertible preferred stock, Newco Class A interests, and a CEPO equity PIPE. A presentation was made available to registered attendees of the iConnections conference on February 20, 2026. The Proxy Statement/Prospectus and other SEC filings will provide definitive details and will be mailed to CEPO shareholders for voting.
Positive
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Negative
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Insights
Filing signals standard SPAC-style combination with multiple private placements.
The parties state an intent to file a Form S-4 and a Proxy Statement/Prospectus to effect the Business Combination under the July 16, 2025 agreement. The communication lists specific financing instruments: convertible notes, preferred stock, Newco interests, and a CEPO equity PIPE.
Key conditional language includes the need to mail definitive proxy materials and satisfy closing conditions; timing and final terms are subject to the Registration Statement and shareholder votes.
The transaction combines equity and convertible debt private placements with a proposed merger into Pubco.
The excerpt enumerates the Private Placement Investments (convertible senior secured notes, perpetual convertible preferred stock, Newco Class A interests, and CEPO Class A ordinary shares via PIPE) tied to the Business Combination.
Material economic terms, aggregate amounts, listing status, and proceeds treatment are not disclosed here; those details will appear in the Registration Statement and Proxy Statement/Prospectus.
Filed by Cantor Equity Partners I, Inc.
pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act of 1933
and deemed filed pursuant to Rule 14a-12
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Subject Company: Cantor Equity Partners I, Inc.
Commission File No. 001-42464
BSTR Holdings, Inc.
Date: February 23, 2026
As previously disclosed, on July 16, 2025, Cantor Equity Partners I, Inc. (“CEPO”), a Cayman Islands exempted company, and BSTR Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Pubco”), entered into a Business Combination Agreement (the “Business Combination Agreement”) with BSTR Intermediate, a Cayman Islands exempted company (“CEPO Merger Sub”), BSTR Holdings (Cayman), a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Seller”), BSTR Newco, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Seller (“Newco”), PEMS Sub A, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of CEPO (“CEPO Subsidiary A”), PEMS Sub B, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of CEPO Subsidiary A (“CEPO Subsidiary B”) and PEMS Merger Sub C, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of CEPO Subsidiary B.
On February 20, 2026, representatives of Pubco made a presentation available to registered attendees of the iConnections conference, which is scheduled to take place on February 23, 2026. The presentation is set forth below.
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Additional Information and Where to Find It
BSTR Holdings, Inc. (“Pubco”) and BSTR Newco, LLC (“Newco”) intend to publicly file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) a Registration Statement on Form S-4 (as may be amended, the “Registration Statement”), which will include a preliminary proxy statement of Cantor Equity Partners I, Inc. (“CEPO”) and a prospectus (the “Proxy Statement/Prospectus”) in connection with the business combination (the “Business Combination”), pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, dated July 16, 2025, among Pubco, CEPO, Newco and the other parties named therein (the “Business Combination Agreement”), the private placements of Pubco’s 1.00% convertible senior secured notes (the “Convertible Notes” and such private placements, together with the options to investors to purchase additional Convertible Notes and the option to purchase Pubco’s 7.00% perpetual convertible preferred stock (the “Preferred Stock”), collectively, the “Convertible Notes Private Placements”), the private placements of the Preferred Stock (the “Preferred Stock Private Placements”), the concurrent private placement of class A common membership interests of Newco (the “Newco Class A Interests” and such private placement, the “Newco Private Placement”), the private placements of CEPO’s Class A ordinary shares (the “CEPO Class A Ordinary Shares” and such private placements, the “CEPO Equity PIPE” and, together with the Convertible Notes Private Placements, the Preferred Stock Private Placements and the Newco Private Placement, the “Private Placement Investments”) and other transactions contemplated by the Business Combination (together with the Business Combination and the Private Placement Investments, the “Proposed Transactions”). The definitive proxy statement and other relevant documents will be mailed to shareholders of CEPO as of a record date to be established for voting on the Business Combination and other matters as will be described in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus. CEPO and/or Pubco will also file other documents regarding the Proposed Transactions with the SEC. This communication does not contain all of the information that should be considered concerning the Proposed Transactions and is not intended to form the basis of any investment decision or any other decision in respect of the Proposed Transactions. BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING OR INVESTMENT DECISION, SHAREHOLDERS OF CEPO AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES ARE URGED TO READ, WHEN AVAILABLE, THE PRELIMINARY PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS, AND AMENDMENTS THERETO, AND THE DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND ALL OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED OR THAT WILL BE FILED WITH THE SEC IN CONNECTION WITH CEPO’S SOLICITATION OF PROXIES FOR THE EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING OF ITS SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD TO APPROVE THE PROPOSED TRANSACTIONS AND OTHER MATTERS AS DESCRIBED IN THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS BECAUSE THESE DOCUMENTS WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT CEPO, NEWCO, PUBCO AND THE PROPOSED TRANSACTIONS. Investors and security holders will also be able to obtain copies of the Registration Statement and the Proxy Statement/Prospectus and all other documents filed or that will be filed with the SEC by CEPO, Pubco and Newco, without charge, once available, on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov or by directing a request to: Cantor Equity Partners I, Inc., 110 East 59th Street, New York, NY 10022; e-mail: CantorEquityPartners@cantor.com, or upon written request to BSTR Holdings, Inc., via email at bstr@blockstreamcapitalpartners.com, respectively.
NEITHER THE SEC NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES REGULATORY AGENCY HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THE PROPOSED TRANSACTIONS DESCRIBED HEREIN, PASSED UPON THE MERITS OR FAIRNESS OF THE BUSINESS COMBINATION OR ANY RELATED PROPOSED TRANSACTIONS OR PASSED UPON THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THE DISCLOSURE IN THIS COMMUNICATION. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY CONSTITUTES A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
The Convertible Notes and shares of Preferred Stock to be issued by Pubco, the CEPO Class A Ordinary Shares to be issued by CEPO and the Newco Class A Interests to be issued by Newco, in each case, pursuant to the Private Placement Investments, as well as the non-voting units of Newco to be issued in exchange for the Newco Class A Interests at the closing of the Business Combination, pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement, have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.
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Participants in the Solicitation
CEPO, Pubco, Newco and their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed under SEC rules to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from CEPO’s shareholders in connection with the Business Combination. A list of the names of such directors and executive officers, and information regarding their interests in the Business Combination and their ownership of CEPO’s securities are, or will be, contained in CEPO’s filings with the SEC, including CEPO’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Additional information regarding the interests of the persons who may, under SEC rules, be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies of CEPO’s shareholders in connection with the Proposed Transactions, including the names and interests of Newco and Pubco’s directors and executive officers, will be set forth in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus, which is expected to be filed by CEPO, Pubco and Newco with the SEC. Investors and security holders may obtain free copies of these documents as described in the preceding paragraph.
No Offer or Solicitation
The information contained in this communication is for informational purposes only and is not a proxy statement or solicitation of a proxy, consent or authorization with respect to any securities or in respect of the Proposed Transactions and shall not constitute an offer to sell or exchange, or a solicitation of an offer to buy or exchange the securities of CEPO, Pubco or Newco, or any commodity or instrument or related derivative, nor shall there be any sale of any such securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, sale or exchange would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such state or jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act or an exemption therefrom. Investors should consult with their counsel as to the applicable requirements for a purchaser to avail itself of any exemption under the Securities Act.
Forward-Looking Statements
This communication contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws with respect to the parties and the Proposed Transactions, including, expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions, plans, prospects, financial results, strategies and other statements relating to CEPO, Pubco, Newco and the Proposed Transactions and statements regarding the anticipated benefits and timing of the completion of the Proposed Transactions, the assets held by Pubco and Newco, Pubco’s listing on an applicable stock exchange, Pubco’s planned business strategy including Pubco’s ability to offer public market investors a differentiated, capital-efficient way to gain exposure to bitcoin, accumulate bitcoin and compound bitcoin per share over time, Pubco’s ability to generate Bitcoin yield and other profits, to lead in Bitcoin-native capital markets, access Bitcoin original adopters and unlock sources of Bitcoin, Pubco’s ability and plans to raise capital and issue debt or equity instruments, Pubco’s ability to become one of the largest public bitcoin treasury companies, Pubco’s performance and market position, any projected outcomes or expectations of crypto treasury strategies or businesses, Pubco’s plans to undertake any transactions, Pubco’s plans and use of proceeds, objectives of management for future operations of Pubco, Pubco’s management and leadership after the completion of the Business Combination, the upside potential and opportunity for investors relating to participation in the Private Placement Investments or any future securities resulting from any Proposed Transactions, performance and expected financial impacts of the Proposed Transactions, value creation and strategic advantages, growth opportunities, Pubco’s competitive position any expected benefits, assumptions or beliefs about future events, results of operations or performance or that do not solely relate to historical or current facts. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “believe,” “project,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “strategy,” “future,” “opportunity,” “potential,” “plan,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “would,” “will be,” “will continue,” “will likely result,” and similar expressions.
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Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events or conditions that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this communication, including, but not limited to: the risk that the Proposed Transactions may not be completed in a timely manner or at all, which may adversely affect the price of CEPO’s securities; the risk that the Business Combination may not be completed by CEPO’s business combination deadline; the failure by the parties to the Business Combination to satisfy the conditions to the consummation of the Business Combination, failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the Proposed Transactions; the failure of Pubco to obtain or maintain the listing of its securities any stock exchange on which Pubco Class A Stock will be listed after closing of the Business Combination; costs related to the Proposed Transactions and as a result of becoming a public company; changes in business, market, financial, political and regulatory conditions; risks relating to Pubco’s anticipated operations and business, including the highly volatile nature of the price of bitcoin; the risk that Pubco’s stock price will be highly correlated to the price of bitcoin and the price of bitcoin may decrease at any time after the closing of the Proposed Transactions; risks related to increased competition in the industries in which Pubco will operate; risks relating to significant legal, commercial, regulatory and technical uncertainty regarding bitcoin; risks relating to the treatment of crypto assets for U.S. and foreign tax purposes; risks that after consummation of the Business Combination, Pubco experiences difficulties managing its growth and expanding operations; challenges in implementing Pubco’s business plan, including bitcoin-related advisory services and other bitcoin-related services, due to operational challenges, significant competition and regulation; being considered to be a “shell company” by any stock exchange on which Pubco Class A Stock will be listed or by the SEC, which may impact the ability to list Pubco Class A Stock and restrict reliance on certain rules or forms in connection with the offering, sale or resale of securities; the outcome of any potential legal proceedings that may be instituted against CEPO, Pubco, Newco or others following announcement of the Business Combination; and those risk factors discussed in documents of CEPO, Pubco or Newco filed, or to be filed, with the SEC.
The foregoing list of risk factors is not exhaustive. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties described in the “Risk Factors” section of the final prospectus of CEPO dated as of January 6, 2025 and filed by CEPO with the SEC on January 7, 2025, CEPO’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q on file, and to be filed, with the SEC and the Proxy Statement/Prospectus that will be filed by Pubco and Newco, and other documents filed by CEPO, Pubco and Newco from time to time with the SEC. These filings do or will identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks that none of CEPO, Pubco and Newco presently know or that none of CEPO, Pubco and Newco currently believe are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and none of CEPO, Pubco and Newco assume any obligation or intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. None of CEPO, Pubco and Newco give any assurance that any of CEPO, Pubco or Newco will achieve its expectations. The inclusion of any statement in this communication does not constitute an admission by CEPO, Pubco, Newco or any other person that the events or circumstances described in such statement are material.
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FAQ
What is CEPO (CEPO) proposing in this filing?
Which financing instruments are mentioned in the Proposed Transactions for CEPO?
Will CEPO shareholders receive materials to vote on the Business Combination?
Has Pubco’s listing status or deal timing been finalized in this filing?
Are the private placement securities registered under the Securities Act?
