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Space‑Eyes to Go Public in $638 Million SPAC Deal Backed by Eric Trump

A $251.7 million capital package will let the Miami R&D firm pursue larger government contracts while prompting questions about its valuation and political links.

Overview

  • The merger with McKinley Acquisition Corp was announced on July 31 and values the combined company at $638 million with an expected close in the fourth quarter of 2026 pending shareholder and regulatory approvals.
  • The transaction is expected to provide up to $251.7 million in gross proceeds from McKinley’s trust and a planned PIPE, and the public company is set to list on Nasdaq under the ticker CUAS.
  • Eric Trump has become the third-largest private investor in Space‑Eyes and will serve as a strategic adviser, a role in which he has introduced board candidates and will advise on security threats.
  • Space‑Eyes is primarily an R&D firm that generates about $1 million a year, sells AI-driven products such as the Morpheus counter‑drone system and SeaWatch maritime platform, and is negotiating roughly $35 million in potential contracts over five years as it plans to scale via third‑party manufacturers.
  • Investors face execution risk because the deal values a tiny, low‑revenue company at a high multiple and comes as SPACs remain under scrutiny, while the Trump family link raises political and governance questions that could affect contract and investor interest.