New York, Jan 22, 2026, 09:01 EST — Premarket
- BigBear.ai shares climbed in premarket trading following a late-day update on a deal
- The company announced it has acquired CargoSeer’s technologies, which focus on cargo inspection and trade risk tools
- Investors are zeroing in on a shareholder vote regarding the expansion of authorized shares
BigBear.ai Holdings, Inc. shares climbed roughly 1.7% to $5.81 in premarket trading Thursday. The stock ended Wednesday at $5.71, marking a 3.9% drop, after bouncing between $5.33 and $6.13 throughout the day. 1
The move follows the company’s latest bolt-on acquisition aimed at boosting its border-and-trade strategy, as it seeks shareholder backing for greater financial flexibility. In the world of smaller government contractors, these two priorities often clash: pushing new technology forward while facing concerns over funding and dilution.
BigBear.ai announced late Wednesday it has acquired certain technologies from CargoSeer, Ltd. for an undisclosed sum. The move is designed to boost cargo scanning capabilities and trade risk management for customs enforcement missions. CEO Kevin McAleenan said the deal “aligns directly” with the company’s customs agency strategy. CargoSeer CEO David Smason added that the technology should “scale rapidly” within BigBear.ai. 2
CargoSeer’s platform focuses on “non-intrusive inspection” — scanning cargo without opening containers — by combining image analysis, computer vision, and machine learning with trade and cargo data. BigBear.ai said these tools enable customs operators to identify higher-risk shipments and boost inspection efficiency at ports of entry.
Another point of focus is on the calendar. According to additional proxy materials, the company is asking shareholders to approve an amendment to boost authorized common shares from 500 million to 1 billion. This will be voted on at a reconvened special meeting slated for Jan. 22. The board is backing a “for” vote. Electronic voting platforms will stay open until 11:59 p.m. ET on Jan. 21. 3
BigBear.ai has been making a direct push to retail investors. On its proxy-vote site, the company informed shareholders the meeting was postponed to Jan. 22, emphasizing that approval would “help provide the flexibility BigBear.ai needs” to continue its growth. 4
The vote follows a recent change on the balance sheet. On Jan. 14, BigBear.ai disclosed that $125 million of its 6.00% convertible senior secured notes due 2029 had been converted into common shares. This move wiped out about $125 million in debt “without any material cash outlay,” trimming note-related debt to around $17 million tied to convertible notes maturing in December 2026. 5
Investors now face the question of what’s next: more deals like CargoSeer, fresh projects linked to border and customs upgrades, and the expense involved. For a stock driven by headlines and funding calculations, the order of these events is crucial.
Still, uncertainties linger. BigBear.ai hasn’t revealed how much it paid for CargoSeer’s technology, and add-on integrations often run behind schedule or don’t lead to fresh contracts. Approval of the share authorization could spark fresh dilution concerns, while rejection might limit the company’s flexibility on financing and equity rewards.
Traders are focused on the Jan. 22 reconvened special meeting to see what happens with the authorized-share proposal. They’ll also be looking out for any new details on the CargoSeer transaction terms, especially if these show up in an upcoming SEC filing.
