The potential energy curve of the ground electronic state of BeO and those of the lowest electronic states of the BeO + cation are computed using the CASSCF/MRCI methods and a large basis set. For the cation, the spin-orbit coupling and the transition momentum integrals are also evaluated. These data are used later to deduce an accurate set of spectroscopic constants and to investigate the spin-orbit-induced predissociation of the lowest electronic excited states of BeO + . Our calculations show that the high-rovibrational levels of the BeO + (1 2 + ) electronic state exhibit rapid predissociation processes forming Be + ( 2 S) + O( 3 P). Our curves are also used for predicting the single ionization spectrum of BeO.