Silverpeak, the mid-market technology specialist representing growth-stage technology businesses in M&A and financing transactions, acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Blue Ocean Marine Tech Systems, a maritime remote and autonomous solutions provider, on its sale to Helsing, the German defence technology company backed by General Catalyst, Lightspeed, Plural, Accel, and others.
Blue Ocean Marine designs, develops and operates innovative autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and C4ISR software to enhance defence maritime surveillance. These platforms – long-endurance deepwater oceanic gliders that can remain at sea for months – enable both targeted and wide-area underwater data collection. By integrating Blue Ocean’s autonomous systems with Helsing’s AI capabilities, the acquisition accelerates the deployment of advanced maritime autonomous surveillance, addressing growing naval priorities in Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) and the protection of Critical Undersea Infrastructure (CUI).
Shaun Day, Chairman of Blue Ocean Marine, commented:
“Silverpeak provided invaluable support to Blue Ocean throughout a strategically significant transaction. Their understanding of the defencetech sector and insight into key strategic players enabled them to contribute to shaping the negotiation and structure of the deal. The team’s engagement and management of critical issues was well handled and contributed to an excellent outcome for the business. We particularly appreciated their responsiveness and availability given the challenges of working across multiple time zones.“
David Ford, Partner at Silverpeak, added:
“This transaction highlights the massive current opportunity for high-quality technology and hardware innovation combined with AI capabilities in the defence space, particularly within the marine sector. At Silverpeak we are very active in transactions involving hardware/ software combinations, and it was a privilege to advise Shaun and the team on this highly strategic transaction.”
This is the second Silverpeak transaction in the defence-tech/national security space this year – with more in the pipeline in what is a very active market.
The acquisition will occur by means of a members’ scheme of arrangement under Australian law and is subject to court and State approval.
About Silverpeak
Silverpeak is a mid-market technology specialist, representing growth tech businesses in M&A and financing transactions. Our highly experienced team has completed over 300 deals, leveraging deep industry knowledge to uncover and articulate strategic value. We work with innovative technology companies to identify the right buyers and investors globally.
Silverpeak LLP is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. For more information, please visit www.silverpeakib.com.