Silverpeak, the mid-market technology specialist that represents European growth businesses in M&A and financing transactions, has acted as the exclusive financial adviser to CyberOwl, a global expert in cyber risk monitoring and threat management onboard maritime vessels, on its sale to DNV, the leading assurance and risk management provider to the maritime sector. The acquisition highlights a unified effort to bolster the shipping industry’s cyber defences, creating one of the world’s largest specialists in maritime cybersecurity systems.
Founded in 2016 and headquartered in London, United Kingdom, CyberOwl provides vessel operators with advanced analytics through its Medulla platform and managed security services to identify, monitor, and manage cyber threats while ensuring regulatory compliance across hundreds of vessels.
CyberOwl’s board and institutional investors engaged Silverpeak for its deep expertise at the intersection of maritime, software and cybersecurity. Leveraging its global relationships, Silverpeak created competitive tension throughout the process, ultimately securing a partner fully committed to supporting CyberOwl’s continued expansion.
Silverpeak’s sector-focused expertise led to multiple strategic offers, with Silverpeak structuring and negotiating the successful acquisition. The sale to DNV, a global risk management leader in the maritime sector, aligns with CyberOwl’s mission to elevate the shipping industry’s cyber security by combining advanced analytics and AI-driven threat monitoring with DNV’s deep-rooted expertise in maritime operations. This powerful combination enhances the sector’s resilience, sustainability, and overall security posture on a global scale.
Daniel Ng, CEO of CyberOwl, commented “Generalists may do a reasonable job, but valuable insights can only come from advisors that focus their knowledge, expertise and networks, specifically in your domain. This is where Silverpeak is strongly differentiated. They were uniquely placed to advise us at the intersection of maritime technology, software and cyber security, by drawing from their depth of specialist knowledge across each of these domains.”
Christopher White, Managing Director at Silverpeak, said “It has been a pleasure advising Dan Ng and the shareholders of CyberOwl on this strategic deal. The acquisition of CyberOwl’s platform and managed security services, protecting onboard operational technology, strengthens DNV’s ability to offer a comprehensive, end-to-end cybersecurity solution for the maritime industry. This deal represents our latest successful software transaction in the maritime sector and reinforces our standing as the leading advisor in this space.”