Ashfords has advised Bluewater Bio, an award‑winning UK-based specialist in next‑generation water and wastewater treatment technologies, on its sale to Aquavest Ltd, a company backed by specialist growth equity investment firm Verdane. The acquisition will accelerate Bluewater Bio's next phase of international growth.
Bluewater Bio, recognised for market‑leading water treatment solutions, is known for innovative proprietary solutions such as HYBACS® and FilterClear™. Operating globally, the company focuses on reducing energy use, chemical consumption and environmental footprint while upgrading treatment plants efficiently.
The team was led by corporate partner Andy Young with support from other corporate team members, Andrew Betteridge, Laura Guest, Rebecca French, Freddie Forkuo and Amelia Roe, as well as Angus Bauer from the tax team. The board at Bluewater Bio was guided by the Ashfords team from the initial bidding stage through to completion. This included preparing the sale documentation, managing the competitive bidding process, and assisting with the review of the offers received from prospective purchasers.
The team also advised on negotiation strategy, refined deal terms, and ensured all legal and commercial considerations were addressed. Ultimately, we supported the client in selecting the preferred bidder and successfully closing the transaction.
Working alongside BDA Partners and Rothschild & Co as advisors for Bluewater Bio, we concluded the transaction to all parties satisfaction, including managing disparate shareholders and other interested parties to quickly turn around the necessary documents to a tight timeframe. We also developed effective solutions to solve issues that would otherwise delay the transaction and worked diligently to ensure the transaction was successfully completed before the end of 2025.
We were first introduced to Bluewater Bio through our existing relationship with Ombu Limited. We have supported Bluewater Bio on various matters since 2016, including assisting with a major company re‑organisation. Over the years, our ongoing relationship has involved advising the business through key structural and strategic developments as it continues to grow. As a result of working with the business over several years, we have been able to leverage our knowledge of the business to anticipate challenges and work collaboratively with the client to find practical solutions.
Richard Haddon, executive chairman and CEO at Bluewater Bio said:
Ashfords has provided us with exceptional support for several years and continued to do so throughout a complex and fast moving transaction. Their professional, solution focused approach helped us to navigate the process and ultimately complete the sale successfully. We greatly valued their responsiveness, flexibility and commitment during the process. As this transaction occurred throughout the Christmas holidays, this was especially appreciated.
Tom Smith, Rothschild & Co's managing director said:
It was a pleasure working with Andy and the team. The transaction was not without complexity, but their support and steady guidance ensured pragmatic solutions were found and we successfully got it over the line before the end of the year. We look forward to future opportunities to work together.
Andy Young, corporate partner at Ashfords and lead adviser on the deal said:
We were delighted to support Bluewater Bio on this transaction. This deal marks an important milestone for the company and reflects the strength of its technology, leadership team and long term growth trajectory. The deal involved a number of intricate legal and commercial considerations, and our team’s deep technical experience was pivotal in guiding the transaction to a successful close.
Ashfords’ corporate team helps businesses achieve their strategic and growth ambitions by supporting a wide range of corporate transactions, fundraisings, investments and exits. The team has extensive expertise advising on and negotiating the legal elements that are essential for delivering successful corporate outcomes for companies and their investors.
For further information, please contact our corporate team.
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