12. January 2023

ARQIS has advised the high-tech software manufacturer blackned GmbH from Heimertingen on the expansion of an already existing cooperation with the Rheinmetall Group.

Bremen-based Rheinmetall Electronics GmbH has acquired a 40 percent stake in the company. blackned will remain independent and will continue to drive its international growth course with this step. By acquiring a stake in the renowned software manufacturer, Rheinmetall is underscoring its ambition to further expand its leading role as a partner for the digitization of armed forces worldwide.

The owner-managed German company blackned is a specialist in mission-critical communications systems and has developed next-generation information and communications middleware called “TacticalCore” in recent years. The TacticalCore framework is now to be integrated into Rheinmetall’s overall architecture for networking existing systems and is already an integral part of the German Bundeswehr’s “Digitization of Land-Based Operations” (D-LBO) architecture as a “Tactical Platform Service.” The aim of this program is to digitize land forces in particular.

The ARQIS team around Prof. Dr. Christoph von Einem advised blackned on the preparation, structuring and implementation of the strategic partnership. Through a recommendation from the market, ARQIS acted for blackned for the first time.

Advisors to blackned

ARQIS (Dusseldorf/Munich): Prof. Dr. Christoph von Einem (Leading Partner; M&A), Dr. Mauritz von Einem (M&A/Tax), Dr. Friedrich Gebert (Merger Control), Dr. Ulrich Lienhard (Real Estate), Marcus Nothhelfer (IP/Contract Law); Counsel: Jens Knipping (Tax); Managing Associates: Benjamin Bandur (M&A), Nora Meyer-Stratmann (IP), Franziska Resch (Real Estate); Associates: Christoph Lutz (M&A)