Leirvik buys out Searas and Optiras to scale land-based salmon tech
What's the deal? Norwegian industrial group Leirvik ASDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → is taking full ownership of aquaculture technology companies SearasDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → and OptirasDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →. It has agreed to buy the remaining 50% of Searas from Searas Holding, giving it complete control of Searas and its subsidiary Optiras. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Why now? Leirvik first bought a 50% stake in Searas in January 2024, after a collaboration dating back to 2020. The companies said the businesses have reached a stage where scaling and executing larger projects will require significantly more capital and industrial capacity.
What's the endgame? Searas develops water treatment and aquaculture systems, while Optiras builds modular recirculating systems for post-smolt and land-based salmon production. The acquisition comes as Leirvik seeks to move the technology from individual reference projects towards larger-scale commercial deployment.
The reference points: The companies have delivered and commissioned two OptiRAS post-smolt units for Baring Farsund in southern Norway, now running for around a year. Optiras has also been selected as technology supplier to Onnest's planned land-based salmon project in Denmark — its first significant international reference.
By the numbers: Leirvik AS spans industrial construction, engineering, and aquaculture technology, and reported revenue of around NOK 1.7 billion (€145 million) in 2024. Searas and Optiras together employ around 25 people.
What it means for the founders? Founders Eldar Lien and Morten Aga will sell their stakes but stay involved operationally. “Leirvik AS has been a strong and important partner for us over several years,” Lien said.
The signal: Consolidating ownership gives Leirvik AS the financial and organisational muscle to accelerate growth while keeping the existing management's technical expertise. It reflects a wider push in aquaculture to industrialise land-based salmon technology as demand for domestic, controlled production grows.
Read more: SalmonBusiness
Image credit: USFWS Mountain Prairie
