Buyer landscape
Likely buyers · TMT in France.
Prepared 2026-08-28 with GP Intel · deterministic scoring, published weights: gp-intel.com/methodology/league-tables
How companies like this sold · 441 verified exits: 27% to sponsors, 68% to corporates and platforms, 4% via IPO, 0% other routes. Route shift since 2020: sponsors 30% (was 23%), corporates and platforms 67% (was 70%), IPO 2% (was 7%).
The list: 25 Tier 1 · 0 Tier 2 of 120 matched buyers, including 3 geographic expansion candidates without a local platform yet. A first round of the Tier 1 names plus the expansion buyers covers the demonstrated demand.
Financial buyers · 25
Tier 1 · Very High · score 70+
1. Ardian SponsorVery High92
70 platform investments in TMT & Media · 247 in France · 51 deals 2024–26
AUM €196.0B · Ardian Expansion Fund VI · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €64-480M
13 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · mid-deployment vs its usual 15 per fund.
Backed Fermax, 2026 · TMT, Spain
2. Ardian Clean Energy Evergreen Fund SponsorVery High92
64 platform investments in TMT & Media · 221 in France · 44 deals 2024–26
AUM €196.0B · Ardian Expansion Fund VI · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €64-480M
13 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · mid-deployment vs its usual 15 per fund.
Backed Fermax, 2026 · TMT, Spain
3. Ardian Mid Cap Buyout SponsorVery High92
64 platform investments in TMT & Media · 220 in France · 42 deals 2024–26
AUM €196.0B · Ardian Expansion Fund VI · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €64-480M
13 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · mid-deployment vs its usual 15 per fund.
Backed Fermax, 2026 · TMT, Spain
4. Ardian (Clean Energy Evergreen Fund) SponsorVery High92
64 platform investments in TMT & Media · 220 in France · 43 deals 2024–26
AUM €196.0B · Ardian Expansion Fund VI · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €64-480M
13 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · mid-deployment vs its usual 15 per fund.
Backed Fermax, 2026 · TMT, Spain
5. Ardian (ex-AXA Private Equity) SponsorVery High92
64 platform investments in TMT & Media · 220 in France · 42 deals 2024–26
AUM €196.0B · Ardian Expansion Fund VI · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €64-480M
13 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · mid-deployment vs its usual 15 per fund.
Backed Fermax, 2026 · TMT, Spain
6. Ardian / Crédit Agricole Assurances consortium SponsorVery High92
64 platform investments in TMT & Media · 219 in France · 42 deals 2024–26
AUM €196.0B · Ardian Expansion Fund VI · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €64-480M
13 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · mid-deployment vs its usual 15 per fund.
Backed Fermax, 2026 · TMT, Spain
7. Ardian + Tikehau Capital + EMZ consortium (Bpifrance + Amundi + Siparex) SponsorVery High92
64 platform investments in TMT & Media · 220 in France · 43 deals 2024–26
AUM €196.0B · Ardian Expansion Fund VI · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €64-480M
13 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · mid-deployment vs its usual 15 per fund.
Backed Fermax, 2026 · TMT, Spain
8. Ardian and Centerbridge Partners SponsorVery High92
64 platform investments in TMT & Media · 220 in France · 42 deals 2024–26
AUM €196.0B · Ardian Expansion Fund VI · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €64-480M
13 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · mid-deployment vs its usual 15 per fund.
Backed Fermax, 2026 · TMT, Spain
9. Ardian and GoldenTree Asset Management SponsorVery High92
64 platform investments in TMT & Media · 219 in France · 42 deals 2024–26
AUM €196.0B · Ardian Expansion Fund VI · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €64-480M
13 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · mid-deployment vs its usual 15 per fund.
Backed Fermax, 2026 · TMT, Spain
10. Ardian and Latour Capital SponsorVery High92
64 platform investments in TMT & Media · 220 in France · 42 deals 2024–26
AUM €196.0B · Ardian Expansion Fund VI · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €64-480M
13 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · mid-deployment vs its usual 15 per fund.
Backed Fermax, 2026 · TMT, Spain
11. Ardian Expansion SponsorVery High92
64 platform investments in TMT & Media · 220 in France · 42 deals 2024–26
AUM €196.0B · Ardian Expansion Fund VI · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €64-480M
13 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · mid-deployment vs its usual 15 per fund.
Backed Fermax, 2026 · TMT, Spain
12. Ardian Expansion (Fund V) SponsorVery High92
64 platform investments in TMT & Media · 220 in France · 42 deals 2024–26
AUM €196.0B · Ardian Expansion Fund VI · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €64-480M
13 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · mid-deployment vs its usual 15 per fund.
Backed Fermax, 2026 · TMT, Spain
13. Ardian Semiconductor SponsorVery High92
64 platform investments in TMT & Media · 220 in France · 43 deals 2024–26
AUM €196.0B · Ardian Expansion Fund VI · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €64-480M
13 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · mid-deployment vs its usual 15 per fund.
Backed Fermax, 2026 · TMT, Spain
14. Ardian Tikehau EMZ consortium SponsorVery High92
64 platform investments in TMT & Media · 220 in France · 42 deals 2024–26
AUM €196.0B · Ardian Expansion Fund VI · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €64-480M
13 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · mid-deployment vs its usual 15 per fund.
Backed Fermax, 2026 · TMT, Spain
15. Ardian, Finint Infrastrutture SponsorVery High92
64 platform investments in TMT & Media · 219 in France · 43 deals 2024–26
AUM €196.0B · Ardian Expansion Fund VI · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €64-480M
13 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · mid-deployment vs its usual 15 per fund.
Backed Fermax, 2026 · TMT, Spain
16. NextStage AM SponsorVery High92
79 platform investments in TMT & Media · 142 in France · 21 deals 2024–26
AUM €11.6B · FCPI NextStage CAP 2026 · 2026 vintage · deploying
5 platform investments since the 2026 vintage · early in deployment vs its usual 14 per fund.
Backed Bichard Equipement, 2025 · TMT, France
17. NextStage AM, BNP Développement, Bpifrance and management SponsorVery High92
80 platform investments in TMT & Media · 141 in France · 21 deals 2024–26
AUM €11.6B · FCPI NextStage CAP 2026 · 2026 vintage · deploying
5 platform investments since the 2026 vintage · early in deployment vs its usual 14 per fund.
Backed Bichard Equipement, 2025 · TMT, France
18. Bridgepoint SponsorVery High91
53 platform investments in TMT & Media · 47 in France · 43 deals 2024–26
AUM €86.6B · Europe VIII (BE VIII) · 2026 vintage · deploying · check €120-900M
4 platform investments since the 2026 vintage · early in deployment vs its usual 20 per fund.
Backed PDSVISION, 2026 · TMT, Sweden
19. Bridgepoint Development Capital SponsorVery High91
46 platform investments in TMT & Media · 41 in France · 36 deals 2024–26
AUM €86.6B · Europe VIII (BE VIII) · 2026 vintage · deploying · check €120-900M
4 platform investments since the 2026 vintage · early in deployment vs its usual 20 per fund.
Backed PDSVISION, 2026 · TMT, Sweden
20. Bridgepoint (52.5% majority stake) SponsorVery High91
45 platform investments in TMT & Media · 37 in France · 36 deals 2024–26
AUM €86.6B · Europe VIII (BE VIII) · 2026 vintage · deploying · check €120-900M
4 platform investments since the 2026 vintage · early in deployment vs its usual 20 per fund.
Backed PDSVISION, 2026 · TMT, Sweden
21. Bridgepoint BE VII + General Atlantic SponsorVery High91
46 platform investments in TMT & Media · 36 in France · 37 deals 2024–26
AUM €86.6B · Europe VIII (BE VIII) · 2026 vintage · deploying · check €120-900M
4 platform investments since the 2026 vintage · early in deployment vs its usual 20 per fund.
Backed PDSVISION, 2026 · TMT, Sweden
22. Bridgepoint Capital SponsorVery High91
45 platform investments in TMT & Media · 36 in France · 36 deals 2024–26
AUM €86.6B · Europe VIII (BE VIII) · 2026 vintage · deploying · check €120-900M
4 platform investments since the 2026 vintage · early in deployment vs its usual 20 per fund.
Backed PDSVISION, 2026 · TMT, Sweden
23. Bridgepoint Capital Developpement SponsorVery High91
45 platform investments in TMT & Media · 37 in France · 36 deals 2024–26
AUM €86.6B · Europe VIII (BE VIII) · 2026 vintage · deploying · check €120-900M
4 platform investments since the 2026 vintage · early in deployment vs its usual 20 per fund.
Backed PDSVISION, 2026 · TMT, Sweden
24. Bridgepoint Development Capital (with Paluel-Marmont Capital & LT Capital) SponsorVery High91
45 platform investments in TMT & Media · 37 in France · 36 deals 2024–26
AUM €86.6B · Europe VIII (BE VIII) · 2026 vintage · deploying · check €120-900M
4 platform investments since the 2026 vintage · early in deployment vs its usual 20 per fund.
Backed PDSVISION, 2026 · TMT, Sweden
25. Isai Gestion SponsorVery High90
28 platform investments in TMT & Media · 111 in France · 30 deals 2024–26
AUM €458M · ISAI Expansion III · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €6-45M
23 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 20 per fund.
Backed blablacar, 2025 · TMT, France
Scores and facts derive from verified deal records only; sample floors and thresholds are published on the methodology page. Figures marked with a tilde are bands, not disclosures.