Buyer landscape
Likely buyers · AdTech in Germany.
Prepared 2026-08-28 with GP Intel · deterministic scoring, published weights: gp-intel.com/methodology/league-tables
How companies like this sold · 91 verified exits: 29% to sponsors, 62% to corporates and platforms, 9% via IPO, 1% other routes. Route shift since 2020: sponsors 29% (was 29%), corporates and platforms 69% (was 52%), IPO 2% (was 17%).
The list: 25 Tier 1 · 0 Tier 2 of 120 matched buyers. 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. Bridgepoint SponsorVery High87
53 platform investments in TMT & Media · 9 in Germany · 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.
Bought Samy from Inveready Asset Management, 2025 · AdTech, Spain
2. Bridgepoint Development Capital SponsorVery High83
46 platform investments in TMT & Media · 6 in Germany · 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 Samy, 2025 · AdTech, Spain
3. Bridgepoint (52.5% majority stake) SponsorVery High83
45 platform investments in TMT & Media · 6 in Germany · 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 Samy, 2025 · AdTech, Spain
4. Bridgepoint BE VII + General Atlantic SponsorVery High83
46 platform investments in TMT & Media · 6 in Germany · 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 Samy, 2025 · AdTech, Spain
5. Bridgepoint Capital SponsorVery High83
45 platform investments in TMT & Media · 6 in Germany · 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 Samy, 2025 · AdTech, Spain
6. Bridgepoint Capital Developpement SponsorVery High83
45 platform investments in TMT & Media · 6 in Germany · 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 Samy, 2025 · AdTech, Spain
7. Bridgepoint Development Capital (with Paluel-Marmont Capital & LT Capital) SponsorVery High83
45 platform investments in TMT & Media · 6 in Germany · 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 Samy, 2025 · AdTech, Spain
8. Ardian SponsorVery High78
70 platform investments in TMT & Media · 50 in Germany · 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.
Bought Jakala from The Equity Club, 2021 · AdTech, Italy
9. BU Bregal Unternehmerkapital SponsorVery High78
3 platform investments in TMT & Media · 32 in Germany · 14 deals 2024–26
AUM €7.0B · BU Bregal Unternehmerkapital Multi-Asset Continuation Fund · 2026 vintage · deploying · check €16-122M
4 platform investments since the 2026 vintage · early in deployment vs its usual 9 per fund.
Backed Flipp, 2024 · AdTech, Canada
10. Ardian Clean Energy Evergreen Fund SponsorVery High77
64 platform investments in TMT & Media · 45 in Germany · 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
11. Ardian Mid Cap Buyout SponsorVery High77
64 platform investments in TMT & Media · 45 in Germany · 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 (Clean Energy Evergreen Fund) SponsorVery High77
64 platform investments in TMT & Media · 45 in Germany · 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
13. Ardian (ex-AXA Private Equity) SponsorVery High77
64 platform investments in TMT & Media · 45 in Germany · 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
14. Ardian / Crédit Agricole Assurances consortium SponsorVery High77
64 platform investments in TMT & Media · 45 in Germany · 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 + Tikehau Capital + EMZ consortium (Bpifrance + Amundi + Siparex) SponsorVery High77
64 platform investments in TMT & Media · 45 in Germany · 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. Ardian and Centerbridge Partners SponsorVery High77
64 platform investments in TMT & Media · 45 in Germany · 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
17. Ardian and GoldenTree Asset Management SponsorVery High77
64 platform investments in TMT & Media · 45 in Germany · 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
18. Ardian and Latour Capital SponsorVery High77
64 platform investments in TMT & Media · 45 in Germany · 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
19. Ardian Expansion SponsorVery High77
64 platform investments in TMT & Media · 45 in Germany · 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
20. Ardian Expansion (Fund V) SponsorVery High77
64 platform investments in TMT & Media · 45 in Germany · 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
21. Ardian Semiconductor SponsorVery High77
64 platform investments in TMT & Media · 45 in Germany · 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
22. Ardian Tikehau EMZ consortium SponsorVery High77
64 platform investments in TMT & Media · 45 in Germany · 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
23. Ardian, Finint Infrastrutture SponsorVery High77
64 platform investments in TMT & Media · 45 in Germany · 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
24. IK Partners SponsorVery High76
31 platform investments in TMT & Media · 34 in Germany · 52 deals 2024–26
AUM €13.8B · IK Partnership Fund III · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €10-75M
18 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 13 per fund.
Backed Ascora, 2025 · TMT, Germany
25. IK Partners (IK Small Cap III) SponsorVery High76
30 platform investments in TMT & Media · 32 in Germany · 39 deals 2024–26
AUM €13.8B · IK Partnership Fund III · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €10-75M
18 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 13 per fund.
Backed Ascora, 2025 · TMT, Germany
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.