Likely buyers · AI/ML in Ireland.

1. Swanlaab Venture Factory SponsorVery High81

12 platform investments in Software & IT · 18 deals 2024–26

Swanlaab Innvierte Agrifood Tech · 2024 vintage · deploying

Accelerating: 15 deals in the last 2 years vs 1.3/yr before.

Backed Dolfin, 2026 · AI/ML, Spain

2. River Capital SponsorVery High81

6 platform investments in Software & IT · 9 deals 2024–26

AUM €153M · North West Private Equity Fund · 2023 vintage · deploying · check €0-2M

Accelerating: 7 deals in the last 2 years vs 1.8/yr before.

Backed Deltabase, 2026 · AI/ML, UK

3. EQT SponsorVery High80

40 platform investments in Software & IT · 3 in Ireland · 51 deals 2024–26

AUM €291.0B · EQT X · 2023 vintage · deploying · check €440M-3.3B

53 platform investments since the 2023 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 11 per fund.

Backed Lovable, 2025 · AI/ML, Sweden

4. Apax Partners SponsorVery High80

35 platform investments in Software & IT · 21 deals 2024–26

AUM €70.8B · Apax XI · 2024 vintage · deploying · check €221M-1.7B

19 platform investments since the 2024 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 12 per fund.

Backed RapidSOS, 2025 · AI/ML, US

5. Apax Partners (with NewAlpha) SponsorVery High80

30 platform investments in Software & IT · 19 deals 2024–26

AUM €70.8B · Apax XI · 2024 vintage · deploying · check €221M-1.7B

19 platform investments since the 2024 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 12 per fund.

Backed RapidSOS, 2025 · AI/ML, US

6. Apax Partners and Inova Capital SponsorVery High80

29 platform investments in Software & IT · 19 deals 2024–26

AUM €70.8B · Apax XI · 2024 vintage · deploying · check €221M-1.7B

19 platform investments since the 2024 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 12 per fund.

Backed RapidSOS, 2025 · AI/ML, US

7. Apax Partners and JMI Equity SponsorVery High80

29 platform investments in Software & IT · 19 deals 2024–26

AUM €70.8B · Apax XI · 2024 vintage · deploying · check €221M-1.7B

19 platform investments since the 2024 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 12 per fund.

Backed RapidSOS, 2025 · AI/ML, US

8. Apax Partners SAS SponsorVery High80

29 platform investments in Software & IT · 19 deals 2024–26

AUM €70.8B · Apax XI · 2024 vintage · deploying · check €221M-1.7B

19 platform investments since the 2024 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 12 per fund.

Backed RapidSOS, 2025 · AI/ML, US

9. Permira SponsorVery High78

27 platform investments in Software & IT · 2 in Ireland · 17 deals 2024–26

AUM €80.0B · Permira VIII · 2023 vintage · deploying · check €334M-2.5B

17 platform investments since the 2023 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 11 per fund.

Backed Lytx, 2020 · AI/ML, US

10. Hg SponsorVery High77

48 platform investments in Software & IT · 2 in Ireland · 22 deals 2024–26

AUM €69.0B · Hg Mercury 4 · 2023 vintage · deploying · check €48-360M

24 platform investments since the 2023 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 8 per fund.

Bought CUBE from Bregal Milestone, 2024 · AI/ML, UK

11. YFM Equity Partners SponsorVery High77

26 platform investments in Software & IT · 23 deals 2024–26

AUM €878M · YFM Buyout Fund III · 2023 vintage · deploying · check €2-17M

32 platform investments since the 2023 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 20 per fund.

Backed Xapien, 2023 · AI/ML, UK

12. Oakley Capital SponsorVery High77

15 platform investments in Software & IT · 20 deals 2024–26

AUM €12.7B · Oakley Capital Fund VI · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €90-675M

10 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 6 per fund.

Bought Senef from Isatis Capital, 2026 · SaaS, France

13. Deutsche Telekom Capital Partners SponsorVery High77

34 platform investments in Software & IT · 9 deals 2024–26

DTCP Growth Equity III · 2022 vintage · partially deployed

15 platform investments since the 2022 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 14 per fund.

Backed SPREAD AI, 2026 · AI/ML, Germany

14. Bregal Milestone SponsorVery High77

16 platform investments in Software & IT · 3 in Ireland · 7 deals 2024–26

AUM €1.3B · Bregal Milestone Fund III · 2026 vintage · deploying · check €18-137M

2 platform investments since the 2026 vintage · early in deployment vs its usual 8 per fund.

Backed MeteoViva, 2026 · AI/ML, Germany

15. Kester Capital SponsorVery High77

7 platform investments in Software & IT · 1 in Ireland · 7 deals 2024–26

Kester Capital IV · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €10-75M

3 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · mid-deployment vs its usual 5 per fund.

Backed Optibrium, 2021 · AI/ML, UK

16. Deutsche Beteiligungs SponsorVery High76

13 platform investments in Software & IT · 10 deals 2024–26

AUM €2.7B · DBAG Solvares Continuation Fund · 2024 vintage · deploying · check €3-20M

9 platform investments since the 2024 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 8 per fund.

Backed Bug Bounty Switzerland, 2026 · Cybersecurity, Switzerland

17. Axcel SponsorVery High76

20 platform investments in Software & IT · 14 deals 2024–26

Axcel VII · 2023 vintage · deploying · check €26-194M

15 platform investments since the 2023 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 9 per fund.

Backed Bekk, 2026 · IT Services, Norway

18. Oakley Capital, Eurazeo, Sagard NewGen (I-Tracing platform) SponsorVery High76

15 platform investments in Software & IT · 19 deals 2024–26

AUM €12.7B · Oakley Capital Fund VI · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €90-675M

10 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 6 per fund.

Backed Senef, 2026 · Software, France

19. Deutsche Beteiligungs AG SponsorVery High75

12 platform investments in Software & IT · 9 deals 2024–26

AUM €2.7B · DBAG Solvares Continuation Fund · 2024 vintage · deploying · check €3-20M

9 platform investments since the 2024 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 8 per fund.

Backed Bug Bounty Switzerland, 2026 · Cybersecurity, Switzerland

20. Permira Credit SponsorVery High75

25 platform investments in Software & IT · 1 in Ireland · 14 deals 2024–26

AUM €80.0B · Permira VIII · 2023 vintage · deploying · check €334M-2.5B

17 platform investments since the 2023 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 11 per fund.

Backed Lytx, 2020 · AI/ML, US

21. Bowmark Capital SponsorVery High75

22 platform investments in Software & IT · 11 deals 2024–26

AUM €2.3B · Bowmark Capital Partners VII · 2024 vintage · deploying · check €21-158M

7 platform investments since the 2024 vintage · mid-deployment vs its usual 10 per fund.

Backed BCIS, 2026 · Data & Analytics, UK

22. BU Bregal Unternehmerkapital Multi-Asset Continuation Fund SponsorVery High75

18 platform investments in Software & IT · 15 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.

Bought Safety21 from BU Bregal Unternehmerkapital, 2026 · Software, Italy

23. Nordic Capital SponsorVery High74

27 platform investments in Software & IT · 14 deals 2024–26

AUM €39.0B · Nordic Capital Fund XI · 2023 vintage · deploying · check €180M-1.4B

15 platform investments since the 2023 vintage · mid-deployment vs its usual 22 per fund.

Backed Boost.ai, 2021 · AI/ML, Norway

24. Waterland Private Equity SponsorVery High74

18 platform investments in Software & IT · 7 in Ireland · 39 deals 2024–26

Waterland Private Equity Fund IX (WPEF IX) · 2023 vintage · deploying · check €70-525M

48 platform investments since the 2023 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 19 per fund.

Backed Netconomy, 2025 · IT Services, Austria

25. Isai Gestion SponsorVery High74

61 platform investments in Software & IT · 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 Tinyclues, 2017 · AI/ML, France