Buyer landscape
Likely buyers · IT Services in Austria.
Prepared 2026-08-28 with GP Intel · deterministic scoring, published weights: gp-intel.com/methodology/league-tables
The list: 25 Tier 1 · 0 Tier 2 of 120 matched buyers, including 17 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. Deutsche Beteiligungs SponsorVery High84
13 platform investments in Software & IT · 3 in Austria · 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.
Bought MAIT from 3i, 2025 · IT Services, Germany
2. Axcel SponsorVery High84
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
3. Deutsche Beteiligungs AG SponsorVery High82
12 platform investments in Software & IT · 3 in Austria · 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 MAIT, 2025 · IT Services, Germany
4. Sophora Unternehmerkapital SponsorVery High82
5 platform investments in Software & IT · 2 in Austria · 5 deals 2024–26
Sophora Capital Unternehmer-Fonds I · 2023 vintage · deploying · check €1-8M
Accelerating: 4 deals in the last 2 years vs 0.8/yr before.
Backed SQUER, 2026 · IT Services, Austria
5. BU Bregal Unternehmerkapital Multi-Asset Continuation Fund SponsorVery High81
18 platform investments in Software & IT · 1 in Austria · 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.
Backed Communardo, 2024 · IT Services, Germany
6. Waterland Private Equity SponsorVery High80
18 platform investments in Software & IT · 1 in Austria · 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
7. Armira SponsorVery High80
8 platform investments in Software & IT · 2 in Austria · 12 deals 2024–26
AUM €5.0B · Armira III · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €20-150M
8 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · mid-deployment vs its usual 10 per fund.
Backed MobiLab Solutions, 2023 · IT Services, Germany
8. Queka Real Partners SponsorVery High80
8 platform investments in Software & IT · 8 deals 2024–26
AUM €350M · Queka Real Partners II · 2023 vintage · deploying · check €4-29M
Accelerating: 7 deals in the last 2 years vs 1.5/yr before.
Backed B2group, 2025 · IT Services, Spain
9. BU Bregal Unternehmerkapital SponsorVery High79
17 platform investments in Software & IT · 1 in Austria · 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 Communardo, 2024 · IT Services, Germany
10. AFINUM Management GmbH SponsorVery High78
14 platform investments in Software & IT · 9 deals 2024–26
AFINUM X Buyout (2026) · 2026 vintage · deploying · check €10-75M
2 platform investments since the 2026 vintage · early in deployment vs its usual 9 per fund.
Backed Fairbanks, 2026 · SaaS, Netherlands
11. Permira SponsorVery High77
27 platform investments in Software & IT · 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.
Bought The Key Group from CBPE Capital, 2025 · IT Services, UK
12. Hg SponsorVery High77
48 platform investments in Software & IT · 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 IT Relation from Adelis Equity, 2018 · IT Services, Denmark
13. Swanlaab Venture Factory SponsorVery High77
12 platform investments in Software & IT · 1 in Austria · 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
14. EQT SponsorVery High76
40 platform investments in Software & IT · 1 in Austria · 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 Perficient, 2024 · IT Services, US
15. Isai Gestion SponsorVery High76
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 Theodo, 2015 · IT Services, France
16. Oakley Capital SponsorVery High76
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
17. NORD Holding SponsorVery High76
9 platform investments in Software & IT · 1 in Austria · 15 deals 2024–26
AUM €5.0B · NORD Holding all inclusive Fitness Continuation Fund · 2026 vintage · deploying
Accelerating: 13 deals in the last 2 years vs 2.5/yr before.
Backed VisionmaxX Gruppe, 2026 · IT Services, Germany
18. NORD Holding / Pinova Capital SponsorVery High76
10 platform investments in Software & IT · 1 in Austria · 12 deals 2024–26
AUM €5.0B · NORD Holding all inclusive Fitness Continuation Fund · 2026 vintage · deploying
Accelerating: 10 deals in the last 2 years vs 2.5/yr before.
Backed VisionmaxX Gruppe, 2026 · IT Services, Germany
19. Apax Partners SponsorVery High75
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 Lutech, 2021 · IT Services, Italy
20. Apax Partners (with NewAlpha) SponsorVery High75
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 Lutech, 2021 · IT Services, Italy
21. Apax Partners and Inova Capital SponsorVery High75
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 Lutech, 2021 · IT Services, Italy
22. Apax Partners and JMI Equity SponsorVery High75
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 Lutech, 2021 · IT Services, Italy
23. Apax Partners SAS SponsorVery High75
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 Lutech, 2021 · IT Services, Italy
24. YFM Equity Partners SponsorVery High75
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 The Networking People (TNP), 2025 · IT Services, UK
25. Oakley Capital, Eurazeo, Sagard NewGen (I-Tracing platform) SponsorVery High75
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
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.