Buyer landscape
Likely buyers · AgTech in United Kingdom.
Prepared 2026-08-28 with GP Intel · deterministic scoring, published weights: gp-intel.com/methodology/league-tables
How companies like this sold · 56 verified exits: 14% to sponsors, 82% to corporates and platforms, 2% via IPO, 2% other routes. Route shift since 2020: sponsors 27% (was 28%), corporates and platforms 69% (was 66%), IPO 4% (was 6%) (sector-wide).
The list: 25 Tier 1 · 0 Tier 2 of 120 matched buyers, including 4 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. Just Climate SponsorVery High91
9 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 2 in United Kingdom · 11 deals 2024–26
AUM €1.7B · Natural Climate Solutions Strategy · 2024 vintage · deploying · check €7-52M
Accelerating: 9 deals in the last 2 years vs 1.5/yr before.
Backed Afresh, 2026 · AgTech, US
2. Swanlaab Venture Factory SponsorVery High87
6 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 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 Big Guardian, 2026 · AgTech, Spain
3. Eiffel Investment Group, Mirova SponsorVery High82
23 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 1 in United Kingdom · 15 deals 2024–26
AUM €7.0B · Eiffel Energy Transition III · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €24-180M
8 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 7 per fund.
Backed British Solar Renewables, 2026 · Energy, UK
4. RGreen Invest SponsorVery High79
17 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 1 in United Kingdom · 8 deals 2024–26
AUM €2.5B · INFRABRIDGE IV · 2026 vintage · deploying · check €10-75M
3 platform investments since the 2026 vintage · mid-deployment vs its usual 4 per fund.
Backed Geogreen, 2026 · Energy, France
5. EQT SponsorVery High77
29 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 16 in United Kingdom · 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 BLOOM FRESH International, 2023 · AgTech, US
6. YFM Equity Partners SponsorVery High77
4 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 61 in United Kingdom · 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 StormHarvester, 2025 · ClimateTech, UK
7. Ardian SponsorVery High76
53 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 11 in United Kingdom · 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 Energia Group, 2026 · Energy, Ireland
8. Waterland Private Equity SponsorVery High76
7 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 16 in United Kingdom · 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 Argona, 2025 · ClimateTech, Belgium
9. Ring Capital SponsorVery High76
11 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 32 deals 2024–26
AUM €470M · Ring Altitude II · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €4-33M
17 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 13 per fund.
Backed Soil Capital, 2021 · AgTech, Belgium
10. Idia SponsorVery High75
53 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 27 deals 2024–26
AUM €2.4B · Crédit Agricole Assurances Avenir et Territoires · 2026 vintage · deploying · check €2-15M
5 platform investments since the 2026 vintage · early in deployment vs its usual 25 per fund.
Backed GROUPE INESSENS, 2026 · Agriculture, France
11. Vitruvian Partners SponsorVery High75
3 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 37 in United Kingdom · 19 deals 2024–26
AUM €18.0B · Vitruvian Investment Partnership V · 2023 vintage · deploying · check €146M-1.1B
20 platform investments since the 2023 vintage · mid-deployment vs its usual 20 per fund.
Backed Aquabyte, 2026 · AgTech, Norway
12. Asterion Industrial Partners SponsorVery High75
12 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 4 in United Kingdom · 8 deals 2024–26
AUM €10.0B · Asterion Industrial Infra Fund III · 2024 vintage · deploying · check €68-510M
7 platform investments since the 2024 vintage · mid-deployment vs its usual 8 per fund.
Backed Southern Water, 2026 · Energy, UK
13. Ardian Clean Energy Evergreen Fund SponsorVery High74
51 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 10 in United Kingdom · 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 Energia Group, 2026 · Energy, Ireland
14. Ardian Mid Cap Buyout SponsorVery High74
49 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 11 in United Kingdom · 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 Energia Group, 2026 · Energy, Ireland
15. Ardian (Clean Energy Evergreen Fund) SponsorVery High74
50 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 10 in United Kingdom · 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 Energia Group, 2026 · Energy, Ireland
16. Ardian (ex-AXA Private Equity) SponsorVery High74
49 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 10 in United Kingdom · 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 Energia Group, 2026 · Energy, Ireland
17. Ardian / Crédit Agricole Assurances consortium SponsorVery High74
49 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 10 in United Kingdom · 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 Energia Group, 2026 · Energy, Ireland
18. Ardian + Tikehau Capital + EMZ consortium (Bpifrance + Amundi + Siparex) SponsorVery High74
49 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 10 in United Kingdom · 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 Energia Group, 2026 · Energy, Ireland
19. Ardian and Centerbridge Partners SponsorVery High74
49 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 10 in United Kingdom · 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 Energia Group, 2026 · Energy, Ireland
20. Ardian and GoldenTree Asset Management SponsorVery High74
49 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 10 in United Kingdom · 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 Energia Group, 2026 · Energy, Ireland
21. Ardian and Latour Capital SponsorVery High74
49 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 10 in United Kingdom · 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 Energia Group, 2026 · Energy, Ireland
22. Ardian Expansion SponsorVery High74
49 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 10 in United Kingdom · 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 Energia Group, 2026 · Energy, Ireland
23. Ardian Expansion (Fund V) SponsorVery High74
49 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 10 in United Kingdom · 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 Energia Group, 2026 · Energy, Ireland
24. Ardian Semiconductor SponsorVery High74
49 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 10 in United Kingdom · 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 Energia Group, 2026 · Energy, Ireland
25. Ardian Tikehau EMZ consortium SponsorVery High74
49 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 10 in United Kingdom · 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 Energia Group, 2026 · Energy, Ireland
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.