Buyer landscape
Likely buyers · AgTech in France.
Prepared 2026-08-28 with GP Intel · deterministic scoring, published weights: gp-intel.com/methodology/league-tables
How companies like this sold · 138 verified exits: 36% to sponsors, 62% to corporates and platforms, 2% via IPO. Route shift since 2020: sponsors 35% (was 38%), corporates and platforms 62% (was 60%), IPO 3% (was 2%).
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. Ring Capital SponsorVery High87
11 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 52 in France · 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
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. Idia SponsorVery High85
53 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 126 in France · 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
4. Just Climate SponsorVery High85
9 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 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
5. RGreen Invest SponsorVery High84
17 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 7 in France · 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
6. Ardian SponsorVery High83
53 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 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 Energia Group, 2026 · Energy, Ireland
7. Eiffel Investment Group, Mirova SponsorVery High82
23 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 11 in France · 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
8. Finorpa Gestion SponsorVery High81
6 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 85 in France · 27 deals 2024–26
Hauts-de-France Avenir TPE PME · 2026 vintage · deploying
8 platform investments since the 2026 vintage · early in deployment vs its usual 28 per fund.
Backed Reempro, 2026 · ClimateTech, France
9. Citizen Capital SponsorVery High81
11 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 49 in France · 10 deals 2024–26
AUM €235M · Citizen CIS · 2023 vintage · deploying · check €0-2M
11 platform investments since the 2023 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 8 per fund.
Backed Cuisinons nos Paysages, 2026 · Agriculture, France
10. Ardian Clean Energy Evergreen Fund SponsorVery High80
51 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 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 Energia Group, 2026 · Energy, Ireland
11. Ardian Mid Cap Buyout SponsorVery High80
49 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 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 Energia Group, 2026 · Energy, Ireland
12. Ardian (Clean Energy Evergreen Fund) SponsorVery High80
50 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 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 Energia Group, 2026 · Energy, Ireland
13. Ardian (ex-AXA Private Equity) SponsorVery High80
49 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 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 Energia Group, 2026 · Energy, Ireland
14. Ardian / Crédit Agricole Assurances consortium SponsorVery High80
49 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 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 Energia Group, 2026 · Energy, Ireland
15. Ardian + Tikehau Capital + EMZ consortium (Bpifrance + Amundi + Siparex) SponsorVery High80
49 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 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 Energia Group, 2026 · Energy, Ireland
16. Ardian and Centerbridge Partners SponsorVery High80
49 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 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 Energia Group, 2026 · Energy, Ireland
17. Ardian and GoldenTree Asset Management SponsorVery High80
49 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 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 Energia Group, 2026 · Energy, Ireland
18. Ardian and Latour Capital SponsorVery High80
49 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 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 Energia Group, 2026 · Energy, Ireland
19. Ardian Expansion SponsorVery High80
49 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 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 Energia Group, 2026 · Energy, Ireland
20. Ardian Expansion (Fund V) SponsorVery High80
49 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 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 Energia Group, 2026 · Energy, Ireland
21. Ardian Semiconductor SponsorVery High80
49 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 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 Energia Group, 2026 · Energy, Ireland
22. Ardian Tikehau EMZ consortium SponsorVery High80
49 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 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 Energia Group, 2026 · Energy, Ireland
23. Ardian, Finint Infrastrutture SponsorVery High80
49 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 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 Energia Group, 2026 · Energy, Ireland
24. UI Investissement SponsorVery High80
5 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 41 in France · 11 deals 2024–26
AUM €1.7B · Cap Autrement · 2023 vintage · deploying
13 platform investments since the 2023 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 10 per fund.
Backed Bobine, 2026 · ClimateTech, France
25. UI Investissement + Bpifrance SponsorVery High80
5 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 39 in France · 11 deals 2024–26
AUM €1.7B · Cap Autrement · 2023 vintage · deploying
13 platform investments since the 2023 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 10 per fund.
Backed Bobine, 2026 · ClimateTech, 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.