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Buyer landscape

Likely buyers · IT Services in Belgium.

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 22 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. Waterland Private Equity SponsorVery High84

18 platform investments in Software & IT · 36 in Belgium · 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

2. Axcel SponsorVery High82

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. 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

4. Deutsche Beteiligungs SponsorVery High79

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.

Bought MAIT from 3i, 2025 · IT Services, Germany

5. Deutsche Beteiligungs AG SponsorVery High78

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 MAIT, 2025 · IT Services, Germany

6. Hg SponsorVery High78

48 platform investments in Software & IT · 4 in Belgium · 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

7. Sophora Unternehmerkapital SponsorVery High78

5 platform investments in Software & IT · 1 in Belgium · 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

8. EQT SponsorVery High77

40 platform investments in Software & IT · 5 in Belgium · 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

9. BU Bregal Unternehmerkapital Multi-Asset Continuation Fund SponsorVery High77

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.

Backed Communardo, 2024 · IT Services, Germany

10. BU Bregal Unternehmerkapital SponsorVery High76

17 platform investments in Software & IT · 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

11. AFINUM Management GmbH SponsorVery High76

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

12. 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

13. Permira SponsorVery High75

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

14. 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

15. Oakley Capital SponsorVery High75

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

16. Capital A Investment Partners SponsorVery High75

14 platform investments in Software & IT · 3 in Belgium · 5 deals 2024–26

AUM €515M · Capital A Fund V · 2023 vintage · deploying · check €10-77M

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

Backed Fortezza, 2025 · IT Services, Netherlands

17. Swanlaab Venture Factory SponsorVery High75

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

18. Alkemia SGR SponsorVery High75

8 platform investments in Software & IT · 8 deals 2024–26

AUM €270M · Food Excellence I · 2025 vintage · deploying

6 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 4 per fund.

Backed Izertis, 2026 · IT Services, Spain

19. 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 Theodo, 2015 · IT Services, France

20. Apax Partners (with NewAlpha) SponsorVery High74

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 High74

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 High74

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 High74

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. Bowmark Capital SponsorVery High74

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.

Bought Transparity from Beech Tree Private Equity, 2024 · IT Services, UK

25. Palatine Private Equity SponsorVery High74

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

AUM €1.4B · Palatine Buyout Fund V · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €6-45M

4 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · mid-deployment vs its usual 6 per fund.

Backed OryxAlign, 2026 · IT Services, UK

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.