Buyer landscape
Likely buyers · Cloud Infrastructure 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 · 254 verified exits: 22% to sponsors, 76% to corporates and platforms, 2% via IPO, 0% other routes. Route shift since 2020: sponsors 26% (was 10%), corporates and platforms 72% (was 86%), IPO 1% (was 4%).
The list: 25 Tier 1 · 0 Tier 2 of 120 matched buyers, including 6 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. Apax Partners SponsorVery High84
35 platform investments in Software & IT · 15 in United Kingdom · 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 Sedex, 2026 · Data & Analytics, UK
2. Apax Partners (with NewAlpha) SponsorVery High84
30 platform investments in Software & IT · 14 in United Kingdom · 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 Sedex, 2026 · Data & Analytics, UK
3. Apax Partners and Inova Capital SponsorVery High84
29 platform investments in Software & IT · 14 in United Kingdom · 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 Sedex, 2026 · Data & Analytics, UK
4. Apax Partners and JMI Equity SponsorVery High84
29 platform investments in Software & IT · 14 in United Kingdom · 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 Sedex, 2026 · Data & Analytics, UK
5. Apax Partners SAS SponsorVery High84
29 platform investments in Software & IT · 14 in United Kingdom · 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 Sedex, 2026 · Data & Analytics, UK
6. YFM Equity Partners SponsorVery High83
26 platform investments in Software & IT · 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 Aura Life, 2026 · SaaS, UK
7. River Capital SponsorVery High83
6 platform investments in Software & IT · 17 in United Kingdom · 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
8. Oakley Capital SponsorVery High82
15 platform investments in Software & IT · 19 in United Kingdom · 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.
Backed Hosting.com, 2023 · Cloud Infrastructure, US
9. Oakley Capital, Eurazeo, Sagard NewGen (I-Tracing platform) SponsorVery High82
15 platform investments in Software & IT · 16 in United Kingdom · 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 Hosting.com, 2023 · Cloud Infrastructure, US
10. EQT SponsorVery High80
40 platform investments in Software & IT · 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 McNair, 2024 · Cloud Infrastructure, US
11. Hg SponsorVery High80
48 platform investments in Software & IT · 16 in United Kingdom · 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.
Backed team.blue, 2019 · Cloud Infrastructure, Belgium
12. Bowmark Capital SponsorVery High80
22 platform investments in Software & IT · 55 in United Kingdom · 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
13. Nordic Capital SponsorVery High79
27 platform investments in Software & IT · 12 in United Kingdom · 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.
Bought BMLL from ACF Investors, 2025 · Data & Analytics, UK
14. Inflexion SponsorVery High79
8 platform investments in Software & IT · 55 in United Kingdom · 27 deals 2024–26
AUM €11.0B · Inflexion Buyout Fund VII · 2026 vintage · deploying · check €90-675M
4 platform investments since the 2026 vintage · mid-deployment vs its usual 6 per fund.
Backed Nomentia, 2025 · SaaS, Finland
15. Inflexion (Partnership Capital III) SponsorVery High79
8 platform investments in Software & IT · 52 in United Kingdom · 25 deals 2024–26
AUM €11.0B · Inflexion Buyout Fund VII · 2026 vintage · deploying · check €90-675M
Accelerating: 15 deals in the last 2 years vs 5.0/yr before.
Backed Nomentia, 2025 · SaaS, Finland
16. Growth Capital Partners SponsorVery High79
13 platform investments in Software & IT · 35 in United Kingdom · 9 deals 2024–26
GCP Fund VI · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €10-72M
5 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · mid-deployment vs its usual 8 per fund.
Backed Container Solutions, 2022 · Cloud Infrastructure, UK
17. Maven Capital Partners SponsorVery High79
12 platform investments in Software & IT · 31 in United Kingdom · 6 deals 2024–26
AUM €889M · Maven UK Regional Buyout Fund II · 2024 vintage · deploying · check €4-26M
6 platform investments since the 2024 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 5 per fund.
Backed Chorus Intelligence, 2026 · Software, UK
18. Kester Capital SponsorVery High79
7 platform investments in Software & IT · 15 in United Kingdom · 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 Nutritics, 2026 · SaaS, Ireland
19. Vitruvian Partners SponsorVery High78
22 platform investments in Software & IT · 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 Options Technology, 2024 · Cloud Infrastructure, UK
20. Deutsche Beteiligungs SponsorVery High78
13 platform investments in Software & IT · 1 in United Kingdom · 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 Green Datahub, 2022 · Cloud Infrastructure, Germany
21. Permira SponsorVery High78
27 platform investments in Software & IT · 19 in United Kingdom · 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
22. Palatine Private Equity SponsorVery High78
8 platform investments in Software & IT · 49 in United Kingdom · 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
23. Waterland Private Equity SponsorVery High77
18 platform investments in Software & IT · 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 Skaylink, 2021 · Cloud Infrastructure, Germany
24. Deutsche Beteiligungs AG SponsorVery High77
12 platform investments in Software & IT · 1 in United Kingdom · 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 Green Datahub, 2022 · Cloud Infrastructure, Germany
25. ECI Partners SponsorVery High77
13 platform investments in Software & IT · 46 in United Kingdom · 10 deals 2024–26
AUM €2.8B · ECI 12 · 2023 vintage · deploying · check €23-176M
9 platform investments since the 2023 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 7 per fund.
Bought Helio Intelligence from Bowmark Capital, 2026 · Data & Analytics, 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.