Buyer landscape
Likely buyers · Software 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 26 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. Bowmark Capital SponsorVery High87
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 Altia, 2025 · Software, UK
2. Oakley Capital SponsorVery High86
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 Senef, 2026 · Software, France
3. Oakley Capital, Eurazeo, Sagard NewGen (I-Tracing platform) SponsorVery High85
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 Senef, 2026 · Software, France
4. Maven Capital Partners SponsorVery High85
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
5. 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.
Bought OCS from Charme Capital Partners SGR, 2023 · Software, Italy
6. 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 OCS, 2023 · Software, Italy
7. 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 OCS, 2023 · Software, Italy
8. 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 OCS, 2023 · Software, Italy
9. 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 OCS, 2023 · Software, Italy
10. Isai Gestion SponsorVery High83
61 platform investments in Software & IT · 1 in United Kingdom · 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 ProcurePro, 2026 · Software, Australia
11. Hg SponsorVery High83
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 Parte, 2025 · Software, Belgium
12. 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 DSP, 2018 · Software, UK
13. 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
14. TeamSystem PE-backedVery High82
86 acquisitions in Software & IT · 28 deals 2024–26
Added on ACD (ACD Finances), 2026 · Software, France
15. Deutsche Beteiligungs AG SponsorVery High82
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 Totalmobile, 2026 · Software, UK
16. Deutsche Beteiligungs SponsorVery High82
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 Totalmobile, 2026 · Software, UK
17. Inflexion SponsorVery High81
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 Axiom GRC, 2024 · Software, UK
18. Inflexion (Partnership Capital III) SponsorVery High81
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 Axiom GRC, 2024 · Software, UK
19. Axcel SponsorVery High81
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 KapitalKontroll, 2026 · Software, Norway
20. BU Bregal Unternehmerkapital Multi-Asset Continuation Fund SponsorVery High81
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.
Bought Safety21 from BU Bregal Unternehmerkapital, 2026 · Software, Italy
21. Growth Capital Partners SponsorVery High81
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 CloudRock, 2024 · Software, UK
22. 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.
Bought Next One Technology from Monterro, 2024 · Software, Sweden
23. Via Equity SponsorVery High80
27 platform investments in Software & IT · 8 deals 2024–26
AUM €500M · VIA equity Fund V · 2023 vintage · deploying · check €5-38M
9 platform investments since the 2023 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 8 per fund.
Backed Robopack Group, 2026 · Software, Denmark
24. Meanings Capital Partners SponsorVery High80
9 platform investments in Software & IT · 7 deals 2024–26
AUM €906M · Meanings Private Equity Fund IV (MPEF IV) · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €6-45M
Accelerating: 6 deals in the last 2 years vs 1.8/yr before.
Backed Instant System, 2026 · Software, France
25. 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.
Backed Vizrt, 2015 · Software, Norway
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.