Buyer landscape
Likely buyers · Data & Analytics in France.
Prepared 2026-08-28 with GP Intel · deterministic scoring, published weights: gp-intel.com/methodology/league-tables
How companies like this sold · 598 verified exits: 23% to sponsors, 75% to corporates and platforms, 1% via IPO, 0% other routes. Route shift since 2020: sponsors 23% (was 22%), corporates and platforms 76% (was 76%), IPO 1% (was 2%).
The list: 25 Tier 1 · 0 Tier 2 of 120 matched buyers, including 10 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. Isai Gestion SponsorVery High84
61 platform investments in Software & IT · 111 in France · 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 Hiboo, 2024 · Data & Analytics, France
2. Oakley Capital SponsorVery High84
15 platform investments in Software & IT · 7 in France · 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
3. Bpifrance Investissement SponsorVery High82
5 platform investments in Software & IT · 89 in France · 35 deals 2024–26
AUM €57.3B · Bpifrance Amorçage Industriel · 2023 vintage · deploying · check €1-8M
Accelerating: 30 deals in the last 2 years vs 4.5/yr before.
Backed Braincube, 2023 · Data & Analytics, France
4. Ring Capital SponsorVery High82
10 platform investments in Software & IT · 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 Hiboo, 2024 · Data & Analytics, France
5. EQT SponsorVery High81
40 platform investments in Software & IT · 12 in France · 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 RIMES Technologies, 2020 · Data & Analytics, UK
6. Nordic Capital SponsorVery High81
27 platform investments in Software & IT · 1 in France · 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
7. Arkea Capital, BNP Paribas Developpement and IRD Invest SponsorVery High81
19 platform investments in Software & IT · 138 in France · 25 deals 2024–26
AUM €1.3B · Arkea Capital 3 · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €1-11M
11 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · mid-deployment vs its usual 15 per fund.
Backed Auxo Dynamics, 2024 · Data & Analytics, France
8. Arkea Capital Partenaire SponsorVery High81
19 platform investments in Software & IT · 137 in France · 25 deals 2024–26
AUM €1.3B · Arkea Capital 3 · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €1-11M
11 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · mid-deployment vs its usual 15 per fund.
Backed Auxo Dynamics, 2024 · Data & Analytics, France
9. Oakley Capital, Eurazeo, Sagard NewGen (I-Tracing platform) SponsorVery High81
15 platform investments in Software & IT · 6 in France · 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
10. Capital Croissance SponsorVery High80
16 platform investments in Software & IT · 44 in France · 20 deals 2024–26
AUM €950M · Club des entrepreneurs Capital Croissance · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €2-15M
9 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 6 per fund.
Backed Iceberg Data Lab, 2024 · Data & Analytics, France
11. Meanings Capital Partners SponsorVery High80
9 platform investments in Software & IT · 15 in France · 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
12. Turenne Groupe SponsorVery High79
25 platform investments in Software & IT · 311 in France · 34 deals 2024–26
AUM €2.0B · Capital Sante 3 · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €3-21M
20 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · early in deployment vs its usual 80 per fund.
Backed M&C3i, 2026 · Software, France
13. TeamSystem PE-backedVery High79
86 acquisitions in Software & IT · 5 in France · 28 deals 2024–26
Active in France since 2024.
Bought ClicData from Nord Capital Partenaires, 2025 · Data & Analytics, France
14. Hg SponsorVery High79
48 platform investments in Software & IT · 5 in France · 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 OneStream, 2026 · SaaS, US
15. Apax Partners SponsorVery High78
35 platform investments in Software & IT · 16 in France · 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
16. Apax Partners (with NewAlpha) SponsorVery High78
30 platform investments in Software & IT · 8 in France · 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
17. Apax Partners and Inova Capital SponsorVery High78
29 platform investments in Software & IT · 7 in France · 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
18. Apax Partners and JMI Equity SponsorVery High78
29 platform investments in Software & IT · 7 in France · 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
19. Apax Partners SAS SponsorVery High78
29 platform investments in Software & IT · 7 in France · 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
20. Meanings Capital Partners with Bpifrance SponsorVery High78
8 platform investments in Software & IT · 16 in France · 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
21. Entrepreneur Invest SponsorVery High77
34 platform investments in Software & IT · 100 in France · 11 deals 2024–26
AUM €1.8B · FPCI Entrepreneurs & Croissance N°5 · 2022 vintage · partially deployed · check €3-23M
32 platform investments since the 2022 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 17 per fund.
Backed Groupe Pandora, 2026 · Software, France
22. Capmont SponsorVery High77
16 platform investments in Software & IT · 1 in France · 16 deals 2024–26
Capmont Technology Fund · 2024 vintage · deploying · check €2-15M
16 platform investments since the 2024 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 15 per fund.
Backed Sifflet, 2025 · Data & Analytics, France
23. Axcel SponsorVery High76
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
24. Sodero Gestion, CENCD SponsorVery High76
5 platform investments in Software & IT · 40 in France · 22 deals 2024–26
AUM €350M · Transmettre & Pérenniser III · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €2-15M
12 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 10 per fund.
Backed Skyld, 2025 · Cybersecurity, France
25. River Capital SponsorVery High76
6 platform investments in Software & IT · 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 HyperFinity, 2025 · 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.