Buyer landscape
Likely buyers · AdTech 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 · 145 verified exits: 26% to sponsors, 70% to corporates and platforms, 3% via IPO, 2% other routes. Route shift since 2020: sponsors 26% (was 25%), corporates and platforms 67% (was 74%), IPO 4% (was 2%).
The list: 25 Tier 1 · 0 Tier 2 of 120 matched buyers. 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. Bridgepoint SponsorVery High90
53 platform investments in TMT & Media · 87 in United Kingdom · 43 deals 2024–26
AUM €86.6B · Europe VIII (BE VIII) · 2026 vintage · deploying · check €120-900M
4 platform investments since the 2026 vintage · early in deployment vs its usual 20 per fund.
Bought Samy from Inveready Asset Management, 2025 · AdTech, Spain
2. Bridgepoint Development Capital SponsorVery High86
46 platform investments in TMT & Media · 81 in United Kingdom · 36 deals 2024–26
AUM €86.6B · Europe VIII (BE VIII) · 2026 vintage · deploying · check €120-900M
4 platform investments since the 2026 vintage · early in deployment vs its usual 20 per fund.
Backed Samy, 2025 · AdTech, Spain
3. Bridgepoint (52.5% majority stake) SponsorVery High86
45 platform investments in TMT & Media · 80 in United Kingdom · 36 deals 2024–26
AUM €86.6B · Europe VIII (BE VIII) · 2026 vintage · deploying · check €120-900M
4 platform investments since the 2026 vintage · early in deployment vs its usual 20 per fund.
Backed Samy, 2025 · AdTech, Spain
4. Bridgepoint BE VII + General Atlantic SponsorVery High86
46 platform investments in TMT & Media · 80 in United Kingdom · 37 deals 2024–26
AUM €86.6B · Europe VIII (BE VIII) · 2026 vintage · deploying · check €120-900M
4 platform investments since the 2026 vintage · early in deployment vs its usual 20 per fund.
Backed Samy, 2025 · AdTech, Spain
5. Bridgepoint Capital SponsorVery High86
45 platform investments in TMT & Media · 81 in United Kingdom · 36 deals 2024–26
AUM €86.6B · Europe VIII (BE VIII) · 2026 vintage · deploying · check €120-900M
4 platform investments since the 2026 vintage · early in deployment vs its usual 20 per fund.
Backed Samy, 2025 · AdTech, Spain
6. Bridgepoint Capital Developpement SponsorVery High86
45 platform investments in TMT & Media · 80 in United Kingdom · 36 deals 2024–26
AUM €86.6B · Europe VIII (BE VIII) · 2026 vintage · deploying · check €120-900M
4 platform investments since the 2026 vintage · early in deployment vs its usual 20 per fund.
Backed Samy, 2025 · AdTech, Spain
7. Bridgepoint Development Capital (with Paluel-Marmont Capital & LT Capital) SponsorVery High86
45 platform investments in TMT & Media · 80 in United Kingdom · 36 deals 2024–26
AUM €86.6B · Europe VIII (BE VIII) · 2026 vintage · deploying · check €120-900M
4 platform investments since the 2026 vintage · early in deployment vs its usual 20 per fund.
Backed Samy, 2025 · AdTech, Spain
8. ECI Partners SponsorVery High79
11 platform investments in TMT & Media · 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.
Backed Croud, 2024 · AdTech, UK
9. Revaia SponsorVery High78
14 platform investments in TMT & Media · 3 in United Kingdom · 10 deals 2024–26
AUM €600M · Revaia Growth II SLP · 2024 vintage · deploying · check €5-38M
10 platform investments since the 2024 vintage · mid-deployment vs its usual 12 per fund.
Backed Synera, 2026 · TMT, Germany
10. YFM Equity Partners SponsorVery High77
4 platform investments in TMT & Media · 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 Force24, 2020 · AdTech, UK
11. River Capital SponsorVery High77
2 platform investments in TMT & Media · 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 Infinium Group, 2026 · TMT, UK
12. IK Partners SponsorVery High76
31 platform investments in TMT & Media · 19 in United Kingdom · 52 deals 2024–26
AUM €13.8B · IK Partnership Fund III · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €10-75M
18 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 13 per fund.
Backed Ascora, 2025 · TMT, Germany
13. IK Partners (IK Small Cap III) SponsorVery High76
30 platform investments in TMT & Media · 16 in United Kingdom · 39 deals 2024–26
AUM €13.8B · IK Partnership Fund III · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €10-75M
18 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 13 per fund.
Backed Ascora, 2025 · TMT, Germany
14. IK Partners / GIC / Keensight / Parquest / management SponsorVery High76
30 platform investments in TMT & Media · 16 in United Kingdom · 38 deals 2024–26
AUM €13.8B · IK Partnership Fund III · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €10-75M
18 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 13 per fund.
Backed Ascora, 2025 · TMT, Germany
15. Foresight Group SponsorVery High76
3 platform investments in TMT & Media · 20 in United Kingdom · 7 deals 2024–26
AUM €15.4B · AIB Foresight SME Impact Fund · 2022 vintage · partially deployed · check €1-8M
Accelerating: 6 deals in the last 2 years vs 1.0/yr before.
Backed Connective3, 2026 · TMT, UK
16. Ardian SponsorVery High75
70 platform investments in TMT & Media · 11 in United Kingdom · 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.
Bought Jakala from The Equity Club, 2021 · AdTech, Italy
17. Ardian Clean Energy Evergreen Fund SponsorVery High75
64 platform investments in TMT & Media · 10 in United Kingdom · 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 Fermax, 2026 · TMT, Spain
18. Ardian Mid Cap Buyout SponsorVery High75
64 platform investments in TMT & Media · 11 in United Kingdom · 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 Fermax, 2026 · TMT, Spain
19. Ardian (Clean Energy Evergreen Fund) SponsorVery High75
64 platform investments in TMT & Media · 10 in United Kingdom · 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 Fermax, 2026 · TMT, Spain
20. Ardian (ex-AXA Private Equity) SponsorVery High75
64 platform investments in TMT & Media · 10 in United Kingdom · 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 Fermax, 2026 · TMT, Spain
21. Ardian / Crédit Agricole Assurances consortium SponsorVery High75
64 platform investments in TMT & Media · 10 in United Kingdom · 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 Fermax, 2026 · TMT, Spain
22. Ardian + Tikehau Capital + EMZ consortium (Bpifrance + Amundi + Siparex) SponsorVery High75
64 platform investments in TMT & Media · 10 in United Kingdom · 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 Fermax, 2026 · TMT, Spain
23. Ardian and Centerbridge Partners SponsorVery High75
64 platform investments in TMT & Media · 10 in United Kingdom · 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 Fermax, 2026 · TMT, Spain
24. Ardian and GoldenTree Asset Management SponsorVery High75
64 platform investments in TMT & Media · 10 in United Kingdom · 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 Fermax, 2026 · TMT, Spain
25. Ardian and Latour Capital SponsorVery High75
64 platform investments in TMT & Media · 10 in United Kingdom · 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 Fermax, 2026 · TMT, Spain
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.