Buyer landscape
Likely buyers · Financials in Germany.
Prepared 2026-08-28 with GP Intel · deterministic scoring, published weights: gp-intel.com/methodology/league-tables
How companies like this sold · 84 verified exits: 13% to sponsors, 83% to corporates and platforms, 2% via IPO, 1% other routes. Route shift since 2020: sponsors 23% (was 31%), corporates and platforms 69% (was 61%), IPO 7% (was 8%) (sector-wide).
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. IK Partners SponsorVery High95
18 platform investments in Fintech & Financials · 34 in Germany · 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.
Bought Domek Group from Capital A Investment Partners, 2026 · Financials, Netherlands
2. IK Partners (IK Small Cap III) SponsorVery High93
15 platform investments in Fintech & Financials · 32 in Germany · 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 Domek Group, 2026 · Financials, Netherlands
3. IK Partners / GIC / Keensight / Parquest / management SponsorVery High93
14 platform investments in Fintech & Financials · 32 in Germany · 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 Domek Group, 2026 · Financials, Netherlands
4. Inflexion SponsorVery High92
7 platform investments in Fintech & Financials · 5 in Germany · 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 Ascend Insurance Holdings, 2026 · Financials, UK
5. Inflexion (Partnership Capital III) SponsorVery High91
7 platform investments in Fintech & Financials · 4 in Germany · 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 Ascend Insurance Holdings, 2026 · Financials, UK
6. Bridgepoint SponsorVery High87
19 platform investments in Fintech & Financials · 9 in Germany · 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.
Backed Interpath Advisory, 2026 · Financials, UK
7. Bridgepoint Development Capital SponsorVery High87
17 platform investments in Fintech & Financials · 6 in Germany · 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 Interpath Advisory, 2026 · Financials, UK
8. Bridgepoint (52.5% majority stake) SponsorVery High87
18 platform investments in Fintech & Financials · 6 in Germany · 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 Interpath Advisory, 2026 · Financials, UK
9. Bridgepoint BE VII + General Atlantic SponsorVery High87
17 platform investments in Fintech & Financials · 6 in Germany · 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 Interpath Advisory, 2026 · Financials, UK
10. Bridgepoint Capital SponsorVery High87
17 platform investments in Fintech & Financials · 6 in Germany · 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 Interpath Advisory, 2026 · Financials, UK
11. Bridgepoint Capital Developpement SponsorVery High87
17 platform investments in Fintech & Financials · 6 in Germany · 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 Interpath Advisory, 2026 · Financials, UK
12. Bridgepoint Development Capital (with Paluel-Marmont Capital & LT Capital) SponsorVery High87
17 platform investments in Fintech & Financials · 6 in Germany · 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 Interpath Advisory, 2026 · Financials, UK
13. Ardian SponsorVery High81
15 platform investments in Fintech & Financials · 50 in Germany · 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.
Backed ISC, 2025 · Financials, US
14. Apax Partners SponsorVery High81
15 platform investments in Fintech & Financials · 6 in Germany · 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 Evelyn Partners (S&W Group), 2025 · Financials, UK
15. Apax Partners (with NewAlpha) SponsorVery High81
11 platform investments in Fintech & Financials · 6 in Germany · 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 Evelyn Partners (S&W Group), 2025 · Financials, UK
16. Apax Partners and Inova Capital SponsorVery High81
11 platform investments in Fintech & Financials · 6 in Germany · 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 Evelyn Partners (S&W Group), 2025 · Financials, UK
17. Apax Partners and JMI Equity SponsorVery High81
11 platform investments in Fintech & Financials · 6 in Germany · 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 Evelyn Partners (S&W Group), 2025 · Financials, UK
18. Apax Partners SAS SponsorVery High81
11 platform investments in Fintech & Financials · 6 in Germany · 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 Evelyn Partners (S&W Group), 2025 · Financials, UK
19. Vitruvian Partners SponsorVery High79
17 platform investments in Fintech & Financials · 9 in Germany · 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 Africa Specialty Risks, 2026 · Financials, UK
20. Permira SponsorVery High76
10 platform investments in Fintech & Financials · 13 in Germany · 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.
Backed AltamarCAM, 2024 · Financials, Spain
21. Ardian Clean Energy Evergreen Fund SponsorVery High75
11 platform investments in Fintech & Financials · 45 in Germany · 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 ISC, 2025 · Financials, US
22. Ardian Mid Cap Buyout SponsorVery High75
11 platform investments in Fintech & Financials · 45 in Germany · 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 ISC, 2025 · Financials, US
23. Ardian (Clean Energy Evergreen Fund) SponsorVery High75
11 platform investments in Fintech & Financials · 45 in Germany · 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 ISC, 2025 · Financials, US
24. Ardian (ex-AXA Private Equity) SponsorVery High75
11 platform investments in Fintech & Financials · 45 in Germany · 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 ISC, 2025 · Financials, US
25. Ardian / Crédit Agricole Assurances consortium SponsorVery High75
11 platform investments in Fintech & Financials · 45 in Germany · 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 ISC, 2025 · Financials, US
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.