Buyer landscape
Likely buyers · Agriculture 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 · 56 verified exits: 14% to sponsors, 82% to corporates and platforms, 2% via IPO, 2% other routes. Route shift since 2020: sponsors 27% (was 28%), corporates and platforms 69% (was 66%), IPO 4% (was 6%) (sector-wide).
The list: 25 Tier 1 · 0 Tier 2 of 120 matched buyers, including 4 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. Idia SponsorVery High84
53 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 27 deals 2024–26
AUM €2.4B · Crédit Agricole Assurances Avenir et Territoires · 2026 vintage · deploying · check €2-15M
5 platform investments since the 2026 vintage · early in deployment vs its usual 25 per fund.
Backed GROUPE INESSENS, 2026 · Agriculture, France
2. Eiffel Investment Group, Mirova SponsorVery High82
23 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 1 in United Kingdom · 15 deals 2024–26
AUM €7.0B · Eiffel Energy Transition III · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €24-180M
8 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 7 per fund.
Backed British Solar Renewables, 2026 · Energy, UK
3. Just Climate SponsorVery High82
9 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 2 in United Kingdom · 11 deals 2024–26
AUM €1.7B · Natural Climate Solutions Strategy · 2024 vintage · deploying · check €7-52M
Accelerating: 9 deals in the last 2 years vs 1.5/yr before.
Backed Afresh, 2026 · AgTech, US
4. Citizen Capital SponsorVery High79
11 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 10 deals 2024–26
AUM €235M · Citizen CIS · 2023 vintage · deploying · check €0-2M
11 platform investments since the 2023 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 8 per fund.
Backed Cuisinons nos Paysages, 2026 · Agriculture, France
5. RGreen Invest SponsorVery High79
17 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 1 in United Kingdom · 8 deals 2024–26
AUM €2.5B · INFRABRIDGE IV · 2026 vintage · deploying · check €10-75M
3 platform investments since the 2026 vintage · mid-deployment vs its usual 4 per fund.
Backed Geogreen, 2026 · Energy, France
6. EQT SponsorVery High77
29 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 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 Calisen, 2025 · Energy, UK
7. YFM Equity Partners SponsorVery High77
4 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 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 StormHarvester, 2025 · ClimateTech, UK
8. Swanlaab Venture Factory SponsorVery High77
6 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 18 deals 2024–26
Swanlaab Innvierte Agrifood Tech · 2024 vintage · deploying
Accelerating: 15 deals in the last 2 years vs 1.3/yr before.
Backed Granular Products, 2024 · Agriculture, Australia
9. Ardian SponsorVery High76
53 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 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 CÉRÉLIA from Capza, 2020 · Agriculture, France
10. Waterland Private Equity SponsorVery High76
7 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 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 Argona, 2025 · ClimateTech, Belgium
11. Ring Capital SponsorVery High76
11 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 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 Enerin, 2026 · ClimateTech, Norway
12. Aurae Impact SponsorVery High76
3 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 1 in United Kingdom · 8 deals 2024–26
AUM €20M · Aurae Impact Fund · 2023 vintage · deploying · check €0-3M
Accelerating: 6 deals in the last 2 years vs 0.5/yr before.
Backed Bioline AgroSciences, 2025 · Agriculture, UK
13. Edmond de Rothschild Private Equity (France) SponsorVery High75
11 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 1 in United Kingdom · 11 deals 2024–26
AUM €4.3B · Amethis Fund III · 2023 vintage · deploying · check €8-61M
18 platform investments since the 2023 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 6 per fund.
Backed BH Holding, 2025 · Agriculture, Morocco
14. Asterion Industrial Partners SponsorVery High75
12 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 4 in United Kingdom · 8 deals 2024–26
AUM €10.0B · Asterion Industrial Infra Fund III · 2024 vintage · deploying · check €68-510M
7 platform investments since the 2024 vintage · mid-deployment vs its usual 8 per fund.
Backed Southern Water, 2026 · Energy, UK
15. Inspirit Capital SponsorVery High75
6 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 21 in United Kingdom · 7 deals 2024–26
Inspirit Fund II · 2023 vintage · deploying · check €2-13M
12 platform investments since the 2023 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 11 per fund.
Backed Spaldings, 2022 · Agriculture, UK
16. Ardian Clean Energy Evergreen Fund SponsorVery High74
51 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 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 DRT, 2018 · Agriculture, France
17. Ardian Mid Cap Buyout SponsorVery High74
49 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 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 DRT, 2018 · Agriculture, France
18. Ardian (Clean Energy Evergreen Fund) SponsorVery High74
50 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 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 DRT, 2018 · Agriculture, France
19. Ardian (ex-AXA Private Equity) SponsorVery High74
49 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 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 DRT, 2018 · Agriculture, France
20. Ardian / Crédit Agricole Assurances consortium SponsorVery High74
49 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 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 DRT, 2018 · Agriculture, France
21. Ardian + Tikehau Capital + EMZ consortium (Bpifrance + Amundi + Siparex) SponsorVery High74
49 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 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 DRT, 2018 · Agriculture, France
22. Ardian and Centerbridge Partners SponsorVery High74
49 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 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 DRT, 2018 · Agriculture, France
23. Ardian and GoldenTree Asset Management SponsorVery High74
49 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 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 DRT, 2018 · Agriculture, France
24. Ardian and Latour Capital SponsorVery High74
49 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 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 DRT, 2018 · Agriculture, France
25. Ardian Expansion SponsorVery High74
49 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 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 DRT, 2018 · Agriculture, France
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.