Buyer landscape
Likely buyers · Cybersecurity in Ireland.
Prepared 2026-08-28 with GP Intel · deterministic scoring, published weights: gp-intel.com/methodology/league-tables
The list: 25 Tier 1 · 0 Tier 2 of 120 matched buyers, including 21 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. EQT SponsorVery High80
40 platform investments in Software & IT · 3 in Ireland · 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 ReliaQuest, 2025 · Cybersecurity, US
2. Permira SponsorVery High80
27 platform investments in Software & IT · 2 in Ireland · 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 BioCatch, 2024 · Cybersecurity, Israel
3. Oakley Capital, Eurazeo, Sagard NewGen (I-Tracing platform) SponsorVery High80
15 platform investments in Software & IT · 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.
Bought Bridewell from Growth Capital Partners, 2025 · Cybersecurity, UK
4. Sophora Unternehmerkapital SponsorVery High80
5 platform investments in Software & IT · 5 deals 2024–26
Sophora Capital Unternehmer-Fonds I · 2023 vintage · deploying · check €1-8M
Accelerating: 4 deals in the last 2 years vs 0.8/yr before.
Backed Argos Security, 2025 · Cybersecurity, Germany
5. Deutsche Beteiligungs SponsorVery High79
13 platform investments in Software & IT · 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 Bug Bounty Switzerland, 2026 · Cybersecurity, Switzerland
6. YFM Equity Partners SponsorVery High79
26 platform investments in Software & IT · 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 Dynarisk, 2025 · Cybersecurity, UK
7. Oakley Capital SponsorVery High79
15 platform investments in Software & IT · 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 Assured Data Protection, 2024 · Cybersecurity, UK
8. Deutsche Beteiligungs AG SponsorVery High78
12 platform investments in Software & IT · 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 Bug Bounty Switzerland, 2026 · Cybersecurity, Switzerland
9. Apax Partners SponsorVery High78
35 platform investments in Software & IT · 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 Vitaprotech from Eurazeo, 2022 · Cybersecurity, France
10. Apax Partners (with NewAlpha) SponsorVery High78
30 platform investments in Software & IT · 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 Vitaprotech, 2022 · Cybersecurity, France
11. Apax Partners and Inova Capital SponsorVery High78
29 platform investments in Software & IT · 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 Vitaprotech, 2022 · Cybersecurity, France
12. Apax Partners and JMI Equity SponsorVery High78
29 platform investments in Software & IT · 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 Vitaprotech, 2022 · Cybersecurity, France
13. Apax Partners SAS SponsorVery High78
29 platform investments in Software & IT · 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 Vitaprotech, 2022 · Cybersecurity, France
14. Hg SponsorVery High78
48 platform investments in Software & IT · 2 in Ireland · 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 A-LIGN, 2025 · Cybersecurity, US
15. Permira Credit SponsorVery High77
25 platform investments in Software & IT · 1 in Ireland · 14 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 BioCatch, 2024 · Cybersecurity, Israel
16. Bregal Milestone SponsorVery High77
16 platform investments in Software & IT · 3 in Ireland · 7 deals 2024–26
AUM €1.3B · Bregal Milestone Fund III · 2026 vintage · deploying · check €18-137M
2 platform investments since the 2026 vintage · early in deployment vs its usual 8 per fund.
Backed TitanHQ, 2025 · Cybersecurity, Ireland
17. Kester Capital SponsorVery High77
7 platform investments in Software & IT · 1 in Ireland · 7 deals 2024–26
Kester Capital IV · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €10-75M
3 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · mid-deployment vs its usual 5 per fund.
Backed Nutritics, 2026 · SaaS, Ireland
18. River Capital SponsorVery High77
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 Deltabase, 2026 · AI/ML, UK
19. Waterland Private Equity SponsorVery High76
18 platform investments in Software & IT · 7 in Ireland · 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 dacoso, 2024 · Cybersecurity, Germany
20. 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 BullWall, 2022 · Cybersecurity, Denmark
21. Growth Capital Partners SponsorVery High76
13 platform investments in Software & IT · 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 SecurityHQ, 2026 · Cybersecurity, UK
22. Queka Real Partners SponsorVery High76
8 platform investments in Software & IT · 8 deals 2024–26
AUM €350M · Queka Real Partners II · 2023 vintage · deploying · check €4-29M
Accelerating: 7 deals in the last 2 years vs 1.5/yr before.
Bought Datos101 from Faraday Venture Capital, 2025 · Cybersecurity, Spain
23. Vitruvian Partners SponsorVery High75
22 platform investments in Software & IT · 1 in Ireland · 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 Cato Networks, 2025 · Cybersecurity, Israel
24. Bowmark Capital SponsorVery High75
22 platform investments in Software & IT · 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 BCIS, 2026 · Data & Analytics, UK
25. BU Bregal Unternehmerkapital Multi-Asset Continuation Fund SponsorVery High75
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
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.