Buyer landscape
Likely buyers · EdTech in Ireland.
Prepared 2026-09-02 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 7 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. Permira SponsorVery High82
19 platform investments in Business Services · 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 Curriculum Associates, 2017 · EdTech, US
2. MML Capital SponsorVery High81
20 platform investments in Business Services · 4 in Ireland · 16 deals 2024–26
AUM €2.0B · MML Dorchester SCSp · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €13-95M
8 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 7 per fund.
Backed Coptersafety, 2026 · Education, Finland
3. MML Capital + Bpifrance SponsorVery High81
21 platform investments in Business Services · 4 in Ireland · 15 deals 2024–26
AUM €2.0B · MML Dorchester SCSp · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €13-95M
8 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 7 per fund.
Backed Coptersafety, 2026 · Education, Finland
4. MML Capital Partners SponsorVery High81
20 platform investments in Business Services · 4 in Ireland · 15 deals 2024–26
AUM €2.0B · MML Dorchester SCSp · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €13-95M
8 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 7 per fund.
Backed Coptersafety, 2026 · Education, Finland
5. YFM Equity Partners SponsorVery High79
15 platform investments in Business Services · 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 Elucidat, 2019 · EdTech, UK
6. NORD Holding SponsorVery High78
7 platform investments in Business Services · 15 deals 2024–26
AUM €5.0B · NORD Holding all inclusive Fitness Continuation Fund · 2026 vintage · deploying
Accelerating: 13 deals in the last 2 years vs 2.5/yr before.
Backed IBB Institut fuer Berufliche Bildung AG, 2026 · Business Services, Germany
7. Inspirit Capital SponsorVery High78
9 platform investments in Business Services · 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 Capita Private Sector Contact Centre Business, 2026 · Business Services, UK
8. EQT SponsorVery High77
37 platform investments in Business Services · 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.
Bought itslearning from Creandum, 2013 · EdTech, Norway
9. IK Partners SponsorVery High77
50 platform investments in Business Services · 1 in Ireland · 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 Selatek, 2026 · Business Services, Sweden
10. IK Partners (IK Small Cap III) SponsorVery High77
46 platform investments in Business Services · 1 in Ireland · 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 Selatek, 2026 · Business Services, Sweden
11. IK Partners / GIC / Keensight / Parquest / management SponsorVery High77
46 platform investments in Business Services · 1 in Ireland · 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 Selatek, 2026 · Business Services, Sweden
12. Waterland Private Equity SponsorVery High77
41 platform investments in Business Services · 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 The Rent Company, 2019 · EdTech, Netherlands
13. Vitruvian Partners SponsorVery High77
12 platform investments in Business Services · 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 K12 Techno, 2026 · EdTech, India
14. Permira Credit SponsorVery High77
16 platform investments in Business Services · 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 Curriculum Associates, 2017 · EdTech, US
15. Inflexion SponsorVery High77
20 platform investments in Business Services · 1 in Ireland · 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 Ranger Fire & Security, 2026 · Business Services, UK
16. Inflexion (Partnership Capital III) SponsorVery High77
18 platform investments in Business Services · 1 in Ireland · 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 Ranger Fire & Security, 2026 · Business Services, UK
17. CBPE Capital SponsorVery High76
7 platform investments in Business Services · 1 in Ireland · 8 deals 2024–26
AUM €1.7B · CBPE Fund XI · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €17-125M
5 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · mid-deployment vs its usual 7 per fund.
Backed Brookbanks Consulting, 2026 · Business Services, UK
18. Queen's Park Equity SponsorVery High76
5 platform investments in Business Services · 7 deals 2024–26
AUM €236M · QPE Fund II · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €7-53M
5 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · mid-deployment vs its usual 8 per fund.
Backed Wordwall, 2025 · EdTech, UK
19. Bridgepoint SponsorVery High75
20 platform investments in Business Services · 1 in Ireland · 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 Exile Group, 2026 · Business Services, UK
20. Bridgepoint Development Capital SponsorVery High75
24 platform investments in Business Services · 1 in Ireland · 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 Exile Group, 2026 · Business Services, UK
21. Bridgepoint (52.5% majority stake) SponsorVery High75
19 platform investments in Business Services · 1 in Ireland · 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 Exile Group, 2026 · Business Services, UK
22. Bridgepoint BE VII + General Atlantic SponsorVery High75
19 platform investments in Business Services · 1 in Ireland · 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 Exile Group, 2026 · Business Services, UK
23. Bridgepoint Capital SponsorVery High75
19 platform investments in Business Services · 1 in Ireland · 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 Exile Group, 2026 · Business Services, UK
24. Bridgepoint Capital Developpement SponsorVery High75
19 platform investments in Business Services · 1 in Ireland · 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 Exile Group, 2026 · Business Services, UK
25. Bridgepoint Development Capital (with Paluel-Marmont Capital & LT Capital) SponsorVery High75
20 platform investments in Business Services · 1 in Ireland · 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 Exile Group, 2026 · Business Services, 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.