Buyer landscape

Likely buyers · HR Tech in Ireland.

Prepared 2026-08-29 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. YFM Equity Partners SponsorVery High84

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 inploi, 2026 · HR Tech, UK

2. 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.

Bought Carne from Vitruvian Partners, 2026 · Business Services, Ireland

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. EQT SponsorVery High80

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.

Backed InfoJobs, 2026 · HR Tech, Spain

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. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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 Auren, 2025 · Business Services, Spain

12. 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 Carne, 2026 · Business Services, Ireland

13. 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

14. 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

15. Ardian SponsorVery High76

87 platform investments in Business Services · 1 in Ireland · 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 HR Path from Andera Partners, 2024 · HR Tech, France

16. Apax Partners SponsorVery High76

16 platform investments in Business Services · 21 deals 2024–26

AUM €70.8B · Apax XI · 2024 vintage · deploying · check €221M-1.7B