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Buyer landscape

Likely buyers · Mobility in Germany.

Prepared 2026-08-28 with GP Intel · deterministic scoring, published weights: gp-intel.com/methodology/league-tables

How companies like this sold · 493 verified exits: 37% to sponsors, 58% to corporates and platforms, 4% via IPO, 2% other routes. Route shift since 2020: sponsors 27% (was 45%), corporates and platforms 65% (was 51%), IPO 5% (was 3%).

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. DUBAG Group SponsorVery High93

14 platform investments in Industrials · 17 in Germany · 8 deals 2024–26

Lenbach Equity Opportunities III · 2024 vintage · deploying · check €2-12M

Accelerating: 7 deals in the last 2 years vs 1.8/yr before.

Backed ItalPresseGauss, 2026 · Mobility, Italy

2. EQT SponsorVery High83

51 platform investments in Industrials · 40 in Germany · 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 Arlanda Express, 2026 · Mobility, Sweden

3. Armira SponsorVery High83

7 platform investments in Industrials · 23 in Germany · 12 deals 2024–26

AUM €5.0B · Armira III · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €20-150M

8 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · mid-deployment vs its usual 10 per fund.

Backed AVILOO, 2026 · Mobility, Austria

4. Accursia Capital SponsorVery High83

24 platform investments in Industrials · 14 in Germany · 21 deals 2024–26

Accursia Capital Evergreen · 2017 vintage · no newer fund

Accelerating: 17 deals in the last 2 years vs 2.8/yr before.

Backed AIOS Automotive Integrated Overhead Systems, 2026 · Mobility, Germany

5. BU Bregal Unternehmerkapital Multi-Asset Continuation Fund SponsorVery High82

10 platform investments in Industrials · 32 in Germany · 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.

Backed A.Eberle, 2026 · Industrials, Germany

6. BU Bregal Unternehmerkapital SponsorVery High82

10 platform investments in Industrials · 32 in Germany · 14 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.

Backed A.Eberle, 2026 · Industrials, Germany

7. IK Partners SponsorVery High81

75 platform investments in Industrials · 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 SELATEK from Amplio, 2026 · Industrials, Sweden

8. Bpifrance Investissement SponsorVery High81

27 platform investments in Industrials · 35 deals 2024–26

AUM €57.3B · Bpifrance Amorçage Industriel · 2023 vintage · deploying · check €1-8M

Accelerating: 30 deals in the last 2 years vs 4.5/yr before.

Backed Instant System, 2026 · Mobility, France

9. Waterland Private Equity SponsorVery High80

38 platform investments in Industrials · 32 in Germany · 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 Heliox, 2018 · Mobility, Netherlands

10. PAI Partners SponsorVery High80

33 platform investments in Industrials · 11 in Germany · 26 deals 2024–26

AUM €33.0B · PAI Mid-Market Fund II · 2025 vintage · deploying

12 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 10 per fund.

Bought Mecaer Aviation Group from Fondo Italiano d'Investimento SGR, 2026 · Aerospace & Defence, Italy

11. Inflexion (Partnership Capital III) SponsorVery High80

9 platform investments in Industrials · 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.

Bought Salto Systems from Peninsula Capital, 2026 · Industrials, Spain

12. NCI SponsorVery High80

20 platform investments in Industrials · 12 deals 2024–26

AUM €400M · Reprendre & Developper 6 · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €2-15M

8 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · mid-deployment vs its usual 8 per fund.

Backed Starwash, 2026 · Mobility, France

13. Ardian SponsorVery High79

137 platform investments in Industrials · 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 2i Aeroporti, 2015 · Mobility, Italy

14. PAI Partners (Fund VIII) SponsorVery High79

28 platform investments in Industrials · 9 in Germany · 17 deals 2024–26

AUM €33.0B · PAI Mid-Market Fund II · 2025 vintage · deploying

12 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 10 per fund.

Backed Mecaer Aviation Group, 2026 · Aerospace & Defence, Italy

15. PAI Partners (Mid-Market Fund) SponsorVery High79

28 platform investments in Industrials · 9 in Germany · 16 deals 2024–26

AUM €33.0B · PAI Mid-Market Fund II · 2025 vintage · deploying

12 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 10 per fund.

Backed Mecaer Aviation Group, 2026 · Aerospace & Defence, Italy

16. PAI Partners (Mid-Market) SponsorVery High79

28 platform investments in Industrials · 9 in Germany · 16 deals 2024–26

AUM €33.0B · PAI Mid-Market Fund II · 2025 vintage · deploying

12 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 10 per fund.

Backed Mecaer Aviation Group, 2026 · Aerospace & Defence, Italy

17. PAI Partners / ADIA SponsorVery High79

29 platform investments in Industrials · 9 in Germany · 17 deals 2024–26

AUM €33.0B · PAI Mid-Market Fund II · 2025 vintage · deploying

12 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 10 per fund.

Backed Mecaer Aviation Group, 2026 · Aerospace & Defence, Italy

18. PAI Partners and Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan SponsorVery High79

28 platform investments in Industrials · 10 in Germany · 16 deals 2024–26

AUM €33.0B · PAI Mid-Market Fund II · 2025 vintage · deploying

12 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 10 per fund.

Backed Mecaer Aviation Group, 2026 · Aerospace & Defence, Italy

19. Inflexion SponsorVery High79

9 platform investments in Industrials · 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 Aspen Pumps, 2025 · Industrials, UK

20. Ardian, Finint Infrastrutture SponsorVery High78

126 platform investments in Industrials · 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 2i Aeroporti, 2015 · Mobility, Italy

21. IK Partners (IK Small Cap III) SponsorVery High78

70 platform investments in Industrials · 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 Francks Kylindustri, 2025 · Industrials, Sweden

22. IK Partners / GIC / Keensight / Parquest / management SponsorVery High78

71 platform investments in Industrials · 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 Francks Kylindustri, 2025 · Industrials, Sweden

23. Omnes Capital SponsorVery High78

20 platform investments in Industrials · 14 in Germany · 11 deals 2024–26

AUM €6.7B · Capenergie 5 · 2024 vintage · deploying · check €41-308M

11 platform investments since the 2024 vintage · mid-deployment vs its usual 15 per fund.

Backed ARX Robotics, 2025 · Aerospace & Defence, Germany

24. Audacia SponsorVery High78

21 platform investments in Industrials · 1 in Germany · 27 deals 2024–26

AUM €2.8B · Audacia Capital Développement IV · 2023 vintage · deploying · check €4-30M

45 platform investments since the 2023 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 12 per fund.

Backed Geolinks, 2026 · Industrials, France

25. Altor Equity Partners SponsorVery High78

28 platform investments in Industrials · 4 in Germany · 12 deals 2024–26

AUM €8.3B · Altor Fund VI · 2023 vintage · deploying · check €60-450M

16 platform investments since the 2023 vintage · mid-deployment vs its usual 18 per fund.

Backed ElteraGruppen, 2026 · Construction, Norway

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.