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Buyer landscape

Likely buyers · AdTech in Italy.

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

How companies like this sold · 28 verified exits: 36% to sponsors, 61% to corporates and platforms, 4% other routes. Route shift since 2020: sponsors 29% (was 24%), corporates and platforms 64% (was 67%), IPO 4% (was 9%) (sector-wide).

The list: 25 Tier 1 · 0 Tier 2 of 120 matched buyers. 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. Bridgepoint SponsorVery High83

53 platform investments in TMT & Media · 2 in Italy · 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.

Bought Samy from Inveready Asset Management, 2025 · AdTech, Spain

2. Ardian, Finint Infrastrutture SponsorVery High79

64 platform investments in TMT & Media · 48 in Italy · 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 Fermax, 2026 · TMT, Spain

3. Bridgepoint Development Capital SponsorVery High78

46 platform investments in TMT & Media · 1 in Italy · 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 Samy, 2025 · AdTech, Spain

4. Bridgepoint (52.5% majority stake) SponsorVery High78

45 platform investments in TMT & Media · 1 in Italy · 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 Samy, 2025 · AdTech, Spain

5. Bridgepoint BE VII + General Atlantic SponsorVery High78

46 platform investments in TMT & Media · 1 in Italy · 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 Samy, 2025 · AdTech, Spain

6. Bridgepoint Capital SponsorVery High78

45 platform investments in TMT & Media · 1 in Italy · 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 Samy, 2025 · AdTech, Spain

7. Bridgepoint Capital Developpement SponsorVery High78

45 platform investments in TMT & Media · 1 in Italy · 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 Samy, 2025 · AdTech, Spain

8. Bridgepoint Development Capital (with Paluel-Marmont Capital & LT Capital) SponsorVery High78

45 platform investments in TMT & Media · 1 in Italy · 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 Samy, 2025 · AdTech, Spain

9. Ardian SponsorVery High77

70 platform investments in TMT & Media · 57 in Italy · 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 Jakala from The Equity Club, 2021 · AdTech, Italy

10. Ardian Clean Energy Evergreen Fund SponsorVery High77

64 platform investments in TMT & Media · 48 in Italy · 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 Fermax, 2026 · TMT, Spain

11. Ardian Mid Cap Buyout SponsorVery High77

64 platform investments in TMT & Media · 47 in Italy · 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 Fermax, 2026 · TMT, Spain

12. Ardian (Clean Energy Evergreen Fund) SponsorVery High77

64 platform investments in TMT & Media · 47 in Italy · 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 Fermax, 2026 · TMT, Spain

13. Ardian (ex-AXA Private Equity) SponsorVery High77

64 platform investments in TMT & Media · 47 in Italy · 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 Fermax, 2026 · TMT, Spain

14. Ardian / Crédit Agricole Assurances consortium SponsorVery High77

64 platform investments in TMT & Media · 48 in Italy · 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 Fermax, 2026 · TMT, Spain

15. Ardian + Tikehau Capital + EMZ consortium (Bpifrance + Amundi + Siparex) SponsorVery High77

64 platform investments in TMT & Media · 47 in Italy · 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 Fermax, 2026 · TMT, Spain

16. Ardian and Centerbridge Partners SponsorVery High77

64 platform investments in TMT & Media · 47 in Italy · 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 Fermax, 2026 · TMT, Spain

17. Ardian and GoldenTree Asset Management SponsorVery High77

64 platform investments in TMT & Media · 47 in Italy · 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 Fermax, 2026 · TMT, Spain

18. Ardian and Latour Capital SponsorVery High77

64 platform investments in TMT & Media · 47 in Italy · 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 Fermax, 2026 · TMT, Spain

19. Ardian Expansion SponsorVery High77

64 platform investments in TMT & Media · 47 in Italy · 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 Fermax, 2026 · TMT, Spain

20. Ardian Expansion (Fund V) SponsorVery High77

64 platform investments in TMT & Media · 47 in Italy · 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 Fermax, 2026 · TMT, Spain

21. Ardian Semiconductor SponsorVery High77

64 platform investments in TMT & Media · 47 in Italy · 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 Fermax, 2026 · TMT, Spain

22. Ardian Tikehau EMZ consortium SponsorVery High77

64 platform investments in TMT & Media · 47 in Italy · 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 Fermax, 2026 · TMT, Spain

23. BU Bregal Unternehmerkapital Multi-Asset Continuation Fund SponsorVery High73

2 platform investments in TMT & Media · 5 in Italy · 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 Flipp, 2024 · AdTech, Canada

24. BU Bregal Unternehmerkapital SponsorVery High73

3 platform investments in TMT & Media · 4 in Italy · 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 Flipp, 2024 · AdTech, Canada

25. NextStage AM SponsorVery High72

79 platform investments in TMT & Media · 21 deals 2024–26

AUM €11.6B · FCPI NextStage CAP 2026 · 2026 vintage · deploying

5 platform investments since the 2026 vintage · early in deployment vs its usual 14 per fund.

Backed Bichard Equipement, 2025 · TMT, 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.