Buyer landscape
Likely buyers · Agriculture in France.
Prepared 2026-09-29 with GP Intel · deterministic scoring, published weights: gp-intel.com/methodology/league-tables
How companies like this sold · 147 verified exits: 34% to sponsors, 63% to corporates and platforms, 2% via IPO, 1% other routes. Route shift since 2020: sponsors 32% (was 38%), corporates and platforms 64% (was 60%), IPO 2% (was 2%).
The list: 25 Tier 1 · 0 Tier 2 of 120 matched buyers, including 3 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. Idia SponsorVery High94
53 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 126 in France · 27 deals 2024–26
AUM €2.4B · Crédit Agricole Assurances Avenir et Territoires · 2026 vintage · deploying · check €2-15M
5 platform investments since the 2026 vintage · early in deployment vs its usual 25 per fund.
Backed GROUPE INESSENS, 2026 · Agriculture, France
2. Citizen Capital SponsorVery High90
11 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 49 in France · 10 deals 2024–26
AUM €235M · Citizen CIS · 2023 vintage · deploying · check €0-2M
11 platform investments since the 2023 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 8 per fund.
Backed Cuisinons nos Paysages, 2026 · Agriculture, France
3. Ring Capital SponsorVery High87
11 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 52 in France · 32 deals 2024–26
AUM €470M · Ring Altitude II · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €4-33M
17 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 13 per fund.
Backed Enerin, 2026 · ClimateTech, Norway
4. Finorpa Gestion SponsorVery High84
6 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 97 in France · 29 deals 2024–26
Hauts-de-France Avenir TPE PME · 2026 vintage · deploying
8 platform investments since the 2026 vintage · early in deployment vs its usual 32 per fund.
Backed Delecroix Harvesting, 2025 · Agriculture, France
5. RGreen Invest SponsorVery High84
17 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 7 in France · 8 deals 2024–26
AUM €2.5B · INFRABRIDGE IV · 2026 vintage · deploying · check €10-75M
3 platform investments since the 2026 vintage · mid-deployment vs its usual 4 per fund.
Backed Geogreen, 2026 · Energy, France
6. Ardian SponsorVery High83
53 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 249 in France · 52 deals 2024–26
AUM €196.0B · Ardian Expansion Fund VI · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €64-480M
14 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · mid-deployment vs its usual 15 per fund.
Bought CÉRÉLIA from Capza, 2020 · Agriculture, France
7. Cerea Partners SponsorVery High83
11 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 49 in France · 15 deals 2024–26
AUM €1.5B · Cerea Agro Dev Industrie · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €5-38M
8 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 8 per fund.
Backed Groupe Isnard, 2024 · Agriculture, France
8. Eiffel Investment Group, Mirova SponsorVery High82
23 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 11 in France · 15 deals 2024–26
AUM €7.0B · Eiffel Energy Transition III · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €24-180M
8 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 7 per fund.
Backed British Solar Renewables, 2026 · Energy, UK
9. Turenne Groupe SponsorVery High81
19 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 311 in France · 34 deals 2024–26
AUM €2.0B · Capital Sante 3 · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €3-21M
20 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · early in deployment vs its usual 80 per fund.
Backed ADVITAM PARTICIPATIONS, 2024 · Agriculture, France
10. Edmond de Rothschild Private Equity (France) SponsorVery High81
11 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 16 in France · 16 deals 2024–26
AUM €4.3B · Amethis Fund III · 2023 vintage · deploying · check €8-61M
23 platform investments since the 2023 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 7 per fund.
Backed BH Holding, 2025 · Agriculture, Morocco
11. Aurae Impact SponsorVery High81
3 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 6 in France · 8 deals 2024–26
AUM €20M · Aurae Impact Fund · 2023 vintage · deploying · check €0-3M
Accelerating: 6 deals in the last 2 years vs 0.5/yr before.
Backed Bioline AgroSciences, 2025 · Agriculture, UK
12. Ardian Clean Energy Evergreen Fund SponsorVery High80
51 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 223 in France · 45 deals 2024–26
AUM €196.0B · Ardian Expansion Fund VI · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €64-480M
14 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · mid-deployment vs its usual 15 per fund.
Backed DRT, 2018 · Agriculture, France
13. Ardian Mid Cap Buyout SponsorVery High80
49 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 222 in France · 43 deals 2024–26
AUM €196.0B · Ardian Expansion Fund VI · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €64-480M
14 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · mid-deployment vs its usual 15 per fund.
Backed DRT, 2018 · Agriculture, France
14. Ardian (Clean Energy Evergreen Fund) SponsorVery High80
50 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 222 in France · 44 deals 2024–26
AUM €196.0B · Ardian Expansion Fund VI · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €64-480M
14 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · mid-deployment vs its usual 15 per fund.
Backed DRT, 2018 · Agriculture, France
15. Ardian (ex-AXA Private Equity) SponsorVery High80
49 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 222 in France · 43 deals 2024–26
AUM €196.0B · Ardian Expansion Fund VI · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €64-480M
14 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · mid-deployment vs its usual 15 per fund.
Backed DRT, 2018 · Agriculture, France
16. Ardian / Crédit Agricole Assurances consortium SponsorVery High80
49 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 221 in France · 43 deals 2024–26
AUM €196.0B · Ardian Expansion Fund VI · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €64-480M
14 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · mid-deployment vs its usual 15 per fund.
Backed DRT, 2018 · Agriculture, France
17. Ardian + Tikehau Capital + EMZ consortium (Bpifrance + Amundi + Siparex) SponsorVery High80
49 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 222 in France · 44 deals 2024–26
AUM €196.0B · Ardian Expansion Fund VI · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €64-480M
14 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · mid-deployment vs its usual 15 per fund.
Backed DRT, 2018 · Agriculture, France
18. Ardian and Centerbridge Partners SponsorVery High80
49 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 222 in France · 43 deals 2024–26
AUM €196.0B · Ardian Expansion Fund VI · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €64-480M
14 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · mid-deployment vs its usual 15 per fund.
Backed DRT, 2018 · Agriculture, France
19. Ardian and GoldenTree Asset Management SponsorVery High80
49 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 221 in France · 43 deals 2024–26
AUM €196.0B · Ardian Expansion Fund VI · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €64-480M
14 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · mid-deployment vs its usual 15 per fund.
Backed DRT, 2018 · Agriculture, France
20. Ardian and Latour Capital SponsorVery High80
49 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 222 in France · 43 deals 2024–26
AUM €196.0B · Ardian Expansion Fund VI · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €64-480M
14 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · mid-deployment vs its usual 15 per fund.
Backed DRT, 2018 · Agriculture, France
21. Ardian Expansion SponsorVery High80
49 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 222 in France · 43 deals 2024–26
AUM €196.0B · Ardian Expansion Fund VI · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €64-480M
14 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · mid-deployment vs its usual 15 per fund.
Backed DRT, 2018 · Agriculture, France
22. Ardian Expansion (Fund V) SponsorVery High80
49 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 222 in France · 43 deals 2024–26
AUM €196.0B · Ardian Expansion Fund VI · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €64-480M
14 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · mid-deployment vs its usual 15 per fund.
Backed DRT, 2018 · Agriculture, France
23. Ardian Semiconductor SponsorVery High80
49 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 222 in France · 44 deals 2024–26
AUM €196.0B · Ardian Expansion Fund VI · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €64-480M
14 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · mid-deployment vs its usual 15 per fund.
Backed DRT, 2018 · Agriculture, France
24. Ardian Tikehau EMZ consortium SponsorVery High80
49 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 222 in France · 43 deals 2024–26
AUM €196.0B · Ardian Expansion Fund VI · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €64-480M
14 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · mid-deployment vs its usual 15 per fund.
Backed DRT, 2018 · Agriculture, France
25. Ardian, Finint Infrastrutture SponsorVery High80
49 platform investments in Energy & Climate · 221 in France · 44 deals 2024–26
AUM €196.0B · Ardian Expansion Fund VI · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €64-480M
14 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · mid-deployment vs its usual 15 per fund.
Backed DRT, 2018 · Agriculture, 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.