Likely buyers · Aerospace & Defence in Ireland.

1. Bpifrance Investissement SponsorVery High85

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 Novakamp, 2026 · Aerospace & Defence, France

2. PAI Partners SponsorVery High84

33 platform investments in Industrials · 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

3. Waterland Private Equity SponsorVery High82

38 platform investments in Industrials · 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 Celestia, 2021 · Aerospace & Defence, Netherlands

4. DUBAG Group SponsorVery High81

14 platform investments in Industrials · 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 HTSP (Holcim Technical Solutions and Products), 2026 · Aerospace & Defence, Germany

5. FLEXAM INVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT SponsorVery High81

5 platform investments in Industrials · 1 in Ireland · 7 deals 2024–26

AUM €287M · Kartesia Asset Finance III · 2024 vintage · deploying · check €4-30M

Accelerating: 6 deals in the last 2 years vs 0.5/yr before.

Backed Aeronautical Financial Ireland, 2025 · Aerospace & Defence, Ireland

6. Omnes Capital SponsorVery High79

20 platform investments in Industrials · 2 in Ireland · 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

7. PAI Partners (Fund VIII) SponsorVery High79

28 platform investments in Industrials · 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

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

28 platform investments in Industrials · 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

9. PAI Partners (Mid-Market) SponsorVery High79

28 platform investments in Industrials · 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

10. PAI Partners / ADIA SponsorVery High79

29 platform investments in Industrials · 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

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

28 platform investments in Industrials · 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

12. Sodero Gestion, CENCD SponsorVery High79

16 platform investments in Industrials · 22 deals 2024–26

AUM €350M · Transmettre & Pérenniser III · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €2-15M

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

Backed Coraxes, 2025 · Aerospace & Defence, France

13. EQT SponsorVery High78

51 platform investments in Industrials · 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 Ocea Group from ICG, 2024 · Aerospace & Defence, France

14. Ardian SponsorVery High77

137 platform investments in Industrials · 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.

Backed Munich Electrification, 2026 · Industrials, Germany

15. Ardian, Finint Infrastrutture SponsorVery High77

126 platform investments in Industrials · 1 in Ireland · 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 Munich Electrification, 2026 · Industrials, Germany

16. IK Partners SponsorVery High77

75 platform investments in Industrials · 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.

Bought SELATEK from Amplio, 2026 · Industrials, Sweden

17. Inflexion (Partnership Capital III) SponsorVery High77

9 platform investments in Industrials · 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.

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

18. InnovaFonds SponsorVery High77

50 platform investments in Industrials · 18 deals 2024–26

AUM €600M · Fonds Industries et Technologies III · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €4-32M

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

Bought Fleuret from iXO Private Equity, 2025 · Aerospace & Defence, France

19. Altor Equity Partners SponsorVery High76

28 platform investments in Industrials · 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

20. MML Capital SponsorVery High76

18 platform investments in Industrials · 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.

Bought LVO Groupe from TRAIL, 2025 · Industrials, France

21. FCDE SponsorVery High76

11 platform investments in Industrials · 5 deals 2024–26

AUM €604M · FCDE Fund III · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €8-60M

3 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · early in deployment vs its usual 7 per fund.

Backed HEMERIA, 2026 · Aerospace & Defence, France

22. Armira SponsorVery High76

7 platform investments in Industrials · 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 TYTAN Technologies, 2026 · Aerospace & Defence, Germany

23. IGI Private Equity SponsorVery High76

18 platform investments in Industrials · 8 deals 2024–26

AUM €169M · IGI Sustainable Transition Fund · 2024 vintage · deploying

Accelerating: 6 deals in the last 2 years vs 1.3/yr before.

Backed WeBlade, 2026 · Industrials, Italy

24. Ardian Clean Energy Evergreen Fund SponsorVery High75

126 platform investments in Industrials · 1 in Ireland · 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 Munich Electrification, 2026 · Industrials, Germany

25. Ardian Mid Cap Buyout SponsorVery High75

126 platform investments in Industrials · 1 in Ireland · 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 Munich Electrification, 2026 · Industrials, Germany