Buyer landscape
Likely buyers · Education in France.
Prepared 2026-08-28 with GP Intel · deterministic scoring, published weights: gp-intel.com/methodology/league-tables
How companies like this sold · 369 verified exits: 54% to sponsors, 45% to corporates and platforms, 0% via IPO, 1% other routes. Route shift since 2020: sponsors 51% (was 59%), corporates and platforms 47% (was 40%), IPO 0% (was 1%).
The list: 25 Tier 1 · 0 Tier 2 of 120 matched buyers, including 5 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. EQT SponsorVery High84
37 platform investments in Business Services · 12 in France · 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 Nord Anglia Education, 2025 · Education, Hong Kong
2. PAI Partners SponsorVery High84
27 platform investments in Business Services · 68 in France · 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.
Backed Arlettie, 2026 · Business Services, France
3. MML Capital SponsorVery High84
20 platform investments in Business Services · 13 in France · 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. Charterhouse Capital Partners SponsorVery High84
23 platform investments in Business Services · 26 in France · 10 deals 2024–26
AUM €7.0B · Charterhouse Capital Partners XI · 2023 vintage · deploying · check €28-210M
10 platform investments since the 2023 vintage · mid-deployment vs its usual 14 per fund.
Backed Metrodora, 2024 · Education, Spain
5. Turenne Groupe SponsorVery High83
37 platform investments in Business Services · 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 NEXT-U, 2021 · Education, France
6. MML Capital + Bpifrance SponsorVery High83
21 platform investments in Business Services · 13 in France · 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
7. MML Capital Partners SponsorVery High83
20 platform investments in Business Services · 12 in France · 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
8. Isai Gestion SponsorVery High82
6 platform investments in Business Services · 111 in France · 30 deals 2024–26
AUM €458M · ISAI Expansion III · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €6-45M
23 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 20 per fund.
Backed APL Data Center, 2026 · Business Services, France
9. PAI Partners (Fund VIII) SponsorVery High82
24 platform investments in Business Services · 51 in France · 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 Arlettie, 2026 · Business Services, France
10. PAI Partners (Mid-Market Fund) SponsorVery High82
25 platform investments in Business Services · 50 in France · 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 Arlettie, 2026 · Business Services, France
11. PAI Partners (Mid-Market) SponsorVery High82
24 platform investments in Business Services · 51 in France · 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 Arlettie, 2026 · Business Services, France
12. PAI Partners / ADIA SponsorVery High82
24 platform investments in Business Services · 51 in France · 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 Arlettie, 2026 · Business Services, France
13. PAI Partners and Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan SponsorVery High82
24 platform investments in Business Services · 50 in France · 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 Arlettie, 2026 · Business Services, France
14. IK Partners SponsorVery High81
50 platform investments in Business Services · 82 in France · 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 Skill & You from Andera Partners, 2021 · Education, France
15. IK Partners (IK Small Cap III) SponsorVery High81
46 platform investments in Business Services · 65 in France · 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 Skill & You, 2021 · Education, France
16. IK Partners / GIC / Keensight / Parquest / management SponsorVery High81
46 platform investments in Business Services · 65 in France · 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 Skill & You, 2021 · Education, France
17. NextStage AM SponsorVery High81
30 platform investments in Business Services · 142 in France · 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 ABATILLES, 2026 · Business Services, France
18. NextStage AM, BNP Développement, Bpifrance and management SponsorVery High81
30 platform investments in Business Services · 141 in France · 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 ABATILLES, 2026 · Business Services, France
19. Initiative & Finance SponsorVery High81
31 platform investments in Business Services · 94 in France · 11 deals 2024–26
AUM €800M · Initiative & Finance PME IV · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €5-36M
8 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · early in deployment vs its usual 18 per fund.
Backed OPUS FORMATION, 2026 · Business Services, France
20. Initiative & Finance (FCPR I) with Thierry Suin (MBO) SponsorVery High81
31 platform investments in Business Services · 93 in France · 11 deals 2024–26
AUM €800M · Initiative & Finance PME IV · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €5-36M
8 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · early in deployment vs its usual 18 per fund.
Backed OPUS FORMATION, 2026 · Business Services, France
21. Initiative & Finance + Turenne + Nord Capital SponsorVery High81
31 platform investments in Business Services · 93 in France · 11 deals 2024–26
AUM €800M · Initiative & Finance PME IV · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €5-36M
8 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · early in deployment vs its usual 18 per fund.
Backed OPUS FORMATION, 2026 · Business Services, France
22. Initiative & Finance and Viveris Management SponsorVery High81
31 platform investments in Business Services · 93 in France · 11 deals 2024–26
AUM €800M · Initiative & Finance PME IV · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €5-36M
8 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · early in deployment vs its usual 18 per fund.
Backed OPUS FORMATION, 2026 · Business Services, France
23. Initiative & Finance, Bpifrance, GSO Capital and IDIA Capital Investissement SponsorVery High81
32 platform investments in Business Services · 93 in France · 11 deals 2024–26
AUM €800M · Initiative & Finance PME IV · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €5-36M
8 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · early in deployment vs its usual 18 per fund.
Backed OPUS FORMATION, 2026 · Business Services, France
24. Montyon Capital SponsorVery High81
3 platform investments in Business Services · 11 in France · 11 deals 2024–26
Montyon Capital I · 2024 vintage · deploying
Active in France since 2025.
Bought Trigo from Ardian, 2026 · Business Services, France
25. Triton Partners SponsorVery High80
35 platform investments in Business Services · 3 in France · 10 deals 2024–26
AUM €18.5B · Triton Fund VI · 2026 vintage · deploying · check €110-825M
3 platform investments since the 2026 vintage · early in deployment vs its usual 11 per fund.
Backed formicon, 2026 · Business Services, Germany
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.