Buyer landscape
Likely buyers · IT Services.
Prepared 2026-08-28 with GP Intel · deterministic scoring, published weights: gp-intel.com/methodology/league-tables
How companies like this sold · 1,823 verified exits: 21% to sponsors, 74% to corporates and platforms, 4% via IPO, 1% other routes. Route shift since 2020: sponsors 21% (was 21%), corporates and platforms 75% (was 73%), IPO 3% (was 6%).
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. Axcel SponsorVery High85
20 platform investments in Software & IT · 14 deals 2024–26
Axcel VII · 2023 vintage · deploying · check €26-194M
15 platform investments since the 2023 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 9 per fund.
Backed Bekk, 2026 · IT Services, Norway
2. Queka Real Partners SponsorVery High84
8 platform investments in Software & IT · 8 deals 2024–26
AUM €350M · Queka Real Partners II · 2023 vintage · deploying · check €4-29M
Accelerating: 7 deals in the last 2 years vs 1.5/yr before.
Backed B2group, 2025 · IT Services, Spain
3. Deutsche Beteiligungs SponsorVery High82
13 platform investments in Software & IT · 10 deals 2024–26
AUM €2.7B · DBAG Solvares Continuation Fund · 2024 vintage · deploying · check €3-20M
9 platform investments since the 2024 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 8 per fund.
Bought MAIT from 3i, 2025 · IT Services, Germany
4. Deutsche Beteiligungs AG SponsorVery High81
12 platform investments in Software & IT · 9 deals 2024–26
AUM €2.7B · DBAG Solvares Continuation Fund · 2024 vintage · deploying · check €3-20M
9 platform investments since the 2024 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 8 per fund.
Backed MAIT, 2025 · IT Services, Germany
5. Waterland Private Equity SponsorVery High79
18 platform investments in Software & IT · 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 Netconomy, 2025 · IT Services, Austria
6. BU Bregal Unternehmerkapital Multi-Asset Continuation Fund SponsorVery High79
18 platform investments in Software & IT · 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 Communardo, 2024 · IT Services, Germany
7. Sophora Unternehmerkapital SponsorVery High79
5 platform investments in Software & IT · 5 deals 2024–26
Sophora Capital Unternehmer-Fonds I · 2023 vintage · deploying · check €1-8M
Accelerating: 4 deals in the last 2 years vs 0.8/yr before.
Backed SQUER, 2026 · IT Services, Austria
8. Isai Gestion SponsorVery High78
61 platform investments in Software & IT · 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 Theodo, 2015 · IT Services, France
9. Permira SponsorVery High78
27 platform investments in Software & IT · 17 deals 2024–26
AUM €80.0B · Permira VIII · 2023 vintage · deploying · check €334M-2.5B
17 platform investments since the 2023 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 11 per fund.
Bought The Key Group from CBPE Capital, 2025 · IT Services, UK
10. Hg SponsorVery High78
48 platform investments in Software & IT · 22 deals 2024–26
AUM €69.0B · Hg Mercury 4 · 2023 vintage · deploying · check €48-360M
24 platform investments since the 2023 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 8 per fund.
Bought IT Relation from Adelis Equity, 2018 · IT Services, Denmark
11. YFM Equity Partners SponsorVery High78
26 platform investments in Software & IT · 23 deals 2024–26
AUM €878M · YFM Buyout Fund III · 2023 vintage · deploying · check €2-17M
32 platform investments since the 2023 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 20 per fund.
Backed The Networking People (TNP), 2025 · IT Services, UK
12. Oakley Capital SponsorVery High78
15 platform investments in Software & IT · 20 deals 2024–26
AUM €12.7B · Oakley Capital Fund VI · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €90-675M
10 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 6 per fund.
Bought Senef from Isatis Capital, 2026 · SaaS, France
13. Bowmark Capital SponsorVery High78
22 platform investments in Software & IT · 11 deals 2024–26
AUM €2.3B · Bowmark Capital Partners VII · 2024 vintage · deploying · check €21-158M
7 platform investments since the 2024 vintage · mid-deployment vs its usual 10 per fund.
Bought Transparity from Beech Tree Private Equity, 2024 · IT Services, UK
14. Palatine Private Equity SponsorVery High78
8 platform investments in Software & IT · 7 deals 2024–26
AUM €1.4B · Palatine Buyout Fund V · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €6-45M
4 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · mid-deployment vs its usual 6 per fund.
Backed OryxAlign, 2026 · IT Services, UK
15. BU Bregal Unternehmerkapital SponsorVery High78
17 platform investments in Software & IT · 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 Communardo, 2024 · IT Services, Germany
16. AFINUM Management GmbH SponsorVery High78
14 platform investments in Software & IT · 9 deals 2024–26
AFINUM X Buyout (2026) · 2026 vintage · deploying · check €10-75M
2 platform investments since the 2026 vintage · early in deployment vs its usual 9 per fund.
Backed Fairbanks, 2026 · SaaS, Netherlands
17. Swanlaab Venture Factory SponsorVery High78
12 platform investments in Software & IT · 18 deals 2024–26
Swanlaab Innvierte Agrifood Tech · 2024 vintage · deploying
Accelerating: 15 deals in the last 2 years vs 1.3/yr before.
Backed Dolfin, 2026 · AI/ML, Spain
18. Alkemia SGR SponsorVery High78
8 platform investments in Software & IT · 8 deals 2024–26
AUM €270M · Food Excellence I · 2025 vintage · deploying
6 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 4 per fund.
Backed Izertis, 2026 · IT Services, Spain
19. EQT SponsorVery High77
40 platform investments in Software & IT · 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 Perficient, 2024 · IT Services, US
20. Fondo Italiano d'Investimento SGR SponsorVery High77
9 platform investments in Software & IT · 10 deals 2024–26
AUM €4.3B · Fondo Italiano Consolidamento e Crescita II (FICC II) · 2023 vintage · deploying
14 platform investments since the 2023 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 5 per fund.
Backed Spindox, 2025 · IT Services, Italy
21. VækstPartner Kapital SponsorVery High77
15 platform investments in Software & IT · 6 deals 2024–26
VPK Fond III · 2023 vintage · deploying · check €1-8M
9 platform investments since the 2023 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 8 per fund.
Backed Blue Line Industrial IT, 2025 · IT Services, Denmark
22. Apax Partners SponsorVery High76
35 platform investments in Software & IT · 21 deals 2024–26
AUM €70.8B · Apax XI · 2024 vintage · deploying · check €221M-1.7B
19 platform investments since the 2024 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 12 per fund.
Backed Lutech, 2021 · IT Services, Italy
23. Apax Partners (with NewAlpha) SponsorVery High76
30 platform investments in Software & IT · 19 deals 2024–26
AUM €70.8B · Apax XI · 2024 vintage · deploying · check €221M-1.7B
19 platform investments since the 2024 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 12 per fund.
Backed Lutech, 2021 · IT Services, Italy
24. Apax Partners and Inova Capital SponsorVery High76
29 platform investments in Software & IT · 19 deals 2024–26
AUM €70.8B · Apax XI · 2024 vintage · deploying · check €221M-1.7B
19 platform investments since the 2024 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 12 per fund.
Backed Lutech, 2021 · IT Services, Italy
25. Apax Partners and JMI Equity SponsorVery High76
29 platform investments in Software & IT · 19 deals 2024–26
AUM €70.8B · Apax XI · 2024 vintage · deploying · check €221M-1.7B
19 platform investments since the 2024 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 12 per fund.
Backed Lutech, 2021 · IT Services, Italy
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.