Buyer landscape
Likely buyers · Mobility in Netherlands.
Prepared 2026-08-28 with GP Intel · deterministic scoring, published weights: gp-intel.com/methodology/league-tables
How companies like this sold · 32 verified exits: 38% to sponsors, 59% to corporates and platforms, 3% via IPO. Route shift since 2020: sponsors 36% (was 42%), corporates and platforms 59% (was 53%), IPO 4% (was 4%) (sector-wide).
The list: 25 Tier 1 · 0 Tier 2 of 120 matched buyers, including 11 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. Waterland Private Equity SponsorVery High84
38 platform investments in Industrials · 56 in Netherlands · 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 Heliox, 2018 · Mobility, Netherlands
2. DUBAG Group SponsorVery High84
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 ItalPresseGauss, 2026 · Mobility, Italy
3. EQT SponsorVery High82
51 platform investments in Industrials · 9 in Netherlands · 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 Arlanda Express, 2026 · Mobility, Sweden
4. IK Partners SponsorVery High82
75 platform investments in Industrials · 22 in Netherlands · 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
5. Bpifrance Investissement SponsorVery High81
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 Instant System, 2026 · Mobility, France
6. NCI SponsorVery High80
20 platform investments in Industrials · 12 deals 2024–26
AUM €400M · Reprendre & Developper 6 · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €2-15M
8 platform investments since the 2025 vintage · mid-deployment vs its usual 8 per fund.
Backed Starwash, 2026 · Mobility, France
7. PAI Partners SponsorVery High79
33 platform investments in Industrials · 4 in Netherlands · 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
8. Armira SponsorVery High78
7 platform investments in Industrials · 1 in Netherlands · 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 AVILOO, 2026 · Mobility, Austria
9. IK Partners (IK Small Cap III) SponsorVery High77
70 platform investments in Industrials · 22 in Netherlands · 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 Francks Kylindustri, 2025 · Industrials, Sweden
10. IK Partners / GIC / Keensight / Parquest / management SponsorVery High77
71 platform investments in Industrials · 21 in Netherlands · 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 Francks Kylindustri, 2025 · Industrials, Sweden
11. PAI Partners (Fund VIII) SponsorVery High76
28 platform investments in Industrials · 4 in Netherlands · 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
12. PAI Partners (Mid-Market Fund) SponsorVery High76
28 platform investments in Industrials · 4 in Netherlands · 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
13. PAI Partners (Mid-Market) SponsorVery High76
28 platform investments in Industrials · 4 in Netherlands · 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
14. PAI Partners / ADIA SponsorVery High76
29 platform investments in Industrials · 4 in Netherlands · 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
15. PAI Partners and Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan SponsorVery High76
28 platform investments in Industrials · 4 in Netherlands · 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
16. Altor Equity Partners SponsorVery High76
28 platform investments in Industrials · 4 in Netherlands · 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
17. Inflexion (Partnership Capital III) SponsorVery High76
9 platform investments in Industrials · 2 in Netherlands · 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. Sodero Gestion, CENCD SponsorVery High76
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 CO2 Démolitions, 2026 · Construction, France
19. Trill Impact SponsorVery High76
4 platform investments in Industrials · 3 in Netherlands · 8 deals 2024–26
AUM €1.4B · Trill Impact Fund II · 2024 vintage · deploying
7 platform investments since the 2024 vintage · mid-deployment vs its usual 8 per fund.
Bought Primutec Solutions Group from DPE Deutsche Private Equity, 2025 · Construction, Netherlands
20. 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
21. Ardian SponsorVery High75
137 platform investments in Industrials · 7 in Netherlands · 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 2i Aeroporti, 2015 · Mobility, Italy
22. Ardian, Finint Infrastrutture SponsorVery High75
126 platform investments in Industrials · 7 in Netherlands · 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 2i Aeroporti, 2015 · Mobility, Italy
23. Bridgepoint SponsorVery High75
32 platform investments in Industrials · 8 in Netherlands · 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.
Backed Comrod, 2025 · Industrials, Norway
24. Bridgepoint Development Capital SponsorVery High75
27 platform investments in Industrials · 8 in Netherlands · 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 Comrod, 2025 · Industrials, Norway
25. Bridgepoint (52.5% majority stake) SponsorVery High75
27 platform investments in Industrials · 8 in Netherlands · 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 Comrod, 2025 · Industrials, Norway
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.