Buyer landscape
Likely buyers · Software in Italy.
Prepared 2026-08-28 with GP Intel · deterministic scoring, published weights: gp-intel.com/methodology/league-tables
How companies like this sold · 70 verified exits: 29% to sponsors, 59% to corporates and platforms, 11% via IPO, 1% other routes. Route shift since 2020: sponsors 21% (was 21%), corporates and platforms 75% (was 73%), IPO 3% (was 6%) (sector-wide).
The list: 25 Tier 1 · 0 Tier 2 of 120 matched buyers, including 27 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. TeamSystem PE-backedVery High93
86 acquisitions in Software & IT · 85 in Italy · 28 deals 2024–26
Active in Italy since 2007.
Added on ACD (ACD Finances), 2026 · Software, France
2. BU Bregal Unternehmerkapital Multi-Asset Continuation Fund SponsorVery High90
18 platform investments in Software & IT · 5 in Italy · 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.
Bought Safety21 from BU Bregal Unternehmerkapital, 2026 · Software, Italy
3. Alkemia SGR SponsorVery High86
8 platform investments in Software & IT · 19 in Italy · 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 Circle Group, 2026 · Software, Italy
4. Isai Gestion SponsorVery High83
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 ProcurePro, 2026 · Software, Australia
5. BU Bregal Unternehmerkapital SponsorVery High83
17 platform investments in Software & IT · 4 in Italy · 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 Safety21, 2026 · Software, Italy
6. Oakley Capital SponsorVery High82
15 platform investments in Software & IT · 4 in Italy · 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.
Backed Senef, 2026 · Software, France
7. Swanlaab Venture Factory SponsorVery High82
12 platform investments in Software & IT · 1 in Italy · 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 Junsoft, 2025 · Software, Brazil
8. Deutsche Beteiligungs AG SponsorVery High81
12 platform investments in Software & IT · 4 in Italy · 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 Totalmobile, 2026 · Software, UK
9. Deutsche Beteiligungs SponsorVery High81
13 platform investments in Software & IT · 4 in Italy · 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.
Backed Totalmobile, 2026 · Software, UK
10. Axcel SponsorVery High81
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 KapitalKontroll, 2026 · Software, Norway
11. Oakley Capital, Eurazeo, Sagard NewGen (I-Tracing platform) SponsorVery High81
15 platform investments in Software & IT · 4 in Italy · 19 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.
Backed Senef, 2026 · Software, France
12. Via Equity SponsorVery High80
27 platform investments in Software & IT · 8 deals 2024–26
AUM €500M · VIA equity Fund V · 2023 vintage · deploying · check €5-38M
9 platform investments since the 2023 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 8 per fund.
Backed Robopack Group, 2026 · Software, Denmark
13. Meanings Capital Partners SponsorVery High80
9 platform investments in Software & IT · 7 deals 2024–26
AUM €906M · Meanings Private Equity Fund IV (MPEF IV) · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €6-45M
Accelerating: 6 deals in the last 2 years vs 1.8/yr before.
Backed Instant System, 2026 · Software, France
14. Turenne Groupe SponsorVery High79
25 platform investments in Software & IT · 1 in Italy · 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 M&C3i, 2026 · Software, France
15. Apax Partners SponsorVery High79
35 platform investments in Software & IT · 6 in Italy · 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.
Bought OCS from Charme Capital Partners SGR, 2023 · Software, Italy
16. Elvaston Capital SponsorVery High79
27 platform investments in Software & IT · 2 in Italy · 3 deals 2024–26
AUM €3.0B · Elvaston Capital Fund VI · 2024 vintage · deploying · check €17-124M
3 platform investments since the 2024 vintage · mid-deployment vs its usual 6 per fund.
Backed ERP GmbH, 2025 · Software, Germany
17. bm-t Beteiligungsmanagement Thueringen SponsorVery High79
6 platform investments in Software & IT · 13 deals 2024–26
AUM €465M · Mittelstands-Fonds Thueringen II (MFT II) · 2025 vintage · deploying · check €0-3M
Accelerating: 8 deals in the last 2 years vs 2.5/yr before.
Backed Leapter, 2025 · Software, Germany
18. Apax Partners (with NewAlpha) SponsorVery High78
30 platform investments in Software & IT · 4 in Italy · 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 OCS, 2023 · Software, Italy
19. Apax Partners and Inova Capital SponsorVery High78
29 platform investments in Software & IT · 4 in Italy · 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 OCS, 2023 · Software, Italy
20. Apax Partners and JMI Equity SponsorVery High78
29 platform investments in Software & IT · 4 in Italy · 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 OCS, 2023 · Software, Italy
21. Apax Partners SAS SponsorVery High78
29 platform investments in Software & IT · 5 in Italy · 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 OCS, 2023 · Software, Italy
22. 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.
Backed Parte, 2025 · Software, Belgium
23. Ring Capital SponsorVery High78
10 platform investments in Software & IT · 1 in Italy · 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 Enaos, 2025 · Software, Belgium
24. VækstPartner Kapital SponsorVery High78
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 Subit, 2026 · Software, Denmark
25. Ardian, Finint Infrastrutture SponsorVery High77
35 platform investments in Software & IT · 48 in Italy · 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 Ennov, 2026 · Software, 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.