Buyer landscape
Likely buyers · Logistics in Germany.
Prepared 2026-08-28 with GP Intel · deterministic scoring, published weights: gp-intel.com/methodology/league-tables
How companies like this sold · 493 verified exits: 37% to sponsors, 58% to corporates and platforms, 4% via IPO, 2% other routes. Route shift since 2020: sponsors 27% (was 45%), corporates and platforms 65% (was 51%), IPO 5% (was 3%).
The list: 25 Tier 1 · 0 Tier 2 of 120 matched buyers, including 9 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. DUBAG Group SponsorVery High87
14 platform investments in Industrials · 17 in Germany · 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 H.K.O., 2026 · Construction, Germany
2. BU Bregal Unternehmerkapital Multi-Asset Continuation Fund SponsorVery High85
10 platform investments in Industrials · 32 in Germany · 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 SwipBox, 2025 · Logistics, Denmark
3. BU Bregal Unternehmerkapital SponsorVery High85
10 platform investments in Industrials · 32 in Germany · 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 SwipBox, 2025 · Logistics, Denmark
4. Waterland Private Equity SponsorVery High84
38 platform investments in Industrials · 32 in Germany · 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 Palletways, 2026 · Logistics, UK
5. Ardian, Finint Infrastrutture SponsorVery High81
126 platform investments in Industrials · 45 in Germany · 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.
Bought SAVE from InfraVia Capital Partners, 2026 · Logistics, Italy
6. IK Partners SponsorVery High81
75 platform investments in Industrials · 34 in Germany · 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
7. 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 Francbord, 2026 · Logistics, France
8. EQT SponsorVery High80
51 platform investments in Industrials · 40 in Germany · 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 Constellation Cold Logistics, 2024 · Logistics, Netherlands
9. Omnes Capital SponsorVery High80
20 platform investments in Industrials · 14 in Germany · 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 Megalithe, 2024 · Logistics, France
10. PAI Partners SponsorVery High80
33 platform investments in Industrials · 11 in Germany · 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 Albea, 2018 · Logistics, France
11. Inflexion (Partnership Capital III) SponsorVery High80
9 platform investments in Industrials · 4 in Germany · 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
12. Capmont SponsorVery High80
11 platform investments in Industrials · 32 in Germany · 16 deals 2024–26
Capmont Technology Fund · 2024 vintage · deploying · check €2-15M
16 platform investments since the 2024 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 15 per fund.
Backed Urbify, 2024 · Logistics, Germany
13. Ardian SponsorVery High79
137 platform investments in Industrials · 50 in Germany · 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.
Bought Staci from Cobepa, 2019 · Logistics, France
14. PAI Partners (Fund VIII) SponsorVery High79
28 platform investments in Industrials · 9 in Germany · 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 Albea, 2018 · Logistics, France
15. PAI Partners (Mid-Market Fund) SponsorVery High79
28 platform investments in Industrials · 9 in Germany · 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 Albea, 2018 · Logistics, France
16. PAI Partners (Mid-Market) SponsorVery High79
28 platform investments in Industrials · 9 in Germany · 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 Albea, 2018 · Logistics, France
17. PAI Partners / ADIA SponsorVery High79
29 platform investments in Industrials · 9 in Germany · 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 Albea, 2018 · Logistics, France
18. PAI Partners and Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan SponsorVery High79
28 platform investments in Industrials · 10 in Germany · 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 Albea, 2018 · Logistics, France
19. Inflexion SponsorVery High79
9 platform investments in Industrials · 5 in Germany · 27 deals 2024–26
AUM €11.0B · Inflexion Buyout Fund VII · 2026 vintage · deploying · check €90-675M
4 platform investments since the 2026 vintage · mid-deployment vs its usual 6 per fund.
Backed Aspen Pumps, 2025 · Industrials, UK
20. Armira SponsorVery High79
7 platform investments in Industrials · 23 in Germany · 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
21. IK Partners (IK Small Cap III) SponsorVery High78
70 platform investments in Industrials · 32 in Germany · 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
22. IK Partners / GIC / Keensight / Parquest / management SponsorVery High78
71 platform investments in Industrials · 32 in Germany · 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
23. Audacia SponsorVery High78
21 platform investments in Industrials · 1 in Germany · 27 deals 2024–26
AUM €2.8B · Audacia Capital Développement IV · 2023 vintage · deploying · check €4-30M
45 platform investments since the 2023 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 12 per fund.
Backed Geolinks, 2026 · Industrials, France
24. Altor Equity Partners SponsorVery High78
28 platform investments in Industrials · 4 in Germany · 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 Wrist Ship Supply, 2007 · Logistics, Denmark
25. SPIE PE-backedVery High78
66 acquisitions in Industrials · 26 in Germany · 24 deals 2024–26
Active in Germany since 2013.
Added on BLOCK Group, 2026 · Industrials, Czech Republic
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.