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Buyer landscape

Likely buyers · AdTech in United Kingdom.

Prepared 2026-08-28 with GP Intel · deterministic scoring, published weights: gp-intel.com/methodology/league-tables

How companies like this sold · 145 verified exits: 26% to sponsors, 70% to corporates and platforms, 3% via IPO, 2% other routes. Route shift since 2020: sponsors 26% (was 25%), corporates and platforms 67% (was 74%), IPO 4% (was 2%).

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. Bridgepoint SponsorVery High90

53 platform investments in TMT & Media · 87 in United Kingdom · 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.

Bought Samy from Inveready Asset Management, 2025 · AdTech, Spain

2. Bridgepoint Development Capital SponsorVery High86

46 platform investments in TMT & Media · 81 in United Kingdom · 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 Samy, 2025 · AdTech, Spain

3. Bridgepoint (52.5% majority stake) SponsorVery High86

45 platform investments in TMT & Media · 80 in United Kingdom · 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 Samy, 2025 · AdTech, Spain

4. Bridgepoint BE VII + General Atlantic SponsorVery High86

46 platform investments in TMT & Media · 80 in United Kingdom · 37 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 Samy, 2025 · AdTech, Spain

5. Bridgepoint Capital SponsorVery High86

45 platform investments in TMT & Media · 81 in United Kingdom · 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 Samy, 2025 · AdTech, Spain

6. Bridgepoint Capital Developpement SponsorVery High86

45 platform investments in TMT & Media · 80 in United Kingdom · 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 Samy, 2025 · AdTech, Spain

7. Bridgepoint Development Capital (with Paluel-Marmont Capital & LT Capital) SponsorVery High86

45 platform investments in TMT & Media · 80 in United Kingdom · 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 Samy, 2025 · AdTech, Spain

8. ECI Partners SponsorVery High79

11 platform investments in TMT & Media · 46 in United Kingdom · 10 deals 2024–26

AUM €2.8B · ECI 12 · 2023 vintage · deploying · check €23-176M

9 platform investments since the 2023 vintage · largely deployed vs its usual 7 per fund.

Backed Croud, 2024 · AdTech, UK

9. Revaia SponsorVery High78

14 platform investments in TMT & Media · 3 in United Kingdom · 10 deals 2024–26

AUM €600M · Revaia Growth II SLP · 2024 vintage · deploying · check €5-38M

10 platform investments since the 2024 vintage · mid-deployment vs its usual 12 per fund.

Backed Synera, 2026 · TMT, Germany

10. YFM Equity Partners SponsorVery High77

4 platform investments in TMT & Media · 61 in United Kingdom · 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 Force24, 2020 · AdTech, UK

11. River Capital SponsorVery High77

2 platform investments in TMT & Media · 17 in United Kingdom · 9 deals 2024–26

AUM €153M · North West Private Equity Fund · 2023 vintage · deploying · check €0-2M

Accelerating: 7 deals in the last 2 years vs 1.8/yr before.

Backed Infinium Group, 2026 · TMT, UK

12. IK Partners SponsorVery High76

31 platform investments in TMT & Media · 19 in United Kingdom · 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.

Backed Ascora, 2025 · TMT, Germany

13. IK Partners (IK Small Cap III) SponsorVery High76

30 platform investments in TMT & Media · 16 in United Kingdom · 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 Ascora, 2025 · TMT, Germany

14. IK Partners / GIC / Keensight / Parquest / management SponsorVery High76

30 platform investments in TMT & Media · 16 in United Kingdom · 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 Ascora, 2025 · TMT, Germany

15. Foresight Group SponsorVery High76

3 platform investments in TMT & Media · 20 in United Kingdom · 7 deals 2024–26

AUM €15.4B · AIB Foresight SME Impact Fund · 2022 vintage · partially deployed · check €1-8M

Accelerating: 6 deals in the last 2 years vs 1.0/yr before.

Backed Connective3, 2026 · TMT, UK

16. Ardian SponsorVery High75

70 platform investments in TMT & Media · 11 in United Kingdom · 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 Jakala from The Equity Club, 2021 · AdTech, Italy

17. Ardian Clean Energy Evergreen Fund SponsorVery High75

64 platform investments in TMT & Media · 10 in United Kingdom · 44 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 Fermax, 2026 · TMT, Spain

18. Ardian Mid Cap Buyout SponsorVery High75

64 platform investments in TMT & Media · 11 in United Kingdom · 42 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 Fermax, 2026 · TMT, Spain

19. Ardian (Clean Energy Evergreen Fund) SponsorVery High75

64 platform investments in TMT & Media · 10 in United Kingdom · 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 Fermax, 2026 · TMT, Spain

20. Ardian (ex-AXA Private Equity) SponsorVery High75

64 platform investments in TMT & Media · 10 in United Kingdom · 42 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 Fermax, 2026 · TMT, Spain

21. Ardian / Crédit Agricole Assurances consortium SponsorVery High75

64 platform investments in TMT & Media · 10 in United Kingdom · 42 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 Fermax, 2026 · TMT, Spain

22. Ardian + Tikehau Capital + EMZ consortium (Bpifrance + Amundi + Siparex) SponsorVery High75

64 platform investments in TMT & Media · 10 in United Kingdom · 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 Fermax, 2026 · TMT, Spain

23. Ardian and Centerbridge Partners SponsorVery High75

64 platform investments in TMT & Media · 10 in United Kingdom · 42 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 Fermax, 2026 · TMT, Spain

24. Ardian and GoldenTree Asset Management SponsorVery High75

64 platform investments in TMT & Media · 10 in United Kingdom · 42 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 Fermax, 2026 · TMT, Spain

25. Ardian and Latour Capital SponsorVery High75

64 platform investments in TMT & Media · 10 in United Kingdom · 42 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 Fermax, 2026 · TMT, Spain

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.