Start with hard boundaries
Some mandate conflicts should end the analysis immediately. Examples include a deal below a lender’s minimum size, a prohibited industry, a sponsor requirement that is not met, or a capital position the lender does not provide.
Then evaluate alignment
The remaining candidates require a more contextual assessment. A useful ranking considers not only whether a lender can do the deal, but whether the opportunity resembles the situations in which that lender is most likely to engage.
- Financing size and borrower scale
- Industry and business-model familiarity
- Capital structure and use of proceeds
- Sponsorship and ownership context
- Return, leverage, and risk appetite
- Geography, timing, and approval process
Explain the recommendation
A score without a reason is difficult to trust. Ninth Wave pairs recommendations with a concise explanation of the strongest alignment and any material stretch so the placement professional can apply judgment.
Respect uncertainty
Missing information should reduce confidence or trigger follow-up—not become an assumed fit. Likewise, a network should be willing to say that it does not currently contain a strong match.
Permission remains separate from fit
Even an excellent match does not authorize distribution. Ninth Wave keeps the analytical decision—who fits—separate from the relationship decision—who should receive the opportunity.