Why Business Owners Need a Placement Partner More Than Ever
- Tzortzis Capital
- Aug 27
- 3 min read
Access to capital can make or break a business owner’s ability to grow, acquire, or refinance. While big banks are now trying to step into the private credit arena, the real opportunity lies in working with placement partners who have direct relationships across multiple lenders—not just a single institution’s products.
Two recent developments illustrate this shift: the rebound in private credit deal-making led by major players like Ares Management, and Citi’s high-profile move to expand its private credit team in North America. Both are positive signals—but they also underscore why business owners need a partner who can navigate the broader market instead of relying on just one bank’s strategy.
Deal-Making Rebound: A Healthy Sign for Business Owners
After nearly a year of uncertainty around rates and tariffs, private credit deal-making is back. Ares Management recently reported $25.1 billion in net inflows, raised $26 billion in fresh capital, and pushed assets under management to $572 billion—a clear sign that private lenders are actively deploying capital again (Financial Times).
This resurgence matters for business owners because:
Capital is flowing again. With more dollars entering the market, lenders are eager to fund quality deals.
Competition is heating up. More lenders with available cash translates to more options and potentially better terms for borrowers.
Speed matters. Private credit continues to move faster than traditional bank lending.
The takeaway: the market is flush with capital. The question is—how do you ensure you’re talking to the right lenders for your situation?
Citi’s Expansion: Why Banks Are Playing Catch-Up
Citi recently announced the hire of Aashish Dhakad to head North America private credit origination, with a mandate to grow the bank’s presence in this space (Reuters). While this is another positive sign of the market’s strength, it’s important to view it in context:
Banks still think in silos. Citi’s private credit “solutions” will ultimately be Citi products, designed to serve Citi’s balance sheet and risk appetite—not necessarily what’s best for your business.
Limited menu of options. Banks can offer access to their own programs, but they can’t open the doors to the wider ecosystem of non-bank lenders, family offices, specialty finance funds, and independent credit firms.
Slower pivot. Even when banks expand into private credit, their processes are more bureaucratic than independent lenders—meaning delays when speed matters most.
Yes, banks entering the market is validation. But business owners shouldn’t mistake validation for the best path forward.
Why Placement Partners Win for Business Owners
That’s where Tzortzis Capital comes in. Unlike a single bank, we operate as a placement partner across a network of lenders, giving business owners a strategic edge:
More Options, Better Fit. We source across private funds, family offices, independent lenders, and even bank-aligned products—ensuring you get the structure that works for you, not just what one institution offers.
Speed and Relationships. Our direct lines to decision-makers mean you skip the layers of bureaucracy and get to term sheets faster.
Creative Structures. Whether it’s acquisition financing, refinancing, or growth capital, we help tailor deals that a traditional bank might not even consider.
In other words, we’ve already built the relationships across the market and are well-positioned to support your requests.
Final Thoughts
The rebound in private credit deal-making and new entrants pushing into the space are encouraging signs for business owners. But here’s the reality: going directly to a bank for private credit is like eating at a restaurant with one item on the menu. You’ll get served—but you won’t get the full range of options.
A placement partner like Tzortzis Capital puts the entire private credit marketplace at your fingertips—so you get the right capital, at the right terms, from the right source.
If you’re ready to explore private credit for your business, let’s connect. We’ll help you see beyond the banks and into the broader landscape of opportunity.
Sources:
Financial Times - https://www.ft.com/content/6df60b00-e215-4d22-b164-5db0703990b4
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