Houlihan Lokey

What Houlihan Lokey does

Houlihan Lokey is a publicly traded global investment bank (NYSE: HLI) specializing in M&A advisory, capital solutions, financial restructuring, and financial and valuation advisory services for corporate clients, private equity sponsors, financial services institutions, and government entities. Founded in 1972 and headquartered in Los Angeles, the firm operates three core service lines - Corporate Finance (which includes M&A, Capital Solutions, and Board Advisory), Financial Restructuring, and Financial and Valuation Advisory (comprising Portfolio Valuation and Fund Advisory, Transaction Opinions, Corporate Valuation Advisory, Transaction Advisory, Real Estate Valuation, and Dispute Resolution Consulting) - and covers nine dedicated industry groups across Business Services, Consumer, Energy, Financial Services, FinTech, Healthcare, Industrials, Infrastructure, Real Estate/Lodging/Leisure, and Technology.

The firm's technology consists of proprietary valuation frameworks, market intelligence platforms, and industry-specific analytical tools rather than a single platform product. Notable proprietary assets include MidCapMonitor, which provides market intelligence on unitranche deals and middle-market M&A activity, and the Morningstar Houlihan CLO Indexes, a recently launched suite of daily valuation indexes for the collateralized loan obligation market developed in partnership with Morningstar Indexes. Distribution is delivered through senior banker relationships organized by industry vertical, with no lending or trading conflicts enabling unbiased client advocacy.

Houlihan Lokey monetizes almost entirely through transaction completion fees, advisory retainers, and hourly consulting arrangements on highly customized engagements, with revenue recognized on transaction closings (M&A, restructuring) or service delivery (valuation). The firm employs 1,001-5,000 professionals across 20+ offices in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific, and operates as the No. 1 global M&A advisor by deal volume (458 deals in 2025 per LSEG), the No. 1 global restructuring advisor (83 deals), and the No. 1 fairness opinion advisor over the past 25 years (1,170 transactions). On this base, the firm reported record FY2026 revenue of $2.62 billion, up 9.6% year-over-year, with diluted EPS of $6.22.

Name

Houlihan Lokey

Legal name

Houlihan Lokey, Inc.

Website

https://hl.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Houlihan Lokey is a publicly traded global investment bank (NYSE: HLI) providing M&A advisory, capital solutions, financial restructuring, and financial and valuation advisory services to corporates, private equity sponsors, financial institutions, and governments across nine industry verticals and 20+ offices worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Investment Banking Advisory

NAICS

Investment Banking and Securities Intermediation (52315), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities (523)

SIC

Security Brokers, Dealers & Flotation Companies (6211), Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Equity Capital Advisory (Private Equity Placements, Growth Capital) (BPAHAOAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Capital Markets Advisory (IPO Readiness, SPAC, ECM/DCM Advisory) (BPAHAOAL), Debt Advisory & Financing Advisory (FSAEAGAD), Treasury, Capital Structure & Liquidity Advisory (BPAHADAM)

Keywords

• Mergers and acquisitions advisory
• Financial restructuring services
• Valuation advisory
• Capital markets advisory
• Investment banking services

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices21 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Mergers and Acquisitions Advisory: Corporate finance advisory fees earned on completed M&A transactions, including sell-side and buy-side advisory mandates. Revenue recognized on transaction closings.
2. Financial Restructuring Advisory: Advisory services for companies in financial distress, including creditor advisory, company advisory, and distressed M&A. Generates fees on restructuring completions and ongoing advisory retainers.
3. Capital Solutions: Capital raising and financing advisory services, including debt placement, equity offerings, and structured finance arrangements.
4. Financial and Valuation Advisory: Portfolio valuation, fund advisory, transaction opinions, corporate valuation, and dispute resolution consulting services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Houlihan Lokey is an independent global investment bank providing financial advisory services to corporations, private equity sponsors, governments, and institutional investors. The firm's core offerings encompass Corporate Finance advisory (mergers and acquisitions, capital solutions, and board advisory services), Financial Restructuring advisory for companies and creditors in distressed situations, and Financial and Valuation Advisory services including portfolio valuation, fund advisory, transaction opinions, corporate and real estate valuation, transaction advisory, and dispute resolution consulting. Advisory mandates are delivered by industry-specialized teams across nine dedicated industry groups with no lending or trading conflicts.

Product overview

Houlihan Lokey is a leading global investment bank providing advisory-focused financial services. The firm operates three core service lines: Corporate Finance (including Mergers and Acquisitions, Capital Solutions, and Board Advisory Services), Financial Restructuring, and Financial and Valuation Advisory (encompassing Portfolio Valuation and Fund Advisory, Transaction Opinions, Corporate Valuation Advisory Services, Transaction Advisory Services, Real Estate Valuation, and Dispute Resolution Consulting). The firm serves clients across multiple industries including Business Services, Consumer, Energy, Financial Services, Financial Sponsors Coverage, FinTech, Healthcare, Industrials, Infrastructure, Real Estate/Lodging/Leisure, and Technology. Recently, the firm launched the Morningstar Houlihan CLO Indexes in collaboration with Morningstar Indexes, representing a new index product for the CLO market.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Corporate Finance Advisory services encompassing mergers and acquisitions, capital solutions, and board advisory services for corporate clients navigating complex financial and strategic challenges.
• Mergers and Acquisitions Advisory M&A advisory services including sell-side and buy-side advisory, strategic transaction planning, and deal execution support for corporate clients, private equity sponsors, and financial sponsors.
• Capital Solutions Capital-raising advisory services including debt and equity placement, financing structuring, and capital markets advisory for corporate clients and private equity sponsors.
• Board Advisory Services Advisory services for corporate boards including strategic alternatives evaluation, governance matters, and independent advice on significant transactions.
• Financial Restructuring Advisory services for companies, creditors, and other stakeholders in financial distress situations, including distressed M&A, creditor negotiations, and turnaround advisory.
• Financial and Valuation Advisory Comprehensive valuation and financial advisory services including portfolio valuation and fund advisory, transaction opinions, corporate valuation advisory services, transaction advisory services, real estate valuation, and dispute resolution consulting.
• Portfolio Valuation and Fund Advisory Valuation services for investment portfolios, private funds, and alternative assets for limited partners, general partners, and fund investors.
• Transaction Opinions Fairness opinions, solvency opinions, and other transaction-related opinions for boards and special committees.
• Corporate Valuation Advisory Services Independent valuation services for financial reporting, tax planning, litigation support, and strategic decision-making.
• Transaction Advisory Services Financial due diligence and advisory services supporting M&A transactions, including quality of earnings analyses and valuation assessments.
• Real Estate Valuation Real estate valuation and advisory services for portfolios, single assets, and complex real estate-related transactions.
• Dispute Resolution Consulting Expert witness services and consulting for litigation, arbitration, and other dispute resolution proceedings involving financial matters.
• Morningstar Houlihan CLO Indexes A collaborative suite of daily valuation indexes for the collateralized loan obligation market, combining Morningstar's index design and governance with Houlihan Lokey's valuation framework and credit market expertise.

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% client satisfaction rate - one of the highest in the investment banking industry
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Morningstar IndexescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 June 2026Strategic collaboration to develop the Morningstar Houlihan CLO Indexes, a new suite of daily valuation indexes for the collateralized loan obligation market. The index series combines Morningstar's design and governance expertise with Houlihan Lokey's valuation framework and credit market expertise to address the growing need for reliable benchmarks in the rapidly expanding CLO market. The global CLO market has grown into more than $1.5 trillion in assets.

Scale indicators30 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Moelis & Company: Independent global investment bank providing M&A, restructuring, and capital markets advisory. Direct peer with comparable independent positioning and global office network, competing across multiple league tables.
• Evercore: Leading independent global investment banking advisory firm. Closest direct peer to Houlihan Lokey, competing head-to-head in M&A advisory, restructuring, and equity capital markets with a similar independent, conflict-free positioning and global footprint.
• Lazard: Global financial advisory and asset management firm with strong M&A advisory and restructuring practices. Direct competitor to Houlihan Lokey across M&A, restructuring, and capital solutions, with comparable league-table positioning.
• Centerview Partners: Independent advisory firm focused on M&A, restructuring, and capital markets advisory for large-cap clients. Direct peer in independent M&A advisory, particularly for large strategic transactions.
• PJT Partners: Independent advisory-focused investment bank specializing in restructuring, strategic advisory, and fund placement. Direct peer in financial restructuring (ranked #2 globally with 55 deals in 2025 vs HL's 83) and M&A advisory.
• Rothschild & Co: Global independent financial advisory group with deep M&A and restructuring practices. Direct competitor in global M&A advisory (400 deals in 2025 vs HL's 458) and restructuring rankings.
• Perella Weinberg Partners: Independent global advisory firm providing M&A, strategic advisory, and restructuring services. Direct competitor in independent advisory league tables with comparable positioning and target client base.
• Greenhill & Co: Independent investment bank focused on M&A advisory, restructuring, and capital markets. Direct peer in independent advisory space, though smaller scale; competes in similar mid-to-large cap M&A mandates.

Emerging players

• DC Advisory: Global investment banking advisory firm with M&A and debt advisory practices across Europe, Asia, and North America. Emerging player with overlapping mid-market M&A coverage; many former DC Advisory bankers (e.g., Sascha Pfeiffer) have joined Houlihan Lokey.

Broad incumbents

• Jefferies Financial Group: Diversified investment bank with strong mid-market M&A advisory and capital markets capabilities. Broader incumbent with full-service investment banking and trading operations; competes with HL in M&A (196 PE deals in 2025).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/houlihanlokey
• Facebookfacebook.com/Houlihan-Lokey-149397808435086
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/houlihan-lokey

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries20 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A19 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Houlihan Lokey