Houlihan Lokey Builds Secondary Advisory with Senior Hire

Rhea-AI Summary

Houlihan Lokey (NYSE:HLI) has appointed Sameer Shamsi as Managing Director and Head of Secondaries in its Private Funds Group, based in New York. Shamsi, previously with Credit Suisse, brings extensive experience in secondary advisory, having led various innovative transactions for alternative asset managers. His appointment aims to strengthen Houlihan Lokey's secondary market capabilities amid its growth. The firm has raised $8.2 billion in private placements since 2015 and is ranked highly in M&A and restructuring advisory.

Positive

• Sameer Shamsi's extensive experience in secondary advisory could enhance Houlihan Lokey's service offerings.
• The firm has established a strong track record by raising $8.2 billion from over 350 limited partners since 2015.

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• None.

Houlihan Lokey (NYSE:HLI), the global investment bank, announced today that Sameer Shamsi has joined the firm as a Managing Director and Head of Secondaries in the Private Funds Group (PFG). He is based in New York.

Mr. Shamsi joins from Credit Suisse, where he led secondary advisory activities in the Americas as a member of the Private Funds Group’s Capital Solutions team. Prior to Credit Suisse, he was part of the founding team and a Managing Director in Evercore’s Private Capital Advisory group. Over the course of his career, Mr. Shamsi has assisted alternative asset managers and their investors on a broad range of innovative transactions, including single-asset and multi-asset GP-led continuation funds, LP tenders, sales of direct investment portfolios, bespoke capital raises, and a variety of accelerated liquidity solutions, among others.

“The tremendous growth of the secondary market in nearly every respect—geography, transaction type, complexity, and participants—demands the type of global experience and execution expertise that Sameer brings to the PFG platform,” said Shea Goggin, Global Co-Head of the Private Funds Group. “We are excited to join forces with a former colleague to lead our significant secondaries build-out and are confident the practice will grow and continue to be successful under his guidance and leadership.”

“We’re humbled to partner with a person of Sameer’s caliber to build our secondaries practice alongside our primary fundraising business and our General Partner Advisory practice, run by Joseph Lombardo, which provides strategic advice to our GP clients regarding liquidity options, including GP-level preferred equity raises and full GP stake sales,” added Andy Lund, Global Co-Head of the Private Funds Group.

“Houlihan Lokey’s corporate culture and comprehensive suite of products and services, particularly in the increasingly intersecting universes of financial sponsors and alternative capital, is second to none, and they reflect the firm’s deep commitment to providing independent, best-in-class service to its clients around the world. I’m excited to partner with my colleagues at Houlihan Lokey and continue that tradition of superior client service as the secondaries market continues to evolve and grow,” said Mr. Shamsi.

Mr. Shamsi holds a B.A. in Economics and Political Science from Columbia University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

With a focused team of 28 professionals around the world, Houlihan Lokey’s Private Funds Group combines the capabilities and experience of a leading institutional agent, the focus and reputation of a leading boutique, and the strategic perspective of a general partner to provide its clients with a comprehensive suite of bespoke solutions. The team has raised $8.2 billion in private placements from more than 350 limited partners since 2015. In addition to private capital raising, the Private Funds Group’s practice areas also include secondary advisory and general partner advisory. In 2020, Houlihan Lokey was ranked as the Most Active Investment Bank to Private Equity globally, and the firm has been ranked as the top U.S. private equity M&A advisor for each of the past five years, according to PitchBook.

About Houlihan Lokey

Houlihan Lokey (NYSE:HLI) is a global investment bank with expertise in mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, financial restructuring, and valuation. The firm serves corporations, institutions, and governments worldwide with offices in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific region. Independent advice and intellectual rigor are hallmarks of the firm’s commitment to client success across its advisory services. Houlihan Lokey is the No. 1 M&A advisor for the past six consecutive years in the U.S., the No. 1 global restructuring advisor for the past seven consecutive years, and the No. 1 global M&A fairness opinion advisor over the past 20 years, all based on number of transactions and according to data provided by Refinitiv.

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FAQ

Who is Sameer Shamsi and what is his role at Houlihan Lokey?

Sameer Shamsi is the newly appointed Managing Director and Head of Secondaries in the Private Funds Group at Houlihan Lokey, based in New York.

What experience does Sameer Shamsi bring to Houlihan Lokey?

Shamsi has significant experience in secondary advisory activities and has held leadership roles at Credit Suisse and Evercore.

How much has Houlihan Lokey raised in private placements since 2015?

Houlihan Lokey has raised $8.2 billion in private placements from more than 350 limited partners since 2015.

What are Houlihan Lokey's rankings in M&A and restructuring advisory?

Houlihan Lokey is ranked as the No. 1 M&A advisor in the U.S. for the past six consecutive years and as the top global restructuring advisor for the past seven years.

What is the focus of Houlihan Lokey's Private Funds Group?

The Private Funds Group focuses on private capital raising, secondary advisory, and general partner advisory.