Houlihan Lokey launched HL Finance to arrange senior secured leveraged loans for financial sponsor-backed, privately-held and public corporate entities.
HL Finance will act as arranger on syndicated loan transactions and has entered into an agreement with HPS Investment Partners, as the initial strategic investor, to participate in the transactions and provide underwriting commitments of up to $1 billion.
Houlihan Lokey, through this platform, will participate in both committed and best efforts transactions across a broad range of financings, including leveraged buyouts, acquisitions, dividend recapitalizations, and refinancings, primarily for borrowers with EBITDA and capital needs in excess of $50 million and $250 million, respectively.
“The creation of a syndicated leveraged finance platform leverages our core advisory capabilities and relationships and combines them with the credit underwriting and portfolio management strengths of market-leading asset managers. Importantly, this initiative is driven by significant client demand and is consistent with our advisory business model,” said Scott Beiser, CEO of Houlihan Lokey.
Syndicated leveraged finance will operate as part of Houlihan Lokey’s Capital Markets Group, led by Global Co-Heads Chris Dunlop, Anthony Martino and Gregg Newman. The group has added significant senior talent over the past year, including Matthew Lyness and Ribaudo in anticipation of the new venture. Lyness and Ribaudo were previously managing directors with GE Antares in New York, serving as client team leaders with structuring and syndication responsibilities, respectively.
