Houlihan Lokey completes integration of 500-strong GCA
Global investment bank Houlihan Lokey has successfully completed the acquisition of GCA. Following the acquisition of outstanding shares of GCA, the two companies will now merge as one firm under the Houlihan Lokey brand.
With expertise in mergers and acquisitions (M&A), capital markets, financial restructuring, and valuation, Houlihan Lokey is a professional services firm which serves corporations, institutions, and governments worldwide. The company has offices in the US, Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific region.
The firm has been looking to build its capabilities in recent months via a sustained acquisition campaign. The firm’s latest move has seen the 500 professionals of global consultancy GCA join Houlihan Lokey’s headcount.
Scott Beiser, chief executive of Houlihan Lokey, stated, "The acquisition of GCA will immediately create one of the largest technology advisors in the world, one that more closely matches the size and importance of this sector in today's global economy. In addition, this combination would significantly expand our presence in Europe and Asia and establish Houlihan Lokey as one of the most geographically diversified investment banking firms among our peer group.”
GCA provides M&A and capital markets advisory services around the world. Its 500 professionals are based in 24 locations across Norther America, Asia and Europe, working on deals for clients in all sectors. The firm has US offices in San Francisco, New York, and Birmingham, while it also has UK offices in Birmingham, Leeds, London and Manchester.
In wider Europe, the firm has hubs in Frankfurt, Lausanne, Milan, Munich, Paris, Stockholm and Zurich; while its Asian bases include Fukuoka, Ho Chi Minh City, Kyoto, Mumbai, Munich, Nagoya, New Delhi, Osaka, Shanghai, Singapore, Tel Aviv and Tokyo.
According to Beiser, GCA's corporate culture, business philosophy, and client focus “all closely resemble Houlihan Lokey's,” making the move an excellent fit. As combined organisations, all trading as Houlihan Lokey, he added that he believed the combined organisations would be able to “more effectively serve our clients” and to “grow our suite of products and services around the world."
There will be no change to teams or processes in any ongoing deals as a result of the proposed transaction. Meanwhile, the leaders of GCA emphasised that the move would allow them to build from the platform they have constructed since the firm’s 2003 launch.
Phil Adams, chief executive of GCA, said, "Becoming part of Houlihan Lokey is a hugely exciting step for GCA and a milestone on our strong growth journey. The two firms combined will form the largest independent global M&A boutique, and the scale of our global platform will create fantastic opportunities both for our clients and our teams.”
