Houlihan Lokey boosts debt advisory team

Houlihan Lokey, the global investment bank, has appointed Richard Clark as a vice president in its debt advisory team, formerly Blenheim Advisors, which it acquired 7 months ago. Clark joins from an undisclosed, unsuccessful hedge fund, according to a source close to the company.

The team advises clients on financing structures, the debt underwriting process, loan documentation and provides post-transaction support. The team is now nine-strong having had six members upon acquisition.

Clark has more than six years experience in debt advisory services and he will report to William Allen and Jonathan Guise, managing directors and joint European heads of Houlihan Lokey debt business. Before joining the hedge fund he worked at UK merchant bank Close Brothers.

Since July last year Allen and Guise’s team has advised on 12 completed financial sponsor transactions in five European countries, raising more than €2.3 billion ($3.6 billion) of debt.