Houlihan Lokey Further Strengthens Equity Capital Solutions Platform With Senior Hire

Derek Herbert Joins as a Managing Director in Continued Expansion of Firm’s Direct Equity Product Team

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Houlihan Lokey, Inc. (NYSE:HLI), the global investment bank, announced today that Derek Herbert has joined the firm’s Capital Solutions Group as a Managing Director. Based in New York, Mr. Herbert will serve as a senior financial professional on the Equity Capital Solutions team, focused on leading direct equity transactions.

Mr. Herbert joins from Stifel, where he was most recently a Managing Director in its Mergers & Acquisitions Group. Previously, he held roles at Miller Buckfire, prior to its acquisition by Stifel, and in Morgan Stanley’s Investment Banking Division.

Anthony Martino, Global Co-Head of Capital Solutions at Houlihan Lokey, said, “The market for direct equity has evolved materially and has experienced remarkable growth over the past several years, particularly as mid-cap-focused, funded sponsors increasingly recognize the value that can be unlocked by utilizing direct equity to effectuate both add-on acquisitions for existing portfolio companies as well as for new platform LBOs. The expansion of our Equity Capital Solutions team reflects our response to the continued growth and professionalization of this market, as we strive to bolster our first-mover advantage in this product offering and deliver best-in-class service to both funded and independent sponsor clients seeking attractive opportunities using direct equity.”

Matt Swain, Global Co-Head of Equity Capital Solutions, said, “A direct equity transaction—raising capital typically to acquire a single asset—closely resembles running a traditional M&A process. Derek’s decades of M&A expertise, particularly in the consumer sector where we are seeing increased appetite for such investments, will be tremendously valuable to our clients. I am delighted that he has joined our team to help us continue delivering the bespoke advice and superior results that underpin Houlihan Lokey’s reputation and dominant position in this market.”

Mr. Herbert added, “Houlihan Lokey’s Capital Solutions Group is one of the largest and most comprehensive private capital advisory platforms globally, and its leadership in the rapidly growing direct equity market represents an exceptional opportunity. I am excited to join a firm known for superior client service, deep sector expertise, and an unmatched breadth of relationships across alternative capital providers.”

Houlihan Lokey’s Capital Solutions Group comprises more than 240 dedicated professionals across 18 offices in eight countries, including Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Dubai, Frankfurt, Houston, London, Los Angeles, Madrid, Manchester, Milan, Munich, New York, Paris, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., West Palm Beach, and Zurich. In the past 12 months, the group raised and advised on over $42 billion across more than 140 transactions.*

*As of September 30, 2026.

About Houlihan Lokey

Houlihan Lokey, Inc. (NYSE:HLI) is a leading global investment bank recognized for delivering independent strategic and financial advice to corporations, financial sponsors, and governments. With uniquely deep industry expertise, broad international reach, and a partnership approach rooted in trust, the firm provides innovative, integrated solutions across mergers and acquisitions, capital solutions, financial restructuring, and financial and valuation advisory. Our unmatched transaction volumes provide differentiated, data-driven perspectives that help our clients achieve their most critical goals. To learn more about Houlihan Lokey, please visit HL.com.