The transaction affirms Houlihan Lokey’s expertise in these areas and strengthens its leadership across the global financial services sector. The deal, signed on 6 August 2024, is expected to be completed by the end of this year, pending regulatory approvals.
Waller Helms, founded in 2014, specialises in M&A, private capital raising, and valuation services for the insurance and wealth management sectors. Since its inception, the firm has advised on over 230 transactions, with an aggregate value exceeding $40 billion. Notable recent transactions include the sale of Century Equity Partners’ portfolio company, DOXA Insurance, to Goldman Sachs Asset Management; The Mather Group’s recapitalisation by The Vistria Group; and BenefitMall’s sale to Truist Financial Corporation (NYSE) on behalf of the Carlyle Group (NASDAQ).
The 50-strong team at Waller Helms will join Houlihan Lokey’s Financial Services Group. James Anderson, CEO of Waller Helms, will join as a Managing Director and Global Co-Head of the Financial Services Group alongside Jeffrey Levine, Global Head of Financial Services. Additionally, Co-Founders John Waller and David Helms will also join as Managing Directors.
Levine commented: “The addition of this talented group of bankers is highly complementary to our Financial Services platform, adding meaningfully to our current coverage capabilities across numerous subsectors within insurance and wealth management. On a combined basis, the Group is now the number one advisor to clients in the insurance and wealth management sectors. We are delighted that the Waller Helms team is joining Houlihan Lokey, and I look forward to partnering with James to lead the new team, now comprising nearly one hundred financial professionals.”
On a pro forma basis, the new group will rank as the premier advisor for insurance-related global M&A transactions.
Anderson, former CEO of Waller Helms, said: “As we discussed a possible combination, it became clear that Houlihan Lokey shares our dedication to deep sector expertise and, more importantly, a fierce dedication to client success. It is this cultural compatibility and client-first ethos that makes this combination so compelling, and we’re excited to work with our new colleagues at Houlihan Lokey and continue delivering superior outcomes to clients.”
Larry DeAngelo, Global Co-Head of Corporate Finance at Houlihan Lokey, remarked: “The addition of the Waller Helms team exemplifies our desire to provide our clients with the greatest depth of sector expertise in the mid-cap space, alongside our market-leading private capital expertise, extensive relationships among financial sponsors, and other services.”
John Waller added: “Over the past ten years, we have built a talented and passionate team and have had the honour of assisting incredible, best-in-class clients on industry-leading transactions. Houlihan Lokey is the ideal home for our team and clients to thrive for years to come.”
David Helms echoed this sentiment, stating: “The strength of Houlihan Lokey’s global platform and our shared philosophies on collaboration and attracting and developing the best talent in the industry has us truly excited about our collective opportunity.”
Finally, Jay Novak, Global Co-Head of Corporate Finance, said: “We have known the Waller Helms team for many years, and their long track record of success in financial services advisory is truly impressive. We look forward to introducing our new partners to our global client base as we continue to grow and enhance our service offering in Corporate Finance.”
