Houlihan Lokey expands European capabilities with deals by announcing two strategic transactions that broaden its footprint and enhance service range across the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region including a controlling interest in Audere Partners and the acquisition of the real estate capital advisory business of Mellum Capital, accelerating the global investment bank’s growth in corporate finance and capital solutions.

The dual moves, revealed on January 20, 2026, reflect Houlihan Lokey’s ongoing commitment to scaling its presence in Europe by strengthening its advice across mid-market corporate finance and expanding sector-focused capabilities, particularly within real estate and cross-border strategic advisory.

A Strategic Push to Scale in Europe

Over the past decade, Houlihan Lokey has steadily invested in building a robust European franchise, recognizing the region’s importance to global M&A, restructuring, and capital markets activity. Europe represents a diverse and dynamic marketplace, characterized by strong mid-cap enterprises, active private equity participation, and increasing demand for sophisticated advisory services.

The latest acquisitions reflect a continuation of this long-term strategy. By strengthening both its corporate finance advisory presence in France and its real estate capital solutions capabilities in Germany and the United Kingdom, Houlihan Lokey is expanding its ability to serve clients throughout the full transaction lifecycle.

Firm leadership has emphasized that Europe remains a priority growth region, where clients increasingly seek independent, conflict-free advice supported by deep local market knowledge and global execution capabilities.

Audere Partners Deal Enhances Mid-Market Advisory in France

One of the cornerstone elements of Houlihan Lokey’s European expansion is its investment in Audere Partners, a well-established French corporate finance advisory boutique formerly operating under the Natixis Partners brand. By securing a controlling interest in Audere Partners, Houlihan Lokey significantly strengthens its mid-cap advisory platform in France—one of Europe’s largest and most active economies.

Audere Partners is widely recognized for its expertise in advising mid-sized companies, entrepreneurs, and financial sponsors on mergers and acquisitions, capital raising, and strategic transactions. The firm has built a strong reputation for delivering high-quality, tailored advice rooted in deep understanding of the French market and its regulatory environment.

Under the terms of the transaction, Audere Partners’ senior leadership and advisory professionals will continue to serve clients as part of Houlihan Lokey, bringing their experience, relationships, and execution capabilities into the firm’s broader European corporate finance franchise.

Strengthening Local Expertise With Global Reach

France has long been a strategic focus for Houlihan Lokey, given its vibrant mid-market, active private equity ecosystem, and increasing cross-border deal activity. By integrating Audere Partners into its platform, Houlihan Lokey gains immediate scale and enhanced credibility in the French market.

The move also aligns with Houlihan Lokey’s broader philosophy of empowering local teams while providing them access to global resources, sector expertise, and cross-border connectivity. Clients of Audere Partners are expected to benefit from expanded access to Houlihan Lokey’s international network, industry specialists, and capital markets capabilities.

For Houlihan Lokey, the transaction deepens its bench of senior advisory talent in Europe and reinforces its ability to compete for complex mid-market mandates involving both domestic and international counterparties.

Mellum Capital Acquisition Expands Real Estate Capital Solutions

Complementing the Audere Partners investment, Houlihan Lokey has also acquired the real estate capital advisory business of Mellum Capital, a firm known for its expertise in real estate financing and capital structure advisory. Mellum Capital operates from key financial hubs in Munich and London, giving Houlihan Lokey an expanded footprint in two of Europe’s most important real estate and capital markets centers.

Mellum Capital has built a strong track record advising financial institutions, institutional investors, real estate owners, and corporates on a wide range of capital solutions, including:

• Equity investments

• Debt placements and refinancing

• Structured finance transactions

• Liability management

• Strategic capital advisory

These capabilities align closely with Houlihan Lokey’s growing Capital Solutions Group, which focuses on providing independent advice across the capital structure.

Leadership Integration and Talent Expansion

As part of the transaction, Heinrich Hauss and Markus Reule, the founding partners of Mellum Capital, will join Houlihan Lokey as Managing Directors. They will lead the firm’s enhanced real estate capital advisory offering in Europe, working closely with Houlihan Lokey’s existing teams across EMEA and globally.

Their appointment brings significant sector expertise and long-standing client relationships to Houlihan Lokey, further strengthening the firm’s ability to advise on complex real estate capital structures in an environment marked by rising interest rates, regulatory change, and shifting investor preferences.

The Mellum Capital team will be fully integrated into Houlihan Lokey’s Capital Solutions Group, enabling greater collaboration across product lines and geographies while delivering tailored, sector-specific advice to clients.

Meeting Growing Demand for Real Estate Capital Advisory

The acquisition of Mellum Capital’s advisory business comes at a time when real estate markets across Europe are undergoing structural transformation. Volatility in interest rates, evolving sustainability requirements, and changing capital availability have increased demand for sophisticated, independent advice on financing and capital strategy.

By expanding its real estate capital advisory capabilities, Houlihan Lokey is better positioned to support clients navigating refinancing challenges, capital restructurings, and strategic investment decisions. The firm’s integrated approach allows clients to access expertise across equity, debt, and hybrid instruments while benefiting from a deep understanding of sector dynamics.

This expansion also strengthens Houlihan Lokey’s ability to execute cross-border real estate transactions, a growing area of focus as international investors seek opportunities across European markets.

Creating a More Integrated European Platform

Taken together, the Audere Partners and Mellum Capital transactions represent a coordinated effort to build a more integrated and scalable European platform. By expanding both its corporate finance advisory and capital solutions capabilities, Houlihan Lokey aims to deliver end-to-end advisory services tailored to the needs of mid-market companies, sponsors, and institutional investors.

Firm leadership has noted that these deals are not simply about increasing headcount or geographic coverage. Instead, they are designed to enhance the quality, depth, and integration of services offered to clients across Europe.

By combining local expertise with global sector knowledge and execution capabilities, Houlihan Lokey seeks to differentiate itself as a leading independent investment bank in the EMEA region.

Reinforcing Houlihan Lokey’s Independent Advisory Model

A key element of Houlihan Lokey’s value proposition is its independence. Unlike many large financial institutions, the firm does not engage in proprietary trading or balance-sheet lending, allowing it to provide objective, conflict-free advice to clients.

The expansion of its European platform through Audere Partners and Mellum Capital supports this model by adding advisory talent and sector expertise without compromising independence. Clients benefit from advice that is aligned solely with their strategic and financial objectives.

As regulatory scrutiny and governance expectations increase across Europe, the demand for independent advisory services is expected to grow—further supporting Houlihan Lokey’s strategic direction.

Strengthening Competitive Position in Key European Markets

With enhanced capabilities in France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and beyond, Houlihan Lokey is strengthening its competitive position in some of Europe’s most active dealmaking markets. The firm’s ability to advise on mid-market M&A, real estate capital structures, and complex cross-border transactions positions it well to capture opportunities arising from consolidation, private equity activity, and capital market shifts.

These strategic moves also reinforce Houlihan Lokey’s standing as a trusted advisor to both corporate clients and financial sponsors seeking sophisticated solutions in an increasingly dynamic financial environment.

Looking Ahead: Continued Investment in Europe

Houlihan Lokey has signaled that it will continue to invest in Europe through organic growth and selective acquisitions that align with its strategic priorities. The firm remains focused on expanding sector expertise, deepening local market presence, and enhancing its ability to deliver integrated advisory services.

As European businesses adapt to economic uncertainty, regulatory change, and evolving capital markets, Houlihan Lokey aims to play a central role in helping clients navigate complexity and execute strategic decisions with confidence.

A Milestone in Houlihan Lokey’s European Growth Journey

The acquisitions of Audere Partners and Mellum Capital’s real estate capital advisory business mark an important milestone in Houlihan Lokey’s European growth journey. Together, they reflect a clear commitment to building a leading advisory platform across EMEA—one that combines local insight, global reach, and deep sector expertise.

By strengthening its advisory and capital solutions capabilities, Houlihan Lokey is positioning itself to serve European clients more comprehensively while reinforcing its reputation as a premier independent investment bank in an increasingly interconnected global market.

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