Houlihan Lokey Appoints New Executives to Strengthen European Operations
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Feb 03 2026
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Should l Buy HLI?
Source: Newsfilter
- Executive Appointments: Houlihan Lokey announced the appointments of Philipp Widmann as Managing Director and Henning Stoltze as Director, aimed at enhancing its coverage in the European specialty distribution sector, reflecting the firm's confidence in the ongoing growth of this market.
- Team Expansion: Widmann will lead the new team, leveraging over a decade of M&A and capital markets experience from Baird to deliver bespoke cross-border solutions, which is expected to enhance the firm's competitive position in the European market.
- Market Leadership: This appointment complements the recent addition of Géraud Estrangin in Paris, further strengthening Houlihan Lokey's expertise in aerospace and defense, indicating the firm's deep sector knowledge across multiple subsectors.
- Strategic Vision: Bill Peluchiwski, Global Head of Industrials, stated that this appointment represents an important milestone in the expansion of the global Industrials Group, emphasizing the continued growth potential in the European specialty distribution market.
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Analyst Views on HLI
Wall Street analysts forecast HLI stock price to rise
4 Analyst Rating
3 Buy
1 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 139.020
Low
193.00
Averages
215.50
High
235.00
Current: 139.020
Low
193.00
Averages
215.50
High
235.00
About HLI
Houlihan Lokey, Inc. is a global investment bank specializing in mergers and acquisitions, capital solutions, financial restructuring, and financial and valuation advisory. Its segments include Corporate Finance (CF), Financial Restructuring (FR), and Financial and Valuation Advisory (FVA). CF segment provides general financial advisory services and advice on mergers and acquisitions and capital solutions offerings. FR segment offers a range of advisory services to its clients, including: the structuring, negotiation, and confirmation of plans of reorganization; liability management transactions; corporate viability assessment, and procuring debtor-in-possession financing. FVA segment provides financial advisory and valuation services with respect to companies, debt and equity interests (including complex illiquid investments), and other types of assets and liabilities, and others. It also provides investment banking advice to clients in the insurance and wealth management sectors.
About the author

Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
- Executive Appointment: Steven Loffman joins Houlihan Lokey as a Managing Director to lead the U.S. Real Estate Capital Advisory practice, bringing 18 years of experience in real estate investment banking that will enhance the firm's industry insights and innovative capital solutions.
- Rich Transaction Experience: Prior to joining Houlihan Lokey, Loffman managed over 200 transactions at Raymond James, raising more than $75 billion across public and private capital markets, showcasing his exceptional capabilities that are expected to bolster the firm's market competitiveness.
- Global Team Expansion: Houlihan Lokey's Capital Solutions Group now comprises 200 professionals across eight countries, having raised and advised on nearly $39 billion across more than 125 transactions in the past 12 months, further solidifying its leadership in the global real estate capital market.
- Market Adaptability: Loffman emphasizes that real estate clients face a complex market environment, and Houlihan Lokey is well-equipped with deep industry expertise and adaptive financing strategies to provide tailored solutions that help clients excel in a competitive landscape.
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- Role Responsibilities: In his new position, Ben will be responsible for evaluating new transactions, conducting due diligence, underwriting, and collaborating with O2's portfolio companies, thereby strengthening the firm's investment decision-making and driving business growth.
- Background Credentials: Ben previously served as an Investment Banking Analyst at Houlihan Lokey and in the Private Equity Advisory Group at Guggenheim Partners, focusing on M&A transactions in the IT Services and Business Services sectors, and his extensive industry experience will provide O2 with new perspectives and strategies.
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- Executive Appointments: Houlihan Lokey announced the appointments of Philipp Widmann as Managing Director and Henning Stoltze as Director, aimed at enhancing its coverage in the European specialty distribution sector, reflecting the firm's confidence in the ongoing growth of this market.
- Team Expansion: Widmann will lead the new team, leveraging over a decade of M&A and capital markets experience from Baird to deliver bespoke cross-border solutions, which is expected to enhance the firm's competitive position in the European market.
- Market Leadership: This appointment complements the recent addition of Géraud Estrangin in Paris, further strengthening Houlihan Lokey's expertise in aerospace and defense, indicating the firm's deep sector knowledge across multiple subsectors.
- Strategic Vision: Bill Peluchiwski, Global Head of Industrials, stated that this appointment represents an important milestone in the expansion of the global Industrials Group, emphasizing the continued growth potential in the European specialty distribution market.
See More
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