Houlihan Lokey Real Estate Investment Banking Expands Asset Level Capabilities.

Firm Hires Team from Trammell Crow Company

NEW YORK -- Houlihan Lokey today announced that the Real Estate, Lodging and Leisure Group has expanded its existing real estate services beyond its traditional corporate finance and advisory services to include asset level real estate solutions.

To drive this effort, the firm has hired a team of bankers from Trammell Crow Company. Jonathan Geanakos, a managing director, joins veteran Houlihan Lokey banker John Schoenfeld as co-head of the Real Estate, Lodging and Leisure Group. Along with Mr. Geanakos, senior vice president Stephen Pearlman, vice president Frank Muhlon and associate Nicholas Harris will focus on asset level real estate transactions.

Commenting on the hires, Bob Hotz, senior managing director and co-chairman of Houlihan Lokey, said, "We are excited about the opportunity for the firm to take a more active role in the real estate markets. Where previously we were limited to traditional finance and advisory services, we have the expanded capability to deal directly with buying, selling and financing real estate assets. With Jonathan and his team on board, we see this as a great opportunity to further service our clients."

Mr. Schoenfeld commented, "Over the years we have worked with public and private real estate and real estate-related operating companies on both the company and asset levels. With the addition of Jonathan and his team, our clients in the real estate, lodging and leisure space will have access to a broader array of services and deal flow."

Mr. Geanakos added, "The growth in capital markets, both domestically and internationally, is pressing companies to utilize their real estate assets more strategically to maximize their corporate enterprise value. Houlihan Lokey's reputation as a leading middle market investment bank provides our team the perfect platform to develop real estate opportunities for the firm's current clients, as well as offer our existing contacts access to the firm's full range of capabilities and unique investment opportunities. We are pleased to be chosen to lead this expansion."

While at Trammell Crow Company, Mr. Geanakos and his team advised institutional, corporate, and other real estate owners and investors in structuring and executing asset sales, corporate financings, sale leasebacks, note sales, and other capital market transactions throughout the U.S. In addition, they assisted select clients in establishing portfolio or asset level investment objectives, including acquisition, recapitalization, and repositioning strategies.