Board and Special Committee Advisory

Houlihan Lokey has decades of leadership in providing objective advice to public company boards and special committees. Our senior financial professionals have extensive experience in providing tailored guidance to help our clients thoroughly evaluate and analyze a range of strategic situations. We provide robust and innovative M&A leadership, build deep client relationships on the foundation of trust and discretion, and help navigate the challenges of complex situations and conflict-prone transactions from start to finish.

Independent/Special Committee Advisory

Houlihan Lokey represents special committees across a variety of M&A, financing, and special situations and has substantial experience with controlling stockholders, inbound offers, and related-party dynamics. Houlihan Lokey’s deeply experienced senior financial professionals provide discreet and independent strategic and financial advice, unencumbered by institutional constraints or conflicts. Our team works hand-in-hand with special committees and their counsel to develop a tailored, arm’s-length process designed to achieve the Special Committee’s objectives.

Fairness and Other Transaction Opinions

Our advisory work on behalf of boards and special committees includes rendering opinions across a wide range of transactions. We have helped our clients fulfill their fiduciary responsibilities—delivering objective opinions backed by comprehensive analyses in a variety of complex situations, including:

Synergistic Mergers
Transactions Involving Competing Offers
Affiliate and Insider Transactions
Related-Party Transactions
Related-Party Financings
Down-Round Financings

Our industry-leading credibility is also backed by our decades of leadership in valuation and our demonstrable track record of defending our work in litigation and having our opinions upheld in the courts.

Corporate Preparedness/Activist Advisory

Houlihan Lokey advises clients on preparing for, anticipating, and reacting to activist shareholder activity. Our advice is based on analysis and a deep understanding of the factors that increase vulnerability to shareholder activism. Houlihan Lokey applies its expertise to a client’s particular circumstance to customize a range of responsible actions and reactions to an event. Following an activist letter or filing, we work with clients to coordinate a comprehensive response to help achieve their objectives. On certain highly selective transactions, Houlihan Lokey may assist activist shareholders, providing analytical and strategic support. This has involved challenging the terms of announced transactions or advocating for certain strategic alternatives to benefit shareholders.