Houlihan Lokey Expands No. 1 Ranked Aerospace•Defense•Government Group; Hires Ryan O'Toole

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Houlihan Lokey, an international investment bank, today announced that Ryan O'Toole has joined the firm as a Director in the Aerospace•Defense•Government (ADG) Group. Mr. O'Toole, formerly of Lazard, will be based in the firm's Los Angeles office and report to Anita Antenucci, Senior Managing Director and Head of the ADG Group. 

“Ryan's track record of success is impressive. He has 12 years of focused experience in aerospace and defense and has long-standing relationships with leading aerospace companies. He has worked with privately held entrepreneurs, leading private equity firms and publicly listed companies such as industry giants Boeing Co. and Northrop Grumman Corp.,” commented Ms. Antenucci. “Houlihan Lokey has by far the deepest bench of seasoned bankers in the aerospace, defense and government sectors, and Ryan is an exceptional addition to the expertise and thought leadership we offer our clients.”

“I'm very excited to join Houlihan Lokey and look forward to being a part of one of the largest and most active dedicated group of aerospace and defense talent of any investment bank,” said Mr. O'Toole. “I hope to draw on my transactional experience and to build upon our leadership position in this vital segment of the global economy.”

Mr. O'Toole was most recently a director at Lazard Frères & Co. LLC. Before that, he spent seven years at Jefferies Quarterdeck, including multiple years as part of a team that included Ms. Antenucci and Warren Romine, a Director in Houlihan Lokey's ADG Group. Throughout his investment banking career, Mr. O'Toole has advised on more than 40 deals, advising such clients as AmSafe, Decrane Aerospace, Remec, Primus International, and EaglePicher.  

Prior, Mr. O'Toole played minor league in the Cincinnati Reds organization. He received his B.A. in economics from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Houlihan Lokey's Aerospace•Defense•Government (ADG) Group has announced over 30 transactions in the past two years with an aggregate value of more than $5 billion. In 2011, Thomson Reuters ranked us the No. 1 M&A advisor for all U.S. aerospace, defense and government transactions. The group's more recent selected transactions include the $1.88 billion sale of SRA International, Inc., for which the team was awarded the “Information Technology Deal of the Year” from the M&A Advisor; the sale of Heath Tecna to Zodiac Aerospace, S.A.; and the sale of DS3, a subsidiary of EADS North America, among others. The group is hosting its 10^th Annual Aerospace•Defense•Government Conference “Opportunities in a Post-Election Environment” on November 8, 2012, in Washington, D.C.

Houlihan Lokey is an international investment bank with expertise in mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, financial restructuring, and valuation serving clients for 40 years. The firm is ranked globally as the No. 1 restructuring advisor, the No. 1 M&A fairness opinion advisor over the past 10 years, and the No. 1 M&A advisor for U.S. transactions under $1 billion, according to Thomson Reuters. Houlihan Lokey has 14 offices and more than 850 employees in the United States, Europe and Asia. The firm serves more than 1,000 clients each year, ranging from closely held companies to Global 500 corporations. For more information, visit www.HL.com.