Houlihan Lokey Appoints Jacques Bitton as a Senior Advisor in France

Houlihan Lokey Appoints Jacques Bitton as a Senior Advisor in France

Experienced Investment Banking Leader to Support Continued Growth in France

PARIS - 30 September 2026 - Houlihan Lokey, Inc. (NYSE:HLI), the global investment bank, announced today that Jacques Bitton has been appointed as a Senior Advisor to the firm in France.

Mr. Bitton brings nearly four decades of experience in the French financial market, having held several senior leadership positions in investment banking at leading financial institutions. He was previously Head of Coverage and Investment Banking for France at Société Générale. Throughout his career, he has developed an in-depth understanding of the French corporate and financial landscape and has advised on numerous complex, transformational M&A and strategic transactions for major French and international companies.

He will work closely with senior financial professionals in the firm's Corporate Finance business in France and across Houlihan Lokey's global platform, bringing his extensive market expertise to client engagements and further strengthening the firm's investment banking capabilities and breadth of advisory services in the country.

Mr. Bitton's appointment represents another important milestone in the continued growth of Houlihan Lokey's French platform, following its acquisition of a controlling interest in Audere Partners (formerly operating under the Natixis Partners brand) earlier this year, which added more than 50 professionals to the firm, and the appointment of Jean-Baptiste Didier earlier this month to lead Financial Sponsors coverage in France.

"Mr. Bitton is an exceptional addition to Houlihan Lokey and precisely the calibre of senior financial professional we want to bring into the firm as we continue to build our capabilities in France," said Jay Novak, Global Co-Head of Corporate Finance. "He brings a differentiated understanding of the French market to our Corporate Finance business. By combining his regional expertise with our global reach and deep sector specialisation, we are uniquely well-equipped to deliver best-in-class counsel and guide our clients through their most critical strategic milestones."

"I am delighted to join Houlihan Lokey at an important stage in the development of its business," said Mr. Bitton. "The combination of a highly experienced and highly regarded local team with Houlihan Lokey's global reach, deep sector expertise, and broad corporate finance capabilities creates a particularly strong platform. I look forward to working closely with the team and to contributing actively to the continued growth of the firm in France."

Houlihan Lokey is committed to ambitious long-term growth in France as it continues to expand its local capabilities, advising corporate and financial sponsor clients across mergers and acquisitions, capital solutions, financial restructuring, and financial and valuation advisory. The firm's Paris office forms part of its global network of more than 30 offices across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific.

Houlihan Lokey, Inc. (NYSE:HLI) is a leading global investment bank recognized for delivering independent strategic and financial advice to corporations, financial sponsors, and governments. With uniquely deep industry expertise, broad international reach, and a partnership approach rooted in trust, the firm provides innovative, integrated solutions across mergers and acquisitions, capital solutions, financial restructuring, and financial and valuation advisory. Our unmatched transaction volumes provide differentiated, data-driven perspectives that help our clients achieve their most critical goals.

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