BEIJING & HONG KONG--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Houlihan Lokey, an international investment bank, today announced that Weimin Chen has joined as a Managing Director and Head of China for the firm. Mr. Chen will be responsible for overseeing the firm's investment banking business in the mainland China market. His role will include responsibility for the further development of the firm's corporate finance, financial advisory and financial restructuring businesses. Previously, Mr. Chen was with Lazard China for more than four years, where he was general manager and director of Lazard's Beijing office, responsible for the firm's coverage efforts in China.
"Weimin's appointment is a significant step in strengthening our China business," said David Putnam, Managing Director and Head of Asia for Houlihan Lokey. "China is increasingly engaging in international M&A and capital raising transactions and Weimin's arrival helps us better support our China clients in leveraging Houlihan Lokey's platform globally as well as domestically, and he will significantly increase our ability to identify Chinese opportunities for our international clients."
Mr. Chen added: "I am delighted to be joining Houlihan Lokey at a time when the firm is actively growing its presence in the Asia-Pacific region. I look forward to expanding the firm's client base in China and I welcome both the challenge and opportunity to play such a key role in a global business with market leading positions across its focused investment banking service categories."
During the past two decades, Mr. Chen has held senior roles at international and Chinese organizations. Prior to Lazard, he was the chief financial officer of Trina Solar Limited, an integrated solar panel manufacturer based in China, where he successfully managed the transition period from a privately owned company to a U.S.-listed public company. Previously, Mr. Chen worked at DBS Bank in Hong Kong, where he was responsible for leading the bank's M&A business in China. He has also worked for ABN Amro Corporate Finance in Hong Kong and Barclays Capital in London. Mr. Chen started his career at Sinochem, a leading Chinese state-owned conglomerate, where he worked for seven years, primarily in its London office. Mr. Chen holds an MBA from London Business School and a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing.
Houlihan Lokey launched its Asia presence in Hong Kong and since has expanded by establishing offices in Tokyo and Beijing. In July 2010, Houlihan Lokey established an on-the-ground presence in India and Singapore through a strategic minority investment in Avista Advisory Group, a 30-person investment banking firm headquartered in Mumbai. Houlihan Lokey offers a globally-integrated platform of investment banking services to clients located throughout Asia, the United States and Europe.
About Houlihan Lokey
Houlihan Lokey is an international investment bank with expertise in mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, financial restructuring, and valuation. 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 800 employees in Asia, the United States and Europe. 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.
Contacts
Houlihan Lokey
Michael Utley, 310-789-5765
MUtley@HL.com
Andrea Hewitt, (44) 20 7747 2744
AHewitt@HL.com