NEW YORK, Jul 13, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) –
Houlihan Lokey, an international investment bank, announced today that
Jeffrey Altman has joined the firm as a Managing Director in the newly
formed Real Estate Strategic Advisory Group.

Mr. Altman, who spent the past 13 years at Lazard Ltd., will focus on
merger and acquisition advisory, capital raising and other strategic
advisory mandates for public and private real estate companies, lenders
and investors.

“Jeff has a tremendous track record of exceptional client service in
complex real estate transactions,” said Matthew Niemann, Managing
Director and Head of Houlihan Lokey’s Real Estate Strategic Advisory
Group. “As deal activity continues to pick up in both healthy and
distressed real estate, Jeff’s expertise will be a valuable addition to
our already strong team of advisors.”

Houlihan Lokey is the No. 1 MA advisor for all U.S. real estate,
lodging and leisure transactions, as well as the No. 1 investment
banking restructuring advisor globally, according to 2010 rankings by
Thomson Reuters. Houlihan Lokey’s board recently combined all of the
firm’s real estate advisory services into one group, led by Mr. Niemann.

“We have strengthened our transactional real estate talent and combined
them into one group to provide a broader array of services to our
clients in the ever fluid area of real estate mergers, acquisitions,
finance and restructurings,” said Robert Hotz, Senior Managing Director,
Global Co-Head Corporate Finance and Co-Chairman of Houlihan Lokey.

Prior to joining Houlihan Lokey, Mr. Altman worked on more than $50
billion of real estate and lodging-related transactions, most recently
advising Extended Stay Hotels and Highland Hospitality in their merger,
acquisition and restructuring transactions. He has also advised Centro
Properties, Starwood Hotels Resorts, Mack-Cali Realty, Town and
Country Trust and JDN Realty Corporation, among others.

“I am excited to be joining Houlihan Lokey at a time when the firm is
expanding around the world,” said Mr. Altman. “My experience fits
perfectly into the firm’s market-leading Real Estate Strategic Advisory
Group and I look forward to growing the business.”

Mr. Altman joined Lazard in 1998. Prior to that, he was an associate in
Arthur Andersen’s Corporate Finance Group. Mr. Altman is a member of the
New York Hospitality Council, the National Association of Real Estate
Investment Trusts and the International Council of Shopping Centers. He
is a frequent speaker at real estate and lodging conferences. Mr. Altman
earned a bachelor’s degree with honors and an MBA with highest honors
from Washington University in St. Louis.

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 MA fairness opinion advisor over the past 10 years,
and the No. 1 MA advisor for U.S. transactions under $1 billion,
according to Thomson Reuters. Houlihan Lokey has 14 offices and more
than 800 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 .

SOURCE: Houlihan Lokey

        Houlihan Lokey
        Michael Utley, 310-789-5765
        MUtley@HL.com

Copyright Business Wire 2011