Houlihan Lokey to Acquire Vicente & Partners, Add Nine in London

By Amara Osei

Houlihan Lokey has agreed to acquire Vicente & Partners, adding nine financial professionals to its London office. Houlihan Lokey said the transaction was signed on October 30.

What changes under the deal?

Houlihan Lokey expects the acquisition to strengthen its specialized sector advice alongside global capital markets and transaction capabilities. The firm says Vicente & Partners’ clients will gain access to a larger international platform and a broader range of services.

Jay Novak, Global Co-Head of Corporate Finance at Houlihan Lokey, said: “In today’s evolving market, clients increasingly require advisors who possess deep subsector specialization, world-class capital markets expertise, and truly global reach. Partnering with this team allows us to deliver exactly that combination.”

Houlihan Lokey said the transaction will extend its advisory capabilities in beauty, personal care and pet health across Europe and the U.S. Completion will further expand the bank’s London-based consumer team and its coverage of rapidly growing luxury and health-oriented categories.

Alejandro Vicente, Founder of Vicente & Partners, said: “We have built Vicente & Partners by focusing on close, long-term relationships, our deep sector expertise, and our differentiated, highly discreet approach. Joining Houlihan Lokey is a natural evolution for us, as we share the same core values.”

Who is joining Houlihan Lokey?

Houlihan Lokey said Alejandro Vicente founded Vicente & Partners in London in 2020. Vicente formerly served as global head of consumer goods investment banking at J.P. Morgan. The firm said he has more than 30 years of experience in fast-moving consumer goods, including 17 years at J.P. Morgan and eight years in senior corporate positions.

Vicente will join Houlihan Lokey as a managing director. Houlihan Lokey said Lidiia Gaiduk and Michelle Garcia will also join the firm. The acquisition will add nine financial professionals to the bank’s London office.

Alexander Grünwald, Global Co-Head of the Consumer Group at Houlihan Lokey, said: “Vicente & Partners’ expertise in the high-growth beauty, personal care, and pet health sectors perfectly complements our existing strong capabilities in these areas.”

The listed mandates span strategic-buyer transactions and company sales across several consumer categories. Houlihan Lokey cited that record when it agreed to acquire the firm. The nine professionals will add established sector experience to the bank’s London consumer team.

Which consumer deals did the team advise on?

Houlihan Lokey identified Touchland’s sale to Church & Dwight and Kering’s acquisition of luxury fragrance company Creed among the team’s mandates. The team also advised Coty on the $4.3 billion divestiture of Coty’s professional and retail hair business to KKR. Houlihan Lokey said Vicente & Partners has also advised on multiple sales of pet health companies to strategic corporate buyers.

How large is Houlihan Lokey’s consumer practice?

Houlihan Lokey’s Consumer Group has more than 140 industry-focused professionals worldwide. The firm lists mergers and acquisitions, capital raising, restructuring, and financial and valuation advice among the group’s services. The nine financial professionals will join that global operation’s London office.

LSEG ranked Houlihan Lokey as the leading adviser for global consumer mergers and acquisitions valued below $1 billion during 2025. LSEG excluded accounting firms and brokers from the ranking.

Houlihan Lokey expects Vicente & Partners’ clients to gain access to a larger international platform and a broader range of services. For Houlihan Lokey, the deal brings nine London professionals and specialized coverage in three consumer sectors. The next measure is whether the enlarged team extends the bank’s mandates across Europe and the U.S. once the transaction closes.