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Founders Chris Godsmark and Christian Maher, who have headed Oakley for the past eight years, will transfer to Houlihan Lokey as part of the deal alongside 14 other bankers.

Houlihan Lokey has been expanding its coverage of technology after its $600m purchase of GCA, a Tokyo-listed technology-focused advisory firm, last year. The deal brought in 500 dealmakers globally and nearly doubled headcount to 350 bankers in Europe.

The acquisition of Oakley Advisory brings its technology advisory practice up to 235 professionals, with 40 people focused on digital infrastructure.

READ Houlihan Lokey wants the top Europe M&A spot: ‘We’re at a critical mass at a level we have not been before’

Houlihan has swallowed up six boutique investment banks in Europe over the past six years to bolster its operations in the region including food and retail specialist McQueen and Baylor Klein, a bank focused on the household, beauty and personal care sectors.

“As we continue to expand our corporate finance business, we are seeking to add strength where we see client demand with individuals or teams that share our track record of success driven by outstanding sector knowledge, a strong corporate culture, and an unerring focus on superior client outcomes,” said Scott Adelson, Houlihan Lokey’s co-president and co-head of corporate finance in a statement.

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