Moelis & Company

Moelis & Company is an independent global investment bank established in 2007 by Ken Moelis and partners including Navid Mahmoodzadegan and Jeffrey Raich. The firm was created around a senior-advisory model: experienced investment bankers provide strategic and financial advice without operating a large balance-sheet lending or proprietary-trading business. Its principal clients include public and private companies, governments, sovereign and institutional investors, financial sponsors and boards of directors. The firm's work spans mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, takeover defense, recapitalizations, liability management, bankruptcy and restructuring, capital-raising advice, private funds advisory, shareholder matters and broader corporate-finance strategy. Its restructuring practice has advised debtors, creditors, governments and other stakeholders in complex situations involving distressed companies, financial institutions and highly leveraged enterprises. In M&A, the firm advises buyers and sellers on transaction strategy, valuation, negotiations and execution. Capital-markets and financing advice complements these services by helping clients assess funding alternatives and balance-sheet requirements. Moelis began operations in New York and Los Angeles and expanded rapidly through senior hires and international offices. Early assignments included major transactions involving Anheuser-Busch, Yahoo, Hilton Hotels, Delphi Automotive, AMR Corporation, US Airways, the Co-operative Bank, Glitnir and Dubai World. The firm subsequently developed a presence across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Australia and Latin America, and entered into strategic cooperation with SMBC and SMBC Nikko Securities for cross-border Japanese and international transactions. The company completed its initial public offering in 2014 and its shares began trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol MC. Although publicly listed, the firm has historically emphasized employee ownership and a partnership-oriented culture. Its advisory positioning is based on independence, senior attention, specialized sector and product expertise, and the avoidance of conflicts associated with some larger universal banks. Moelis has stated that it has advised on more than $4 trillion of transactions since inception, although transaction totals and staffing figures change over time. Moelis remains active as a global advisory firm. Its work is organized around strategic advisory, M&A, restructuring and related corporate-finance capabilities, supported by offices in major financial centers. In 2025, co-founder Ken Moelis stepped down as chief executive officer and longtime partner Navid Mahmoodzadegan became CEO, marking a leadership transition from the firm's founding generation to its next senior leadership group.

Moelis & Company was founded in July 2007 by Ken Moelis, Navid Mahmoodzadegan, Jeffrey Raich and other senior investment-banking partners. It opened with offices in New York and Los Angeles and pursued a deliberately independent advisory model. During its first full year, the firm reached a top-ten position among United States M&A advisers and participated in prominent assignments including Anheuser-Busch's sale to InBev, Yahoo's defense against Microsoft's unsolicited proposal and Hilton Hotels' sale to Blackstone. In 2008, Moelis built a dedicated restructuring practice by recruiting senior restructuring bankers from Jefferies. The new group advised on large and complex situations, including Delphi Automotive's reorganization and the restructuring and subsequent combination involving AMR Corporation and US Airways. The firm then strengthened its European restructuring capabilities when Matthew Prest and colleagues joined from Close Brothers. Early European mandates included work for the Co-operative Bank, Glitnir and Natixis, including advice concerning Natixis's disposal of a large complex credit-derivatives portfolio. International expansion accelerated in 2009 and the early 2010s. Mark Aedy joined in 2009 to lead EMEA investment banking, and Moelis opened in Sydney with a team recruited from JPMorgan. Australian assignments included advice to SABMiller on its acquisition of Foster's Group, a consortium acquiring GE Capital Australia and New Zealand Consumer Finance, and Centro Properties in a restructuring and merger of Australian interests. In 2011, the firm opened in Dubai while advising the Government of Dubai on the restructuring of Dubai World, and it also expanded into Asia through a Hong Kong office. In 2012, Moelis announced a strategic alliance with SMBC and SMBC Nikko Securities. The relationship supported cross-border Japanese and international transactions, including advice on the combination of the Osaka Securities Exchange and Tokyo Stock Exchange. The firm entered South America in 2014 with a São Paulo office and completed its initial public offering that April. Its shares began trading on the New York Stock Exchange under MC, while employees retained majority ownership at the time of the offering. The company also added private funds advisory capabilities in 2014 and opened a Washington, D.C. office in 2015 after hiring Eric Cantor. Moelis Australia separately completed an initial public offering in 2017. Over time, the parent firm developed a network covering the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Australia, with advisory activity centered on M&A, restructuring, recapitalization, capital markets and strategic finance. The firm has reported advising on more than $4 trillion of transactions since its formation. In 2024, the company faced a reputational issue after a managing director was filmed in a physical altercation; the executive later resigned. In 2025, Ken Moelis stepped down as CEO and Navid Mahmoodzadegan succeeded him, creating a major leadership transition while preserving the firm's founding independent-advisory identity.

• 2025

  CEO succession

  [1]Moelis & Companyen.wikipedia.org

  Co-founder Ken Moelis steps down as CEO and Navid Mahmoodzadegan takes over.

• 2017

  Moelis Australia IPO

  [1]Moelis & Companyen.wikipedia.org

  The firm's Australian business completes a separate public offering.

• 2015

  Washington, D.C. office opened

  [1]Moelis & Companyen.wikipedia.org

  Moelis adds a Washington, D.C. location after recruiting Eric Cantor.

• 2014

  Initial public offering

  [1]Moelis & Companyen.wikipedia.org

  Moelis & Company completes its IPO and begins trading on the New York Stock Exchange under MC.

• 2014

  São Paulo office opened

  [1]Moelis & Companyen.wikipedia.org

  The firm expands into South America through a São Paulo office.

• 2012

  Strategic alliance with SMBC and SMBC Nikko

  [1]Moelis & Companyen.wikipedia.org

  The firms agree to cooperate on cross-border M&A and other strategic transactions.

• 2011

  Dubai and Hong Kong expansion

  [1]Moelis & Companyen.wikipedia.org

  Moelis opens in Dubai and expands its Asian presence with a Hong Kong office.

• 2009

  Expansion into Australia and EMEA leadership

  [1]Moelis & Companyen.wikipedia.org

  The firm opens Sydney and appoints Mark Aedy to lead EMEA investment banking.

• 2008

  Restructuring practice established

  [1]Moelis & Companyen.wikipedia.org

  Moelis recruits senior restructuring specialists and begins taking major corporate reorganization mandates.

• 2007

  Firm founded and launches in New York and Los Angeles

  [1]Moelis & Companyen.wikipedia.org

  Ken Moelis and partners including Navid Mahmoodzadegan and Jeffrey Raich establish Moelis & Company as an independent investment bank.

An independent, senior-led investment bank focused on conflict-conscious strategic advice rather than deposit-taking, lending or proprietary trading.

• Investment banking advisory · 2007

  Mergers and acquisitions advisory

  Advice to buyers, sellers, boards and other stakeholders on acquisitions, mergers, divestitures, takeovers, joint ventures and related strategic combinations. Work typically includes transaction evaluation, valuation, negotiation, process management and execution support across sectors and geographies.

• Restructuring and special situations · 2008

  Restructuring advisory

  Advice for companies, creditors, governments and investors facing financial distress or complex balance-sheet challenges. Services include reorganizations, recapitalizations, liability management, bankruptcy-related processes, creditor negotiations and capital-structure analysis.

• Corporate finance · 2007

  Capital markets and financing advisory

  Strategic advice on financing alternatives, recapitalizations, capital structure and transactions involving equity or debt markets. The firm advises clients on selecting and structuring funding solutions rather than operating as a conventional lending institution.

• Investment-funds advisory · 2014

  Private funds advisory

  A specialized advisory capability established in 2014 to serve private-fund-related clients and transactions. The business broadened Moelis's platform beyond traditional M&A and restructuring mandates.

• Strategic and corporate advisory · 2007

  Strategic advisory

  Senior-level advice on corporate strategy, shareholder matters, takeover defense, government-related financial questions and other high-impact decisions requiring independent analysis and transaction expertise.

• 2024

  Jonathan Kaye Brooklyn altercation

  Jonathan Kaye, a managing director associated with Moelis's business-services sector, was filmed appearing to punch another person in Brooklyn. The company confirmed that the person shown was an employee and announced an investigation. Kaye subsequently resigned from the firm.

  Source

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• 2025

  Transfer CEO role to Navid MahmoodzadeganOther

  Background

  The firm transitioned from the leadership of co-founder Ken Moelis after nearly two decades of operation.

  Action taken

  Ken Moelis stepped down as CEO and Navid Mahmoodzadegan assumed the role.

  Aftermath

  The succession placed a founding partner with long-standing leadership experience at the head of the publicly listed investment bank.

  Source

• 2014

  Complete initial public offeringOther

  Background

  After rapid expansion and more than $1 trillion of advised transactions, the firm pursued public-market access while retaining its independent advisory identity.

  Action taken

  Moelis & Company completed an IPO and listed its shares on the New York Stock Exchange under MC.

  Aftermath

  The company became publicly traded, while employees maintained majority ownership at the time of the offering.

  Source

• 2014

  Establish private funds advisoryStrategy

  Background

  Moelis sought to broaden its advisory mix beyond M&A and restructuring.

  Action taken

  The firm created a private funds advisory business with four hires.

  Aftermath

  The new business added a specialized funds-related capability to the firm's advisory platform.

  Source

• 2012

  Form strategic alliance with SMBC and SMBC NikkoStrategy

  Background

  Cross-border Japanese transactions required broader local relationships and international execution capabilities.

  Action taken

  Moelis entered a strategic alliance with SMBC and SMBC Nikko Securities.

  Aftermath

  The alliance supported cross-border assignments, including the combination of the Osaka Securities Exchange and Tokyo Stock Exchange.

  Source

• 2008

  Build a dedicated restructuring businessStrategy

  Background

  The newly established investment bank sought to complement its M&A franchise with expertise in distressed companies, reorganizations and complex capital structures.

  Action taken

  Moelis recruited senior restructuring bankers from Jefferies and subsequently added European restructuring specialists.

  Aftermath

  The restructuring practice became a core part of the firm's global advisory platform and handled major mandates in the United States and Europe.

  Source

1. 1Moelis & Companyen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Moelis & Company official websitemoelis.com