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Houlihan Valuation Advisors is a company.
Key people at Houlihan Valuation Advisors.
Houlihan Valuation Advisors provides independent valuation expertise, delivering credible and persuasive opinions of value across various financial contexts. The firm offers comprehensive business valuation services, litigation support, fairness opinions, and specialized consulting to address complex valuation issues. They produce thorough and objective valuation reports that adhere to widely accepted financial analysis principles and professional appraisal standards, ensuring reliability for regulatory bodies and third-party stakeholders.
The firm was established in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1987 by David Dorton and Richard Houlihan. Richard Houlihan, recognized for also founding and partnering Houlihan Lokey, brought significant industry pedigree to the new venture. Their insight was to build a practice that offered national-firm quality valuation services with a client-centric approach and efficient fee structure, initially serving the Utah market before expanding.
Houlihan Valuation Advisors serves a broad client base, including corporations, legal professionals, and financial institutions requiring defensible valuations for transactions, regulatory compliance, and dispute resolution. The company’s long-term vision centers on continually providing independent, objective, and meticulously researched valuation opinions that withstand scrutiny from courts, the IRS, and the SEC, becoming a trusted advisor in complex financial matters.
Key people at Houlihan Valuation Advisors.
Houlihan Valuation Advisors (HVA) is an independent valuation and financial advisory firm founded in 1986, specializing in business appraisals, merger acquisitions support, dispute resolution, intellectual property valuation, estate and tax planning, and ESOP advisory services.[2][4][7] Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, with under 25 employees and annual revenue below $5 million, HVA serves clients across virtually every industry by delivering well-documented, market-based valuation analysis tailored to complex needs.[2][4] Its mission centers on providing objective expertise to executives, ensuring comprehensive understanding of business valuation in dynamic markets.[2][4]
Houlihan Valuation Advisors traces its roots to 1986, when it began offering independent valuation services amid growing demand for appraisals in transactions and planning.[2][4][7] Unlike larger firms like Houlihan Capital (founded 1996 by Andrew Smith and Richard Houlihan) or Houlihan Lokey (1972), HVA established itself as a boutique player focused on valuation for small to mid-market clients.[1][3] Key details on specific founders or partners are not publicly detailed in available records, but the firm has maintained a steady evolution, expanding from core appraisals to advisory in M&A, disputes, and tax matters while building a 39-year track record.[2][4][7] Early traction likely stemmed from the post-ERISA era's need for ESOP and solvency opinions, a trend that propelled similar valuation practices.[3]
Houlihan Valuation Advisors supports the tech ecosystem by providing critical valuation for startups and growth companies in technology and life sciences, enabling fair pricing in funding rounds, exits, IP assessments, and ESOPs amid volatile markets.[2][8] It rides trends like rising M&A activity, complex illiquid securities (e.g., warrants, derivatives), and regulatory demands for independent opinions, similar to how ERISA spurred valuation demand in the 1970s.[1][3] Timing favors HVA as tech valuations face scrutiny from inflation, AI hype, and private market corrections, where objective advisors help navigate Level 3 assets and fairness opinions.[1][5] The firm influences the ecosystem by aiding fund managers, PE firms, and executives in deal-making, contributing to efficient capital allocation without the scale of bulge-bracket players.[1][2]
Houlihan Valuation Advisors is poised for steady growth as demand for independent valuations intensifies with tech M&A rebounds, ESG reporting, and crypto/illiquid asset complexities.[1][5] Trends like AI-driven due diligence and global restructuring (where peers like Houlihan Lokey lead) will shape its path, potentially expanding digital tools for market studies.[3][6] Its influence may evolve through niche partnerships with VCs and family offices, solidifying its role in middle-market tech deals—reinforcing its core strength in delivering value-added clarity to an increasingly complex valuation landscape.[1][2]
