Houlihan Lokey has hired a senior dealmaker to head up its equity private placement division in Europe, an area a number of investment banks are focusing on as initial public offerings and other stock listings have dried up.

David Kelnar is joining as a managing director leading its equity private placement unit in Europe, Houlihan Lokey said in a statement. He will work with the bank's corporate and financial sponsor-backed clients in the region, it added.