Moelis Announces Continued Expansion of its Energy Franchise

Published 10 months ago via Business Wire

Appoints Stephen Trauber as Chairman and Global Head of Energy and Clean Technology

Energy bankers Muhammad Laghari and Alexander Burpee also join as Managing Directors

Moelis (NYSE: MC), a leading global independent investment bank, today announced that it has appointed Stephen Trauber as Chairman and Global Head of Energy and Clean Technology. Based in Houston, Steve will lead the Firm’s global efforts in this space, building on the strength of its U.S. Energy business, led by David Cunningham, and its deep expertise across the Middle East and Europe. His arrival further expands the Firm’s offerings and relationships across energy services, upstream, midstream and energy infrastructure, electrification, mobility, sustainability, LNG and natural gas, among other sub-sectors.

With over 35 years of experience, Steve has advised on more than $700 billion of energy transactions, including many of the sector’s most significant and transformative M&A and financing transactions. In addition to assembling more than 300 oil and natural gas transactions, he has also served as lead financier for many of the industry’s IPOs and equity and debt capital markets deals. Steve most recently served as Vice Chairman and Global Co-Head of Natural Resources and Clean Energy Transition at Citi, where he was responsible for creating and building its Clean Energy Transition business. Prior to Citi, Steve was Vice Chairman and Global Head of Energy at UBS Investment Bank, where he worked with Ken Moelis.

Effective March 4, senior energy bankers Muhammad Laghari and Alexander Burpee will also join as Managing Directors in Houston to provide strategic advice and execution expertise to upstream and midstream oil and gas clients. Muhammad and Alex each bring over 15 years of energy experience to Moelis and join from Guggenheim where they were Senior Managing Directors in the Energy Investment Banking group. Previously, Muhammad and Alex were part of Citi’s Energy Investment Banking team, then led by Steve Trauber, where Muhammad served as Head of North America Upstream Investment Banking and Alex helped lead a technical A&D team providing strategic advice and deal execution expertise to clients. Before a career in investment banking, Alex held technical roles in exploration and production with Schlumberger and Hess.

Navid Mahmoodzadegan, Co-Founder and Co-President at Moelis commented, “Steve is a recognized leader in the industry who has played a key role in many of the energy sector’s landmark transactions. We are thrilled to have him lead our global Energy & Clean Technology franchise and look forward to working with Muhammad and Alex as we continue to provide critical advice to our clients across this rapidly evolving industry.”

Ken Moelis, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at Moelis added, “We continue to strengthen our business across key sectors to enhance the innovative advice and solutions we provide our clients. I look forward to reuniting with Steve and know that our established global energy franchise and our dedicated Clean Technology effort will greatly benefit from his deep experience building teams that foster growth. Investing in our Energy efforts and delivering our expanded expertise to clients around the world remains a key strategic focus at Moelis.”

"I am excited to join Moelis to help grow its global Energy and Clean Technology business and rejoin Ken and many of my former colleagues,” said Steve. “I am also delighted to partner with David Cunningham whom I have known for many years. The global energy ecosystem is undergoing major consolidation and change. I look forward to actively participating in its strategic evolution and working with so many of our clients that are evaluating how best to create value during this period of transformation."

These hires follow the Firm’s September 2023 announcement of the launch of its Clean Technology Group with a dedicated focus on Energy Transition and sustainability, and appointments of Arash Nazhad and Rick Polhemus to co-lead the group.

About Moelis & Company

Moelis & Company (“Moelis”) is a leading global independent investment bank that provides innovative strategic advice and solutions to a diverse client base, including corporations, governments and financial sponsors. The Firm assists its clients in achieving their strategic goals by offering comprehensive integrated financial advisory services across all major industry sectors. Moelis & Company’s experienced professionals advise clients on their most critical decisions, including mergers and acquisitions, recapitalizations and restructurings, capital markets transactions, and other corporate finance matters. The Firm serves its clients from 23 locations in North and South America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Australia. For further information, please visit: www.moelis.com.

Moelis announces continued expansion of its Energy Franchise. Appoints Stephen Trauber as Chairman and Global Head of Energy and Clean Technology. Energy bankers Muhammad Laghari and Alexander Burpee also join as Managing Directors.

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