Margaret Whelan
Whelan Advisory
Margaret Whelan
Chief Executive Officer & Founder
Whelan Advisory
What led you to a career in the deal-making industry?
I’ve worked in investment banking for my whole career. I love the pace and excitement of M&A, reading and timing the market, protecting our clients’ best interests to ensure they maximize chemistry and fit, without leaving any value on the table.
How does diversity add value in the deal-making process?
Diversity of thought drives out of the box thinking and above average returns. Clients choose me to represent them because I bring a fresh perspective, I patiently invest a lot of time into investment positioning, to anticipate what investors will prioritize and value.
The most memorable deal I worked on....
ResiBuilt – we launched a $150mn equity raise for this start up homebuilder in late 2019, the deal we had in hand fell apart in March 2020. We successfully closed on a $400mn equity commitment by December, 2020! It was a rollercoaster but fantastic result for our client.
Tell us about your experience during Covid-19, any lessons?
US housing emerged as a bright spot in the global economy, as consumer sought shelter and refuse in private homes. As suppliers of housing, our clients saw accelerated growth, capital needs, a pick up in M&A and higher valuations. We captured this momentum by closing 7 transactions in 2020 alone.
Advice for achieving success in the industry....
Success leaves clues, over the course of my career I have worked with successful leaders in our industry such as Ken Moelis and Jamie Dimon and observed as they outperformed their peers through thoughtful engagement, attention to detail, and patience.
Profile:
Margaret Whelan is an investment banker and trusted advisor to owners of U.S. housing and construction companies. She runs one of the few women owned investment banks, where her team has an active and successful practice closing M&A and capital raising transactions.
Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce with Honors from the University College of Dublin.
Location: Whelan Advisory, New York, New York.
