Moelis & Company, the fast-growing independent investment bank, has hired the former co-head of corporate broking at Merrill Lynch to help build an equity capital markets advisory business as it seeks to emulate the success of firms like Rothschild and Lazard in offering independent advice on capital raisings and flotations.

Michael Findlay, who was co-head of corporate broking for Merrill Lynch in Europe, the Middle East and Africa between 2004 and 2009, will join Moelis as managing director and equity capital markets adviser in London on 1 December.