Ryan R. Cox

Head of Simpson Thacher’s Hybrid Capital Practice and Co-Managing Partner of the Firm’s Dallas office, Ryan Cox advises asset managers, private equity sponsors, capital providers and companies on complex hybrid capital transactions that bridge the gap between traditional debt and equity. Ryan is a leading adviser recognized for structuring innovative capital solutions in situations where flexibility, creativity and execution certainty are critical. He advises on preferred and structured equity, convertible securities and other strategic capital solutions used to support acquisitions, growth initiatives, recapitalizations, liability management transactions, deleveraging efforts and other strategic objectives. His practice spans the full spectrum of hybrid capital, private credit and other alternative capital arrangements, as well as special situations, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, restructurings and capital markets transactions. He regularly represents leading credit, private equity, opportunistic, growth and venture investors, family offices and public and private companies across industries and geographies.

Drawing on experience across corporate, financing and restructuring disciplines, Ryan helps clients navigate situations where conventional debt or equity capital may not provide the flexibility required to achieve their objectives. He regularly advises on transactions involving sponsors, portfolio companies, issuer-side participants and alternative capital providers, bringing a commercial and solutions-oriented approach to complex capital structure challenges.

Notable experience prior to joining Simpson Thacher includes advising:

• General Atlantic Credit as the lead investor in a $425 million preferred equity investment in Buyers Edge Platform, a foodservice digital procurement network; in a $175 million hybrid capital financing for NextDecade Corporation, a LNG/carbon capture clean energy company; in a $525 million hybrid capital financing for Carestream Dental, a digital dental solutions company; and in the $170 million acquisition of the personalized product platform PlanetArt
• One Investment Management (OneIM) in an investment in Garda World Security Corporation, a global security services company
• Invesco Senior Secured Management in a preferred equity investment in Franklin Energy, an energy solutions company
• FTAI Infrastructure Inc. in a private placement of $300 million in preferred equity
• Vista Credit Partners in a $125 million hybrid capital financing for healthcare data platform Arcadia; a $150 million preferred equity investment in adtech company VideoAmp; and a preferred equity investment in leading software company aPriori Technologies Inc.
• Neuberger Berman Specialty Finance in a $150 million hybrid capital financing for Oportun, a financial services company
• Beach Point Capital in a hybrid capital financing to support the acquisition of a global brand licensing agency by a newly formed joint venture
• Davidson Kempner Capital Management in connection with various hybrid capital investments
• A large private equity fund in a $120 million hybrid capital financing to support the acquisition of a franchisee and operator of more than 80 fitness clubs
• A large credit fund in a $130 million hybrid capital financing to support the acquisition of a privately held oil and gas company by a newly formed joint venture

Ryan received his J.D., cum laude, from Southern Methodist University School of Law in 2005. He received his B.B.A., cum laude, from Baylor University in 2002. He is admitted to practice in Texas.