Thomas O. Hicks is founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of
Hicks Holdings LLC, a Dallas-based family office that owns and manages the Thomas and Cinda Hicks Family's real estate, corporate assets, and investments.
Through Hicks Equity Partners LLC (“HEP”), the private equity firm led by Thomas O. Hicks, HEP targets acquisitions, recapitalizations, buyouts, buy-and-builds, corporate divestitures and selected growth capital investments, typically investing $15-100 million per portfolio company, in companies with enterprise values between $40-400 million.
Some of HEP’s investments to date include:
Anvita Health, a leader in clinical decision support systems, recently acquired by Humana Health;
DirecPath, a company formed to provide bundled DIRECTV programming, broadband voice and data services, security and other locally based services to multiple dwelling unit residences (MDUs) across the United States;
Directional Rentals, Inc., a privately held oilfield services company;
Grupo Pilar, a leading animal and pet food company in Argentina;
Latrobe Specialty Steel, a leading manufacturer and distributor of specialty steel to the aerospace industry, recently acquired by Carpenter Technology Corporation; and
Ocular LCD, Inc., a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of high-performance liquid crystal displays, modules and systems.
In 2007, Mr. Hicks founded and served as Chairman of Hicks Acquisition Company I, Inc. (“HAC I”), a $552 million Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC) formed for the purpose of acquiring, or acquiring control of, through a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination, one or more businesses or assets. In September 2009, HAC I completed a successful merger with Resolute Natural Resources to form Resolute Energy Corporation, which is listed on the NYSE under the ticker symbol REN and is one of the most successful SPAC transactions in the industry. Based on the success of HAC I, the firm raised $150 million in October
2010 for Hicks Acquisition Company II, Inc. (“HAC II”) and has currently announced its intent to purchase Appleton Papers, a leading manufacturer of specialty, high value-added coated paper products, including carbonless, thermal and security papers. The Company is also a provider of proprietary encapsulation applications.
Hicks Holdings is a developer of 190 acres of land adjacent to the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington; and of Champions Park, a 40-acre office/retail development in Frisco, Texas, adjacent to the Dr Pepper Ballpark and Dr Pepper Arena. Hicks Holdings also selectively makes corporate and real estate investments in South America. Through Hicks Cedar Park, the Austin, Texas suburb, Cedar Park is home to the Texas Stars, Dallas’ American Hockey League development affiliate playing their third season in 2011-2012. The development includes a 6,700-seat Cedar Park Event Center and has a retail site of 17 acres adjacent to the facility grounds for mixed-use development, all being developed by Hicks Cedar Park.
Previously, Mr. Hicks co-founded, and was Chairman from 1989 through 2004 of
Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst, Inc., (“HMTF”), a nationally prominent private equity firm specializing in leveraged acquisitions. During Mr. Hicks' tenure as Chairman, HMTF successfully raised over $12 billion of private equity funds, consummated over $50 billion of leveraged acquisitions, and was one of the world's most active private investment firms. From 1984 to 1989, Mr. Hicks was Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Hicks & Haas, a Dallas-based private equity firm. The successful acquisitions of HMTF and Hicks & Haas included AMFM Inc., A&W Brands, Inc., Berg Electronics, Inc., Dr Pepper/Seven Up Companies, International Home Foods, Life Partners Group, Pinnacle Foods, Sybron International, and Yell Group plc, among others.
From 1995 – 2011, Mr. Hicks was the Owner and Chairman of the Dallas Stars, a National Hockey League club. During his ownership, the Club captured seven Division Championships, three Western Conference regular season crowns, two Presidents’ Trophies as the team with the best regular season record, two consecutive trips to the Stanley Cup Finals and the 1999 Stanley Cup Championship. The Stars had the third-best record in the entire NHL over his 15 seasons as owner. He was also instrumental in the development and building of the American Airlines Center ("AAC") in Dallas, TX which opened in July 2001, and the Dallas Stars own 50% of the AAC.
Thomas O. Hicks was also the Owner and Chairman of the Board of the Texas Rangers, a Major League baseball club and of the Rangers
Ballpark in Arlington from June 1998 to August 2010. During his ownership, the club captured three American West Division titles and was the 2010
American League Champion, advancing to the World Series the same year.
Mr. Hicks serves on the boards of directors of Carpenter Technology Corporation, Directional Rentals Holdings, Inc., the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business Dean's Board of Advisors, the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Foundation Board of Trustees, and the University of Texas Chancellor's Council. He recently served on the Board of Trustees for The Center for Strategic and International Studies. A former member of the University of Texas System Board of Regents, Mr. Hicks served as Chairman of the University of Texas Investment Management Company (UTIMCO), which manages the $20 billion University of Texas Permanent University Fund and Long Term Funds. Mr. Hicks graduated with an MBA from the University of Southern California in 1970 and a BBA from the University of Texas in
1969. He is also a past recipient of the University of Texas’ Distinguished Alumnus Award, and has served several years as a Distinguished Guest
Lecturer at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business.
Mr. Hicks has strong ties to the Dallas community and The Thomas and Cinda Hicks Family Foundation provides continuing support to numerous organizations.
Mr. Hicks is the father of six children, and he and his wife, Cinda, reside in Dallas.