Leading with Solutions
Square Nine specializes in bespoke credit investments that optimize the capital structures of middle market companies
About
Flexible Capital for Sustainable Growth
As the private credit industry has expanded, managers have developed an obstinate focus on standardized terms and structures. We understand each company has unique requirements when developing a strategy for its capital structure. Our approach prioritizes tailored solutions to address the idiosyncratic needs of each company and create enduring value through a partnership approach
Square Nine was founded by a seasoned team with decades of investing experience and extensive industry relationships
Investment Philosophy
Square Nine provides structured capital solutions to address unmet business demand by focusing on overlooked segments of the middle market
Core Investment Principles
Our investment philosophy is supported by disciplined underwriting, a commitment to addressing a company’s specific needs, and a focus on aligning incentives across the company, operators and investors
What We Do
- Invest with middle-market public or private companies
- Provide debt investments at or near the top of the capital structure
- Highly-tailored structures with the flexibility to incorporate bespoke investment features
- Invest in both sponsored and unsponsored businesses
- Embrace a partnership approach and deliver strategic and operational advice
What We Don’t Do
- Control equity investments
- Loan-to-own investments
- Non-corporate counterparties
- Opportunities reliant on market timing or binary outcomes
- Structures that lack alignment
Square Nine provides a range of financing solutions to middle-market companies across all industries in North America and Europe
Team
A Team of Experienced Professionals with a Shared Vision
Square Nine is led by seasoned industry veterans with decades of collective experience investing in private credit
Peter Ma
Managing Partner
Nicole Musicco
Managing Partner
Gregory Shamo, Esq
Chief Operating Officer
Christopher Brown
Principal
Griffin Coakley
Principal
Bari Wiley
Head of Business Development
Pechie Wat
Strategic Project Lead
Peter Ma
Managing Partner
Peter Ma is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Square Nine Capital. In this capacity, he co-heads the firm’s Investment Committee, develops and executes the firm’s overall investment strategy, leads the investment team and oversees origination, underwriting and portfolio management.
Prior to founding Square Nine Capital, Mr. Ma was most recently a Managing Director with Morgan Stanley, where he served as a member of the executive team for the Private Credit platform of Morgan Stanley Investment Management (MSIM) and a member of the Investment Committee for funds under the Direct Lending, Opportunistic Credit and Senior Loan strategies. Mr. Ma has over 15 years of relevant industry experience, with a focus on originating and executing credit investment opportunities. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, Mr. Ma was a Partner and Managing Director at Colbeck Capital, responsible for sourcing special situations credit opportunities, leading investment execution, and portfolio management. Prior to Colbeck, Mr. Ma was an investment banker at MESA Securities where he advised media & entertainment companies on mergers, acquisitions, and capital raising, with a focus on structured solutions. Mr. Ma is a graduate of Harvard University.
Nicole Musicco
Managing Partner
Nicole Musicco is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Square Nine Capital. In this capacity, she co-heads the firm’s Investment Committee, develops and executes the firm’s overall investment strategy, leads the business operations of the firm including the development of critical infrastructure and heads fundraising, investor relations and investor onboarding initiatives.
Ms. Musicco was most recently the Chief Investment Officer of the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS). In that role, she oversaw an investment office of nearly 400 employees and managed investment portfolios of roughly $500 billion. Prior to joining CalPERS, Ms. Musicco was an investment partner at RedBird Capital Partners. Ms. Musicco spent 16 years with the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (OTPP), where she led the public equity investment team, launched the Asia investment business in Hong Kong; oversaw the private equity fund and co-investment program, and led the private equity Healthcare investment team. Ms. Musicco graduated with a bachelor of science degree in Kinesiology from Western University in London, Ontario, and a bachelor of arts in Honors Business Administration and MBA from Western’s Ivey School of Business.
Gregory Shamo, Esq
Chief Operating Officer
Gregory Shamo, Esq. is the Chief Operating Officer of Square Nine. In this capacity, he is primarily responsible for overseeing firm operations with a particular emphasis on operational infrastructure; legal compliance, corporate governance and risk management; financial planning, budgeting and reporting; and information technology and cybersecurity.
Mr. Shamo was most recently a Principal on Colbeck Capital’s investment team, where he was responsible for originating, structuring, underwriting, deal execution and documentation, due diligence and portfolio management. Prior to Colbeck, Mr. Shamo was the Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel for Relativity Media, where he oversaw legal, corporate affairs, business and legal affairs, human resources, technology and operations departments, generally managed day-to-day activities of the company (including financial matters), and acted as secretary for the company’s board of managers. Mr. Shamo spent eight years practicing bankruptcy and finance in law firms, including Paul Hastings and Sheppard Mullin. He has a Juris Doctorate from the University of Southern California.
Christopher Brown
Principal
Christopher Brown is a Principal of Square Nine. In this capacity, he is primarily responsible for originating, underwriting and managing investment opportunities.
Mr. Brown was most recently an Executive Director with Morgan Stanley’s Private Credit team, where he focused on originating and underwriting opportunistic credit investments. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, Mr. Brown was a member of the investment team at Colbeck Capital, where he was responsible for deal execution, due diligence, documentation and portfolio management. Previously, Mr. Brown was an associate at Barclays in their Strategic Transactions Group, a team focused on structured financing, investing and trading transactions across asset classes. Mr. Brown graduated with honors from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned a B.S. in Economics. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst.
Griffin Coakley
Principal
Griffin Coakley is a Principal of Square Nine. In this capacity, he is primarily responsible for originating, underwriting, and managing investment opportunities.
Mr. Coakley was most recently an Executive Director at Morgan Stanley, where he served as an investment professional for the Private Credit platform within MSIM. During his tenure, Mr. Coakley invested on behalf of the Direct Lending, Senior Loan and Opportunistic Credit strategies. Mr. Coakley was responsible for originating, underwriting and managing investment opportunities. Prior to Morgan Stanley, Mr. Coakley worked as an Associate at PwC in their Deals Practice. Mr. Coakley graduated, magna cum laude, with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance and Accounting from Villanova University. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst.
Bari Wiley
Head of Business Development
Bari Wiley is the Head of Business Development at Square Nine Capital. In this capacity, she leads capital formation and investor relations working closely with the leadership team on investor onboarding initiatives.
With over 20 years of investment sales and marketing experience, Bari joined Square Nine from HarbourView Equity Partners, an entertainment focused asset management firm. At HarbourView, Bari was responsible for investor relations and capital raising efforts. Prior to that, Bari was with TAG Associates, an $8 Billion RIA based in New York City. At TAG, Bari focused on new business opportunities, firm branding, and client relationship management. Prior to TAG, Bari spent 5+ years in Institutional Sales roles at both Cantor Fitzgerald and Telsey Advisory Group, predominantly focused on Hedge Funds and Asset Managers globally. Bari received a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Lehigh University and a Masters in Business Administration from New York University’s Stern School of Business.
Pechie Wat
Strategic Project Lead
Pechie Wat supports the firm’s strategic initiatives with a focus on investor relations, fundraising, and firm operations. In this capacity, she partners with the firm’s leadership to execute strategic priorities, support the firm’s investor relations and fundraising efforts, and advance initiatives that strengthen the firm’s operational infrastructure and long-term growth.
Prior to joining Square Nine, Ms. Wat held finance and operations roles at RedBird Capital Partners, where she supported senior leadership across business management and strategic initiatives. Prior to RedBird, she held private markets operations roles at the Investment Management Corporation of Ontario (IMCO), as well as operations positions at CPP Investments, Interac Corp., and Stikeman Elliott LLP. Ms. Wat holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Toronto.
CONTACT
Offices
Los Angeles
1801 Century Park East
Suite 1460
Los Angeles, CA 90067
New York
402 West 13th Street
2nd Floor
New York, NY 10014