Document

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
 
 Q
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2019
or
o
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from to
Commission File Number: 001-34516
Cowen Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization)
27-0423711
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
599 Lexington Avenue
New York, New York
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
10022
(Zip Code)
(646) 562-1000
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of Each Class
 
Name of Exchange on Which Registered
Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
 
The Nasdaq Global Market
7.35% Senior Notes due 2027
 
The Nasdaq Global Market
7.75% Senior Notes due 2033
 
The Nasdaq Global Market
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes Q    No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).   Yes  Q  No o 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
 
Large accelerated filer o
 
Accelerated filer Q
 
Non-accelerated filer o

 
Smaller reporting company o
 
Emerging growth company o
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes o    No Q
APPLICABLE ONLY TO CORPORATE ISSUERS:
As of May 1, 2019, there were 29,586,343 shares of the registrant's common stock outstanding.
 


Table of Contents

Item No.
 
 
Page No.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 





2




Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
We have made statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (including in “Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”) that are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, you can identify these statements by forward-looking terms such as “may,” “might,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “project,” “possible,” “potential,” “intend,” “seek” or “continue,” the negative of these terms and other comparable terminology or similar expressions. In addition, our management may make forward-looking statements to analysts, representatives of the media and others. These forward-looking statements represent only the Company's beliefs regarding future events (many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and beyond our control) and are predictions only, based on our current expectations and projections about future events. There are important factors that could cause our actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. In particular, you should consider the risks contained in Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 as well as Item 1A of this periodic report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2019.
Although we believe the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, level of activity, performance or achievements. Moreover, neither we nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of any of these forward-looking statements. You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. We undertake no obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements after the date of this filing to conform our prior statements to actual results or revised expectations.
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are presented for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018. The Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2018 were audited.



3

Table of Contents

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
Cowen Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition
(dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)
(unaudited)
Assets
As of March 31, 2019
 
As of December 31, 2018
Cash and cash equivalents
$
235,838

 
$
259,148

Cash collateral pledged
6,420

 
6,318

Segregated cash
136,964

 
176,647

Securities owned, at fair value ($45,786 and $57,583 were pledged to various parties)
563,121

 
520,888

Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value
21,663

 
25,125

Securities borrowed
966,857

 
407,795

Other investments ($145,566 and $141,236 at fair value, respectively)
200,132

 
181,407

Deposits with clearing organizations, brokers and banks
109,310

 
89,423

Receivable from brokers, dealers and clearing organizations, net of allowance of $25 and $472, respectively
663,072

 
786,113

Receivable from customers, net of allowance of $520 and $516, respectively
36,719

 
37,858

Fees receivable, net of allowance of $3,687 and $1,569, respectively
130,099

 
111,946

Due from related parties
28,841

 
33,870

Fixed assets, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization of $28,662 and $31,630, respectively
27,537

 
26,443

Operating lease right-of-use assets
101,796

 

Goodwill
141,828

 
60,678

Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $41,579 and $38,093, respectively
43,861

 
24,943

Deferred tax asset, net
90,208

 
93,057

Other assets
91,464

 
79,014

Consolidated Funds
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
2,178

 
38,118

Securities owned, at fair value
308,800

 
187,633

Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value
3,184

 
4,416

Other investments
186,846

 
186,395

Receivable from brokers
39,551

 
8,328

Other assets
23,929

 
740

Total Assets
$
4,160,218

 
$
3,346,303

Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
 
 
 
Liabilities
 
 
 
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value
$
574,186

 
$
195,307

Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value
43,583

 
16,082

Securities loaned
852,203

 
414,852

Payables to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations
174,532

 
228,731

Payable to customers
413,050

 
525,153

Commission management payable
103,634

 
95,270

Compensation payable
68,804

 
223,994

Operating lease liabilities
108,368

 

Notes payable and other debt
264,273

 
262,965

Convertible debt
115,099

 
134,489

Fees payable
11,339

 
22,565

Due to related parties
760

 
571

Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities
153,194

 
110,423

Consolidated Funds
 
 
 
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value
5,557

 
1,663

Payable to brokers
13,903

 
23,521

Contributions received in advance
1,000

 

Capital withdrawals payable
23,246

 
11,106

Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities
428

 
424

Total Liabilities
$
2,927,159

 
$
2,267,116


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Table of Contents

Cowen Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition
(dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)
(unaudited)
 
As of March 31, 2019
 
As of December 31, 2018
(continued)
 
 
 
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 17)

 

Redeemable non-controlling interests
$
418,277

 
$
284,780

Stockholders' equity
 
 
 
Preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share: 10,000,000 shares authorized, 120,750 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2019 (aggregate liquidation preference of $120,750,000) and 10,000,000 shares authorized, 120,750 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2018 (aggregate liquidation preference of $120,750,000), respectively
$
1

 
$
1

Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share: 62,500,000 shares authorized, 45,559,516 shares issued and 29,580,687 outstanding as of March 31, 2019 and 62,500,000 shares authorized, 43,774,731 shares issued and 28,437,860 outstanding as of December 31, 2018, respectively (including 253,772 and 253,772 restricted shares, respectively)
334

 
324

Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share: 62,500,000 authorized, no shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively

 

Additional paid-in capital
1,084,534

 
1,062,877

(Accumulated deficit) retained earnings
(26,563
)
 
(34,648
)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
(5
)
 
(5
)
Less: Class A common stock held in treasury, at cost, 15,978,829 and 15,336,871 shares as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively
(243,519
)
 
(234,142
)
Total Stockholders' Equity
$
814,782

 
$
794,407

Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
$
4,160,218

 
$
3,346,303


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

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Table of Contents

Cowen Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)
 
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
 
2019
 
2018
Revenues
 
 
 
 
Investment banking
 
$
80,106

 
$
97,988

Brokerage
 
97,463

 
105,733

Management fees
 
7,141

 
7,417

Incentive income
 
15

 
16

Interest and dividends
 
29,092

 
25,954

Reimbursement from affiliates
 
288

 
377

Aircraft lease revenue
 

 
715

Reinsurance premiums
 
6,591

 
8,647

Other revenues
 
1,061

 
1,336

Consolidated Funds
 
 
 
 
Interest and dividends
 
2,325

 
3,196

Other revenues
 
15

 
5

Total revenues
 
224,097

 
251,384

Interest and dividends expense
 
29,084

 
24,540

Total net revenues
 
195,013

 
226,844

 
 
 
 
 
Expenses
 
 
 
 
Employee compensation and benefits
 
130,188

 
135,140

Brokerage and trade execution costs
 
25,646

 
30,198

Underwriting expenses
 
3,131

 
4,063

Professional, advisory and other fees
 
10,241

 
7,024

Service fees
 
5,664

 
5,195

Communications
 
8,081

 
7,566

Occupancy and equipment
 
9,922

 
9,861

Depreciation and amortization
 
4,956

 
3,225

Client services and business development
 
11,301

 
8,231

Reinsurance claims, commissions and amortization of deferred acquisition costs
 
6,162

 
8,731

Other expenses
 
4,015

 
4,081

Consolidated Funds
 
 
 
 
Interest and dividends
 
867

 
1,911

Professional, advisory and other fees
 
145

 
212

Brokerage and trade execution costs
 
53

 
64

Other expenses
 
417

 
244

Total expenses
 
220,789

 
225,746

Other income (loss)
 
 
 
 
Net gains (losses) on securities, derivatives and other investments
 
39,084

 
15,969

Consolidated Funds
 
 
 
 
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments and other transactions
 
2,644

 
15,736

Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives
 
(762
)
 
2,475

Net gains (losses) on foreign currency transactions
 
(24
)
 
(346
)
Total other income (loss)
 
40,942

 
33,834

Income (loss) before income taxes
 
15,166

 
34,932

Income tax expense (benefit)
 
3,177

 
6,923

Net income (loss)
 
11,989

 
28,009

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

6


Table of Contents

Cowen Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)
 
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
 
2019
 
2018
(continued)
 
 
 
 
Net income (loss) attributable to redeemable non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries and investment funds
 
2,206

 
11,156

Net income (loss) attributable to Cowen Inc.
 
9,783

 
16,853

Preferred stock dividends
 
1,698

 
1,698

Net income (loss) attributable to Cowen Inc. common stockholders
 
$
8,085

 
$
15,155

 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
 
 
 
 

Basic
 
29,750

 
29,625

Diluted
 
31,625

 
30,492

Earnings (loss) per share:
 
 
 
 
Basic
 
$
0.27

 
$
0.51

Diluted
 
$
0.26

 
$
0.50


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

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Table of Contents


Cowen Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
(dollars in thousands)
(unaudited)




 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2019
 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
Net income (loss)
 
 
$
11,989

 
 
 
$
28,009

   Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign currency translation

 
 
 
1

 
 
   Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
 
 

 
 
 
1

Comprehensive income (loss)
 
 
$
11,989

 
 
 
$
28,010


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

8


Table of Contents

Cowen Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity
(dollars in thousands, except share data)
 
Common Shares Outstanding
 
Common Stock
 
Preferred Shares Outstanding
 
Preferred Stock
 
Treasury Stock
 
Additional
Paid-in Capital
 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
 
Retained Earnings/ (Accumulated deficit)
 
Total Stockholders' Equity
 
Redeemable Non-controlling Interest
Balance, December 31, 2018
28,437,860

 
$
324

 
120,750

 
$
1

 
$
(234,142
)
 
$
1,062,877

 
$
(5
)
 
$
(34,648
)
 
$
794,407

 
$
284,780

Net income (loss) attributable to Cowen Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
9,783

 
9,783

 

Net income (loss) attributable to redeemable non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries and investment funds

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
2,206

Foreign currency translation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital contributions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
161,973

Capital withdrawals

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
(30,682
)
Restricted stock awards issued
751,436

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchase of treasury stock, at cost
(641,959
)
 

 

 

 
(9,377
)
 

 

 

 
(9,377
)
 

Common stock issuance upon acquisition (See Note 3)

1,033,350

 
10

 

 

 

 
14,436

 

 

 
14,446

 

Preferred stock dividends, $0.06/share (See Note 19)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
(1,698
)
 
(1,698
)
 

Embedded cash conversion option, net of tax (See Note 19)

 

 

 

 

 
(596
)
 

 

 
(596
)
 

Amortization of share-based compensation

 

 

 

 

 
7,817

 

 

 
7,817

 

Balance, March 31, 2019
29,580,687

 
$
334

 
120,750

 
$
1

 
$
(243,519
)
 
$
1,084,534

 
$
(5
)
 
$
(26,563
)
 
$
814,782

 
$
418,277

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common Shares Outstanding
 
Common Stock
 
Preferred Shares Outstanding
 
Preferred Stock
 
Treasury Stock
 
Additional
Paid-in Capital
 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
 
Retained Earnings/ (Accumulated deficit)
 
Total Stockholders' Equity
 
Redeemable Non-controlling Interest
Balance, December 31, 2017
29,632,020

 
$
324

 
120,750

 
$
1

 
$
(186,846
)
 
$
1,004,664

 
$
(8
)
 
$
(70,116
)
 
$
748,019

 
$
440,604

Cumulative effect of the adoption of the new revenue recognition standard (See Note 2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
(559
)
 
(559
)
 

Net income (loss) attributable to Cowen Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
16,853

 
16,853

 

Net income (loss) attributable to redeemable non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries and funds

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
11,156

Foreign currency translation

 

 

 

 

 

 
1

 

 
1

 

Capital contributions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
8,259

Capital withdrawals

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
(35,134
)
Deconsolidation of entities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
(32,559
)
Restricted stock awards issued
881,032

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchase of treasury stock, at cost
(995,834
)
 

 

 

 
(14,069
)
 

 

 

 
(14,069
)
 

Preferred stock dividends $0.06/share (See Note 19)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
(1,698
)
 
(1,698
)
 

Amortization of share-based compensation

 

 

 

 

 
10,240

 

 

 
10,240

 

Balance, March 31, 2018
29,517,218

 
$
324

 
120,750

 
$
1

 
$
(200,915
)

$
1,014,904


$
(7
)

$
(55,520
)
 
$
758,787

 
$
392,326


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

9


Table of Contents

Cowen Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(dollars in thousands
(unaudited)
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2019
 
2018
Cash flows from operating activities:
 
 
 
Net income (loss)
$
11,989

 
$
28,009

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by / (used in) operating activities:
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization
4,956

 
3,225

Amortization of debt issuance costs
244

 
322

Amortization of debt discount
1,349

 
1,442

Noncash lease expense
(806
)
 

Share-based compensation
7,817

 
10,241

Change in deferred taxes
2,253

 
7,115

Deferred rent obligations

 
(888
)
Purchases of securities owned, at fair value
(299,969
)
 
(1,943,349
)
Proceeds from sales of securities owned, at fair value
389,551

 
2,060,263

Proceeds from sales of securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value
439,565

 
1,276,205

Payments to cover securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value
(361,290
)
 
(1,386,253
)
Proceeds from the sale of other investments
3,529

 

Net (gains) losses on securities, derivatives and other investments
(32,320
)
 
(7,924
)
Consolidated Funds
 
 
 
Purchases of securities owned, at fair value
(674,220
)
 
(148,548
)
Proceeds from sales of securities owned, at fair value
565,460

 
175,010

Purchases of other investments
(296
)
 
(81
)
Proceeds from sales of other investments
1,174

 
4,774

Net realized and unrealized (gains) losses on investments and other transactions
(14,309
)
 
(18,304
)
(Increase) decrease in operating assets:
 
 
 
Cash at deconsolidated entity

 
(3,371
)
Securities owned, at fair value, held at broker-dealer
(105,939
)
 
13,197

Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value
3,462

 
34,265

Securities borrowed
(559,062
)
 
(154,942
)
Deposits with clearing organizations, brokers and banks
(19,887
)
 
(7,403
)
Receivable from brokers, dealers and clearing organizations
123,041

 
(54,163
)
Receivable from customers, net of allowance
1,139

 
3,925

Fees receivable, net of allowance
(10,884
)
 
(30,996
)
Due from related parties
5,028

 
4,874

Other assets
(13,688
)
 
8,062

Consolidated Funds
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
35,995

 
18,322

Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value
1,232

 
654

Receivable from brokers
(31,223
)
 
1,731

Other assets
(22,456
)
 
(58
)
Increase (decrease) in operating liabilities:
 
 
 
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value, held at broker-dealer
283,919

 
40,622

Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value
27,501

 
6,125

Securities loaned
437,351

 
6,023

Payable to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations
(54,199
)
 
(4,532
)
Payable to customers
(112,103
)
 
60,179

Commission management payable
8,364

 
9,354

Compensation payable
(160,498
)
 
(69,441
)
Fees payable
(11,226
)
 
11,183

Due to related parties
(4,561
)
 
(26
)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities
9,272

 
13,193

Consolidated Funds
 
 
 
Contributions received in advance
1,000

 
670

Payable to brokers
(9,618
)
 
865

Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value
3,894

 
(5,150
)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities
(211
)
 
73

Net cash provided by / (used in) operating activities
(129,680
)
 
(35,506
)

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Table of Contents

Cowen Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(dollars in thousands
(unaudited)
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2019
 
2018
(continued)
 
 
 
Cash flows from investing activities:
 
 
 
Purchases of other investments
(5,462
)
 
(11,475
)
Purchase of business (See Note 3)
(48,581
)
 

Proceeds from sales of other investments
6,337

 
10,271

Loans issued

 
(3,050
)
Proceeds from loans held for investment
13

 
10

Purchase of fixed assets
(1,684
)
 
(1,151
)
Net cash provided by / (used in) investing activities
(49,377
)
 
(5,395
)
Cash flows from financing activities:
 
 
 
Repayments on convertible debt
(20,860
)
 

Deferred debt issuance cost

 
(104
)
Borrowings on notes and other debt

 
88,061

Repayments on notes and other debt
(513
)
 
(1,475
)
Purchase of treasury stock
(4,658
)
 
(7,584
)
Contingent liability payment
(1,235
)
 

Capital contributions by redeemable non-controlling interests in operating entities
2,025

 
200

Capital withdrawals to redeemable non-controlling interests in operating entities
(696
)
 
(513
)
Consolidated Funds
 
 
 
Capital contributions by redeemable non-controlling interests in Consolidated Funds
159,948

 
8,059

Capital withdrawals to redeemable non-controlling interests in Consolidated Funds
(17,845
)
 
(46,041
)
Net cash provided by / (used in) financing activities
116,166

 
40,603

Change in cash and cash equivalents
(62,891
)
 
(298
)
Cash and cash equivalents, including cash collateral pledged and segregated cash, beginning of period
442,113

 
264,208

Cash and equivalents at end of period:
 
 
 
    Cash and cash equivalents
235,838

 
117,680

    Cash collateral pledged
6,420

 
14,786

    Segregated cash
136,964

 
131,444

Cash and cash equivalents, including cash collateral pledged and segregated cash, end of period
$
379,222

 
$
263,910

Supplemental information
 
 
 
Cash paid during the year for interest
$
8,822

 
$
12,265

Cash paid during the year for taxes
$
1,431

 
$
712

Supplemental non-cash information
 
 
 
Purchase of treasury stock, at cost, through net settlement (See Note 19)
$
4,671

 
$
4,910

Net assets (liabilities) acquired upon acquisition (net of cash)
$
90,727

 
$

Initial recognition of operating lease right-of-use assets
$
103,694

 
$

Initial recognition of operating lease liabilities
$
110,505

 
$

Noncash transfer of net assets from Unconsolidated Master Fund to Consolidated Fund
$
97,655

 
$

Common stock issuance upon close of acquisition (see Note 3)
$
14,446

 
$

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

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Table of Contents

Cowen Inc.
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
Index
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
 
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Cowen Inc.
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

1. Organization and Business
Cowen Inc., a Delaware corporation formed in 2009, is a diversified financial services firm which, together with its consolidated subsidiaries (collectively, “Cowen,” or the “Company”), operates through its two business segments: an investment management segment and an investment bank segment. The Company's investment management segment includes advisers to investment funds (including privately placed hedge funds, real estate funds and private equity structures), managed accounts, commodity pools, and registered funds. The Company's investment bank segment offers investment banking, research, sales and trading, prime brokerage, global clearing and commission management services to companies and primarily institutional investor clients. The investment bank segment's primary target sectors ("Target Sectors") are healthcare, technology, media and telecommunications, information and technology services, consumer, aerospace and defense, industrials, energy and transportation.
2. Significant Accounting Policies
a. Basis of Presentation
These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("US GAAP") as promulgated by the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") through Accounting Standards Codification (the "Accounting Standards") as the source of authoritative accounting principles in the preparation of financial statements, and include the accounts of the Company, its operating and other subsidiaries, and entities in which the Company has a controlling financial interest or a general partner interest. All material intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. Certain fund entities that are consolidated in these accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements, as further discussed below, are not subject to the consolidation provisions with respect to their own controlled investments pursuant to their specialized accounting.
The Company serves as the managing member/general partner and/or investment manager to affiliated fund entities which it sponsors and manages. Funds in which the Company has a controlling financial interest are consolidated with the Company pursuant to US GAAP as described below. Consequently, the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements reflect the assets, liabilities, income and expenses of these funds on a gross basis. The ownership interests in these funds that are not owned by the Company are reflected as redeemable non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements. The management fees and incentive income earned by the Company from these funds are eliminated in consolidation.
In this Form 10-Q, interest and dividends expense for the three months ended March 31, 2018 has been reclassified to be presented net of revenues on the condensed consolidated statement of operations. The Company believes that this presentation provides a better representation of the Company's operating results as it is used by management to monitor the Company's financial performance and is consistent with industry practice. The change to the presentation of interest and dividend expense has no impact on net income.
The year-end condensed balance sheet data was derived from the audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures included in the audited financial statements.
b.
Principles of consolidation
The Company consolidates all entities that it controls through a majority voting interest or otherwise, including those investment funds in which the Company either directly or indirectly has a controlling financial interest. In addition, the Company consolidates all variable interest entities for which it is the primary beneficiary.
In accordance with these standards, the Company consolidates four investment funds for which it acts as the general partner and investment manager. As of March 31, 2019, the Company consolidated the following investment funds: Ramius Enterprise LP (“Enterprise LP”), Ramius Merger Fund LLC (the "Merger Fund"), Cowen Private Investments LP ("Cowen Private"), and Ramius Merger Arbitrage UCITS Fund ("UCITS Fund") (each a "Consolidated Fund" and collectively the "Consolidated Funds").
The Company determines whether it has a controlling financial interest in an entity by first evaluating whether the entity is a voting operating entity ("VOE") or a variable interest entity ("VIE") under US GAAP.
Voting Operating EntitiesVOEs are entities in which (i) the total equity investment at risk is sufficient to enable the entity to finance its activities independently and (ii) the equity holders at risk have the obligation to absorb losses, the right to receive residual returns and the right to direct the activities of the entity that most significantly impact the entity's economic performance.

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Cowen Inc.
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Under US GAAP, the usual condition for a controlling financial interest in a VOE is ownership of a majority voting interest. Accordingly, the Company consolidates all VOEs in which it owns a majority of the entity's voting shares or units.
Variable Interest Entities—VIEs are entities that lack one or more of the characteristics of a VOE. In accordance with US GAAP, an enterprise must consolidate all VIEs of which it is the primary beneficiary. Under the US GAAP consolidation model for VIEs, an enterprise that (1) has the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impacts the VIE's economic performance, and (2) has an obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE, is considered to be the primary beneficiary of the VIE and thus is required to consolidate it.
The Company reconsiders whether it is the primary beneficiary of a VIE by performing a periodic qualitative and/or quantitative analysis of the VIE that includes a review of, among other things, its capital structure, contractual agreements between the Company and the VIE, the economic interests that create or absorb variability, related party relationships and the design of the VIE. As of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the total net assets of the consolidated VIEs were $571.2 million and $427.5 million, respectively. The increase is primarily related to other investors' subscriptions which increased overall VIEs net assets. The VIEs act as investment managers and/or investment companies that may be managed by the Company or the Company may have equity interest in those investment companies. The VIEs are financed through their operations and/or loan agreements with the Company.
As of March 31, 2019, the Company held a variable interest in Ramius Merger Master Fund Ltd ("Merger Master") (the “Unconsolidated Master Fund”) through the Consolidated Funds. As of December 31, 2018, the Company held variable interests in Ramius Enterprise Master Fund Ltd (“Enterprise Master”) and Ramius Merger Master Fund Ltd ("Merger Master") (collectively the “Unconsolidated Master Funds”) through the Consolidated Funds. Investment companies, which account for their investments under the specialized industry accounting guidance for investment companies prescribed under US GAAP, are not subject to the consolidation provisions for their investments. Therefore, the Company has not consolidated the Unconsolidated Master Funds.
In the ordinary course of business, the Company also sponsors various other entities that it has determined to be VIEs. These VIEs are primarily investment funds for which the Company serves as the general partner, managing member and/or investment manager with decision-making rights.
The Company does not consolidate the Unconsolidated Master Fund(s) or real estate funds that are VIEs as it has concluded that it is not the primary beneficiary in each instance. Investment fund investors are entitled to all of their economics of these VIEs with the exception of the management fee and incentive income, if any, earned by the Company. The company has equity interests in the funds as both GP and Limited partner. In these instances the Company has concluded that the variable interests are not potentially significant to the VIE. Although the Company may advance amounts and pay certain expenses on behalf of the investment funds that it considers to be VIEs, it does not provide, nor is it required to provide, any type of substantive financial support to these entities outside of regular investment management services (see Note 6 for additional disclosures on VIEs).
Equity Method InvestmentsFor operating entities over which the Company exercises significant influence but which do not meet the requirements for consolidation as outlined above, the Company uses the equity method of accounting. The Company's investments in equity method investees are recorded in other investments in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of financial condition. The Company's share of earnings or losses from equity method investees is included in net gains (losses) on securities, derivatives and other investments in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations.
The Company evaluates its equity method investments for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts of such investments may not be recoverable. The difference between the carrying value of the equity method investment and its estimated fair value is recognized as an impairment charge when the loss in value is deemed other than temporary.
OtherIf the Company does not consolidate an entity or apply the equity method of accounting, the Company accounts for such entities (primarily, all securities of such entity which are bought and held principally for the purpose of selling them in the near term as trading securities) in accordance with US GAAP, at fair value with unrealized gains (losses) resulting from changes in fair value reflected within net gains (losses) on securities, derivatives and other investments in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations.
Retention of Specialized AccountingThe Consolidated Funds and certain other consolidated companies are investment companies and apply specialized industry accounting for investment companies. The Company has retained this specialized accounting for these investment funds pursuant to US GAAP. The Company reports its investments on the condensed

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Cowen Inc.
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

consolidated statements of financial condition at their estimated fair value, with unrealized gains (losses) resulting from changes in fair value reflected within net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments and other transactions. Accordingly, the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements reflect different accounting policies for investments depending on whether or not they are held through a consolidated investment company. In addition, the Company's broker-dealer subsidiaries, Cowen and Company, LLC ("Cowen and Company"), Cowen Execution Services LLC ("Cowen Execution") and Westminster Research Associates LLC ("Westminster"), Cowen Execution Services Limited ("Cowen Execution Ltd"), ATM Execution LLC ("ATM Execution"), Cowen International Limited ("Cowen International Ltd"), Cowen Prime Services LLC ("Cowen Prime") and Quarton Securities L.P. (subsequently renamed to Cowen Securities L.P.) ("Cowen Securities") apply the specialized industry accounting for brokers and dealers in securities also prescribed under US GAAP. The Company also retains specialized accounting upon consolidation.
c.
Use of estimates
The preparation of the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with US GAAP requires the management of the Company to make estimates and assumptions that affect the fair value of securities and other investments, the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements, the accounting for goodwill and identifiable intangible assets and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could materially differ from those estimates.
d.
Allowance for credit losses
The allowance for credit losses is based on the Company’s assessment of the collectability of receivables related to securities transactions, prepaid research and other receivables. The Company considers factors such as historical experience, credit quality, age of balances and current economic conditions that may affect collectability in determining the allowance for credit losses. Specifically, for prepaid research, the Company reviews clients' historical, current and forecasted trading activity in determining the allowance for credit losses. The credit loss expense related to the allowance for credit losses as well as any recoveries of amounts previously charged is reflected in other expenses in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations.
e.
Valuation of investments and derivative contracts
US GAAP establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (level 3 measurements). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:
Level 1 Inputs that reflect unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has
the ability to access at the measurement date;

Level 2     Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability either directly or indirectly, including
inputs in markets that are not considered to be active; and

Level 3 Fair value is determined based on pricing inputs that are unobservable and includes situations where there is little,
if any, market activity for the asset or liability. The determination of fair value for assets and liabilities in this
category requires significant management judgment or estimation.
Inputs are used in applying the various valuation techniques and broadly refer to the assumptions that market participants use to make valuation decisions, including assumptions about risk. Inputs may include price information, volatility statistics, specific and broad credit data, liquidity statistics, and other factors. A financial instrument's level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement. However, the determination of what constitutes “observable” requires significant judgment by the Company. The Company considers observable data to be that market data which is readily available, regularly distributed or updated, reliable and verifiable, not proprietary, and provided by independent sources that are actively involved in the relevant market. The categorization of a financial instrument within the hierarchy is based upon the pricing transparency of the instrument and does not necessarily correspond to the Company's perceived risk of that instrument.
The Company and its operating subsidiaries act as the manager for the Consolidated Funds. Both the Company and the Consolidated Funds hold certain investments which are valued by the Company, acting as the investment manager. The fair value of these investments is generally estimated based on proprietary models developed by the Company, which include discounted cash flow analysis, public market comparables, and other techniques and may be based, at least in part, on

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Cowen Inc.
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

independently sourced market information. The material estimates and assumptions used in these models include the timing and expected amount of cash flows, the appropriateness of discount rates used, and, in some cases, the ability to execute, timing of, and estimated proceeds from expected financings. Significant judgment and estimation goes into the selection of an appropriate valuation methodology as well as the assumptions used in these models, and the timing and actual values realized with respect to investments could be materially different from values derived based on the use of those estimates. The valuation methodologies applied impact the reported value of the Company's investments and the investments held by the Consolidated Funds in the condensed consolidated financial statements. Certain of the Company's investments are relatively illiquid or thinly traded and may not be immediately liquidated on demand if needed. Fair values assigned to these investments may differ significantly from the fair values that would have been used had a ready market for the investments existed and such differences could be material.
The Company primarily uses the “market approach” to value its financial instruments measured at fair value. In determining an instrument's level within the hierarchy, the Company categorizes the Company's financial instruments into three categories: securities, derivative contracts and other investments. To the extent applicable, each of these categories can further be divided between those held long or sold short.
The Company has the option to measure certain financial assets and financial liabilities at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in earnings each period. The election is made on an instrument by instrument basis at initial recognition of an asset or liability or upon an event that gives rise to a new basis of accounting for that instrument.  The Company has elected the fair value option for certain of its investments held by its operating companies.  This option has been elected because the Company believes that it is consistent with the manner in which the business is managed, as well as the way that financial instruments in other parts of the business are recorded. 
SecuritiesSecurities with values based on quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets are classified within level 1 of the fair value hierarchy. These securities primarily include active listed equities, certain U.S. government and sovereign obligations, Exchange Traded Funds ("ETFs"), mutual funds and certain money market securities. The Company does not adjust the quoted price for such instruments, even in situations where the Company holds a large position and a sale could reasonably impact the quoted price.
Certain positions for which trading activity may not be readily visible, consisting primarily of convertible debt, corporate debt and loans and restricted equities, are stated at fair value and classified within level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. The estimated fair values assigned by management are determined in good faith and are based on available information considering, trading activity, broker quotes, quotations provided by published pricing services, counterparties and other market participants, and pricing models using quoted inputs, and do not necessarily represent the amounts which might ultimately be realized. As level 2 investments include positions that are not always traded in active markets and/or are subject to transfer restrictions, valuations may be adjusted to reflect illiquidity and/or non-transferability.
Derivative contractsDerivative contracts can be exchange-traded or privately negotiated over-the-counter (“OTC”). Exchange-traded derivatives, such as futures contracts and exchange-traded option contracts, are typically classified within level 1 or level 2 of the fair value hierarchy depending on whether or not they are deemed to be actively traded. OTC derivatives, such as generic forwards, swaps and options, have inputs which can generally be corroborated by market data and are therefore classified within level 2. OTC derivatives, such as swaps and options where market data is not readily available or observable are classified as level 3.
Other investmentsOther investments consist primarily of investment funds, real estate investments and equity method investments, which are valued as follows:
i.
Portfolio funds—Portfolio funds (“Portfolio Funds”) include interests in private investment partnerships, foreign investment companies and other collective investment vehicles which may be managed by the Company or its affiliates. The Company follows US GAAP regarding fair value measurements and disclosures relating to investments in certain entities that calculate net asset value (“NAV”) per share (or its equivalent). The guidance permits, as a practical expedient, an entity holding investments in certain entities that either are investment companies as defined by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants ("AICPA") Audit and Accounting Guide, Investment Companies, or have attributes similar to an investment company, and calculate net asset value per share or its equivalent for which the fair value is not readily determinable, to measure the fair value of such investments on the basis of that NAV per share, or its equivalent, without adjustment. In accordance with US GAAP, investments which are valued using NAV per share as a practical expedient are not categorized within the fair value hierarchy.
ii.
Real estate investments—Real estate debt and equity investments are valued at fair value. The fair value of real estate investments is estimated based on the price that would be received to sell an asset in an orderly transaction between

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Cowen Inc.
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

marketplace participants at the measurement date. Real estate investments without a public market are valued based on assumptions and valuation techniques used by the Company. Such valuation techniques may include discounted cash flow analysis, prevailing market capitalization rates or earnings multiples applied to earnings from the investment, analysis of recent comparable sales transactions, actual sale negotiations and bona fide purchase offers received from third parties, consideration of the amount that currently would be required to replace the asset, as adjusted for obsolescence, as well as independent external appraisals. In general, the Company considers several valuation techniques when measuring the fair value of a real estate investment. However, in certain circumstances, a single valuation technique may be appropriate. Real estate investments are reviewed on a quarterly basis by the Company for significant changes at the property level or a significant change in the overall market which would impact the value of the real estate investment resulting in unrealized appreciation or depreciation.
Real estate and capital markets are cyclical in nature. Property and investment values are affected by, among other things, the availability of capital, occupancy rates, rental rates and interest and inflation rates. In addition, the Company invests in real estate and real estate related investments for which no liquid market exists. The market prices for such investments may be volatile and may not be readily ascertainable. Amounts ultimately realized by the Company from investments sold may differ from the fair values presented, and the differences could be material.
The Company's real estate investments are typically categorized as level 3 investments within the fair value hierarchy as management uses significant unobservable inputs in determining their estimated fair value.
See Notes 6 and 7 for further information regarding the Company's investments, including equity method investments and fair value measurements.
f.
Fees receivable
Fees related to security transactions are reported net of an allowance for credit losses.  An allowance for credit losses is assessed on any commission receivables aged over 180 days. 
Corporate finance and syndicate receivables, include receivables relating to the Company’s investment banking and advisory engagements net of allowance for credit losses. The Company records this allowance for credit losses on these receivables on a specific identification basis. The future collectability of the receivables is reviewed on a monthly basis based on the following factors: aging (usually if outstanding greater than 90 days), known financial stability of the paying company, as well as any other factors that might impact the collection of the outstanding fees.
Management and incentive fees are earned as the managing member, general partner and/or investment manager to the Company's investment funds and are recognized in accordance with appropriate revenue recognition guidance (see Note 2(k)).
g.
Securities financing arrangements    
Securities borrowed and securities loaned are carried at the amounts of cash collateral advanced or received on a gross basis. The related rebates are recorded in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations as interest and dividends income and interest and dividends expense. Securities borrowed transactions require the Company to deposit cash collateral with the lender. With respect to securities loaned, the Company receives cash or securities as collateral from the borrower. When the Company receives securities as collateral, and has concluded it (i) is the transferor and (ii) can pledge the securities to third parties, the Company recognizes the securities received as collateral at fair value in Securities owned, at fair value with the corresponding obligation to return the securities received as collateral at fair value in Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value. Securities received as collateral are not recognized when the Company either (i) is not the transferor or (ii) cannot pledge the securities to third parties. The initial collateral advanced or received approximates or is greater than the market value of securities borrowed or loaned. The Company monitors the market value of securities borrowed and loaned on a daily basis, with additional collateral obtained or returned, as necessary. Securities borrowed and loaned may also result in credit exposures for the Company in an event that the counterparties are unable to fulfill their contractual obligations. The Company minimizes its credit risk by continuously monitoring its credit exposure and collateral values by demanding additional or returning excess collateral in accordance with the netting provisions available in the master securities lending contracts in place with the counterparties.
Fees and interest received or paid are recorded in interest and dividends income and interest and dividends expense, respectively, on an accrual basis in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations. In cases where the fair value basis of accounting is elected, any resulting change in fair value would be reported in net gains (losses) on securities, derivatives and other investments in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations. Accrued interest income and expense are recorded in receivable from brokers, dealers and clearing organizations and payable to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations, respectively, on an accrual basis in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of

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Cowen Inc.
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

financial condition. At March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the Company did not have any securities lending transactions for which fair value basis of accounting was elected.
h.
Fixed assets
Fixed assets are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation or amortization. Leasehold improvements are amortized on a straight-line basis over the lesser of their useful life or lease term. When the Company commits to a plan to abandon fixed assets or leasehold improvements before the end of its original useful life, the estimated depreciation or amortization period is revised to reflect the shortened useful life of the asset. Other fixed assets are depreciated on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives.
Asset
Depreciable Lives
 
Depreciation and/or Amortization Method
Telephone and computer equipment
3-5 years
 
Straight-line
Computer software
3-8 years
 
Straight-line
Furniture and fixtures
5 years
 
Straight-line
Leasehold improvements
Term of Lease
 
Straight-line
Finance lease right-of-use asset
5 years
 
Straight-line
i.
Debt
Long-term debt is carried at the principal amount borrowed net of any unamortized discount/premium. The discount is accreted to interest expense using the effective interest method over the remaining life of the underlying debt obligations. Accrued but unpaid coupon interest is included in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of financial condition.
j.
Right-of-use assets and lease liabilities
Effective January 1, 2019, the Company adopted ASC Topic 842, Leases ("ASC 842"). The new guidance increases transparency and comparability by requiring the recognition of right-of-use assets and lease liabilities on the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition. The recognition of these lease assets and lease liabilities represents a change from previous US GAAP requirements, which did not require lease assets and lease liabilities to be recognized for most leases. The recognition, measurement, and presentation of expenses and cash flows arising from a lease by a lessee, have not significantly changed from previous US GAAP requirements.
Under the effective date transition method selected by the Company, leases existing at, or entered into after January 1, 2019 were required to be recognized and measured. Prior period amounts have not been adjusted and continue to be reflected in accordance with the Company’s historical Accounting Standards. In applying ASC 842, the Company made an accounting policy election not to recognize the right-of-use assets and lease liabilities relating to short term leases. Refer to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 for discussions related to the Company's previous lease recognition policies. Implementation of ASC 842 included an analysis of contracts, including real estate leases and service contracts to identify embedded leases, to determine the initial recognition of right-of-use assets and lease liabilities, which required subjective assessment over the determination of the associated discount rates. ASC 842 also provided various practical expedients which were assessed to determine the ultimate impact of ASC 842 upon adoption. The standard includes a package of three practical expedients which permit the Company to not reassess (1) whether any expired or existing contracts are or contain a lease, (2) the lease classification for any expired or existing leases and (3) any initial direct costs for any existing leases as of the effective date. The Company has elected to apply the package of practical expedients, hindsight practical expedient, and land easement practical expedient.
The adoption of ASC 842 resulted in the recording of operating lease right-of-use assets of $103.7 million and operating lease liabilities of $110.5 million at January 1, 2019.
The Company determines if an arrangement is or contains a lease at inception. The Company’s operating lease arrangements are primarily for real estate and facility leases as well as office equipment. The Company has applied an accounting policy election to combine our lease and nonlease components for our real estate and facility leases. ROU assets represent the Company’s right to use the underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent the Company’s obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Right-of-use assets and lease liabilities are recognized at the commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. Our variable lease payments consist of nonlease services related to the lease. Variable lease payments are excluded from the right-of-use asset and lease liabilities to the extent they are not based on consumer priced index or a market index and are recognized in the period in which the

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Cowen Inc.
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

obligation for those payments is incurred. As most of our leases do not provide an implicit rate and the implicit rate is not readily determinable, we use our incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at the commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments. Right-of-use assets also include any lease payments made and exclude lease incentives. Many of our operating lease agreements include options to extend the lease, which the Company does not include in the determination of the minimum lease term unless the options are reasonably certain to be exercised. Expense for lease payments related to operating leases is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
Please refer to Note 18 for information on the Company’s finance leases (formerly capital leases).
k.    Revenue recognition
The Company recognizes revenue in accordance with ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers ("ASC Topic 606"), which requires that an entity recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The Company follows a five-step model to (a) identify the contract(s) with a customer, (b) identify the performance obligations in the contract, (c) determine the transaction price, (d) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract, and (e) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation. In determining the transaction price, the Company includes variable consideration only to the extent that it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognized would not occur when the uncertainty associated with the variable consideration is resolved. Significant judgments are required in the application of the five-step model including; when determining whether performance obligations are satisfied at a point in time or over time; how to allocate transaction prices where multiple performance obligations are identified; when to recognize revenue based on the appropriate measure of the Company’s progress under the contract; and whether constraints on variable consideration should be applied due to uncertain future events.
The Company's principle sources of revenue are derived from two segments: an investment management segment and an investment bank segment, as more fully described below. Revenue from contracts with customers includes management fees, incentive, investment banking revenue, brokerage services revenue excluding principal transactions from investment management and investment banking services. ASC Topic 606 does not apply to revenue associated with financial instruments, interest income and expense, leasing and insurance contracts. The following is a description of principal activities, separated by reportable segments, from which the Company generates its revenue. For more detailed information about reportable segments, see Note 22.
Investment Management
Our investment management segment generates revenue through three principle sources: management fees, incentive income and investment income from the Company's own capital. Investment income is excluded from ASC Topic 606.
Management fees
The Company earns management fees from investment funds and certain managed accounts for which it serves as the investment manager; such fees earned are typically based on committed and invested capital. The Company has determined that the primary drivers of management fees are committed and invested capital relating to private equity funds. The management fees are earned as the investment management services are provided and are not subject to reversals. The performance obligation related to the transfer of these services is satisfied over time because the customer is receiving and consuming the benefits as they are provided by the Company.
Several investment managers and/or general partners of the investment funds are owned jointly by the Company and third parties. Accordingly, the management fees generated by these funds are split between the Company and these third parties based on the proportionate ownership of the management company. Pursuant to US GAAP, these fees received by the management companies are accounted for under the equity method of accounting and are reflected under net gains (losses) on securities, derivatives and other investments in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations.
Management fees are generally paid on a quarterly basis and are prorated for capital inflows (or commitments) and redemptions (or distributions) and are recognized as revenue at that time as they relate specifically to the services provided in that period, which are distinct from the services provided in other periods. While some investors may have separately negotiated fees, in general the management fees are as follows:
Hedge Funds. Management fees for the Company's hedge funds are generally charged at an annual rate of up to 2% of utilized invested capital, committed capital or notional trading level. Management fees are generally calculated monthly at the end of each month.

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Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Real Estate. Management fees from the Company's real estate business are generally charged at an annual rate from 0.25% to 1.50% of total capital commitments during the investment period and of invested capital or net asset value of the applicable real estate fund after the investment period has ended. Management fees are typically paid to the general partners on a quarterly basis, at the beginning of the quarter in arrears.
Private Equity Funds. Management fees for the Company's private equity or debt funds are generally charged at an annual rate of 1% to 2% of committed capital during the investment period (as defined in the relevant partnership agreements). After the investment period, management fees for these private equity funds are generally charged at an annual rate of 0.5% to 2% of the net asset value or the aggregate cost basis of the unrealized investments held by the private equity funds.  For certain other private equity funds (and managed accounts), the management fees range from 0.2% to 1% and there is no adjustment based on the investment period.  Management fees for the Company's private equity funds are generally paid on a quarterly basis.
Cowen Trading Strategies. Advisory fees for the Company's collateral management advisory business are typically paid quarterly based on utilized invested capital or committed capital, generally subject to a minimum fee.
Incentive income
The Company earns incentive income based on net profits (as defined in the respective investment management or partnership agreements) with respect to certain of the Company's investment funds and managed accounts.  The incentive income is either allocated to the Company or is charged to the investment funds in accordance with their respective investment management or partnership agreements. For the hedge funds the Company offers, incentive income earned is typically up to 20% (in certain cases on performance in excess of a benchmark) of the net profits earned for the full year that are attributable to each fee-paying investor. For the private equity and debt fund products the Company offers, the carried interest earned is typically up to 20% of the distributions made to investors after return of their contributed capital and generally a preferred return.
In relation to ASC Topic 606, the Company applies an accounting policy election to recognize incentive income allocated to the Company under an equity ownership model as net gains (losses) on securities, derivatives and other investments in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations. The Company previously recognized these amounts as incentive income.  Under the equity method of accounting the Company recognizes its allocations of incentive income or carried interest within net gains (losses) along with the allocations proportionate to the Company’s ownership interests in the investment funds.
The Company recognizes incentive income charged to the Company's hedge funds based on the net profits of the hedge funds. The Company recognizes such incentive income when the fees are no longer subject to reversal or are crystalized. For a majority of the hedge funds, the incentive fee crystallizes annually when the high-water mark for such hedge funds is reset, which delays recognition of the incentive fee until year end.
In periods following a period of a net loss attributable to an investor, the Company generally does not earn incentive income on any future profits attributable to such investor until the accumulated net loss from prior periods is recovered, an arrangement commonly referred to as a “high-water mark.”
Generally, incentive income or carried interest is earned after the investor has received a full return of their invested capital, plus a preferred return. However, for certain private equity structures, the Company is entitled to receive incentive fees earlier, provided that the investors have received their preferred return on a current basis or on an investor by investor basis.  These private equity structures are generally subject to a potential clawback of these incentive fees upon the liquidation of the private equity structure if the investor has not received a full return of its invested capital plus the preferred return thereon. Incentive income or carried interest in the HealthCare Royalty Partners investment funds is generally earned only after investors receive a full return of their capital plus a preferred return. The Company recognizes incentive income at the end of the performance period.
Several investment managers and/or general partners of the Company's investment funds are jointly owned by the Company and third parties. Accordingly, the incentive fees generated by these investment funds are split between the Company and these third parties.  Pursuant to US GAAP, incentive income received by the general partners that are accounted for under the equity method of accounting are reflected under net gains (losses) on securities, derivatives and other investments in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations.

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Cowen Inc.
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Investment Bank
Investment Banking
The Company earns investment banking revenue primarily from fees associated with public and private capital raising transactions and providing strategic advisory services. Investment banking revenues are derived primarily from public and private small- and mid-capitalization companies within the Company's Target Sectors.     
Investment banking revenue consists of underwriting fees, strategic/financial advisory fees, expenses reimbursed from clients and placement and sales agent fees.    
Underwriting fees. The Company earns underwriting fees in securities offerings in which the Company acts as an underwriter, such as initial public offerings, follow-on equity offerings, debt offerings, and convertible security offerings. Fee revenue relating to underwriting commitments is recorded at the point in time when all significant items relating to the underwriting process have been completed and the amount of the underwriting revenue has been determined. This generally is the point at which all of the following have occurred: (i) the issuer's registration statement has become effective with the SEC or the other offering documents are finalized; (ii) the Company has made a firm commitment for the purchase of securities from the issuer; (iii) the Company has been informed of the number of securities that it has been allotted; and (iv) the issuer obtains control and benefits if the offering; which generally occurs on trade date.
Underwriting fees are recognized gross of transaction-related expenses, such amounts are adjusted to reflect actual expenses in the period in which the Company receives the final settlement, typically within 90 days following the closing of the transaction.
Strategic/financial advisory fees. The Company's strategic advisory revenues include success fees earned in connection with advising companies, principally in mergers, acquisitions and restructuring transactions. The Company also earns fees for related advisory work such as providing fairness opinions. A significant portion of the Company's advisory revenue (i.e., success related advisory fees) is considered variable consideration and recognized when it is probable that the variable consideration will not be reversed in a future period. The variable consideration is constrained until satisfaction of the performance obligation. The Company records strategic advisory revenues at the point in time, gross of related expenses, when the services for the transactions are completed or the contract is canceled under the terms of each assignment or engagement.
Placement and sales agent fees. The Company earns agency placement fees and sales agent commissions in non-underwritten transactions, such as private placements of loans and debt and equity securities, including, private investment in public equity transactions (“PIPEs”), and as sales agent in at-the-market offerings of equity securities. The Company records placement revenues (which may be in cash and/or securities) at the point in time when the services for the transactions are completed under the terms of each assignment or engagement. The Company records sales agent commissions on a trade-date basis.
Expense reimbursements from clients.  Investment banking revenue includes expense reimbursements for transaction-related expenses, primarily consisting of legal, travel and other costs directly associated with the transaction.  Expense reimbursements associated with investment banking engagements are recognized in revenue at the point in time when the Company is contractually entitled to reimbursement. The related expenses are presented gross within their respective expense category in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations.
Brokerage
Brokerage revenue consists of commissions, principal transactions, equity and credit research fees and trade conversion revenue.
Commissions. Commission revenue includes fees from executing and clearing client transactions and commission sharing arrangements. Trade execution and clearing services, when provided together, represent a single performance obligation as the services are not separately identifiable in the context of the contract. Commission revenues associated with combined trade execution and clearing services on a standalone basis, are recognized at a point in time on trade-date. Commissions revenues are generally paid on settlement date and the Company records a receivable between trade-date and payment on settlement date. The Company permits institutional customers to allocate a portion of their commissions to pay for research products and other services provided by third parties. The amounts allocated for those purposes are commonly referred to as "soft dollar arrangements". The Company also offers institutional clients the ability to allocate a portion of their gross commissions incurred on trades executed with various clearing brokers to

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Cowen Inc.
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

pay for research products and other services provided by third parties by entering into commission sharing arrangements. The Company acts as an agent in the soft dollar and commission sharing arrangements as the customer controls the use of the soft dollars and directs payments to third-party service providers on its behalf. Accordingly, amounts allocated to soft dollar arrangements are netted against commission revenues and recorded on trade date. Commissions on soft dollar brokerage are recorded net of the related expenditures. The costs of commission sharing arrangements are recorded for each eligible trade and shown net of commission revenue.
Principal transactions. Principal transactions revenue includes net trading gains and losses from the Company's market-making activities in over-the-counter equity and fixed income securities, trading of convertible securities, and trading gains and losses on inventory and other Company positions, which include securities previously received as part of investment banking transactions. In certain cases, the Company provides liquidity to clients by buying or selling blocks of shares of listed stocks without previously identifying the other side of the trade at execution, which subjects the Company to market risk. These positions are typically held for a very short duration.
Equity and credit research fees. Equity and credit research fees are paid to the Company for providing equity and credit research. Revenue is recognized once an arrangement exists, access to research has been provided and the customer has benefited from the research.
Trade conversion revenue. Trade conversion revenue includes fees earned from converting foreign securities into an American Depository Receipt (“ADR”) and fees earned from converting an ADR into foreign securities on behalf of customers, and margins earned from facilitating customer foreign exchange transactions. Trade conversion revenue is recognized on a trade-date basis.
Investment Income
Investment income earned by the investment management and investment bank segments are earned from investing the Company's capital in various strategies and from investments in private capital raising transactions of its investment banking clients.
Interest and dividends
Interest and dividends are earned by the Company from various sources. The Company receives interest and dividends primarily from securities finance activities and securities held by the Company for purposes of investing capital, investments held by its Consolidated Funds and its brokerage balances. Interest is recognized on an accrual basis and interest income is recognized on the debt of those issuers that is deemed collectible. Interest income and expense includes premiums and discounts amortized and accreted on debt investments based on criteria determined by the Company using the effective yield method, which assumes the reinvestment of all interest payments. Dividends are recognized on the ex-dividend date.
Reimbursement from affiliates
The Company allocates, at its discretion, certain expenses incurred on behalf of its investment management business. These expenses relate to the administration of such subsidiaries and assets that the Company manages for its investment funds. In addition, pursuant to the investment funds' offering documents, the Company charges certain allowable expenses to the investment funds, including charges and personnel costs for legal, compliance, accounting, tax compliance, risk and technology expenses that directly relate to administering the assets of the investment funds. Such expenses that have been reimbursed at their actual costs are included in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations as employee compensation and benefits, professional, advisory and other fees, communications, occupancy and equipment, client services and business development and other expenses.
Revenue from contracts with customers
For the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, the following table presents revenues from contracts with customers disaggregated by fee type.

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Cowen Inc.
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

 
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
 
 
 
 
2019
 
2018
Revenue from contracts with customers
 
(dollars in thousands)
Investment Banking
 
 
 
 
 
 
     Underwriting fees
 
 
$
48,036

 
$
71,767

     Strategic/financial advisory fees
 
20,544

 
14,360

     Placement and sales agent fees
 
9,498

 
11,861

     Expense reimbursements from clients
 
2,028

 

 
Total Investment Banking Revenue
80,106

 
97,988

Brokerage
 
 
 
 
 
 
     Commissions
 
 
 
87,359

 
94,692

     Trade conversion revenue
 
 
4,106

 
3,522

     Equity and credit research fees
 
3,590

 
3,839

 
Total Brokerage Revenue from Customers
 
95,055

 
102,053

Management Fees
 
 
 
7,141

 
7,417

Incentive Income
 
 
 
15

 
16

Total revenue from contracts with customers
$
182,317

 
$
207,474

Reinsurance-related contracts
Premiums for reinsurance-related contracts are earned over the coverage period. In most cases, premiums are recognized as revenues ratably over the term of the contract with unearned premiums computed on a monthly basis. For each of its contracts, the Company determines if the contract provides indemnification against loss or liability relating to insurance risk, in accordance with US GAAP. If the Company determines that a contract does not expose it to a reasonable possibility of a significant loss from insurance risk, the Company records the contract under the deposit method of accounting with any net amount receivable reflected as an asset in other assets, and any net amount payable reflected as a liability within accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities on the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition.
The liabilities for losses and loss adjustment expenses are recorded at the estimated ultimate payment amounts, including reported losses.  Estimated ultimate payment amounts are based upon (1) reports of losses from policyholders, (2) individual case estimates and (3) estimates of incurred but unreported losses.
Provisions for losses and loss adjustment expenses are charged to earnings after deducting amounts recovered and estimates of recoverable amounts and are included in other expenses on the condensed consolidated statements of operations.
Costs of acquiring new policies, which vary with and are directly related to the production of new policies, have been deferred to the extent that such costs are deemed recoverable from future premiums or gross profits. Such costs include commissions and allowances as well as certain costs of policy issuance and underwriting and are included within other assets in the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition.
Interest and dividends expense
Interest and dividends expense relates primarily to securities finance activities, trading activity with respect to the Company's investments and interest expense on debt.
l.    Recent pronouncements
Recently adopted
In 2018, the FASB issued guidance related to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (“TCJ Act”) for the optional reclassification of the residual tax effects, arising from the change in corporate tax rate, in accumulated other comprehensive loss to retained earnings. The reclassification is the difference between the amount previously recorded in other comprehensive income at the historical U.S. federal tax rate that remains in accumulated other comprehensive loss at the time the TCJ Act was effective and the amount that would have been recorded using the newly enacted rate. This guidance became effective during the first quarter of 2019; however, we did not elect to make the optional reclassification.
In 2018, the FASB issued final guidance aligning the measurement and classification guidance for share-based payments to nonemployees with the guidance for share-based payments to employees, with certain exceptions. Under the guidance, the measurement of equity-classified nonemployee awards will be fixed at the grant date, which may lower their cost and reduce volatility in the income statement. The guidance became effective during the first quarter of 2019 and impacted the Company’s

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Cowen Inc.
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

recognition and measurement of the retention bonus pool established in connection with the Company’s acquisition of Quarton International AG, which include share based payment to employees and nonemployees. Please refer to Note 3 for more information.
In 2017, the FASB issued guidance to amend the amortization period for certain purchased callable debt securities held at a premium. Under prior guidance, entities generally amortized the premium as an adjustment of yield over the contractual life of the instrument. The new guidance shortened the amortization period for the premium to the earliest call date. The amendments do not require an accounting change for securities held at a discount; the discount continues to be amortized to maturity. This guidance became effective during the first quarter of 2019; however, the guidance did not have an impact on our financials as we do not have investments in callable debt securities measured on an amortized cost basis.
In 2016, the FASB issued guidance that amends and supersedes its previous guidance regarding leases. The new guidance requires the lessee to recognize the right to use lease assets and lease liabilities that arise from leases greater than one year, and present them in its statement of financial condition. The guidance became effective during the first quarter of 2019. Please refer to Note 2j for more information.
Recently issued
In October 2018, the FASB issued guidance that made targeted changes to the related party consolidation guidance.  The new guidance changes how entities evaluate decision-making fees under the variable interest entity guidance. To determine whether decision-making fees represent a variable interest, an entity will consider indirect interests held through related parties under common control on a proportionate basis under the new guidance, rather than in their entirety, as has been the case under current guidance. The guidance is effective in annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019 and interim periods within those fiscal years with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance and does not expect this guidance to have a material impact on its consolidated statements of financial condition or its consolidated statements of operations.
In August 2018, the FASB issued guidance for accounting for upfront costs and fees paid by a customer in a cloud computing arrangement. The guidance requires capitalization of implementation costs incurred in connection with a hosting arrangement or the development or obtainment of internal use software. The guidance is effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019 and interim periods within those fiscal years for any implementation costs incurred after adoption. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and does not expect this guidance to have a material impact on its consolidated statements of financial condition or its consolidated statements of operations.
In August 2018, as part of its disclosure framework project, the FASB amended the disclosure requirements for fair value measurement. The amendments update and eliminate various disclosure requirements that improve the overall usefulness of the disclosure requirement for financial statement users and reduce costs by eliminating disclosures that may not be useful. The guidance is effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019 and interim periods within those fiscal years. Since the guidance only relates to disclosure requirements, the Company does not expect this guidance to have a material impact on its consolidated statements of financial condition or its consolidated statements of operations.
In January 2017, the FASB issued guidance that simplifies the subsequent measurement of goodwill. The new guidance eliminated Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test which was required in computing the implied fair value of goodwill. Instead, under the new amendments, an entity should perform its annual or interim goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. An entity should recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value, however, the loss recognized should not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. If applicable, an entity should consider income tax effects from any tax deductible goodwill on the carrying amount of the reporting unit when measuring the goodwill impairment loss. The amendments in this guidance are effective for public business entities for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests performed in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019 with early adoption permitted after January 1, 2017. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The Company expects this guidance to simplify its goodwill impairment analysis.
In June 2016, the FASB issued guidance that impacts the impairment model for certain financial assets measured at amortized cost by requiring a current expected credit loss (“CECL”) methodology to estimate expected credit losses over the entire life of the financial asset, recorded at inception or purchase. CECL will replace the loss model currently applicable to loans, held to maturity securities and other receivables carried at amortized cost. The guidance also eliminates the concept of other-than-temporary impairment for available-for-sale securities. Impairments on available-for-sale securities will be required to be recognized in earnings through an allowance, when the fair value is less than amortized cost and a credit loss exists or the

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Cowen Inc.
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

securities are expected to be sold before recovery of amortized cost. Under the accounting update, there may be an ability to determine there are no expected credit losses in certain circumstances, e.g., based on collateral arrangements for lending and financing transactions or based on the credit quality of the borrower or issuer. For public business entities, the guidance is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019 and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and does not expect this guidance to have a material impact.
3. Acquisition
On January 2, 2019 (the "Acquisition Date"), the Company, together with its indirect wholly owned subsidiaries, Cowen International Ltd and Cowen QN Acquisition LLC, completed its previously announced acquisition (the "Acquisition") of Quarton International AG through the acquisition of all of the outstanding equity interest of Quarton International AG’s affiliated combining companies, Quarton Management AG, Quarton International Europe AG, Quarton Partners, LLC and Quarton Securities GP, LLC (which owns a U.S. Securities Exchange Commission ("SEC") registered broker-dealer that was subsequently renamed to Cowen Securities LP), comprising the U.S. and European operations of the acquired combining companies (collectively "Quarton"). Quarton is a group of leading global financial advisory companies serving the middle market. Quarton's operations were primarily conducted through eight entities based in the United States, Switzerland, and Germany.
The acquisition was accounted for under the acquisition method of accounting in accordance with US GAAP. As such, results of operations for Quarton are included in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations since the date of acquisition, and the assets acquired and liabilities assumed were recorded at their fair value as of the acquisition date. Subsequent to the acquisition, the operations of Quarton were integrated within the Company's existing businesses.
The aggregate estimated purchase price of the Acquisition was $103.0 million. On the Acquisition Date the Company paid upfront consideration of $75.3 million subject to certain net working capital and other customary adjustments, with additional maximum contingent consideration of $40.0 million that will become payable dependent on the achievement of certain milestones by Quarton in each of the first four years (five years if certain conditions are met) following the Acquisition Date subject to a $10 million maximum in each year and a $40.0 million cumulative maximum. The Company estimated the contingent consideration at $27.7 million using the Monte Carlo valuation model which requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions regarding the future cash flows and profits. The contingent consideration liability is included within accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities on the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition. Changes in these estimates and assumptions could have a significant impact on the amounts recognized. A portion of the preliminary purchase price was deposited into escrow, in the amount of $0.6 million, as a reserve for any future claims against the sellers of Quarton.  All consideration, including the upfront consideration and contingent consideration, consists of a combination of 80% cash and 20% shares of the Company’s Class A common stock. Shares issued on the Acquisition Date of 1,033,350 were valued based on the 30-trading day volume-weighted average price per share of $14.52 as of December 31, 2018. The fair value of the shares of Class A common stock issued was determined on the basis of the closing market price of the Company’s shares on the Acquisition Date. Any shares of Class A common stock issued in connection with any such contingent payments will be valued based on the 30-trading day volume-weighted average price per share as of the day immediately prior to the date on which such shares are to be issued. In addition, Quarton and the Company have established a retention bonus pool, for Quarton employees that remain employed at the end of each year there is a contingent payment which will be settled in a combination of 80% cash and 20% shares of the Company’s Class A common stock based on Quarton meeting certain economic performance hurdles. The bonus pool has an aggregate maximum of $10.0 million over a five-year period with $2.5 million maximum in each year. The Company is recognizing the retention bonus over each contingent payment period based upon the Company’s revenue projections for Quarton.
The table below summarizes the preliminary purchase price allocation of net tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of January 2, 2019:

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Cowen Inc.
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

 
(dollars in thousands)
Cash and cash equivalents
$
12,236

Fees receivable
7,269

Fixed assets
1,085

Operating lease right-of-use assets
3,200

Intangible assets
22,200

Other assets
667

Compensation payable
(637
)
Operating lease liabilities
(3,200
)
Due to related parties
(4,750
)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities
(16,257
)
Total identifiable net assets acquired and liabilities assumed
21,813

Goodwill
81,150

Total estimated purchase price
$
102,963

As of the acquisition date, the estimated fair value of the Company's intangible assets, as acquired through the Acquisition, was $22.2 million. The allocation of the intangible assets is shown within the following table:
 
Estimated intangible assets acquired
 
Estimated average remaining useful lives
 
(dollars in thousands)

 
(in years)
Intangible asset class
 
 
 
Trade name
$
900

 
3
Customer relationships
7,100

 
4
Backlog
12,600

 
2
Proprietary software
1,600

 
3
Total intangible assets
$
22,200

 
 
Amortization expense for the three months ended March 31, 2019 was $2.2 million and is included in depreciation and amortization in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations. The estimated amortization expense related to these intangible assets in future periods is as follows:
 
(dollars in thousands)
2019
$
6,681

2020
8,908

2021
2,608

2022
1,775

2023

Thereafter

 
$
19,972

In addition to the purchase price consideration, for the three months ended March 31, 2019, the Company has incurred acquisition related expenses of $1.1 million including financial advisory, legal and valuation services, which are included in professional, advisory and other fees in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations.
Included in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2019 are revenues of $5.3 million and net income of $1.6 million related to the results of operations of Quarton.
Subsequent to the acquisition, Quarton's businesses were integrated within the investment bank businesses of the Company and therefore they are included within their respective line items in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations. The following table provides supplemental pro forma financial information for the three months ended March 31, 2018, as if the acquisition were completed as of January 1, 2018. This unaudited supplemental pro forma information has been prepared for comparative purposes only and is not intended to be indicative of what the Company's financial results would have been had the acquisition been completed on January 1, 2018, nor does it purport to be indicative of any future results.

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Cowen Inc.
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
 
(dollars in thousands, except per share data)
Revenues
$
236,337

Net income (loss) attributable to Cowen Inc. common stockholders
16,418

 
 
Net income (loss) per common share:
 
  Basic
$
0.54

  Diluted
0.52

4. Cash Collateral Pledged    
As of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the Company pledged cash collateral in the amount of $5.2 million and $5.3 million, respectively, which relates to letters of credit issued to the landlords of the Company's premises in New York City, Boston, Stamford and San Francisco. The Company also has pledged collateral for reinsurance agreements which amounted to $1.2 million, as of March 31, 2019, and $1.0 million, as of December 31, 2018, which is anticipated to be due March 2021 (see Note 18).
5. Segregated Cash
As of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, cash segregated in compliance with federal regulations and other restricted deposits of $137.0 million and $176.6 million, respectively, consisted of cash deposited in Special Reserve Accounts for the exclusive benefit of customers under SEC Rule 15c3-3 and cash held in accounts designated as Special Reserve Bank Accounts for Proprietary Accounts of Broker-Dealers ("PAB").
6. Investments of Operating Entities and Consolidated Funds
a.
Operating Entities
Securities owned, at fair value
Securities owned, at fair value are held by the Company and are considered held for trading. Substantially all equity securities, which are not part of the Company's self-clearing securities finance activities, are pledged to external clearing brokers under terms which permit the external clearing broker to sell or re-pledge the securities to others subject to certain limitations.
As of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, securities owned, at fair value consisted of the following:
 
As of March 31, 2019
 
As of December 31, 2018
 
(dollars in thousands)
Common stock (b)
$
428,952

 
$
472,299

Preferred stock (b)
11,707

 
5,617

Warrants and rights (b)
6,787

 
7,990

Government bonds (a)
93,176

 
13,398

Corporate bonds (d)
12,012

 
13,041

Convertible bonds (c)
5,000

 
3,000

Trade claims
5,487

 
5,543

 
$
563,121

 
$
520,888

(a)
As of March 31, 2019, maturities range from April 2019 to February 2041 with an interest rate of 0% to 6.50%. As of December 31, 2018, maturities ranged from April 2019 to August 2019 with an interest rate of 0%.
(b)
The Company has elected the fair value option for investments in securities of preferred and common stock with a fair value of $2.9 million and $3.1 million, respectively, at March 31, 2019 and $2.9 million and $7.1 million, respectively, at December 31, 2018. At December 31, 2018, the Company elected the fair value option for investments in warrants and rights with a fair value of $1.1 million.
(c)
As of March 31, 2019, maturities range from June 2020 to March 2022 with an interest rate of 8%. As of December 31, 2018, the maturity was June 2020 with an interest rate of 8%.

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Cowen Inc.
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

(d)
As of March 31, 2019, maturities ranged from April 2019 to March 2026 and interest rates ranged from 0% to 15.5%. As of December 31, 2018, maturities ranged from April 2019 to April 2049 and interest rates ranged from 2% to 15.50%.
Receivable on and Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value
The Company's direct involvement with derivative financial instruments includes total return swaps, futures, currency forwards, equity swaps, credit default swaps and options. The Company's derivatives trading activities exposes the Company to certain risks, such as price and interest rate fluctuations, volatility risk, credit risk, counterparty risk, foreign currency movements and changes in the liquidity of markets.
The Company's long and short exposure to derivatives is as follows:
Receivable on derivative contracts
As of March 31, 2019
 
As of December 31, 2018
 
Number of contracts / Notional Value
 
Fair value
 
Number of contracts / Notional Value
 
Fair value
 
(dollars in thousands)
Futures
$

 
$

 
$
42,288

 
$
334

Currency forwards
$
99,791

 
543

 
$
395

 
1

Swaps
$
141,108

 
1,915

 
$
13,702

 
917

Options other (a)
325,571

 
18,971

 
654,506

 
23,130

Pay to hold
$

 
234

 
$

 
743

 
 
 
$
21,663

 
 
 
$
25,125

(a) Includes index, equity, commodity future and cash conversion options.
Payable for derivative contracts
As of March 31, 2019
 
As of December 31, 2018
 
Number of contracts / Notional Value
 
Fair value
 
Number of contracts / Notional Value
 
Fair value
 
(dollars in thousands)
Futures
$
12,464

 
$
307

 
$

 
$

Currency forwards
$
6,273

 
81

 
$
96,406

 
709

Swaps
$
41,031

 
3,183

 
$
52,905

 
2,162

Options other (a)
140,452

 
40,012

 
90,730

 
13,211

 
 
 
$
43,583

 
 
 
$
16,082

(a) Includes index, equity, commodity future and cash conversion options.
The following tables present the gross and net derivative positions and the related offsetting amount, as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018. This table does not include the impact of over-collateralization.

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Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gross amounts not offset in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Financial Condition
 
 
 
Gross amounts recognized
 
Gross amounts offset on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition (a)
 
Net amounts included on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition
 
Financial instruments
 
Cash Collateral pledged (b)
 
Net amounts
 
(dollars in thousands)
As of March 31, 2019
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value
$
21,663

 
$

 
$
21,663

 
$

 
$
2,691

 
$
18,972

Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value
43,583

 

 
43,583

 

 
3,264

 
40,319

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
As of December 31, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value
$
25,125

 
$

 
$
25,125

 
$

 
$
1,662

 
$
23,463

Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value
16,082

 

 
16,082

 

 
2,871

 
13,211

(a)
Includes financial instruments subject to enforceable master netting provisions that are permitted to be offset to the extent an event of default has occurred.
(b)
Includes the amount of collateral held or posted.
The realized and unrealized gains/(losses) related to derivatives trading activities were $(2.2) million and $7.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, and are included in other income in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations.
Pursuant to the various derivatives transactions discussed above, except for the cash convertible note hedge (see Note 18), exchange traded derivatives, and certain options, the Company is required to post/receive collateral. As of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, collateral consisting of $6.7 million and $11.2 million of cash is included in receivable from brokers, dealers and clearing organizations and payable to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations, respectively, on the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of financial condition. As of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, all derivative contracts were with multiple major financial institutions.
Other investments
As of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, other investments included the following:
 
As of March 31, 2019
 
As of December 31, 2018
 
(dollars in thousands)
Portfolio Funds, at fair value (1)
$
145,566

 
$
141,236

Equity method investments (2)
54,566

 
40,171

 
$
200,132

 
$
181,407



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Cowen Inc.
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

(1) Portfolio Funds, at fair value
The Portfolio Funds, at fair value as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, included the following:
 
As of March 31, 2019
 
As of December 31, 2018
 
(dollars in thousands)
Starboard Value and Opportunity Fund LP (c)(*)
$
36,270

 
$
32,579

Formation8 Partners Fund I, L.P. (f)
33,613

 
34,099

RCG Longview Debt Fund V, L.P. (g)(*)
2,667

 
4,394

RCG Longview II LP (g) (*)
4,431

 
4,400

Cowen Healthcare Investments II LP (j) (*)
23,941

 
21,717

Eclipse Ventures Fund I, L.P. (b)
4,469

 
4,412

HealthCare Royalty Partners LP (a)(*)
1,825

 
1,833

Lagunita Biosciences, LLC (d)
4,080

 
3,833

RCG IO Renergys Sarl (j) (*)
6,329

 
6,369

Starboard Leaders Fund LP (e)(*)
1,424

 
1,230

Eclipse SPV I, LP (k)(*)
1,447

 
1,447

RCG Longview Equity Fund, LP (g) (*)
797

 
802

RCG Longview Debt Fund VI, LP (g) (*)
1,614

 
1,586

RCG Park Liberty GP Member LLC (g) (*)
1,129

 
1,023

HealthCare Royalty Partners II LP (a)(*)
1,106

 
1,037

RCGL PE MPA, LLC (g)(*)
618

 
618

RCG LPP2 PNW5 Co-Invest, L.P. (h)(*)
12

 
296

Other private investment (l)(*)
15,723

 
15,898

Other affiliated funds (m)(*)
4,071

 
3,663

 
$
145,566

 
$
141,236

* These Portfolio Funds are affiliates of the Company.
The Company has no unfunded commitments regarding the Portfolio Funds held by the Company except as noted in Note 17.
(a)
HealthCare Royalty Partners, L.P. and HealthCare Royalty Partners II, L.P. are private equity funds and therefore distributions will be made when cash flows are received from the underlying investments, typically on a quarterly basis.
(b)
Eclipse Ventures Fund I, L.P. is a private equity fund which invests in early stage and growth hardware companies. Distributions will be made when the underlying investments are liquidated.
(c)
Starboard Value and Opportunity Fund LP permits quarterly withdrawals upon 90 days' notice.
(d)
Lagunita Biosciences, LLC, is a healthcare investment company that creates and grows early stage companies to commercialize impactful translational science that addresses significant clinical needs, is a private equity structure and therefore distributions will be made when the underlying investments are liquidated.
(e)
Starboard Leaders Fund LP does not permit withdrawals, but instead allows terminations with respect to capital commitments upon 30 days' prior written notice at any time following the first anniversary of an investors' initial capital contribution.
(f)
Formation8 Partners Fund I, L.P. is a private equity fund which invests in early stage and growth transformational information and energy technology companies. Distributions will be made when the underlying investments are liquidated.
(g)
RCG Longview Debt Fund V, L.P., RCG Longview II LP, RCG Park Liberty GP Member LLC, RCG Longview Equity Fund, LP, RCGL PE MPA, LLC and RCG Longview Debt Fund VI, LP are real estate private equity structures. The timing of distributions depend on the nature of the underlying investments and therefore will be made either quarterly or when the underlying investments are liquidated.

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Cowen Inc.
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

(h)
RCG LPP2 PNW5 Co-Invest, L.P. is a single purpose entity formed to participate in a joint venture which acquired five multi-unit residential rental properties located in the Pacific Northwest. RCG LPP2 PNW5 Co-Invest, L.P. is a private equity structure and therefore distributions will be made when the underlying investments are liquidated.
(i)
Effective January 31, 2018, the Company is no longer affiliated with Quadratic Capital Management LLC.
(j)
Cowen Healthcare Investments II LP and RCG IO Renergys Sarl are private equity funds.  Distributions are made from these funds when cash flows or securities are received from the underlying investments. Investors do not have redemption rights.
(k)
Eclipse SPV I, L.P. is a co-investment vehicle organized to invest in a private company focused on software-driven automation projects.  Distributions will be made when the underlying investments are liquidated.
(l)
Other private investment represents the Company's closed end investment in a Portfolio Fund that invests in a wireless broadband communication provider in Italy.
(m)
The majority of these investment funds are affiliates of the Company or are managed by the Company and the investors can redeem from these funds as investments are liquidated.
(2)
Equity method investments
Equity method investments include investments held by the Company in several operating companies whose operations primarily include the day to day management of a number of real estate funds, including the portfolio management and administrative services related to the acquisition, disposition, and active monitoring of the real estate funds' underlying debt and equity investments. The Company's ownership interests in these equity method investments range from 1% to 56%. The Company holds a majority of the outstanding ownership interest (i.e., more than 50%) in RCG Longview Partners II, LLC and 40% in Surf House Ocean Views Holdings, LLC (which is a joint venture in a real estate development project). The operating agreement that governs the management of day-to-day operations and affairs of these entities stipulates that certain decisions require support and approval from other members in addition to the support and approval of the Company. As a result, all operating decisions made in these entities requires the support of both the Company and an affirmative vote of a majority of the other managing members who are not affiliates of the Company. As the Company does not possess control over any of these entities, the presumption of consolidation has been overcome pursuant to current Accounting Standards and the Company accounts for these investments under the equity method of accounting. Also included in equity method investments are the investments in (a) HealthCare Royalty Partners General Partners and (b) Starboard Value (and certain related parties) which serves as an operating company whose operations primarily include the day to day management (including portfolio management) of several activist investment funds and related managed accounts. As part of its equity method investment in operating companies, the Company incurs certain expenses on behalf of its equity method investees. These expenses reflect direct and indirect costs associated with the respective business and are included in their respective line items in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations. For the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company incurred $2.7 million and $1.9 million, of these costs, respectively. The Company recorded no impairment charges in relation to its equity method investments for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018.
The Company elected to use the cumulative earnings approach for the distributions it receives from its equity method investments. Under the cumulative earnings approach, any distributions received up to the amount of cumulative earnings are treated as return on investment and classified in operating activities within the cash flows. Any excess distributions would be considered as return of investments and classified in investing activities.

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Cowen Inc.
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

The following table summarizes equity method investments held by the Company:
 
 
 
 
 
As of March 31, 2019
 
As of December 31, 2018
 
(dollars in thousands)
Surf House Ocean Views Holdings, LLC
$
8,493

 
$
7,589

Starboard Value LP
26,240

 
12,699

RCG Longview Debt Fund V Partners, LLC
10,362

 
11,000

RCG Longview Management, LLC
1,167

 
1,167

RCG Longview Debt Fund VI Partners LLC
1,425

 
1,254

HealthCare Royalty GP, LLC
149

 
149

HealthCare Royalty GP II, LLC
187

 
176

RCG Longview Debt Fund IV Management, LLC
331

 
331

HealthCare Royalty GP III, LLC
1,645

 
1,573

Triartisan ES Partners LLC
1,026

 
1,500

Triartisan PFC Partners LLC
1,000

 

RCG Kennedy House, LLC
131

 
131

RCG Longview Equity Management, LLC
110

 
114

RCG LPP II GP, LLC
94

 
272

RCG Park Liberty GP Member Manager, LLC
1,248

 
1,248

Other
958

 
968

 
$
54,566

 
$
40,171

For the period ended March 31, 2019, several equity method investments have met the significance criteria as defined under Regulation S-X Rule 4-08(g) of the SEC guidance ("Reg S-X 4-08(g)"). For the three months ended March 31, 2018 and for the period ended December 31, 2018, no equity method investments have met the significance criteria as defined under Reg S-X 4-08(g). As such, the Company is presenting the following summarized financial information:
 
As of March 31, 2019
 
(dollars in thousands)
Assets
 
   Cash
$
3,261

   Performance & management fee receivable
73,336

   Investments
715,831

Liabilities
20,900

Equity
$
771,528

 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2019
 
(dollars in thousands)
Revenues
$
68,579

Expenses
(18,210
)
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses)
89,560

Net Income
$
139,929

As of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the Company's share of losses in its equity method investment in RCG Longview Partners II, LLC has exceeded the carrying amount recorded in this investee. These amounts are included in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of financial condition. RCG Longview Partners II, LLC, as general partner to a real estate fund, has reversed previously recorded incentive income allocations and has recorded a current clawback obligation to the limited partners in such fund. This obligation is due to a change in unrealized value of the real estate fund on which there have previously been distributed carried interest realizations; however, the settlement of a potential obligation is not due until the end of the life of the respective real estate fund. As the Company is obligated to return previous distributions it received from RCG Longview Partners II, LLC, it has continued to record its share of gains/losses in the investee including reflecting its share of the clawback obligation in the amount of $6.5 million and $6.5 million as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively.

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Cowen Inc.
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

The Company's income (loss) from equity method investments was $16.3 million and $3.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, and is included in net gains (losses) on securities, derivatives and other investments on the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations.
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value represent obligations of the Company to deliver a specified security at a contracted price and, thereby, create a liability to purchase that security at prevailing prices. The Company's liability for securities to be delivered is measured at their fair value as of the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements. However, these transactions result in off-balance sheet risk, as the Company's ultimate cost to satisfy the delivery of securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value may exceed the amount reflected in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of financial condition. Substantially all equity securities and options are pledged to the clearing broker under terms which permit the clearing broker to sell or re-pledge the securities to others subject to certain limitations. As of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value consisted of the following:
 
As of March 31, 2019
 
As of December 31, 2018
 
(dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
 
Common stock
$
463,319

 
$
194,305

Corporate bonds (a)
3,207

 
750

Government bonds (b)
84,459

 

Preferred stock
3,959

 
199

Warrants and rights
19,242

 
53

 
$
574,186

 
$
195,307

(a)
As of March 31, 2019, the maturities ranged from October 2019 to April 2037 with interest rates ranged from 5.38% to 14.00%. As of December 31, 2018, the maturities ranged from October 2022 to January 2034 with interest rates ranged from 2.25% to 9.38%.
(b)
As of March 31, 2019, the maturities ranged from October 2019 to February 2041 with interest rates ranged from 5.38% to 8.25%.
Securities lending and borrowing transactions
The following tables present the contractual gross and net securities borrowing and lending agreements and the related offsetting amount as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gross amounts not offset on the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Financial Condition
 
 
 
Gross amounts recognized
 
Gross amounts offset on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition (a)
 
Net amounts included on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition
 
Additional Amounts Available
 
Financial instruments
 
Cash Collateral pledged (b)
 
Net amounts
 
(dollars in thousands)
As of March 31, 2019
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities borrowed
$
966,857

 
$

 
$
966,857

 
$

 
$
957,787

 
$

 
$
9,070

Securities loaned
852,203

 

 
852,203

 

 
858,175

 

 
(5,972
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
As of December 31, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities borrowed
$
407,795

 
$

 
$
407,795

 
$

 
$
383,593

 
$

 
$
24,202

Securities loaned
414,852

 

 
414,852

 

 
391,310

 

 
23,542

(a)
Includes financial instruments subject to enforceable master netting provisions that are permitted to be offset to the extent an event of default has occurred.
(b)
Includes the amount of cash collateral held/posted.

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Table of Contents
Cowen Inc.
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

The following tables present gross obligations for securities loaned transactions by remaining contractual maturity and class of collateral pledged as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018:
 
Open and Overnight
 
Up to 30 days
 
31 - 90 days
 
Greater than 90 days
 
Total
 
(dollars in thousands)
As of March 31, 2019
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities loaned
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common stock
$
710,449

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
710,449

Corporate bonds
70,565

 

 

 

 
70,565

Government bonds
71,189

 

 

 

 
71,189

Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value - obligation to return securities received as collateral
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common stock
79,778

 

 

 

 
79,778

As of December 31, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities loaned
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common stock
$
414,852

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
414,852

Variable Interest Entities
The total assets and liabilities of the variable interest entities for which the Company has concluded that it holds a variable interest, but for which it is not the primary beneficiary, are $5.4 billion and $282.0 million as of March 31, 2019 and $5.1 billion and $157.6 million as of December 31, 2018, respectively. The carrying value of the Company's exposure to loss for these variable interest entities as of March 31, 2019 was $231.6 million, and as of December 31, 2018 was $301.4 million, all of which is included in other investments, at fair value in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of financial condition. The exposure to loss primarily relates to the Consolidated Funds' investment in their Unconsolidated Master Funds and the Company's investment in unconsolidated investment companies. Additionally, the Company’s maximum exposure to loss for the variable interest entities noted above as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, was $263.3 million and $332.4 million, respectively.  The maximum exposure to loss often differs from the carrying value of exposure to loss of the variable interests. The maximum exposure to loss is dependent on the nature of the variable interests in the VIEs and is limited to the notional amounts of certain commitments and guarantees.
b.
Consolidated Funds
Securities owned, at fair value
As of March 31, 2019 and 2018, securities owned, at fair value, held by the Consolidated Funds consisted of the following:
 
As of March 31, 2019
 
As of December 31, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
     Preferred stock
$
24,322

 
$
24,314

     Common stock
178,701

 
95,565

     Government bonds (a)
47,034

 
38,377

     Corporate bonds (b)
54,035

 
24,098

     Warrants and rights
4,708

 
5,279

 
$
308,800

 
$
187,633

(a)
As of March 31, 2019, maturities ranged from April 2019 to May 2019 and interest rates were 0%. As of December 31, 2018, maturities ranged from January 2019 to April 2019 and interest rates ranged from 0%.
(b)
As of March 31, 2019, maturities ranged from December 2019 to March 2026 and interest rates ranged from 4.90% to 19.00%. As of December 31, 2018, maturities ranged from August 2020 to March 2026 and interest rates ranged from 5.88% to 7.63%.


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Table of Contents
Cowen Inc.
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Receivable on derivative contracts
As of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value, held by the Consolidated Funds are comprised of:
 
As of March 31, 2019
 
As of December 31, 2018
 
(dollars in thousands)
Currency forwards
$
25

 
$
186

Equity swaps
1,196

 
2,477

Options
1,963

 
1,753

 
$
3,184

 
$
4,416

Payable for derivative contracts
As of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, payable for derivative contracts, at fair value, held by the Consolidated Funds are comprised of:
 
As of March 31, 2019
 
As of December 31, 2018
 
(dollars in thousands)
Currency forwards
$
1,327

 
$
96

Equity swaps
3,921

 
713

Options
309

 
854

 
$
5,557

 
$
1,663

Other investments, at fair value
Investments in Portfolio Funds, at fair value
As of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, investments in Portfolio Funds, at fair value, included the following:
 
As of March 31, 2019
 
As of December 31, 2018
 
(dollars in thousands)
Investments of Enterprise LP
$
95,414

 
$
97,656

Investments of Merger Fund
91,432

 
88,739

 
$
186,846

 
$
186,395

Consolidated portfolio fund investments of Enterprise LP    
On May 12, 2010, the Company announced its intention to close Enterprise Master. Enterprise LP operated under a “master-feeder” structure up until January 1, 2019, when Enterprise Master distributed its capital to each feeder and was liquidated. As of March 31, 2019, the consolidated investments in Portfolio Funds include Enterprise LP's investment in RCG Special Opportunities Fund, Ltd which is a portfolio fund that invests in a limited number of private equity investment directly as well as through affiliated portfolio funds. As of December 31, 2018, the consolidated investments in Portfolio Funds included Enterprise LP's investment of $97.7 million in Enterprise Master. Prior to liquidation, strategies utilized by Enterprise Master included merger arbitrage and activist investing, investments in distressed securities, convertible hedging, capital structure arbitrage, equity market neutral, investments in private placements of convertible securities, proprietary mortgages, structured credit investments, investments in mortgage backed securities and other structured finance products, investments in real estate and real property interests, structured private placements and other relative value strategies. Enterprise Master had broad investment powers and maximum flexibility in seeking to achieve its investment objective. Enterprise Master was permitted to invest in equity securities, debt instruments, options, futures, swaps, credit default swaps and other derivatives. There are no unfunded commitments at Enterprise LP.
Consolidated portfolio fund investments of Merger Fund    
The Merger Fund operates under a “master-feeder” structure, whereby Ramius Merger Master Ltd.'s ("Merger Master") shareholders are Merger Fund and Ramius Merger Fund Ltd. The consolidated investments in Portfolio Funds include Merger Fund's investment of $91.4 million and $88.7 million in Merger Master as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively. The Merger Master’s investment objective is to achieve consistent absolute returns while emphasizing the preservation of investor capital. The Merger Master seeks to achieve these objectives by taking a fundamental, research-driven

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Cowen Inc.
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

approach to investing, primarily in the securities of issuers engaged in, or subject to, announced (or unannounced but otherwise anticipated) extraordinary corporate transactions, which may include, but are not limited to, mergers, acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, tender offers, hostile takeover bids, sale processes, exchange offers, and recapitalizations. Merger Master invests in the securities of one or more issuers engaged in or subject to such extraordinary corporate transactions. Merger Master typically seeks to derive a profit by realizing the price differential, or “spread,” between the market price of securities purchased or sold short and the market price or value of securities realized in connection with the completion or termination of the extraordinary corporate transaction, or in connection with the adjustment of market prices in anticipation thereof, while seeking to minimize the market risk associated with the aforementioned investment activities. Merger Master will, depending on market conditions, generally focus the majority of its investment program on announced transactions. If the investment manager of Merger Master considers it necessary, it may either alone or as part of a group, also initiate shareholder actions seeking to maximize value. Such shareholder actions may include, but are not limited to, re-orienting management’s focus or initiating the sale of the company (or one or more of its divisions) to a third party. There are no unfunded commitments at Merger Fund.
Indirect Concentration of the Underlying Investments Held by Consolidated Funds
From time to time, either directly or indirectly through its investments in the Consolidated Funds, the Company may maintain exposure to a particular issue or issuer (both long and/or short) which may account for 5% or more of the Company's equity. Based on information that is available to the Company as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the Company assessed whether or not its interests in an issuer for which the Company's pro-rata share exceeds 5% of the Company's equity. There was one indirect concentration that exceeded 5% of the Company's equity as of March 31, 2019 and one at December 31, 2018.
Through its investments in a Consolidated Fund and combined with direct Company investments, the Company maintained exposure to a particular investment which accounted for 5% or more of the Company's equity.
 
Investment's percentage of the Company's equity
 
Issuer
 
Security Type
 
Country
 
Industry
 
Percentage of Equity
 
Market Value
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
As of March 31, 2019
Linkem
 
Equity
 
Italy
 
Wireless Broadband
 
8.08
%
 
$
65,842

As of December 31, 2018
Linkem
 
Equity
 
Italy
 
Wireless Broadband
 
8.36
%
 
$
66,439

Underlying Investments of Unconsolidated Funds Held by Consolidated Funds
Enterprise Master and Merger Master
At December 31, 2018, Enterprise LP's investment in Enterprise Master represented Enterprise LP's proportionate share of Enterprise Master's net assets; as a result, the investment balances of Enterprise Master reflected below may exceed the net investment which Enterprise LP has recorded. Merger Fund's investment in Merger Master represents Merger Fund's proportionate share of Merger Master's net assets; as a result, the investment balances of Merger Master reflected below may exceed the net investment which Merger Fund has recorded. The following tables present summarized investment information for the underlying investments and derivatives held by Enterprise Master and Merger Master as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018:
Securities owned by Enterprise Master, at fair value
 
 
As of December 31, 2018
 
(dollars in thousands)
Common stock
 
$
469

 
 
$
469

Portfolio Funds, owned by Enterprise Master, at fair value
 
 
 
As of December 31, 2018
 
Strategy
(dollars in thousands)
RCG Special Opportunities Fund, Ltd*
Multi-Strategy
 
$
111,548

Other Private Investments
Various
 
846

 
 
 
$
112,394

*
Affiliates of the Company.


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Table of Contents
Cowen Inc.
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Merger Master
As of March 31, 2019, Merger Master held common stock and corporate bonds of $249.7 million and $74.2 million, respectively, and common stock, sold not yet purchased, of $104.2 million. As of December 31, 2018, Merger Master held common stock, securities owned, and corporate bonds of $162.8 million and $116.5 million and common stock, sold not yet purchased, of $9.6 million, respectively.
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value, owned by Merger Master
 
As of March 31, 2019
 
As of December 31, 2018
 
 
 
 
Description
(dollars in thousands)
Options
$
1,973

 
$
3,450

Equity swaps
219

 
5,320

 
$
2,192

 
$
8,770

Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value, owned by Merger Master
 
As of March 31, 2019
 
As of December 31, 2018
Description
(dollars in thousands)
Options
$
287

 
$
1,430

Currency forwards
22,523

 
270

Equity swaps
1,547

 
28

 
$
24,357

 
$
1,728

7. Fair Value Measurements for Operating Entities and Consolidated Funds
The following table presents the assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis on the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of financial condition by caption and by level within the valuation hierarchy as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018:

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Cowen Inc.
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

 
Assets at Fair Value as of March 31, 2019
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
 
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
 
 
Operating Entities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Securities owned, at fair value
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Government bonds
$
13,398

 
$
79,778

 
$

 
$
93,176

Preferred stock
4,550

 

 
7,157

 
11,707

Common stock
421,177

 
2,824

 
4,951

 
428,952

Convertible bonds

 

 
5,000

 
5,000

Corporate bonds

 
11,751

 
261

 
12,012

Trade claims

 

 
5,487

 
5,487

Warrants and rights
6,333

 

 
454

 
6,787

    Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value
 
 
 
 
 
 


Currency forwards

 
543

 

 
543

Swaps

 
1,915

 

 
1,915

Options
18,971

 

 

 
18,971

Pay to hold

 
234

 

 
234

Consolidated Funds
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Securities owned, at fair value
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Government bonds
47,034

 

 

 
47,034

Preferred stock

 

 
24,322

 
24,322

Common stock
177,684

 

 
1,017

 
178,701

Corporate bonds

 
54,035

 

 
54,035

Warrants and rights

 

 
4,708

 
4,708

   Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Currency forwards

 
25

 

 
25

Equity swaps

 
1,196

 

 
1,196

Options
1,963

 

 

 
1,963

 
$
691,110

 
$
152,301

 
$
53,357

 
$
896,768

Percentage of total assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis
77.1
%
 
17.0
%
 
5.9
%
 
 
Portfolio Funds measured at net asset value (a)
 
 
 
 
 
 
145,566

Consolidated Funds' Portfolio Funds measured at net asset value (a)
 
 
 
 
 
 
186,846

Equity method investments
 
 
 
 
 
 
54,566

Total investments
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
1,283,746


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Table of Contents
Cowen Inc.
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

 
Liabilities at Fair Value as of March 31, 2019
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
 
(dollars in thousands)
Operating Entities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Government bonds
$

 
$
84,459

 
$

 
$
84,459

Common stock
463,319

 

 

 
463,319

Corporate bonds

 
3,207

 

 
3,207

Preferred stock
3,959

 

 

 
3,959

Warrants and rights
19,242

 

 

 
19,242

    Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Futures
307

 

 

 
307

Currency forwards

 
81

 

 
81

Swaps

 
3,183

 

 
3,183

Options
38,279

 

 
1,733

 
40,012

Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities


 


 


 
 
          Contingent consideration liability (b)

 

 
29,536

 
29,536

Consolidated Funds
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Currency forwards

 
1,327

 

 
1,327

Options
309

 

 

 
309

Equity swaps

 
3,921

 

 
3,921

 
$
525,415

 
$
96,178

 
$
31,269

 
$
652,862

Percentage of total liabilities measured at fair value
80.5
%
 
14.7
%
 
4.8
%
 
 
(a) In accordance with US GAAP, certain investments that are measured at fair value using the net asset value per share (or its equivalent) as a practical expedient have not been classified in the fair value hierarchy. The fair value amounts presented in this table are intended to permit reconciliation of the fair value hierarchy to the amounts presented in the condensed consolidated statement of financial condition.
(b) In accordance with the terms of the purchase agreements for acquisitions that closed during the second quarter of 2016 and the first quarter of 2019, the Company is required to pay to the sellers a portion of future net income and/or revenues of the acquired businesses, if certain targets are achieved through the periods ended December 2019 and December 2023, respectively. For the acquisition that closed during 2016, the Company estimated the contingent consideration liability using the income approach (discounted cash flow method) which requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions regarding the future cash flows and profits. For the acquisition that closed during 2019, the Company estimated the contingent consideration liability using the present value of the monte carlo simulated revenue. Changes in these estimates and assumptions could have a significant impact on the amounts recognized. The undiscounted amounts as of March 31, 2019 can range from $1.6 million to $40.0 million.


39


Table of Contents
Cowen Inc.
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

 
Assets at Fair Value as of December 31, 2018
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
 
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
 
 
Operating Entities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Securities owned, at fair value
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Government bonds
$
13,398

 
$

 
$

 
$
13,398

Preferred stock
449

 

 
5,168

 
5,617

Common stock
459,601

 
2,848

 
9,850

 
472,299

Convertible bonds

 

 
3,000

 
3,000

Corporate bonds

 
13,041

 

 
13,041

Trade claims

 

 
5,543

 
5,543

Warrants and rights
6,324

 

 
1,666

 
7,990

    Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Futures
334

 

 

 
334

Currency forwards

 
1

 

 
1

Swaps

 
917

 

 
917

Options
23,130

 

 

 
23,130

Pay to hold

 
743

 

 
743

Consolidated Funds
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Securities owned, at fair value
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Government bonds
38,377

 

 

 
38,377

Preferred stock

 

 
24,314

 
24,314

Common stock
95,471

 

 
94

 
95,565

Corporate bonds

 
24,098

 

 
24,098

Warrants and rights

 

 
5,279

 
5,279

    Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Currency forwards

 
186

 

 
186

Equity swaps

 
2,477

 

 
2,477

Options
1,753

 

 

 
1,753

 
$
638,837

 
$
44,311

 
$
54,914

 
$
738,062

Percentage of total assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis
86.6
%
 
6.0
%
 
7.4
%
 
 
Portfolio Funds measured at net asset value (a)
 
 
 
 
 
 
141,236

Consolidated Funds' Portfolio Funds measured at net asset value (a)
 
 
 
 
 
 
186,395

Equity method investments
 
 
 
 
 
 
40,171

Total investments
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
1,105,864


40


Table of Contents
Cowen Inc.
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

 
Liabilities at Fair Value as of December 31, 2018
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
 
Total
 
(dollars in thousands)
Operating Entities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common stock
$
194,305

 
$

 
$

 
$
194,305

Corporate bonds

 
750

 

 
750

Preferred stock
199

 

 

 
199

Warrants and rights
53

 

 

 
53

Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Currency forwards

 
709

 

 
709

Swaps

 
2,162

 

 
2,162

Options
11,115

 

 
2,096

 
13,211

Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
          Contingent consideration liability (b)

 

 
3,070

 
3,070

Consolidated Funds
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Currency forwards

 
96

 

 
96

Options
854

 

 

 
854

Equity swaps

 
713

 

 
713

 
$
206,526

 
$
4,430

 
$
5,166

 
$
216,122

Percentage of total liabilities measured at fair value
95.6
%
 
2.0
%
 
2.4
%
 
 
(a) In accordance with US GAAP, certain investments that are measured at fair value using the net asset value per share (or its equivalent) as a practical expedient have not been classified in the fair value hierarchy. The fair value amounts presented in this table are intended to permit reconciliation of the fair value hierarchy to the amounts presented in the condensed consolidated statement of financial condition.
(b) In accordance with the terms of the purchase agreements for the acquisition that closed during the second quarter of 2016, the Company is required to pay to the sellers a portion of future net income and/or revenues of the acquired business, if certain targets are achieved through the periods ended December 2020. The Company estimated the contingent consideration liability using the income approach (discounted cash flow method) which requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions regarding the future cash flows and profits. Changes in these estimates and assumptions could have a significant impact on the amounts recognized. The undiscounted amounts as of December 31, 2018 can range from $2.8 million to $3.4 million.
The following table includes a roll forward of the amounts for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018 for financial instruments classified within level 3. The classification of a financial instrument within level 3 is based upon the significance of the unobservable inputs to the overall fair value measurement.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

41


Table of Contents
Cowen Inc.
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2019
 
Balance at December 31, 2018
 
Transfers in
 
Transfers out
 
Purchases/(covers)
 
(Sales)/shorts
 
Realized and Unrealized gains/losses
 
Balance at March 31, 2019
 
Change in unrealized gains/losses relating to instruments still held (1)
 
(dollars in thousands)
 
 
Operating Entities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Preferred stock
$
5,168

 
$

 
$

 
$
2,000

 
$

 
$
(11
)
 
$
7,157

 
$
(11
)
Common stock
9,850

 

 

 
1,262

 
(5,952
)
 
(209
)
 
4,951

 
(7
)
Convertible bonds
3,000

 

 

 
5,000

 
(3,000
)
 

 
5,000

 

Corporate bond

 

 

 
261

 

 

 
261

 

Options, liability
2,096

 

 

 

 
(4
)
 
(359
)
 
1,733

 
(359
)
Warrants and rights
1,666

 

 

 

 
(116
)
 
(1,096
)
 
454

 
(109
)
Trade claims
5,543

 

 

 

 
(56
)
 

 
5,487

 

Contingent consideration liability
3,070

 

 

 
27,700

 
(1,234
)
 

 
29,536

 

Consolidated Funds
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Preferred stock
24,314

 

 



 

 
8

 
24,322

 
8

Common stock
94

 

 

 
407

 

 
516

 
1,017

 
516

Warrants and rights
5,279

 

 

 
(1,088
)
 

 
517

 
4,708

 
(570
)
 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
 
Balance at December 31, 2017
 
Transfers in
 
Transfers out
 
Purchases/(covers)
 
(Sales)/shorts
 
Realized and Unrealized gains/losses
 
Balance at March 31, 2018
 
Change in unrealized gains/losses relating to instruments still held (1)
 
(dollars in thousands)
Operating Entities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Preferred stock
$
8,115

 
$

 
$

 
$
1,415

 
$
(478
)
 
$
(235
)
 
$
8,817

 
$
486

Common stock
7,570

 

 

 
310

 
(133
)
 
(347
)
 
7,400

 
412

Convertible bonds
282

 

 

 

 
(307
)
 
25

 

 

Options, asset
1,455

 

 

 

 
(1,455
)
 

 

 

Options, liability
22,401

 

 

 

 

 
(1,006
)
 
21,395

 
(1,006
)
Warrants and rights
2,517

 

 

 

 

 
(815
)
 
1,702

 
510

Trade claim
5,950

 

 

 

 

 
5

 
5,955

 
5

Lehman claim
301

 

 

 

 

 
11

 
312

 
12

Contingent consideration liability
3,440

 

 

 

 

 

 
3,440

 

Consolidated Funds
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Preferred stock
50,445

 

 
(38,552
)
(a)

 

 

 
11,893

 

Common stock
50

 

 

 

 

 

 
50

 

Warrants and rights
3,568

 

 
(20
)
(a)

 

 
1,706

 
5,254

 
1,706

(1) Unrealized gains/losses are reported in other income (loss) in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations.
(a) The Company deconsolidated an investment fund.    
All realized and unrealized gains (losses) in the table above are reflected in other income (loss) in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations.
Certain assets and liabilities are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis and therefore are not included in the tables above.
The Company recognizes all transfers and the related unrealized gain (loss) at the beginning of the reporting period.
Transfers between level 1 and 2 generally relate to whether the principal market for the security becomes active or inactive. Transfers between level 2 and 3 generally relate to whether significant relevant observable inputs are available for the fair value measurements or due to change in liquidity restrictions for the investments.
During the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, there were no transfers between level 1 and level 2 assets and liabilities.

42


Table of Contents
Cowen Inc.
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

The following table includes quantitative information as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 for financial instruments classified within level 3. The table below quantifies information about the significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of the Company's level 3 financial instruments.
 
Quantitative Information about Level 3 Fair Value Measurements
 
Fair Value at
March 31, 2019
 
Valuation Techniques
 
Unobservable Inputs
 
Range
Level 3 Assets
(dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common and preferred stocks
$
320

 
Discounted cash flows

Discount rate

8%
Trade claims
25

 
Discounted cash flows
 
Discount rate
 
20%
Warrants and rights
5,162

 
Model based Discounted cash flows
 
Volatility
Discount rate
 
30%
7% to 8%
Other level 3 assets (a)
47,850

 
 
 
 
 
 
Total level 3 assets
$
53,357

 
 
 
 
 
 
Level 3 Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Options
1,733

 
Option pricing models
 
Volatility
 
35% to 40%
Contingent consideration liability
29,536

 
Discounted cash flows Monte Carlo simulation
 
Discount rate Volatility
 
14%-22% 14%-15%
Total level 3 liabilities
$
31,269

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Quantitative Information about Level 3 Fair Value Measurements
 
Fair Value at
December 31, 2018
 
Valuation Techniques
 
Unobservable Inputs
 
Range
Level 3 Assets
(dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common and preferred stocks
$
4,323

 
Guideline companies/Discounted cash flows
 
Discount rate
Market multiples
 
8%-14%
6.5x to 7x
Trade claims
25

 
Discounted cash flows
 
Discount rate
 
20%
Warrants and rights
1,666

 
Model based Discounted cash flows
 
Discount rate
 
7% to 9%
Other level 3 assets (a)
48,900

 
 
 
 
 
 
Total level 3 assets
$
54,914

 
 
 
 
 
 
Level 3 Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Options
2,096

 
Option pricing models
 
Volatility
 
35% to 40%
Contingent consideration liability
3,070

 
Discounted cash flows
 
Projected cash flow and discount rate
 
23%
Total level 3 liabilities
$
5,166

 
 
 
 
 
 
(a)
The quantitative disclosures exclude financial instruments for which the determination of fair value is based on prices from recent transactions.
The Company has established valuation policies and procedures and an internal control infrastructure over its fair value measurement of financial instruments which includes ongoing oversight by the valuation committee as well as periodic audits performed by the Company's internal audit group. The valuation committee is comprised of senior management, including non-investment professionals, who are responsible for overseeing and monitoring the pricing of the Company's investments, including the review of the results of the independent price verification process, approval of new trading asset classes and use of applicable pricing models and approaches.
The US GAAP fair value leveling hierarchy is designated and monitored on an ongoing basis. In determining the designation, the Company takes into consideration a number of factors including the observability of inputs, liquidity of the investment and the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement. Designations, models, pricing vendors, third party valuation providers and inputs used to derive fair market value are subject to review by the valuation committee and the internal audit group. The Company reviews its valuation policy guidelines on an ongoing basis and may adjust them in light of, improved valuation metrics and models, the availability of reliable inputs and information, and prevailing market conditions. The Company reviews a daily profit and loss report, as well as other periodic reports, and analyzes material changes from period-to-period in the valuation of its investments as part of its control procedures. The Company also performs back testing on a regular basis by comparing prices observed in executed transactions to previous valuations.

43


Table of Contents
Cowen Inc.
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

The fair market value for level 3 securities may be highly sensitive to the use of industry standard models, unobservable inputs and subjective assumptions. The degree of fair market value sensitivity is also contingent upon the subjective weight given to specific inputs and valuation metrics. The Company holds various equity and debt instruments where different weight may be applied to industry standard models representing standard valuation metrics such as: discounted cash flows, market multiples, comparative transactions, capital rates, recovery rates and timing, and bid levels. Generally, changes in the weights ascribed to the various valuation metrics and the significant unobservable inputs in isolation may result in significantly lower or higher fair value measurements. Volatility levels for warrants and options are not readily observable and subject to interpretation. Changes in capital rates, discount rates and replacement costs could significantly increase or decrease the valuation of the real estate investments. The interrelationship between unobservable inputs may vary significantly amongst level 3 securities as they are generally highly idiosyncratic. Significant increases (decreases) in any of those inputs in isolation can result in a significantly lower (higher) fair value measurement.
Other financial assets and liabilities
The following table presents the carrying values and fair values, at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, of financial assets and liabilities and information on their classification within the fair value hierarchy which are not measured at fair value on a recurring basis. For additional information regarding the financial instruments within the scope of this disclosure, and the methods and significant assumptions used to estimate their fair value see Note 2.
 
March 31, 2019
 
December 31, 2018
 
Fair Value Hierarchy
 
Carrying Amount
 
Fair Value
 
Carrying Amount
 
Fair Value
 
 
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
 
Financial Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating companies
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
235,838

 
$
235,838

 
$
259,148

 
$
259,148

 
Level 1
Cash collateral pledged
6,420

 
6,420

 
6,318

 
6,318

 
Level 2
Segregated cash
136,964

 
136,964

 
176,647

 
176,647

 
Level 1
Securities borrowed
966,857

 
$
957,787

 
407,795

 
383,593

 
Level 2
Loans receivable
34,898

 
34,898

(d)
36,021

 
36,021

(d)
Level 3
Consolidated Funds
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
2,178

 
2,178

 
38,118

 
38,118

 
Level 1
Financial Liabilities
 
 


 
 
 
 
 
 
Securities loaned
852,203

 
858,175

 
414,852

 
391,310

 
Level 2
Convertible debt
115,099

(a)
142,628

(b)
134,489

(a)
157,433

(b)
Level 2
Notes payable and other debt
264,273

 
207,543

(c)
262,965

 
258,546

(c)
Level 2
(a)
The carrying amount of the convertible debt includes an unamortized discount of $23.4 million and $24.9 million as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively.
(b)
The convertible debt includes the conversion option and is based on the last broker quote available.
(c)
Notes payable and other debt are based on the last broker quote available.
(d)
The fair market value of level 3 loans is calculated using discounted cash flows.
8. Deposits with Clearing Organizations, Brokers and Banks
Under the terms of agreements between the Company and some of its clearing organizations, brokers and banks, balances owed are collateralized by certain of the Company’s cash and securities balances. As of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the Company had a total of $109.3 million and $89.4 million, respectively, in deposit accounts with clearing organizations, brokers and banks that could be used as collateral to offset losses incurred by the clearing organizations, brokers and banks, on behalf of the Company’s activities, if such losses were to occur.
9. Receivable From and Payable to Brokers, Dealers and Clearing Organizations
Receivable from and payable to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations includes cash held at the clearing brokers, amounts receivable or payable for unsettled transactions, monies borrowed and proceeds from short sales equal to the fair value of securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value, which are restricted until the Company purchases the securities sold short. Pursuant to the master netting agreements the Company entered into with its brokers, dealers and clearing organizations, these

44


Table of Contents
Cowen Inc.
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

balances are presented net (assets less liabilities) across balances with the same counterparty. The Company's receivable from and payable to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations balances are held at multiple financial institutions.
As of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, amounts receivable from brokers, dealers and clearing organizations include:
 
 
 
 
 
As of March 31, 2019
 
As of December 31, 2018
 
(dollars in thousands)
Broker-dealers
$
608,841

 
$
692,581

Securities failed to deliver
44,037

 
72,918

Clearing organizations
2,702

 
15,319

Securities borrowed interest receivable
7,492

 
5,295

 
$
663,072

 
$
786,113

As of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, amounts payable to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations include:
 
 
 
 
 
As of March 31, 2019
 
As of December 31, 2018
 
(dollars in thousands)
Broker-dealers
$
134,424

 
$
159,443

Securities failed to receive
23,619

 
28,826

Clearing organizations
9,876

 
36,338

Securities loaned interest payable
6,613

 
4,124

 
$
174,532

 
$
228,731

10. Receivable From and Payable To Customers
As of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, receivable from customers of $36.7 million and $37.9 million, respectively, consist of amounts owed by customers relating to securities transactions not completed on settlement date and receivables arising from the prepayment of Commission Sharing Agreements (“CSA”), net of an allowance for credit losses. A prepaid CSA is established for research-related disbursements in advance of anticipated customer commission volumes.
As of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, payable to customers of $413.1 million and $525.2 million, respectively, include amounts due on cash and margin transactions to the Company's clients, some of which have their assets held by a Company omnibus account, which are included within receivables from brokers, dealers and clearing organizations in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of financial condition. In the omnibus structure, positions that are owned by Cowen International Ltd are fully cross collateralized by client funds, meaning that the Company, for all intents and purposes, has no market risk. Additionally, Cowen International Ltd has no obligation to settle any trade that it deems inappropriate from a risk perspective, adding an important market and counterparty risk mitigating factor.
11. Goodwill and Intangible Assets
In accordance with US GAAP, the Company tests goodwill for impairment on an annual basis or at an interim period if events or changed circumstances would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying amount. Under US GAAP, the Company first assesses the qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amounts as a basis for determining if it is necessary to perform the two-step approach. Periodically estimating the fair value of a reporting unit requires significant judgment and often involves the use of significant estimates and assumptions. These estimates and assumptions could have a significant effect on whether or not an impairment charge is recorded and the magnitude of such a charge.
In connection with the Quarton transaction (see Note 3), in January 2019, the Company recognized goodwill of $81.2 million and intangible assets (including customer relationships, trade name, backlog and proprietary software) with an estimated fair value of $22.2 million which are included within intangible assets, net in the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition with the expected useful lives ranging from 2 to 4 years with a weighted average useful life of 2.8 years. Amortization expense related to intangibles from the Quarton acquisition for the three months ended March 31, 2019 is $2.2 million. Goodwill, the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of net assets, primarily relates to expected synergies from combining operations and has been assigned to the investment bank segment of the Company. Tax deductible goodwill will differ from goodwill recognized by the Company in an amount equal to the difference between actual contingent consideration and estimated contingent consideration (see Note 3).

45


Table of Contents
Cowen Inc.
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

12. Commission Management Payable
The Company receives a gross commission from various clearing brokers, which is then used to fund commission sharing and recapture arrangements, less the portion retained as income to the Company. Accrued commission sharing and commission recapture payable of $103.6 million and $95.3 million, as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively, are classified as commission management payable in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of financial condition.
13. Redeemable Non-Controlling Interests in Consolidated Subsidiaries and Investment Funds
Redeemable non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries and investment funds and the related net income (loss) attributable to redeemable non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries and investment funds are comprised as follows:
 
As of March 31, 2019
 
As of December 31, 2018
 
(dollars in thousands)
Redeemable non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries and investment funds
 
 
 
Operating companies
$
13,568

 
$
10,434

Consolidated Funds
404,709

 
274,346

 
$
418,277

 
$
284,780

 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2019
 
2018
 
(dollars in thousands)
Income (loss) attributable to redeemable non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries and investment funds
 
 
 
Operating companies
$
1,806

 
$
1,620

Consolidated Funds
400

 
9,536

 
$
2,206

 
$
11,156

14. Reinsurance
The Company’s wholly-owned Luxembourg subsidiary, Hollenfels Re SA (“Hollenfels”) provides reinsurance to third party insurance and reinsurance companies.  During the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, Hollenfels’s share of incurred and paid claims, as reported to it by the underlying insurance and reinsurance companies, amounted to $2.9 million and $3.6 million respectively. During the same periods, Hollenfels’ share of claims incurred but not reported plus expected development on reported claims totaled $10.1 million and $8.3 million, respectively. Hollenfels generally employs an estimation methodology whereby historical average claims ratios over a period of up to 10 years are utilized, based on availability of data. Other methods may also be used that average claims ratios derived through different actuarial calculation methods in cases where current claims development contradicts historical results. In cases where an event may have occurred that could give rise to claims in excess of the amount calculated using the above-mentioned methodologies, then actuarial methods are used to calculate the impact of such an event. During the year, Hollenfels calculated its claim liability or claim adjustment expenses using the above-mentioned methods consistent with prior years.
While Hollenfels typically settles its premiums and claim payments on a quarterly basis, the frequency of claims in the underlying policies is impractical for Hollenfels to obtain. This is because certain contracts Hollenfels has written are on a quota-share basis while the other policies provide aggregate loss protection, rendering the collection of information for all underlying contracts impracticable. Hollenfels did not discount any of its reserves and did not cede any portion of its exposures during the three months ended March 31, 2019 and March 31, 2018, respectively.
15. Share-Based and Deferred Compensation and Employee Ownership Plans
The Company issues share-based compensation under the 2006 Equity and Incentive Plan, the 2007 Equity and Incentive Plan (both established prior to the November 2009 transaction between Ramius Capital Group LLC and Cowen) and the 2010 Equity and Incentive Plan (collectively, the “Equity Plans”). The Equity Plans permit the grant of options, restricted shares, restricted stock units, stock appreciation rights ("SARs") and other equity-based awards to the Company's employees and directors. Stock options granted generally vest over two-to-five-year periods and expire seven years from the date of grant. Restricted shares and restricted share units issued may be immediately vested or may generally vest over a two-to-five-year period. SARs vest and expire after five years from grant date. Awards are subject to the risk of forfeiture. As of March 31, 2019, there were 0.5 million shares available for future issuance under the Equity Plans.

46


Table of Contents
Cowen Inc.
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Under the 2010 Equity and Incentive Plan, the Company awarded $41.8 million of deferred cash awards to its employees during the three months ended March 31, 2019. These awards vest over a four year period and accrue interest at 0.70% per year. As of March 31, 2019, the Company had unrecognized compensation expense related to the 2010 Equity and Incentive Plan deferred cash awards of $82.2 million.
The Company also maintains a Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan from a 2017 acquisition, which is a deferred cash award plan that is expensed over a 27 month service period. As of March 31, 2019, the Company had unrecognized compensation expense related to these deferred cash awards of $0.1 million.
The Company measures compensation cost for share based awards according to the equity method. In accordance with the expense recognition provisions of those standards, the Company amortizes unearned compensation associated with share based awards on a straight-line basis over the vesting period of the option or award, net of estimated forfeitures. In relation to awards under the Equity Plans, the Company recognized compensation expense of $7.8 million and $10.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The income tax effect recognized for the Equity Plans was a benefit of $2.1 million and $2.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
Restricted Stock Units Granted to Employees
Restricted shares and restricted stock units are referred to collectively as restricted stock. The following table summarizes the Company's restricted share and restricted stock unit activity for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018:
 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2019
 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
 
Nonvested Restricted Class A Common Shares and Class A Common Restricted Stock Units
 
Weighted-Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
 
Nonvested Restricted Class A Common Shares and Class A Common Restricted Stock Units
 
Weighted-Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
Beginning balance outstanding
5,962,295

 
$
15.73

 
5,579,293

 
$
16.33

Granted
1,781,949

 
16.97

 
2,108,184

 
14.23

Vested
(768,468
)
 
16.69

 
(858,433
)
 
16.2

Canceled
(233,333
)
 
14.12

 

 

Forfeited
(144,346
)
 
13.84

 
(21,412
)
 
13.11

Ending balance outstanding
6,598,097

 
$
16.05

 
6,807,632

 
$
15.71

Included in the restricted share and restricted stock unit activity are performance linked restricted stock units of 481,438 which were awarded to employees of the Company in December 2013 and January 2014. An additional 700,000 performance linked restricted stock units were awarded in March 2016. Of the awards granted, 130,438 have been forfeited and 233,333 have been canceled, as they did not meet the performance criteria, through March 31, 2019. The remaining awards, included in the outstanding balance as of March 31, 2019, will vest between May 2019 and December 2020 and will be earned only to the extent that the Company attains specified market conditions relating to its volume-weighted average share price and total shareholder return in relation to certain benchmark indices and performance goals relating to aggregate net income and average return on shareholder equity. The actual number of RSUs ultimately earned could vary from zero, if performance goals are not met, to as much as 150% of the targeted award. Each RSU is equal to the one share of the Company’s Class A common stock. Compensation expense is recognized to the extent that it is probable that the Company will attain the performance goals.
The fair value of restricted stock (excluding performance linked units which are valued using the Monte Carlo valuation model) is determined based on the number of shares granted and the quoted price of the Company's common stock on the date of grant.
As of March 31, 2019, there was $76.7 million of unrecognized compensation expense related to the Company's grant of nonvested restricted shares and restricted stock units to employees. Unrecognized compensation expense related to nonvested restricted shares and restricted stock units granted to employees is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.55 years.
Restricted Shares and Restricted Stock Units Granted to Non-employee Board Members
There were no restricted stock units awarded during the three months ended March 31, 2019. As of March 31, 2019 there were 253,772 restricted stock units outstanding. There were no restricted stock units awarded during the three months ended March 31, 2018. As of December 31, 2018 there were 253,772 restricted stock units outstanding.

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Cowen Inc.
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

16. Income Taxes
The taxable results of the Company’s U.S. operations are included in the consolidated income tax returns of Cowen, Inc. as well as stand-alone state and local tax returns. The Company has subsidiaries that are resident in foreign countries where tax filings have to be submitted on a stand‑alone basis. These subsidiaries are subject to tax in their respective countries and the Company is responsible for and, thus, reports all taxes incurred by these subsidiaries. The countries where the Company owns subsidiaries that file tax returns are United Kingdom, Luxembourg, Gibraltar, Germany, Switzerland, Canada and Hong Kong.
The Company calculates its U.S. tax provision using the estimated annual effective tax rate methodology. The tax expense or benefit caused by an unusual or infrequent item is recorded in the quarter in which it occurs. To the extent that information is not available for the Company to fully determine the full year estimated impact of an item of income or tax adjustment, the Company calculates the tax impact of such item discretely. Accordingly, the Company uses the discrete methodology to calculate the income tax provision for its foreign subsidiaries and the tax impact of income attributable to redeemable non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries and funds. Based on these methodologies, the Company’s effective income tax rate was 20.95% and 19.82% for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. For the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, the unusual or infrequent items whose tax impact were recorded discretely related primarily to foreign taxes and stock compensation.
For the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, the effective tax rate differs from the statutory rate of 21% primarily due to income attributable to redeemable non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries and funds, stock compensation, foreign taxes, as well as other nondeductible expenses.
The Company recorded an uncertain tax position liability of $0.3 million as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 related to New York State tax matters.
The Company records deferred tax assets and liabilities for the future tax benefit or expense that will result from differences between the carrying value of its assets for income tax purposes and for financial reporting purposes, as well as for operating or capital loss and tax credit carryovers. A valuation allowance is recorded to bring the net deferred tax assets to a level that, in management's view, is more likely than not to be realized in the foreseeable future. This level will be estimated based on a number of factors, especially the amount of net deferred tax assets of the Company that are actually expected to be realized, for tax purposes, in the foreseeable future. As of March 31, 2019, the Company recorded a valuation allowance against deferred tax assets related to its foreign tax credits and foreign net operating losses.

The Company is subject to examination by the United States Internal Revenue Service as well as state, local and foreign tax authorities in jurisdictions where the Company has significant business operations, such as New York, United Kingdom, Luxembourg, Germany and Switzerland. Currently, the Company is under audit by New York State for the 2013 to 2017 tax years. Management is not expecting a material tax liability from these audits.
The Company continues to permanently reinvest the capital and accumulated earnings of its subsidiaries in the United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, Canada and Hong Kong.
17. Commitments and Contingencies
Operating Lease Obligations
The Company has entered into leases for real estate and other facilities. These leases contain rent escalation clauses and options to extend the lease term. The Company does not include renewal options in the lease term for calculating the Company’s lease liability as the renewal options allow the Company operational flexibility and the Company is not reasonably certain to exercise these renewal options at this time as such the company has not incorporated the effect of the renewal options into the determination of the lease term. The Company records the expenses related to occupancy and equipment on a straight-line basis over the lease term and are included in occupancy and equipment expense and client services and business development expense in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations.
For the three months ended March 31, 2019, quantitative information regarding the Company's operating lease obligations reflected in the accompanying condensed consolidated statement of operations were as follows:

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Table of Contents
Cowen Inc.
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2019
 
(dollars in thousands)
Lease Cost
 
Operating lease cost
$
6,010

Short-term lease cost
128

Variable lease cost
299

Sublease income
(267
)
Total lease costs
$
6,170


The following table summarizes the supplemental cash flow information and certain other information related to operating leases for the three months ended March 31, 2019:
 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2019
 
(dollars in thousands)
Other Information
 
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:
 
Operating cash flows from operating leases
$
7,793

 
 
Weighted average remaining lease term - operating leases (in Years)
5.73

Weighted average discount rate - operating leases
4.15
%
As of March 31, 2019, maturities of the outstanding operating lease liabilities for the Company were as follows:
 
Equipment Leases (operating)
 
Real Estate and Other Facility Rental (a) (b)
 
(dollars in thousands)
2019
$
770

 
$
16,967

2020
384

 
23,828

2021
144

 
23,270

2022
55

 
20,023

2023
29

 
16,950

Thereafter
5

 
23,552

Total Operating Leases
1,387

 
124,590

Less discount
365

 
14,950

Less short term leases

 
128

Less not yet commenced leases

 
2,165

Total Lease Liability
$
1,022

 
$
107,347

(a)
The Company has entered into various agreements to sublease certain of its premises.
(b)
The Company has entered into a new operating real estate lease that is expected to commence during the second quarter of 2019. The Company is currently planning improvements to the leased asset of which the lessor has granted a tenant allowance of $0.4 million. Payments on the lease asset do not begin until five months after the Company completes its leasehold improvements and begins occupying the space. The total rent payment commitments are $2.2 million, which are included in the table.
See Note 18 for further information on the finance lease minimum payments.
Prior to the adoption of the new lease accounting guidance, the minimum rental commitments under non-cancelable operating leases at December 31, 2018, were as follows:

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Table of Contents
Cowen Inc.
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

 
Equipment Leases (a)
 
Service Payments
 
Real Estate and other Facility Rental (b)
 
(dollars in thousands)
2019
$
2,434

 
$
21,758

 
$
24,584

2020
1,492

 
7,514

 
22,608

2021
1,382

 
1,877

 
22,321

2022
1,123

 
1,372

 
19,166

2023
374

 
735

 
16,204

Thereafter

 
735

 
21,478

 
$
6,805

 
$
33,991

 
$
126,361

(a)
Equipment Leases include the Company's commitments relating to operating and capital leases. See Note 18 for further information on the capital lease minimum payments which are included in the table.
(b)
The Company has entered into various agreements to sublease certain of its premises. The Company recorded sublease income related to these leases of $1.4 million, $1.1 million, and $2.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016 respectively.
Other Commitments
As of March 31, 2019, future minimum annual service payments for the Company were as follows:
 
 
Service Payments
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
2019
 
$
16,420

2020
 
9,082

2021
 
4,675

2022
 
5,031

2023
 
3,573

Thereafter
 
6,331

Total Operating Leases
 
$
45,112

Clawback Obligations
For financial reporting purposes, the general partners of a real estate fund have recorded a liability for potential clawback obligations to the limited partners, due to changes in the unrealized value of the real estate fund's remaining investments and where the real estate fund's general partner has previously received carried interest distributions. The clawback liability, however, is not realized until the end of the real estate fund's life. The real estate fund is currently in a winding-up phase whereby the remaining assets of the real estate fund are being liquidated as promptly as possible so as to maximize value. However a final date for liquidation has not been set. The clawback obligations for the real estate fund were $6.5 million and $6.5 million at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, which is included in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of financial condition.
The Company serves as the general partner/managing member and/or investment manager to various affiliated and sponsored investment funds. As such, the Company is contingently liable for obligations for those entities. These amounts are not included above as the Company believes that the assets in these investment funds are sufficient to discharge any liabilities.
Unfunded Commitments
The following table summarizes unfunded commitments as of March 31, 2019:

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Table of Contents
Cowen Inc.
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Entity
 
Unfunded Commitments
 
Commitment term
 
 
(dollars in millions)
 
 
Real estate (a)
 
$
24.3

 
(a)
HealthCare Royalty Partners funds (b)
 
5.9

 
2 years
Eclipse Ventures Fund I, L.P. (formerly Formation8 Partners Hardware Fund I, L.P.)
 
0.1

 
5 years
Lagunita Biosciences, LLC
 
1.0

 
3 years
Eclipse Fund II, L.P.
 
0.3

 
6 years
Eclipse Continuity Fund I, L.P.
 
0.3

 
7 years
Cowen Healthcare Investments II LP
 
6.9

 
2 years
(a) The Company had unfunded commitments pertaining to capital commitments in five real estate investments held by the Company, all of which pertain to related party investments. Such commitments can be called at any time between two to four years, subject to advance notice.
(b) The Company is a limited partner of the HealthCare Royalty Partners funds (which are managed by Healthcare Royalty Management) and is a member of HealthCare Royalty Partners General Partners. The Company will make its pro-rata investment in the HealthCare Royalty Partners funds along with the other limited partners.
Litigation
In the ordinary course of business, the Company and its affiliates, subsidiaries and current and former officers, directors and employees (the "Company and Related Parties") are named as defendants in, or as parties to, various legal actions and proceedings. Certain of these actions and proceedings assert claims or seek relief in connection with alleged violations of securities, banking, anti-fraud, anti-money laundering, employment and other statutory and common laws. Certain of these actual or threatened legal actions and proceedings include claims for substantial or indeterminate compensatory or punitive damages, or for injunctive relief.

In the ordinary course of business, the Company and Related Parties are also subject to governmental and regulatory examinations, information gathering requests (both formal and informal), certain of which may result in adverse judgments, settlements, fines, penalties, injunctions or other relief. Certain of our affiliates and subsidiaries are registered broker-dealers, futures commission merchants, investment advisers or other regulated entities and, in those capacities, are subject to regulation by various U.S., state and foreign securities, commodity futures and other regulators. In connection with formal and informal inquiries by these regulators, we receive requests, and orders seeking documents and other information in connection with various aspects of our regulated activities.

Due to the global scope of the Company's operations, and its presence in countries around the world, the Company and Related Parties may be subject to litigation, governmental and regulatory examinations, information gathering requests, investigations and proceedings (both formal and informal), in multiple jurisdictions with legal and regulatory regimes that may differ substantially, and present substantially different risks, from those to which the Company and Related Parties are subject in the United States.
The Company seeks to resolve all litigation and regulatory matters in the manner management believes is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders, and contests liability, allegations of wrongdoing and, where applicable, the amount of damages or scope of any penalties or other relief sought as appropriate in each pending matter.
In accordance with US GAAP, the Company establishes reserves for contingencies when the Company believes that it is probable that a loss has been incurred and the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated. The Company discloses a contingency if there is at least a reasonable possibility that a loss may have been incurred and there is no reserve for the loss because the conditions above are not met. The Company's disclosure includes an estimate of the reasonably possible loss or range of loss for those matters, for which an estimate can be made. Neither a reserve nor disclosure is required for losses that are deemed remote.     
The Company appropriately reserves for certain matters where, in the opinion of management, the likelihood of liability is probable and the extent of such liability is reasonably estimable. Such amounts are included within accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of financial condition. Estimates, by their nature, are based on judgment and currently available information and involve a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, the type and nature of the litigation, claim or proceeding, the progress of the matter, the advice of legal counsel, the Company's defenses and its experience in similar cases or proceedings as well as its assessment of matters, including settlements, involving

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Cowen Inc.
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

other defendants in similar or related cases or proceedings. The Company may increase or decrease its legal reserves in the future, on a matter-by-matter basis, to account for developments in such matters. The Company accrues legal fees as incurred.
The following information reflects developments with respect to the Company’s legal proceedings that occurred during the quarter ended March 31, 2019.
On December 27, 2013, Landol Fletcher filed a putative class action lawsuit against Convergex Holdings, LLC, Convergex Group, LLC, Cowen Execution, Convergex Global Markets Limited and G-Trade Services LLC (collectively, “Convergex”) in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (Landol Fletcher and all others similarly situated v. Convergex Group LLC, Cowen Execution, Convergex Global Markets Ltd., Convergex Holdings LLC, G-Trade Services LLC, & Does 1-10, No. 1:13-CV-09150-LLS). The suit alleges breaches of fiduciary duty and prohibited transactions under ERISA and seeks to maintain a class action on behalf of all ERISA plan participants, beneficiaries and named fiduciaries whose plans were impacted by net trading by Convergex Global Markets Limited from October 2006 to December 2011. On April 11, 2014, Landol Fletcher and Frederick P. Potter Jr., filed an amended complaint raising materially similar allegations. This matter was assumed by the Company as a result of the Company’s previously announced acquisition of Convergex Group, which was completed on June 1, 2017. On February 17, 2016, the District Court granted Convergex’s motion to dismiss the amended complaint. Plaintiffs filed an appeal to the Second Circuit, and the AARP and Department of Labor filed amicus briefs on plaintiffs' behalf. The appeal was argued on December 12, 2016. On February 10, 2017, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals (1) reversed the District Court, finding that plaintiff has constitutional standing in a “representative” capacity to sue for damages to the ERISA defined benefit plan in which he is a participant, and (2) remanded to the District Court to reconsider, in light of the Circuit Court’s decision, the issue whether plaintiff has standing to pursue claims on behalf of ERISA plans in which plaintiff is not a participant. Convergex filed a petition for rehearing, and the Court of Appeals denied the petition. On June 30, 2017, the Company filed a notice of motion and memorandum of law in support of a motion to stay the proceedings in the District Court pending resolution of its petition for writ of certiorari, which the Company intended to file with the U.S. Supreme Court. On August 16, 2017, the District Court granted the Company’s motion to stay the proceedings in the District Court pending resolution of the Company’s petition for writ of certiorari. On September 1, 2017, the Company filed a petition with the United States Supreme Court for a writ of certiorari requesting review of the decision of the Court of Appeals. On January 8, 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court denied the Company’s petition for a writ of certiorari. The previously granted stay of the proceedings in the District Court has been lifted, and the case is proceeding in the District Court. Status conferences were held on April 6, 2018, October 12, 2018, and December 4, 2018. On March 15, 2019, the Company filed a motion to dismiss the plaintiff’s amended complaint. We are indemnified against losses arising from this matter pursuant to, and subject to, the provisions of the purchase agreement relating to the acquisition of Convergex Group. Because the case is in its preliminary stages, the Company cannot predict the outcome at this time, but it does not currently expect this case to have a material effect on its financial position or its results of operations.
18. Convertible Debt and Notes Payable
As of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the Company's outstanding debt was as follows:
 
 
 
 
 
As of March 31, 2019
 
As of December 31, 2018
 
(dollars in thousands)
Convertible debt
$
115,099

 
$
134,489

Notes payable
229,863

 
229,740

Term loan
28,200

 
28,200

Other notes payable
1,579

 

Finance lease obligations
4,631

 
5,025

 
$
379,372

 
$
397,454

Convertible Debt
2022 Convertible Notes
The Company, on December 14, 2017, issued $135.0 million aggregate principal amount of 3.00% convertible senior notes due 2022 (the “2022 Convertible Notes”). The 2022 Convertible Notes are due on December 15, 2022 unless earlier repurchased by the Company or converted by the holder in accordance with their terms prior to such date. The interest on the 2022 Convertible Notes is payable semi-annually on December 15 and June 15 of each year. The 2022 Convertible Notes are senior unsecured obligations of Cowen. The 2022 Convertible Notes may be converted into cash or shares of Class A common stock at the Company's election based on the current conversion price. The 2022 Convertible Notes were issued with an initial conversion price of $17.375 per share of Cowen’s Class A common stock.

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Cowen Inc.
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

The Company used the net proceeds, together with cash on hand, from the offering for general corporate purposes, including the repurchase or repayment of $115.1 million of the Company’s outstanding 3.0% cash convertible senior notes due 2019 (the "2019 Convertible Notes") and the repurchase of approximately $19.5 million of the Company’s shares of its Class A common stock, which were consummated substantially concurrently with the closing of the offering. As of March 31, 2019, the outstanding principal amount of the 2022 Convertible Notes was $135.0 million. On June 26, 2018, the Company received shareholder approval for the Company to settle the 2022 Convertible Notes entirely in Class A common stock. Upon receiving shareholder approval, the Company reclassified the separately recognized conversion option from a derivative liability to equity.
The Company recorded interest expense of $1.0 million and $1.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The Company recognized the embedded cash conversion option at issuance date fair value, which also represents the initial unamortized discount on the 2022 Convertible Notes of $23.4 million and is shown net in convertible debt in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of financial condition. Amortization on the discount, included within interest and dividends expense in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations is $1.1 million and $1.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, based on an effective interest rate of 7.57%. The Company capitalized the debt issuance costs in the amount of $2.2 million, which is a direct deduction from the carrying value of the debt and will be amortized over the life of the 2022 Convertible Notes.
2019 Convertible Notes
On March 10, 2014, the Company issued $149.5 million of 3.0% cash convertible senior notes (the "2019 Convertible Notes"). The 2019 Convertible Notes matured on March 15, 2019 and were fully repaid by the Company. The Company recorded interest expense of $0.1 million and $0.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018. Amortization on the discount, included within interest and dividends expense in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations was $0.3 million and $0.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, based on an effective interest rate of 8.89%.
Notes Payable
2033 Notes
On June 11, 2018, the Company completed its public offering of $90.0 million of 7.75% senior notes due 2033 (the “2033 Notes”) and subsequently the underwriters exercised in full their option to purchase an additional $10.0 million principal amount of the 2033 Notes. Interest on the 2033 Notes is payable quarterly in arrears on March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15. The Company recorded interest expense of $1.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019. The Company capitalized debt issuance costs of approximately $3.6 million which is a direct deduction from the carrying value of the debt and will be amortized over the life of the 2033 Notes.
2027 Notes
On December 8, 2017, the Company completed its public offering of $120.0 million of 7.35% senior notes due 2027 (the “2027 Notes”) and subsequently the underwriters exercised in full their option to purchase an additional $18.0 million principal amount of the 2027 Notes. Interest on the 2027 Notes is payable quarterly in arrears on March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15. The Company recorded interest expense of $2.5 million and $2.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The Company capitalized debt issuance costs of approximately $5.0 million which is a direct deduction from the carrying value of the debt and will be amortized over the life of the 2027 Notes. The net proceeds of the offering, after deducting the underwriting discount and estimated offering expenses payable by the Company were used to redeem all of its 8.25% senior notes due 2021 (the "2021 Notes") and for general corporate purposes.
Term Loan
On June 30, 2017, the Company borrowed $28.2 million to fund general corporate purposes. This term loan has an effective interest rate of LIBOR plus 3.75% with a lump sum payment of the entire principal amount due on June 28, 2019. The loan is secured by the value of the Company's limited partnership interests in two affiliated investment funds. The Company has provided a guarantee for this loan. The Company recorded interest expense of $0.4 million and $0.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
Other Notes Payable
During January 2019, the Company borrowed $2.2 million to fund insurance premium payments. This note had an effective interest rate of 2.51% and was due on December 31, 2019, with monthly payment requirements of $0.2 million. As of

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Table of Contents
Cowen Inc.
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

March 31, 2019, the outstanding balance on this note was $1.6 million. Interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2019 was insignificant.
Finance Lease Obligations
The Company has entered into various finance leases for computer equipment. The Company's finance lease right-of-use asset amounted to $6.0 million and is recorded in fixed assets in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of financial condition. These finance lease obligations are included in notes payable and other debt in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of financial condition, and have a weighted average lease term of 3.9 years and weighted average interest rate of 4.93% as of March 31, 2019.
As of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the remaining balance on these finance leases was $4.6 million and $5.0 million, respectively.
For the three months ended March 31, 2019, quantitative information regarding the Company's finance lease obligations reflected in the accompanying condensed consolidated statement of operations, the supplemental cash flow information and certain other information related to finance leases were as follows:
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2019
 
2018
 
(dollars in thousands)
Lease Cost
 
 
 
Finance Lease Cost:
 
 
 
    Amortization of finance lease right-of-use assets
$
368

 
$
352

    Interest on lease liabilities
63

 
43

Other Information
 
 
 
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:
 
 
 
    Operating cash flows from finance leases
63

 
43

    Financing cash flows from finance leases
$
394

 
$
506

Annual scheduled maturities of debt and minimum payments (of principal and interest) for all debt outstanding as of March 31, 2019, are as follows:
 
Convertible Debt
 
Notes Payable
 
Term loan
 
Other Notes Payable
 
Finance Lease
Obligation
 
(dollars in thousands)
2019
$
4,050

 
$
13,420

 
$
28,508

 
$
2,171

 
$
896

2020
4,050

 
17,893

 

 

 
1,360

2021
4,050

 
17,893

 

 

 
1,360

2022
139,050

 
17,893

 

 

 
1,127

2023

 
17,893

 

 

 
374

Thereafter

 
352,197

 

 

 

Subtotal
151,200

 
437,189

 
28,508

 
2,171

 
5,117

Less (a)
(36,101
)
 
(207,326
)
 
(308
)
 
(592
)
 
(486
)
Total
$
115,099

 
$
229,863

 
$
28,200

 
$
1,579

 
$
4,631

(a)
Amount necessary to reduce net minimum payments to present value calculated at the Company's implicit rate at inception. This amount also includes capitalized debt costs and the unamortized discount on the convertible debt.
Letters of Credit
As of March 31, 2019, the Company has the following seven irrevocable letters of credit, related to leased office space, for which there is cash collateral pledged, which the Company pays a fee on the stated amount of the letter of credit. The Company also has pledged collateral for reinsurance agreements which amounted to $1.2 million, as of March 31, 2019, and $1.0 million, as of December 31, 2018, which is anticipated to be due March 2021.

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Table of Contents
Cowen Inc.
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Location
 
Amount
 
Maturity
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
 
 
Boston
 
$
389

 
March 2020
New York
 
$
358

 
April 2020
New York
 
$
71

 
October 2019
New York
 
$
397

 
October 2019
New York
 
$
1,687

 
October 2019
New York
 
$
1,611

 
November 2019
San Francisco
 
$
708

 
October 2025
To the extent any letter of credit is drawn upon, interest will be assessed at the prime commercial lending rate. As of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, there were no amounts due related to these letters of credit.
19. Stockholder's Equity
Preferred Stock and Purchase of Capped Call Option
On May 19, 2015, the Company completed its offering of 120,750 shares of the Company's 5.625% Series A cumulative perpetual convertible preferred stock ("Series A Convertible Preferred Stock") that provided $117.2 million of proceeds, net of underwriting fees and issuance costs of $3.6 million. Each share of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock is entitled to dividends at a rate of 5.625% per annum which will be payable, when and if declared by the board of directors of the Company, quarterly, in arrears, on February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15 of each year. The Company may, at its option, pay dividends in cash, common stock or a combination thereof. The Company declared and accrued a cash dividend of $1.7 million and $1.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
Each share of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock is non-voting and has a liquidity preference over the Company's Class A common stock and ranks senior to all classes or series of the Company's Class A common stock, but junior to all of the Company's existing and future indebtedness with respect to divided rights and rights upon the Company's involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding down.
Each share of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock is convertible, at the option of the holder, into a number of shares of our Class A common stock equal to the liquidation preference of $1,000 divided by the conversion rate. The initial conversion rate (subsequent to the December 5, 2016 reverse stock split) is 38.0619 shares (which equates to $26.27 per share) of the Company's Class A common stock for each share of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock. At any time on or after May 20, 2020, the Company may elect to convert all outstanding shares of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock into shares of the Company’s Class A common stock, cash or a combination thereof, at the Company’s election, in each case, based on the then-applicable conversion rate, if the last reported sale price of the Company’s Class A common stock equals or exceeds 150% of the then-current conversion price on at least 20 trading days (whether or not consecutive) during the period of 30 consecutive trading days (including on the last trading day of such period) immediately prior to such election. At the time of conversion, the conversion rate may be adjusted based on certain events including but not limited to the issuance of cash dividends or Class A common stock as dividends to the Company's Class A common shareholders or a share split or combination.
In connection with the issuance and sale of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, the Company entered into a capped call option transaction (the “Capped Call Option Transaction”) with Nomura Global Financial Products Inc. (the “option counterparty”) for $15.9 million. The Capped Call Option Transaction is expected generally to reduce the potential dilution to the Company’s Class A common stock (if the Company elects to convert to common shares) and/or offset any cash payments that the Company is required to make upon conversion of any Series A Convertible Preferred Stock. The Capped Call Option Transaction has an initial effective strike price of $26.27 per share, which matches the initial conversion price of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, and a cap price of $33.54 per share. However, to the extent that the market price of Class A common stock, as measured under the terms of the Capped Call Option Transaction, exceeds the cap price thereof, there would nevertheless be dilution and/or such cash payments would not be offset. As the Capped Call Option Transaction is a free standing derivative that is indexed to the Company's own stock price and the Company controls if it is settled in cash or stock it qualifies for equity classification as a reduction to additional paid in capital.
Treasury Stock
Treasury stock of $243.5 million as of March 31, 2019, compared to $234.1 million as of December 31, 2018, resulted from $4.7 million acquired through repurchases of shares to cover employee minimum tax withholding obligations related to stock compensation vesting events under the Company's Equity Plans or other similar transactions, $0.1 million received from an escrow account established to satisfy the Company’s indemnification claims arising under the terms of the purchase

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Cowen Inc.
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

agreement entered into in connection with the Company’s acquisition of Convergex Group, LLC and $4.7 million purchased in connection with a share repurchase program.
The following represents the activity relating to the treasury stock held by the Company during the three months ended March 31, 2019:
 
Treasury stock shares
 
Cost
(dollars in thousands)
 
Average cost per share
Balance outstanding at December 31, 2018
15,336,871

 
$
234,142

 
$
15.27

Shares purchased for minimum tax withholding under the Equity Plans or other similar transactions
323,227

 
4,671

 
14.45

Shares of stock received in respect of indemnification claims
3,331

 
48

 
14.41

Purchase of treasury stock
315,400

 
4,658

 
14.77

Balance outstanding at March 31, 2019
15,978,829

 
$
243,519

 
$
15.24

20. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Accumulated other comprehensive income includes the after tax change in unrealized gains and losses on foreign currency translation adjustments. During the periods presented, the Company did not have material reclassifications out of other comprehensive income.
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2019
 
2018
 
(dollars in thousands)
Beginning Balance
$
(5
)
 
$
(8
)
Foreign currency translation

 
1

Ending Balance
$
(5
)
 
$
(7
)
21. Earnings Per Share
The Company calculates its basic and diluted earnings per share in accordance with US GAAP. Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing net income attributable to the Company's common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. As of March 31, 2019, there were 29,580,687 shares of Class A common stock outstanding. As of March 31, 2019, the Company has included 253,772 fully vested, unissued restricted stock units in its calculation of basic earnings per share. As of December 31, 2018, there were 28,437,860 shares of Class A common stock outstanding. As of December 31, 2018, the Company has included 253,772 fully vested, unissued restricted stock units in its calculation of basic earnings per share.
Diluted earnings per common share are calculated by adjusting the weighted average outstanding shares to assume conversion of all potentially dilutive items. The Company uses the treasury stock method to reflect the potential dilutive effect of the warrants (see Note 6(a)), unvested restricted shares, restricted stock units, and SAR's. In calculating the number of dilutive shares outstanding, the shares of common stock underlying unvested restricted shares and restricted stock units are assumed to have been delivered, and options and warrants are assumed to have been exercised, for the entire period being presented. The number of performance-linked unvested restricted stock units that are included in the calculation are at the amount that could be earned using current payout rates. The assumed proceeds from the assumed vesting, delivery and exercising were calculated as the amount of compensation cost attributed to future services and not yet recognized.
The Company can elect to settle the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock in shares, cash, or a combination of both. The Company's intent is to settle in cash and, based on current and projected liquidity needs, the Company has the ability to do so.

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Cowen Inc.
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

The computation of earnings per share is as follows:
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2019
 
2018
 
(dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)
Net income (loss)
$
11,989

 
$
28,009

Net income (loss) attributable to redeemable non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries and investment funds
2,206

 
11,156

Net income (loss) attributable to Cowen Inc.
9,783

 
16,853

Preferred stock dividends
1,698

 
1,698

Net income (loss) attributable to Cowen Inc. common stockholders
$
8,085

 
$
15,155

 
 
 
 
Shares for basic and diluted calculations:
 
 
 
Weighted average shares used in basic computation
29,750

 
29,625

Restricted stock
1,875

 
867

Weighted average shares used in diluted computation
31,625

 
30,492

Earnings (loss) per share:
 
 
 
Basic
$
0.27

 
$
0.51

Diluted
$
0.26

 
$
0.50

22. Segment Reporting
The Company conducts its operations through two segments: the investment management segment and the investment bank segment. These activities are conducted primarily in the United States and substantially all of its revenues are generated domestically. The performance measure for these segments is Economic Income (Loss), which management uses to evaluate the financial performance of and make operating decisions for the segments including determining appropriate compensation levels. Expenses not directly associated with specific segments are allocated based on the most relevant measures applicable, including headcount, square footage and other factors.
In general, Economic Income (Loss) (which is attributable to Cowen Inc.) is a pre-tax measure that (i) eliminates the impact of consolidation for Consolidated Funds and excludes (ii) goodwill and intangible impairment (iii) certain other transaction-related adjustments and/or reorganization expenses (iv) certain costs associated with debt and (v) preferred stock dividends. Economic Operating Income (Loss) represents Economic Income (Loss) before depreciation and amortization expenses. In addition, Economic Income (Loss) revenues include investment income that represents the income the Company has earned in investing its own capital, including realized and unrealized gains and losses, interest and dividends, net of associated investment related expenses. For US GAAP purposes, these items are included in each of their respective line items. Economic Income (Loss) revenues also include management fees, incentive income and investment income earned through the Company's investment as a general partner in certain real estate entities and the Company's investment in the activist business and certain investment funds. For US GAAP purposes, all of these items, are recorded in other income (loss). Economic Income (Loss) recognizes (a) incentive fees during periods when the fees are not yet crystallized for US GAAP reporting and (b) retainer fees, relating to investment banking activities, earned during the period that would otherwise be deferred until closing for US GAAP reporting. In addition, Economic Income (Loss) expenses are reduced by reimbursement from affiliates, which for US GAAP purposes is presented gross as part of revenue.
As further stated below, one major difference between Economic Income (Loss) and US GAAP net income (loss) is that Economic Income (Loss) presents the segments' results of operations without the impact resulting from the full consolidation of any of the Consolidated Funds. The consolidation of these investment funds' results include the pro rata share of the income or loss attributable to other owners of such entities which is reflected in net income (loss) attributable to redeemable non-controlling interest in consolidated subsidiaries in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations. This pro rata share has no effect on the overall financial performance for the investment management segment, as ultimately, this income or loss is not income or loss for the investment management segment itself. Included in Economic Income (Loss) is the actual pro rata share of the income or loss attributable to the Company as an investor in such entities, which is relevant in management making operating decisions and evaluating financial performance.
The following tables set forth operating results for the Company's investment management and investment bank segments and related adjustments necessary to reconcile the Company's Economic Income (Loss) measure to arrive at the Company's consolidated US GAAP net income (loss):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Cowen Inc.
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2019
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Adjustments
 
 
 
 
 
Investment
Management
 
Investment Bank
 
Total Economic Income (Loss)
 
Funds
Consolidation
 
Other
Adjustments
 
 
 
US GAAP Net Income (Loss)
 
(dollars in thousands)
Revenues
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investment banking
$

 
$
82,991

 
$
82,991

 
$

 
$
(2,885
)
 
(a)
 
$
80,106

Brokerage

 
105,157

 
105,157

 

 
(7,694
)
 
(b)
 
97,463

Management fees
9,633

 
798

 
10,431

 
(501
)
 
(2,789
)
 
(c)
 
7,141

Incentive income (loss)
16,747

 

 
16,747

 
(544
)
 
(16,188
)
 
(c)(a)
 
15

Investment income (loss)
7,029

 
9,955

 
16,984

 

 
(16,984
)
 
(d)(e)
 

Interest and dividends

 

 

 

 
29,092

 
(d)
 
29,092

Reimbursement from affiliates

 

 

 
(34
)
 
322

 
(f)
 
288

Aircraft lease revenue

 

 

 

 

 
(e)
 

Reinsurance premiums

 

 

 

 
6,591

 
(g)
 
6,591

Other revenue
439

 
720

 
1,159

 

 
(98
)
 
(g)
 
1,061

Consolidated Funds revenues

 

 

 
2,340

 

 
 
 
2,340

Total revenues
33,848

 
199,621

 
233,469

 
1,261

 
(10,633
)
 
 
 
224,097

Interest expense (Economic Income/(Loss)) / Interest and dividend expense (US GAAP)
2,806

 
3,758

 
6,564

 

 
22,520

 
(d)
 
29,084

Total net revenues
31,042

 
195,863

 
226,905

 
1,261

 
(33,153
)
 
 
 
195,013

Expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non interest expense
22,023

 
185,162

 
207,185

 

 
12,122

 
(d)(h)(i)
 
219,307

Consolidated Funds expenses

 

 

 
1,482

 

 
 
 
1,482

Total expenses
22,023

 
185,162

 
207,185

 
1,482

 
12,122

 
 
 
220,789

Total other income (loss)

 

 

 
621

 
40,321

 
(d)(k)(j)
 
40,942

Income taxes expense / (benefit)

 

 

 

 
3,177

 
(h)
 
3,177

Income (loss) attributable to redeemable non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries and investment funds
2,748

 

 
2,748

 
400

 
(942
)
 
 
 
2,206

Income (Loss) attributable to Cowen Inc.
$
6,271

 
$
10,701

 
$
16,972

 
$

 
$
(7,189
)
 
 
 
$
9,783

Less: Preferred stock dividends
 
 
 
 
1,698

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1,698

Income (Loss) attributable to Cowen Inc. common stockholders


 


 
15,274

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
8,085

Add back: Depreciation and amortization expense
 
 
 
 
4,956

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Economic Operating Income (Loss) attributable to Cowen Inc. common stockholders


 


 
$
20,230

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


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Cowen Inc.
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Adjustments
 
 
 
 
 
Investment
Management
 
Investment Bank
 
Total Economic Income (Loss)
 
Funds
Consolidation
 
Other
Adjustments
 
 
 
US GAAP Net Income (Loss)
 
(dollars in thousands)
Revenues
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investment banking
$

 
$
93,924

 
$
93,924

 
$

 
$
4,064

 
(a)
 
$
97,988

Brokerage

 
114,071

 
114,071

 

 
(8,338
)
 
(b)
 
105,733

Management fees
12,355

 
771

 
13,126

 
(1,203
)
 
(4,506
)
 
(c)
 
7,417

Incentive income (loss)
5,197

 

 
5,197

 
(9
)
 
(5,172
)
 
(a) (c)
 
16

Investment income (loss)
11,896

 
2,405

 
14,301

 

 
(14,301
)
 
(d)(e)
 

Interest and dividends

 

 

 

 
25,954

 
(d)
 
25,954

Reimbursement from affiliates

 

 

 
(68
)
 
445

 
(f)
 
377

Aircraft lease revenue

 

 

 

 
715

 
(e)
 
715

Reinsurance premiums

 

 

 

 
8,647

 
(g)
 
8,647

Other revenue
361

 
527

 
888

 

 
448

 
(g)
 
1,336

Consolidated Funds revenues

 

 

 
3,201

 

 
 
 
3,201

Total revenues
29,809

 
211,698

 
241,507

 
1,921

 
7,956

 
 
 
251,384

Interest expense (Economic Income/(Loss)) / Interest and dividend expense (US GAAP)
3,854

 
2,104

 
5,958

 

 
18,582

 
(d)
 
24,540

Total net revenues
25,955

 
209,594

 
235,549

 
1,921

 
(10,626
)
 
 
 
226,844

Expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non interest expense
22,881

 
186,452

 
209,333

 

 
13,982

 
(d)(h)(i)
 
223,315

Consolidated Funds expenses

 

 

 
2,431

 

 
 
 
2,431

Total expenses
22,881

 
186,452

 
209,333

 
2,431

 
13,982

 
 
 
225,746

Total other income (loss)

 

 

 
10,047

 
23,787

 
(d)(j)(k)
 
33,834

Income taxes expense / (benefit)

 

 

 

 
6,923

 
(h)
 
6,923

Income (loss) attributable to redeemable non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries and investment funds
2,158

 

 
2,158

 
9,537

 
(539
)
 
 
 
11,156

Income (Loss) attributable to Cowen Inc.
$
916

 
$
23,142

 
$
24,058

 
$

 
$
(7,205
)
 
 
 
$
16,853

Less: Preferred stock dividends
 
 
 
 
1,698

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1,698

Income (Loss) attributable to Cowen Inc. common stockholders
 
 
 
 
22,360

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
15,155

Add back: Depreciation and amortization expense
 
 
 
 
2,986

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Economic Operating Income (Loss) attributable to Cowen Inc. common stockholders
 
 
 
 
$
25,346

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The following is a summary of the adjustments made to US GAAP net income (loss) for the segment to arrive at
Economic Income (Loss):
Funds Consolidation: The impacts of consolidation and the related elimination entries of the Consolidated Funds are not included in Economic Income (Loss). Adjustments to reconcile to US GAAP net income (loss) included elimination of incentive income and management fees earned from the Consolidated Funds and addition of investment fund expenses excluding management fees paid, investment fund revenues and investment income (loss).
Other Adjustments:
(a)     Economic Income (Loss) presents underwriting expenses net of investment banking revenues, expenses reimbursed

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Cowen Inc.
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

from clients within their respective expense category and records income from uncrystallized incentive fees. Economic Income (Loss) also records retainer fees, relating to investment banking activities, collectible during the period that would otherwise be deferred until closing for US GAAP reporting.
(b)    Economic Income (Loss) brokerage revenues included net securities borrowed and securities loaned activities.
(c)     Economic Income (Loss) recognizes revenues (i) net of distribution fees paid to agents and (ii) our proportionate share
of management and incentive fees of certain real estate operating entities, the healthcare royalty business and the activist business.
(d)     Economic Income (Loss) recognizes Company income from proprietary trading (including interest and dividends).
(e)     Aircraft lease revenue is shown net of expenses in investment income for Economic Income (Loss).
(f)     Reimbursement from affiliates is shown as a reduction of Economic Income expenses, but is included as a part of
revenues under US GAAP.
(g)     Economic Income (Loss) recognizes underwriting income from the Company's insurance related activities, net of
expenses, within other revenue.
(h)    Economic Income (Loss) excludes income taxes and acquisition related adjustments as management does not consider
these items when evaluating the performance of the segment.
(i)     Economic Income (Loss) recognizes the Company's proportionate share of expenses, for certain real estate
operating entities and the activist business, for which the investments are recorded under the equity method of accounting for investments.
(j)     Economic Income (Loss) excludes gain/(loss) on debt extinguishment.
(k)    Economic Income (Loss) excludes the bargain purchase gain which resulted from the Convergex Group acquisition.
For the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, there was no one investment fund or other customer which represented more than 10% of the Company's total revenues.
23. Regulatory Requirements
As registered broker-dealers, Cowen and Company, Cowen Execution, ATM Execution, Cowen Prime and Westminster are subject to the SEC's Uniform Net Capital Rule 15c3-1 (“SEC Rule 15c3-1”), which requires the maintenance of minimum net capital. Each registered broker-dealer has elected to compute net capital under the alternative method permitted by the Rule. Under the alternative method, Cowen and Company's minimum net capital requirement, as defined in (a)(4) of the Rule, is $1.0 million. Cowen Execution, ATM Execution, Cowen Prime and Westminster are required to maintain minimum net capital, as defined in (a)(1)(ii) of the Rule, equal to the greater of $250,000 or 2% of aggregate debits arising from customer transactions. Cowen Securities, a registered broker-dealer, is required to maintain minimum net capital, as defined in (a)(2)(vi) of the Rule, equal to or greater than $5,000 and had less than $0.1 million excess net capital at March 31, 2019. Advances to affiliates, repayment of borrowings, distributions, dividend payments and other equity withdrawals are subject to certain notification and other requirements of the Rule and other regulatory bodies.
On February 7, 2019, FINRA approved the transfer of all of Cowen Securities’ business and personnel to Cowen and Company. Cowen Securities subsequently filed a Form BDW, pursuant to Section 15(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, with FINRA to withdraw its status as a broker-dealer given that it will no longer conduct a securities business, and the application was pending at March 31, 2019.
Cowen Prime is also subject to Commodity Futures Trading Commission Regulation 1.17 (“Regulation 1.17”). Regulation 1.17 requires net capital equal to or in excess of $45,000 or the amount of net capital required by SEC Rule 15c3-1, whichever is greater. Cowen Execution is also subject to Options Clearing Corporation ("OCC") Rule 302. OCC Rule 302 requires maintenance of net capital equal to the greater of $2,000,000 or 2% of aggregate debit items. At March 31, 2019, Cowen Execution had $114.8 million of net capital in excess of this minimum requirement.

Cowen International Ltd and Cowen Execution Ltd are subject to the capital requirements of the FCA, as defined, must exceed the minimum capital requirement set forth by the FCA. Effective June 1, 2018, the FCA approved Ramius UK’s application to cancel all of its FCA authorization permissions. Accordingly, Ramius UK is no longer an FCA regulated and authorized firm. Ramius UK sought the cancellation. Effective December 20, 2018, Cowen Execution Ltd was formally approved to trade in a principal capacity conditional upon the completion, and communication to the Wholesale Supervision, of the implementation of its order management system.

As of March 31, 2019, these regulated broker-dealers had regulatory net capital or financial resources, regulatory net capital requirements or minimum FCA requirement and excess as follows:

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Cowen Inc.
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Subsidiary
 
Net Capital
 
Minimum Net Capital Requirement
 
Excess Net Capital
 
 
(dollars in millions)
Cowen and Company
 

$101.5

 

$1.0

 

$100.5

Cowen Execution
 

$116.8

 

$2.0

 

$114.8

ATM Execution
 

$3.2

 

$0.3

 

$2.9

Cowen Prime
 

$8.4

 

$0.3

 

$8.1

Westminster
 

$19.4

 

$0.3

 

$19.1

Cowen International Ltd
 

$14.9

 

$9.9

 

$5.0

Cowen Execution Ltd
 

$5.0

 

$3.2

 

$1.8

The Company’s U.S. broker-dealers must also comply with SEC Rule 15c3-3 or claim an exemption pursuant to subparagraphs (k)(2)(i) or (k)(2)(ii) of that rule. Firms can rely on more than one exemption. Cowen and Company, Cowen Prime and ATM Execution claim the (k)(2)(ii) exemption with regards to some or all of their customer accounts and transactions that are introduced on a fully-disclosed basis to their clearing agents for clearing, settlement and custody. Cowen and Company, Cowen Prime and Westminster claim the (k)(2)(i) exemption with regards to customer transactions and balances that are cleared, settled and custodied in Special Bank Accounts.
In accordance with the requirements of SEC Rule 15c3-3, Cowen Execution may be required to deposit in a Special Reserve Account cash or acceptable qualified securities for the exclusive benefit of customers. As of March 31, 2019, Cowen Execution had segregated approximately $15.1 million of cash, while its required deposit was $3.0 million.
As a clearing broker-dealer, Cowen Execution is required to compute a reserve requirement for proprietary accounts of broker-dealers (“PAB accounts”), as defined in SEC Rule 15c3-3. Cowen Execution conducts PAB reserve computations in order to determine the amount it is required to deposit in its PAB Reserve Bank Accounts pursuant to SEC Rule 15c3-3. This allows each correspondent firm that uses Cowen Execution as its clearing broker-dealer to classify its PAB account assets held at Cowen Execution as allowable assets in the correspondent's net capital calculation. At March 31, 2019, Cowen Execution had $25.6 million of cash on deposit in PAB Reserve Bank Accounts, which was more than its required deposit of $16.3 million.
Cowen and Company, ATM Execution, Cowen Prime and Cowen Execution also maintain certain assets in PAB accounts held at their respective clearing brokers. Each treats its assets held in those PAB accounts at the respective clearing brokers as allowable assets for net capital purposes.
Cowen’s Luxembourg reinsurance companies, Vianden RCG Re SCA and Hollenfels, individually and their Luxembourg parent holding company, Ramius Enterprise Luxembourg Holdco S.à r.l., on a combined basis with the reinsurance companies, are required to maintain a solvency capital ratio as calculated by relevant European Commission directives and local regulatory rules in Luxembourg. Each reinsurance company’s individual solvency capital ratio as well as the combined solvency capital ratio of the holding and reinsurance companies as of March 31, 2019 were in excess of this minimum requirement.
Based on minimum capital and surplus requirements pursuant to the laws of the state of New York that apply to captive insurance companies, RCG Insurance Company, Cowen’s captive insurance company incorporated and licensed in the state of New York, was required to maintain capital and surplus of approximately $0.3 million as of March 31, 2019. RCG Insurance Company’s capital and surplus as of March 31, 2019 totaled approximately $32.1 million.
24. Related Party Transactions
The Company and its affiliated entities are the managing member, general partner and/or investment manager to the Company's investment funds and certain managed accounts. Management fees and incentive income are primarily earned from affiliated entities. As of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, $20.0 million and $19.4 million, respectively, included in fees receivable are earned from related parties. The Company may, at its discretion, reimburse certain fees charged to the investment funds that it manages to avoid duplication of fees when such funds have an underlying investment in another affiliated investment fund. For the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, the amounts which the Company reimbursed the investment funds it manages were immaterial. Fees receivable and fees payable are recorded at carrying value, which approximates fair value.
The Company may also make loans to employees or other affiliates, excluding executive officers of the Company. These loans are interest bearing and settle pursuant to the agreed-upon terms with such employees or affiliates, and are included in due from related parties in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of financial condition. As of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, loans to employees of $14.5 million and $17.0 million, respectively, were included in due from related

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Cowen Inc.
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

parties on the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of financial condition. Of these amounts $7.9 million and $8.8 million, respectively, are related to forgivable loans. These forgivable loans provide for a cash payment up-front to employees, with the amount due back to the Company forgiven over a vesting period.  An employee that voluntarily ceases employment, or is terminated with cause, is generally required to pay back to the Company any unvested forgivable loans granted to them.  The forgivable loans are recorded as an asset to the Company on the date of grant and payment, and then amortized to compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the vesting period.  The vesting period on forgivable loans is generally one to three years. The Company recorded compensation expense of $0.9 million and $0.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, and 2018, respectively. This expense is included in employee compensation and benefits in the accompanying condensed consolidated statement of operations. For the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, the interest income was immaterial for these related party loans and advances, respectively, and are included in interest and dividends in the accompanying condensed consolidated statement of operations.
As of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, included in due from related parties is $6.7 million and $7.7 million, respectively, related to the sales of portions of the Company's ownership interest in the activist business of Starboard Value to the Starboard principals. It is being financed through the profits of the relevant Starboard entities over a 5 year period and earns interest at 5% per annum.  The interest income for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, was $0.1 million and $0.1 million, respectively.
The remaining balance included in due from related parties of $7.5 million and $8.9 million as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively, relates to amounts due to the Company from affiliated investment funds and real estate entities due to expenses paid on their behalf. Included in due to related parties is approximately $0.6 million and $0.6 million March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively, related to a subordination agreement with an investor in certain real estate funds. This total is based on a hypothetical liquidation of the real estate funds as of the balance sheet date.
Employees and certain other related parties invest on a discretionary basis within consolidated entities. These investments generally are subject to preferential management fee and performance fee arrangements. As of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, such investments aggregated $27.3 million and $25.1 million, respectively, were included in redeemable non-controlling interests on the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of financial condition. Their share of the net income (loss) attributable to redeemable non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries and investment funds aggregated $1.5 million and $2.9 million, for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
The Company may, at times, have unfunded commitment amounts pertaining to related parties. See Note 17 "Commitments and Contingencies" for amounts committed as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018.
25. Guarantees and Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
Guarantees
US GAAP requires the Company to disclose information about its obligations under certain guarantee arrangements. Those standards define guarantees as contracts and indemnification agreements that contingently require a guarantor to make payments to the guaranteed party based on changes in an underlying security (such as an interest or foreign exchange rate, security or commodity price, an index or the occurrence or nonoccurrence of a specified event) related to an asset, liability or equity security of a guaranteed party. Those standards also define guarantees as contracts that contingently require the guarantor to make payments to the guaranteed party based on another entity's failure to perform under an agreement as well as indirect guarantees of the indebtedness of others.
In the normal course of its operations, the Company enters into contracts that contain a variety of representations and warranties which provide general indemnifications. The Company's maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Company that have not yet occurred. However, based on experience, the Company expects the risk of loss to be remote.
The Company indemnifies and guarantees certain service providers, such as clearing and custody agents, trustees and administrators, against specified potential losses in connection with their acting as an agent of, or providing services to, the Company or its affiliates. The Company also indemnifies some clients against potential losses incurred in the event specified third-party service providers, including sub-custodians and third-party brokers, improperly execute transactions. The maximum potential amount of future payments that the Company could be required to make under these indemnifications cannot be estimated. However, the Company believes that it is unlikely it will have to make significant payments under these arrangements and has not recorded any contingent liability in the condensed consolidated financial statements for these indemnifications.

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Cowen Inc.
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

The Company also provides representations and warranties to counterparties in connection with a variety of commercial transactions and occasionally indemnifies them against potential losses caused by the breach of those representations and warranties. The Company may also provide standard indemnifications to some counterparties to protect them in the event additional taxes are owed or payments are withheld, due either to a change in or adverse application of certain tax laws. These indemnifications generally are standard contractual terms and are entered into in the normal course of business. The maximum potential amount of future payments that the Company could be required to make under these indemnifications cannot be estimated. However, the Company believes it is unlikely it will have to make material payments under these arrangements and has not recorded any contingent liability in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements for these indemnifications.
The Company may maintain cash and cash equivalents at financial institutions in excess of federally insured limits. The Company has not experienced any material losses in such accounts and does not believe it is exposed to significant credit risks in relation to such accounts.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
The Company has no material off-balance sheet arrangements, which have not been disclosed, as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018. Through indemnification provisions in clearing agreements with clients, customer activities may expose the Company to off-balance-sheet credit risk. Pursuant to the clearing agreement, the Company is required to reimburse the Company's clearing broker, without limit, for any losses incurred due to a counterparty's failure to satisfy its contractual obligations. However, these transactions are collateralized by the underlying security, thereby reducing the associated risk to changes in the market value of the security through the settlement date.
The Company’s customer securities activities are transacted on a delivery versus payment, cash or margin basis. In delivery versus payment transactions, the Company is exposed to risk of loss in the event of the customers’ or brokers’ inability to meet the terms of their contracts.
In margin transactions, the Company extends credit to clients collateralized by cash and securities in their account. In the event the customers or brokers fail to satisfy their obligations, the Company may be required to purchase or sell securities at prevailing market prices in order to fulfill the obligations.
The Company’s exposure to credit risk can be directly impacted by volatile securities markets, which may impair the ability of counterparties to satisfy their contractual obligations. The Company seeks to control its credit risk through a variety of reporting and control procedures, including establishing credit limits based upon a review of the customers’ financial condition and credit ratings. The Company seeks to control the risk associated with its customer margin transactions by requiring customers to maintain margin collateral in compliance with various regulatory and internal guidelines. The Company also monitors required margin levels daily and, pursuant to its guidelines, requires customers to deposit additional collateral, or reduce positions, when necessary.
In addition, during the normal course of business, the Company has exposure to a number of risks including market risk, currency risk, credit risk, operational risk, liquidity risk and legal risk. As part of the Company's risk management process, these risks are monitored on a regular basis throughout the course of the year.
The Company enters into secured and unsecured borrowing agreements to obtain funding necessary to cover daily securities settlements with clearing corporations. At times, funding is required for unsettled customer delivery versus payment and riskless principal transactions, as well as to meet deposit requirements with clearing organizations. Secured arrangements are collateralized by the securities. The Company maintains uncommitted financing arrangements with large financial institutions, the details of which are summarized below as of March 31, 2019.

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Cowen Inc.
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Lender
 
Contractual Amount
 
Available Amount
 
Maturity Date
 
Description
Pledge Lines
 
(dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
 
Texas Capital Bank
 
$
75,000

 
$
75,000

 
None
 
Secured Depository Trust Company Pledge Line
BMO Harris Bank
 
75,000

 
75,000

 
None
 
Secured Tri-Party Pledge Facility
BMO Harris Bank
 
150,000

 
150,000

 
None
 
Secured Depository Trust Company Pledge Line
       Total
 
300,000

 
300,000

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revolving Credit Facility
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
BMO Harris Bank
Canadian Imperial Bank
of Commerce
Texas Capital Bank
 
70,000

 
70,000

 
August 23, 2019
 
(Syndicated) Unsecured liquidity facility to cover increases in National Securities Clearing Corporation margin deposit requirements
Total Credit Lines
 
$
370,000

 
$
370,000

 
 
 
 
26. Subsequent Events
On April 23, 2019, the Company's Board of Directors approved a $19.7 million increase in the Company's share repurchase program (see Note 19) bringing the total remaining shares available for repurchase to $25.0 million.
On April 25, 2019, the Company entered into a private placement of $45.0 million aggregate principal of 7.25% senior unsecured notes due May 6, 2024 with semi-annual interest payments in arrears on May 6 and November 6 of each year.
The Company has evaluated events that have occurred after the balance sheet date but before the financial statements are issued and has determined that there were no other subsequent events requiring adjustment or disclosure in the condensed consolidated financial statements.





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Item 2.    Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
         The discussion contains forward-looking statements, which involve numerous risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those described in the section titled “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of our 2018 Annual Report on Form 10-K. This Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations should be read in conjunction with the condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes of Cowen Inc. included elsewhere in this quarterly report. Actual results may differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements.
Overview
Cowen Inc., a Delaware corporation formed in 2009, is a diversified financial services firm and, together with its consolidated subsidiaries (collectively, "Cowen" or the "Company"), provides investment management, investment banking, research, sales and trading, prime brokerage, global clearing and commission management services through its two business segments: the investment management segment and the investment bank segment. The investment management segment includes advisers to investment funds (including privately placed hedge funds, real estate funds, and private equity structures), managed accounts, registered funds and a significant portion of the Company’s proprietary capital. The investment bank segment offers industry focused investment banking for growth-oriented companies including advisory and global capital markets origination and domain knowledge-driven research, sales and trading platform for institutional investors, global clearing and commission management services and also a comprehensive suite of prime brokerage services.
The Company's investment management business, which operates primarily under the Cowen Investment Management name, offers innovative investment products and solutions across the liquidity spectrum to institutional and private clients. The predecessor to this business was founded in 1994 and, through one of its subsidiaries, has been registered with the SEC as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the "Advisers Act") since 1997. The Company's investment management business offers investors access to a number of strategies to meet their specific needs including multi-sector long/short equity, merger arbitrage, activism, health care royalties, private healthcare investing, private sustainable investing, and real estate. The Company's investment management business focuses on attracting and retaining talented investment teams and providing seed capital and working capital, an institutional infrastructure, robust sales and marketing and industry knowledge. A significant portion of the Company’s capital is invested alongside the Company's investment management clients. The Company has also invested some of its capital in its reinsurance businesses. Our investment management business had approximately $11.7 billion of assets under management as of April 1, 2019.
Our investment bank businesses include investment banking, research, sales and trading, prime brokerage, global clearing and commission management services to companies and primarily institutional investor clients. Our primary target sectors ("Target Sectors") are healthcare, technology, media and telecommunications, information and technology services, consumer, aerospace and defense, industrials, energy and transportation. We provide research and brokerage services to over 5,000 domestic and international clients seeking to trade securities and other financial instruments, principally in our target sectors. The investment bank business also offers a full-service suite of introduced prime brokerage services targeting emerging private fund managers. Historically, we have focused our investment banking efforts on small to mid-capitalization public companies as well as private companies. From time to time, the Company invests in private capital raising transactions of its investment banking clients.
Potential Change to Business Segments
The Company continually monitors and reviews its segment reporting structure in accordance with authoritative guidance to determine whether any changes have occurred that would impact its reportable segments.  As a result of the recent change in the Chief Operating Decision Maker of the Company, the Company is experiencing a strategic shift to refocus the Company’s investment management businesses on a set of differentiated products which are aligned to the content and insight within the Company’s domain of expertise. As a result, the Company has reassessed the two business segments based on the Company's core operating business as well as passive equity investments and legacy alternative investment funds. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of these changes on the presentation of economic information that is used to assess the performance of the Company’s operating results and make decisions about resource allocations based on the two potentially redefined segments which will impact the Company’s determination of operating segments as early as the second quarter of 2019.

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Certain Factors Impacting Our Business
Our investment management business and results of operations are impacted by the following factors:
Investment performance.  Our revenues from incentive income are linked to the performance of the investment funds and accounts that we manage. Performance also affects assets under management because it influences investors' decisions to invest assets in, or withdraw assets from, the investment funds and accounts managed by us.
Fee and allocation rates.  Our management fee revenues are linked to the management fee rates we charge as a percentage of contributed and invested capital. Our incentive income revenues are linked to the incentive allocation rates we charge as a percentage of performance-driven asset growth. Our incentive allocations are generally subject to “high-water marks,” whereby incentive income is generally earned by us only to the extent that the net asset value of an investment fund at the end of a measurement period exceeds the highest net asset value as of the end of the earlier measurement period for which we earned incentive income. Our incentive allocations, in some cases, are subject to performance hurdles. Additionally, our revenues from management fees are directly linked to assets under management. Positive performance in our legacy funds increases assets under management which results in higher management fees.
Investment performance of our own capital.  We invest our own capital and the performance of such invested capital affects our revenues.
Our investment bank business and results of operations are impacted by the following factors:
Underwriting, private placement and strategic/financial advisory fees.  Our revenues from investment banking are directly linked to the underwriting fees we earn in equity and debt securities offerings in which the Company acts as an underwriter, private placement fees earned in non-underwritten transactions, sales commissions earned in at-the-market offerings and success fees earned in connection with advising both buyers and sellers, principally in mergers and acquisitions. As a result, the future performance of our investment banking business will depend on, among other things, our ability to secure lead manager and co-manager roles in clients' capital raising transactions as well as our ability to secure mandates as a client's strategic financial advisor.
Commissions.  Our commission revenues depend for the most part on our customer trading volumes and on the notional value of the non-U.S. securities traded by our customers.
Principal transactions. Principal transactions revenue includes net trading gains and losses from the Company's market-making activities and net trading gains and losses on inventory and other Company positions. Commissions associated with these transactions are also included herein. In certain cases, the Company provides liquidity to clients buying or selling blocks of shares of listed stocks without previously identifying the other side of the trade at execution, which subjects the Company to market risk.
Equity and credit research fees.  Equity and credit research fees are paid to the Company for providing equity and credit research. The Company also permits institutional customers to allocate a portion of their commissions to pay for research products and other services provided by third parties. Our ability to generate revenues relating to our equity and credit research depends on the quality of our research and its relevance to our institutional customers and other clients.
Investment performance of our own capital.  Investment income in the investment bank business includes gains and losses generated by the capital the Company invests in private capital raising transactions of its investment banking clients.  Our revenues from investment income are linked to the performance of the underlying investments.
Liquidity.  As a clearing broker-dealer in the U.S., we are subject to cash deposit requirements with clearing organizations, brokers and banks that may be large in relation to our total liquid assets.
External Factors Impacting Our Business
Our financial performance is highly dependent on the environment in which our businesses operate. We believe a favorable business environment is characterized by many factors, including a stable geopolitical climate, transparent financial markets, low inflation, low interest rates, low unemployment, strong business profitability and high business and investor confidence. Unfavorable or uncertain economic or market conditions can be caused by declines in economic growth, business activity or investor or business confidence, limitations on the availability (or increases in the cost of) credit and capital, increases in inflation or interest rates, exchange rate volatility, unfavorable global asset allocation trends, outbreaks of hostilities or other geopolitical instability, corporate, political or other scandals that reduce investor confidence in the capital markets, or a combination of these or other factors. Our businesses and profitability have been and may continue to be adversely affected by market conditions in many ways, including the following:

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Our investment bank business has been, and may continue to be, adversely affected by market conditions. Increased competition continues to affect our investment banking and capital markets businesses. The same factors also affect trading volumes in secondary financial markets, which affect our brokerage business. Commission rates, market volatility, increased competition from larger financial firms and other factors also affect our brokerage revenues and may cause these revenues to vary from period to period.
Our investment bank business focuses primarily on small to mid-capitalization and private companies in specific industry sectors. These sectors may experience growth or downturns independent of general economic and market conditions, or may face market conditions that are disproportionately better or worse than those impacting the economy and markets generally. In addition, increased government regulation has had, and may continue to have, a disproportionate effect on capital formation by smaller companies. Therefore, our investment bank business could be affected differently than overall market trends.
Our investment management business can be adversely affected by unanticipated levels of requested redemptions. We experienced significant levels of requested redemptions during the 2008 financial crisis and, while the environment for investing in investment management products has since improved, it is possible that we could intermittently experience redemptions above historical levels, regardless of investment fund performance.
Our businesses, by their nature, do not produce predictable earnings. Our results in any period can be materially affected by conditions in global financial markets and economic conditions generally. We are also subject to various legal and regulatory actions that impact our business and financial results.
Recent Developments
On January 2, 2019, the Company, together with its indirect wholly owned subsidiaries, Cowen International Ltd and Cowen QN Acquisition LLC, completed its previously announced acquisition of Quarton International AG through the acquisition of all of the outstanding equity interest of Quarton International AG’s affiliated combining companies, Quarton Management AG, Quarton International Europe AG, Quarton Partners, LLC and Quarton Securities GP, LLC (which owns a U.S. Securities Exchange Commission ("SEC") registered broker-dealer that was subsequently renamed to Cowen Securities LP), comprising the U.S. and European operations of the acquired combining companies (collectively "Quarton"). Quarton is a group of leading global financial advisory companies serving the middle market.
On April 25, 2019, the Company entered into a private placement of $45.0 million aggregate principal of 7.25% senior unsecured notes due May 6, 2024 with semi-annual interest payments in arrears on May 6 and November 6 of each year.
Basis of presentation
The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company in this Form 10-Q are prepared in accordance with US GAAP as promulgated by the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") through Accounting Standards Codification (the "Accounting Standards") as the source of authoritative accounting principles in the preparation of financial statements and include the accounts of the Company, its subsidiaries, and entities in which the Company has a controlling financial interest or a substantive, controlling general partner interest. All material intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. Certain fund entities that are consolidated in the condensed consolidated financial statements, are not subject to these consolidation provisions with respect to their own investments pursuant to their specialized accounting.
The Company serves as the managing member/general partner and/or investment manager to affiliated fund entities which it sponsors and manages. Certain of these funds in which the Company has a substantive, controlling general partner interest are consolidated with the Company pursuant to US GAAP as described below (the “Consolidated Funds”). Consequently, the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements reflect the assets, liabilities, income and expenses of these funds on a gross basis. The ownership interests in these funds which are not owned by the Company are reflected as redeemable non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries in the condensed consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere in this Form 10-Q. The management fees and incentive income earned by the Company from these funds are eliminated in consolidation.
Expenses
The Company's expenses consist of compensation and benefits, reinsurance costs, general, administrative and other, and Consolidated Funds expenses.
Compensation and Benefits.  Compensation and benefits is comprised of salaries, benefits, discretionary cash bonuses and equity-based compensation. Annual incentive compensation is variable, and the amount paid is generally based on a combination of employees' performance, their contribution to their business segment, and the Company's performance. Generally, compensation and benefits comprise a significant portion of total expenses, with annual incentive compensation comprising a significant portion of total compensation and benefits expenses.

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Reinsurance claims, commissions and amortization of deferred acquisition costs. Reinsurance related expenses reflect loss and claim reserves, acquisition costs and other expenses incurred with respect to our insurance and reinsurance operations.
General, Administrative and Other.  General, administrative and other expenses are primarily related to professional services, occupancy and equipment, business development expenses, communications, expenses associated with our reinsurance business and other miscellaneous expenses. These expenses may also include certain one-time charges and non-cash expenses.
Consolidated Funds Expenses.  The Company's condensed consolidated financial statements reflect the expenses of the Consolidated Funds and the portion attributable to other investors is allocated to a redeemable non-controlling interest.
Income Taxes
The taxable results of the Company’s U.S. operations are subject to U.S. federal, state and city taxation as a corporation. The Company is also subject to foreign taxation on income it generates in certain countries.
The Company records deferred tax assets and liabilities for the future tax benefit or expense that will result from differences between the carrying value of its assets for income tax purposes and for financial reporting purposes, as well as for operating or capital loss and tax credit carryovers. A valuation allowance is recorded to bring the net deferred tax assets to a level that, in management’s view, is more likely than not to be realized in the foreseeable future. This level will be estimated based on a number of factors, especially the amount of net deferred tax assets of the Company that are actually expected to be realized, for tax purposes, in the foreseeable future. Deferred tax liabilities that cannot be realized in a similar future time period and thus that cannot offset the Company’s deferred tax assets are not taken into account when calculating the Company’s net deferred tax assets.
The Company continues to monitor the financial statement impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“TCJA”) enacted in 2017 as regulations and formal guidance continue to be issued.
Redeemable Non-controlling Interests
Redeemable non-controlling interests represent the pro rata share of the income or loss of the non-wholly owned consolidated entities attributable to the other owners of such entities. Due to the fact that the non-controlling interests are redeemable at the option of the holder they have been classified as temporary equity.
Investment Fund Performance
For the quarter ended March 31, 2019, the Company's public equity investment strategies had generally positive results during a quarter with significant positive returns for both the Russell 2000 and the S&P 500. The Company's private fund investment capabilities are all in their investment periods. The Company's activist strategy had strong performance for the quarter, underperforming the Russell 2000 Index modestly, which was up approximately 14.57% for the quarter. The Company's merger arbitrage strategy had positive returns for the quarter, outperforming the HFRX Merger Arbitrage Index, which had negative results for the quarter. The merger arbitrage focused UCITS fund also had strong performance. The Company's healthcare royalty strategy’s third investment fund remains in its investment period. Ongoing opportunities in the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors remain robust and the investment fund was 88% committed at quarter end. Our most recent private healthcare fund remains in its investment period, ending the quarter with eleven holdings and a pipeline of opportunities ahead. Our real estate affiliate's third private-equity style real estate fund and its sixth debt fund are both in their investment periods. The liquidation of certain multi-strategy hedge funds advised by the Company also continues.
As of April 1, 2019, the Company had assets under management of $11.7 billion, a 12.5% increase as compared to assets under management of $10.4 billion as of January 1, 2018.
The Company's Invested Capital
The Company invests a significant portion of its capital base to help drive results and facilitate the growth of its investment management and investment bank businesses. Management allocates capital to three primary investment categories: (i) trading strategies; (ii) merchant banking investments; and (iii) real estate investments. The Company seeks to make strategic and opportunistic investments in varying capital structures across a diverse array of businesses, private investment funds and registered funds. Much of the Company's trading strategy portfolio is invested alongside the Company's investment management clients and includes liquid investment strategies such as merger arbitrage, activist and multi-sector long/short equity. Within its merchant banking investments, management generally takes a long-term view that typically involves investing directly in public and private companies globally, private equity funds and alongside its investment management clients. In addition, from time to time the Company makes investments in private capital raising transactions of its investment

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banking clients. The Company's real estate investment strategy focuses on making investments alongside the investment management clients invested in the real estate funds managed by RCG Longview, as well as in direct investments in commercial real estate projects.
As of March 31, 2019, the Company's invested capital amounted to a net value of $634.8 million (supporting a long market value of $657.2 million), representing approximately 78% of Cowen's stockholders' equity presented in accordance with US GAAP. The table below presents the Company's invested equity capital by strategy and as a percentage of Cowen's stockholders' equity as of March 31, 2019. The net values presented in the table below do not tie to Cowen's condensed consolidated statement of financial condition as of March 31, 2019 because they are included in various line items of the accompanying condensed consolidated statement of financial condition, including “securities owned, at fair value”, “other investments”, “cash and cash equivalents”, and “consolidated funds-securities owned, at fair value”.
Strategy
Net Value
 
% of Stockholders' Equity
 
(dollars in millions)
 
 
Trading
$
490.9

 
60%
Merchant Banking
123.4

 
15%
Real Estate
20.5

 
3%
Total
634.8

 
78%
Stockholders' Equity
$
814.8

 
100%
The allocations shown in the table above will change over time.
Results of Operations
To provide comparative information of the Company's operating results for the periods presented, a discussion of Economic Income (Loss) (which is a non-GAAP measure) of our investment management and investment bank segments follows the discussion of our total consolidated US GAAP results. Economic Income (Loss) reflects, on a consistent basis for all periods presented in the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements, income earned from the Company's investment funds and managed accounts and from its own invested capital. Economic Income (Loss) excludes certain adjustments required under US GAAP. See the section titled “Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of the Company-Segment Analysis and Economic Income (Loss),” and Note 22 to the accompanying Company's condensed consolidated financial statements, appearing elsewhere in this Form 10-Q, for a reconciliation of Economic Income (Loss) to total Company US GAAP net income (loss).

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Three Months Ended March 31, 2019 Compared with Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
 
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
Period to Period
 
2019
 
2018
 
$ Change
 
% Change
 
(dollars in thousands)
Revenues
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investment banking
$
80,106

 
$
97,988

 
$
(17,882
)
 
(18
)%
Brokerage
97,463

 
105,733

 
(8,270
)
 
(8
)%
Management fees
7,141

 
7,417

 
(276
)
 
(4
)%
Incentive income
15

 
16

 
(1
)
 
(6
)%
Interest and dividends
29,092

 
25,954

 
3,138

 
12
 %
Reimbursement from affiliates
288

 
377

 
(89
)
 
(24
)%
Aircraft lease revenue

 
715

 
(715
)
 
(100
)%
Reinsurance premiums
6,591

 
8,647

 
(2,056
)
 
(24
)%
Other revenues
1,061

 
1,336

 
(275
)
 
(21
)%
Consolidated Funds revenues
2,340

 
3,201

 
(861
)
 
(27
)%
Total revenues
224,097

 
251,384

 
(27,287
)
 
(11
)%
Interest and dividends expense
29,084

 
24,540

 
4,544

 
19
 %
Total net revenues
195,013

 
226,844

 
(31,831
)
 
(14
)%
Expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Employee compensation and benefits
130,188

 
135,140

 
(4,952
)
 
(4
)%
Reinsurance claims, commissions and amortization of deferred acquisition costs
6,162

 
8,731

 
(2,569
)
 
(29
)%
Operating, general, administrative and other expenses
78,001

 
76,219

 
1,782

 
2
 %
Depreciation and amortization expense
4,956

 
3,225

 
1,731

 
54
 %
Consolidated Funds expenses
1,482

 
2,431

 
(949
)
 
(39
)%
Total expenses
220,789

 
225,746

 
(4,957
)
 
(2
)%
Other income (loss)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net gains (losses) on securities, derivatives and other investments
39,084

 
15,969

 
23,115

 
145
 %
Consolidated Funds net gains (losses)
1,858

 
17,865

 
(16,007
)
 
(90
)%
Total other income (loss)
40,942

 
33,834

 
7,108

 
21
 %
Income (loss) before income taxes
15,166

 
34,932

 
(19,766
)
 
(57
)%
Income tax expense (benefit)
3,177

 
6,923

 
(3,746
)
 
(54
)%
Net income (loss)
11,989

 
28,009

 
(16,020
)
 
(57
)%
Net income (loss) attributable to redeemable non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries and investment funds
2,206

 
11,156

 
(8,950
)
 
(80
)%
Net income (loss) attributable to Cowen Inc.
9,783

 
16,853

 
(7,070
)
 
(42
)%
Preferred stock dividends
1,698

 
1,698

 

 
 %
Net income (loss) attributable to Cowen Inc. common stockholders
$
8,085

 
$
15,155

 
$
(7,070
)
 
(47
)%
Revenues
Investment Banking
Investment banking revenues decreased $17.9 million to $80.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared with $98.0 million in the prior year period. During the three months ended March 31, 2019, the Company completed 30 capital markets transactions and nine strategic advisory transactions. During the three months ended March 31, 2018, the Company completed 36 underwriting transactions, five strategic advisory transactions and one debt capital market transaction. The implied average underwriting fee per transaction was 13.3% lower for the three months ended March 31, 2019 as compared to the prior year period.
Brokerage
Brokerage revenues decreased $8.3 million to $97.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared with $105.7 million in the prior year period. This was attributable to decreases in cash equity commissions, prime services revenue, commission management revenue, and non-US commissions. Customer trading volumes across the industry (according to Bloomberg) decreased 1% for the quarter ended March 31, 2019 compared to the prior year period.

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Management Fees
Management fees decreased $0.3 million to $7.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared with $7.4 million in the prior year period. This decrease in management fees was primarily related to a decrease in management fees from our activist and real estate businesses.
Incentive Income
Incentive income remained fairly flat at less than $0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, compared with the prior year period. Revenue recognition standards, effective January 1, 2018, requires the Company to recognize the majority of incentive income allocated to the Company as net gains (losses) on securities, derivatives and other investments or as incentive income when the fees are no longer subject to reversal or are crystalized.
Interest and Dividends
Interest and dividends increased $3.1 million to $29.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared with $26.0 million in the prior year period. This is primarily attributable to securities financing activities.
Reimbursements from Affiliates
Reimbursements from affiliates decreased $0.1 million to $0.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared with $0.4 million in the prior year period. The decrease is primarily related to a decrease in reimbursements from the activist business.
Reinsurance Premiums
Reinsurance premiums decreased $2.1 million to $6.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared with $8.6 million in the prior year period. The decrease is due to the cancellation or non-renewal of certain reinsurance policies in 2019 that were in force in 2018.
Other Revenues
Other revenues decreased $0.3 million to $1.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared with $1.3 million in the prior year period. This decrease is primarily related to a decrease in sublease income.
Consolidated Funds Revenues
Consolidated Funds revenues decreased $0.9 million to $2.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared with $3.2 million in the prior year period. The decrease is due to earning less interest and dividends income from the Consolidated Funds.
Interest and Dividends Expenses
Interest and dividends expenses increased $4.5 million to $29.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared with $24.5 million in the prior year period. This is primarily attributable to securities finance activities.
Expenses
Employee Compensation and Benefits
Employee compensation and benefits expenses decreased $5.0 million to $130.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared with $135.1 million in the prior year period. The decrease is primarily due to $27.3 million lower total revenues offset partially by $7.1 million higher other income (loss) during 2019 as compared to 2018 resulting in a lower compensation and benefits accrual. The compensation to revenue ratio, including other income (loss), was 49% for the three months ended March 31, 2019, compared with 47% in the prior year period.
Reinsurance Claims, Commissions and Amortization of Deferred Acquisition Costs
Reinsurance related expenses decreased $2.6 million to $6.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared with $8.7 million in the prior year period. This decrease is due to fewer policies in force in 2019 compared to 2018 and better claims experience on existing policies during the first quarter of 2019 compared to the same period in 2018.
Operating, General, Administrative and Other Expenses
Operating, general, administrative and other expenses increased $1.8 million to $78.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared with $76.2 million in the prior year period. The increase is primarily related to increased marketing and business development expenses and professional fees offset partially by decreased brokerage and trade execution costs, due to lower brokerage revenue.

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Depreciation and Amortization Expenses
Depreciation and amortization expenses increased $1.7 million to $5.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared with $3.2 million in the prior year period. The increase in amortization expense primarily related to intangibles acquired through the Quarton acquisition in January of 2019.
Consolidated Funds Expenses
Consolidated Funds expenses decreased $0.9 million to $1.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared with $2.4 million in the prior year period. The decrease is due to decreased interest and dividends expense in the Consolidated Funds.
Other Income (Loss)
Other income (loss) increased $7.1 million to $40.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared with $33.8 million in the prior year period. The increase primarily relates to an increase in performance in the Company's own invested capital. The gains and losses shown under Consolidated Funds reflect the consolidated total performance for such investment funds, and the portion of those gains or losses that are attributable to other investors is allocated to redeemable non-controlling interests.
Income Taxes
Income tax expense decreased $3.7 million to $3.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared with an income tax expense of $6.9 million in the prior year period. This decrease is primarily attributable to the change in the Company’s income before income taxes for the respective periods.
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Redeemable Non-controlling Interests
Net income (loss) attributable to redeemable non-controlling interests decreased $9.0 million to $2.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared with $11.2 million in the prior year period. The decrease was primarily the result of a decrease in income earned by the Consolidated Funds in the current year period. Non-controlling interests represent the pro rata share of the income or loss of the non-wholly owned consolidated entities attributable to the other owners of such entities.
Preferred Stock Dividends
On May 19, 2015, the Company completed its offering of 120,750 shares of the Company's 5.625% Series A cumulative perpetual convertible preferred stock. Each share of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock is entitled to dividends at a rate of 5.625% per annum. The Company may, at its option, pay dividends in cash, common stock or a combination thereof.
Segment Analysis and Economic Income (Loss)
Segments
The Company conducts its operations through two segments: the investment management segment and the investment bank segment.
For the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company's investment management business includes advisers to investment funds (including privately placed hedge funds, real estate funds and private equity structures), managed accounts, commodity pools, and registered funds operating results and other investment platforms operating results.
For the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company's investment bank segment includes investment banking, research, sales and trading, prime brokerage, global clearing and commission management services businesses' operating results.
Economic Income (Loss)
The performance measure used by the Company for each segment is Economic Income (Loss), which management uses to evaluate the financial performance of and to make operating decisions for the Company as a whole and each segment. Accordingly, management assesses its business by analyzing the performance of each segment and believes that investors should review the same performance measure that it uses to analyze its segment and business performance. In addition, management believes that Economic Income (Loss) is helpful to gain an understanding of its segment results of operations because it reflects such results on a consistent basis for all periods presented.
Our Economic Income (Loss) may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies. We use Economic Income (Loss) as a measure of each segment's operating performance, not as a measure of liquidity. Economic Income (Loss) should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for operating income, net income, operating cash flows, investing and financing activities, or other income or cash flow statement data prepared in accordance with US GAAP. As a result of the adjustments made to arrive at Economic Income (Loss), Economic Income (Loss) has limitations in that it does not

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take into account certain items included or excluded under US GAAP, including our Consolidated Funds. Economic Income (Loss) is considered by management as a supplemental measure to the US GAAP results to provide a more complete understanding of each segment's performance as measured by management. For a reconciliation of Economic Income (Loss) to US GAAP net income (loss) for the periods presented and additional information regarding the reconciling adjustments discussed above, see Note 22 to the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Form 10-Q.
In general, Economic Income (Loss) (which is attributable to Cowen Inc.) is a pre-tax measure that (i) eliminates the impact of consolidation for Consolidated Funds and excludes (ii) goodwill and intangible impairment (iii) certain other transaction-related adjustments and/or reorganization expenses (iv) certain costs associated with debt and (v) preferred stock dividends. Economic Operating Income (Loss) represents Economic Income (Loss) before depreciation and amortization expenses. In addition, Economic Income (Loss) revenues include investment income that represents the income the Company has earned in investing its own capital, including realized and unrealized gains and losses, interest and dividends, net of associated investment related expenses. For US GAAP purposes, these items are included in each of their respective line items. Economic Income (Loss) revenues also include management fees, incentive income and investment income earned through the Company's investment as a general partner in certain real estate entities and the Company's investment in the activist business and certain investment funds. For US GAAP purposes, all of these items, are recorded in other income (loss). Economic Income (Loss) recognizes (a) incentive fees during periods when the fees are not yet crystallized for US GAAP reporting and (b) retainer fees, relating to investment banking activities, earned during the period that would otherwise be deferred until closing for US GAAP reporting. In addition, Economic Income (Loss) expenses are reduced by reimbursement from affiliates, which for US GAAP purposes is presented gross as part of revenue.
In this Form 10-K, preferred stock dividends has been included as a charge to Economic Income (Loss). The Company believes that this presentation provides a better comparison to the Company's GAAP operating results and earnings per share calculations. The change to Economic Income (Loss) has been applied consistently to prior periods presented.
Economic Income (Loss) Revenues
The Company's principal sources of Economic Income (Loss) revenues are derived from activities in two business segments.
Our investment management business generates Economic Income (Loss) revenues through three principal sources: management fees, incentive income and investment income from our own capital. The primary drivers of management fees are committed an invested capital relating to private equity funds. Incentive income is impacted by our investment funds' performance and resulting increase or decrease in assets under management. Investment income from the Company's own capital is impacted by the performance of the investment funds and other securities in which our capital is invested.
Our investment bank segment generates Economic Income (Loss) revenues through two principal sources: investment banking and brokerage. The Company earns investment banking revenue primarily from fees associated with public and private capital raising transactions and providing strategic advisory services. Investment banking revenues are derived primarily from public and private small- and mid-capitalization companies within the Company's Target Sectors: healthcare, technology, media and telecommunications, information and technology services, consumer, aerospace and defense, industrials, energy and transportation. The Company's brokerage revenues consist of commissions, principal transactions and fees paid for equity and credit research, trade conversion and commissions generated from prime brokerage services. Management reviews brokerage revenue on a combined basis as the vast majority of the revenue is derived from the same group of clients. The Company derives its brokerage revenue primarily from trading equity and equity-linked securities on behalf of institutional investors. The majority of the Company's trading gains and losses are a result of activities that support the facilitation of client orders in both listed and over-the-counter securities, although all trading gains and losses are recorded in brokerage revenue in the accompanying condensed consolidated statement of operations.
Economic Income (Loss) Expenses
The Company's Economic Income (Loss) expenses consist of non-interest expenses and interest expense. Non-interest expenses consist of compensation and benefits and non-compensation expenses (fixed and variable), and depreciation and amortization less reimbursement from affiliates.
Non-controlling Interests
Non-controlling interests represent the pro rata share of the income or loss of the non-wholly owned consolidated entities attributable to the partners of such entities.

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Three Months Ended March 31, 2019 Compared with Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
Total
Period-to-Period
 
2019
 
2018
 
 
Investment
Management
 
Investment Bank
 
Total
 
Investment
Management
 
Investment Bank
 
Total
 
$ Change
 
% Change
 
(dollars in thousands)
Economic Income Revenues
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investment banking
$

 
$
82,991

 
$
82,991

 
$

 
$
93,924

 
$
93,924

 
$
(10,933
)
 
(12
)%
Brokerage

 
105,157

 
105,157

 

 
114,071

 
114,071

 
(8,914
)
 
(8
)%
Management fees
9,633

 
798

 
10,431

 
12,355

 
771

 
13,126

 
(2,695
)
 
(21
)%
Incentive income (loss)
16,747

 

 
16,747

 
5,197

 

 
5,197

 
11,550

 
222
 %
Investment income (loss)
7,029

 
9,955

 
16,984

 
11,896

 
2,405

 
14,301

 
2,683

 
19
 %
Other income (loss)
439

 
720

 
1,159

 
361

 
527

 
888

 
271

 
31
 %
Total economic income revenues
33,848

 
199,621

 
233,469

 
29,809

 
211,698

 
241,507

 
(8,038
)
 
(3
)%
Interest expense
2,806

 
3,758

 
6,564

 
3,854

 
2,104

 
5,958

 
606

 
10
 %
Total net revenues
$
31,042

 
$
195,863

 
$
226,905

 
$
25,955

 
$
209,594

 
$
235,549

 
$
(8,644
)
 
(4
)%
Economic Income (Loss)
Total Economic Operating Income (Loss) (which is Economic Income (Loss) before depreciation and amortization) was $20.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, a decrease of $(5.1) million compared to Economic Operating Income (Loss) of $25.3 million in the prior year period. Total Economic Income (Loss) was $17.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, a decrease of $7.1 million compared to Economic Income (Loss) of $24.1 million in the prior year period.
Total Economic Income (Loss) revenues were $233.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, a decrease of $8.0 million compared to Economic Income (Loss) revenues of $241.5 million in the prior year period. This was primarily related to a decrease in investment banking and brokerage activity.
Investment Management Segment Revenues
Investment Management Segment Economic Income (Loss) revenues were $33.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, an increase of $4.0 million compared to Economic Income (Loss) revenues of $29.8 million in the prior year period.
Management Fees.    Management fees for the segment decreased $2.7 million to $9.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared with $12.4 million in the prior year period. This decrease in management fees was primarily related to a decrease in management fees from our activist and real estate businesses.
Incentive Income (Loss).    Incentive income for the segment increased $11.6 million to $16.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared with $5.2 million in the prior year period. This increase was related to an increase in performance fees from the activist business offset partially by a decrease in performance fees from the merger arbitrage business.
Investment Income (Loss).    Investment income for the segment decreased $4.9 million to $7.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared with $11.9 million in the prior year period. The decrease primarily relates to a decrease in performance of the Company's own invested capital.
Other Income (Loss).    Other income (loss) for the segment remained fairly flat at $0.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared with income of $0.4 million in the prior year period.
Investment Bank Segment Revenues
Investment bank segment Economic Income (Loss) revenues were $199.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, a decrease of $12.1 million compared with Economic Income (Loss) revenues of $211.7 million in the prior year.
Investment Banking.    Investment banking revenues decreased $10.9 million to $83.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared with $93.9 million in the prior year period. During the three months ended March 31, 2019, the Company completed 30 capital markets transactions and nine strategic advisory transactions. During the three months ended March 31, 2018, the Company completed 36 underwriting transactions, five strategic advisory transactions and one debt capital

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market transaction. The implied average underwriting fee per transaction was 13.3% lower for the three months ended March 31, 2019 as compared to the prior year period.
Brokerage.    Brokerage revenues decreased $8.9 million to $105.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, compared with $114.1 million in the prior year period. This was attributable to decreases in cash equity commissions, prime services revenue, commission management revenue, and non-US commissions. Customer trading volumes across the industry (according to Bloomberg) decreased 1% for the quarter ended March 31, 2019 compared to the prior year period.
Investment Income (Loss).    Investment income for the segment increased $7.6 million to $10.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, compared with $2.4 million in the prior year period. The increase primarily relates to an increase in performance of the Company's own invested capital.
Other Income (Loss).    Other income (loss) for the segment increased $0.2 million to $0.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, compared with $0.5 million in the prior year period.
Interest expense
Interest expense increased $0.6 million to $6.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared with $6.0 million in the prior year period. Interest expense primarily relates to debt issued. The increase is primarily related to new debt issued in June of 2018.
Non-Interest Expenses
Non-interest expenses.    Total non-interest expenses decreased $2.1 million to $207.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, compared with $209.3 million in the prior year period.
Compensation and benefits expenses. Compensation and benefits expenses, included within non-interest expenses, decreased $4.5 million to $129.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared with $134.1 million in the prior year period. The decrease is due to $8.0 million lower revenues during 2019 as compared to 2018 which resulted in a lower compensation and benefits accrual. The compensation to revenue ratio was 56% for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared with 56% in the prior year period.
Non-compensation Expenses—Fixed.    Fixed non-compensation expenses, included within non-interest expenses, increased $0.5 million to $35.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared with $34.7 million in the prior year period. The increase is primarily related to increased professional, advisory and other fees.
The following table shows the components of the non-compensation expenses—fixed, for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018:
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
Period-to-Period
 
2019
 
2018
 
$ Change
 
% Change
 
(dollars in thousands)
Non-compensation expenses—fixed:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Communications
$
7,702


$
7,548

 
$
154

 
2
 %
Professional, advisory and other fees
6,771

 
5,753

 
1,018

 
18
 %
Occupancy and equipment
9,578

 
9,481

 
97

 
1
 %
Service fees
5,654

 
5,166

 
488

 
9
 %
Expenses from equity investments
2,108

 
2,876

 
(768
)
 
(27
)%
Other
3,392

 
3,852

 
(460
)
 
(12
)%
Total
$
35,205

 
$
34,676

 
$
529

 
2
 %
Depreciation and amortization expenses.  Depreciation and amortization expenses increased to $5.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared with $3.0 million in the prior year period. The increase in amortization expense primarily related to intangibles acquired through the Quarton acquisition in January of 2019.
Non-compensation Expenses—Variable.    Variable non-compensation expenses, included within non-interest expenses, which primarily are comprised of expenses that are incurred as a direct result of the processing and soliciting of revenue generating activities, decreased $0.3 million to $37.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared with $38.0 million in the prior year period. The decrease is related to lower brokerage and trade execution costs (which is related to lower brokerage revenue) offset partially by increased marketing and business development costs.


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The following table shows the components of the non-compensation expenses—variable, for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018:
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
Period-to-Period
 
2019
 
2018
 
$ Change
 
% Change
 
(dollars in thousands)
Non-compensation expenses—Variable:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Brokerage and trade execution costs
$
25,431

 
$
28,626

 
$
(3,195
)
 
(11
)%
HealthCare Royalty Partners syndication costs
132

 
132

 

 
 %
Expenses related to Luxembourg companies
829

 
771

 
58

 
8
 %
Marketing and business development
11,004

 
7,891

 
3,113

 
39
 %
Other
278

 
566

 
(288
)
 
(51
)%
Total
$
37,674

 
$
37,986

 
$
(312
)
 
(1
)%
Reimbursement from Affiliates.    Reimbursements from affiliates, included within non-interest expenses, which relate to the investment management segment decreased $0.1 million to $0.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared to $0.4 million in the prior year period.
Non-Controlling Interests
Net income (loss) attributable to redeemable non-controlling interests increased by $0.6 million to $2.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 compared with $2.2 million in the prior year period. Non-Controlling interest represents the portion of the net income or loss attributable to certain non-wholly owned subsidiaries that is allocated to our partners in those subsidiaries.
Preferred Stock Dividends
On May 19, 2015, the Company completed its offering of 120,750 shares of the Company's 5.625% Series A cumulative perpetual convertible preferred stock. Each share of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock is entitled to dividends at a rate of 5.625% per annum. The Company may, at its option, pay dividends in cash, common stock or a combination thereof.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
We continually monitor our liquidity position. The working capital needs of the Company's business have been met through current levels of equity capital, current cash and cash equivalents, and anticipated cash generated from our operating activities, including management fees, incentive income, returns on the Company's own capital, investment banking fees and brokerage commissions. The Company expects that its primary working capital liquidity needs over the next twelve months will be:
pay our operating expenses, primarily consisting of compensation and benefits, interest on debt and other general and administrative expenses; and
provide capital to facilitate the growth of our existing business.
Based on our historical results, management's experience, our current business strategy and current assets under management, the Company believes that its existing cash resources will be sufficient to meet its anticipated working capital and capital expenditure requirements for at least the next twelve months. Our cash reserves include cash, cash equivalents and assets readily convertible into cash such as our securities held in inventory. Securities inventories are stated at fair value and are generally readily marketable. As of March 31, 2019, we had cash and cash equivalents of $235.8 million and net liquid investment assets of $532.4 million, which includes cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments held by foreign subsidiaries as of March 31, 2019 of $120.9 million. The Company continues to permanently reinvest the capital and accumulated earnings of its subsidiaries in the United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, Canada and Hong Kong.
The timing of cash bonus payments to our employees may significantly affect our cash position and liquidity from period to period. While our employees are generally paid salaries semi-monthly during the year, cash bonus payments, which can make up a significant portion of total compensation, are generally paid once a year by March 15th.
As a clearing member firm providing services to certain of our brokerage customers, we are subject to cash deposit requirements with clearing organizations, brokers and banks that may be large in relation to total liquid assets and may fluctuate significantly based upon the nature and size of customers’ trading activity and market volatility. At March 31, 2019, we had security deposits totaling $109.3 million with clearing organizations in the U.S. for the settlement of equity trades. In the normal course of our U.S. settlement activities, we may also need to temporarily finance customer securities positions from short settlements or delivery failures.

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Unfunded commitments
The following table summarizes unfunded commitments as of March 31, 2019:
Entity
 
Unfunded Commitments
 
Commitment term
 
 
(dollars in millions)
 
 
Real estate (a)
 
$
24.3

 
(a)
HealthCare Royalty Partners funds (b)
 
5.9

 
2 years
Eclipse Ventures Fund I, L.P. (formerly Formation8 Partners Hardware Fund I, L.P.)
 
0.1

 
5 years
Lagunita Biosciences, LLC
 
1.0

 
3 years
Eclipse Fund II, L.P.
 
0.3

 
6 years
Eclipse Continuity Fund I, L.P.
 
0.3

 
7 years
Cowen Healthcare Investments II LP
 
6.9

 
2 years
(a) The Company had unfunded commitments pertaining to capital commitments in five real estate investments held by the Company, all of which pertain to related party investments. Such commitments can be called at any time between two to four years, subject to advance notice.
(b) The Company is a limited partner of the HealthCare Royalty Partners funds (which are managed by Healthcare Royalty Management) and is a member of HealthCare Royalty Partners General Partners. The Company will make its pro-rata investment in the HealthCare Royalty Partners funds along with the other limited partners.
Due to the nature of the securities business and our role as a market-maker and execution agent, the amount of our cash and short-term investments, as well as operating cash flow, may vary considerably due to a number of factors, including the dollar value of our positions as principal, whether we are net buyers or sellers of securities, the dollar volume of executions by our customers and clearing house requirements, among others. Certain regulatory requirements constrain the use of a portion of our liquid assets for financing, investing or operating activities. Similarly, due to the nature of our business lines, the capital necessary to maintain current operations and our current funding needs subject our cash and cash equivalents to different requirements and uses.
Preferred Stock and Purchase of Capped Call Option
On May 19, 2015, the Company completed its offering of 120,750 shares of the Company's 5.625% Series A cumulative perpetual convertible preferred stock ("Series A Convertible Preferred Stock") that provided $117.2 million of proceeds, net of underwriting fees and issuance costs of $3.6 million. Each share of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock is entitled to dividends at a rate of 5.625% per annum which will be payable, when and if declared by the board of directors of the Company, quarterly, in arrears, on February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15 of each year. The Company may, at its option, pay dividends in cash, common stock or a combination thereof.
Each share of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock is non-voting and has a liquidity preference over the Company's Class A common stock and ranks senior to all classes or series of the Company's Class A common stock, but junior to all of the Company's existing and future indebtedness with respect to divided rights and rights upon the Company's involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding down.
Each share of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock is convertible, at the option of the holder, into a number of shares of our Class A common stock equal to the liquidation preference of $1,000 divided by the conversion rate. The initial conversion rate (subsequent to the December 5, 2016 reverse stock split) is 38.0619 shares (which equates to $26.27 per share) of the Company's Class A common stock for each share of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock. At any time on or after May 20, 2020, the Company may elect to convert all outstanding shares of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock into shares of the Company’s Class A common stock, cash or a combination thereof, at the Company’s election, in each case, based on the then-applicable conversion rate, if the last reported sale price of the Company’s Class A common stock equals or exceeds 150% of the then-current conversion price on at least 20 trading days (whether or not consecutive) during the period of 30 consecutive trading days (including on the last trading day of such period) immediately prior to such election. At the time of conversion, the conversion rate may be adjusted based on certain events including but not limited to the issuance of cash dividends or Class A common stock as dividends to the Company's Class A common shareholders or a share split or combination.
In connection with the issuance and sale of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, the Company entered into a capped call option transaction (the “Capped Call Option Transaction”) with Nomura Global Financial Products Inc. (the “option counterparty”) for $15.9 million. The Capped Call Option Transaction is expected generally to reduce the potential dilution to the Company’s Class A common stock (if the Company elects to convert to common shares) and/or offset any cash payments that the Company is required to make upon conversion of any Series A Convertible Preferred Stock. The Capped Call Option Transaction has an initial effective strike price of $26.27 per share, which matches the initial conversion price of the Series A

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Convertible Preferred Stock, and a cap price of $33.54 per share. However, to the extent that the market price of Class A common stock, as measured under the terms of the Capped Call Option Transaction, exceeds the cap price thereof, there would nevertheless be dilution and/or such cash payments would not be offset. As the Capped Call Option Transaction is a free standing derivative that is indexed to the Company's own stock price and the Company controls if it is settled in cash or stock it qualifies for equity classification as a reduction to additional paid in capital.
The Company may also incur additional indebtedness or raise additional capital under certain circumstances to respond to market opportunities and challenges. Current market conditions may make it more difficult or costly to borrow additional funds or raise additional capital.
Regulation
As registered broker-dealers, Cowen and Company, Cowen Execution, ATM Execution, Cowen Prime and Westminster are subject to the SEC's Uniform Net Capital Rule 15c3-1 (“SEC Rule 15c3-1”), which requires the maintenance of minimum net capital. Each registered broker-dealer has elected to compute net capital under the alternative method permitted by the Rule. Under the alternative method, Cowen and Company's minimum net capital requirement, as defined in (a)(4) of the Rule, is $1.0 million. Cowen Execution, ATM Execution, Cowen Prime and Westminster are required to maintain minimum net capital, as defined in (a)(1)(ii) of the Rule, equal to the greater of $250,000 or 2% of aggregate debits arising from customer transactions. Cowen Securities, a registered broker-dealer, is required to maintain minimum net capital, as defined in (a)(2)(vi) of the Rule, equal to or greater than $5,000 and had less than $0.1 million excess net capital at March 31, 2019. Advances to affiliates, repayment of borrowings, distributions, dividend payments and other equity withdrawals are subject to certain notification and other requirements of the Rule and other regulatory bodies.
On February 7, 2019, FINRA approved the transfer of all of Cowen Securities’ business and personnel to Cowen and Company. Cowen Securities subsequently filed a Form BDW, pursuant to Section 15(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, with FINRA to withdraw its status as a broker-dealer given that it will no longer conduct a securities business, and the application was pending at March 31, 2019.
Cowen Prime is also subject to Commodity Futures Trading Commission Regulation 1.17 (“Regulation 1.17”). Regulation 1.17 requires net capital equal to or in excess of $45,000 or the amount of net capital required by SEC Rule 15c3-1, whichever is greater. Cowen Execution is also subject to Options Clearing Corporation ("OCC") Rule 302. OCC Rule 302 requires maintenance of net capital equal to the greater of $2,000,000 or 2% of aggregate debit items. At March 31, 2019, Cowen Execution had $114.8 million of net capital in excess of this minimum requirement.
Cowen International Ltd and Cowen Execution Ltd are subject to the capital requirements of the FCA, as defined, must exceed the minimum capital requirement set forth by the FCA. Effective June 1, 2018, the FCA approved Ramius UK’s application to cancel all of its FCA authorization permissions. Accordingly, Ramius UK is no longer an FCA regulated and authorized firm. Ramius UK sought the cancellation. Effective December 20, 2018, Cowen Execution Ltd was formally approved to trade in a principal capacity conditional upon the completion, and communication to the Wholesale Supervision, of the implementation of its order management system.
As of March 31, 2019, these regulated broker-dealers had regulatory net capital or financial resources, regulatory net capital requirements or minimum FCA requirement and excess as follows:
Subsidiary
 
Net Capital
 
Net Capital Requirement
 
Excess Net Capital
 
 
(dollars in millions)
Cowen and Company
 
$
101.5

 
$
1.0

 
$
100.5

Cowen Execution
 
$
116.8

 
$
2.0

 
$
114.8

ATM Execution
 
$
3.2

 
$
0.3

 
$
2.9

Cowen Prime
 
$
8.4

 
$
0.3

 
$
8.1

Westminster
 
$
19.4

 
$
0.3

 
$
19.1

Cowen International Ltd
 
$
14.9

 
$
9.9

 
$
5.0

Cowen Execution Ltd
 
$
5.0

 
$
3.2

 
$
1.8

The Company’s U.S. broker-dealers must also comply with SEC’s Customer Protection Rule (“SEC Rule 15c3-3”) or claim an exemption pursuant to subparagraphs (k)(2)(i) (the “(k)(2)(i) exemption”) or (k)(2)(ii) (the “(k)(2)(ii) exemption”) of that rule. Firms can rely on more than one exemption. Cowen and Company, Cowen Prime, Cowen Execution and ATM Execution claim the (k)(2)(ii) exemption with regards to some or all of their customer accounts and transactions that are introduced on a fully-disclosed basis to their clearing agents for clearing, settlement and custody. Cowen and Company, Cowen Prime and Westminster claim the (k)(2)(i) exemption with regards to customer transactions and balances that are cleared, settled and custodied in bank accounts designated as Special Accounts for the Exclusive Benefit of Customers (“Special Bank Account”).

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In accordance with the requirements of SEC Rule 15c3-3, Cowen Execution may be required to deposit in a Special Reserve Account cash or acceptable qualified securities for the exclusive benefit of customers. As of March 31, 2019, Cowen Execution had segregated approximately $15.1 million of cash, while its required deposit was $3.0 million.
As a clearing broker-dealer, Cowen Execution is required to compute a reserve requirement for proprietary accounts of broker-dealers (“PAB accounts”), as defined in SEC Rule 15c3-3. Cowen Execution conducts PAB reserve computations in order to determine the amount it is required to deposit in its PAB Reserve Bank Accounts pursuant to SEC Rule 15c3-3. This allows each correspondent firm that uses Cowen Execution as its clearing broker-dealer to classify its PAB account assets held at Cowen Execution as allowable assets in the correspondent's net capital calculation. At March 31, 2019, Cowen Execution had $25.6 million of cash on deposit in PAB Reserve Bank Accounts, which was more than its required deposit of $16.3 million.
Cowen and Company, ATM Execution, Cowen Prime and Cowen Execution also maintain certain assets in PAB accounts held at their respective clearing brokers. Each treats its assets held in those PAB accounts at the respective clearing brokers as allowable assets for net capital purposes.
Cowen’s Luxembourg reinsurance companies, Vianden RCG Re SCA and Hollenfels, individually and their Luxembourg parent holding company, Ramius Enterprise Luxembourg Holdco S.à r.l., on a combined basis with the reinsurance companies, are required to maintain a solvency capital ratio as calculated by relevant European Commission directives and local regulatory rules in Luxembourg. Each reinsurance company’s individual solvency capital ratio as well as the combined solvency capital ratio of the holding and reinsurance companies as of March 31, 2019 were in excess of this minimum requirement.
Based on minimum capital and surplus requirements pursuant to the laws of the state of New York that apply to captive insurance companies, RCG Insurance Company, Cowen’s captive insurance company incorporated and licensed in the state of New York, was required to maintain capital and surplus of approximately $0.3 million as of March 31, 2019. RCG Insurance Company’s capital and surplus as of March 31, 2019 totaled approximately $32.1 million.
Cash Flows Analysis
The Company's primary sources of cash are derived from its operating activities, fees and realized returns on its own invested capital. The Company's primary uses of cash include compensation and general and administrative expenses.
Operating Activities.    Net cash used in operating activities of $129.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 was primarily related to the (i) purchases of securities owned, at fair value in consolidated funds offset partially by proceeds from sales of securities owned, at fair value in consolidated funds and (ii) cash used in securities financing activities (securities borrowed partially offset by securities loaned). Net cash used by operating activities of $35.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 was primarily related to (i) an increase in securities borrowed and payments to cover securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value partially offset by proceeds from sales of securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value.
Investing Activities.    Net cash used in investing activities of $49.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 was primarily related to the purchase of Quarton and other investments. Net cash used in investing activities of $5.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 was primarily related to loans issued and purchases of other investments partially offset by proceeds from sales of other investments.
Financing Activities.    Net cash provided by financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2019 of $116.2 million was primarily related to capital contributions by non-controlling interests in Consolidating Funds offset partially by a repayment on convertible debt. Net cash provided by financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2018 of $40.6 million was primarily related to borrowings on notes and other debt partially offset by capital withdrawals to non-controlling interests in Consolidated Funds.
Debt
Convertible Debt
2022 Convertible Notes
The Company, on December 14, 2017, issued $135.0 million aggregate principal amount of 3.00% convertible senior notes due 2022 (the “2022 Convertible Notes”). The 2022 Convertible Notes are due on December 15, 2022 unless earlier repurchased by the Company or converted by the holder in accordance with their terms prior to such date. The interest on the 2022 Convertible Notes is payable semi-annually on December 15 and June 15 of each year. The 2022 Convertible Notes are senior unsecured obligations of Cowen. The 2022 Convertible Notes may be converted into cash or shares of Class A common stock at the Company's election based on the current conversion price. The 2022 Convertible Notes were issued with an initial conversion price of $17.375 per share of Cowen’s Class A common stock.
The Company used the net proceeds, together with cash on hand, from the offering for general corporate purposes, including the repurchase or repayment of $115.1 million of the Company’s outstanding 3.0% cash convertible senior notes due

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2019 (the "2019 Convertible Notes") and the repurchase of approximately $19.5 million of the Company’s shares of its Class A common stock, which were consummated substantially concurrently with the closing of the offering. As of March 31, 2019, the outstanding principal amount of the 2022 Convertible Notes was $135.0 million. On June 26, 2018, the Company received shareholder approval for the Company to settle the 2022 Convertible Note entirely in class A common shares. Upon receiving shareholder approval, the Company reclassified the separately recognized conversion option from a derivative liability to equity.
The Company recorded interest expense of $1.0 million and $1.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The Company recognized the embedded cash conversion option at issuance date fair value, which also represents the initial unamortized discount on the 2022 Convertible Notes of $23.4 million and is shown net in convertible debt in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of financial condition. Amortization on the discount, included within interest and dividends expense in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations is $1.1 million and $1.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, based on an effective interest rate of 7.57%. The Company capitalized the debt issuance costs in the amount of $2.2 million, which is a direct deduction from the carrying value of the debt and will be amortized over the life of the 2022 Convertible Notes.
2019 Convertible Notes
On March 10, 2014, the Company issued $149.5 million of 3.0% cash convertible senior notes (the "2019 Convertible Notes"). The 2019 Convertible Notes matured on March 15, 2019 and were fully repaid by the Company. The Company recorded interest expense of $0.1 million and $0.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018. Amortization on the discount, included within interest and dividends expense in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations was $0.3 million and $0.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, based on an effective interest rate of 8.89%.
Notes Payable
2033 Notes
On June 11, 2018, the Company completed its public offering of $90.0 million of 7.75% senior notes due 2033 (the “2033 Notes”) and subsequently the underwriters exercised in full their option to purchase an additional $10.0 million principal amount of the 2033 Notes. Interest on the 2033 Notes is payable quarterly in arrears on March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15. The Company recorded interest expense of $1.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019. The Company capitalized debt issuance costs of approximately $3.6 million which is a direct deduction from the carrying value of the debt and will be amortized over the life of the 2033 Notes.
2027 Notes
On December 8, 2017, the Company completed its public offering of $120.0 million of 7.35% senior notes due 2027 (the “2027 Notes”) and subsequently the underwriters exercised in full their option to purchase an additional $18.0 million principal amount of the 2027 Notes. Interest on the 2027 Notes is payable quarterly in arrears on March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15. The Company recorded interest expense of $2.5 million and $2.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The Company capitalized debt issuance costs of approximately $5.0 million which is a direct deduction from the carrying value of the debt and will be amortized over the life of the 2027 Notes. The net proceeds of the offering, after deducting the underwriting discount and estimated offering expenses payable by the Company were used to redeem all of its 8.25% senior notes due 2021 (the "2021 Notes") and for general corporate purposes.
Term Loan
On June 30, 2017, the Company borrowed $28.2 million to fund general corporate purposes. This term loan has an effective interest rate of LIBOR plus 3.75% with a lump sum payment of the entire principal amount due on June 28, 2019. The loan is secured by the value of the Company's limited partnership interests in two affiliated investment funds. The Company has provided a guarantee for this loan. The Company recorded interest expense of $0.4 million and $0.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
Other Notes Payable
During January 2019, the Company borrowed $2.2 million to fund insurance premium payments. This note had an effective interest rate of 2.51% and was due on December 31, 2019, with monthly payment requirements of $0.2 million. As of March 31, 2019, the outstanding balance on this note was $1.6 million. Interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2019 was insignificant.

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Finance Lease Obligations
The Company has entered into various finance leases for computer equipment. The Company's finance lease right-of-use asset amounted to $6.0 million and is recorded in fixed assets in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of financial condition. These finance lease obligations are included in notes payable and other debt in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of financial condition, and have a weighted average lease term of 3.9 years and weighted average interest rate of 4.93% as of March 31, 2019.
As of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the remaining balance on these finance leases was $4.6 million and $5.0 million, respectively.
For the three months ended March 31, 2019, quantitative information regarding the Company's finance lease obligations reflected in the accompanying condensed consolidated statement of operations, the supplemental cash flow information and certain other information related to finance leases were as follows:
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
2019
 
2018
 
(dollars in thousands)
Lease Cost
 
 
 
Finance Lease Cost:
 
 
 
    Amortization of finance lease right-of-use assets
$
368

 
$
352

    Interest on lease liabilities
63

 
43

Other Information
 
 
 
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:
 
 
 
    Operating cash flows from finance leases
63

 
43

    Financing cash flows from finance leases
$
394

 
$
506

Letters of Credit
As of March 31, 2019, the Company has the following seven irrevocable letters of credit, related to leased office space, for which there is cash collateral pledged, which the Company pays a fee on the stated amount of the letter of credit. The Company also has pledged collateral for reinsurance agreements which amounted to $1.2 million, as of March 31, 2019, and $1.0 million, as of December 31, 2018, which is anticipated to be due March 2021.
Location
 
Amount
 
Maturity
 
 
(dollars in thousands)
 
 
Boston
 
$
389

 
March 2020
New York
 
$
358

 
April 2020
New York
 
$
71

 
October 2019
New York
 
$
397

 
October 2019
New York
 
$
1,687

 
October 2019
New York
 
$
1,611

 
November 2019
San Francisco
 
$
708

 
October 2025
To the extent any letter of credit is drawn upon, interest will be assessed at the prime commercial lending rate. As of March 31, 2019 and 2018, there were no amounts due related to these letters of credit.

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Contractual Obligations
The following tables summarize the Company's contractual cash obligations as of March 31, 2019:
 
Total
 
< 1 Year
 
1-3 Years
 
3-5 Years
 
More Than
5 Years
 
(dollars in thousands)
Equipment, Aircraft, Service and Facility Leases
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Real Estate and Other Facility Rental
$
124,590

 
$
16,967

 
$
47,098

 
$
36,973

 
$
23,552

Service Payments
45,112

 
16,420

 
13,757

 
8,604

 
6,331

Operating Equipment Leases
967

 
350

 
528

 
84

 
5

Aircraft Lease
420

 
420

 

 

 

   Total
171,089

 
34,157

 
61,383

 
45,661

 
29,888

Debt
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Convertible Debt
151,200

 
4,050

 
8,100

 
139,050

 

Notes Payable
437,189

 
13,420

 
35,786

 
35,786

 
352,197

Finance Lease Obligation
5,117

 
896

2,720

2,720

896

1,501

 

Term Loan
28,508

 
28,508

 

 

 

Other Notes Payable
2,171

 
2,171

 

 

 

   Total
$
624,185

 
$
49,045

 
$
46,606

 
$
176,337

 
$
352,197

Clawback obligations
For financial reporting purposes, the general partners of a real estate fund have recorded a liability for potential clawback obligations to the limited partners, due to changes in the unrealized value of the real estate fund's remaining investments and where the real estate fund's general partner has previously received carried interest distributions.
The clawback liability, however, is not realized until the end of the real estate fund's life. The real estate fund is currently in a winding-up phase whereby the remaining assets of the real estate fund are being liquidated as promptly as possible so as to maximize value. However a final date for liquidation has not been set.
The clawback obligations for the real estate fund were $6.5 million and $6.5 million at March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 (see Note 6 to the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements).
Minimum payments for all debt outstanding
Annual scheduled maturities of debt and minimum payments for all debt outstanding as of March 31, 2019, are as follows:
 
Convertible Debt
 
Notes Payable
 
Term Loan
 
Finance Lease
Obligation
 
(dollars in thousands)
2019
$
4,050

 
$
13,420

 
$
28,508

 
$
896

2020
4,050

 
17,893

 

 
1,360

2021
4,050

 
17,893

 

 
1,360

2022
139,050

 
17,893

 

 
1,127

2023

 
17,893

 

 
374

Thereafter

 
352,197

 

 

Subtotal
151,200

 
437,189

 
28,508

 
5,117

Less (a)
(36,101
)
 
(207,326
)
 
(308
)
 
(486
)
Total
$
115,099

 
$
229,863

 
$
28,200

 
$
4,631

(a)
Amount necessary to reduce net minimum payments to present value calculated at the Company's implicit rate at inception. This amount also includes capitalized debt costs and the unamortized discount on the convertible debt.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We have no material off-balance sheet arrangements as of March 31, 2019. However, through indemnification provisions in our clearing agreements, customer activities may expose us to off-balance-sheet credit risk. Pursuant to the clearing agreements, we are required to reimburse our clearing broker, without limit, for any losses incurred due to a counterparty's

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failure to satisfy its contractual obligations. However, these transactions are collateralized by the underlying security, thereby reducing the associated risk to changes in the market value of the security through the settlement date.
Cowen and Company, Cowen Prime, Cowen Execution and ATM Execution are members of various securities exchanges and clearing organizations. Under the standard membership agreement, members are required to guarantee the performance of other members and, accordingly, if another member becomes unable to satisfy its obligations to the various securities exchanges and clearing organizations, all other members would be required to meet the shortfall. The Company's liability under these arrangements is not quantifiable. Accordingly, no contingent liability is carried in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of financial condition for these arrangements.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Critical accounting policies are those that require the Company to make significant judgments, estimates or assumptions that affect amounts reported in its condensed consolidated financial statements or the notes thereto. The Company bases its judgments, estimates and assumptions on current facts, historical experience and various other factors that the Company believes to be reasonable and prudent. Actual results may differ materially from these estimates.
The following is a summary of what the Company believes to be its most critical accounting policies and estimates.
Consolidation
These condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company, its subsidiaries, and entities in which the Company has a controlling financial interest, including the Consolidated Funds, in which the Company has a controlling general partner interest. All material intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. The Company’s investment funds are not subject to these consolidation provisions with respect to their investments pursuant to their specialized accounting.
The Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements reflect the assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses and cash flows of the Consolidated Funds on a gross basis. The management fees and incentive income earned by the Company from the Consolidated Funds were eliminated in consolidation; however, the Company’s allocated share of net income from these investment funds was increased by the amount of this eliminated income. Hence, the consolidation of these investment funds had no net effect on the Company’s net earnings.
The Company consolidates all entities that it controls through a majority voting interest or otherwise, including those investment funds in which the Company either directly or indirectly has a controlling financial interest. In addition, the Company consolidates all variable interest entities for which it is the primary beneficiary.
In accordance with these standards, the Company consolidates four investment funds for which it acts as the general partner and investment manager. As of March 31, 2019, the Company consolidated the following investment funds: Ramius Enterprise LP (“Enterprise LP”), Ramius Merger Fund LLC (the "Merger Fund"), Cowen Private Investments LP ("Cowen Private"), and Ramius Merger Arbitrage UCITS Fund ("UCITS Fund") (each a "Consolidated Fund" and collectively the "Consolidated Funds").
The Company determines whether it has a controlling financial interest in an entity by first evaluating whether the entity is a voting operating entity ("VOE") or a variable interest entity ("VIE") under US GAAP.
Voting Operating EntitiesVOEs are entities in which (i) the total equity investment at risk is sufficient to enable the entity to finance its activities independently and (ii) the equity holders at risk have the obligation to absorb losses, the right to receive residual returns and the right to direct the activities of the entity that most significantly impact the entity's economic performance.
Under US GAAP, the usual condition for a controlling financial interest in a VOE is ownership of a majority voting interest. Accordingly, the Company consolidates all VOEs in which it owns a majority of the entity's voting shares or units.
Variable Interest Entities—VIEs are entities that lack one or more of the characteristics of a VOE. In accordance with US GAAP, an enterprise must consolidate all VIEs of which it is the primary beneficiary. Under the US GAAP consolidation model for VIEs, an enterprise that (1) has the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impacts the VIE's economic performance, and (2) has an obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE, is considered to be the primary beneficiary of the VIE and thus is required to consolidate it.
The Company reconsiders whether it is the primary beneficiary of a VIE by performing a periodic qualitative and/or quantitative analysis of the VIE that includes a review of, among other things, its capital structure, contractual agreements

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between the Company and the VIE, the economic interests that create or absorb variability, related party relationships and the design of the VIE.
In the ordinary course of business, the Company also sponsors various other entities that it has determined to be VIEs. These VIEs are primarily investment funds for which the Company serves as the general partner, managing member and/or investment manager with decision-making rights.
The Company does not consolidate certain funds that are VIEs as it has concluded that it is not the primary beneficiary in each instance. Investment fund investors are entitled to all of their economics of these VIEs with the exception of the management fee and incentive income, if any, earned by the Company. The company has equity interests in the funds as both GP and Limited partner. In these instances the Company has concluded that the variable interests are not potentially significant to the VIE. Although the Company may advance amounts and pay certain expenses on behalf of the investment funds that it considers to be VIEs, it does not provide, nor is it required to provide, any type of substantive financial support to these entities outside of regular investment management services.
Equity Method InvestmentsFor operating entities over which the Company exercises significant influence but which do not meet the requirements for consolidation as outlined above, the Company uses the equity method of accounting. The Company's investments in equity method investees are recorded in other investments in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of financial condition. The Company's share of earnings or losses from equity method investees is included in net gains (losses) on securities, derivatives and other investments in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations.
The Company evaluates its equity method investments for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts of such investments may not be recoverable. The difference between the carrying value of the equity method investment and its estimated fair value is recognized as an impairment charge when the loss in value is deemed other than temporary.
OtherIf the Company does not consolidate an entity or apply the equity method of accounting, the Company accounts for such entities (primarily, all securities of such entity which are bought and held principally for the purpose of selling them in the near term as trading securities) in accordance with US GAAP, at fair value with unrealized gains (losses) resulting from changes in fair value reflected within net gains (losses) on securities, derivatives and other investments in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations.
Retention of Specialized AccountingThe Consolidated Funds and certain other consolidated companies are investment companies and apply specialized industry accounting for investment companies. The Company has retained this specialized accounting for these investment funds pursuant to US GAAP. The Company reports its investments on the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition at their estimated fair value, with unrealized gains (losses) resulting from changes in fair value reflected within net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments and other transactions. Accordingly, the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements reflect different accounting policies for investments depending on whether or not they are held through a consolidated investment company. In addition, the Company's broker-dealer subsidiaries apply the specialized industry accounting for brokers and dealers in securities also prescribed under US GAAP. The Company also retains specialized accounting upon consolidation.
Valuation of investments and derivative contracts
US GAAP establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (level 3 measurements). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:
Level 1 Inputs that reflect unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has
the ability to access at the measurement date;
Level 2     Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability either directly or indirectly, including
inputs in markets that are not considered to be active; and
Level 3 Fair value is determined based on pricing inputs that are unobservable and includes situations where there is little,
if any, market activity for the asset or liability. The determination of fair value for assets and liabilities in this
category requires significant management judgment or estimation.
Inputs are used in applying the various valuation techniques and broadly refer to the assumptions that market participants use to make valuation decisions, including assumptions about risk. Inputs may include price information, volatility statistics, specific and broad credit data, liquidity statistics, and other factors. A financial instrument's level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement. However, the determination of what

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constitutes “observable” requires significant judgment by the Company. The Company considers observable data to be that market data which is readily available, regularly distributed or updated, reliable and verifiable, not proprietary, and provided by independent sources that are actively involved in the relevant market. The categorization of a financial instrument within the hierarchy is based upon the pricing transparency of the instrument and does not necessarily correspond to the Company's perceived risk of that instrument. For additional information regarding the use of unobservable inputs to fair value assets and liabilities see Note 7 in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statement in Part 1 Item 1.
The Company and its operating subsidiaries act as the manager for the Consolidated Funds. Both the Company and the Consolidated Funds hold certain investments which are valued by the Company, acting as the investment manager. The fair value of these investments is generally estimated based on proprietary models developed by the Company, which include discounted cash flow analysis, public market comparables, and other techniques and may be based, at least in part, on independently sourced market information. The material estimates and assumptions used in these models include the timing and expected amount of cash flows, the appropriateness of discount rates used, and, in some cases, the ability to execute, timing of, and estimated proceeds from expected financings. Significant judgment and estimation goes into the selection of an appropriate valuation methodology as well as the assumptions used in these models, and the timing and actual values realized with respect to investments could be materially different from values derived based on the use of those estimates. The valuation methodologies applied impact the reported value of the Company's investments and the investments held by the Consolidated Funds in the condensed consolidated financial statements. Certain of the Company's investments are relatively illiquid or thinly traded and may not be immediately liquidated on demand if needed. Fair values assigned to these investments may differ significantly from the fair values that would have been used had a ready market for the investments existed and such differences could be material.
The Company primarily uses the “market approach” to value its financial instruments measured at fair value. In determining an instrument's level within the hierarchy, the Company categorizes the Company's financial instruments into three categories: securities, derivative contracts and other investments. To the extent applicable, each of these categories can further be divided between those held long or sold short.
The Company has the option to measure certain financial assets and financial liabilities at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in earnings each period. The election is made on an instrument by instrument basis at initial recognition of an asset or liability or upon an event that gives rise to a new basis of accounting for that instrument.  The Company has elected the fair value option for certain of its investments held by its operating companies.  This option has been elected because the Company believes that it is consistent with the manner in which the business is managed, as well as the way that financial instruments in other parts of the business are recorded.
Securities— Securities with values based on quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets are classified within level 1 of the fair value hierarchy. These securities include active listed equities, certain U.S. government and sovereign obligations, Exchange Traded Funds ("ETFs"), mutual funds and certain money market securities. The Company does not adjust the quoted price for such instruments, even in situations where the Company holds a large position and a sale could reasonably impact the quoted price.
Certain positions for which trading activity may not be readily visible, consisting primarily of convertible debt, corporate debt and loans and restricted equities, are stated at fair value and classified within level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. The estimated fair values assigned by management are determined in good faith and are based on available information considering, trading activity, broker quotes, quotations provided by published pricing services, counterparties and other market participants, and pricing models using quoted inputs, and do not necessarily represent the amounts which might ultimately be realized. As level 2 investments include positions that are not always traded in active markets and/or are subject to transfer restrictions, valuations may be adjusted to reflect illiquidity and/or non-transferability.
Derivative contractsDerivative contracts can be exchange-traded or privately negotiated over-the-counter (“OTC”). Exchange-traded derivatives, such as futures contracts and exchange-traded option contracts, are typically classified within level 1 or level 2 of the fair value hierarchy depending on whether or not they are deemed to be actively traded. OTC derivatives, such as generic forwards, swaps and options, have inputs which can generally be corroborated by market data and are therefore classified within level 2. OTC derivatives, such as swaps and options where market data is not readily available or observable are classified as level 3.
Other investmentsOther investments consist primarily of investment funds, real estate investments and equity method investments, which are valued as follows:
i.
Portfolio funds—Portfolio funds (“Portfolio Funds”) include interests in private investment partnerships, foreign investment companies and other collective investment vehicles which may be managed by the Company or its affiliates. The Company follows US GAAP regarding fair value measurements and disclosures relating to investments in certain entities that calculate net asset value (“NAV”) per share (or its equivalent). The guidance permits, as a

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practical expedient, an entity holding investments in certain entities that either are investment companies as defined by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants ("AICPA") Audit and Accounting Guide, Investment Companies, or have attributes similar to an investment company, and calculate net asset value per share or its equivalent for which the fair value is not readily determinable, to measure the fair value of such investments on the basis of that NAV per share, or its equivalent, without adjustment. In accordance with US GAAP, investments which are valued using NAV per share as a practical expedient are not categorized within the fair value hierarchy.
ii.
Real estate investmentsReal estate debt and equity investments are valued at fair value. The fair value of real estate investments is estimated based on the price that would be received to sell an asset in an orderly transaction between marketplace participants at the measurement date. Real estate investments without a public market are valued based on assumptions and valuation techniques used by the Company. Such valuation techniques may include discounted cash flow analysis, prevailing market capitalization rates or earnings multiples applied to earnings from the investment, analysis of recent comparable sales transactions, actual sale negotiations and bona fide purchase offers received from third parties, consideration of the amount that currently would be required to replace the asset, as adjusted for obsolescence, as well as independent external appraisals. In general, the Company considers several valuation techniques when measuring the fair value of a real estate investment. However, in certain circumstances, a single valuation technique may be appropriate. Real estate investments are reviewed on a quarterly basis by the Company for significant changes at the property level or a significant change in the overall market which would impact the value of the real estate investment resulting in unrealized appreciation or depreciation.
Real estate and capital markets are cyclical in nature. Property and investment values are affected by, among other things, the availability of capital, occupancy rates, rental rates and interest and inflation rates. In addition, the Company invests in real estate and real estate related investments for which no liquid market exists. The market prices for such investments may be volatile and may not be readily ascertainable. Amounts ultimately realized by the Company from investments sold may differ from the fair values presented, and the differences could be material.

The Company's real estate investments are typically categorized as level 3 investments within the fair value hierarchy as management uses significant unobservable inputs in determining their estimated fair value.
Goodwill and Intangible Assets
Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price consideration of acquired companies over the estimated fair value assigned to the individual assets acquired and liabilities assumed. Goodwill is allocated to the Company's reporting units at the date the goodwill is initially recorded. Once goodwill has been allocated to the reporting units, it generally no longer retains its identification with a particular acquisition, but instead becomes identifiable with the reporting unit. As a result, all of the fair value of each reporting unit is available to support the value of goodwill allocated to the unit.
In accordance with US GAAP, the Company tests goodwill for impairment on an annual basis or at an interim period if events or changed circumstances would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying amount. In testing for goodwill impairment, the Company has the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether the existence of events or circumstances led to a determination that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If, after assessing the totality of events and circumstances, the Company concludes that fair value exceeds its carrying amount, then performing the two-step impairment test is not necessary. If the Company concludes otherwise, the Company is required to perform the two-step quantitative impairment test. The first step requires a comparison of the fair value of the reporting unit to its carrying value, including goodwill. If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds its carrying value, the related goodwill is not considered impaired and no further analysis is required. If the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds the fair value, there is an indication that the related goodwill might be impaired and the second step is performed to measure the amount of impairment, if any.
The second step of the goodwill impairment test compares the implied fair value of the reporting unit's goodwill with its carrying amount to measure the amount of impairment, if any. The implied fair value of goodwill is determined in the same manner as the amount of goodwill recognized in a business combination. In other words, the estimated fair value of the reporting unit is allocated to all of its assets and liabilities (including any unrecognized intangible assets) as if the reporting unit had been acquired in a business combination and the fair value of the reporting unit was the purchase price paid. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit goodwill exceeds the implied fair value of that goodwill, an impairment is recognized in an amount equal to that excess. Goodwill impairment tests involve significant judgment in determining the estimates of future cash flows, discount rates, economic forecast and other assumptions which are then used in acceptable valuation techniques, such as the market approach (earning and or transactions multiples) and/or income approach (discounted cash flow method). Changes in these estimates and assumptions could have a significant impact on the fair value and any resulting impairment of goodwill.

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Intangible assets with finite lives are amortized over their estimated average useful lives. The Company does not have any intangible assets deemed to have indefinite lives. Intangible assets are tested for potential impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances suggest that an asset or asset group's carrying value may not be fully recoverable. An impairment loss, calculated as the difference between the estimated fair value and the carrying value of an asset or asset group, is recognized in the condensed consolidated statements of operations if the sum of the estimated discounted cash flows relating to the asset or asset group is less than the corresponding carrying value.
Income taxes
The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with US GAAP which requires the recognition of tax benefits or expenses based on the estimated future tax effects of temporary differences between the financial statement and tax basis of its assets and liabilities. The effect on deferred taxes of a change in tax rates is recognized as income or loss in the period that includes the enactment date. Valuation allowances are established to reduce deferred tax assets to an amount that is more likely than not to be realized. We evaluate our deferred tax assets for recoverability considering negative and positive evidence, including our historical financial performance, projections of future taxable income, future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, and tax planning strategies. We record a valuation allowance against our deferred tax assets to bring them to a level that it is more likely than not to be utilized. In evaluating the need for a valuation allowance, we estimate future taxable income based on management approved business plans. This process involves significant management judgment about assumptions that are subject to change from period to period. Because the recognition of deferred tax assets requires management to make significant judgments about future earnings, the periods in which items will impact taxable income and the application of inherently complex tax laws, we have identified the assessment of deferred tax assets and the need for any related valuation allowance as a critical accounting estimate.
Legal Reserves
The Company estimates potential losses that may arise out of legal and regulatory proceedings and records a reserve and takes a charge to income when losses with respect to such matters are deemed probable and can be reasonably estimated, in accordance with US GAAP. These amounts are reported in other expenses, net of recoveries, in the condensed consolidated statements of operations. See Note 17 "Commitments and Contingencies" in our accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements for the quarter ended March 31, 2019 for further discussion.
Recently adopted and future adoption of accounting pronouncements
        For a detailed discussion, see Note 2 "Recent pronouncements" in our accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements for the quarter ended March 31, 2019.
Item 3.    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
During the three months ended March 31, 2019, there were no material changes in our quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risks from those disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018. For a more detailed discussion concerning our market risk, see Item 7A “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Item 4.    Controls and Procedures
Our management, with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer (the principal executive officer and principal financial officer, respectively), evaluated our disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2019.
Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of March 31, 2019, our disclosure controls and procedures are effective to provide a reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports filed or submitted by it under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and include controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in such reports is accumulated and communicated to our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
There have been no changes in our internal controls over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting during the three months ended March 31, 2019.

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1.    Legal Proceedings    
In the ordinary course of business, the Company and its affiliates, subsidiaries and current and former officers, directors and employees (the "Company and Related Parties") are named as defendants in, or as parties to, various legal actions and proceedings. Certain of these actions and proceedings assert claims or seek relief in connection with alleged violations of securities, banking, anti-fraud, anti-money laundering, employment and other statutory and common laws. Certain of these actual or threatened legal actions and proceedings include claims for substantial or indeterminate compensatory or punitive damages, or for injunctive relief.
In the ordinary course of business, the Company and Related Parties are also subject to governmental and regulatory examinations, information gathering requests (both formal and informal), certain of which may result in adverse judgments, settlements, fines, penalties, injunctions or other relief. Certain of our affiliates and subsidiaries are registered broker-dealers, futures commission merchants, investment advisers or other regulated entities and, in those capacities, are subject to regulation by various U.S., state and foreign securities, commodity futures and other regulators. In connection with formal and informal inquiries by these regulators, we receive requests, and orders seeking documents and other information in connection with various aspects of our regulated activities.
Due to the global scope of our operations, and presence in countries around the world, the Company and Related Parties may be subject to litigation, governmental and regulatory examinations, information gathering requests, investigations and proceedings (both formal and informal), in multiple jurisdictions with legal and regulatory regimes that may differ substantially, and present substantially different risks, from those to which the Company and Related Parties are subject in the United States.
The Company seeks to resolve all litigation and regulatory matters in the manner management believes is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders, and contests liability, allegations of wrongdoing and, where applicable, the amount of damages or scope of any penalties or other relief sought as appropriate in each pending matter.
In accordance with US GAAP, the Company establishes reserves for contingencies when the Company believes that it is probable that a loss has been incurred and the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated. The Company discloses a contingency if there is at least a reasonable possibility that a loss may have been incurred and there is no reserve for the loss because the conditions above are not met. The Company's disclosure includes an estimate of the reasonably possible loss or range of loss for those matters, for which an estimate can be made. Neither a reserve nor disclosure is required for losses that are deemed remote.
The Company appropriately reserves for certain matters where, in the opinion of management, the likelihood of liability is probable and the extent of such liability is reasonably estimable. Such amounts are included within accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of financial condition. Estimates, by their nature, are based on judgment and currently available information and involve a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, the type and nature of the litigation, claim or proceeding, the progress of the matter, the advice of legal counsel, the Company's defenses and its experience in similar cases or proceedings as well as its assessment of matters, including settlements, involving other defendants in similar or related cases or proceedings. The Company may increase or decrease its legal reserves in the future, on a matter-by-matter basis, to account for developments in such matters. The Company accrues legal fees as incurred.
The following information reflects developments with respect to the Company’s legal proceedings that occurred during the quarter ended March 31, 2019.
On December 27, 2013, Landol Fletcher filed a putative class action lawsuit against Convergex Holdings, LLC, Convergex Group, LLC, Cowen Execution, Convergex Global Markets Limited and G-Trade Services LLC (collectively, “Convergex”) in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (Landol Fletcher and all others similarly situated v. Convergex Group LLC, Cowen Execution, Convergex Global Markets Ltd., Convergex Holdings LLC, G-Trade Services LLC, & Does 1-10, No. 1:13-CV-09150-LLS). The suit alleges breaches of fiduciary duty and prohibited transactions under ERISA and seeks to maintain a class action on behalf of all ERISA plan participants, beneficiaries and named fiduciaries whose plans were impacted by net trading by Convergex Global Markets Limited from October 2006 to December 2011. On April 11, 2014, Landol Fletcher and Frederick P. Potter Jr., filed an amended complaint raising materially similar allegations. This matter was assumed by the Company as a result of the Company’s previously announced acquisition of Convergex Group, which was completed on June 1, 2017. On February 17, 2016, the District Court granted Convergex’s motion to dismiss the amended complaint. Plaintiffs filed an appeal to the Second Circuit, and the AARP and Department of Labor filed amicus briefs on plaintiffs' behalf. The appeal was argued on December 12, 2016. On February 10, 2017, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals (1) reversed the District Court, finding that plaintiff has constitutional standing in a “representative” capacity to sue for damages to the ERISA defined benefit plan in which he is a participant, and (2) remanded to the District Court to reconsider, in light of the Circuit Court’s decision, the issue whether plaintiff has standing to pursue claims on behalf of ERISA plans in which plaintiff is not a participant. Convergex filed a petition for rehearing, and the Court of Appeals denied the petition. On

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June 30, 2017, the Company filed a notice of motion and memorandum of law in support of a motion to stay the proceedings in the District Court pending resolution of its petition for writ of certiorari, which the Company intended to file with the U.S. Supreme Court. On August 16, 2017, the District Court granted the Company’s motion to stay the proceedings in the District Court pending resolution of the Company’s petition for writ of certiorari. On September 1, 2017, the Company filed a petition with the United States Supreme Court for a writ of certiorari requesting review of the decision of the Court of Appeals. On January 8, 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court denied the Company’s petition for a writ of certiorari. The previously granted stay of the proceedings in the District Court has been lifted, and the case is proceeding in the District Court. Status conferences were held on April 6, 2018, October 12, 2018, and December 4, 2018. On March 15, 2019, the Company filed a motion to dismiss the plaintiff’s amended complaint. We are indemnified against losses arising from this matter pursuant to, and subject to, the provisions of the purchase agreement relating to the acquisition of Convergex Group. Because the case is in its preliminary stages, the Company cannot predict the outcome at this time, but it does not currently expect this case to have a material effect on its financial position or its results of operations.
Item 1A.    Risk Factors
The discussion of our business and operations should be read together with the risk factors contained in Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018.
Item 2.    Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
As of March 31, 2019, the Company's Board of Directors has a share repurchase program that authorizes the Company to purchase up to $178.6 million of Cowen Class A common stock from time to time through a variety of methods, including in the open market or through privately negotiated transactions, in accordance with applicable securities laws. During the three months ended March 31, 2019, the Company repurchased 315,400 shares, at an average price of $14.77 per share, of Cowen Class A stock through the share repurchase program.
The table below sets forth the information with respect to purchases made by or on the behalf of the Company or any “affiliated purchaser” (as defined in Rule 10b-18(a)(3) under the Exchange Act, as amended), of our common stock during the three months ended March 31, 2019. Board approval of repurchases is based on dollar amount. As a result, the Company cannot estimate the number of shares that may yet be purchased.
Period
 
Total Number of Shares Purchased
 
Average Price Paid per Share
 
Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs
 
Approximate Dollar Value of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Month 1 (January 1, 2019 – January 31, 2019)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common stock repurchases(1)
 

 
$

 

 
$
10,000,465

Employee transactions(2)
 
1,032

 
14.37

 

 

Other (3)
 
3,331

 
14.52

 

 

Total
 
4,363

 
$
14.48

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Month 2 (February 1, 2019 – February 28, 2019)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common stock repurchases(1)
 

 
$

 

 
$
10,000,465

Employee transactions(2)
 
1,461

 
15.03

 

 

Other (3)
 

 

 

 

Total
 
1,461

 
$
15.03

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Month 3 (March 1, 2019 – March 31, 2019)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common stock repurchases(1)
 
315,400

 
$
14.77

 
315,400

 
$
5,342,862

Employee transactions(2)
 
320,734

 
14.45

 

 

Other (3)
 

 

 

 

Total
 
636,134

 
$
14.61

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total (January 1, 2019 – March 31, 2019)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common stock repurchases(1)
 
315,400

 
$
14.77

 
315,400

 
$
5,342,862

Employee transactions(2)
 
323,227

 
14.45

 

 

Other (3)
 
3,331

 
14.52

 

 

Total
 
641,958

 
$
14.61

 
315,400

 
 
(1)
The Company's Board of Directors have authorized the repurchase, subject to market conditions, of up to $178.6 million of the Company's outstanding common stock.

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(2)
Represents shares of common stock withheld in satisfaction of tax withholding obligations upon the vesting of equity awards or other similar transactions.
(3)
Represents shares of common stock distributed to the Company from an escrow account established to satisfy the Company’s indemnification claims arising under the terms of the purchase agreement entered into in connection with the Company’s acquisition of Convergex Group, LLC.
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
None.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Not Applicable.
Item 5. Other Information
None.
Item 6.    Exhibits

Exhibit No.
 
Description
 
 
 
101.INS
 
XBRL INSTANCE DOCUMENT
101.SCH
 
XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION SCHEMA DOCUMENT
101.CAL
 
XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION CALCULATION LINKBASE DOCUMENT
101.DEF
 
XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION DEFINITION LINKBASE DOCUMENT
101.LAB
 
XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION LABEL LINKBASE DOCUMENT
101.PRE
 
XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION PRESENTATION LINKBASE DOCUMENT






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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
 
 
 
 
COWEN INC.
 
 
 
 
 
By:
/s/ JEFFREY M. SOLOMON
 
 
 
 
 
Name:
Jeffrey M. Solomon
 
 
 
 
 
Title:
Chief Executive Officer
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By:
/s/ STEPHEN A. LASOTA
 
 
 
 
 
Name:
Stephen A. Lasota
 
 
Date:
May 2, 2019
 
Title:
Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer and principal accounting officer)