UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 4, 2019

 

 

 

COHEN & COMPANY INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Maryland 1-32026 16-1685692

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

(Commission

File Number)

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

  

Cira Centre

2929 Arch Street, Suite 1703

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

19104
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (215) 701-9555

 

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class   Trading
Symbol(s)
  Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share   COHN   The NYSE American Stock Exchange

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

 

Emerging growth company       ¨

 

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. ¨

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1.01           Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

On December 4, 2019 and effective as of October 1, 2019, Cohen & Company, LLC (the “Operating Company”), the majority owned subsidiary of Cohen & Company Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), entered into Amendment No. 2 to the Investment Agreement (the “Cohen Bros. Investment Agreement”), dated September 29, 2017, by and between the Operating Company and Cohen Bros. Financial LLC (“Cohen Bros.”), a Delaware limited liability company of which Daniel G. Cohen, is the sole member, as amended, to, among other things, provide that the term “Investment Return” (as defined in the Cohen Bros. Investment Agreement) with respect to the twelve-month period ending on September 29, 2020 means 3.75% of the amount invested by Cohen Bros. pursuant to the Cohen Bros. Investment Agreement (which, as of the date of this Current Report on Form 8-K, is $6,500,000), plus (x) 11.47% of any Revenue of the Business (as defined in the Cohen Bros. Investment Agreement) during such period between zero and $11,777,047, plus (y) 7.65% of any Revenue of the Business during such period in excess of $11,777,047. Prior to the above-described amendment to the Cohen Bros. Investment Agreement, the term “Investment Return” thereunder with respect to any twelve-month period ending on September 29 (each, an “Annual Period”) through September 29, 2020 meant 3.75% of the amount invested by Cohen Bros. pursuant to the Cohen Bros. Investment Agreement, plus (x) 11.47% of the Revenue of the Business for any Annual Period in which the Revenue of the Business was greater than zero but less than or equal to $5,333,333, (y) $611,765 for any Annual Period in which the Revenue of the Business was greater than $5,333,333 but less than or equal to $8,000,000, or (z) 7.65% of the Revenue of the Business for any Annual Period in which the Revenue of the Business was greater than $8,000,000.

 

On December 4, 2019 and effective as of October 1, 2019, the Operating Company also entered into Amendment No. 2 to the Investment Agreement (the “DGC Family Fintech Trust Investment Agreement”), dated September 29, 2017, by and between the Operating Company and the DGC Family Fintech Trust, a trust established by Daniel G. Cohen, effective October 1, 2019, as amended, to, among other things, provide that the term “Investment Return” (as defined in the DGC Family Fintech Trust Investment Agreement) with respect to the twelve-month period ending on September 29, 2020 means 3.75% of the amount invested by the DGC Family Fintech Trust pursuant to the DGC Family Fintech Trust Investment Agreement (which, as of the date of this Current Report on Form 8-K, is $2,000,000), plus (x) 3.53% of any Revenue of the Business (as defined in the DGC Family Fintech Trust Investment Agreement) during such period between zero and $11,777,047, plus (y) 2.35% of any Revenue of the Business during such period in excess of $11,777,047. Prior to the above-described amendment to the DGC Family Fintech Trust Investment Agreement, the term “Investment Return” thereunder with respect to any Annual Period through September 29, 2020 meant 3.75% of the amount invested by Cohen Bros. pursuant to the DGC Family Fintech Trust Investment Agreement, plus (x) 3.53% of the Revenue of the Business for any Annual Period in which the Revenue of the Business was greater than zero but less than or equal to $5,333,333, (y) $188,235 for any Annual Period in which the Revenue of the Business was greater than $5,333,333 but less than or equal to $8,000,000, or (z) 2.35% of the Revenue of the Business for any Annual Period in which the Revenue of the Business was greater than $8,000,000.

 

Daniel G. Cohen is the President and Chief Executive of the Company’s European operations and Chairman of the Company’s board of directors.

 

The foregoing descriptions of the amendments to the DGC Family Fintech Trust Investment Agreement and the DGC Family Fintech Trust Investment Agreement do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of the amendments to the DGC Family Fintech Trust Investment Agreement and the DGC Family Fintech Trust Investment Agreement, copies of which are attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 and Exhibit 10.2, respectively, and are incorporated herein by reference.

 

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Item 9.01        Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit
Number
Description
     
10.1*   Amendment No. 2 to Investment Agreement, dated as of December 4, 2019 and effective as of October 1, 2019, by and between Cohen & Company, LLC and Cohen Bros. Financial LLC.
     
10.2*   Amendment No. 2 to Investment Agreement, dated as of December 4, 2019 and effective as of October 1, 2019, by and between Cohen & Company, LLC and the DGC Family Fintech Trust.

 

 

*    Filed electronically herewith.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

  COHEN & COMPANY INC.
     
Date: December 9, 2019 By:

/s/ Joseph W. Pooler, Jr.

    Name: Joseph W. Pooler, Jr.
    Title: Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

 

Exhibit 10.1

 

AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO INVESTMENT AGREEMENT

 

THIS AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO INVESTMENT AGREEMENT (this “Amendment”), dated as of December 4, 2019 and effective as of October 1, 2019 (the “Effective Date”), is entered into by and between Cohen & Company, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), and Cohen Bros. Financial LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Investor”). Capitalized terms used herein but otherwise not defined shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Investment Agreement (as defined below).

 

RECITALS:

 

WHEREAS, on September 29, 2017, the Company and Investor entered into the Investment Agreement (the “Investment Agreement”), pursuant to which, among other things, Investor agreed to invest $8,000,000 into the Company in exchange for the Investment Return Monthly Payments to be made by the Company to Investor pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Investment Agreement;

 

WHEREAS, on September 25, 2019, the Company and Investor entered into Amendment No. 1 to the Investment Agreement (“Amendment No. 1”), to, among other things, (i) decrease the Investment Amount from $8,000,000 to $6,500,000; and (ii) amend the definition of “Investment Return” in each case, subject to the terms and conditions of Amendment No. 1; and

 

WHEREAS, the Company and Investor desire to further amend the Investment Agreement to further amend the definition of “Investment Return,” subject to the terms and conditions of this Amendment.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements hereinafter set forth and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:

 

1.                  Amendment to Section 1(e) of the Investment Agreement. Effective as of the Effective Date of this Amendment, Section 1(e) of the Investment Agreement is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following language: “(e) Intentionally omitted.”

 

2.                  Amendment to Section 1(o) of the Investment Agreement. Effective as of the Effective Date of this Amendment, Section 1(o) of the Investment Agreement is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following language:

 

“(o)              “Investment Return” shall mean an annual return equal to (i) for any Annual Period remaining in the Initial Period, 3.75% of the Investment Amount, plus (x) 11.47% of any Revenue of the Business during such Annual Period between zero and $11,777,047, plus (y) 7.65% of any Revenue of the Business during such Annual Period in excess of $11,777,047, and (ii) for any Annual Period following the expiration of the Initial Period, (x) for any Annual Period in which the Revenue of the Business is greater than zero, the greater of 20% of the Investment Amount or 15.29% of the Revenue of the Business, or (y) for any Annual Period in which the Revenue of the Business is zero or less than zero, 3.75% of the Investment Amount.”

 

 

 

 

3.                  Amendment to Section 5(a) of the Investment Agreement. Effective as of the Effective Date of this Amendment, Section 5(a) of the Investment Agreement is hereby amended to delete the language therein which reads “as calculated in accordance with the Calculation Methodology.”

 

4.                  Amendment to Exhibit A of the Investment Agreement. Effective as of the Effective Date of this Amendment, Exhibit A of the Investment Agreement is hereby deleted in its entirety.

 

5.                  No Other Changes. Except as expressly amended by this Amendment, all of the terms and conditions of the Investment Agreement shall continue in full force and effect and shall be unaffected by this Amendment.

 

6.                  Amendment. This Amendment may not be amended or modified except by a written agreement executed by the Company and Investor.

 

7.                  Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial.  THIS AMENDMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION. THE PARTIES FURTHER AGREE THAT ANY ACTION BETWEEN THEM SHALL BE HEARD IN NEW YORK, NEW YORK, AND EXPRESSLY CONSENT TO THE JURISDICTION AND VENUE OF THE STATE AND FEDERAL COURTS SITTING IN NEW YORK, NEW YORK, FOR THE ADJUDICATION OF ANY CIVIL ACTION ASSERTED PURSUANT TO THIS AMENDMENT.  EACH PARTY HERETO ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AMENDMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND THEREFORE IT HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AMENDMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

8.                  Headings. The sections and other headings contained in this Amendment are for reference purposes only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of this Amendment.

 

9.                  Binding Effect. This Amendment shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company and the Noteholder and their respective heirs, successors and permitted assigns.

 

10.                Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall be deemed to be one and the same agreement.  A signed copy of this Amendment delivered by facsimile, e-mail or other means of electronic transmission shall be deemed to have the same legal effect as delivery of an original signed copy of this Amendment.

 

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Amendment No. 2 to Investment Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

  COMPANY:
  COHEN & COMPANY, LLC
   
   
  By: /s/ Joseph W. Pooler, Jr.
    Name: Joseph W. Pooler, Jr.
    Title: Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

  INVESTOR:
  COHEN BROS. FINANCIAL LLC
   
   
  By: /s/ Daniel G. Cohen
    Name: Daniel G. Cohen
    Title: Managing Member

 

 

Exhibit 10.2

 

AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO INVESTMENT AGREEMENT

 

THIS AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO INVESTMENT AGREEMENT (this “Amendment”), dated as of December 4, 2019 and effective as of October 1, 2019 (the “Effective Date”), is entered into by and between Cohen & Company, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), and The DGC Family Fintech Trust (“Investor”). Capitalized terms used herein but otherwise not defined shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Investment Agreement (as defined below).

 

RECITALS:

 

WHEREAS, on September 29, 2017, the Company and Investor entered into the Investment Agreement (the “Investment Agreement”), pursuant to which, among other things, Investor agreed to invest $2,000,000 into the Company in exchange for the Investment Return Monthly Payments to be made by the Company to Investor pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Investment Agreement;

 

WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution of the Investment Agreement, the Company and Cohen Bros. Financial LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“CBF”), entered into the Investment Agreement (the “CBF Investment Agreement”), pursuant to which, among other things, CBF agreed to invest $8,000,000 into the Company in exchange for the “Investment Return Monthly Payments” (as defined in the CBF Investment Agreement) to be made by the Company to CBF pursuant to the terms and conditions of the CBF Investment Agreement;

 

WHEREAS, on September 25, 2019, the Company and Investor entered into Amendment No. 1 to the Investment Agreement to account for certain amendments made to the CBF Investment Agreement pursuant to Amendment No. 1 to the CBF Agreement, dated September 25, 2019, entered into by and between the Company and CBF;

 

WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution of this Amendment, the Company and CBF are entering into Amendment No. 2 to the CBF Investment Agreement (the “CBF Amendment”) to amend the CBF Investment Agreement to, among other things, amend the definition of “Investment Return” (as defined in the CBF Investment Agreement); and

 

WHEREAS, the Company and Investor desire to further amend the Investment Agreement to further amend the definition of “Investment Return” to account for the CBF Amendment, subject to the terms and conditions of this Amendment.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements hereinafter set forth and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:

 

1.             Amendment to Section 1(e) of the Investment Agreement. Effective as of the Effective Date of this Amendment, Section 1(e) of the Investment Agreement is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following language: “(e) Intentionally omitted.”

 

 

 

2.             Amendment to Section 1(o) of the Investment Agreement. Effective as of the Effective Date of this Amendment, Section 1(o) of the Investment Agreement is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following language:

 

“(o)         “Investment Return” shall mean an annual return equal to (i) for any Annual Period remaining in the Initial Period, 3.75% of the Investment Amount, plus (x) 3.53% of any Revenue of the Business during such Annual Period between zero and $11,777,047, plus (y) 2.35% of any Revenue of the Business during such Annual Period in excess of $11,777,047, and (ii) for any Annual Period following the expiration of the Initial Period, (x) for any Annual Period in which the Revenue of the Business is greater than zero, the greater of 20% of the Investment Amount or 4.71% of the Revenue of the Business, or (y) for any Annual Period in which the Revenue of the Business is zero or less than zero, 3.75% of the Investment Amount.”

 

3.             Amendment to Section 5(a) of the Investment Agreement. Effective as of the Effective Date of this Amendment, Section 5(a) of the Investment Agreement is hereby amended to delete the language therein which reads “as calculated in accordance with the Calculation Methodology.”

 

4.             Amendment to Exhibit A of the Investment Agreement. Effective as of the Effective Date of this Amendment, Exhibit A of the Investment Agreement is hereby deleted in its entirety.

 

5.             No Other Changes. Except as expressly amended by this Amendment, all of the terms and conditions of the Investment Agreement shall continue in full force and effect and shall be unaffected by this Amendment.

 

6.             Amendment. This Amendment may not be amended or modified except by a written agreement executed by the Company and Investor.

 

7.             Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial.  THIS AMENDMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION. THE PARTIES FURTHER AGREE THAT ANY ACTION BETWEEN THEM SHALL BE HEARD IN NEW YORK, NEW YORK, AND EXPRESSLY CONSENT TO THE JURISDICTION AND VENUE OF THE STATE AND FEDERAL COURTS SITTING IN NEW YORK, NEW YORK, FOR THE ADJUDICATION OF ANY CIVIL ACTION ASSERTED PURSUANT TO THIS AMENDMENT.  EACH PARTY HERETO ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AMENDMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND THEREFORE IT HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AMENDMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

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8.              Headings. The sections and other headings contained in this Amendment are for reference purposes only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of this Amendment.

 

9.              Binding Effect. This Amendment shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company and the Noteholder and their respective heirs, successors and permitted assigns.

 

10.            Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall be deemed to be one and the same agreement.  A signed copy of this Amendment delivered by facsimile, e-mail or other means of electronic transmission shall be deemed to have the same legal effect as delivery of an original signed copy of this Amendment.

 

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Amendment No. 2 to Investment Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

  COMPANY:
   
  COHEN & COMPANY, LLC
   
   
  By: /s/ Joseph W. Pooler, Jr.
    Name: Joseph W. Pooler, Jr.
    Title: Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
   
   
  INVESTOR:
   
  THE DGC FAMILY FINTECH TRUST
   
   
  By: /s/ Raphael Licht
    Name: Raphael Licht
    Title: Trustee
   
   
  By: /s/ Jeffrey D. Blomstrom
    Name: Jeffrey D. Blomstrom
    Title: Trustee