10-Q

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)
☒	QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2020
or
☐	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	Trading Symbol	Name of Exchange on Which Registered
Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share	COWN	The Nasdaq Global Market
7.35% Senior Notes due 2027	COWNZ	The Nasdaq Global Market
7.75% Senior Notes due 2033	COWNL	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 ☒    No ☐

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  ☒  No ☐ 

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 ☐ Accelerated filer ☒ Non-accelerated filer ☐
Smaller reporting company ☐ 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. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes ☐    No ☒

As of April 29, 2020, there were 27,688,071 shares of the registrant's common stock outstanding.

Item No.			Page No.
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION			4
	1. Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements		4
		Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition	4
		Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations	6
		Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)	8
		Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity	9
		Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows	10
		Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements	12
	2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations		65
	3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk		88
	4. Controls and Procedures		88
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION			88
	1. Legal Proceedings		88
	1A. Risk Factors		89
	2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds		92
	3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities		93
	4. Mine Safety Disclosures		93
	5. Other Information		93
	6. Exhibits		94
SIGNATURES			95

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, 2019 and the risks contained in Item 1A of this periodic report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2020.

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, 2020 and 2019. The Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2019 were audited.

3

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, 2020		As of December 31, 2019
Cash and cash equivalents	$	270,079	$	301,123
Cash collateral pledged	7,538		6,563
Segregated cash	131,266		107,328
Securities owned, at fair value ($200,278 and $941,595 were pledged to various parties)	776,046		1,633,552
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value	83,867		62,977
Securities borrowed	971,430		754,441
Other investments ($113,627 and $114,504 at fair value, respectively)	163,274		185,722
Deposits with clearing organizations, brokers and banks	131,948		91,755
Receivable from brokers, dealers and clearing organizations, net of allowance of $792 and $721, respectively	773,317		681,695
Receivable from customers, net of allowance of $675 and $650, respectively	193,009		105,647
Fees receivable, net of allowance of $2,364 and $2,620, respectively	157,081		126,358
Due from related parties	24,802		26,749
Fixed assets, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization of $34,942 and $32,846, respectively	33,909		33,661
Operating lease right-of-use assets	88,306		92,852
Goodwill	137,728		137,728
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $29,528 and $26,395, respectively	31,989		35,200
Deferred tax asset, net	80,848		79,166
Other assets	91,026		84,158
Consolidated Funds
Cash and cash equivalents	39,721		30,874
Securities owned, at fair value	355,496		375,278
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value	17,292		5,833
Other investments	149,689		175,769
Receivable from brokers	20,668		25,964
Other assets	1,722		1,632
Total Assets	$	4,732,051	$	5,162,025
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Liabilities
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value	$	527,471	$	451,836
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase	57,420		23,244
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value	72,385		60,761
Securities loaned	997,794		1,601,866
Payable to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations	330,096		271,018
Payable to customers	488,814		430,224
Commission management payable	112,688		71,620
Compensation payable	69,631		223,139
Operating lease liabilities	91,835		97,581
Notes payable and other debt	407,531		345,451
Convertible debt	119,929		118,688
Fees payable	21,162		21,540
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	164,540		141,557

4

Cowen Inc. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition (dollars in thousands, except share and per share data) (unaudited)
	As of March 31, 2020		As of December 31, 2019
(continued)
Consolidated Funds
Due to related parties	—		581
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value	18,066		4,769
Payable to brokers	1,263		864
Capital withdrawals payable	9,290		1,276
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	1,091		560
Total Liabilities	$	3,491,006	$	3,866,575
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 16)
Temporary Equity
Redeemable non-controlling interests	$	318,001	$	391,275
Permanent Equity
Cowen Inc. 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, 2020 (aggregate liquidation preference of $120,750,000) and 10,000,000 shares authorized, 120,750 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2019 (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, 47,848,963 shares issued and 27,628,117 outstanding as of March 31, 2020 and 62,500,000 shares authorized, 47,215,938 shares issued and 28,610,357 outstanding as of December 31, 2019, respectively (including 299,436 and 216,912 restricted shares, respectively)	334		334
Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share: 62,500,000 authorized, no shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively	—		—
Additional paid-in capital	1,119,534		1,110,635
(Accumulated deficit) retained earnings	(29,869)		(16,809)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(5)		(5)
Less: Class A common stock held in treasury, at cost, 20,220,846 and 18,605,581 shares as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively	(305,192)		(284,301)
Total Cowen Inc. Stockholders' Equity	784,803		809,855
Nonredeemable non-controlling interests	138,241		94,320
Total Permanent Equity	$	923,044	$	904,175
Total Liabilities, Temporary Equity and Permanent Equity	$	4,732,051	$	5,162,025

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

5

Cowen Inc. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (in thousands, except per share data) (unaudited)
	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2020		2019
Revenues
Investment banking	$	105,028	$	80,106
Brokerage	139,362		97,463
Management fees	11,604		7,141
Incentive income	—		15
Interest and dividends	42,077		29,092
Reimbursement from affiliates	261		288
Reinsurance premiums	10,471		6,591
Other revenues	1,850		1,061
Consolidated Funds
Interest and dividends	2,525		2,325
Other revenues	631		15
Total revenues	313,809		224,097
Interest and dividends expense	38,792		29,084
Total net revenues	275,017		195,013
Expenses
Employee compensation and benefits	124,428		131,882
Brokerage and trade execution costs	32,886		25,646
Underwriting expenses	3,640		3,131
Professional, advisory and other fees	11,039		10,241
Service fees	6,837		5,664
Communications	8,176		8,081
Occupancy and equipment	9,530		9,922
Depreciation and amortization	5,442		4,956
Client services and business development	11,803		11,301
Reinsurance claims, commissions and amortization of deferred acquisition costs	10,430		6,162
Other expenses	4,228		4,015
Consolidated Funds
Interest and dividends	1,252		867
Professional, advisory and other fees	990		145
Brokerage and trade execution costs	20		53
Other expenses	452		417
Total expenses	231,153		222,483
Other income (loss)
Net gains (losses) on securities, derivatives and other investments	(43,983)		39,084
Consolidated Funds
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments and other transactions	(73,419)		2,644
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives	276		(762)
Net gains (losses) on foreign currency transactions	(22)		(24)
Total other income (loss)	(117,148)		40,942
Income (loss) before income taxes	(73,284)		13,472
Income tax expense (benefit)	(1,173)		3,177
Net income (loss)	(72,111)		10,295

6

Cowen Inc. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (in thousands, except per share data) (unaudited)
	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2020		2019
(continued)
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries and investment funds	(62,188)		512
Net income (loss) attributable to Cowen Inc.	(9,923)		9,783
Preferred stock dividends	1,698		1,698
Net income (loss) attributable to Cowen Inc. common stockholders	$	(11,621)	$	8,085
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic	28,598		29,750
Diluted	28,598		31,625
Earnings (loss) per share:
Basic	$	(0.41)	$	0.27
Diluted	$	(0.41)	$	0.26

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

7

Cowen Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)

(dollars in thousands)

(unaudited)

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2020			2019
Net income (loss)		$	(72,111)		$	10,295
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Foreign currency translation	—			—
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax		—			—
Comprehensive income (loss)		$	(72,111)		$	10,295
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interests		(62,188)			512
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Cowen Inc.		$	(9,923)		$	9,783

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

8

Cowen Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity

(dollars in thousands, except share data)

(unaudited)

	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 Cowen Inc. Stockholders' Equity		Nonredeemable Non-controlling Interests		Total Permanent Equity		Redeemable Non-controlling Interest
Balance, December 31, 2019	28,610,357	$	334	120,750	$	1	$	(284,301)	$	1,110,635	$	(5)	$	(16,809)	$	809,855	$	94,320	$	904,175	$	391,275
Cumulative effect of the adoption of the new current expected credit loss standard (See Note 2d)	—	—		—	—		—		—		—		(10)		(10)		—		(10)		—
Net income (loss) attributable to Cowen Inc.	—	—		—	—		—		—		—		(9,923)		(9,923)		—		(9,923)		—
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries and funds	—	—		—	—		—		—		—		—		—		(1,198)		(1,198)		(60,990)
Capital contributions	—	—		—	—		—		—		—		—		—		88,682		88,682		118,866
Capital withdrawals	—	—		—	—		—		—		—		—		—		(43,563)		(43,563)		(131,150)
Restricted stock awards issued	591,763	—		—	—		—		—		—		—		—		—		—		—
Purchase of treasury stock, at cost	(1,615,265)	—		—	—		(20,891)		—		—		—		(20,891)		—		(20,891)		—
Common stock issuance related to acquisition (See Note 3)	41,262	—		—	—		—		618		—		—		618		—		618		—
Preferred stock dividends (See Note 18)	—	—		—	—		—		—		—		(1,698)		(1,698)		—		(1,698)		—
Cash dividends to common stockholders (See Note 18)	—	—		—	—		—		—		—		(1,429)		(1,429)		—		(1,429)		—
Amortization of share-based compensation	—	—		—	—		—		8,281		—		—		8,281		—		8,281		—
Balance, March 31, 2020	27,628,117	$	334	120,750	$	1	$	(305,192)	$	1,119,534	$	(5)	$	(29,869)	$	784,803	$	138,241	$	923,044	$	318,001
	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 Cowen Inc. Stockholders' Equity		Nonredeemable Non-controlling Interests		Total Permanent 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	$	64,880	$	859,287	$	216,923
Net income (loss) attributable to Cowen Inc.	—	—		—	—		—		—		—		9,783		9,783		—		9,783		—
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries and funds	—	—		—	—		—		—		—		—		—		(288)		(288)		800
Capital contributions	—	—		—	—		—		—		—		—		—		2,025		2,025		159,948
Capital withdrawals	—	—		—	—		—		—		—		—		—		(1,174)		(1,174)		(29,157)
Common stock issued upon acquisition (See Note 3)	1,033,350	10		—	—		—		14,436		—		—		14,446				14,446		—
Restricted stock awards issued	751,436	—		—	—		—		—		—		—		—		—		—		—
Purchase of treasury stock, at cost	(641,959)	—		—	—		(9,377)		—		—		—		(9,377)		—		(9,377)		—
Preferred stock dividends (See Note 18)	—	—		—	—		—		—		—		(1,698)		(1,698)		—		(1,698)		—
Embedded cash conversion option (See Note 18)	—	—		—	—		—		(596)		—		—		(596)		—		(596)		—
Amortization of share-based compensation	—	—		—	—		—		7,817		—		—		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	$	65,443	$	880,225	$	348,514

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

9

Cowen Inc. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (dollars in thousands) (unaudited)
	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2020		2019
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$	(72,111)	$	10,295
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by / (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	5,442		4,956
Amortization of debt issuance costs	334		244
Amortization of debt discount (premium)	1,109		1,349
Noncash lease expense	(1,200)		(806)
Share-based compensation	8,281		7,817
Change in deferred taxes	(1,682)		2,253
Purchases of securities owned, at fair value	(749,807)		(299,969)
Proceeds from sales of securities owned, at fair value	845,779		389,551
Proceeds from sales of securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value	416,453		439,565
Payments to cover securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value	(334,068)		(361,290)
Proceeds from other investments	15,693		3,529
Net (gains) losses on securities, derivatives and other investments	38,039		(32,320)
Consolidated Funds
Purchases of securities owned, at fair value	(1,024,733)		(674,220)
Proceeds from sales of securities owned, at fair value	991,096		565,460
Purchases of other investments	(1,240)		(296)
Proceeds from other investments	6,669		1,174
Net realized and unrealized (gains) losses on investments and other transactions	74,071		(14,309)
(Increase) decrease in operating assets:
Securities owned, at fair value, held at broker-dealer	713,313		(105,939)
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value	(20,889)		3,462
Securities borrowed	(216,989)		(559,062)
Deposits with clearing organizations, brokers and banks	(40,193)		(19,887)
Receivable from brokers, dealers and clearing organizations	(91,622)		123,041
Receivable from customers, net of allowance	(87,362)		1,139
Fees receivable, net of allowance	(30,723)		(10,884)
Due from related parties	1,947		5,028
Other assets	(6,919)		(13,688)
Consolidated Funds
Cash and cash equivalents	(8,847)		35,995
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value	(11,459)		1,232
Receivable from brokers	5,296		(31,223)
Other assets	(94)		(22,456)
Increase (decrease) in operating liabilities:
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value, held at broker-dealer	15,925		283,919
Securities sold under agreement to repurchase	34,176		—
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value	11,624		27,501
Securities loaned	(604,072)		437,351
Payable to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations	59,078		(54,199)
Payable to customers	58,590		(112,103)
Commission management payable	41,068		8,364
Compensation payable	(156,333)		(159,154)
Fees payable	(378)		(11,226)
Due to related parties	—		(4,561)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	24,234		9,272
Consolidated Funds
Contributions received in advance	150		1,000
Payable to brokers	399		(9,618)
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value	13,297		3,894
Due to related parties	(581)		—
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	382		(211)
Net cash provided by / (used in) operating activities	(78,857)		(130,030)

10

Cowen Inc. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (dollars in thousands) (unaudited)
	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2020		2019
(continued)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of other investments	(17,650)		(5,462)
Purchase of business (See Note 3)	—		(48,581)
Proceeds from sales of other investments	12,059		6,337
Proceeds from loans held for investment	—		13
Purchase of fixed assets and intangibles	(2,485)		(1,684)
Net cash provided by / (used in) investing activities	(8,076)		(49,377)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments on convertible debt	—		(20,860)
Borrowings on notes and other debt	62,812		1,579
Repayments on notes and other debt	(933)		(394)
Purchase of treasury stock	(18,018)		(4,658)
Cash dividends paid	(1,428)		—
Preferred dividends paid	(1,698)		(1,698)
Contingent liability payment	(782)		(1,235)
Capital contributions by non-controlling interests in operating entities	286		2,025
Capital withdrawals to non-controlling interests in operating entities	(462)		(346)
Consolidated Funds
Capital contributions by non-controlling interests in Consolidated Funds	207,263		159,948
Capital withdrawals to non-controlling interests in Consolidated Funds	(166,238)		(17,845)
Net cash provided by / (used in) financing activities	80,802		116,516
Change in cash and cash equivalents	(6,131)		(62,891)
Cash and cash equivalents, including cash collateral pledged and segregated cash, beginning of period	415,014		442,113
Cash and equivalents at end of period:
Cash and cash equivalents	270,079		235,838
Cash collateral pledged	7,538		6,420
Segregated cash	131,266		136,964
Cash and cash equivalents, including cash collateral pledged and segregated cash, end of period	$	408,883	$	379,222
Supplemental information
Cash paid during the year for interest	$	29,560	$	8,822
Cash paid during the year for taxes	$	950	$	1,431
Supplemental non-cash information
Purchase of treasury stock, at cost, through net settlement (See Note 18)	$	2,825	$	4,671
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 in relation to acquisition (See Note 3)	$	618	$	14,446

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

11

Cowen Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

Index

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements		Page
	Note 1—Organization and Business	13
	Note 2—Significant Accounting Policies	14
	Note 3—Acquisition	26
	Note 4—Cash Collateral Pledged	28
	Note 5— Segregated Cash	28
	Note 6—Investments of Operating Entities and Consolidated Funds	28
	Note 7—Fair Value Measurements for Operating Entities and Consolidated Funds	38
	Note 8—Deposits with Clearing Organizations, Brokers and Banks	45
	Note 9—Receivable From and Payable to Brokers, Dealers and Clearing Organizations	45
	Note 10—Receivable From and Payable to Customers	45
	Note 11—Commission Management Payable	45
	Note 12— Non-Controlling Interests in Consolidated Subsidiaries and Investment Funds	46
	Note 13—Reinsurance	46
	Note 14—Share-Based and Deferred Compensation and Employee Ownership Plans	46
	Note 15—Income Taxes	48
	Note 16—Commitments and Contingencies	48
	Note 17—Convertible Debt and Notes Payable	51
	Note 18—Stockholder's Equity	54
	Note 19—Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	56
	Note 20—Earnings Per Share	56
	Note 21—Segment Reporting	57
	Note 22—Regulatory Requirements	60
	Note 23—Related Party Transactions	62
	Note 24—Guarantees and Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements	62
	Note 25—Subsequent Events	64

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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 that, together with its consolidated subsidiaries (collectively, "Cowen" or the "Company"), provides investment banking, research, sales and trading, prime brokerage, global clearing, commission management services and investment management through its two business segments: the Operating Company ("Op Co") and the Asset Company ("Asset Co").

The Op Co segment consists of four divisions: the Investment Banking division, the Markets division, the Research division and the Cowen Investment Management ("CIM") division. The Company refers to the Investment Banking division, the Markets division and the Research division combined as its investment banking businesses. Op Co's investment banking businesses offer advisory and global capital markets origination, domain knowledge-driven research, sales and trading platforms for institutional investors, global clearing, commission management services and also a comprehensive suite of prime brokerage service. Sectors covered by Op Co's investment banking business include healthcare, technology, media and telecommunications, consumer, industrials, information and technology services, and energy. Op Co’s CIM division includes advisers to investment funds (including private equity structures and privately placed hedge funds) and registered funds.

The Asset Co segment consists of certain of the Company's private investments, private real estate investments and other legacy investment strategies. The focus of Asset Co is to drive future monetization of the invested capital of the segment.

Change in 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. Because of the change in the Chief Operating Decision Maker ("CODM") of the Company at the end of 2017, the Company experienced a strategic shift to refocus the Company's businesses on a set of differentiated products which are aligned to the content and insight within the Company's domain of expertise.

During the second quarter of 2019, the Company realigned the business and reportable segment information that the CODM regularly reviews to evaluate performance for operating decision-making purposes, including evaluation and allocation of resources.  As a result, the Company changed its segment reporting structure based on the Company's domain expertise as a driver of balance sheet harmonization and repeatable revenues for its operating business versus the Company's long-term monetization strategies.

As a result of the change in segments during the second quarter of 2019, the Company has the following business segments:

•The Op Co segment consists of four divisions: Investment Banking, Markets, Research and Cowen Investment Management. Each of Op Co's four divisions leverage the Research division’s core domain expertise to drive harmonized repeatable revenue for the segment.

◦The Investment Banking division includes public and private capital raising transactions and providing strategic advisory services.

◦The Markets division includes trading equity, equity-linked and fixed income securities on behalf of institutional investors as well as a full-service suite of prime brokerage services, cross-asset trading, securities finance, global execution, clearing and commission management businesses.

◦The Research division provides thought leadership and domain expertise. The research content that is created helps to facilitate brokerage revenue in the Markets division, provides research coverage for clients of the Investment Banking division and facilitate investor relationships and investing within CIM's innovative investment products and solutions.

◦The CIM division offers innovative investment products and solutions across the liquidity spectrum to institutional and private clients. CIM offers investors access to a number of strategies to meet their specific needs including merger arbitrage, activism, healthcare royalties, private healthcare investing and private sustainable investing many of which leverage the content and domain expertise that are aligned with the Company's core areas of expertise, which the Company refers to as Cowen DNA.

•The Asset Co segment consists of certain of the Company's private investments, private real estate investments and other legacy investment strategies.

13

Cowen Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

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 on consolidation. Certain investment funds 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 specialized industry accounting.

The Company serves as the managing member/general partner and/or investment manager to investment funds which it sponsors and manages. Investment funds in which the Company has a controlling financial interest are consolidated with the Company. Consequently, the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements reflect the assets, liabilities, income and expenses of these investment funds on a gross basis. The ownership interests in these investment funds that are not owned by the Company are reflected as redeemable or nonredeemable non-controlling interests, dependent on the non-controlling interest holder's redemption rights, in consolidated subsidiaries in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements. The management fees and incentive income earned by the Company from these investment funds are eliminated in consolidation.

The Company carried out an analysis to evaluate instances where non-controlling interest parties have the unilateral right to redeem their ownership interest for cash, which resulted in a change to the presentation of certain nonredeemable non-controlling interests into permanent equity. Accordingly, prior period amounts have been recast to present nonredeemable non-controlling interests separately from redeemable non-controlling interests within the equity section of the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of financial condition. This has no impact on net income (loss) attributable to Cowen Inc. common stockholders, total assets or total liabilities.

With respect to the Company's private equity investment management strategies, a portion of the Company's carried interest is granted to employees through profit sharing awards designed to more closely align compensation with the overall realized performance of the Company. These arrangements enable certain employees to earn compensation based on performance revenue earned by the Company and are recorded within compensation payable in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of financial condition and employee compensation and benefits expense in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operation based on the probable and estimable payments under the terms of the awards. Prior period amounts have been recast to reflect this accounting treatment.

The accompanying financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s financial statements and notes thereto included in the our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 (the "2019 Form 10-K"). Certain footnote disclosures included in the 2019 Form 10-K have been condensed or omitted from these financial statements as they are not required for interim reporting under U.S. GAAP or are insignificant to the interim reporting period.

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.

The Company consolidates six investment funds for which it acts as the managing member/general partner and investment manager. At March 31, 2020, 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"), Ramius Merger Arbitrage UCITS Fund ("UCITS Fund"), Cowen Sustainable Investments I LP ("CSI I LP") and CSI I Golden Holdco LP ("Golden HoldCo") (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 Entities—VOEs are entities in which (i) the total equity investment at risk is sufficient to enable the entity to finance its activities independently, (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 and (iii) voting rights of equity holders are proportionate to their obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive returns.

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Cowen Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Under US GAAP consolidation requirements, 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 determines whether it is the primary beneficiary of a VIE upon its initial involvement with the VIE and reassesses whether it is the primary beneficiary on an ongoing basis as long as it has any continuing involvement with the 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, 2020, the total assets and total liabilities of the consolidated VIEs were $613.7 million and $34.9 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2019, the total assets and total liabilities of the consolidated VIEs were $685.4 million and $24.9 million, respectively. Decrease in performance decreased the 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.

At March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Company held a variable interest in Ramius Merger Master Fund Ltd ("Merger Master") (the "Unconsolidated Master Fund") through the consolidated Merger Fund. 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 Fund.

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 or real estate funds that are VIEs due to the Company's conclusion that it is not the primary beneficiary of these funds in each instance. Investment fund investors are entitled to all of the 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 a general partner and a 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 Investments—For 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.

Other—If 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), 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 Accounting—The Consolidated Funds and certain other consolidated companies are investment companies and apply specialized industry accounting. 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

15

Cowen Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

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"), Westminster Research Associates LLC ("Westminster"), Cowen Execution Services Limited ("Cowen Execution Ltd"), ATM Execution LLC ("ATM Execution"), Cowen International Limited ("Cowen International Ltd"), and Cowen Prime Services LLC ("Cowen Prime") apply the specialized industry accounting for brokers and dealers in securities. 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

Effective January 1, 2020, the Company adopted ASC Topic 326, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (“ASC 326”). ASC 326 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. Under the accounting update, the Company has the ability to determine there are no expected credit losses in certain circumstances (e.g., based on collateral arrangements or based on the credit quality of the borrower or issuer).

The Company identified securities borrowed and fees and other receivables carried at amortized cost (including, but not limited to, receivables related to securities transactions, corporate finance and syndicate receivables, management fees and incentive fees receivable) as impacted by the new guidance. ASC 326 specifies that the Company adopt the new guidance prospectively by means of a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening retained earnings as of the beginning of the first reporting period effective. Accordingly, the Company recognized a cumulative effective adjustment of $0.01 million upon adoption.

The allowance for credit losses is based on the Company's expectation of the collectability of financial instruments carried at amortized cost, including securities borrowed and fees and other receivables utilizing the CECL framework. The Company considers factors such as historical experience, credit quality, age of balances and current and future economic conditions that may affect the Company’s expectation of the collectability in determining the allowance for credit losses. The Company’s expectation is that the credit risk associated with fees and other receivables is not significant until they are 90 days past due based on the contractual arrangement and expectation of collection in accordance with industry standards.

For securities borrowed, the Company applies a practical expedient to measure the allowance for credit losses based on the fair value of the collateral. If the fair value of the collateral held exceeds the amortized cost and the borrower is expected to continue to replenish the collateral as needed, the Company will not recognize an allowance. If the fair value of collateral is less than amortized cost and the borrower is expected to continue to replenish the collateral as needed, the Company applies the CECL model, utilizing a probability and loss given default methodology, only to the extent of the shortfall between the fair value of the collateral and amortized cost.

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 1Inputs 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 2Inputs 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

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Cowen Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Level 3Fair 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. Inputs reflect unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access at the measurement date.

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 impact 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 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 primarily include active listed equities, certain U.S. government and sovereign obligations, Exchange Traded Funds ("ETFs"), mutual funds and certain money market securities.

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 Contracts—Derivative 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.

17

Cowen Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Other Investments—Other investments consist primarily of investment funds, real estate investments, carried interest 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 applies the practical expedient provided by the US GAAP fair value measurements and disclosures guidance relating to investments in certain entities that calculate net asset value (“NAV”) per share (or its equivalent). The guidance permits 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 NAV 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. 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 measured 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.

See Notes 6 and 7 for further information regarding the Company's investments, including equity method investments and fair value measurements.

iii. Carried Interest—For the private equity and debt fund products the Company offers, the Company is allocated incentive income by the investment funds based on the extent by which the investment funds performance exceeds predetermined thresholds. Carried interest allocations are generally structured from a legal standpoint as an allocation of capital in the Company’s capital account. The Company accounts for carried interest allocations by applying an equity ownership model. Accordingly, the Company accrues performance allocations quarterly based on the fair value of the underlying investments assuming hypothetical liquidation at book value.

iv. Equity Method Investments—For operating entities over which the Company exercises significant influence but which do not meet the requirements for consolidation as outlined above, the Company applies 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.

f. Receivable from and payable to brokers

Receivable from brokers, dealers, and clearing organizations includes amounts receivable for securities failed to deliver by the Company to a purchaser by the settlement date, amounts receivable from broker-dealers and clearing organizations, commissions receivable from broker-dealers, and interest receivable from securities financing arrangements.

Payable to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations includes amounts payable for securities failed to receive by the Company from a seller by the settlement date, amounts payable to broker-dealers and clearing organizations for unsettled trades, interest payable for securities financing arrangements, and payables of deposits held in proprietary account of brokers and dealers.

18

Cowen Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Pursuant to the master netting agreements the Company has entered into with its brokers, dealers and clearing organizations, receivables and payables arising from unsettled trade 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.

g. Receivable from and payable to customers

Receivable from customers includes amounts owed by customers on cash and margin transactions, recorded on a settle-date basis on the statement of financial condition.

Payable to customers primarily consists of amounts owed to customers relating to securities transactions not completed on settlement date, recorded on a settle-date basis on the statement of financial condition, and other miscellaneous customer payables.

Securities owned by customers, including those that collateralize margin, are not reflected as assets of the Company on the statement of financial condition. The Company holds these securities with the intention of settlement against customer orders and are held as collateral for customer receivables.

h. Fees receivable

Fees related to security transactions are reported net of an allowance for credit losses. 

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 2m).

i. 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. See Note 2d for further information.

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 financial condition. At March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Company did not have any securities lending transactions for which fair value basis of accounting was elected.

j.  Securities sold under agreements to repurchase

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase ("repos") are accounted for as collateralized financing transactions and are recorded at their contracted repurchase amount plus accrued interest. A repo is a transaction in which a firm sells financial instruments to a buyer, typically in exchange for cash, and simultaneously enters into an agreement to repurchase the same or substantially the same financial instruments from such buyer at a stated price plus accrued interest at a future date. 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 approximates or is greater than the market value of securities sold in the transaction. The Company typically enters into repo transactions with counterparties that prefer repo transactions to securities loaned transactions. The Company has executed master repo agreements with such counterparties and utilizes such counterparties

19

Cowen Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

to finance its own positions, or replace a securities lending transaction with a repo for matched book purposes. The Company monitors the market value of repos on a daily basis, with additional collateral obtained or returned, as necessary. Repos may also result in credit exposures for the Company in an event that the counterparties are unable to fulfill their contractual obligations. The Company mitigates its credit risk by continuously monitoring its credit exposure and collateral values by demanding additional collateral or returning excess collateral in accordance with the netting provisions available in the master repo contracts in place with the counterparties.

        Interest paid is recorded in interest and dividends expense 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. At March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Company did not have any repos for which fair value basis of accounting was elected.

k. Goodwill and intangible assets

Goodwill

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 requirements for testing for impairment of goodwill, 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 a quantitative impairment test is not necessary. If the Company concludes otherwise, the Company is required to perform a quantitative impairment test that 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 its fair value, then the Company recognizes an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value.

Intangible assets

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 accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations if the sum of the estimated undiscounted cash flows relating to the asset or asset group is less than the corresponding carrying value. The Company continually monitors the estimated average useful lives of existing intangible assets.

l. Non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries

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. When non-controlling interest holders have redemption features that can be exercised at the option of the holder currently or contingent upon the occurrence of future events, their ownership has been classified as temporary equity. The remaining non-controlling interests have been classified in permanent equity as the non-controlling interests are either not redeemable at the option of the holder or the holder does not have the unilateral right to redeem its ownership interests.

m. 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

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Cowen Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

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 generated within two segments: Op Co and Asset Co as more fully described below. Revenue from contracts with customers includes management fees, incentive income, investment banking revenue and brokerage services revenue excluding principal transactions. 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 business segments, from which the Company generates its revenue. For more detailed information about reportable segments, see Note 21.

Operating Company

The Op Co segment generates revenue through five principle sources: investment banking revenue, brokerage revenue, management fees, incentive income and investment income from the Company's own capital. Investment income is excluded from ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers.

Asset Company

The Asset Co segment generates revenue through management fees, incentive income and investment income from the Company’s own capital. Investment income is excluded from ASC Topic 606.

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 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 securities 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 of the offering; which generally occurs on trade date.

Underwriting fees are recognized gross of transaction-related expenses, and 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 revenue includes 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 placement agency 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

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Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

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 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 brokers to 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 short duration.

•Equity research fees. Equity research fees are paid to the Company for providing access to equity research. In the US, revenue is recognized once an arrangement exists, access to research has been provided and the customer has benefited from the research. As part of MiFID II, the Company’s international broker-dealers have executed equity research contracts with its clients. The contracts either contain a fixed price for providing access to research or a price at the discretion of the customer with a contract minimum. Fixed equity research fees are recognized over the contract period as the customer is benefiting from the research throughout the contract term. When the equity research fees are based on the customer’s discretion with a contract minimum, the Company recognizes the contract minimum over the life of the contract as the customer benefits from the research provided and adjusts the revenue when the Company can estimate the amount of equity research fees over the contract minimum. Additionally, the Company earns variable consideration for attending client conferences and events. Revenue is recognized when the Company attends a client conference or event.

•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.

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.

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Cowen Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

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:

•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 agreement). 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.

•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.

•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.

•Real estate. Management fees from the Company's real estate investments 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.

Incentive income

The Company earns incentive income based on net profits (as defined in the respective investment management or partnership agreement) related 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 corresponding investment management or partnership agreement. 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 crystallized. For certain  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 its 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.

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Cowen Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

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. 

Investment Income

Investment income earned by the Company is generated from investing the Company's capital in various strategies.

Revenue from contracts with customers

For the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, the following tables presents revenues from contracts with customers disaggregated by fee type and segment.

		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2020		2019
		(dollars in thousands)
Revenue from contracts with customers		Operating Company
Investment banking
Underwriting fees		$	63,270	$	48,036
Strategic/financial advisory fees		21,996		20,544
Placement and sales agent fees		17,596		9,498
Expense reimbursements from clients		2,166		2,028
	Total investment banking revenue	105,028		80,106
Brokerage
Commissions		132,208		87,359
Trade conversion revenue		4,639		4,106
Equity research fees		4,005		3,590
	Total brokerage revenue from customers	140,852		95,055
Management fees		11,346		6,643
Incentive income		—		—
Total revenue from contracts with customers - Op Co		$	257,226	$	181,804
		Asset Company
Management fees		258		498
Incentive income		—		15
Total revenue from contracts with customers - Asset Co		258		513
Total revenue from contracts with customers		$	257,484	$	182,317

Investments transactions and related income/expenses

Purchases and sales of securities, net of commissions, derivative contracts, and the related revenues and expenses are recorded on a trade-date basis with net trading gains and losses included as a component of net gains (losses) on securities, derivatives and other investments, and with respect to the Consolidated Funds and other real estate entities as a component of net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments and other transactions and net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives, respectively, in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations.

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 in accordance with US GAAP and market convention for the imputation of interest of the host financial instrument. 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.

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Cowen Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Reimbursement from affiliates

The Company allocates, at its discretion, certain expenses incurred on behalf of its investment management businesses. 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.

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.

n. 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. The Company evaluates its deferred tax assets for recoverability considering negative and positive evidence, including its historical financial performance, projections of future taxable income, future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, and tax planning strategies. The Company records 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, the Company estimates 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, the Company has identified the assessment of deferred tax assets and the need for any related valuation allowance as a critical accounting estimate.

US GAAP clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise's financial statements, requiring the Company to determine whether a tax position is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position. For tax positions meeting the more likely than not threshold, the tax amount recognized in the financial statements is reduced by the largest benefit that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement with the relevant taxing authority. The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to its uncertain tax positions as a component of income tax expense.

In accordance with federal and state tax laws, the Company and its subsidiaries file consolidated federal, state, and local income tax returns as well as stand-alone state and local tax returns. The Company also has subsidiaries that are residents in

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Cowen Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

foreign countries where tax filings have to be submitted on a stand-alone or combined basis. These subsidiaries are subject to taxes in their respective countries and the Company is responsible for and therefore reports all taxes incurred by these subsidiaries in the condensed consolidated statements of operations. The foreign jurisdictions where the Company owns subsidiaries and has tax filing obligations are the United Kingdom, Luxembourg, Gibraltar, Germany, Switzerland, South Africa, Canada and Hong Kong.

o. Recent pronouncements

Recently adopted

In October 2018, the FASB issued guidance that made targeted changes to the related party consolidation guidance. The accounting standard update aligns the evaluation of whether a decision maker's fee is a variable interest with the guidance in the primary beneficiary test by requiring the decision maker to consider an indirect interest in a VIE held by a related party under common control on a proportionate basis. The standard became effective for the Company in the first quarter of 2020 and was adopted retrospectively with no impact to current and previous consolidation conclusions.

In August 2018, the FASB issued guidance for accounting for upfront costs and fees paid by a customer in a cloud computing arrangement. The accounting standard aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal use software. The standard became effective for the Company in the first quarter of 2020 and was adopted prospectively.

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. The guidance became effective for the Company in the first quarter of 2020. Please refer to Note 2d. for more information.

In December 2019, the FASB issued guidance simplifying the accounting for income taxes. The guidance simplifies the accounting for income taxes by removing the following exceptions (i) the incremental approach for intra-period tax allocation when there is a loss from continuing operations and income or a gain from other items (for example, discontinued operations or other comprehensive income), (ii) the requirement to recognize a deferred tax liability for equity method investments when a foreign subsidiary becomes an equity method investment, (iii) the ability not to recognize a deferred tax liability for a foreign subsidiary when a foreign equity method investment becomes a subsidiary and (iv) general methodology for calculating income taxes in an interim period when a year-to-date loss exceeds the anticipated loss for the year. Additionally the guidance requires that an entity (a) recognize a franchise tax (or similar tax) that is partially based on income as an income-based tax and account for any incremental amount incurred as a non-income-based tax, (b) evaluate when a step up in the tax basis of goodwill should be considered part of the business combination in which the book goodwill was originally recognized and when it should be considered a separate transaction and (c) reflect the effect of an enacted change in tax laws or rates in the annual effective tax rate computation in the interim period that includes the enactment date as well as specifying that an entity is not required to allocate the consolidated amount of current and deferred tax expense to a legal entity that is not subject to tax in its separate financial statements. However, an entity may elect to do so (on an entity-by-entity basis) for a legal entity that is both not subject to tax and disregarded by the taxing authority. The guidance also makes minor codification improvements for income taxes related to employee stock ownership plans and investments in qualified affordable housing projects accounted for using the equity method. For public business entities, the guidance is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2020 and interim periods within those fiscal years with early adoption permitted. The Company early adopted the guidance effective in the first quarter of 2020 and has determined no material impact from the adoption of this guidance on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

3. Acquisition

Quarton

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 formerly U.S. Securities Exchange Commission ("SEC") registered broker-dealer that was subsequently renamed to Cowen Securities L.P. ("Cowen Securities") (see Note 22), 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.

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Cowen Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

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 Acquisition Date, 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. 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 Op Co 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.

The table below summarizes the purchase price allocation of net tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of January 2, 2019:

	(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

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Cowen Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

As of the Acquisition Date, the estimated fair value of the Company's intangible assets, as acquired through the Acquisition, was $22.2 million and had a weighted average useful life of 2.8 years. 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 each of the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 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)
2020	$	6,681
2021	2,608
2022	1,775
2023	—
2024	—
Thereafter	—
	$	11,064

In addition to the purchase price consideration, for the three months ended March 31, 2019, the Company had 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 is revenue of $5.3 million and net income of $1.6 million related to the results of operations of Quarton.

4. Cash Collateral Pledged 

As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Company pledged cash collateral in the amount of $4.6 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 $2.9 million, as of March 31, 2020, and $2.0 million, as of December 31, 2019, which are released annually between March 2020 and March 2023 based on the policy periods covered by the reinsurance agreements (see Note 17).

5. Segregated Cash

As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, cash segregated in compliance with federal regulations and other restricted deposits of $131.3 million and $107.3 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.

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Cowen Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, securities owned, at fair value consisted of the following:

	As of March 31, 2020		As of December 31, 2019
	(dollars in thousands)
Common stock	$	648,134	$	1,546,484
Preferred stock	14,700		12,656
Warrants and rights	23,491		22,109
Government bonds (a)	61,198		15,916
Corporate bonds (c)	16,089		25,500
Convertible bonds (b)	2,786		2,500
Term loan (*)	—		1,067
Trade claims (*)	9,648		7,320
	$	776,046	$	1,633,552

(a)As of March 31, 2020, maturities ranged from May 2020 to February 2048 and interest rates ranged from 0% to 8.75%. As of December 31, 2019, maturities ranged from January 2020 to June 2020 with an interest rate of 0%.

(b)As of March 31, 2020, maturities ranged from April 2020 to March 2022 with an interest rate of 8%. As of December 31, 2019, maturities ranged from April 2020 to March 2022 with an interest rate of 8%.

(c)As of March 31, 2020, maturities ranged from May 2020 to October 2027 and interest rates ranged from 0% to 15.5%. As of December 31, 2019, maturities ranged from January 2020 to May 2037 and interest rates ranged from 0% to 15.0%.

* The Company has elected the fair value option for securities owned, at fair value with a fair value of $9.6 million and $8.4 million, respectively, at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019.

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 expose 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, 2020				As of December 31, 2019
	Number of contracts / Notional Value		Fair value		Number of contracts / Notional Value		Fair value
	(dollars in thousands)
Currency forwards	$	58,737	1,010		$	—	—
Swaps	$	232,713	24,523		$	383,752	2,911
Options other (a)	402,281		58,334		550,188		60,066
			$	83,867			$	62,977

(a) Includes the volume of contracts for index, equity, commodity future and cash conversion options.

Payable for derivative contracts	As of March 31, 2020				As of December 31, 2019
	Number of contracts / Notional Value		Fair value		Number of contracts / Notional Value		Fair value
	(dollars in thousands)
Futures	$	5,045	$	87	$	10,224	$	217
Currency forwards	$	108,189	1,883		$	77,790	851
Swaps	$	202,650	9,469		$	607,717	23,169
Options other (a)	222,709		60,946		306,306		36,524
			$	72,385			$	60,761

(a) Includes the volume of contracts for index, equity, commodity future and cash conversion options.

29

Cowen Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

The following tables present the gross and net derivative positions and the related offsetting amount, as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019. This table does not include the impact of over-collateralization.

							Gross amounts not offset in the Condensed Consolidated Statements 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, 2020
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value	$	92,755	$	8,888	$	83,867	$	—	$	25,532	$	58,335
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value	81,273		8,888		72,385		—		11,351		61,034
As of December 31, 2019
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value	$	66,217	$	3,240	$	62,977	$	—	$	2,911	$	60,066
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value	64,001		3,240		60,761		—		24,020		36,741

(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 $28.8 million and $(2.2) million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, 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 exchange traded derivatives and certain options, the Company is required to post/receive collateral. As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, collateral consisting of $12.9 million and $10.5 million of cash is included in receivable from brokers, dealers and clearing organizations of $773.3 million and $681.7 million, respectively, and payable to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations, of $330.1 million and $271.0 million, respectively, on the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of financial condition. As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, all derivative contracts were with major financial institutions.

Other investments

As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, other investments included the following:

	As of March 31, 2020		As of December 31, 2019
	(dollars in thousands)
Portfolio funds, at fair value (1)	$	113,627	$	114,504
Carried interest (2)	20,729		30,360
Equity method investments (3)	28,918		40,858
	$	163,274	$	185,722

30

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, 2020 and December 31, 2019, included the following:

	As of March 31, 2020		As of December 31, 2019
	(dollars in thousands)
Starboard Value and Opportunity Fund (c)(*)	$	35,299	$	37,895
Formation8 Partners Fund I, L.P. (f)	32,837		33,613
RCG Longview Debt Fund V, L.P. (g)(*)	1,243		1,732
Cowen Healthcare Investments II LP (i) (*)	13,907		14,652
Eclipse Ventures Fund I, L.P. (b)	4,287		3,960
HealthCare Royalty Partners LP (a)(*)	1,307		1,326
Lagunita Biosciences, LLC (d)	5,037		4,802
Starboard Leaders Fund LP (e)(*)	1,429		1,560
Eclipse SPV I, LP (j)(*)	1,637		1,447
TriArtisan ES Partners LLC (k)(*)	1,047		1,082
TriArtisan PFC Partners LLC (l)(*)	528		909
RCG Longview Equity Fund, LP (g) (*)	852		835
HealthCare Royalty Partners II LP (a)(*)	1,796		1,781
Cowen Healthcare Investments III LP (i)(*)	1,189		1,398
Difesa Partners, LP (h) (*)	540		508
Other private investment (m)(*)	8,245		4,448
Other affiliated funds (n)(*)	2,447		2,556
	$	113,627	$	114,504

* 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 16.

(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 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 investor's 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. and RCG Longview Equity Fund, LP are real estate private equity structures. The timing of distributions depends on the nature of the underlying investments and therefore will be made either quarterly or when the underlying investments are liquidated.

(h)Difesa Partners, LP permits semi-annual withdrawals occurring on or after the anniversary of initial contribution upon 90 days written notice.

(i)Cowen Healthcare Investments II LP and Cowen Healthcare Investments III LP are private equity funds.  Distributions are made from the fund when cash flows or securities are received from the underlying investments. Investors do not have redemption rights.

31

Cowen Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

(j)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.

(k)TriArtisan ES Partners LLC is a co-investment vehicle organized to invest in a privately held nuclear services company. Distributions will be made when the underlying investment is liquidated.

(l)TriArtisan PFC Partners LLC is a co-investment vehicle organized to invest in a privately held casual dining restaurant chain. Distributions will be made when the underlying investment in liquidated.

(m)Other private investment represents the Company's closed end investment in a Portfolio Fund that invests in a wireless broadband communication provider in Italy.

(n)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)Carried interest

The Company applies an accounting policy election to recognize incentive income allocated to the Company under an equity ownership model in other investments in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of financial condition (see Note 2m). Carried interest allocated to the Company from certain Portfolio Funds represents Cowen's general partner capital accounts from those funds. These balances are subject to change upon cash distributions, additional allocations or reallocations back to limited partners within the respective funds.

A portion of the Company's carried interest is granted to employees through profit sharing awards designed to more closely align compensation with the overall realized performance of the Company. These arrangements enable certain employees to earn compensation based on performance revenue earned by the Company are recorded within compensation payable in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of financial condition. 

The carried interest as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, included the following:

	As of March 31, 2020		As of December 31, 2019
	(dollars in thousands)
Cowen Healthcare Investments II LP (*)	$	14,798	$	23,759
Other private investment (a) (*)	3,737		4,737
RCG IO Renergys Sarl	1,740		1,251
Ramius Multi-Strategy Fund LP (*)	454		613
	$	20,729	$	30,360

(a)Other private investment represents the Company's closed end investment in a Portfolio Fund that invests in a wireless broadband communication provider in Italy.

* These carried interest balances are earned from affiliates of the Company.

(3)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 15% to 55%. 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.

32

Cowen Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

The Company completed an assessment of the recoverability of the Company's equity method investments and determined that the carrying value of the investment in Surf House Ocean View Holdings, LLC exceeded the estimated fair value of the Company's interest, which was other than temporary. Accordingly, an other than temporary impairment charge of $7.3 million was recognized to reduce the carrying value of the investment to fair value at March 31, 2020. The Company recorded no impairment charges in relation to its equity method investments for the three months ended March 31, 2019.

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.

The following table summarizes equity method investments held by the Company:

	As of March 31, 2020		As of December 31, 2019
	(dollars in thousands)
Surf House Ocean Views Holdings, LLC	$	4,000	$	7,804
Starboard Value LP	18,527		24,292
RCG Longview Debt Fund V Partners, LLC	1,737		2,889
RCG Longview Management, LLC	105		583
HealthCare Royalty GP, LLC	143		108
HealthCare Royalty GP II, LLC	304		302
RCG Longview Debt Fund IV Management, LLC	330		331
HealthCare Royalty GP III, LLC	2,237		2,230
RCG Longview Equity Management, LLC	250		105
HCR Stafford Fund GP, LLC	125		880
Liberty Harbor North	292		292
Other	868		1,042
	$	28,918	$	40,858

The Company's income (loss) from equity method investments was a loss of $0.04 million and income of $16.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and is included in net gains (losses) on securities, derivatives and other investments on the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations.

Regulation S-X Rule 10-01(b)(1)

For the period ended March 31, 2020, certain investments subject to Regulation S-X Rule 10-01(b)(1) of the SEC guidance held by the Company in aggregate have met the significance criteria as defined thereunder. As such, the Company is required to present summarized financial information for these significant investees as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 and for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, and such information is as follows:

Other equity method investments	As of March 31, 2020		As of December 31, 2019
	(dollars in thousands)
Assets	$	793,662	$	818,193
Liabilities	26,054		77,092
Equity	$	767,608	$	741,101

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2020		2019
	(dollars in thousands)
Revenues	$	58,920	$	28,001
Expenses	(11,661)		(27,522)
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses)	(49,113)		91,334
Income (loss) before income taxes	(1,854)		91,813
Income tax expense	(725)		(705)
Net income	$	(2,579)	$	91,108

33

Cowen Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

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, 2020 and December 31, 2019, securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value consisted of the following:

	As of March 31, 2020		As of December 31, 2019
	(dollars in thousands)
Common stock	$	460,059	$	425,448
Corporate bonds (a)	4,402		5,933
Government bonds (b)	48,073		1,950
Preferred stock	6,405		3,686
Warrants and rights	8,532		14,819
	$	527,471	$	451,836

(a)As of March 31, 2020, the maturities ranged from April 2020 to May 2067 and interest rates ranged from 5.00% to 6.75%. As of December 31, 2019, the maturities ranged from January 2024 to May 2037 and interest rates ranged from 4.88% to 6.25%.

(b)As of March 31, 2020, the maturities ranged from October 2024 to February 2048 and interest rates ranged from 6.25% to 8.75%. As of December 31, 2019, the maturities ranged from October 2024 to March 2038 and interest rates ranged from 7.00% to 8.25%.

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase and securities lending and borrowing transactions

The following tables present the contractual gross and net securities borrowing and lending agreements and securities sold under agreements to repurchase and the related offsetting amount as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019.

							Gross amounts not offset on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition
	Gross amounts recognized, net of allowance		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, 2020
Securities borrowed	$	971,430	$	—	$	971,430	$	—	$	947,184	$	—	$	24,246
Securities loaned	997,794		—		997,794		—		928,973		—		68,821
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase	57,420		—		57,420		—		47,442		14,043		(4,065)
As of December 31, 2019
Securities borrowed	$	754,441	$	—	$	754,441	$	—	$	751,913	$	—	$	2,528
Securities loaned	1,601,866		—		1,601,866		—		1,585,036		—		16,830
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase	23,244		—		23,244		—		27,384		—		(4,140)

(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.

34

Cowen Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

        The following tables present gross obligations for securities loaned and securities sold under agreements to repurchase by remaining contractual maturity and class of collateral pledged as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019:

	Open and Overnight		Up to 30 days		31 - 90 days		Greater than 90 days		Total
	(dollars in thousands)
As of March 31, 2020
Securities loaned
Common stock	$	775,765	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	775,765
Corporate bonds	222,029		—		—		—		222,029
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase	—		49,543		7,878		—		57,421
As of December 31, 2019
Securities loaned
Common stock	$	1,343,478	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	1,343,478
Corporate bonds	258,388		—		—		—		$	258,388
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase	—		—		23,244		—		$	23,244

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 $5.7 billion and $563.0 million as of March 31, 2020 and $6.1 billion and $617.5 million as of December 31, 2019, respectively. The carrying value of the Company's exposure to loss for these variable interest entities as of March 31, 2020 was $209.2 million, and as of December 31, 2019 was $241.2 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 Fund's investment in the Unconsolidated Master Fund 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, 2020 and December 31, 2019, was $226.1 million and $261.7 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, 2020 and December 31, 2019, securities owned, at fair value, held by the Consolidated Funds consisted of the following:

	As of March 31, 2020		As of December 31, 2019
	(dollars in thousands)
Preferred stock	$	4,393	$	4,393
Common stock	317,839		200,306
Government bonds (a)	24,998		161,607
Corporate bonds (b)	2,655		3,405
Warrants and rights	5,611		5,567
	$	355,496	$	375,278

(a)As of March 31, 2020, the maturity was April 2020 with an interest rate of 0%. As of December 31, 2019, maturities ranged from February 2020 to March 2020 and interest rates were 0%.

(b)As of March 31, 2020, the maturity was May 2026 with an interest rate of 6.25%. As of December 31, 2019, the maturity was July 2023 with an interest rate of 7.50%.

35

Cowen Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Receivable on derivative contracts

As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value, held by the Consolidated Funds are comprised of:

	As of March 31, 2020		As of December 31, 2019
	(dollars in thousands)
Currency forwards	$	3,621	$	3,302
Equity swaps	10,271		927
Options	3,400		1,604
	$	17,292	$	5,833

Payable for derivative contracts

As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, payable for derivative contracts, at fair value, held by the Consolidated Funds are comprised of:

	As of March 31, 2020		As of December 31, 2019
	(dollars in thousands)
Currency forwards	$	186	$	88
Equity swaps	17,093		3,931
Options	787		750
	$	18,066	$	4,769

Other investments, at fair value

Investments in Portfolio Funds, at fair value

As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, investments in Portfolio Funds, at fair value, included the following:

	As of March 31, 2020		As of December 31, 2019
	(dollars in thousands)
Investments of Enterprise LP	$	88,675	$	99,153
Investments of Merger Fund	61,014		76,616
	$	149,689	$	175,769

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, 2020 and December 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 investments directly as well as through affiliated portfolio funds.

Consolidated portfolio fund investments of Merger Fund 

The Merger Fund operates under a "master-feeder" structure, whereby Merger Master shareholders are Merger Fund and Ramius Merger Fund Ltd. The consolidated investments in Portfolio Funds include Merger Fund's investment of $61.0 million and $76.6 million in Merger Master as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, 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 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

36

Cowen Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

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, 2020 and December 31, 2019, 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, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.

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 stockholders' equity
	Issuer	Security Type	Country	Industry	Percentage of Stockholders' Equity		Market Value
							(dollars in thousands)
As of March 31, 2020	Linkem	Equity	Italy	Wireless Broadband	9.36	%	$	73,437
As of December 31, 2019	Linkem	Equity	Italy	Wireless Broadband	9.53	%	$	77,142

Underlying Investments of Unconsolidated Funds Held by Consolidated Funds

Merger Master

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 Merger Master as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019:

Merger Master

	As of March 31, 2020		As of December 31, 2019
	(dollars in thousands)
Securities owned by Merger Master, at fair value
Common stock	$	175,892	$	76,531
Warrants and rights	1,365		748
Corporate bonds	2,069		2,074
	$	179,326	$	79,353
Securities sold, not yet purchased, by Merger Master, at fair value
Common stock	$	30,184	$	29,623
Exchange traded funds	6,898		38,527
	$	37,082	$	68,150

Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value, owned by Merger Master

	As of March 31, 2020		As of December 31, 2019
Description	(dollars in thousands)
Options	$	2,945	$	2,047
Equity swaps	1,890		406
	$	4,835	$	2,453

37

Cowen Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value, owned by Merger Master

	As of March 31, 2020		As of December 31, 2019
Description	(dollars in thousands)
Options	$	1,126	$	1,158
Equity swaps	1,689		268
	$	2,815	$	1,426

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, 2020 and December 31, 2019:

	Assets at Fair Value as of March 31, 2020
	Level 1			Level 2			Level 3			Total
				(dollars in thousands)
Operating Entities
Securities owned, at fair value
Government bonds	$	14,625		$	46,573		$	—		$	61,198
Preferred stock	6,500			—			8,200			14,700
Common stock	630,117			507			17,510			648,134
Convertible bonds	—			—			2,786			2,786
Corporate bonds	—			13,277			2,812			16,089
Trade claims	—			—			9,648			9,648
Warrants and rights	22,893			—			598			23,491
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value
Currency forwards	—			1,010			—			1,010
Swaps	—			24,523			—			24,523
Options	58,002			—			332			58,334
Consolidated Funds
Securities owned, at fair value
Government bonds	24,998			—			—			24,998
Preferred stock	—			—			4,393			4,393
Common stock	217,839			—			100,000			317,839
Corporate bonds	—			2,655			—			2,655
Warrants and rights	—			—			5,611			5,611
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value
Currency forwards	—			3,621			—			3,621
Equity swaps	—			10,271			—			10,271
Options	3,400			—			—			3,400
	$	978,374		$	102,437		$	151,890		$	1,232,701
Percentage of total assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis	79.4		%	8.3		%	12.3		%
Portfolio Funds measured at net asset value (a)										113,627
Carried interest (a)										20,729
Consolidated Funds' Portfolio Funds measured at net asset value (a)										149,689
Equity method investments										28,918
Total investments										$	1,545,664

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Cowen Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

	Liabilities at Fair Value as of March 31, 2020
	Level 1			Level 2			Level 3			Total
	(dollars in thousands)
Operating Entities
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value
Government bonds	$	—		$	46,573		$	1,500		$	48,073
Common stock	460,059			—			—			460,059
Corporate bonds	—			3,602			800			4,402
Preferred stock	6,405			—			—			6,405
Warrants and rights	8,532			—			—			8,532
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value
Futures	87			—			—			87
Currency forwards	—			1,883			—			1,883
Swaps	—			9,469			—			9,469
Options	59,144			—			1,802			60,946
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities
Contingent consideration liability (b)	—			—			28,658			28,658
Consolidated Funds
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value
Currency forwards	—			186			—			186
Options	787			—			—			787
Equity swaps	—			17,093			—			17,093
	$	535,014		$	78,806		$	32,760		$	646,580
Percentage of total liabilities measured at fair value	82.7		%	12.2		%	5.1		%

(a) In accordance with US GAAP, certain investments are measured at fair value using the net asset value per share (or its equivalent) as a practical expedient. Carried interest in portfolio funds 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 31, 2019 and December 31, 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, 2020 can range from $1.0 million to $40.0 million.

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Cowen Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

	Assets at Fair Value as of December 31, 2019
	Level 1			Level 2			Level 3			Total
				(dollars in thousands)
Operating Entities
Securities owned, at fair value
Government bonds	$	15,916		$	—		$	—		$	15,916
Preferred stock	4,821			—			7,835			12,656
Common stock	1,527,769			1,249			17,466			1,546,484
Convertible bonds	—			—			2,500			2,500
Corporate bonds	—			23,079			2,421			25,500
Trade claims	—			—			7,320			7,320
Term loan	—			1,067			—			1,067
Warrants and rights	21,515			—			594			22,109
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value
Swaps	—			2,911			—			2,911
Options	59,730			—			336			60,066
Consolidated Funds
Securities owned, at fair value
Government bonds	161,607			—			—			161,607
Preferred stock	—			—			4,393			4,393
Common stock	200,306			—			—			200,306
Corporate bonds	—			3,405			—			3,405
Warrants and rights	—			—			5,567			5,567
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value
Currency forwards	—			3,302			—			3,302
Equity swaps	—			927			—			927
Options	1,604			—			—			1,604
	$	1,993,268		$	35,940		$	48,432		$	2,077,640
Percentage of total assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis	95.9		%	1.7		%	2.3		%
Portfolio Funds measured at net asset value (a)										114,504
Carried interest (a)										30,360
Consolidated Funds' Portfolio Funds measured at net asset value (a)										175,769
Equity method investments										40,858
Total investments										$	2,439,131

40

Cowen Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

	Liabilities at Fair Value as of December 31, 2019
	Level 1			Level 2			Level 3			Total
	(dollars in thousands)
Operating Entities
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value
US Government securities	$	—		$	—		$	1,950		$	1,950
Common stock	$	425,448		$	—		$	—		$	425,448
Corporate bonds	—			4,933			1,000			5,933
Preferred stock	3,686			—			—			3,686
Warrants and rights	14,819			—			—			14,819
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value
Futures	217			—			—			217
Currency forwards	—			851			—			851
Swaps	—			23,169			—			23,169
Options	33,604			—			2,920			36,524
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities
Contingent consideration liability (b)	—			—			30,896			30,896
Consolidated Funds
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value
Currency forwards	—			88			—			88
Options	750			—			—			750
Equity swaps	—			3,931			—			3,931
	$	478,524		$	32,972		$	36,766		$	548,262
Percentage of total liabilities measured at fair value	87.3		%	6.0		%	6.7		%

(a) In accordance with US GAAP, certain investments are measured at fair value using the net asset value per share (or its equivalent) as a practical expedient. Carried interest in portfolio funds 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 31, 2019 and December 31, 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 December 31, 2019 can range from $1.3 million to $40.0 million.

The following table includes a roll forward of the amounts for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 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.

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Cowen Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

	Three Months Ended March 31, 2020
	Balance at December 31, 2019		Transfers in			Transfers out		Purchases/(covers)		(Sales)/shorts		Realized and Unrealized gains/losses		Balance at March 31, 2020		Change in unrealized gains/losses relating to instruments still held (1)
	(dollars in thousands)
Operating Entities
Preferred stock	$	7,835	$	—		$	—	$	365	$	—	$	—	$	8,200	$	—
Common stock	17,466		—			—		1,798		(593)		(1,161)		17,510		(1,257)
Convertible bonds	2,500		—			—		286		—		—		2,786		—
Corporate bond	2,421		—			—		422		(24)		(7)		2,812		12
Options, asset	336		—			—		—		—		(4)		332		(4)
Options, liability	2,920		—			—		—		—		(1,118)		1,802		(1,118)
Warrants and rights	594		—			—		—		—		4		598		4
Trade claims	7,320		1,044		(a)	—		1,399		—		(115)		9,648		(115)
Corporate bond, liability	1,000		—			—		—		—		(200)		800		(200)
Government bonds, liability	1,950		—			—		—		—		(450)		1,500		(450)
Contingent consideration liability	30,896		—			—		—		(1,400)		(838)		28,658		(838)
Consolidated Funds
Preferred stock	4,393		—			—		—		—		—		4,393		—
Common stock	—		—			—		100,000		—		—		100,000		—
Warrants and rights	$	5,567	$	—		$	—	$	—	$	—	$	44	$	5,611	$	44

	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 claim	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)

(1) Unrealized gains/losses are reported in other income (loss) in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations.

(a) The security stopped trading on an open market.

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 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.

42

Cowen Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

The following table includes quantitative information as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 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 March 31, 2020		Valuation Techniques	Unobservable Inputs	Range	Weighted Average
Level 3 Assets	(dollars in thousands)
Options	331		Discounted cash flows Guideline companies	Discount rate Market Multiples	10% - 12% 6.25x - 6.75x	11% 6.5x
Trade claims	3,747		Discounted cash flows	Discount rate	20%	20%
Warrants and rights	6,210		Model based Discounted cash flows	Volatility Discount rate	36% 6.6%	36% 6.6%
Corporate and convertible bonds	311		Discounted cash flows Recovery	Discount rate Probability of recovery	20% 1% to 3%	20% 2.25%
Other level 3 assets (a)	141,291
Total level 3 assets	$	151,890
Level 3 Liabilities
Options	1,802		Option pricing models	Volatility	35%	35%
Contingent consideration liability	28,658		Discounted cash flows Monte Carlo simulation	Discount rate Volatility	16%-22% 22%	16% 22%
Other level 3 liabilities (a)	2,300
Total level 3 liabilities	$	32,760

	Quantitative Information about Level 3 Fair Value Measurements
	Fair Value at December 31, 2019		Valuation Techniques	Unobservable Inputs	Range	Weighted Average
Level 3 Assets	(dollars in thousands)
Common and preferred stocks	$	10,876	Discounted cash flows / Guideline companies	Discount rate Market Multiples	8% - 11.25% 6.5x - 7x	10.4% 6.75x
Trade claims	24		Discounted cash flows	Discount rate	20%	20%
Warrants and rights	6,162		Model based Discounted cash flows	Volatility Discount rate	30% 6% to 7%	—% 6.1%
Options	336		Option pricing models	Discount rate Market Multiples	9.75% - 11.25% 6.5x - 7x	10.5% 6.75x
Corporate and convertible bonds	311		Discounted cash flows Recovery	Discount rate Probability of recovery	20% 1% to 3%	20% 2.3%
Other level 3 assets (a)	30,723
Total level 3 assets	$	48,432
Level 3 Liabilities
Options	2,920		Option pricing models	Volatility	35% to 40%	35%
Contingent consideration liability	30,896		Discounted cash flows	Discount rate Volatility	15%-22% 17%	15% 17%
Other level 3 liabilities (a)	2,950
Total level 3 liabilities	$	36,766

(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

43

Cowen Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

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.

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, 2020 and December 31, 2019, 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 2e).

	March 31, 2020						December 31, 2019						Fair Value Hierarchy
	Carrying Amount			Fair Value			Carrying Amount			Fair Value
				(dollars in thousands)
Financial Assets
Operating companies
Cash and cash equivalents	$	270,079		$	270,079		$	301,123		$	301,123		Level 1
Cash collateral pledged	7,538			7,538			6,563			6,563			Level 2
Segregated cash	131,266			131,266			107,328			107,328			Level 1
Securities borrowed	971,430			971,430			754,441			754,441			Level 2
Loans receivable	37,659			37,659		(d)	42,830			42,830		(d)	Level 3
Consolidated Funds
Cash and cash equivalents	39,721			39,721			30,874			30,874			Level 1
Financial Liabilities
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase	57,420			47,442			23,244			27,384			Level 2
Securities loaned	997,794			997,794			1,601,866			1,601,866			Level 2
Convertible debt	119,929		(a)	130,065		(b)	118,688		(a)	148,786		(b)	Level 2
Notes payable and other debt	407,531		(e)	354,043		(c)	345,451		(e)	372,591		(c)	Level 2

(a)The carrying amount of the convertible debt includes an unamortized discount of $13.7 million and $14.9 million as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, 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 where applicable.

(e)The carrying amount of the notes payable and other debt includes an unamortized premium of $0.4 million and $0.5 million as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.

44

Cowen Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

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, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Company had a total of $131.9 million and $91.8 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 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, 2020 and December 31, 2019, amounts receivable from brokers, dealers and clearing organizations include:

	As of March 31, 2020		As of December 31, 2019
	(dollars in thousands)
Broker-dealers	$	621,271	$	623,523
Securities failed to deliver	98,810		45,673
Clearing organizations	46,345		3,180
Securities borrowed interest receivable	6,891		9,319
	$	773,317	$	681,695

As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, amounts payable to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations include:

	As of March 31, 2020		As of December 31, 2019
	(dollars in thousands)
Broker-dealers	$	92,103	$	185,838
Securities failed to receive	153,133		57,580
Clearing organizations	78,546		18,063
Securities loaned interest payable	6,314		9,537
	$	330,096	$	271,018

10. Receivable From and Payable To Customers

As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, receivable from customers of $193.0 million and $105.6 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, 2020 and December 31, 2019, payable to customers of $488.8 million and $430.2 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. 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 $112.7 million and $71.6 million, as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively, are classified as commission management payable in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of financial condition.

45

Cowen Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

12. Non-Controlling Interests in Consolidated Subsidiaries and Investment Funds

Redeemable and nonredeemable non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries and investment funds and the related net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries and investment funds are comprised as follows:

	As of March 31, 2020		As of December 31, 2019
	(dollars in thousands)
Redeemable non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries and investment funds
Consolidated Funds	$	318,001	$	391,275
Nonredeemable non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries and investment funds
Operating companies	11,463		11,513
Consolidated Funds	126,778		82,807
	$	456,242	$	485,595

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2020		2019
	(dollars in thousands)
Income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries and investment funds
Operating companies	$	127	$	112
Consolidated Funds	(62,315)		400
	$	(62,188)	$	512

13. Reinsurance

The Company's wholly-owned Luxembourg subsidiary, Hollenfels Re SA ("Hollenfels") provides reinsurance to third party insurance and reinsurance companies. Hollenfels's share of claims incurred and paid during the periods below, as well as claims incurred but not reported plus outstanding claims as of the end of the periods below ("Claims IBNR") were as follows:

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2020		2019
	(dollars in thousands)
Incurred and paid claims	$	4,235	$	2,907
Claims IBNR	$	17,293	$	10,135

Hollenfels utilizes several methods to determine its Claims IBNR. It 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. In cases where current claims development contradicts historical results, Hollenfels employs a method to average claims ratios derived through different actuarial calculation methods. Also, if an event occurs that may give rise to significant future claims in excess of the amount calculated using the above-mentioned methodologies, the impact of such an event is calculated using existing claims data and actuarial estimation methods to adjust Hollenfels's Claims IBNR. During the three months ended March 31, 2020, 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. Certain contracts Hollenfels has written are on a quota-share basis while the rest of the 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, 2020 and 2019.

14. Share-Based and Deferred Compensation and Employee Ownership Plans

The Company issues share-based compensation under the 2010 Equity and Incentive Plan (the "2010 Equity Plan"). The 2010 Equity Plan permits the grant of options, restricted shares, restricted stock units, 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, both of which are eligible to accrue dividend equivalents, may be immediately vested or may generally vest over a two-to five-year period. Awards are subject to the risk of forfeiture. As of March 31, 2020, there were 0.1 million shares available for future issuance under the 2010 Equity Plan.

46

Cowen Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Under the 2010 Equity Plan, the Company awarded $50.1 million of deferred cash awards to its employees during the three months ended March 31, 2020. These awards vest over a four-year period and accrue interest at 0.70% per year. As of March 31, 2020, the Company had unrecognized compensation expense related to the 2010 Equity Plan deferred cash awards of $100.7 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 2010 Equity Plan, the Company recognized compensation expense of $8.3 million and $7.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The income tax effect recognized for the 2010 Equity Plan was a benefit of $1.8 million and $2.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, 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, 2020 and 2019:

	Three Months Ended March 31, 2020			Three Months Ended March 31, 2019
	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	5,364,486	$	16.67	5,962,295	$	15.73
Granted	2,140,932	17.39		1,781,949	16.97
Vested	(640,084)	14.63		(768,468)	16.69
Canceled	(87,348)	14.80		(233,333)	14.12
Forfeited	(30,562)	15.86		(144,346)	13.84
Ending balance outstanding	6,747,424	$	17.12	6,598,097	$	16.05

Included in the restricted share and restricted stock unit activity are performance-linked restricted stock units of 1,033,333 which were awarded in March 2016 and April 2019. Of the awards granted, 145,986 have vested and 320,681 have been canceled, as they did not meet the performance criteria, through March 31, 2020. The remaining awards, included in the outstanding balance as of March 31, 2020, vest between December 2020 and December 2021 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 200% 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 certain 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, 2020, there was $86.1 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 2.73 years.

Restricted Shares and Restricted Stock Units Granted to Non-Employee Board Members

There were no restricted stock units awarded or delivered to non-employee board members during the three months ended March 31, 2020. As of March 31, 2020 there were 216,912 restricted stock units outstanding. There were no restricted stock units awarded during the three months ended March 31, 2019. As of December 31, 2019 there were 216,912 restricted stock units outstanding.


47

15. 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, South Africa, Canada and Hong Kong.

The Company calculates its U.S. tax provision using the actual effective tax rate methodology. Historically, the Company calculated its U.S. tax provision using the annualized 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. Due to the uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, the Company concluded that it cannot reliably estimate its annual effective tax rate. As such, the actual effective tax rate for the year-to-date period is being used. Based on these methodologies, the Company’s effective income tax rate was 1.60% and 20.95% for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

For the three months ended March 31, 2020, the effective tax rate differs from the statutory rate of 21% primarily due to income attributable to non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries and funds, foreign taxes, as well as other nondeductible expenses. For the three months ended March 31, 2019, the effective tax rate differs from the statutory rate of 21% primarily due to income attributable to non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries and funds, stock compensation, state and foreign taxes, as well as other nondeductible expenses.

As a result of the enactment of Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) signed on March 27, 2020, the Company is required to assess the tax impact of the Act in the quarter the law was enacted. Based on the preliminary analysis, there was no material impact on the Company's financial statements as of March 31, 2020.

The Company recorded an uncertain tax position liability of $0.3 million as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 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, 2020, the Company has 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 and State of Massachusetts for the 2013 to 2017 tax years and 2016 to 2017 tax years, respectively. 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, South Africa and Hong Kong.

16. 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. The Company records the expenses related to occupancy and equipment on a straight-line basis over the lease term and these expenses are included in occupancy and equipment expense and client services and business development expense in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations.

48

Cowen Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

For the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, quantitative information regarding the Company's operating lease obligations reflected in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations were as follows:

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2020		2019
	(dollars in thousands)
Lease cost
Operating lease cost	$	5,685	$	6,010
Short-term lease cost	146		128
Variable lease cost	788		757
Sublease income	(216)		(267)
Total lease costs	$	6,403	$	6,628

The following table summarizes the supplemental cash flow information and certain other information related to operating leases for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019:

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2020			2019
	(dollars in thousands)
Other information
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:
Operating cash flows from operating leases	$	8,578		$	7,793
Weighted average remaining lease term - operating leases (in years)	5.11			5.73
Weighted average discount rate - operating leases	4.14		%	4.15		%

As of March 31, 2020, 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)
2020	$	280	$	16,006
2021	223		24,373
2022	91		20,850
2023	3		17,595
2024	—		14,774
Thereafter	—		10,084
Total operating leases	597		103,682
Less discount	49		12,249
Less short-term leases	—		146
Total lease liability	$	548	$	91,287

(a)The Company has entered into various agreements to sublease certain of its premises.

(b)During the three months ended March 31, 2020, the Company recognized operating right-of-use assets and leases liabilities of $0.1 million for equipment leases.

See Note 17 for further information on the finance lease minimum payments.

49

Cowen Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Other Commitments

As of March 31, 2020, future minimum annual service payments for the Company were as follows:

	Service Payments
	(dollars in thousands)
2020	$	20,251
2021	17,787
2022	9,991
2023	4,095
2024	1,938
Thereafter	4,401
Total service payment commitments	$	58,463

Unfunded Commitments

The following table summarizes unfunded commitments as of March 31, 2020:

Entity	Unfunded Commitments		Commitment Term
	(dollars in thousands)
HealthCare Royalty Partners funds (a)	$	7,957	5 years
Eclipse Ventures Fund I, L.P. (formerly Formation8 Partners Hardware Fund I, L.P.)	$	81	5 years
Lagunita Biosciences, LLC	$	250	4 years
Eclipse Fund II, L.P.	$	180	6 years
Eclipse Continuity Fund I, L.P.	$	68	7 years
Cowen Healthcare Investments II LP	$	2,524	2 years
Cowen Healthcare Investments III LP	$	8,803	7 years
Cowen Sustainable Investments I LP	$	12,989	10 years

(a) 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 the Company's 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, the Company receives requests and orders seeking documents and other information in connection with various aspects of the Company's 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.

50

Cowen Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

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.

17. Convertible Debt and Notes Payable

As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Company's outstanding debt was as follows:

	As of March 31, 2020		As of December 31, 2019
	(dollars in thousands)
Convertible debt	$	119,929	$	118,688
Notes payable	307,019		306,818
Spike line	35,000		—
Revolving credit facility	25,000		—
Term loan	32,180		32,180
Other notes payable	4,719		2,516
Finance lease obligations	3,613		3,937
	$	527,460	$	464,139

Convertible Debt

December 2022 Convertible Notes

The Company, on December 14, 2017, issued $135.0 million aggregate principal amount of 3.0% convertible senior notes due December 2022 (the “December 2022 Convertible Notes”). The December 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 December 2022 Convertible Notes is payable semi-annually on December 15 and June 15 of each year. The December 2022 Convertible Notes are senior unsecured obligations of Cowen. The December 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 December 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 March 2019 (the "March 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, 2020, the outstanding principal amount of the December 2022 Convertible Notes was $135.0 million. On June 26, 2018, the Company received shareholder approval for the Company to settle the December 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, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The Company recognized the embedded cash conversion option at issuance date fair value, which also represents the initial unamortized discount on the December 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 $1.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, based on an effective interest rate of 7.13%. The Company capitalized the debt issuance costs in the amount of $2.2 million, which is a direct deduction from the

51

Cowen Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

carrying value of the debt and will be amortized over the life of the December 2022 Convertible Notes in interest and dividends expense in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations.

March 2019 Convertible Notes

On March 10, 2014, the Company issued $149.5 million of 3.0% cash convertible senior notes (the "March 2019 Convertible Notes"). The March 2019 Convertible Notes matured on March 15, 2019 and were fully repaid by the Company. The Company recorded interest expense of $0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019. Amortization on the discount, included within interest and dividends expense in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations was $0.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, based on an effective interest rate of 8.89%.

Notes Payable

May 2024 Notes

On May 7, 2019, the Company completed its private placement of $53.0 million aggregate principal amount of 7.25% senior notes due May 2024 (the "May 2024 Notes") with certain institutional investors. On September 30, 2019, the Company issued an additional $25.0 million of the same series of notes. The additional May 2024 Notes were purchased at a premium of $0.5 million, which is shown net in notes payable in the accompanying condensed consolidated statement of financial condition. To date the May 2024 Notes have maintained their initial private rating, and the interest rate has remained unchanged. Interest on the May 2024 Notes is payable semi-annually in arrears on May 6 and November 6. The Company recorded interest expense of $1.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020. The Company capitalized debt issuance costs of approximately $1.5 million in May 2019 and $0.6 million in December 2019, which is a direct deduction from the carrying value of the debt and will be amortized over the life of the May 2024 Notes in interest and dividends expense in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations.

June 2033 Notes

On June 11, 2018, the Company completed its public offering of $90.0 million of 7.75% senior notes due June 2033 (the "June 2033 Notes") and subsequently the underwriters exercised in full their option to purchase an additional $10.0 million principal amount of the June 2033 Notes. Interest on the June 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 and $1.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. 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 June 2033 Notes in interest and dividends expense in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations.

December 2027 Notes

On December 8, 2017, the Company completed its public offering of $120.0 million of 7.35% senior notes due December 2027 (the "December 2027 Notes") and subsequently the underwriters exercised in full their option to purchase an additional $18.0 million principal amount of the December 2027 Notes. Interest on the December 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, 2020 and 2019, 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 December 2027 Notes in interest and dividends expense in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations. 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 October 2021 and for general corporate purposes.

Term Loan

On June 30, 2017, a subsidiary of 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 (as amended) on June 26, 2020. In July 2019, the subsidiary of the Company borrowed an additional $4.0 million to fund general corporate purposes. 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, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

Other Notes Payable

During January 2020, the Company borrowed $2.9 million to fund insurance premium payments. This note had an effective interest rate of 2.01% and was due in December 2020, with monthly payment requirements of $0.3 million. As of March 31, 2020, the outstanding balance on this note was $2.3 million. Interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2020 was insignificant.

52

Cowen Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

During November 2019, the Company borrowed $2.6 million to fund general corporate capital expenditures. This note had an effective interest rate of 6% and is due in November 2024, with monthly payment requirements of $0.1 million. As of March 31, 2020, the outstanding balance on this note was $2.4 million. Interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2020 was insignificant.

Spike Line

In August 2019, Cowen Execution renewed a one-year committed spike line facility to cover short term increases in National Securities Clearing Corporation margin deposit requirements. The spike line facility has a capacity of $70 million. This facility has (i) an effective interest rate equal to the Federal Funds rate plus 2.50% on any money drawn from the liquidity facility and (ii) a commitment or unused line fee that is 50 basis points on the undrawn amount. Outstanding borrowings on this liquidity facility at March 31, 2020 were $35 million. Interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2020 was $0.1 million.

Revolving Credit Facility

In December 2019, the Company entered into a two-year committed corporate credit facility with a capacity of $25 million. This credit facility has (i) an effective interest rate equal to LIBOR plus 3.25% on any money drawn from the credit facility and (ii) a commitment or unused line fee that is 50 basis points on the undrawn amount. Outstanding borrowings on this corporate credit facility at March 31, 2020 were $25 million. Interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2020 was $0.2 million.

Finance Lease Obligations

The Company has entered into various finance leases for computer equipment. These finance lease obligations are included in notes payable and other debt in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of financial condition.

For the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, quantitative information regarding the Company's finance lease obligations reflected in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations, the supplemental cash flow information and certain other information related to finance leases were as follows:

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2020			2019
	(dollars in thousands)
Lease cost
Finance lease cost:
Amortization of finance lease right-of-use assets	$	308		$	368
Interest on lease liabilities	49			63
Other information
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:
Operating cash flows from finance leases	49			63
Financing cash flows from finance leases	$	314		$	394
Weighted average remaining lease term - operating leases (in years)	2.97			3.90
Weighted average discount rate - operating leases	4.88		%	4.93		%

53

Cowen Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Annual scheduled maturities of debt and minimum payments (of principal and interest) for all debt outstanding as of March 31, 2020, are as follows:

	Convertible Debt		Notes Payable		Spike Line		Revolving Credit Facility		Term Loan		Other Notes Payable		Finance Lease Obligation
	(dollars in thousands)
2020	$	4,050	$	19,075	$	35,000	$	25,101	$	32,596	$	2,799	$	922
2021	4,050		23,548		—		—		—		593		1,394
2022	139,050		23,548		—		—		—		593		1,163
2023	—		23,548		—		—		—		593		411
2024	—		98,721		—		—		—		543		11
Thereafter	—		334,304		—		—		—		—		—
Subtotal	147,150		522,744		35,000		25,101		32,596		5,121		3,901
Less (a)	(27,221)		(215,725)		—		(101)		(416)		(402)		(288)
Total	$	119,929	$	307,019	$	35,000	$	25,000	$	32,180	$	4,719	$	3,613

(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 Company's convertible debt.

Letters of Credit

As of March 31, 2020, the Company has the following six 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 $2.9 million as of March 31, 2020, and $2.0 million as of December 31, 2019, which are released annually between March 2020 and March 2023 based on the policy periods covered by the reinsurance agreements.

Location	Amount		Maturity
	(dollars in thousands)
New York	$	360	April 2021
New York	$	398	October 2020
New York	$	1,125	October 2020
New York	$	1,635	November 2020
Boston	$	379	March 2021
San Francisco	$	711	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, 2020 and December 31, 2019 there were no amounts due related to these letters of credit.

18. 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, 2020 and 2019, 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 dividend 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 the Company's 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

54

Cowen Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

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. 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.

Embedded Cash Conversion Option on the December 2022 Convertible Notes

Upon issuance of the December 2022 Convertible Notes (see Note 17), the Company recognized the embedded cash conversion option at fair value of $23.4 million which was valued as of June 26, 2018 at $29.0 million. On June 26, 2018, the Company received shareholder approval for the Company to settle the December 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.

Cash Dividends to Common Stockholders

On February 11, 2020, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend payable on its common stock of $0.04 per common share, payable on March 16, 2020, to common stockholders of record on March 2, 2020. Dividends are payable on all outstanding shares and on granted but unvested shares under the 2010 Equity Plan on the date of record (See Note 14). During the three months ended March 31, 2020, the Company accrued $1.4 million of cash dividends to its common stockholders.

Treasury Stock

Treasury stock of $305.2 million as of March 31, 2020, compared to $284.3 million as of December 31, 2019, resulted from $2.8 million acquired through repurchases of shares to cover employee minimum tax withholding obligations related to stock compensation vesting events under the 2010 Equity Plan or other similar transactions, $0.05 million received 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 and $18.0 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, 2020:

	Treasury Stock Shares	Cost (dollars in thousands)		Average Cost per Share
Balance outstanding at December 31, 2019	18,605,581	$	284,301	$	15.28
Shares purchased for minimum tax withholding under the 2010 Equity Plan or other similar transactions	228,557	2,825		12.36
Shares of stock received in respect of indemnification claims	3,051	48		15.57
Purchase of treasury stock	1,383,657	18,018		13.02
Balance outstanding at March 31, 2020	20,220,846	$	305,192	$	15.09

55

Cowen Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

19. 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,
	2020		2019
	(dollars in thousands)
Beginning balance	$	(5)	$	(5)
Foreign currency translation	—		—
Ending balance	$	(5)	$	(5)

20. Earnings Per Share

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, 2020, there were 27,628,117 shares of Class A common stock outstanding. As of March 31, 2020, the Company has included 216,912 fully vested, unissued restricted stock units in its calculation of basic earnings per share. As of December 31, 2019, there were 28,610,357 shares of Class A common stock outstanding. As of December 31, 2019, the Company has included 216,912 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 unvested restricted shares, restricted stock units, and SARs. 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. As of March 31, 2020, all outstanding unvested restricted shares, performance-linked unvested restricted stock units and contingently issued common stock were not included in the computation of diluted net income (loss) per share of common stock for the three months ended March 31, 2020 as their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive.

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.

The computation of earnings per share is as follows:

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2020		2019
	(dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)
Net income (loss)	$	(72,111)	10,295
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries and investment funds	(62,188)		512
Net income (loss) attributable to Cowen Inc.	(9,923)		9,783
Preferred stock dividends	1,698		1,698
Net income (loss) attributable to Cowen Inc. common stockholders	$	(11,621)	$	8,085
Shares for basic and diluted calculations:
Weighted average shares used in basic computation	28,598		29,750
Restricted stock	—		1,875
Weighted average shares used in diluted computation	28,598		31,625
Earnings (loss) per share:
Basic	$	(0.41)	$	0.27
Diluted	$	(0.41)	$	0.26

56

Cowen Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

21. Segment Reporting

Change in segments

During the second quarter of 2019 the Company realigned the information that the CODM regularly reviews to evaluate performance for operating decision-making purposes, including evaluation and allocation of resources. As a result of this change in segment reporting, the Company retrospectively revised prior period results, by segment, to conform to the current period presentation (see Note 1). This structure includes two business segments: Op Co and Asset Co. The structure is based on the Company's domain expertise as a driver of balance sheet harmonization and repeatable revenues for its operating business versus the Company's long-term monetization strategies.

The Op Co segment consists of CIM, Investment Banking, Markets and Research. The Asset Co segment consists of the Company's private investments, private real estate investments and other legacy investment strategies.

Performance measures

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) 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 and (iv) certain costs associated with debt. 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, (b) start-up costs of a fund over the expected life of the fund and (c) 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 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 segments, as ultimately, this income or loss is not income or loss for the segments themselves. 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 Company does not disclose total asset information for its business segments as the information is not reviewed by the CODM.

The following tables set forth operating results for the Company's Op Co and Asset Co 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):

57

Cowen Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

	Three Months Ended March 31, 2020
							Adjustments
	Operating Company		Asset Company		Total Economic Income (Loss)		Funds Consolidation		Other Adjustments			US GAAP Net Income (Loss)
	(dollars in thousands)
Revenues
Investment banking	$	98,759	$	—	$	98,759	$	—	$	6,269	(a)	$	105,028
Brokerage	132,672		—		132,672		—		6,690		(b)(g)	139,362
Management fees	14,711		204		14,915		(678)		(2,633)		(c)	11,604
Incentive income (loss)	(2,487)		(2,402)		(4,889)		—		4,889		(c)	—
Investment income (loss)	(19,449)		(11,655)		(31,104)		—		31,104		(d)(g)	—
Interest and dividends	—		—		—		—		42,077		(b)(d)	42,077
Reimbursement from affiliates	—		—		—		(25)		286		(e)	261
Reinsurance premiums	—		—		—		—		10,471		(f)	10,471
Other revenue	562		—		562		—		1,288		(f)	1,850
Consolidated Funds revenues	—		—		—		3,156		—			3,156
Total revenues	224,768		(13,853)		210,915		2,453		100,441			313,809
Interest expense (Economic Income/(Loss)) / Interest and dividend expense (US GAAP)	6,343		1,435		7,778		—		31,014		(b)(d)	38,792
Total net revenues	218,425		(15,288)		203,137		2,453		69,427			275,017
Expenses
Non interest expense	211,066		859		211,925		—		16,514		(a)(e)(h)(i)	228,439
Consolidated Funds expenses	—		—		—		2,714		—			2,714
Total expenses	211,066		859		211,925		2,714		16,514			231,153
Total other income (loss)	—		—		—		(62,054)		(55,094)		(c)(d)(i)	(117,148)
Income taxes expense / (benefit)	—		—		—		—		(1,173)		(h)	(1,173)
Income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries and investment funds	1,740		—		1,740		(62,315)		(1,613)			(62,188)
Income (loss) attributable to Cowen Inc.	5,619		(16,147)		(10,528)		—		605			$	(9,923)
Less: Preferred stock dividends	1,358		340		1,698		—		—			1,698
Economic Income (Loss)/ Income (loss) attributable to Cowen Inc. common stockholders	4,261		(16,487)		(12,226)		$	—	$	605		$	(11,621)
Add back: Depreciation and amortization expense	5,428		6		5,434
Economic operating income (loss)	$	9,689	$	(16,481)	$	(6,792)

58

Cowen Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

	Three Months Ended March 31, 2019
							Adjustments
	Operating Company		Asset Company		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	111,872		—		111,872		—		(14,409)		(b)(g)	97,463
Management fees	9,728		703		10,431		(501)		(2,789)		(c)	7,141
Incentive income (loss)	16,637		110		16,747		(544)		(16,188)		(c)	15
Investment income (loss)	9,427		842		10,269		—		(10,269)		(d)(g)	—
Interest and dividends	—		—		—		—		29,092		(b)(d)	29,092
Reimbursement from affiliates	—		—		—		(34)		322		(e)	288
Reinsurance premiums	—		—		—		—		6,591		(f)	6,591
Other revenue	1,123		36		1,159		—		(98)		(f)	1,061
Consolidated Funds revenues	—		—		—		2,340		—			2,340
Total revenues	231,778		1,691		233,469		1,261		(10,633)			224,097
Interest expense (Economic Income/(Loss)) / Interest and dividend expense (US GAAP)	5,317		1,247		6,564		—		22,520		(d)	29,084
Total net revenues	226,461		444		226,905		1,261		(33,153)			195,013
Expenses
Non interest expense	206,531		2,379		208,910		—		12,091		(a)(e)(h)(i)	221,001
Consolidated Funds expenses	—		—		—		1,482		—			1,482
Total expenses	206,531		2,379		208,910		1,482		12,091			222,483
Total other income (loss)	—		—		—		621		40,321		(c)(d)(i)	40,942
Income taxes expense / (benefit)	—		—		—		—		3,177		(h)	3,177
Income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries and investment funds	1,023		—		1,023		400		(911)			512
Income (loss) attributable to Cowen Inc.	18,907		(1,935)		16,972		—		(7,189)			9,783
Less: Preferred stock dividends	1,375		323		1,698		—		—			1,698
Economic Income (Loss)/ Income (loss) attributable to Cowen Inc. common stockholders	17,532		(2,258)		15,274		$	—	$	(7,189)		$	8,085
Add back: Depreciation and amortization expense	4,939		17		4,956
Economic operating income (loss)	$	22,471	$	(2,241)	$	20,230

The following is a summary of the adjustments made to US GAAP net income (loss) 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).

59

Cowen Inc.

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Other Adjustments:

(a)	Economic Income (Loss) presents underwriting expenses net of investment banking revenues, expenses reimbursed from clients within their respective expense category. 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 which are shown gross in interest income and interest expense for US GAAP.
(c)	Economic Income (Loss) recognizes revenues (i) net of fund start-up costs and distribution fees paid to agents, (ii) records income from uncrystallized incentive fees and (iii) the Company's 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) for which the majority of this activity is shown in other income (loss) for US GAAP reporting.
(e)	Reimbursement from affiliates is shown as a reduction of Economic Income expenses, but is included as a part of revenues under US GAAP.
(f)	Economic Income (Loss) recognizes underwriting income from the Company's insurance related activities, net of expenses, within other revenue. The costs are recorded within expenses for US GAAP reporting.
(g)	Economic Income (Loss) recognizes gains and losses on investments held as part of the Company's facilitation and trading business within brokerage revenues as these investments are directly related to the markets business activities.
(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.

For the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, there was no one investment fund or other customer which represented more than 10% of the Company's total revenues.

22. 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 that rule. Under the alternative method, Cowen and Company's minimum net capital requirement, as defined in (a)(4) of SEC Rule 15c3-1, 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 SEC Rule 15c3-1, equal to the greater of $250,000 or 2% of aggregate debits arising from customer transactions. Advances to affiliates, repayment of borrowings, distributions, dividend payments and other equity withdrawals are subject to certain notification and other provisions of SEC Rule 15c3-1 and other regulatory bodies.

As of March 30, 2020, Cowen Execution and Cowen and Company were granted regulatory approval to merge. The companies anticipate completing the merger during the second quarter of 2020 with Cowen and Company being the surviving entity.

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. On May 21, 2019, Cowen Securities Form BDW was approved and officially deregistered with the SEC. As of December 31, 2019, the entity has been dissolved.

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 $2.0 million or 2% of aggregate debit items. At March 31, 2020, Cowen Execution had $107.3 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, and must exceed the minimum capital requirement set forth by the FCA.

60

Cowen Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

Cowen Asia, a previously established entity, was re-registered with regulatory approval on May 17, 2019. Cowen Asia is subject to the financial resources requirements of the Securities and Futures Commission ("SFC") of Hong Kong. Financial Resources must exceed the Total Financial Resources requirement of the SFC.

As of March 31, 2020, these regulated broker-dealers had regulatory net capital or financial resources, regulatory net capital requirements or minimum FCA or SFC requirement and excess as follows:

Subsidiary	Net Capital		Minimum Net Capital Requirement		Excess Net Capital
	(dollars in thousands)
Cowen and Company	$	134,102	$	1,000	$	133,102
Cowen Execution	$	114,384	$	7,066	$	107,318
ATM Execution	$	4,821	$	250	$	4,571
Cowen Prime	$	18,122	$	250	$	17,872
Westminster	$	18,856	$	250	$	18,606
Cowen International Ltd	$	16,378	$	6,677	$	9,701
Cowen Execution Ltd	$	11,609	$	2,963	$	8,646
Cowen Asia	$	873	$	387	$	486

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 bank accounts designated as Special Accounts for the Exclusive Benefit of Customers ("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, 2020, Cowen Execution had segregated approximately $19.0 million of cash, while its required deposit was $10.5 million.

As a clearing broker-dealer, Cowen Execution is required to compute a reserve requirement for proprietary accounts of broker-dealers ("PAB"), 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, 2020, Cowen Execution had $36.0 million of cash on deposit in PAB Reserve Bank Accounts, which was less than its required deposit of $38.9 million. An additional $11.5 million was deposited on April 2, 2020 to meet the deposit requirement of SEC Rule 15c3-3.

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 calculated as of December 31 of each year must exceed a minimum requirement. As of the last testing date, December 31, 2019, all of these entities were in excess of this minimum requirement. The companies are currently, and management expects they will be at the next testing date of December 31, 2020, in compliance with these requirements.

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, 2020. RCG Insurance Company’s capital and surplus as of March 31, 2020 totaled approximately $31.8 million.

61

Cowen Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

23. 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, 2020 and December 31, 2019, $20.0 million and $20.5 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, 2020 and 2019, 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, 2020 and December 31, 2019, loans to employees of $12.8 million and $14.9 million, respectively, were included in due from related parties on the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of financial condition. Of these amounts $6.1 million and $7.1 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 $1.1 million and $0.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. This expense is included in employee compensation and benefits in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations. For the three months ended March 31, 2020, the interest income was $0.1 million for these related party loans and advances, respectively, and are included in interest and dividends in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations. For the three months ended March 31, 2019, the interest income was immaterial for these related party loans and advances. This income is included in interest and dividends in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations.

As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, included in due from related parties is $5.8 million and $6.5 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 five-year period and earns interest at 5.0% per annum.  The interest income for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, was $0.1 million, respectively.

The remaining balance included in due from related parties of $6.2 million and $5.3 million as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, 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 $0.3 million as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, 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, 2020 and December 31, 2019, such investments aggregated $87.8 million and $36.0 million, respectively, were included in non-controlling interests on the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of financial condition. Their share of the net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries and investment funds aggregated $0.1 million and $1.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

The Company may, at times, have unfunded commitment amounts pertaining to related parties. See Note 16 "Commitments and Contingencies" for amounts committed as of March 31, 2020.

24. 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.

62

Cowen Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

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.

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, 2020 and December 31, 2019. 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, 2020.

63

Cowen Inc.

Notes to 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
Spike Line
BMO Harris Bank Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Texas Capital Bank	70,000		35,000		August 21, 2020	Committed spike line facility to cover short term increases in National Securities Clearing Corporation margin deposit requirements
Revolving Credit Facility
BMO Harris Bank	25,000		—		December 2, 2021	Secured Corporate Revolver
Total Credit Lines	$	300,000	$	300,000

25. Subsequent Events

On April 24, 2020, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend payable on its common stock of $0.04 per common share, payable on June 15, 2020, to stockholders of record on June 1, 2020.

As a result of the spread of COVID-19, economic uncertainties have arisen that are likely to negatively impact the Company’s businesses, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, strategies and prospects. The extent of the impact of COVID-19 on the Company’s operational and financial performance will depend on certain developments, including the duration and spread of the outbreak and impact on our clients, employees, vendors and the markets in which we operate our businesses, all of which are uncertain and cannot be predicted. The extent to which COVID-19 may impact the Company’s businesses, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, strategies or prospects cannot be reasonably estimated at this time.

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 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 sections titled “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 (the "2019 Form 10-K") and in Item 1A of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, many of which risks are currently elevated by, and may or will continue to be elevated by, the COVID-19 pandemic. 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 that, together with its consolidated subsidiaries (collectively, "Cowen" or the "Company"), provides investment banking, research, sales and trading, prime brokerage, global clearing, commission management services and investment management through its two business segments: the Operating Company ("Op Co") and the Asset Company ("Asset Co").

Operating Company

The Op Co segment consists of four divisions: the Cowen Investment Management ("CIM") division, the Investment Banking division, the Markets division and the Research division. The Company refers to the Investment Banking division, the Markets division and the Research division collectively as its investment banking businesses. Op Co's CIM division includes advisers to investment funds (including private equity structures and privately placed hedge funds), and registered funds. Op Co's investment banking businesses offer industry focused investment banking for growth-oriented companies including advisory and global capital markets origination, domain knowledge-driven research, sales and trading platforms for institutional investors, global clearing, commission management services and also a comprehensive suite of prime brokerage services.

The CIM division is the Company's investment management business, which operates primarily under the Cowen Investment Management name. CIM 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 private healthcare investing, private sustainable investing, healthcare royalties, activism and merger arbitrage. A 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.

Op Co's investment banking businesses include investment banking, research, sales and trading, prime brokerage, global clearing and commission management services provided primarily to companies and institutional investor clients. Sectors covered by Op Co's investment banking business include healthcare, technology, media and telecommunications, consumer, industrials, information and technology services, and energy. We provide research and brokerage services to over 6,000 domestic and international clients seeking to trade securities and other financial instruments, principally in our sectors. The investment banking businesses also offer 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.

Asset Company

The Asset Co segment consists of the Company's private investments, private real estate investments and other legacy investment strategies. The focus of Asset Co is to drive future monetization of the invested capital of the segment.

Certain Factors Impacting Our Business

Our Company's businesses 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.

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•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.

•Equity research fees.  Equity research fees are paid to the Company for providing access to equity 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 research depends on the quality of our research and its relevance to our institutional customers and other clients.

•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.

•Commissions.  Our commission revenues depend for the most part on our customer's trading volumes and on the notional value of the non-U.S. securities traded by our customers.

•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.  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.

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, global health crisis, such as the ingoing COVID-19 pandemic, or a combination of these or other factors. Until the COVID-19 pandemic subsides, we expect reduced levels in certain of our investment banking activities, reduced revenues from incentive income in our investment management business and reduced investment income. Our businesses and profitability have been and may continue to be adversely affected by market conditions in many ways, including the following:

•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 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 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

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capital formation by smaller companies. Therefore, our investment bank business could be affected differently than overall market trends.

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

The COVID-19 outbreak has caused significant disruption in business activity and the financial markets both globally and in the United States. As a result of the spread of COVID-19, economic uncertainties have arisen which are likely to negatively impact our businesses, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, strategies and prospects. The extent of the impact of COVID-19 on our operational and financial performance will depend on certain developments, including the duration and spread of the outbreak and impact on our clients, employees, vendors and the markets in which we operate our businesses, all of which is uncertain at this time and cannot be predicted. The extent to which COVID-19 may impact our financial condition or results of operations cannot be reasonably estimated at this time. For more information on the potential impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak on our businesses see “Item 1A. Risk Factors".

Basis of presentation

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company in this Form 10-Q are prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States ("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 and nonredeemable 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.

Acquisition

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.

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.

•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.

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•Operating, General and Administrative.  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 non-controlling interest.

Income Taxes

The taxable results of the Company’s U.S. operations are subject to U.S. federal, state and local 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.

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 other owners of such entities. When non-controlling interest holders have redemption features that can be exercised at the option of the holder currently or contingent upon the occurrence of future events, their ownership has been classified as temporary equity. The remaining non-controlling interests have been classified in permanent equity as the non-controlling interests are either not redeemable at the option of the holder or the holder does not have the unilateral right to redeem its ownership interests.

Investment Fund Performance and Assets Under Management

For the three months ended March 31, 2020, the Company's activist and merger arbitrage investment strategies (including the merger arbitrage-focused UCITS Fund (as defined below)) had, in the aggregate, negative results. The Company's healthcare royalty strategy's third investment fund is now fully committed and allocations are now being made to the strategy's fourth fund. Our private healthcare strategy continues to deploy capital, having made eighteen investments in its second fund by the end of the three months ended March 31, 2020 and with a pipeline of opportunities ahead. The liquidation of certain multi-strategy hedge funds advised by the Company also continues.

As of March 31, 2020, the Company had assets under management of $10.8 billion.

Capability	Private Healthcare Investments	Healthcare Royalties	Activism	Merger Arbitrage	Sustainability	Other (a)
	(dollars in millions)
AUM	$657	$3,393	$5,377	$466	$208	$676
Team
Private Equity	ü	ü			ü
Hedge Fund			ü	ü
Managed Account		ü	ü	ü
UCITS				ü
Other						ü

(a) Other capabilities include private equity funds, legacy funds, and other trading strategies.

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The Company's Invested Capital

The Company invests a significant portion of its capital base to help drive results and facilitate the growth of the Op Co and Asset Co business segments. Within Op Co, management allocates capital to three primary investment categories: (i) broker-dealer capital and related trading strategies; (ii) liquid alternative trading strategies; and (iii) public and private healthcare strategies. Broker-dealer capital and related trading strategies include capital investments in the Company's broker-dealers as well as securities finance and special purpose acquisition company trading strategies to grow liquidity and returns within operating businesses.  Much of the Company's public and private healthcare strategies and liquid alternative trading strategies portfolios are invested alongside the Company's investment management clients. The Company's liquid alternative trading strategies include merger arbitrage and activist fund strategies. In addition, from time to time, the Company makes investments in private capital raising transactions of its investment banking clients.

The Company allocates capital to Asset Co's private investments. Asset Co's private investments include the Company's investment in Italian wireless broadband provider Linkem, private equity funds Formation8 and Eclipse and legacy real estate investments.

As of March 31, 2020, the Company's invested capital amounted to a net value of $666.6 million (supporting a long market value of $615.7 million), representing approximately 85% 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, 2020. The total net values presented in the table below do not tie to Cowen's condensed consolidated statement of financial condition as of March 31, 2020 because they represent only some of the line items in the accompanying condensed consolidated statement of financial condition.

Strategy	Net Value		% of Stockholders' Equity
	(dollars in millions)
Op Co
Broker-dealer capital and related trading	$	420.4	63%
Public and Private Healthcare	52.6		8%
Liquid Alternative Trading	66.9		10%
Asset Co
Private Investments	120.5		18%
Private Real Estate	6.2		1%
Total	666.6		85%
Cowen Inc. Stockholders' Equity	$	784.8	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 Op Co and Asset Co 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 21 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, 2020 Compared with Three Months Ended March 31, 2019

	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
	(unaudited)
	Three Months Ended March 31,				Period to Period
	2020		2019		$ Change		% Change
	(dollars in thousands)
Revenues
Investment banking	$	105,028	$	80,106	$	24,922	31	%
Brokerage	139,362		97,463		41,899		43	%
Management fees	11,604		7,141		4,463		62	%
Incentive income	—		15		(15)		(100)	%
Interest and dividends	42,077		29,092		12,985		45	%
Reimbursement from affiliates	261		288		(27)		(9)	%
Reinsurance premiums	10,471		6,591		3,880		59	%
Other revenues	1,850		1,061		789		74	%
Consolidated Funds revenues	3,156		2,340		816		35	%
Total revenues	313,809		224,097		89,712		40	%
Interest and dividends expense	38,792		29,084		9,708		33	%
Total net revenues	275,017		195,013		80,004		41	%
Expenses
Employee compensation and benefits	124,428		131,882		(7,454)		(6)	%
Reinsurance claims, commissions and amortization of deferred acquisition costs	10,430		6,162		4,268		69	%
Operating, general, administrative and other expenses	88,139		78,001		10,138		13	%
Depreciation and amortization expense	5,442		4,956		486		10	%
Consolidated Funds expenses	2,714		1,482		1,232		83	%
Total expenses	231,153		222,483		8,670		4	%
Other income (loss)
Net gains (losses) on securities, derivatives and other investments	(43,983)		39,084		(83,067)		(213)	%
Consolidated Funds net gains (losses)	(73,165)		1,858		(75,023)		(4,038)	%
Total other income (loss)	(117,148)		40,942		(158,090)		(386)	%
Income (loss) before income taxes	(73,284)		13,472		(86,756)		(644)	%
Income tax expense (benefit)	(1,173)		3,177		(4,350)		(137)	%
Net income (loss)	(72,111)		10,295		(82,406)		(800)	%
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries and investment funds	(62,188)		512		(62,700)		(12,246)	%
Net income (loss) attributable to Cowen Inc.	(9,923)		9,783		(19,706)		(201)	%
Preferred stock dividends	1,698		1,698		—		—	%
Net income (loss) attributable to Cowen Inc. common stockholders	$	(11,621)	$	8,085	$	(19,706)	(244)	%

Revenues

Investment Banking

Investment banking revenues increased $24.9 million to $105.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared with $80.1 million in the prior year period. During the three months ended March 31, 2020, the Company completed 28 capital markets transactions, 12 strategic advisory transactions and three debt capital markets transactions. During the three months ended March 31, 2019, the Company completed 28 underwriting transactions, nine strategic advisory transactions and two debt capital markets transactions.

Brokerage

Brokerage revenues increased $41.9 million to $139.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared with $97.5 million in the prior year period. This was attributable to an increase in cash, electronic, and options trading commission revenue and an increase in institutional services revenues. Customer trading volumes across the industry (according to Bloomberg) increased 46% for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to the prior year period.

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Management Fees

Management fees increased $4.5 million to $11.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared with $7.1 million in the prior year period. This increase is primarily related to the healthcare royalty business and our healthcare investments business.

Incentive Income

Revenue recognition standards, effective January 1, 2018, require 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 crystallized.

Interest and Dividends

Interest and dividends increased $13.0 million to $42.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared with $29.1 million in the prior year period. This is primarily attributable to securities finance activity. The increase in the securities finance activity is due to customer demand which has created greater matched book opportunities for both domestic and international securities.

Reimbursements from Affiliates

Reimbursements from affiliates remained fairly flat at $0.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared with $0.3 million in the prior year period.

Reinsurance Premiums

Reinsurance premiums increased $3.9 million to $10.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared with $6.6 million in the prior year period. This increase is due to a higher change in unearned premiums as well as higher premium volume from new policies in the first quarter of 2020 compared to the same period in 2019.

Other Revenues

Other revenues increased $0.8 million to $1.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared with $1.1 million in the prior year period.

Consolidated Funds Revenues

Consolidated Funds revenues increased $0.9 million to $3.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared with $2.3 million in the prior year period.

Interest and Dividends Expense

Interest and dividends expense increased $9.7 million to $38.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared with $29.1 million in the prior year period. This is primarily attributable to securities finance activities. The increase in the securities finance activity is due to customer demand which has created greater matched book opportunities for both domestic and international securities.

Expenses

Employee Compensation and Benefits

Employee compensation and benefits expenses decreased $7.5 million to $124.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared with $131.9 million in the prior year period. The decrease is primarily due to a decrease in total revenues driven by a decrease in other income (loss) on investments. The compensation to revenue ratio, including other income (loss), was 63% for the three months ended March 31, 2020, compared with 50% in the prior year period.

Reinsurance Claims and Commissions

Reinsurance-related expenses increased $4.2 million to $10.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared with $6.2 million in the prior year period. This increase is primarily due to higher claims and claims related reserves in the first quarter of 2020 compared to the same period in 2019.

Operating, General, Administrative and Other Expenses

Operating, general, administrative and other expenses increased $10.1 million to $88.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared with $78.0 million in the prior year period. The increase is primarily related to increased floor brokerage and trade execution costs driven by higher brokerage revenue.

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Depreciation and Amortization Expenses

Depreciation and amortization expenses increased $0.4 million to $5.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared with $5.0 million in the prior year period.

Consolidated Funds Expenses

Consolidated Funds expenses increased $1.2 million to $2.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared with $1.5 million in the prior year period. The increase is due to increased professional, advisory and other fees expenses in the Consolidated Funds.

Other Income (Loss)

Other income (loss) decreased $158.0 million to a loss of $117.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared with income of $40.9 million in the prior year period. The decrease primarily relates to an decrease 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 non-controlling interests.

Income Taxes

Income tax benefit increased $4.4 million to $1.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared with an income tax expense of $3.2 million in the prior year period. This change is primarily attributable to the change in the Company’s income/(loss) before income taxes for the respective periods.

Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Non-controlling Interests

Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests decreased $62.7 million to a loss of $62.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared with income of $0.5 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)

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 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 21 to the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Form 10-Q.

In general, Economic Income (Loss) 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 and (iv) certain costs associated with debt. 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

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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, (b) start-up costs of a fund over the expected life of the fund and (c) 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.

Economic Income (Loss) Revenues

The Company conducts its operations through two segments: Op Co and Asset Co. The Company's principle sources of Economic Income (Loss) revenues are derived from activities in the following business segments:

The Op Co segment generates revenue through five principle sources: investment banking revenue, brokerage revenue, management fees, incentive income and investment income from the Company's own capital. Investment income is excluded from ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers.

The Asset Co segment generates revenue through three principal sources: management fees, incentive income and investment income from the Company's own capital.

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), 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.

Three Months Ended March 31, 2020 Compared with Three Months Ended March 31, 2019

	(unaudited)
	Three Months Ended March 31,												Total Period-to-Period
	2020						2019
	Operating Company		Asset Company		Total		Operating Company		Asset Company		Total		$ Change		% Change
	(dollars in thousands)
Economic Income Revenues
Investment banking	$	98,759	$	—	$	98,759	$	82,991	$	—	$	82,991	$	15,768	19	%
Brokerage	132,672		—		132,672		111,872		—		111,872		20,800		19	%
Management fees	14,711		204		14,915		9,728		703		10,431		4,484		43	%
Incentive income (loss)	(2,487)		(2,402)		(4,889)		16,637		110		16,747		(21,636)		(129)	%
Investment income (loss)	(19,449)		(11,655)		(31,104)		9,427		842		10,269		(41,373)		(403)	%
Other income (loss)	562		—		562		1,123		36		1,159		(597)		(52)	%
Total economic income revenues	224,768		(13,853)		210,915		231,778		1,691		233,469		(22,554)		(10)	%
Interest expense	6,343		1,435		7,778		5,317		1,247		6,564		1,214		18	%
Total net revenues	$	218,425	$	(15,288)	$	203,137	$	226,461	$	444	$	226,905	$	(23,768)	(10)	%

Economic Income (Loss)

Total Economic Operating Income (Loss) (which is Economic Income (Loss) before depreciation and amortization) was a loss of $6.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020, a decrease of $27.0 million compared to Economic Operating Income (Loss) of $20.2 million in the prior year period. Total Economic Income (Loss) was a loss of $12.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020, a decrease of $27.5 million compared to Economic Income (Loss) of $15.3 million in the prior year period.

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Total Economic Income (Loss) revenues were $210.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020, a decrease of $22.6 million compared to Economic Income (Loss) revenues of $233.5 million in the prior year period. This was primarily related to an increase in investment banking and brokerage revenues offset partially by a decrease in investment and incentive income.

Operating Company Segment Revenues

The Op Co segment Economic Income (Loss) revenues were $224.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020, a decrease of $7.0 million compared to Economic Income (Loss) revenues of $231.8 million in the prior year period.

Investment Banking.    Investment banking revenues increased $15.8 million to $98.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared with $83.0 million in the prior year period. During the three months ended March 31, 2020, the Company completed 28 capital markets transactions, 12 strategic advisory transactions and three debt capital markets transactions. During the three months ended March 31, 2019, the Company completed 28 underwriting transactions, nine strategic advisory transactions and two debt capital markets transactions.

Brokerage.    Brokerage revenues increased $20.8 million to $132.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020, compared with $111.9 million in the prior year period. This was attributable to an increase in cash, electronic, and options trading commission revenue and an increase in institutional services revenues. Customer trading volumes across the industry (according to Bloomberg) increased 46% for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to the prior year period.

Management Fees.    Management fees for the segment increased $5.0 million to $14.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared with $9.7 million in the prior year period. This increase is primarily related to the healthcare royalty business and our healthcare investments business.

Incentive Income (Loss).    Incentive income for the segment decreased $19.1 million to a loss of $2.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared with $16.6 million in the prior year period. This decrease was related to a decrease in performance fees from our activist and healthcare investments businesses.

Investment Income (Loss).    Investment income for the segment decreased $28.8 million to a loss of $19.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared with income of $9.4 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 decreased $0.5 million to $0.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared with $1.1 million in the prior year period. The decrease is due to higher claims and claims related reserves from our reinsurance business in the first quarter of 2020 compared to the same period in 2019, partially offset by higher premium volumes in 2020 compared to 2019 for the same period.

Asset Co Segment Revenues

The Asset Co segment Economic Income (Loss) revenues were a loss of $13.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020, a decrease of $15.6 million compared with Economic Income (Loss) revenues of $1.7 million in the prior year.

Management Fees.    Management fees for the segment decreased $0.5 million to $0.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared with $0.7 million in the prior year period. This decrease in management fees was primarily related to a decrease in management fees from the real estate investments.

Incentive Income (Loss).    Incentive income for the segment decreased $2.5 million to a loss of $2.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared with income of $0.1 million in the prior year period. This decrease was related to a decrease in performance fees from the real estate investments and the multi-strategy business.

Investment Income (Loss).    Investment income for the segment decreased $12.5 million to a loss of $11.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020, compared with income of $0.8 million in the prior year period. The decrease primarily relates to a decrease in valuation of our legacy real estate investments.

Interest expense

Interest expense increased $1.2 million to $7.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared with $6.6 million in the prior year period. Interest expense primarily relates to debt issued. The increase is primarily related to new debt issued in May of 2019.

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Non-Interest Expenses

Non-interest expenses.    Total non-interest expenses increased $3.0 million to $211.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020, compared with $208.9 million in the prior year period.

Compensation and benefits expenses. Compensation and benefits expenses, included within non-interest expenses, decreased $6.1 million to $125.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared with $131.9 million in the prior year period. The decrease is due to lower overall revenue only partially offset by a higher compensation to revenue ratio which was 60% for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared with 57% in the prior year period.

Non-compensation Expenses—Fixed.    Fixed non-compensation expenses, included within non-interest expenses, increased $2.6 million to $37.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared with $34.9 million in the prior year period. The increase is primarily related to increased service fees, professional, advisory and other fees offset partially by lower occupancy and equipment expenses.

The following table shows the components of the non-compensation expenses—fixed, for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019:

	Three Months Ended March 31,				Period-to-Period
	2020		2019		$ Change		% Change
	(dollars in thousands)
Non-compensation expenses—fixed:
Communications	$	7,760	$	7,702	$	58	1	%
Professional, advisory and other fees	7,431		6,771		660		10	%
Occupancy and equipment	9,200		9,578		(378)		(4)	%
Service fees	6,822		5,654		1,168		21	%
Expenses from equity investments	1,902		1,522		380		25	%
Reimbursement from affiliates	(286)		(328)		42		(13)	%
Other	4,655		3,978		677		17	%
Total	$	37,484	$	34,877	$	2,607	7	%

Depreciation and amortization expenses.  Depreciation and amortization expenses increased to $5.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared with $5.0 million in the prior year period.

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, increased $6.2 million to $43.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared with $37.1 million in the prior year period. The increase is related to increased brokerage and trade execution costs partially offset by lower marketing and business development costs.

The following table shows the components of the non-compensation expenses—variable, for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019:

	Three Months Ended March 31,				Period-to-Period
	2020		2019		$ Change		% Change
	(dollars in thousands)
Non-compensation expenses—Variable:
Brokerage and trade execution costs	$	32,666	$	25,431	$	7,235	28	%
HealthCare Royalty Partners syndication costs	—		132		(132)		(100)	%
Expenses related to Luxembourg companies	658		829		(171)		(21)	%
Marketing and business development	9,371		10,462		(1,091)		(10)	%
Other	605		278		327		118	%
Total	$	43,300	$	37,132	$	6,168	17	%

Non-Controlling Interests

Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests increased by $0.7 million to $1.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared with $1.0 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.

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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:

•to pay our operating expenses, primarily consisting of compensation and benefits, interest on debt and other general and administrative expenses; and

•to 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. However, the company’s assessment could be affected by various risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. 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, 2020, we had cash and cash equivalents of $270.1 million and net liquid investment assets of $572.9 million, which includes cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments held by foreign subsidiaries as of March 31, 2020 of $40.2 million. The Company continues to permanently reinvest the capital and accumulated earnings of its subsidiaries in the United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, Canada, South Africa 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, 2020, we had security deposits totaling $131.9 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.

Unfunded commitments

The following table summarizes unfunded commitments as of March 31, 2020:

Entity	Unfunded Commitments		Commitment term
	(dollars in thousands)
HealthCare Royalty Partners funds (a)	$	7,957	5 years
Eclipse Ventures Fund I, L.P. (formerly Formation8 Partners Hardware Fund I, L.P.)	$	81	5 years
Lagunita Biosciences, LLC	$	250	4 years
Eclipse Fund II, L.P.	$	180	6 years
Eclipse Continuity Fund I, L.P.	$	68	7 years
Cowen Healthcare Investments II LP	$	2,524	2 years
Cowen Healthcare Investments III LP	$	8,803	7 years
Cowen Sustainable Investments I LP	$	12,989	10 years

(a) 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

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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. The Company declared and accrued a cash dividend of $1.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, 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 dividend 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 the Company's 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. 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.

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 that rule. Under the alternative method, Cowen and Company's minimum net capital requirement, as defined in (a)(4) of SEC Rule 15c3-1, 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 SEC Rule 15c3-1, equal to the greater of $250,000 or 2% of aggregate debits arising from customer transactions. Advances to affiliates, repayment of borrowings, distributions, dividend payments and other equity withdrawals are subject to certain notification and other provisions of SEC Rule 15c3-1 and other regulatory bodies.

As of March 30, 2020, Cowen Execution and Cowen and Company were granted regulatory approval to merge. The companies anticipate completing the merger during the second quarter of 2020 with Cowen and Company being the surviving entity.

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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. On May 21, 2019, Cowen Securities Form BDW was approved and officially deregistered with the SEC. As of December 31, 2019, the entity has been dissolved.

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 $2.0 million or 2% of aggregate debit items. At March 31, 2020, Cowen Execution had $107.3 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, and must exceed the minimum capital requirement set forth by the FCA.

Cowen Asia, a previously established entity, was re-registered with regulatory approval on May 17, 2019. Cowen Asia is subject to the financial resources requirements of the Securities and Futures Commission ("SFC") of Hong Kong. Financial Resources must exceed the Total Financial Resources requirement of the SFC.

As of March 31, 2020, these regulated broker-dealers had regulatory net capital or financial resources, regulatory net capital requirements or minimum FCA or SFC requirement and excess as follows:

Subsidiary	Net Capital		Net Capital Requirement		Excess Net Capital
	(dollars in thousands)
Cowen and Company	$	134,102	$	1,000	$	133,102
Cowen Execution	$	114,384	$	7,066	$	107,318
ATM Execution	$	4,821	$	250	$	4,571
Cowen Prime	$	18,122	$	250	$	17,872
Westminster	$	18,856	$	250	$	18,606
Cowen International Ltd	$	16,378	$	6,677	$	9,701
Cowen Execution Ltd	$	11,609	$	2,963	$	8,646
Cowen Asia	$	873	$	387	$	486

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 bank accounts designated as Special Accounts for the Exclusive Benefit of Customers ("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, 2020, Cowen Execution had segregated approximately $19.0 million of cash, while its required deposit was $10.5 million.

As a clearing broker-dealer, Cowen Execution is required to compute a reserve requirement for proprietary accounts of broker-dealers ("PAB"), 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, 2020, Cowen Execution had $36.0 million of cash on deposit in PAB Reserve Bank Accounts, which was less than its required deposit of $38.9 million. An additional $11.5 million was deposited on April 2, 2020 to meet the deposit requirement of SEC Rule 15c3-3.

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

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of the holding and reinsurance companies calculated as of December 31 of each year must exceed a minimum requirement. As of the last testing date, December 31, 2019, all of these entities were in excess of this minimum requirement. The companies are currently, and management expects they will be at the next testing date of December 31, 2020, in compliance with these requirements.

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, 2020. RCG Insurance Company’s capital and surplus as of March 31, 2020 totaled approximately $31.8 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 $78.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 was primarily related to (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, (ii) proceeds from securities owned, at fair value, held at broker dealers, (iii) purchases of securities owned, at fair value offset partially by proceeds from sales of securities owned, at fair value and (iv) offset partially by stock borrowing and stock lending activity. Net cash used in operating activities of $130.0 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).

Investing Activities.    Net cash used in investing activities of $8.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 was primarily related to the purchase of other investments. 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.

Financing Activities.    Net cash provided by financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2020 of $80.8 million was primarily related to (i) capital contributions by non-controlling interests offset only partially by capital withdrawals by non-controlling interests in Consolidated Funds and (ii) borrowings on notes and other debt.  Net cash provided by financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2019 of $116.5 million was primarily related to capital contributions by non-controlling interests in Consolidated Funds offset partially by a repayment on convertible debt.

Debt

Convertible Debt

December 2022 Convertible Notes

The Company, on December 14, 2017, issued $135.0 million aggregate principal amount of 3.0% convertible senior notes due December 2022 (the “December 2022 Convertible Notes”). The December 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 December 2022 Convertible Notes is payable semi-annually on December 15 and June 15 of each year. The December 2022 Convertible Notes are senior unsecured obligations of Cowen. The December 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 December 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 March 2019 (the "March 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, 2020, the outstanding principal amount of the December 2022 Convertible Notes was $135.0 million. On June 26, 2018, the Company received shareholder approval for the Company to settle the December 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, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The Company recognized the embedded cash conversion option at issuance date fair value, which also represents the initial unamortized discount on the December 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,

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included within interest and dividends expense in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations is $1.1 million and $1.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, based on an effective interest rate of 7.13%. 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 December 2022 Convertible Notes in interest and dividends expense in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations.

March 2019 Convertible Notes

On March 10, 2014, the Company issued $149.5 million of 3.0% cash convertible senior notes (the "March 2019 Convertible Notes"). The March 2019 Convertible Notes matured on March 15, 2019 and were fully repaid by the Company. The Company recorded interest expense of $0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019. Amortization on the discount, included within interest and dividends expense in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations was $0.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, based on an effective interest rate of 8.89%.

Notes Payable

May 2024 Notes

On May 7, 2019, the Company completed its private placement of $53.0 million aggregate principal amount of 7.25% senior notes due May 2024 (the "May 2024 Notes") with certain institutional investors. On September 30, 2019, the Company issued an additional $25.0 million of the same series of notes. The additional May 2024 Notes were purchased at a premium of $0.5 million, which is shown net in notes payable in the accompanying condensed consolidated statement of financial condition. To date the May 2024 Notes have maintained their initial private rating, and the interest rate has remained unchanged. Interest on the May 2024 Notes is payable semi-annually in arrears on May 6 and November 6. The Company recorded interest expense of $1.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020. The Company capitalized debt issuance costs of approximately $1.5 million in May 2019 and $0.6 million in December 2019, which is a direct deduction from the carrying value of the debt and will be amortized over the life of the May 2024 Notes in interest and dividends expense in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations.

June 2033 Notes

On June 11, 2018, the Company completed its public offering of $90.0 million of 7.75% senior notes due June 2033 (the "June 2033 Notes") and subsequently the underwriters exercised in full their option to purchase an additional $10.0 million principal amount of the June 2033 Notes. Interest on the June 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 and $1.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. 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 June 2033 Notes in interest and dividends expense in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations.

December 2027 Notes

On December 8, 2017, the Company completed its public offering of $120.0 million of 7.35% senior notes due December 2027 (the "December 2027 Notes") and subsequently the underwriters exercised in full their option to purchase an additional $18.0 million principal amount of the December 2027 Notes. Interest on the December 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, 2020 and 2019, 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 December 2027 Notes in interest and dividends expense in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations. 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 October 2021 and for general corporate purposes.

Term Loan

On June 30, 2017, a subsidiary of 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 (as amended) on June 26, 2020. In July 2019, the subsidiary of the Company borrowed an additional $4.0 million to fund general corporate purposes. 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, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

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Other Notes Payable

During January 2020, the Company borrowed $2.9 million to fund insurance premium payments. This note had an effective interest rate of 2.01% and was due in December 2020, with monthly payment requirements of $0.3 million. As of March 31, 2020, the outstanding balance on this note was $2.3 million. Interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2020 was insignificant.

During November 2019, the Company borrowed $2.6 million to fund general corporate capital expenditures. This note had an effective interest rate of 6% and is due in November 2024, with monthly payment requirements of $0.1 million. As of March 31, 2020, the note had a balance of $2.4 million. Interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2020 was insignificant.

Spike Line

In August 2019, Cowen Execution renewed a one-year committed spike line facility to cover short term increases in National Securities Clearing Corporation margin deposit requirements. The spike line facility has a capacity of $70 million. This facility has (i) an effective interest rate equal to the Federal Funds rate plus 2.50% on any money drawn from the liquidity facility and (ii) a commitment or unused line fee that is 50 basis points on the undrawn amount. Outstanding borrowings on this liquidity facility at March 31, 2020 were $35 million. Interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2020 was $0.1 million.

Revolving Credit Facility

In December 2019, the Company entered into a two-year committed corporate credit facility with a capacity of $25 million. This credit facility has (i) an effective interest rate equal to LIBOR plus 3.25% on any money drawn from the credit facility and (ii) a commitment or unused line fee that is 50 basis points on the undrawn amount. Outstanding borrowings on this corporate credit facility at March 31, 2020 were $25 million. Interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2020 was $0.2 million.

Finance Lease Obligations

The Company has entered into various finance leases for computer equipment. These finance lease obligations are included in notes payable and other debt in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of financial condition.

For the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, quantitative information regarding the Company's finance lease obligations reflected in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations, the supplemental cash flow information and certain other information related to finance leases were as follows:

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2020			2019
	(dollars in thousands)
Lease cost
Finance lease cost:
Amortization of finance lease right-of-use assets	$	308		$	368
Interest on lease liabilities	49			63
Other information
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:
Operating cash flows from finance leases	49			63
Financing cash flows from finance leases	$	314		$	394
Weighted average remaining lease term - operating leases (in years)	2.97			3.90
Weighted average discount rate - operating leases	4.88		%	4.93		%

Letters of Credit

As of March 31, 2020, the Company has the following six 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 $2.9 million as of March 31, 2020, and $2.0 million as of December 31, 2019, which are released annually between March 2020 and March 2023 based on the policy periods covered by the reinsurance agreements.

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Location	Amount		Maturity
	(dollars in thousands)
New York	$	360	April 2021
New York	$	398	October 2020
New York	$	1,125	October 2020
New York	$	1,635	November 2020
Boston	$	379	March 2021
San Francisco	$	711	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, 2020 and December 31, 2019 there were no amounts due related to these letters of credit.

Contractual Obligations

The following tables summarize the Company's contractual cash obligations as of March 31, 2020:

	Total		< 1 Year		1-3 Years		3-5 Years		More Than 5 Years
	(dollars in thousands)
Equipment, Service and Facility Leases
Real Estate and Other Facility Rental	$	103,682	$	16,006	$	45,223	$	32,369	$	10,084
Service Payments	58,463		20,251		27,778		6,033		4,401
Operating Equipment Leases	597		280		314		3		—
Total	162,742		36,537		73,315		38,405		14,485
Debt
Convertible Debt	147,150		4,050		143,100		—		—
Notes Payable	522,744		19,075		47,096		122,269		334,304
Revolving Credit Facility	25,101		25,101		—		—		—
Spike Line	35,000		35,000		—		—		—
Finance Lease Obligation	3,901		922		2,557		422		—
Term Loan	32,596		32,596		—		—		—
Other Notes Payable	5,121		2,799		1,186		1,136		—
Total	$	771,613	$	119,543	$	193,939	$	123,827	$	334,304

Minimum payments for all debt outstanding

Annual scheduled maturities of debt and minimum payments for all debt outstanding as of March 31, 2020, are as follows:

	Convertible Debt		Notes Payable		Spike Line		Revolving Credit Facility		Term Loan		Other Notes Payable		Finance Lease Obligation
	(dollars in thousands)
2020	$	4,050	$	19,075	$	35,000	$	25,101	$	32,596	$	2,799	$	922
2021	4,050		23,548		—		—		—		593		1,394
2022	139,050		23,548		—		—		—		593		1,163
2023	—		23,548		—		—		—		593		411
2024	—		98,721		—		—		—		543		11
Thereafter	—		334,304		—		—		—		—		—
Subtotal	147,150		522,744		35,000		25,101		32,596		5,121		3,901
Less (a)	(27,221)		(215,725)				(101)		(416)		(402)		(288)
Total	$	119,929	$	307,019	$	35,000	$	25,000	$	32,180	$	4,719	$	3,613

(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 Company's convertible debt.

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Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We have no material off-balance sheet arrangements as of March 31, 2020. 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 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.

Cowen Execution temporarily loans securities to other brokers in connection with its securities lending activities. Cowen Execution receives cash as collateral for the securities loaned. Increases in securities prices may cause the market value of the securities loaned to exceed the amount of cash received as collateral. In the event that counterparty to these transactions does not return the loaned securities, Cowen Execution may be exposed to the risk of acquiring the securities at prevailing market prices in order to satisfy its client obligations. Cowen Execution controls this risk by requiring credit approvals for counterparties, by monitoring the market value of securities loaned on a daily basis, and by requiring additional cash as collateral or returning collateral when necessary.

Cowen Execution temporarily borrows securities from other brokers in connection with its securities borrowing activities. Cowen Execution deposits cash as collateral for the securities borrowed. Decreases in securities prices may cause the market value of the securities borrowed to fall below the amount of cash deposited as collateral. In the event that counterparty to these transactions does not return collateral, Cowen Execution may be exposed to the risk of selling the securities at prevailing market prices. Cowen Execution controls this risk by requiring credit approvals for counterparties, by monitoring the collateral values on a daily basis, and by depositing additional collateral with counterparties or receiving cash when deemed necessary.

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

The Company's 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.

The Company consolidates six investment funds for which it acts as the managing member/general partner and investment manager. At March 31, 2020, 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"), Ramius Merger Arbitrage UCITS Fund ("UCITS Fund"), Cowen Sustainable Investments I LP ("CSI I LP") and CSI I Golden Holdco LP ("Golden HoldCo") (each a "Consolidated Fund" and collectively the "Consolidated Funds").

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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 Entities—VOEs are entities in which (i) the total equity investment at risk is sufficient to enable the entity to finance its activities independently, (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 and (iii) voting rights of equity holders are proportionate to their obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive returns.

Under US GAAP consolidation requirements, 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 determines whether it is the primary beneficiary of a VIE upon its initial involvement with the VIE and reassesses whether it is the primary beneficiary on an ongoing basis as long as it has any continuing involvement with the 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.

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 or real estate funds that are VIEs due to the Company's conclusion that it is not the primary beneficiary of these funds in each instance. Investment fund investors are entitled to all of the 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 a general partner and a 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 Investments—For 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.

Other—If 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), 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 Accounting—The Consolidated Funds and certain other consolidated companies are investment companies and apply specialized industry accounting. 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.

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In addition, the Company's broker-dealer subsidiaries apply the specialized industry accounting for brokers and dealers in securities. 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 1Inputs 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 2Inputs 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 3Fair 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. Inputs reflect unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access at the measurement date.

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 impact 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 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 primarily include active listed equities, certain U.S. government and sovereign obligations, Exchange Traded Funds ("ETFs"), mutual funds and certain money market securities.

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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 contracts—Derivative 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 investments—Other investments consist primarily of investment funds, real estate investments, carried interest 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 applies the practical expedient provided by the US GAAP fair value measurements and disclosures guidance relating to investments in certain entities that calculate net asset value (“NAV”) per share (or its equivalent). The guidance permits 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 NAV 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. 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 measured 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.

iii. Carried Interest—For the private equity and debt fund products the Company offers, the Company is allocated incentive income by the investment funds based on the extent by which the investment funds performance exceeds predetermined thresholds. Carried interest allocations are generally structured from a legal standpoint as an allocation of capital in the Company’s capital account. The Company accounts for carried interest allocations by applying an equity ownership model. Accordingly, the Company accrues performance allocations quarterly based on the fair value of the underlying investments assuming hypothetical liquidation at book value.

iv. Equity Method Investments—For operating entities over which the Company exercises significant influence but which do not meet the requirements for consolidation as outlined above, the Company applies the equity method of accounting. The Company's investments in equity method investees are recorded in other investments in the accompanying

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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.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Goodwill

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 requirements for testing for impairment of goodwill, 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 a quantitative impairment test is not necessary. If the Company concludes otherwise, the Company is required to perform a quantitative impairment test that 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 its fair value, then the Company recognizes an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value.

The Company’s evaluation of goodwill for potential impairment is sensitive to the Company’s forecasts of future profitability and market conditions. At this time, the impact of COVID-19 on the Company’s forecasts is uncertain and increases the subjectivity that will be involved in evaluating goodwill for potential impairment going forward. Based on the ultimate impact of COVID-19, there may be materially negative impacts to the assumptions made with respect to goodwill that could result in an impairment.

Intangible assets

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 accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations if the sum of the estimated undiscounted cash flows relating to the asset or asset group is less than the corresponding carrying value. The Company continually monitors the estimated average useful lives of existing intangible assets.

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 its 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

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accordance with US GAAP. These amounts are reported in other expenses, net of recoveries, in the condensed consolidated statements of operations. See Note 16 "Commitments and Contingencies" in our accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2020 for further discussion.

Recently adopted and future adoption of accounting pronouncements

        For a detailed discussion, see Note 2o "Recent pronouncements" in our accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2020.

Item 3.    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

During the three months ended March 31, 2020, there were no material changes in our quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risks from those disclosed in our 2019 Form 10-K. For a more detailed discussion concerning our market risk, see Item 7A "Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk" in our 2019 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, 2020.

Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of March 31, 2020, 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, 2020.

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

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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.

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 2019 Form 10-K as well as those set forth below. These risk factors describe various risks and uncertainties to which we are or may become subject. These risks and uncertainties have the potential to affect our businesses, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, strategies or prospects in a material and adverse manner.

We could change our existing dividend policy in the future and there can be no assurance that we will continue to declare cash dividends.

We began paying quarterly cash dividends to holders of record of our Class A common stock in March 2020. Although we expect to continue to pay dividends to our shareholders in accordance with our dividend policy, as described under the heading "Dividend Policy" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, we have no obligation to pay any dividend, and our dividend policy may change at any time without notice. The declaration and payment of dividends on our Class A common stock is at the discretion of our Board of Directors in accordance with applicable law after taking into account various factors, including our financial condition, operating results, current and anticipated cash needs and capital uses, legal requirements, contractual restrictions (including under agreements related to indebtedness to which we are a party) and other factors that our Board of Directors deems relevant in its sole discretion. For example, in the event that there is deterioration in our financial performance and/or our liquidity position, a downturn in global economic conditions or disruptions in the credit markets and our ability to obtain financing, our Board of Directors could decide to suspend dividend payments in the future. As a Delaware corporation, we are required to meet certain surplus thresholds for our Board of Directors to declare a dividend in accordance with the Delaware General Corporation Law. As a result, we may not pay dividends at all.

Market, Strategy and Industry Risk

Difficult market conditions, market disruptions and volatility have adversely affected, and may in the future adversely affect, the Company's businesses, results of operations and financial condition.

The Company's businesses, by their nature, do not produce predictable earnings, and all of the Company's businesses have in the past been, and may in the future be affected by conditions in the global financial markets and by global economic conditions, such as interest rates, the availability of credit, inflation rates, economic uncertainty, changes in laws, commodity prices, asset prices (including real estate), currency exchange rates and controls and national and international political circumstances (including wars, terrorist acts, protests or security operations). Challenging market conditions have in the past affected and in the future could affect the level and volatility of securities prices and the liquidity and the value of investments in the Company's investment funds or other investments in which the Company has investments of its own capital, and the Company may not be able to effectively manage its investment management business's exposure to challenging market conditions. Challenging market conditions have in the past adversely affected and in the future could also adversely affect the Company's investment banking business as increased volatility and lower stock prices can make companies less likely to conduct transactions.

In addition, global economic conditions and global financial markets remain vulnerable to the potential risks posed by certain events, which could include, among other things, political and financial uncertainty in the United States and the European Union, renewed concern about China's economy, complications involving terrorism and armed conflicts around the world, or other challenges to global trade or travel, such as have occurred or might occur in the event of a wide pandemic such as the COVID-19. More generally, because our businesses are closely correlated to the general economic outlook, a significant deterioration in that outlook or realization of certain events would likely have an immediate and significant negative impact on our businesses and overall results of operations.

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The effects of the outbreak of COVID-19 have negatively affected the global economy, the United States economy and the global financial markets, and have disrupted and may further disrupt our operations and our clients' operations, which have adversely affected our [business, financial condition and] results of operations and could and will likely continue to have a further adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic. The spread of COVID-19 has caused illness, quarantines, cancellation of events and travel, business and school shutdowns, reduction in business activity and financial transactions, labor shortages, supply chain interruptions and overall economic and financial market instability. The United States now has the world’s most reported COVID-19 cases, and all 50 states and the District of Columbia have reported cases of infected individuals. All states, including New York, where we are headquartered, have declared states of emergency as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Similar impacts have been experienced in every country in which we do business. Impacts to our businesses could include the following:

•Employees contracting COVID-19

•Reductions in our operating effectiveness as our employees work from home or disaster-recovery locations

•Unavailability of key personnel necessary to conduct our business activities

•Unprecedented volatility in global financial markets

•Reductions in revenue across our operating businesses

•Declines in collateral value

•Declines in demand for our products or services

•Unavailability of critical services provided to us by third parties

•Operational failures due to changes in our normal business practices

•Credit losses

We are taking precautions to protect the safety and well-being of our employees. However, no assurance can be given that the steps being taken will be deemed to be adequate or appropriate, nor can we predict the level of disruption which will occur to our employee's ability to service our clients and provide support for our business. Furthermore, our future success and profitability substantially depends on the management skills of our executive officers and directors, many of whom have held officer and director positions with us for many years. The unanticipated loss or unavailability of key employees due to the COVID-19 pandemic could harm our ability to operate our businesses or execute our business strategy. We may not be successful in finding and integrating suitable successors in the event of key employee loss or unavailability.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in meaningfully lower stock prices for many companies, as well as the trading prices for our own securities. The spread of the COVID-19 outbreak has disrupted our investment banking activity as the volatility and decrease in valuations is has caused, and is continuing to cause, some of our clients to postpone, terminate or modify their near-term financing strategies and M&A plans. The COVID-19 pandemic may continue to materially disrupt our investment banking activity, other financial activity generally and in the areas in which we operate. Such disruption has resulted in, and will likely continue resulting in, an unpredictable decline in demand for our products and services, which has negatively impacted, and will likely continue to negatively impact, our liquidity position and our growth strategy. Correspondingly, a reduction of prices of the securities we hold in inventory or as investments has led to, and may continue to lead to, reduced revenues.

In addition, a sustained and continuing market downturn could lead to or exacerbate declines in the number of security transactions executed for customers and, therefore, to a decline in the revenues we receive from commissions and spreads.

In addition, revenues from our investment management businesses have been and may continue to be negatively impacted by decreased securities prices, as well as widely fluctuating securities prices. Because our investment management businesses hold long and short positions in securities, changes in the prices of these securities, as well as any decrease in the liquidity of these securities, may materially and adversely affect our revenues from investment management.

Any one or more of these developments could cause, contribute to or exacerbate the risks and uncertainties enumerated in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 and could have a material adverse effect on our business, operations, consolidated financial condition, and results of operations. Furthermore, such developments may remain prevalent for a significant period of time and may continue to adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations even after the COVID-19 pandemic has subsided.

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Business Risks

We may incur losses as a result of unforeseen or catastrophic events, including the emergence of a pandemic, terrorist attacks, extreme weather events or other natural disasters.

The occurrence of unforeseen or catastrophic events, including the emergence of a pandemic, such as COVID-19, or other widespread health emergency (or concerns over the possibility of such an emergency), terrorist attacks, extreme terrestrial or solar weather events or other natural disasters, could create, and in the case of COVID-19 have created, and may continue to create, economic and financial disruptions, and in the case of COVID-19 have led to, and other future event could lead to, operational difficulties (including travel limitations) that have impaired, and could continue to impair, our ability to manage our businesses.

Our businesses have traditionally relied on collaboration among our employees, particularly in our markets business. We do not know how remote working by our employees will impact our ability to collaborate. Accordingly, our business could be adversely affected by a prolonged period of employees working remotely.

Our business has traditionally relied on collaboration among our employees. In particular, the trading floor environment in our markets business facilitates idea generation and is more conducive to active trading. While we have been able to continue to operate all of our businesses, including our markets business, with our employees working remotely, we do not know how remote working by our employees will impact our ability to collaborate. Accordingly, our businesses could be adversely affected by a prolonged period of employees working remotely.

Human Capital Risk

Our businesses are heavily dependent on our personnel so any adverse effects on their well-being or morale could adversely affect our business.

COVID-19 presents a significant threat to our employees’ well-being and morale. While we have implemented a business continuity plan to protect the health of our employees, our business continuity plan cannot anticipate all scenarios and we may experience potential loss of productivity or a delay in the roll out of certain strategic plans as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Operational Risks

An extended period of remote working by our employees could strain our technology resources and introduce operational risks, including heightened cybersecurity risk.

Our operations rely extensively on the secure processing, storage and transmission of confidential financial, personal and other information in our computer systems and networks. In addition, the Company's businesses are highly dependent on our ability to process, on a daily basis, a large number of transactions across diverse markets, and the transactions that the Company processes have become increasingly complex. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic virtually all of our employees, including those who process our transactions, are working remotely. While we have implemented risk management and contingency plans and taken other precautions with respect to the COVID-19 pandemic, such measures may not adequately protect our businesses from the full impact of the COVID-19 pandemic as remote working environments may be less secure and more susceptible to hacking attacks, including phishing and social engineering attempts that seek to exploit the COVID-19 pandemic. Accordingly, if our systems are breached as a result of a cybersecurity attack that takes advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic our ability to securely process transactions and maintain confidential financial, personal and other information could be adversely affected.

In addition, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, including remote working arrangements for employees, may also impact our financial reporting systems and internal control over financial reporting, disclosure controls and procedures, however, to date, these arrangements have not materially affected our ability to maintain our business operations. For further discussion, see Part 1 - Item 1A. Risk Factors - "Any cyber attack or other security breach of or vulnerability in our technology systems, or those of our clients or other third party vendors we rely on, could have operational impacts, subject us to significant liability and harm our reputation" in our 2019 Form 10-K.

Liquidity Risks

Servicing our debt and funding our necessary capital expenditures requires a significant amount of cash, and we may not have sufficient cash flow from our business to pay our substantial debt or to fund our necessary capital expenditures.

Our ability to make scheduled payments of the principal and to pay interest on or to refinance our indebtedness, including our senior notes due 2024, our senior notes due 2027, our senior notes due 2033 and our convertible notes due 2022, depends on our future performance, which is subject to economic, financial, competitive and other factors beyond our control. Our business may not continue to generate cash flow from operations in the future sufficient to service our debt and make necessary capital expenditures. If we are unable to generate such cash flow, we may be required to adopt one or more alternatives, such as selling assets, restructuring debt or obtaining additional equity capital on terms that may be onerous or highly dilutive. Our ability to refinance our indebtedness will depend on the capital markets and our financial condition at such time. We may not be able to

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engage in any of these activities or engage in these activities on desirable terms, which could result in a default on our debt obligations.

Furthermore, to the extent that our business is unable to generate cash flows sufficient to fund necessary capital expenditures during the COVID-19 pandemic, we may be required to seek additional capital through issuances of debt or equity securities; however, we may be unable to complete any such transactions on favorable terms to us, or at all.

Any substantial and sustained downturn in our operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic or other factors may cause us to be in breach of our debt covenants which would limit our ability to incur additional indebtedness.

The instruments governing our existing indebtedness require us to comply with certain restrictive covenants and any substantial and sustained downturn in our operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic or other factors may cause us to be in breach of such covenants. If we breach these covenants our ability to incur additional indebtedness would be limited. In addition, a breach of the maintenance covenants under our $25 million revolving credit facility could constitute an event of default and cause our outstanding indebtedness under the revolving credit facility to be declared immediately due and payable. If applicable, such acceleration of our outstanding indebtedness could cause our secured lenders to foreclose against the assets securing their borrowings and we could be forced into bankruptcy or liquidation. Any inability to obtain additional liquidity as and when needed, or to maintain compliance with the instruments governing our indebtedness, would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

In addition, the current uncertain condition of the capital markets and their actual or perceived effects on our business, financial condition and results of operations, along with the current unfavorable economic environment in the United States and much of the world resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, may increase the likelihood that one or more of the major independent credit agencies would downgrade our credit ratings, which could have a negative effect on our access to capital and the cost of any future debt financing. In addition, the terms of future debt agreements could include more restrictive covenants or require incremental collateral, which may further restrict our business operations.

The soundness of other financial institutions may adversely affect Cowen.

Financial services institutions are interrelated as a result of trading, clearing, counterparty or other relationships. Cowen has exposure to many different industries and counterparties, and routinely executes transactions with counterparties in the financial services industry, including commercial banks, brokers and dealers, investment banks and institutional clients. Many of these transactions expose Cowen to credit risk in the event of a default by a counterparty or client. In the past, defaults by, or even speculation about, one or more financial services institutions or the financial services industry generally during moments of economic crisis have led to market-wide liquidity problems. The economic volatility resulting from the current COVID-19 pandemic could, as similar events in the past have, result in similar defaults and, as a result, impair the confidence of our counterparties and ultimately affect our ability to effect transactions. In addition, Cowen’s credit risk may be exacerbated when the collateral held by Cowen cannot be realized upon or is liquidated at prices not sufficient to recover the full amount of the credit exposure due to Cowen. Any such losses could have a material adverse effect on Cowen’s financial condition and results of operations.

Higher volumes and price volatility in the markets due to COVID-19 could lead to higher cash requirements in our clearing businesses, which could adversely affect our liquidity position.

Since February 29, 2020, the capital markets have experienced a higher level of stress due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. Higher volumes and price volatility have led to increased margin requirements at clearing corporations and exchanges, along with increased levels of fails due to operational friction in the financial system. These higher cash requirements could have required us, and may continue to require us, to use more liquidity for our clearing businesses and our overall liquidity could be adversely affected as a result.

Item 2.    Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

As of March 31, 2020, the Company's Board of Directors has a share repurchase program that authorizes the Company to purchase up to $228.1 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. The specific timing and amount of repurchases will vary depending on various factors, including, among others, market conditions and competing needs for the use of our capital.  We may elect to conduct future share repurchases through open market purchases, private transactions or automatic share repurchase programs under SEC Rule 10b5-1. During the three months ended March 31, 2020, the Company repurchased 1,383,657 shares, at an average price of $13.02 per share, of Cowen Class A common stock through the share repurchase program.

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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, 2020. 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, 2020 – January 31, 2020)
Common stock repurchases(1)	—	$	—	—	$	12,934,590
Employee transactions(2)	4,052	16.00		—	—
Other (3)	3,051	15.57		—	—
Total	7,103	$	15.81	—
Month 2 (February 1, 2020 – February 29, 2020)
Common stock repurchases(1)	299,545	$	16.16	299,545	$	20,158,853
Employee transactions(2)	5,489	16.89		—	—
Other (3)	—	—		—	—
Total	305,034	$	16.17	299,545
Month 3 (March 1, 2020 – March 31, 2020)
Common stock repurchases(1)	1,084,112	$	12.15	1,084,112	$	6,981,750
Employee transactions(2)	219,016	12.18		—	—
Other (3)	—	—		—	—
Total	1,303,128	$	12.16	1,084,112
Total (January 1, 2020 – March 31, 2020)
Common stock repurchases(1)	1,383,657	$	13.02	1,383,657	$	6,981,750
Employee transactions(2)	228,557	12.36		—	—
Other (3)	3,051	15.57		—	—
Total	1,615,265	$	12.93	1,383,657

(1) The Company's Board of Directors have authorized the repurchase, subject to market conditions, of up to $228.1 million of the Company's outstanding Class A common stock.

(2) Represents shares of the Company's Class A 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.

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Item 6.    Exhibits

Exhibit No.	Description
3.1	Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Cowen Inc. (previously filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Form 10-Q filed November 25, 2009).
3.2	Second Amended and Restated By-Laws of Cowen Inc. (previously filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Form 8-K filed on February 18, 2020).
3.3	Certificate of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Cowen Inc. (previously filed as Exhibit 3.3 to the Form 10-Q filed November 25, 2009).
3.4	Certificate of Designations of the Company for its Series A Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock (previously filed as Exhibit 3.1 to Form 8-K filed May 20, 2015).
3.5	Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Cowen Inc. (previously filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Form 8-K filed December 5, 2016).
3.6	Certificate of Amendment of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Cowen Inc. (previously filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Form 8-K filed on May 16, 2017)
31.1	Certification of CEO Pursuant to Section 302 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith).
31.2	Certification of CFO Pursuant to Section 302 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith).
32	Certification of CEO and CFO Pursuant to Section 906 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (furnished herewith).
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
104	Cover Page Interactive Data File - (formatted as inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)

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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:	April 30, 2020	Title:	Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer and principal accounting officer)

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EX-31.1

Exhibit 31.1

Certification

I, Jeffrey M. Solomon, certify that:

1.  I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Cowen Inc:

2.  Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.  Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.  The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a)  Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b)  Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c)  Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d)  Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a)  All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b)  Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

Date:	April 30, 2020	/s/ JEFFREY M. SOLOMON
		Name: Jeffrey M. Solomon Title:    Chief Executive Officer              (principal executive officer)

EX-31.2

Exhibit 31.2

Certification

I, Stephen A. Lasota, certify that:

1.  I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Cowen Inc:

2.  Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.  Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.  The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a)  Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b)  Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c)  Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d)  Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a)  All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b)  Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

Date:	April 30, 2020	/s/ STEPHEN A. LASOTA
		Name:  Stephen A. Lasota Title:    Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer and principal accounting officer)

EX-32

Exhibit 32

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report of Cowen Inc. (the "Company") on Form 10-Q for the year ended March 31, 2020, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), each of the undersigned officers of the Company certifies, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to such officer's knowledge:

1. The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

2. The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Date:	April 30, 2020	/s/ JEFFREY M. SOLOMON
		Name:  Jeffrey M. Solomon Title:    Chief Executive Officer         (principal executive officer)
		/s/ STEPHEN A. LASOTA
		Name:  Stephen A. Lasota Title:    Chief Financial Officer (principal financial              officer and principal accounting officer)

*  The foregoing certification is being furnished solely pursuant to 18 U.S.C Section 1350 and is not being filed as part of the Report or as a separate disclosure document

XML

Earnings Per Share (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted

The computation of earnings per share is as follows:

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2020		2019
	(dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)
Net income (loss)	$	(72,111)	10,295
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries and investment funds	(62,188)		512
Net income (loss) attributable to Cowen Inc.	(9,923)		9,783
Preferred stock dividends	1,698		1,698
Net income (loss) attributable to Cowen Inc. common stockholders	$	(11,621)	$	8,085
Shares for basic and diluted calculations:
Weighted average shares used in basic computation	28,598		29,750
Restricted stock	—		1,875
Weighted average shares used in diluted computation	28,598		31,625
Earnings (loss) per share:
Basic	$	(0.41)	$	0.27
Diluted	$	(0.41)	$	0.26

XML

Commitments and Contingencies (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Operating Lease, Lease Income [Table Text Block]

For the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, quantitative information regarding the Company's operating lease obligations reflected in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations were as follows:

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2020		2019
	(dollars in thousands)
Lease cost
Operating lease cost	$	5,685	$	6,010
Short-term lease cost	146		128
Variable lease cost	788		757
Sublease income	(216)		(267)
Total lease costs	$	6,403	$	6,628

The following table summarizes the supplemental cash flow information and certain other information related to operating leases for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019:

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2020			2019
	(dollars in thousands)
Other information
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:
Operating cash flows from operating leases	$	8,578		$	7,793
Weighted average remaining lease term - operating leases (in years)	5.11			5.73
Weighted average discount rate - operating leases	4.14		%	4.15		%

Future Minimum Annual Lease and Service Payments

As of March 31, 2020, 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)
2020	$	280	$	16,006
2021	223		24,373
2022	91		20,850
2023	3		17,595
2024	—		14,774
Thereafter	—		10,084
Total operating leases	597		103,682
Less discount	49		12,249
Less short-term leases	—		146
Total lease liability	$	548	$	91,287

(a)The Company has entered into various agreements to sublease certain of its premises.

(b)During the three months ended March 31, 2020, the Company recognized operating right-of-use assets and leases liabilities of $0.1 million for equipment leases.

As of March 31, 2020, future minimum annual service payments for the Company were as follows:

	Service Payments
	(dollars in thousands)
2020	$	20,251
2021	17,787
2022	9,991
2023	4,095
2024	1,938
Thereafter	4,401
Total service payment commitments	$	58,463

Other Commitments

The following table summarizes unfunded commitments as of March 31, 2020:

Entity	Unfunded Commitments		Commitment Term
	(dollars in thousands)
HealthCare Royalty Partners funds (a)	$	7,957	5 years
Eclipse Ventures Fund I, L.P. (formerly Formation8 Partners Hardware Fund I, L.P.)	$	81	5 years
Lagunita Biosciences, LLC	$	250	4 years
Eclipse Fund II, L.P.	$	180	6 years
Eclipse Continuity Fund I, L.P.	$	68	7 years
Cowen Healthcare Investments II LP	$	2,524	2 years
Cowen Healthcare Investments III LP	$	8,803	7 years
Cowen Sustainable Investments I LP	$	12,989	10 years

(a) 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.

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Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income / (Loss) [Abstract]
Beginning balance	$ (5)	$ (5)
Foreign currency translation	0	0
Ending balance	$ (5)	$ (5)

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Investments of Operating Entities and Consolidated Funds - Operating Entities - Securities Sold, Not Yet Purchased (Details) - USD ($)		Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Investments Sold, Not yet Purchased [Line Items]
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value		$ 527,471,000	$ 451,836,000
Common Stock
Investments Sold, Not yet Purchased [Line Items]
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value		460,059,000	425,448,000
Corporate Bonds
Investments Sold, Not yet Purchased [Line Items]
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value	[1]	$ 4,402,000	$ 5,933,000
Corporate Bonds | Minimum
Investments Sold, Not yet Purchased [Line Items]
Securities sold, not yet purchased, interest rate		5.00%	4.88%
Corporate Bonds | Maximum
Investments Sold, Not yet Purchased [Line Items]
Securities sold, not yet purchased, interest rate		6.75%	6.25%
US Government Debt Securities
Investments Sold, Not yet Purchased [Line Items]
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value	[2]	$ 48,073,000	$ 1,950,000
Government Securities | Minimum
Investments Sold, Not yet Purchased [Line Items]
Securities sold, not yet purchased, interest rate		6.25%	7.00%
Government Securities | Maximum
Investments Sold, Not yet Purchased [Line Items]
Securities sold, not yet purchased, interest rate		8.75%	8.25%
Preferred Stock
Investments Sold, Not yet Purchased [Line Items]
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value		$ 6,405,000	$ 3,686,000
Warrants and Rights [Member]
Investments Sold, Not yet Purchased [Line Items]
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value		$ 8,532,000	$ 14,819,000

[1] As of March 31, 2020, the maturities ranged from April 2020 to May 2067 and interest rates ranged from 5.00% to 6.75%. As of December 31, 2019, the maturities ranged from January 2024 to May 2037 and interest rates ranged from 4.88% to 6.25%.

[2] As of March 31, 2020, the maturities ranged from October 2024 to February 2048 and interest rates ranged from 6.25% to 8.75%. As of December 31, 2019, the maturities ranged from October 2024 to March 2038 and interest rates ranged from 7.00% to 8.25%.

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Convertible Debt and Notes Payable - Finance Lease Obligations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Finance Lease, Right-of-Use Asset, Amortization	$ 308	$ 368
Finance Lease, Interest Expense	49	63
Finance Lease, Interest Payment on Liability	49	63
Finance Lease, Principal Payments	$ 314	$ 394
Finance Lease, Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term	2 years 11 months 19 days	3 years 10 months 24 days
Finance Lease, Weighted Average Discount Rate, Percent	4.88%	4.93%

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Convertible Debt and Notes Payable - Outstanding Debt (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations [Line Items]
Convertible debt	[1]	$ 119,929	$ 118,688
Note payable		307,019	306,818
Loans Payable to Bank		32,180	32,180
Other Notes Payable		4,719	2,516
Capital lease obligations		3,613	3,937
Debt, Long-term and Short-term, Combined Amount		527,460	464,139
Revolving Credit Facility
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations [Line Items]
Line of Credit, Current		25,000	0
Spike Line
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations [Line Items]
Line of Credit, Current		$ 35,000	$ 0

[1] The carrying amount of the convertible debt includes an unamortized discount of $13.7 million and $14.9 million as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.

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Investments Of Operating Entities And Consolidated Funds - Operating Entities - Gross And Net Derivative Positions And The Related Offsetting Amount (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Derivative [Line Items]
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value		$ 83,867	$ 62,977
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value		72,385	60,761
Receivable on derivatives contracts, at fair value [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Gross Asset		92,755	66,217
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Amount Offset Against Collateral	[1]	8,888	3,240
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value		83,867	62,977
Financial Instruments, Owned and Pledged as Collateral, at Fair Value		0	0
Derivative Asset, Fair Value, Amount Not Offset Against Collateral	[2]	25,532	2,911
Derivative asset, net of offset		58,335	60,066
Payable for derivatives contracts, at fair value [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Gross Liability		81,273	64,001
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Amount Offset Against Collateral	[1]	8,888	3,240
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value		72,385	60,761
Financial Instruments, Owned and Pledged as Collateral, at Fair Value		0	0
Derivative Liability, Fair Value, Amount Not Offset Against Collateral	[2]	11,351	24,020
Derivative Liability, net of offset		$ 61,034	$ 36,741

[1] Includes financial instruments subject to enforceable master netting provisions that are permitted to be offset to the extent an event of default has occurred.

[2] Includes the amount of collateral held or posted.

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Share-Based Compensation and Employee Ownership Plans Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Shares Available for Grant	100,000
Equity Plans
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock-compensation expense recognized in connection with compensation plan	$ 8.3	$ 7.8
Tax benefit of stock-compensation expense recognized in connection with compensation plan	$ 1.8	$ 2.1
Equity Plans | Employee Stock Option
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock options, initial term	7 years
Equity Plans | Employee Stock Option | Minimum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock compensation award, vesting period	2 years
Equity Plans | Employee Stock Option | Maximum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock compensation award, vesting period	5 years
Equity Plans | Restricted Shares and Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Unrecognized compensation expense	$ 86.1
Vested, shares	640,084	768,468
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number	6,747,424	6,598,097	5,364,486	5,962,295
Equity Plans | Restricted Stock | Minimum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock compensation award, vesting period	2 years
Equity Plans | Restricted Stock | Maximum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock compensation award, vesting period	5 years
Equity Plans | Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) | Non-employee Director
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Granted, shares	0
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number	216,912		216,912
Deferred Cash Award | Cowen Group, Inc. 2010 Equity and Incentive Plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock compensation award, vesting period	4 years

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Income Taxes (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2019
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Effective income tax rate, percent	1.60%	20.95%
Statutory rate, percent	21.00%	21.00%
Unrecognized Tax Benefits	$ 0.3		$ 0.3

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Investments of Operating Entities and Consolidated Funds - Operating Entities - Carried Interest (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Mar. 31, 2020		Dec. 31, 2019
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Other investments		$ 163,274		$ 185,722
Carried interest [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Other investments		20,729	[1]	30,360
Cowen Healthcare Investments II LP | Carried interest [Member] | Affiliated Entity
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Other investments	[2]	14,798		23,759
Other Private Investment | Carried interest [Member] | Affiliated Entity
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Other investments	[2],[3]	3,737		4,737
RCG IO Renergys Sarl | Carried interest [Member] | Affiliated Entity
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Other investments	[2]	1,740		1,251
Ramius Mutli-Strategy Fund LP [Member] | Carried interest [Member] | Affiliated Entity
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Other investments	[2]	$ 454		$ 613

[1] In accordance with US GAAP, certain investments are measured at fair value using the net asset value per share (or its equivalent) as a practical expedient. Carried interest in portfolio funds 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.

[2] These carried interest balances are earned from affiliates of the Company.

[3] Other private investment represents the Company's closed end investment in a Portfolio Fund that invests in a wireless broadband communication provider in Italy.

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Commitments and Contingencies

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Commitments and Contingencies

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. The Company records the expenses related to occupancy and equipment on a straight-line basis over the lease term and these expenses 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, 2020 and 2019, quantitative information regarding the Company's operating lease obligations reflected in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations were as follows:

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2020		2019
	(dollars in thousands)
Lease cost
Operating lease cost	$	5,685	$	6,010
Short-term lease cost	146		128
Variable lease cost	788		757
Sublease income	(216)		(267)
Total lease costs	$	6,403	$	6,628

The following table summarizes the supplemental cash flow information and certain other information related to operating leases for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019:

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2020			2019
	(dollars in thousands)
Other information
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:
Operating cash flows from operating leases	$	8,578		$	7,793
Weighted average remaining lease term - operating leases (in years)	5.11			5.73
Weighted average discount rate - operating leases	4.14		%	4.15		%

As of March 31, 2020, 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)
2020	$	280	$	16,006
2021	223		24,373
2022	91		20,850
2023	3		17,595
2024	—		14,774
Thereafter	—		10,084
Total operating leases	597		103,682
Less discount	49		12,249
Less short-term leases	—		146
Total lease liability	$	548	$	91,287

(a)The Company has entered into various agreements to sublease certain of its premises.

(b)During the three months ended March 31, 2020, the Company recognized operating right-of-use assets and leases liabilities of $0.1 million for equipment leases.

See Note 17 for further information on the finance lease minimum payments.

Other Commitments

As of March 31, 2020, future minimum annual service payments for the Company were as follows:

	Service Payments
	(dollars in thousands)
2020	$	20,251
2021	17,787
2022	9,991
2023	4,095
2024	1,938
Thereafter	4,401
Total service payment commitments	$	58,463

Unfunded Commitments

The following table summarizes unfunded commitments as of March 31, 2020:

Entity	Unfunded Commitments		Commitment Term
	(dollars in thousands)
HealthCare Royalty Partners funds (a)	$	7,957	5 years
Eclipse Ventures Fund I, L.P. (formerly Formation8 Partners Hardware Fund I, L.P.)	$	81	5 years
Lagunita Biosciences, LLC	$	250	4 years
Eclipse Fund II, L.P.	$	180	6 years
Eclipse Continuity Fund I, L.P.	$	68	7 years
Cowen Healthcare Investments II LP	$	2,524	2 years
Cowen Healthcare Investments III LP	$	8,803	7 years
Cowen Sustainable Investments I LP	$	12,989	10 years

(a) 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 the Company's 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, the Company receives requests and orders seeking documents and other information in connection with various aspects of the Company's 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 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.

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Earnings Per Share

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Earnings Per Share

Earnings Per Share

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, 2020, there were 27,628,117 shares of Class A common stock outstanding. As of March 31, 2020, the Company has included 216,912 fully vested, unissued restricted stock units in its calculation of basic earnings per share. As of December 31, 2019, there were 28,610,357 shares of Class A common stock outstanding. As of December 31, 2019, the Company has included 216,912 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 unvested restricted shares, restricted stock units, and SARs. 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. As of March 31, 2020, all outstanding unvested restricted shares, performance-linked unvested restricted stock units and contingently issued common stock were not included in the computation of diluted net income (loss) per share of common stock for the three months ended March 31, 2020 as their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive.

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.

The computation of earnings per share is as follows:

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2020		2019
	(dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)
Net income (loss)	$	(72,111)	10,295
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries and investment funds	(62,188)		512
Net income (loss) attributable to Cowen Inc.	(9,923)		9,783
Preferred stock dividends	1,698		1,698
Net income (loss) attributable to Cowen Inc. common stockholders	$	(11,621)	$	8,085
Shares for basic and diluted calculations:
Weighted average shares used in basic computation	28,598		29,750
Restricted stock	—		1,875
Weighted average shares used in diluted computation	28,598		31,625
Earnings (loss) per share:
Basic	$	(0.41)	$	0.27
Diluted	$	(0.41)	$	0.26

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Organization and Business

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Organization and Business

Organization and Business

Cowen Inc., a Delaware corporation formed in 2009, is a diversified financial services firm that, together with its consolidated subsidiaries (collectively, "Cowen" or the "Company"), provides investment banking, research, sales and trading, prime brokerage, global clearing, commission management services and investment management through its two business segments: the Operating Company ("Op Co") and the Asset Company ("Asset Co").

The Op Co segment consists of four divisions: the Investment Banking division, the Markets division, the Research division and the Cowen Investment Management ("CIM") division. The Company refers to the Investment Banking division, the Markets division and the Research division combined as its investment banking businesses. Op Co's investment banking businesses offer advisory and global capital markets origination, domain knowledge-driven research, sales and trading platforms for institutional investors, global clearing, commission management services and also a comprehensive suite of prime brokerage service. Sectors covered by Op Co's investment banking business include healthcare, technology, media and telecommunications, consumer, industrials, information and technology services, and energy. Op Co’s CIM division includes advisers to investment funds (including private equity structures and privately placed hedge funds) and registered funds.

The Asset Co segment consists of certain of the Company's private investments, private real estate investments and other legacy investment strategies. The focus of Asset Co is to drive future monetization of the invested capital of the segment.

Change in 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. Because of the change in the Chief Operating Decision Maker ("CODM") of the Company at the end of 2017, the Company experienced a strategic shift to refocus the Company's businesses on a set of differentiated products which are aligned to the content and insight within the Company's domain of expertise.

During the second quarter of 2019, the Company realigned the business and reportable segment information that the CODM regularly reviews to evaluate performance for operating decision-making purposes, including evaluation and allocation of resources.  As a result, the Company changed its segment reporting structure based on the Company's domain expertise as a driver of balance sheet harmonization and repeatable revenues for its operating business versus the Company's long-term monetization strategies.

As a result of the change in segments during the second quarter of 2019, the Company has the following business segments:

•The Op Co segment consists of four divisions: Investment Banking, Markets, Research and Cowen Investment Management. Each of Op Co's four divisions leverage the Research division’s core domain expertise to drive harmonized repeatable revenue for the segment.

◦The Investment Banking division includes public and private capital raising transactions and providing strategic advisory services.

◦The Markets division includes trading equity, equity-linked and fixed income securities on behalf of institutional investors as well as a full-service suite of prime brokerage services, cross-asset trading, securities finance, global execution, clearing and commission management businesses.

◦The Research division provides thought leadership and domain expertise. The research content that is created helps to facilitate brokerage revenue in the Markets division, provides research coverage for clients of the Investment Banking division and facilitate investor relationships and investing within CIM's innovative investment products and solutions.

◦The CIM division offers innovative investment products and solutions across the liquidity spectrum to institutional and private clients. CIM offers investors access to a number of strategies to meet their specific needs including merger arbitrage, activism, healthcare royalties, private healthcare investing and private sustainable investing many of which leverage the content and domain expertise that are aligned with the Company's core areas of expertise, which the Company refers to as Cowen DNA.

•The Asset Co segment consists of certain of the Company's private investments, private real estate investments and other legacy investment strategies.

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Non-Controlling Interests in Consolidated Subsidiaries and Funds

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract]

Redeemable Non-Controlling Interests in Consolidated Subsidiaries and Funds

Non-Controlling Interests in Consolidated Subsidiaries and Investment Funds

Redeemable and nonredeemable non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries and investment funds and the related net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries and investment funds are comprised as follows:

	As of March 31, 2020		As of December 31, 2019
	(dollars in thousands)
Redeemable non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries and investment funds
Consolidated Funds	$	318,001	$	391,275
Nonredeemable non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries and investment funds
Operating companies	11,463		11,513
Consolidated Funds	126,778		82,807
	$	456,242	$	485,595

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2020		2019
	(dollars in thousands)
Income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries and investment funds
Operating companies	$	127	$	112
Consolidated Funds	(62,315)		400
	$	(62,188)	$	512

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Cash Collateral Pledged	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Abstract]
Cash Collateral Pledged	Cash Collateral Pledged As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Company pledged cash collateral in the amount of $4.6 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 $2.9 million, as of March 31, 2020, and $2.0 million, as of December 31, 2019, which are released annually between March 2020 and March 2023 based on the policy periods covered by the reinsurance agreements (see Note 17).

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Deposits with Clearing Organizations, Brokers and Banks	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020
Deposits with Clearing Organizations, Brokers and Banks [Abstract]
Deposits with Clearing Organizations, Brokers and Banks	Deposits with Clearing Organizations, Brokers and BanksUnder 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, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Company had a total of $131.9 million and $91.8 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.

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Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Revenues
Investment banking	$ 105,028	$ 80,106
Brokerage	139,362	97,463
Management fees	11,604	7,141
Incentive income	0	15
Interest and dividends	42,077	29,092
Reimbursement from affiliates	261	288
Reinsurance premiums	10,471	6,591
Other revenues	1,850	1,061
Consolidated Funds
Interest and dividends	2,525	2,325
Other revenues	631	15
Total revenues	313,809	224,097
Interest and dividends expense	38,792	29,084
Total net revenues	275,017	195,013
Expenses
Employee compensation and benefits	124,428	131,882
Brokerage and trade execution costs	32,886	25,646
Underwriting expenses	3,640	3,131
Professional, advisory and other fees	11,039	10,241
Service fees	6,837	5,664
Communications	8,176	8,081
Occupancy and equipment	9,530	9,922
Depreciation and amortization	5,442	4,956
Client services and business development	11,803	11,301
Reinsurance claims, commissions and amortization of deferred acquisition costs	10,430	6,162
Other expenses	4,228	4,015
Consolidated Funds
Interest and dividends	1,252	867
Professional, advisory and other fees	990	145
Brokerage and trade execution costs	20	53
Other expenses	452	417
Total expenses	231,153	222,483
Other income (loss)
Net gains (losses) on securities, derivatives and other investments	(43,983)	39,084
Consolidated Funds
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments and other transactions	(73,419)	2,644
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives	276	(762)
Net gains (losses) on foreign currency transactions	(22)	(24)
Total other income (loss)	(117,148)	40,942
Income (loss) before income taxes	(73,284)	13,472
Income tax expense (benefit)	(1,173)	3,177
Net income (loss)	(72,111)	10,295
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(62,188)	512
Net income (loss) attributable to Cowen Inc.	(9,923)	9,783
Preferred stock dividends	1,698	1,698
Net income (loss) attributable to Cowen Inc. common stockholders	$ (11,621)	$ 8,085
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	28,598	29,750
Diluted (in shares)	28,598	31,625
Earnings (loss) per share:
Earnings Per Share, Basic (in dollars per share)	$ (0.41)	$ 0.27
Earnings Per Share, Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (0.41)	$ 0.26

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Investments of Operating Entities and Consolidated Funds - (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Investment Holdings [Line Items]

Marketable Securities

As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, securities owned, at fair value consisted of the following:

	As of March 31, 2020		As of December 31, 2019
	(dollars in thousands)
Common stock	$	648,134	$	1,546,484
Preferred stock	14,700		12,656
Warrants and rights	23,491		22,109
Government bonds (a)	61,198		15,916
Corporate bonds (c)	16,089		25,500
Convertible bonds (b)	2,786		2,500
Term loan (*)	—		1,067
Trade claims (*)	9,648		7,320
	$	776,046	$	1,633,552

(a)As of March 31, 2020, maturities ranged from May 2020 to February 2048 and interest rates ranged from 0% to 8.75%. As of December 31, 2019, maturities ranged from January 2020 to June 2020 with an interest rate of 0%.

(b)As of March 31, 2020, maturities ranged from April 2020 to March 2022 with an interest rate of 8%. As of December 31, 2019, maturities ranged from April 2020 to March 2022 with an interest rate of 8%.

(c)As of March 31, 2020, maturities ranged from May 2020 to October 2027 and interest rates ranged from 0% to 15.5%. As of December 31, 2019, maturities ranged from January 2020 to May 2037 and interest rates ranged from 0% to 15.0%.

* The Company has elected the fair value option for securities owned, at fair value with a fair value of $9.6 million and $8.4 million, respectively, at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019.

Schedule of Derivative Instruments

The Company's long and short exposure to derivatives is as follows:

Receivable on derivative contracts	As of March 31, 2020				As of December 31, 2019
	Number of contracts / Notional Value		Fair value		Number of contracts / Notional Value		Fair value
	(dollars in thousands)
Currency forwards	$	58,737	1,010		$	—	—
Swaps	$	232,713	24,523		$	383,752	2,911
Options other (a)	402,281		58,334		550,188		60,066
			$	83,867			$	62,977

(a) Includes the volume of contracts for index, equity, commodity future and cash conversion options.

Payable for derivative contracts	As of March 31, 2020				As of December 31, 2019
	Number of contracts / Notional Value		Fair value		Number of contracts / Notional Value		Fair value
	(dollars in thousands)
Futures	$	5,045	$	87	$	10,224	$	217
Currency forwards	$	108,189	1,883		$	77,790	851
Swaps	$	202,650	9,469		$	607,717	23,169
Options other (a)	222,709		60,946		306,306		36,524
			$	72,385			$	60,761

(a) Includes the volume of contracts for 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, 2020 and December 31, 2019. This table does not include the impact of over-collateralization.

							Gross amounts not offset in the Condensed Consolidated Statements 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, 2020
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value	$	92,755	$	8,888	$	83,867	$	—	$	25,532	$	58,335
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value	81,273		8,888		72,385		—		11,351		61,034
As of December 31, 2019
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value	$	66,217	$	3,240	$	62,977	$	—	$	2,911	$	60,066
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value	64,001		3,240		60,761		—		24,020		36,741

(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.

Schedule of Other Investments

As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, other investments included the following:

	As of March 31, 2020		As of December 31, 2019
	(dollars in thousands)
Portfolio funds, at fair value (1)	$	113,627	$	114,504
Carried interest (2)	20,729		30,360
Equity method investments (3)	28,918		40,858
	$	163,274	$	185,722

Schedule of Other Investments, Portfolio Funds

The Portfolio Funds, at fair value as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, included the following:

	As of March 31, 2020		As of December 31, 2019
	(dollars in thousands)
Starboard Value and Opportunity Fund (c)(*)	$	35,299	$	37,895
Formation8 Partners Fund I, L.P. (f)	32,837		33,613
RCG Longview Debt Fund V, L.P. (g)(*)	1,243		1,732
Cowen Healthcare Investments II LP (i) (*)	13,907		14,652
Eclipse Ventures Fund I, L.P. (b)	4,287		3,960
HealthCare Royalty Partners LP (a)(*)	1,307		1,326
Lagunita Biosciences, LLC (d)	5,037		4,802
Starboard Leaders Fund LP (e)(*)	1,429		1,560
Eclipse SPV I, LP (j)(*)	1,637		1,447
TriArtisan ES Partners LLC (k)(*)	1,047		1,082
TriArtisan PFC Partners LLC (l)(*)	528		909
RCG Longview Equity Fund, LP (g) (*)	852		835
HealthCare Royalty Partners II LP (a)(*)	1,796		1,781
Cowen Healthcare Investments III LP (i)(*)	1,189		1,398
Difesa Partners, LP (h) (*)	540		508
Other private investment (m)(*)	8,245		4,448
Other affiliated funds (n)(*)	2,447		2,556
	$	113,627	$	114,504

* 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 16.

(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 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 investor's 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. and RCG Longview Equity Fund, LP are real estate private equity structures. The timing of distributions depends on the nature of the underlying investments and therefore will be made either quarterly or when the underlying investments are liquidated.

(h)Difesa Partners, LP permits semi-annual withdrawals occurring on or after the anniversary of initial contribution upon 90 days written notice.

(i)Cowen Healthcare Investments II LP and Cowen Healthcare Investments III LP are private equity funds.  Distributions are made from the fund when cash flows or securities are received from the underlying investments. Investors do not have redemption rights.

(j)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.

(k)TriArtisan ES Partners LLC is a co-investment vehicle organized to invest in a privately held nuclear services company. Distributions will be made when the underlying investment is liquidated.

(l)TriArtisan PFC Partners LLC is a co-investment vehicle organized to invest in a privately held casual dining restaurant chain. Distributions will be made when the underlying investment in liquidated.

(m)Other private investment represents the Company's closed end investment in a Portfolio Fund that invests in a wireless broadband communication provider in Italy.

(n)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.

Carried Interest

The carried interest as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, included the following:

	As of March 31, 2020		As of December 31, 2019
	(dollars in thousands)
Cowen Healthcare Investments II LP (*)	$	14,798	$	23,759
Other private investment (a) (*)	3,737		4,737
RCG IO Renergys Sarl	1,740		1,251
Ramius Multi-Strategy Fund LP (*)	454		613
	$	20,729	$	30,360

(a)Other private investment represents the Company's closed end investment in a Portfolio Fund that invests in a wireless broadband communication provider in Italy.

* These carried interest balances are earned from affiliates of the Company.

Schedule Equity Method Investments

The following table summarizes equity method investments held by the Company:

	As of March 31, 2020		As of December 31, 2019
	(dollars in thousands)
Surf House Ocean Views Holdings, LLC	$	4,000	$	7,804
Starboard Value LP	18,527		24,292
RCG Longview Debt Fund V Partners, LLC	1,737		2,889
RCG Longview Management, LLC	105		583
HealthCare Royalty GP, LLC	143		108
HealthCare Royalty GP II, LLC	304		302
RCG Longview Debt Fund IV Management, LLC	330		331
HealthCare Royalty GP III, LLC	2,237		2,230
RCG Longview Equity Management, LLC	250		105
HCR Stafford Fund GP, LLC	125		880
Liberty Harbor North	292		292
Other	868		1,042
	$	28,918	$	40,858

Schedule of Securities Sold, Not yet Purchased

As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value consisted of the following:

	As of March 31, 2020		As of December 31, 2019
	(dollars in thousands)
Common stock	$	460,059	$	425,448
Corporate bonds (a)	4,402		5,933
Government bonds (b)	48,073		1,950
Preferred stock	6,405		3,686
Warrants and rights	8,532		14,819
	$	527,471	$	451,836

(a)As of March 31, 2020, the maturities ranged from April 2020 to May 2067 and interest rates ranged from 5.00% to 6.75%. As of December 31, 2019, the maturities ranged from January 2024 to May 2037 and interest rates ranged from 4.88% to 6.25%.

(b)As of March 31, 2020, the maturities ranged from October 2024 to February 2048 and interest rates ranged from 6.25% to 8.75%. As of December 31, 2019, the maturities ranged from October 2024 to March 2038 and interest rates ranged from 7.00% to 8.25%.

Schedule of Assets and Associated Liabilities Accounted for as Secured Borrowings

The following tables present the contractual gross and net securities borrowing and lending agreements and securities sold under agreements to repurchase and the related offsetting amount as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019.

							Gross amounts not offset on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition
	Gross amounts recognized, net of allowance		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, 2020
Securities borrowed	$	971,430	$	—	$	971,430	$	—	$	947,184	$	—	$	24,246
Securities loaned	997,794		—		997,794		—		928,973		—		68,821
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase	57,420		—		57,420		—		47,442		14,043		(4,065)
As of December 31, 2019
Securities borrowed	$	754,441	$	—	$	754,441	$	—	$	751,913	$	—	$	2,528
Securities loaned	1,601,866		—		1,601,866		—		1,585,036		—		16,830
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase	23,244		—		23,244		—		27,384		—		(4,140)

(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.

Investments Classified by Contractual Maturity Date

The following tables present gross obligations for securities loaned and securities sold under agreements to repurchase by remaining contractual maturity and class of collateral pledged as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019:

	Open and Overnight		Up to 30 days		31 - 90 days		Greater than 90 days		Total
	(dollars in thousands)
As of March 31, 2020
Securities loaned
Common stock	$	775,765	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	775,765
Corporate bonds	222,029		—		—		—		222,029
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase	—		49,543		7,878		—		57,421
As of December 31, 2019
Securities loaned
Common stock	$	1,343,478	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	1,343,478
Corporate bonds	258,388		—		—		—		$	258,388
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase	—		—		23,244		—		$	23,244

Fair Value, Concentration of Risk

	Investment's percentage of the Company's stockholders' equity
	Issuer	Security Type	Country	Industry	Percentage of Stockholders' Equity		Market Value
							(dollars in thousands)
As of March 31, 2020	Linkem	Equity	Italy	Wireless Broadband	9.36	%	$	73,437
As of December 31, 2019	Linkem	Equity	Italy	Wireless Broadband	9.53	%	$	77,142

Significant subsidiary - equity method [Member]

Investment Holdings [Line Items]

Schedule Equity Method Investments

For the period ended March 31, 2020, certain investments subject to Regulation S-X Rule 10-01(b)(1) of the SEC guidance held by the Company in aggregate have met the significance criteria as defined thereunder. As such, the Company is required to present summarized financial information for these significant investees as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 and for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, and such information is as follows:

Other equity method investments	As of March 31, 2020		As of December 31, 2019
	(dollars in thousands)
Assets	$	793,662	$	818,193
Liabilities	26,054		77,092
Equity	$	767,608	$	741,101

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2020		2019
	(dollars in thousands)
Revenues	$	58,920	$	28,001
Expenses	(11,661)		(27,522)
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses)	(49,113)		91,334
Income (loss) before income taxes	(1,854)		91,813
Income tax expense	(725)		(705)
Net income	$	(2,579)	$	91,108

Consolidated Funds

Investment Holdings [Line Items]

Marketable Securities

As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, securities owned, at fair value, held by the Consolidated Funds consisted of the following:

	As of March 31, 2020		As of December 31, 2019
	(dollars in thousands)
Preferred stock	$	4,393	$	4,393
Common stock	317,839		200,306
Government bonds (a)	24,998		161,607
Corporate bonds (b)	2,655		3,405
Warrants and rights	5,611		5,567
	$	355,496	$	375,278

(a)As of March 31, 2020, the maturity was April 2020 with an interest rate of 0%. As of December 31, 2019, maturities ranged from February 2020 to March 2020 and interest rates were 0%.

(b)As of March 31, 2020, the maturity was May 2026 with an interest rate of 6.25%. As of December 31, 2019, the maturity was July 2023 with an interest rate of 7.50%.

Schedule of Derivative Instruments

As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value, held by the Consolidated Funds are comprised of:

	As of March 31, 2020		As of December 31, 2019
	(dollars in thousands)
Currency forwards	$	3,621	$	3,302
Equity swaps	10,271		927
Options	3,400		1,604
	$	17,292	$	5,833

Payable for derivative contracts

As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, payable for derivative contracts, at fair value, held by the Consolidated Funds are comprised of:

	As of March 31, 2020		As of December 31, 2019
	(dollars in thousands)
Currency forwards	$	186	$	88
Equity swaps	17,093		3,931
Options	787		750
	$	18,066	$	4,769

Schedule of Other Investments, Portfolio Funds

Investments in Portfolio Funds, at fair value

As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, investments in Portfolio Funds, at fair value, included the following:

	As of March 31, 2020		As of December 31, 2019
	(dollars in thousands)
Investments of Enterprise LP	$	88,675	$	99,153
Investments of Merger Fund	61,014		76,616
	$	149,689	$	175,769

Merger Master

Investment Holdings [Line Items]

Marketable Securities

Merger Master

	As of March 31, 2020		As of December 31, 2019
	(dollars in thousands)
Securities owned by Merger Master, at fair value
Common stock	$	175,892	$	76,531
Warrants and rights	1,365		748
Corporate bonds	2,069		2,074
	$	179,326	$	79,353
Securities sold, not yet purchased, by Merger Master, at fair value
Common stock	$	30,184	$	29,623
Exchange traded funds	6,898		38,527
	$	37,082	$	68,150

Schedule of Derivative Instruments

Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value, owned by Merger Master

	As of March 31, 2020		As of December 31, 2019
Description	(dollars in thousands)
Options	$	2,945	$	2,047
Equity swaps	1,890		406
	$	4,835	$	2,453

Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value, owned by Merger Master

	As of March 31, 2020		As of December 31, 2019
Description	(dollars in thousands)
Options	$	1,126	$	1,158
Equity swaps	1,689		268
	$	2,815	$	1,426

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Subsequent Events

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Subsequent Events [Abstract]

Subsequent Events

Subsequent Events

On April 24, 2020, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend payable on its common stock of $0.04 per common share, payable on June 15, 2020, to stockholders of record on June 1, 2020.

As a result of the spread of COVID-19, economic uncertainties have arisen that are likely to negatively impact the Company’s businesses, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, strategies and prospects. The extent of the impact of COVID-19 on the Company’s operational and financial performance will depend on certain developments, including the duration and spread of the outbreak and impact on our clients, employees, vendors and the markets in which we operate our businesses, all of which are uncertain and cannot be predicted. The extent to which COVID-19 may impact the Company’s businesses, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, strategies or prospects cannot be reasonably estimated at this time.

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 consolidated financial statements.

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Acquisition (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2019	Jan. 02, 2019
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Purchase of business	$ 0	$ 48,581
Revenues	313,809	224,097
Net income (loss) attributable to Cowen Inc.	(9,923)	9,783
Quarton
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Total estimated purchase price		103,000
Purchase of business		75,300
Business combination, contingent consideration, liability				$ 40,000
Other payments to acquire businesses		600
Business combination, contingency liability, retention of employee, bonus pool, maximum		$ 10,000
Business combination, contingency liability, retention of employee, bonus pool, period		5 years
Business combination, contingency liability, retention of employee, bonus pool, annual maximum payout		$ 2,500
Intangible assets				22,200
Amortization of Intangible Assets	$ 2,200	2,200
Business Combination, Separately Recognized Transactions, Additional Disclosures, Acquisition Cost Expensed		1,100
Revenues		5,300
Net income (loss) attributable to Cowen Inc.		$ 1,600
Common Stock Class A | Quarton
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business acquisition, equity interest issued or issuable, number of shares		1,033,350
Business acquisition, share price			$ 14.52
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 3 | Quarton
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business combination, contingent consideration, liability				27,700
Minimum | Quarton
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business combination, contingent consideration, liability				10,000
Maximum | Quarton
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business combination, contingent consideration, liability				$ 40,000

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Cash Collateral Pledged (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019
Cash collateral pledged	$ 7,538	$ 6,563	$ 6,420
Facility Leases
Cash collateral pledged	4,600	4,600
Collateral Reinsurance Agreement
Cash collateral pledged	$ 2,900	$ 2,000

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Investments Of Operating Entities And Consolidated Funds - Consolidated Funds - Receivable On And Payable For Derivative Contracts, At Fair Value (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Derivative [Line Items]
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value	$ 17,292	$ 5,833
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value, Consolidated Funds	18,066	4,769
Currency Forwards
Derivative [Line Items]
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value	3,621	3,302
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value, Consolidated Funds	186	88
Equity Swap
Derivative [Line Items]
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value	10,271	927
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value, Consolidated Funds	17,093	3,931
Options
Derivative [Line Items]
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value	3,400	1,604
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value, Consolidated Funds	$ 787	$ 750

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Fair Value Measurements for Operating Entities and Consolidated Funds - Carrying Value Disclosures (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019
Cash and cash equivalents		$ 270,079	$ 301,123	$ 235,838
Cash collateral pledged		7,538	6,563	6,420
Segregated cash		131,266	107,328	$ 136,964
Securities borrowed		971,430	754,441
Loans Receivable, Net		37,659	42,830
Cash and cash equivalents, Consolidated Funds		39,721	30,874
Securities Sold under Agreements to Repurchase		57,420	23,244
Securities Loaned, Financial instruments			27,384
Securities Loaned		997,794	1,601,866
Convertible debt	[1]	119,929	118,688
Long-term Debt	[2]	407,531	345,451
Convertible Debt
Convertible debt, unamortized discount		13,700	14,900
Notes Payable, Other Payables [Member]
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Premium		400	500
Level 1
Cash and cash equivalents, Fair Value		270,079	301,123
Segregated cash fair value disclosures		131,266	107,328
Cash and cash equivalents, Consolidated Funds, Fair Value		39,721	30,874
Level 2
Cash collateral pledged, Fair Value		7,538	6,563
Securities Borrowed, Fair Value Disclosure		971,430	754,441
Securities Loaned, Financial instruments		47,442	27,384
Securities loaned, fair value disclosure		997,794	1,601,866
Convertible debt, Fair Value	[3]	130,065	148,786
Notes payable and other debt, Fair Value	[4]	354,043	372,591
Level 3
Loans Receivable, Fair Value Disclosure	[5]	$ 37,659	$ 42,830

[1] The carrying amount of the convertible debt includes an unamortized discount of $13.7 million and $14.9 million as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.

[2] The carrying amount of the notes payable and other debt includes an unamortized premium of $0.4 million and $0.5 million as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.

[3] The convertible debt includes the conversion option and is based on the last broker quote available.

[4] Notes payable and other debt are based on the last broker quote available.

[5] The fair market value of level 3 loans is calculated using discounted cash flows where applicable.

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Investments of Operating Entities and Consolidated Funds - Consolidated Funds - Receivable on/Payable For Derivative Contracts (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Derivative [Line Items]
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value		$ 83,867	$ 62,977
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value		72,385	60,761
Merger Master
Derivative [Line Items]
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value		4,835	2,453
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value		2,815	1,426
Options
Derivative [Line Items]
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value	[1]	58,334	60,066
Options | Merger Master
Derivative [Line Items]
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value		2,945	2,047
Option
Derivative [Line Items]
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value	[2]	60,946	36,524
Option | Merger Master
Derivative [Line Items]
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value		1,126	1,158
Currency Forwards
Derivative [Line Items]
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value		1,010	0
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value		1,883	851
Swaps
Derivative [Line Items]
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value		24,523	2,911
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value		9,469	23,169
Swaps | Merger Master
Derivative [Line Items]
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value		1,890	406
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value		$ 1,689	$ 268

[1] Includes the volume of contracts for index, equity, commodity future and cash conversion options.

[2] Includes the volume of contracts for index, equity, commodity future and cash conversion options.

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Investments of Operating Entities and Consolidated Funds - Operating Entities - Securities Sold Under Agreements To Repurchase And Securities Lending And Borrowing Transactions (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]
Securities borrowed		$ 971,430	$ 754,441
Securities Borrowed, Offset Against Collateral, Net of Not Subject to Master Netting Arrangement, Policy Election	[1]	0	0
Securities Borrowed		971,430	754,441
Securities borrowed, additional amounts, asset		0	0
Securities Borrowed, Not Offset, Policy Election Deduction		947,184	751,913
Securities Borrowed, Collateral, Obligation to Return Cash	[2]	0	0
Securities Borrowed, Amount Offset Against Collateral		24,246	2,528
Securities Loaned		997,794	1,601,866
Securities Loaned, Offset Against Collateral, Net of Not Subject to Master Netting Arrangement, Policy Election	[1]	0	0
Securities Loaned, Gross amounts recognized		997,794	1,601,866
Securities Loaned, Additional Amounts Available		0	0
Securities Loaned, Not Offset, Policy Election Deduction		928,973	1,585,036
Securities Loaned, Collateral, Right to Reclaim Cash	[2]	0	0
Securities Loaned, Amount Offset Against Collateral		68,821	16,830
Securities Sold under Agreements to Repurchase, Asset		57,420	23,244
Securities Sold under Agreements to Repurchase, Gross Including Not Subject to Master Netting Arrangement		0	0
Securities Sold under Agreements to Repurchase		57,420	23,244
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase, additional amounts		0	0
Securities Loaned, Financial instruments			27,384
Securities borrowed, cash collateral pledged		14,043	0
Securities Loaned, Net amounts		$ (4,065)	$ (4,140)

[1] Includes financial instruments subject to enforceable master netting provisions that are permitted to be offset to the extent an event of default has occurred.

[2] Includes the amount of cash collateral held/posted.

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Commission Management Payable (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Commission Management Payable [Abstract]
Commission management payable	$ 112,688	$ 71,620

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Guarantees and Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements (Details)	Mar. 31, 2020 USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Letter of credit, borrowing capacity	$ 300,000,000
Line of credit facility, remaining borrowing capacity	300,000,000
Pledge Lines
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Letter of credit, borrowing capacity	300,000,000
Line of credit facility, remaining borrowing capacity	300,000,000
Texas Capital Bank | Pledge Lines
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Letter of credit, borrowing capacity	75,000,000
Line of credit facility, remaining borrowing capacity	75,000,000
BMO Harris Bank | Pledge Lines
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Letter of credit, borrowing capacity	150,000,000
Line of credit facility, remaining borrowing capacity	150,000,000
BMO Harris Bank | Tri-Party Pledge Line
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Letter of credit, borrowing capacity	75,000,000
Line of credit facility, remaining borrowing capacity	75,000,000
BMO Harris Bank | Spike Line
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Letter of credit, borrowing capacity	70,000,000
Line of credit facility, remaining borrowing capacity	35,000,000
BMO Harris Bank | Revolving Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Letter of credit, borrowing capacity	25,000,000
Line of credit facility, remaining borrowing capacity	$ 0

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Investments Of Operating Entities And Consolidated Funds - Consolidated Funds - Securities Owned By Enterprise Master (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Mar. 31, 2020		Dec. 31, 2019
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Securities owned, at fair value ($200,278 and $941,595 were pledged to various parties)		$ 776,046		$ 1,633,552
Other investments		163,274		185,722
Portfolio Funds
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Other investments		113,627	[1]	114,504
Portfolio Funds | Other Private Investment | Affiliated Entity
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Other investments	[2],[3]	$ 8,245		$ 4,448

[1] In accordance with US GAAP, certain investments are measured at fair value using the net asset value per share (or its equivalent) as a practical expedient. Carried interest in portfolio funds 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.

[2] Other private investment represents the Company's closed end investment in a Portfolio Fund that invests in a wireless broadband communication provider in Italy.

[3] These Portfolio Funds are affiliates of the Company.

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Document and Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Apr. 29, 2020
Entity Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2020
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-34516
Entity Registrant Name	Cowen Inc.
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	27-0423711
Entity Address, Address Line One	599 Lexington Avenue
Entity Address, City or Town	New York
Entity Address, State or Province	NY
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	10022
City Area Code	646
Local Phone Number	562-1000
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		27,688,071
Entity Central Index Key	0001466538
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Amendment Flag	false
Common Stock Class A | The Nasdaq Global Market
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
Trading Symbol	COWN
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
2027 Notes | The Nasdaq Global Market
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	7.35% Senior Notes due 2027
Trading Symbol	COWNZ
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
2033 Notes | The Nasdaq Global Market
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	7.75% Senior Notes due 2033
Trading Symbol	COWNL
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ

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Acquisition

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Business Combinations [Abstract]

Acquisitions

Acquisition

Quarton

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 formerly U.S. Securities Exchange Commission ("SEC") registered broker-dealer that was subsequently renamed to Cowen Securities L.P. ("Cowen Securities") (see Note 22), 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 Acquisition Date, 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. 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 Op Co 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.

The table below summarizes the purchase price allocation of net tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of January 2, 2019:

	(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 and had a weighted average useful life of 2.8 years. 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 each of the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 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)
2020	$	6,681
2021	2,608
2022	1,775
2023	—
2024	—
Thereafter	—
	$	11,064

In addition to the purchase price consideration, for the three months ended March 31, 2019, the Company had 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 is revenue of $5.3 million and net income of $1.6 million related to the results of operations of Quarton.

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Fair Value Measurements for Operating Entities and Consolidated Funds

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Fair Value Measurements for Operating Entities and Consolidated Funds

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, 2020 and December 31, 2019:

	Assets at Fair Value as of March 31, 2020
	Level 1			Level 2			Level 3			Total
				(dollars in thousands)
Operating Entities
Securities owned, at fair value
Government bonds	$	14,625		$	46,573		$	—		$	61,198
Preferred stock	6,500			—			8,200			14,700
Common stock	630,117			507			17,510			648,134
Convertible bonds	—			—			2,786			2,786
Corporate bonds	—			13,277			2,812			16,089
Trade claims	—			—			9,648			9,648
Warrants and rights	22,893			—			598			23,491
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value
Currency forwards	—			1,010			—			1,010
Swaps	—			24,523			—			24,523
Options	58,002			—			332			58,334
Consolidated Funds
Securities owned, at fair value
Government bonds	24,998			—			—			24,998
Preferred stock	—			—			4,393			4,393
Common stock	217,839			—			100,000			317,839
Corporate bonds	—			2,655			—			2,655
Warrants and rights	—			—			5,611			5,611
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value
Currency forwards	—			3,621			—			3,621
Equity swaps	—			10,271			—			10,271
Options	3,400			—			—			3,400
	$	978,374		$	102,437		$	151,890		$	1,232,701
Percentage of total assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis	79.4		%	8.3		%	12.3		%
Portfolio Funds measured at net asset value (a)										113,627
Carried interest (a)										20,729
Consolidated Funds' Portfolio Funds measured at net asset value (a)										149,689
Equity method investments										28,918
Total investments										$	1,545,664

	Liabilities at Fair Value as of March 31, 2020
	Level 1			Level 2			Level 3			Total
	(dollars in thousands)
Operating Entities
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value
Government bonds	$	—		$	46,573		$	1,500		$	48,073
Common stock	460,059			—			—			460,059
Corporate bonds	—			3,602			800			4,402
Preferred stock	6,405			—			—			6,405
Warrants and rights	8,532			—			—			8,532
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value
Futures	87			—			—			87
Currency forwards	—			1,883			—			1,883
Swaps	—			9,469			—			9,469
Options	59,144			—			1,802			60,946
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities
Contingent consideration liability (b)	—			—			28,658			28,658
Consolidated Funds
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value
Currency forwards	—			186			—			186
Options	787			—			—			787
Equity swaps	—			17,093			—			17,093
	$	535,014		$	78,806		$	32,760		$	646,580
Percentage of total liabilities measured at fair value	82.7		%	12.2		%	5.1		%

(a) In accordance with US GAAP, certain investments are measured at fair value using the net asset value per share (or its equivalent) as a practical expedient. Carried interest in portfolio funds 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 31, 2019 and December 31, 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, 2020 can range from $1.0 million to $40.0 million.

	Assets at Fair Value as of December 31, 2019
	Level 1			Level 2			Level 3			Total
				(dollars in thousands)
Operating Entities
Securities owned, at fair value
Government bonds	$	15,916		$	—		$	—		$	15,916
Preferred stock	4,821			—			7,835			12,656
Common stock	1,527,769			1,249			17,466			1,546,484
Convertible bonds	—			—			2,500			2,500
Corporate bonds	—			23,079			2,421			25,500
Trade claims	—			—			7,320			7,320
Term loan	—			1,067			—			1,067
Warrants and rights	21,515			—			594			22,109
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value
Swaps	—			2,911			—			2,911
Options	59,730			—			336			60,066
Consolidated Funds
Securities owned, at fair value
Government bonds	161,607			—			—			161,607
Preferred stock	—			—			4,393			4,393
Common stock	200,306			—			—			200,306
Corporate bonds	—			3,405			—			3,405
Warrants and rights	—			—			5,567			5,567
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value
Currency forwards	—			3,302			—			3,302
Equity swaps	—			927			—			927
Options	1,604			—			—			1,604
	$	1,993,268		$	35,940		$	48,432		$	2,077,640
Percentage of total assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis	95.9		%	1.7		%	2.3		%
Portfolio Funds measured at net asset value (a)										114,504
Carried interest (a)										30,360
Consolidated Funds' Portfolio Funds measured at net asset value (a)										175,769
Equity method investments										40,858
Total investments										$	2,439,131

	Liabilities at Fair Value as of December 31, 2019
	Level 1			Level 2			Level 3			Total
	(dollars in thousands)
Operating Entities
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value
US Government securities	$	—		$	—		$	1,950		$	1,950
Common stock	$	425,448		$	—		$	—		$	425,448
Corporate bonds	—			4,933			1,000			5,933
Preferred stock	3,686			—			—			3,686
Warrants and rights	14,819			—			—			14,819
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value
Futures	217			—			—			217
Currency forwards	—			851			—			851
Swaps	—			23,169			—			23,169
Options	33,604			—			2,920			36,524
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities
Contingent consideration liability (b)	—			—			30,896			30,896
Consolidated Funds
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value
Currency forwards	—			88			—			88
Options	750			—			—			750
Equity swaps	—			3,931			—			3,931
	$	478,524		$	32,972		$	36,766		$	548,262
Percentage of total liabilities measured at fair value	87.3		%	6.0		%	6.7		%

(a) In accordance with US GAAP, certain investments are measured at fair value using the net asset value per share (or its equivalent) as a practical expedient. Carried interest in portfolio funds 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 31, 2019 and December 31, 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 December 31, 2019 can range from $1.3 million to $40.0 million.

The following table includes a roll forward of the amounts for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 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.

	Three Months Ended March 31, 2020
	Balance at December 31, 2019		Transfers in			Transfers out		Purchases/(covers)		(Sales)/shorts		Realized and Unrealized gains/losses		Balance at March 31, 2020		Change in unrealized gains/losses relating to instruments still held (1)
	(dollars in thousands)
Operating Entities
Preferred stock	$	7,835	$	—		$	—	$	365	$	—	$	—	$	8,200	$	—
Common stock	17,466		—			—		1,798		(593)		(1,161)		17,510		(1,257)
Convertible bonds	2,500		—			—		286		—		—		2,786		—
Corporate bond	2,421		—			—		422		(24)		(7)		2,812		12
Options, asset	336		—			—		—		—		(4)		332		(4)
Options, liability	2,920		—			—		—		—		(1,118)		1,802		(1,118)
Warrants and rights	594		—			—		—		—		4		598		4
Trade claims	7,320		1,044		(a)	—		1,399		—		(115)		9,648		(115)
Corporate bond, liability	1,000		—			—		—		—		(200)		800		(200)
Government bonds, liability	1,950		—			—		—		—		(450)		1,500		(450)
Contingent consideration liability	30,896		—			—		—		(1,400)		(838)		28,658		(838)
Consolidated Funds
Preferred stock	4,393		—			—		—		—		—		4,393		—
Common stock	—		—			—		100,000		—		—		100,000		—
Warrants and rights	$	5,567	$	—		$	—	$	—	$	—	$	44	$	5,611	$	44

	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 claim	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)

(1) Unrealized gains/losses are reported in other income (loss) in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations.

(a) The security stopped trading on an open market.

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 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.

The following table includes quantitative information as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 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 March 31, 2020		Valuation Techniques	Unobservable Inputs	Range	Weighted Average
Level 3 Assets	(dollars in thousands)
Options	331		Discounted cash flows Guideline companies	Discount rate Market Multiples	10% - 12% 6.25x - 6.75x	11% 6.5x
Trade claims	3,747		Discounted cash flows	Discount rate	20%	20%
Warrants and rights	6,210		Model based Discounted cash flows	Volatility Discount rate	36% 6.6%	36% 6.6%
Corporate and convertible bonds	311		Discounted cash flows Recovery	Discount rate Probability of recovery	20% 1% to 3%	20% 2.25%
Other level 3 assets (a)	141,291
Total level 3 assets	$	151,890
Level 3 Liabilities
Options	1,802		Option pricing models	Volatility	35%	35%
Contingent consideration liability	28,658		Discounted cash flows Monte Carlo simulation	Discount rate Volatility	16%-22% 22%	16% 22%
Other level 3 liabilities (a)	2,300
Total level 3 liabilities	$	32,760

	Quantitative Information about Level 3 Fair Value Measurements
	Fair Value at December 31, 2019		Valuation Techniques	Unobservable Inputs	Range	Weighted Average
Level 3 Assets	(dollars in thousands)
Common and preferred stocks	$	10,876	Discounted cash flows / Guideline companies	Discount rate Market Multiples	8% - 11.25% 6.5x - 7x	10.4% 6.75x
Trade claims	24		Discounted cash flows	Discount rate	20%	20%
Warrants and rights	6,162		Model based Discounted cash flows	Volatility Discount rate	30% 6% to 7%	—% 6.1%
Options	336		Option pricing models	Discount rate Market Multiples	9.75% - 11.25% 6.5x - 7x	10.5% 6.75x
Corporate and convertible bonds	311		Discounted cash flows Recovery	Discount rate Probability of recovery	20% 1% to 3%	20% 2.3%
Other level 3 assets (a)	30,723
Total level 3 assets	$	48,432
Level 3 Liabilities
Options	2,920		Option pricing models	Volatility	35% to 40%	35%
Contingent consideration liability	30,896		Discounted cash flows	Discount rate Volatility	15%-22% 17%	15% 17%
Other level 3 liabilities (a)	2,950
Total level 3 liabilities	$	36,766

(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.

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, 2020 and December 31, 2019, 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 2e).

	March 31, 2020						December 31, 2019						Fair Value Hierarchy
	Carrying Amount			Fair Value			Carrying Amount			Fair Value
				(dollars in thousands)
Financial Assets
Operating companies
Cash and cash equivalents	$	270,079		$	270,079		$	301,123		$	301,123		Level 1
Cash collateral pledged	7,538			7,538			6,563			6,563			Level 2
Segregated cash	131,266			131,266			107,328			107,328			Level 1
Securities borrowed	971,430			971,430			754,441			754,441			Level 2
Loans receivable	37,659			37,659		(d)	42,830			42,830		(d)	Level 3
Consolidated Funds
Cash and cash equivalents	39,721			39,721			30,874			30,874			Level 1
Financial Liabilities
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase	57,420			47,442			23,244			27,384			Level 2
Securities loaned	997,794			997,794			1,601,866			1,601,866			Level 2
Convertible debt	119,929		(a)	130,065		(b)	118,688		(a)	148,786		(b)	Level 2
Notes payable and other debt	407,531		(e)	354,043		(c)	345,451		(e)	372,591		(c)	Level 2

(a)The carrying amount of the convertible debt includes an unamortized discount of $13.7 million and $14.9 million as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, 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 where applicable.

(e)The carrying amount of the notes payable and other debt includes an unamortized premium of $0.4 million and $0.5 million as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.

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Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income (loss)	$ (72,111)	$ 10,295
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Foreign currency translation	0	0
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	0	0
Comprehensive income (loss)	(72,111)	10,295
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(62,188)	512
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	$ (9,923)	$ 9,783

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Significant Accounting Policies

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Significant Accounting Policies

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 on consolidation. Certain investment funds 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 specialized industry accounting.

The Company serves as the managing member/general partner and/or investment manager to investment funds which it sponsors and manages. Investment funds in which the Company has a controlling financial interest are consolidated with the Company. Consequently, the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements reflect the assets, liabilities, income and expenses of these investment funds on a gross basis. The ownership interests in these investment funds that are not owned by the Company are reflected as redeemable or nonredeemable non-controlling interests, dependent on the non-controlling interest holder's redemption rights, in consolidated subsidiaries in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements. The management fees and incentive income earned by the Company from these investment funds are eliminated in consolidation.

The Company carried out an analysis to evaluate instances where non-controlling interest parties have the unilateral right to redeem their ownership interest for cash, which resulted in a change to the presentation of certain nonredeemable non-controlling interests into permanent equity. Accordingly, prior period amounts have been recast to present nonredeemable non-controlling interests separately from redeemable non-controlling interests within the equity section of the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of financial condition. This has no impact on net income (loss) attributable to Cowen Inc. common stockholders, total assets or total liabilities.

With respect to the Company's private equity investment management strategies, a portion of the Company's carried interest is granted to employees through profit sharing awards designed to more closely align compensation with the overall realized performance of the Company. These arrangements enable certain employees to earn compensation based on performance revenue earned by the Company and are recorded within compensation payable in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of financial condition and employee compensation and benefits expense in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operation based on the probable and estimable payments under the terms of the awards. Prior period amounts have been recast to reflect this accounting treatment.

The accompanying financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s financial statements and notes thereto included in the our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 (the "2019 Form 10-K"). Certain footnote disclosures included in the 2019 Form 10-K have been condensed or omitted from these financial statements as they are not required for interim reporting under U.S. GAAP or are insignificant to the interim reporting period.

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.

The Company consolidates six investment funds for which it acts as the managing member/general partner and investment manager. At March 31, 2020, 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"), Ramius Merger Arbitrage UCITS Fund ("UCITS Fund"), Cowen Sustainable Investments I LP ("CSI I LP") and CSI I Golden Holdco LP ("Golden HoldCo") (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 Entities—VOEs are entities in which (i) the total equity investment at risk is sufficient to enable the entity to finance its activities independently, (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 and (iii) voting rights of equity holders are proportionate to their obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive returns.

Under US GAAP consolidation requirements, 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 determines whether it is the primary beneficiary of a VIE upon its initial involvement with the VIE and reassesses whether it is the primary beneficiary on an ongoing basis as long as it has any continuing involvement with the 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, 2020, the total assets and total liabilities of the consolidated VIEs were $613.7 million and $34.9 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2019, the total assets and total liabilities of the consolidated VIEs were $685.4 million and $24.9 million, respectively. Decrease in performance decreased the 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.

At March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Company held a variable interest in Ramius Merger Master Fund Ltd ("Merger Master") (the "Unconsolidated Master Fund") through the consolidated Merger Fund. 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 Fund.

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 or real estate funds that are VIEs due to the Company's conclusion that it is not the primary beneficiary of these funds in each instance. Investment fund investors are entitled to all of the 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 a general partner and a 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 Investments—For 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.

Other—If 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), 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 Accounting—The Consolidated Funds and certain other consolidated companies are investment companies and apply specialized industry accounting. 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, Cowen and Company, LLC ("Cowen and Company"), Cowen Execution Services LLC ("Cowen Execution"), Westminster Research Associates LLC ("Westminster"), Cowen Execution Services Limited ("Cowen Execution Ltd"), ATM Execution LLC ("ATM Execution"), Cowen International Limited ("Cowen International Ltd"), and Cowen Prime Services LLC ("Cowen Prime") apply the specialized industry accounting for brokers and dealers in securities. 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

Effective January 1, 2020, the Company adopted ASC Topic 326, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (“ASC 326”). ASC 326 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. Under the accounting update, the Company has the ability to determine there are no expected credit losses in certain circumstances (e.g., based on collateral arrangements or based on the credit quality of the borrower or issuer).

The Company identified securities borrowed and fees and other receivables carried at amortized cost (including, but not limited to, receivables related to securities transactions, corporate finance and syndicate receivables, management fees and incentive fees receivable) as impacted by the new guidance. ASC 326 specifies that the Company adopt the new guidance prospectively by means of a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening retained earnings as of the beginning of the first reporting period effective. Accordingly, the Company recognized a cumulative effective adjustment of $0.01 million upon adoption.

The allowance for credit losses is based on the Company's expectation of the collectability of financial instruments carried at amortized cost, including securities borrowed and fees and other receivables utilizing the CECL framework. The Company considers factors such as historical experience, credit quality, age of balances and current and future economic conditions that may affect the Company’s expectation of the collectability in determining the allowance for credit losses. The Company’s expectation is that the credit risk associated with fees and other receivables is not significant until they are 90 days past due based on the contractual arrangement and expectation of collection in accordance with industry standards.

For securities borrowed, the Company applies a practical expedient to measure the allowance for credit losses based on the fair value of the collateral. If the fair value of the collateral held exceeds the amortized cost and the borrower is expected to continue to replenish the collateral as needed, the Company will not recognize an allowance. If the fair value of collateral is less than amortized cost and the borrower is expected to continue to replenish the collateral as needed, the Company applies the CECL model, utilizing a probability and loss given default methodology, only to the extent of the shortfall between the fair value of the collateral and amortized cost.

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 1Inputs 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 2Inputs 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 3Fair 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. Inputs reflect unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access at the measurement date.

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 impact 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 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 primarily include active listed equities, certain U.S. government and sovereign obligations, Exchange Traded Funds ("ETFs"), mutual funds and certain money market securities.

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 Contracts—Derivative 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 Investments—Other investments consist primarily of investment funds, real estate investments, carried interest 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 applies the practical expedient provided by the US GAAP fair value measurements and disclosures guidance relating to investments in certain entities that calculate net asset value (“NAV”) per share (or its equivalent). The guidance permits 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 NAV 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. 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 measured 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.

See Notes 6 and 7 for further information regarding the Company's investments, including equity method investments and fair value measurements.

iii. Carried Interest—For the private equity and debt fund products the Company offers, the Company is allocated incentive income by the investment funds based on the extent by which the investment funds performance exceeds predetermined thresholds. Carried interest allocations are generally structured from a legal standpoint as an allocation of capital in the Company’s capital account. The Company accounts for carried interest allocations by applying an equity ownership model. Accordingly, the Company accrues performance allocations quarterly based on the fair value of the underlying investments assuming hypothetical liquidation at book value.

iv. Equity Method Investments—For operating entities over which the Company exercises significant influence but which do not meet the requirements for consolidation as outlined above, the Company applies 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.

f. Receivable from and payable to brokers

Receivable from brokers, dealers, and clearing organizations includes amounts receivable for securities failed to deliver by the Company to a purchaser by the settlement date, amounts receivable from broker-dealers and clearing organizations, commissions receivable from broker-dealers, and interest receivable from securities financing arrangements.

Payable to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations includes amounts payable for securities failed to receive by the Company from a seller by the settlement date, amounts payable to broker-dealers and clearing organizations for unsettled trades, interest payable for securities financing arrangements, and payables of deposits held in proprietary account of brokers and dealers.

Pursuant to the master netting agreements the Company has entered into with its brokers, dealers and clearing organizations, receivables and payables arising from unsettled trade 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.

g. Receivable from and payable to customers

Receivable from customers includes amounts owed by customers on cash and margin transactions, recorded on a settle-date basis on the statement of financial condition.

Payable to customers primarily consists of amounts owed to customers relating to securities transactions not completed on settlement date, recorded on a settle-date basis on the statement of financial condition, and other miscellaneous customer payables.

Securities owned by customers, including those that collateralize margin, are not reflected as assets of the Company on the statement of financial condition. The Company holds these securities with the intention of settlement against customer orders and are held as collateral for customer receivables.

h. Fees receivable

Fees related to security transactions are reported net of an allowance for credit losses. 

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 2m).

i. 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. See Note 2d for further information.

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 financial condition. At March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Company did not have any securities lending transactions for which fair value basis of accounting was elected.

j.  Securities sold under agreements to repurchase

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase ("repos") are accounted for as collateralized financing transactions and are recorded at their contracted repurchase amount plus accrued interest. A repo is a transaction in which a firm sells financial instruments to a buyer, typically in exchange for cash, and simultaneously enters into an agreement to repurchase the same or substantially the same financial instruments from such buyer at a stated price plus accrued interest at a future date. 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 approximates or is greater than the market value of securities sold in the transaction. The Company typically enters into repo transactions with counterparties that prefer repo transactions to securities loaned transactions. The Company has executed master repo agreements with such counterparties and utilizes such counterparties

to finance its own positions, or replace a securities lending transaction with a repo for matched book purposes. The Company monitors the market value of repos on a daily basis, with additional collateral obtained or returned, as necessary. Repos may also result in credit exposures for the Company in an event that the counterparties are unable to fulfill their contractual obligations. The Company mitigates its credit risk by continuously monitoring its credit exposure and collateral values by demanding additional collateral or returning excess collateral in accordance with the netting provisions available in the master repo contracts in place with the counterparties.

        Interest paid is recorded in interest and dividends expense 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. At March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Company did not have any repos for which fair value basis of accounting was elected.

k. Goodwill and intangible assets

Goodwill

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 requirements for testing for impairment of goodwill, 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 a quantitative impairment test is not necessary. If the Company concludes otherwise, the Company is required to perform a quantitative impairment test that 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 its fair value, then the Company recognizes an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value.

Intangible assets

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 accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations if the sum of the estimated undiscounted cash flows relating to the asset or asset group is less than the corresponding carrying value. The Company continually monitors the estimated average useful lives of existing intangible assets.

l. Non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries

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. When non-controlling interest holders have redemption features that can be exercised at the option of the holder currently or contingent upon the occurrence of future events, their ownership has been classified as temporary equity. The remaining non-controlling interests have been classified in permanent equity as the non-controlling interests are either not redeemable at the option of the holder or the holder does not have the unilateral right to redeem its ownership interests.

m. 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 generated within two segments: Op Co and Asset Co as more fully described below. Revenue from contracts with customers includes management fees, incentive income, investment banking revenue and brokerage services revenue excluding principal transactions. 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 business segments, from which the Company generates its revenue. For more detailed information about reportable segments, see Note 21.

Operating Company

The Op Co segment generates revenue through five principle sources: investment banking revenue, brokerage revenue, management fees, incentive income and investment income from the Company's own capital. Investment income is excluded from ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers.

Asset Company

The Asset Co segment generates revenue through management fees, incentive income and investment income from the Company’s own capital. Investment income is excluded from ASC Topic 606.

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 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 securities 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 of the offering; which generally occurs on trade date.

Underwriting fees are recognized gross of transaction-related expenses, and 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 revenue includes 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 placement agency 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 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 brokers to 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 short duration.

•Equity research fees. Equity research fees are paid to the Company for providing access to equity research. In the US, revenue is recognized once an arrangement exists, access to research has been provided and the customer has benefited from the research. As part of MiFID II, the Company’s international broker-dealers have executed equity research contracts with its clients. The contracts either contain a fixed price for providing access to research or a price at the discretion of the customer with a contract minimum. Fixed equity research fees are recognized over the contract period as the customer is benefiting from the research throughout the contract term. When the equity research fees are based on the customer’s discretion with a contract minimum, the Company recognizes the contract minimum over the life of the contract as the customer benefits from the research provided and adjusts the revenue when the Company can estimate the amount of equity research fees over the contract minimum. Additionally, the Company earns variable consideration for attending client conferences and events. Revenue is recognized when the Company attends a client conference or event.

•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.

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:

•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 agreement). 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.

•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.

•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.

•Real estate. Management fees from the Company's real estate investments 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.

Incentive income

The Company earns incentive income based on net profits (as defined in the respective investment management or partnership agreement) related 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 corresponding investment management or partnership agreement. 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 crystallized. For certain  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 its 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.

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. 

Investment Income

Investment income earned by the Company is generated from investing the Company's capital in various strategies.

Revenue from contracts with customers

For the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, the following tables presents revenues from contracts with customers disaggregated by fee type and segment.

		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2020		2019
		(dollars in thousands)
Revenue from contracts with customers		Operating Company
Investment banking
Underwriting fees		$	63,270	$	48,036
Strategic/financial advisory fees		21,996		20,544
Placement and sales agent fees		17,596		9,498
Expense reimbursements from clients		2,166		2,028
	Total investment banking revenue	105,028		80,106
Brokerage
Commissions		132,208		87,359
Trade conversion revenue		4,639		4,106
Equity research fees		4,005		3,590
	Total brokerage revenue from customers	140,852		95,055
Management fees		11,346		6,643
Incentive income		—		—
Total revenue from contracts with customers - Op Co		$	257,226	$	181,804
		Asset Company
Management fees		258		498
Incentive income		—		15
Total revenue from contracts with customers - Asset Co		258		513
Total revenue from contracts with customers		$	257,484	$	182,317

Investments transactions and related income/expenses

Purchases and sales of securities, net of commissions, derivative contracts, and the related revenues and expenses are recorded on a trade-date basis with net trading gains and losses included as a component of net gains (losses) on securities, derivatives and other investments, and with respect to the Consolidated Funds and other real estate entities as a component of net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments and other transactions and net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives, respectively, in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations.

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 in accordance with US GAAP and market convention for the imputation of interest of the host financial instrument. 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 businesses. 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.

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.

n. 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. The Company evaluates its deferred tax assets for recoverability considering negative and positive evidence, including its historical financial performance, projections of future taxable income, future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, and tax planning strategies. The Company records 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, the Company estimates 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, the Company has identified the assessment of deferred tax assets and the need for any related valuation allowance as a critical accounting estimate.

US GAAP clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise's financial statements, requiring the Company to determine whether a tax position is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position. For tax positions meeting the more likely than not threshold, the tax amount recognized in the financial statements is reduced by the largest benefit that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement with the relevant taxing authority. The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to its uncertain tax positions as a component of income tax expense.

In accordance with federal and state tax laws, the Company and its subsidiaries file consolidated federal, state, and local income tax returns as well as stand-alone state and local tax returns. The Company also has subsidiaries that are residents in

foreign countries where tax filings have to be submitted on a stand-alone or combined basis. These subsidiaries are subject to taxes in their respective countries and the Company is responsible for and therefore reports all taxes incurred by these subsidiaries in the condensed consolidated statements of operations. The foreign jurisdictions where the Company owns subsidiaries and has tax filing obligations are the United Kingdom, Luxembourg, Gibraltar, Germany, Switzerland, South Africa, Canada and Hong Kong.

o. Recent pronouncements

Recently adopted

In October 2018, the FASB issued guidance that made targeted changes to the related party consolidation guidance. The accounting standard update aligns the evaluation of whether a decision maker's fee is a variable interest with the guidance in the primary beneficiary test by requiring the decision maker to consider an indirect interest in a VIE held by a related party under common control on a proportionate basis. The standard became effective for the Company in the first quarter of 2020 and was adopted retrospectively with no impact to current and previous consolidation conclusions.

In August 2018, the FASB issued guidance for accounting for upfront costs and fees paid by a customer in a cloud computing arrangement. The accounting standard aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal use software. The standard became effective for the Company in the first quarter of 2020 and was adopted prospectively.

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. The guidance became effective for the Company in the first quarter of 2020. Please refer to Note 2d. for more information.

In December 2019, the FASB issued guidance simplifying the accounting for income taxes. The guidance simplifies the accounting for income taxes by removing the following exceptions (i) the incremental approach for intra-period tax allocation when there is a loss from continuing operations and income or a gain from other items (for example, discontinued operations or other comprehensive income), (ii) the requirement to recognize a deferred tax liability for equity method investments when a foreign subsidiary becomes an equity method investment, (iii) the ability not to recognize a deferred tax liability for a foreign subsidiary when a foreign equity method investment becomes a subsidiary and (iv) general methodology for calculating income taxes in an interim period when a year-to-date loss exceeds the anticipated loss for the year. Additionally the guidance requires that an entity (a) recognize a franchise tax (or similar tax) that is partially based on income as an income-based tax and account for any incremental amount incurred as a non-income-based tax, (b) evaluate when a step up in the tax basis of goodwill should be considered part of the business combination in which the book goodwill was originally recognized and when it should be considered a separate transaction and (c) reflect the effect of an enacted change in tax laws or rates in the annual effective tax rate computation in the interim period that includes the enactment date as well as specifying that an entity is not required to allocate the consolidated amount of current and deferred tax expense to a legal entity that is not subject to tax in its separate financial statements. However, an entity may elect to do so (on an entity-by-entity basis) for a legal entity that is both not subject to tax and disregarded by the taxing authority. The guidance also makes minor codification improvements for income taxes related to employee stock ownership plans and investments in qualified affordable housing projects accounted for using the equity method. For public business entities, the guidance is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2020 and interim periods within those fiscal years with early adoption permitted. The Company early adopted the guidance effective in the first quarter of 2020 and has determined no material impact from the adoption of this guidance on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

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Commission Management Payable	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020
Commission Management Payable [Abstract]
Commission Management Payable	Commission Management PayableThe 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 $112.7 million and $71.6 million, as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively, are classified as commission management payable in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of financial condition.

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Fair Value Measurements for Operating Entities and Consolidated Funds (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Schedule of Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis

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, 2020 and December 31, 2019:

	Assets at Fair Value as of March 31, 2020
	Level 1			Level 2			Level 3			Total
				(dollars in thousands)
Operating Entities
Securities owned, at fair value
Government bonds	$	14,625		$	46,573		$	—		$	61,198
Preferred stock	6,500			—			8,200			14,700
Common stock	630,117			507			17,510			648,134
Convertible bonds	—			—			2,786			2,786
Corporate bonds	—			13,277			2,812			16,089
Trade claims	—			—			9,648			9,648
Warrants and rights	22,893			—			598			23,491
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value
Currency forwards	—			1,010			—			1,010
Swaps	—			24,523			—			24,523
Options	58,002			—			332			58,334
Consolidated Funds
Securities owned, at fair value
Government bonds	24,998			—			—			24,998
Preferred stock	—			—			4,393			4,393
Common stock	217,839			—			100,000			317,839
Corporate bonds	—			2,655			—			2,655
Warrants and rights	—			—			5,611			5,611
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value
Currency forwards	—			3,621			—			3,621
Equity swaps	—			10,271			—			10,271
Options	3,400			—			—			3,400
	$	978,374		$	102,437		$	151,890		$	1,232,701
Percentage of total assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis	79.4		%	8.3		%	12.3		%
Portfolio Funds measured at net asset value (a)										113,627
Carried interest (a)										20,729
Consolidated Funds' Portfolio Funds measured at net asset value (a)										149,689
Equity method investments										28,918
Total investments										$	1,545,664

	Liabilities at Fair Value as of March 31, 2020
	Level 1			Level 2			Level 3			Total
	(dollars in thousands)
Operating Entities
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value
Government bonds	$	—		$	46,573		$	1,500		$	48,073
Common stock	460,059			—			—			460,059
Corporate bonds	—			3,602			800			4,402
Preferred stock	6,405			—			—			6,405
Warrants and rights	8,532			—			—			8,532
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value
Futures	87			—			—			87
Currency forwards	—			1,883			—			1,883
Swaps	—			9,469			—			9,469
Options	59,144			—			1,802			60,946
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities
Contingent consideration liability (b)	—			—			28,658			28,658
Consolidated Funds
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value
Currency forwards	—			186			—			186
Options	787			—			—			787
Equity swaps	—			17,093			—			17,093
	$	535,014		$	78,806		$	32,760		$	646,580
Percentage of total liabilities measured at fair value	82.7		%	12.2		%	5.1		%

(a) In accordance with US GAAP, certain investments are measured at fair value using the net asset value per share (or its equivalent) as a practical expedient. Carried interest in portfolio funds 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 31, 2019 and December 31, 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, 2020 can range from $1.0 million to $40.0 million.

	Assets at Fair Value as of December 31, 2019
	Level 1			Level 2			Level 3			Total
				(dollars in thousands)
Operating Entities
Securities owned, at fair value
Government bonds	$	15,916		$	—		$	—		$	15,916
Preferred stock	4,821			—			7,835			12,656
Common stock	1,527,769			1,249			17,466			1,546,484
Convertible bonds	—			—			2,500			2,500
Corporate bonds	—			23,079			2,421			25,500
Trade claims	—			—			7,320			7,320
Term loan	—			1,067			—			1,067
Warrants and rights	21,515			—			594			22,109
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value
Swaps	—			2,911			—			2,911
Options	59,730			—			336			60,066
Consolidated Funds
Securities owned, at fair value
Government bonds	161,607			—			—			161,607
Preferred stock	—			—			4,393			4,393
Common stock	200,306			—			—			200,306
Corporate bonds	—			3,405			—			3,405
Warrants and rights	—			—			5,567			5,567
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value
Currency forwards	—			3,302			—			3,302
Equity swaps	—			927			—			927
Options	1,604			—			—			1,604
	$	1,993,268		$	35,940		$	48,432		$	2,077,640
Percentage of total assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis	95.9		%	1.7		%	2.3		%
Portfolio Funds measured at net asset value (a)										114,504
Carried interest (a)										30,360
Consolidated Funds' Portfolio Funds measured at net asset value (a)										175,769
Equity method investments										40,858
Total investments										$	2,439,131

	Liabilities at Fair Value as of December 31, 2019
	Level 1			Level 2			Level 3			Total
	(dollars in thousands)
Operating Entities
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value
US Government securities	$	—		$	—		$	1,950		$	1,950
Common stock	$	425,448		$	—		$	—		$	425,448
Corporate bonds	—			4,933			1,000			5,933
Preferred stock	3,686			—			—			3,686
Warrants and rights	14,819			—			—			14,819
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value
Futures	217			—			—			217
Currency forwards	—			851			—			851
Swaps	—			23,169			—			23,169
Options	33,604			—			2,920			36,524
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities
Contingent consideration liability (b)	—			—			30,896			30,896
Consolidated Funds
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value
Currency forwards	—			88			—			88
Options	750			—			—			750
Equity swaps	—			3,931			—			3,931
	$	478,524		$	32,972		$	36,766		$	548,262
Percentage of total liabilities measured at fair value	87.3		%	6.0		%	6.7		%

(a) In accordance with US GAAP, certain investments are measured at fair value using the net asset value per share (or its equivalent) as a practical expedient. Carried interest in portfolio funds 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 31, 2019 and December 31, 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 December 31, 2019 can range from $1.3 million to $40.0 million.

Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation

The following table includes a roll forward of the amounts for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 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.

	Three Months Ended March 31, 2020
	Balance at December 31, 2019		Transfers in			Transfers out		Purchases/(covers)		(Sales)/shorts		Realized and Unrealized gains/losses		Balance at March 31, 2020		Change in unrealized gains/losses relating to instruments still held (1)
	(dollars in thousands)
Operating Entities
Preferred stock	$	7,835	$	—		$	—	$	365	$	—	$	—	$	8,200	$	—
Common stock	17,466		—			—		1,798		(593)		(1,161)		17,510		(1,257)
Convertible bonds	2,500		—			—		286		—		—		2,786		—
Corporate bond	2,421		—			—		422		(24)		(7)		2,812		12
Options, asset	336		—			—		—		—		(4)		332		(4)
Options, liability	2,920		—			—		—		—		(1,118)		1,802		(1,118)
Warrants and rights	594		—			—		—		—		4		598		4
Trade claims	7,320		1,044		(a)	—		1,399		—		(115)		9,648		(115)
Corporate bond, liability	1,000		—			—		—		—		(200)		800		(200)
Government bonds, liability	1,950		—			—		—		—		(450)		1,500		(450)
Contingent consideration liability	30,896		—			—		—		(1,400)		(838)		28,658		(838)
Consolidated Funds
Preferred stock	4,393		—			—		—		—		—		4,393		—
Common stock	—		—			—		100,000		—		—		100,000		—
Warrants and rights	$	5,567	$	—		$	—	$	—	$	—	$	44	$	5,611	$	44

	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 claim	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)

(1) Unrealized gains/losses are reported in other income (loss) in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations.

(a) The security stopped trading on an open market.

Fair Value Inputs, Assets, Quantitative Information

The following table includes quantitative information as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 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 March 31, 2020		Valuation Techniques	Unobservable Inputs	Range	Weighted Average
Level 3 Assets	(dollars in thousands)
Options	331		Discounted cash flows Guideline companies	Discount rate Market Multiples	10% - 12% 6.25x - 6.75x	11% 6.5x
Trade claims	3,747		Discounted cash flows	Discount rate	20%	20%
Warrants and rights	6,210		Model based Discounted cash flows	Volatility Discount rate	36% 6.6%	36% 6.6%
Corporate and convertible bonds	311		Discounted cash flows Recovery	Discount rate Probability of recovery	20% 1% to 3%	20% 2.25%
Other level 3 assets (a)	141,291
Total level 3 assets	$	151,890
Level 3 Liabilities
Options	1,802		Option pricing models	Volatility	35%	35%
Contingent consideration liability	28,658		Discounted cash flows Monte Carlo simulation	Discount rate Volatility	16%-22% 22%	16% 22%
Other level 3 liabilities (a)	2,300
Total level 3 liabilities	$	32,760

	Quantitative Information about Level 3 Fair Value Measurements
	Fair Value at December 31, 2019		Valuation Techniques	Unobservable Inputs	Range	Weighted Average
Level 3 Assets	(dollars in thousands)
Common and preferred stocks	$	10,876	Discounted cash flows / Guideline companies	Discount rate Market Multiples	8% - 11.25% 6.5x - 7x	10.4% 6.75x
Trade claims	24		Discounted cash flows	Discount rate	20%	20%
Warrants and rights	6,162		Model based Discounted cash flows	Volatility Discount rate	30% 6% to 7%	—% 6.1%
Options	336		Option pricing models	Discount rate Market Multiples	9.75% - 11.25% 6.5x - 7x	10.5% 6.75x
Corporate and convertible bonds	311		Discounted cash flows Recovery	Discount rate Probability of recovery	20% 1% to 3%	20% 2.3%
Other level 3 assets (a)	30,723
Total level 3 assets	$	48,432
Level 3 Liabilities
Options	2,920		Option pricing models	Volatility	35% to 40%	35%
Contingent consideration liability	30,896		Discounted cash flows	Discount rate Volatility	15%-22% 17%	15% 17%
Other level 3 liabilities (a)	2,950
Total level 3 liabilities	$	36,766

(a)The quantitative disclosures exclude financial instruments for which the determination of fair value is based on prices from recent transactions.

Fair Value Measurements, Nonrecurring

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 2e).

	March 31, 2020						December 31, 2019						Fair Value Hierarchy
	Carrying Amount			Fair Value			Carrying Amount			Fair Value
				(dollars in thousands)
Financial Assets
Operating companies
Cash and cash equivalents	$	270,079		$	270,079		$	301,123		$	301,123		Level 1
Cash collateral pledged	7,538			7,538			6,563			6,563			Level 2
Segregated cash	131,266			131,266			107,328			107,328			Level 1
Securities borrowed	971,430			971,430			754,441			754,441			Level 2
Loans receivable	37,659			37,659		(d)	42,830			42,830		(d)	Level 3
Consolidated Funds
Cash and cash equivalents	39,721			39,721			30,874			30,874			Level 1
Financial Liabilities
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase	57,420			47,442			23,244			27,384			Level 2
Securities loaned	997,794			997,794			1,601,866			1,601,866			Level 2
Convertible debt	119,929		(a)	130,065		(b)	118,688		(a)	148,786		(b)	Level 2
Notes payable and other debt	407,531		(e)	354,043		(c)	345,451		(e)	372,591		(c)	Level 2

(a)The carrying amount of the convertible debt includes an unamortized discount of $13.7 million and $14.9 million as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, 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 where applicable.

(e)The carrying amount of the notes payable and other debt includes an unamortized premium of $0.4 million and $0.5 million as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.

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Significant Accounting Policies - Quarterly (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Basis of presentation

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 on consolidation. Certain investment funds 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 specialized industry accounting.

The Company serves as the managing member/general partner and/or investment manager to investment funds which it sponsors and manages. Investment funds in which the Company has a controlling financial interest are consolidated with the Company. Consequently, the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements reflect the assets, liabilities, income and expenses of these investment funds on a gross basis. The ownership interests in these investment funds that are not owned by the Company are reflected as redeemable or nonredeemable non-controlling interests, dependent on the non-controlling interest holder's redemption rights, in consolidated subsidiaries in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements. The management fees and incentive income earned by the Company from these investment funds are eliminated in consolidation.

The Company carried out an analysis to evaluate instances where non-controlling interest parties have the unilateral right to redeem their ownership interest for cash, which resulted in a change to the presentation of certain nonredeemable non-controlling interests into permanent equity. Accordingly, prior period amounts have been recast to present nonredeemable non-controlling interests separately from redeemable non-controlling interests within the equity section of the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of financial condition. This has no impact on net income (loss) attributable to Cowen Inc. common stockholders, total assets or total liabilities.

With respect to the Company's private equity investment management strategies, a portion of the Company's carried interest is granted to employees through profit sharing awards designed to more closely align compensation with the overall realized performance of the Company. These arrangements enable certain employees to earn compensation based on performance revenue earned by the Company and are recorded within compensation payable in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of financial condition and employee compensation and benefits expense in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operation based on the probable and estimable payments under the terms of the awards. Prior period amounts have been recast to reflect this accounting treatment.

The accompanying financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s financial statements and notes thereto included in the our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 (the "2019 Form 10-K"). Certain footnote disclosures included in the 2019 Form 10-K have been condensed or omitted from these financial statements as they are not required for interim reporting under U.S. GAAP or are insignificant to the interim reporting period.

Principles of consolidation

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.

The Company consolidates six investment funds for which it acts as the managing member/general partner and investment manager. At March 31, 2020, 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"), Ramius Merger Arbitrage UCITS Fund ("UCITS Fund"), Cowen Sustainable Investments I LP ("CSI I LP") and CSI I Golden Holdco LP ("Golden HoldCo") (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 Entities—VOEs are entities in which (i) the total equity investment at risk is sufficient to enable the entity to finance its activities independently, (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 and (iii) voting rights of equity holders are proportionate to their obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive returns.

Under US GAAP consolidation requirements, 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 determines whether it is the primary beneficiary of a VIE upon its initial involvement with the VIE and reassesses whether it is the primary beneficiary on an ongoing basis as long as it has any continuing involvement with the 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, 2020, the total assets and total liabilities of the consolidated VIEs were $613.7 million and $34.9 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2019, the total assets and total liabilities of the consolidated VIEs were $685.4 million and $24.9 million, respectively. Decrease in performance decreased the 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.

At March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Company held a variable interest in Ramius Merger Master Fund Ltd ("Merger Master") (the "Unconsolidated Master Fund") through the consolidated Merger Fund. 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 Fund.

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 or real estate funds that are VIEs due to the Company's conclusion that it is not the primary beneficiary of these funds in each instance. Investment fund investors are entitled to all of the 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 a general partner and a 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 Investments—For 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.

Other—If 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), 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 Accounting—The Consolidated Funds and certain other consolidated companies are investment companies and apply specialized industry accounting. 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, Cowen and Company, LLC ("Cowen and Company"), Cowen Execution Services LLC ("Cowen Execution"), Westminster Research Associates LLC ("Westminster"), Cowen Execution Services Limited ("Cowen Execution Ltd"), ATM Execution LLC ("ATM Execution"), Cowen International Limited ("Cowen International Ltd"), and Cowen Prime Services LLC ("Cowen Prime") apply the specialized industry accounting for brokers and dealers in securities. The Company also retains specialized accounting upon consolidation.

Use of estimates

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.

Allowance for credit losses

Allowance for credit losses

Effective January 1, 2020, the Company adopted ASC Topic 326, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (“ASC 326”). ASC 326 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. Under the accounting update, the Company has the ability to determine there are no expected credit losses in certain circumstances (e.g., based on collateral arrangements or based on the credit quality of the borrower or issuer).

The Company identified securities borrowed and fees and other receivables carried at amortized cost (including, but not limited to, receivables related to securities transactions, corporate finance and syndicate receivables, management fees and incentive fees receivable) as impacted by the new guidance. ASC 326 specifies that the Company adopt the new guidance prospectively by means of a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening retained earnings as of the beginning of the first reporting period effective. Accordingly, the Company recognized a cumulative effective adjustment of $0.01 million upon adoption.

The allowance for credit losses is based on the Company's expectation of the collectability of financial instruments carried at amortized cost, including securities borrowed and fees and other receivables utilizing the CECL framework. The Company considers factors such as historical experience, credit quality, age of balances and current and future economic conditions that may affect the Company’s expectation of the collectability in determining the allowance for credit losses. The Company’s expectation is that the credit risk associated with fees and other receivables is not significant until they are 90 days past due based on the contractual arrangement and expectation of collection in accordance with industry standards.

For securities borrowed, the Company applies a practical expedient to measure the allowance for credit losses based on the fair value of the collateral. If the fair value of the collateral held exceeds the amortized cost and the borrower is expected to continue to replenish the collateral as needed, the Company will not recognize an allowance. If the fair value of collateral is less than amortized cost and the borrower is expected to continue to replenish the collateral as needed, the Company applies the CECL model, utilizing a probability and loss given default methodology, only to the extent of the shortfall between the fair value of the collateral and amortized cost.

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.

Valuation of investments and derivative contracts

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 1Inputs 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 2Inputs 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 3Fair 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. Inputs reflect unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access at the measurement date.

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 impact 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 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 primarily include active listed equities, certain U.S. government and sovereign obligations, Exchange Traded Funds ("ETFs"), mutual funds and certain money market securities.

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 Contracts—Derivative 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 Investments—Other investments consist primarily of investment funds, real estate investments, carried interest 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 applies the practical expedient provided by the US GAAP fair value measurements and disclosures guidance relating to investments in certain entities that calculate net asset value (“NAV”) per share (or its equivalent). The guidance permits 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 NAV 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. 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 measured 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.

See Notes 6 and 7 for further information regarding the Company's investments, including equity method investments and fair value measurements.

iii. Carried Interest—For the private equity and debt fund products the Company offers, the Company is allocated incentive income by the investment funds based on the extent by which the investment funds performance exceeds predetermined thresholds. Carried interest allocations are generally structured from a legal standpoint as an allocation of capital in the Company’s capital account. The Company accounts for carried interest allocations by applying an equity ownership model. Accordingly, the Company accrues performance allocations quarterly based on the fair value of the underlying investments assuming hypothetical liquidation at book value.

iv. Equity Method Investments—For operating entities over which the Company exercises significant influence but which do not meet the requirements for consolidation as outlined above, the Company applies 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.

Receivable from and payable to brokers

Receivable from and payable to brokers

Receivable from brokers, dealers, and clearing organizations includes amounts receivable for securities failed to deliver by the Company to a purchaser by the settlement date, amounts receivable from broker-dealers and clearing organizations, commissions receivable from broker-dealers, and interest receivable from securities financing arrangements.

Payable to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations includes amounts payable for securities failed to receive by the Company from a seller by the settlement date, amounts payable to broker-dealers and clearing organizations for unsettled trades, interest payable for securities financing arrangements, and payables of deposits held in proprietary account of brokers and dealers.

Pursuant to the master netting agreements the Company has entered into with its brokers, dealers and clearing organizations, receivables and payables arising from unsettled trade 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.

Receivable from and payable to customers

Receivable from and payable to customers

Receivable from customers includes amounts owed by customers on cash and margin transactions, recorded on a settle-date basis on the statement of financial condition.

Payable to customers primarily consists of amounts owed to customers relating to securities transactions not completed on settlement date, recorded on a settle-date basis on the statement of financial condition, and other miscellaneous customer payables.

Securities owned by customers, including those that collateralize margin, are not reflected as assets of the Company on the statement of financial condition. The Company holds these securities with the intention of settlement against customer orders and are held as collateral for customer receivables.

Fees receivable

Fees receivable

Fees related to security transactions are reported net of an allowance for credit losses. 

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 2m).

Securities financing arrangements

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. See Note 2d for further information.

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 financial condition. At March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Company did not have any securities lending transactions for which fair value basis of accounting was elected.

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase Securities sold under agreements to repurchase ("repos") are accounted for as collateralized financing transactions and are recorded at their contracted repurchase amount plus accrued interest. A repo is a transaction in which a firm sells financial instruments to a buyer, typically in exchange for cash, and simultaneously enters into an agreement to repurchase the same or substantially the same financial instruments from such buyer at a stated price plus accrued interest at a future date. 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 approximates or is greater than the market value of securities sold in the transaction. The Company typically enters into repo transactions with counterparties that prefer repo transactions to securities loaned transactions. The Company has executed master repo agreements with such counterparties and utilizes such counterparties

to finance its own positions, or replace a securities lending transaction with a repo for matched book purposes. The Company monitors the market value of repos on a daily basis, with additional collateral obtained or returned, as necessary. Repos may also result in credit exposures for the Company in an event that the counterparties are unable to fulfill their contractual obligations. The Company mitigates its credit risk by continuously monitoring its credit exposure and collateral values by demanding additional collateral or returning excess collateral in accordance with the netting provisions available in the master repo contracts in place with the counterparties.

        Interest paid is recorded in interest and dividends expense 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. At March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Company did not have any repos for which fair value basis of accounting was elected.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Goodwill and intangible assets

Goodwill

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 requirements for testing for impairment of goodwill, 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 a quantitative impairment test is not necessary. If the Company concludes otherwise, the Company is required to perform a quantitative impairment test that 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 its fair value, then the Company recognizes an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value.

Intangible assets

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 accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations if the sum of the estimated undiscounted cash flows relating to the asset or asset group is less than the corresponding carrying value. The Company continually monitors the estimated average useful lives of existing intangible assets.

Non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries

Non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiariesNon-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. When non-controlling interest holders have redemption features that can be exercised at the option of the holder currently or contingent upon the occurrence of future events, their ownership has been classified as temporary equity. The remaining non-controlling interests have been classified in permanent equity as the non-controlling interests are either not redeemable at the option of the holder or the holder does not have the unilateral right to redeem its ownership interests

Revenue recognition

Revenue recognitionThe 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 generated within two segments: Op Co and Asset Co as more fully described below. Revenue from contracts with customers includes management fees, incentive income, investment banking revenue and brokerage services revenue excluding principal transactions. 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 business segments, from which the Company generates its revenue. For more detailed information about reportable segments, see Note 21.

Operating Company

The Op Co segment generates revenue through five principle sources: investment banking revenue, brokerage revenue, management fees, incentive income and investment income from the Company's own capital. Investment income is excluded from ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers.

Asset Company

The Asset Co segment generates revenue through management fees, incentive income and investment income from the Company’s own capital. Investment income is excluded from ASC Topic 606.

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 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 securities 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 of the offering; which generally occurs on trade date.

Underwriting fees are recognized gross of transaction-related expenses, and 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 revenue includes 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 placement agency 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 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 brokers to 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 short duration.

•Equity research fees. Equity research fees are paid to the Company for providing access to equity research. In the US, revenue is recognized once an arrangement exists, access to research has been provided and the customer has benefited from the research. As part of MiFID II, the Company’s international broker-dealers have executed equity research contracts with its clients. The contracts either contain a fixed price for providing access to research or a price at the discretion of the customer with a contract minimum. Fixed equity research fees are recognized over the contract period as the customer is benefiting from the research throughout the contract term. When the equity research fees are based on the customer’s discretion with a contract minimum, the Company recognizes the contract minimum over the life of the contract as the customer benefits from the research provided and adjusts the revenue when the Company can estimate the amount of equity research fees over the contract minimum. Additionally, the Company earns variable consideration for attending client conferences and events. Revenue is recognized when the Company attends a client conference or event.

•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.

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:

•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 agreement). 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.

•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.

•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.

•Real estate. Management fees from the Company's real estate investments 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.

Incentive income

The Company earns incentive income based on net profits (as defined in the respective investment management or partnership agreement) related 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 corresponding investment management or partnership agreement. 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 crystallized. For certain  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 its 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.

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. 

Investment Income

Investment income earned by the Company is generated from investing the Company's capital in various strategies.

Revenue from contracts with customers

For the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, the following tables presents revenues from contracts with customers disaggregated by fee type and segment.

		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2020		2019
		(dollars in thousands)
Revenue from contracts with customers		Operating Company
Investment banking
Underwriting fees		$	63,270	$	48,036
Strategic/financial advisory fees		21,996		20,544
Placement and sales agent fees		17,596		9,498
Expense reimbursements from clients		2,166		2,028
	Total investment banking revenue	105,028		80,106
Brokerage
Commissions		132,208		87,359
Trade conversion revenue		4,639		4,106
Equity research fees		4,005		3,590
	Total brokerage revenue from customers	140,852		95,055
Management fees		11,346		6,643
Incentive income		—		—
Total revenue from contracts with customers - Op Co		$	257,226	$	181,804
		Asset Company
Management fees		258		498
Incentive income		—		15
Total revenue from contracts with customers - Asset Co		258		513
Total revenue from contracts with customers		$	257,484	$	182,317

Investments transactions and related income/expenses

Purchases and sales of securities, net of commissions, derivative contracts, and the related revenues and expenses are recorded on a trade-date basis with net trading gains and losses included as a component of net gains (losses) on securities, derivatives and other investments, and with respect to the Consolidated Funds and other real estate entities as a component of net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments and other transactions and net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives, respectively, in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations.

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 in accordance with US GAAP and market convention for the imputation of interest of the host financial instrument. 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 businesses. 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.

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.

Income taxes

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. The Company evaluates its deferred tax assets for recoverability considering negative and positive evidence, including its historical financial performance, projections of future taxable income, future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, and tax planning strategies. The Company records 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, the Company estimates 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, the Company has identified the assessment of deferred tax assets and the need for any related valuation allowance as a critical accounting estimate.

US GAAP clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise's financial statements, requiring the Company to determine whether a tax position is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position. For tax positions meeting the more likely than not threshold, the tax amount recognized in the financial statements is reduced by the largest benefit that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement with the relevant taxing authority. The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to its uncertain tax positions as a component of income tax expense.

In accordance with federal and state tax laws, the Company and its subsidiaries file consolidated federal, state, and local income tax returns as well as stand-alone state and local tax returns. The Company also has subsidiaries that are residents in

foreign countries where tax filings have to be submitted on a stand-alone or combined basis. These subsidiaries are subject to taxes in their respective countries and the Company is responsible for and therefore reports all taxes incurred by these subsidiaries in the condensed consolidated statements of operations. The foreign jurisdictions where the Company owns subsidiaries and has tax filing obligations are the United Kingdom, Luxembourg, Gibraltar, Germany, Switzerland, South Africa, Canada and Hong Kong.

Recent pronouncements

Recent pronouncements

Recently adopted

In October 2018, the FASB issued guidance that made targeted changes to the related party consolidation guidance. The accounting standard update aligns the evaluation of whether a decision maker's fee is a variable interest with the guidance in the primary beneficiary test by requiring the decision maker to consider an indirect interest in a VIE held by a related party under common control on a proportionate basis. The standard became effective for the Company in the first quarter of 2020 and was adopted retrospectively with no impact to current and previous consolidation conclusions.

In August 2018, the FASB issued guidance for accounting for upfront costs and fees paid by a customer in a cloud computing arrangement. The accounting standard aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal use software. The standard became effective for the Company in the first quarter of 2020 and was adopted prospectively.

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. The guidance became effective for the Company in the first quarter of 2020. Please refer to Note 2d. for more information.

In December 2019, the FASB issued guidance simplifying the accounting for income taxes. The guidance simplifies the accounting for income taxes by removing the following exceptions (i) the incremental approach for intra-period tax allocation when there is a loss from continuing operations and income or a gain from other items (for example, discontinued operations or other comprehensive income), (ii) the requirement to recognize a deferred tax liability for equity method investments when a foreign subsidiary becomes an equity method investment, (iii) the ability not to recognize a deferred tax liability for a foreign subsidiary when a foreign equity method investment becomes a subsidiary and (iv) general methodology for calculating income taxes in an interim period when a year-to-date loss exceeds the anticipated loss for the year. Additionally the guidance requires that an entity (a) recognize a franchise tax (or similar tax) that is partially based on income as an income-based tax and account for any incremental amount incurred as a non-income-based tax, (b) evaluate when a step up in the tax basis of goodwill should be considered part of the business combination in which the book goodwill was originally recognized and when it should be considered a separate transaction and (c) reflect the effect of an enacted change in tax laws or rates in the annual effective tax rate computation in the interim period that includes the enactment date as well as specifying that an entity is not required to allocate the consolidated amount of current and deferred tax expense to a legal entity that is not subject to tax in its separate financial statements. However, an entity may elect to do so (on an entity-by-entity basis) for a legal entity that is both not subject to tax and disregarded by the taxing authority. The guidance also makes minor codification improvements for income taxes related to employee stock ownership plans and investments in qualified affordable housing projects accounted for using the equity method. For public business entities, the guidance is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2020 and interim periods within those fiscal years with early adoption permitted. The Company early adopted the guidance effective in the first quarter of 2020 and has determined no material impact from the adoption of this guidance on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

Segment Reporting

Segment Reporting

Change in segments

During the second quarter of 2019 the Company realigned the information that the CODM regularly reviews to evaluate performance for operating decision-making purposes, including evaluation and allocation of resources. As a result of this change in segment reporting, the Company retrospectively revised prior period results, by segment, to conform to the current period presentation (see Note 1). This structure includes two business segments: Op Co and Asset Co. The structure is based on the Company's domain expertise as a driver of balance sheet harmonization and repeatable revenues for its operating business versus the Company's long-term monetization strategies.

The Op Co segment consists of CIM, Investment Banking, Markets and Research. The Asset Co segment consists of the Company's private investments, private real estate investments and other legacy investment strategies.

Performance measures

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) 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 and (iv) certain costs associated with debt. 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, (b) start-up costs of a fund over the expected life of the fund and (c) 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 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 segments, as ultimately, this income or loss is not income or loss for the segments themselves. 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 Company does not disclose total asset information for its business segments as the information is not reviewed by the CODM.

The following tables set forth operating results for the Company's Op Co and Asset Co 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):

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 unvested restricted shares, restricted stock units, and SARs. 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. As of March 31, 2020, all outstanding unvested restricted shares, performance-linked unvested restricted stock units and contingently issued common stock were not included in the computation of diluted net income (loss) per share of common stock for the three months ended March 31, 2020 as their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive.

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Significant Accounting Policies All Other - Revenue From Contract With Customers (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Organization [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	$ 257,484	$ 182,317
Management Fees	11,604	7,141
Incentive income	0	15
Operating Company [Member]
Organization [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	257,226	181,804
Management Fees	11,346	6,643
Incentive income	0	0
Asset Company
Organization [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	258	513
Management Fees	258	498
Incentive income	0	15
Underwriting fees | Operating Company [Member]
Organization [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	63,270	48,036
Strategic/financial advisory fees | Operating Company [Member]
Organization [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	21,996	20,544
Placement and sales agent fees | Operating Company [Member]
Organization [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	17,596	9,498
Expense reimbursements from clients | Operating Company [Member]
Organization [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	2,166	2,028
Investment banking revenue | Operating Company [Member]
Organization [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	105,028	80,106
Brokerage | Operating Company [Member]
Organization [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	140,852	95,055
Commissions | Operating Company [Member]
Organization [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	132,208	87,359
Trade conversion | Operating Company [Member]
Organization [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	4,639	4,106
Equity and credit research fees | Operating Company [Member]
Organization [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	$ 4,005	$ 3,590

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Acquisition (Amortization Expense) (Details) - Quarton - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Amortization of Intangible Assets	$ 2,200	$ 2,200
Scenario, Plan
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
2020	6,681
2021	2,608
2022	1,775
2023	0
2024	0
Thereafter	0
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net	$ 11,064

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Non-Controlling Interests in Consolidated Subsidiaries and Funds (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2019
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Redeemable non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries and funds	$ 318,001		$ 391,275
Nonredeemable Noncontrolling Interest	456,242		485,595
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(62,188)	$ 512
Operating Entities
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Nonredeemable Noncontrolling Interest	11,463		11,513
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	127	112
Consolidated Funds
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Redeemable non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries and funds	318,001		391,275
Nonredeemable Noncontrolling Interest	126,778		$ 82,807
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	$ (62,315)	$ 400

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Subsequent Events - Narrative (Details)	Apr. 24, 2020 $ / shares
Subsequent Event
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Dividends Payable, Amount Per Share	$ 0.04

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Investments of Operating Entities and Consolidated Funds - Consolidated Funds - Securities Owned and Sold By Merger Master (Details) - USD ($)		Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Securities owned, at fair value ($200,278 and $941,595 were pledged to various parties)		$ 776,046,000	$ 1,633,552,000
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value		527,471,000	451,836,000
Merger Master
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Securities owned, at fair value ($200,278 and $941,595 were pledged to various parties)		179,326,000	79,353,000
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value		37,082,000	68,150,000
Common Stock
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value		460,059,000	425,448,000
Common Stock | Merger Master
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Securities owned, at fair value ($200,278 and $941,595 were pledged to various parties)		175,892,000	76,531,000
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value		30,184,000	29,623,000
Warrants and Rights [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value		8,532,000	14,819,000
Warrants and Rights [Member] | Merger Master
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Securities owned, at fair value ($200,278 and $941,595 were pledged to various parties)		1,365,000	748,000
Corporate Bonds
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value	[1]	4,402,000	5,933,000
Corporate Bonds | Merger Master
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Securities owned, at fair value ($200,278 and $941,595 were pledged to various parties)		2,069,000	2,074,000
Exchange Traded Funds | Merger Master
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value		$ 6,898,000	$ 38,527,000

[1] As of March 31, 2020, the maturities ranged from April 2020 to May 2067 and interest rates ranged from 5.00% to 6.75%. As of December 31, 2019, the maturities ranged from January 2024 to May 2037 and interest rates ranged from 4.88% to 6.25%.

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Investments Of Operating Entities And Consolidated Funds - Consolidated Funds - Other Investments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Portfolio Funds, Consolidated Funds	$ 149,689	$ 175,769
Enterprise LP [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Portfolio Funds, Consolidated Funds	88,675	99,153
Merger Fund [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Portfolio Funds, Consolidated Funds	$ 61,014	$ 76,616

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Deposits with Clearing Organizations, Brokers and Banks (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Deposits with Clearing Organizations, Brokers and Banks [Abstract]
Deposits with clearing organizations, brokers and banks	$ 131,948	$ 91,755

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Fair Value Measurements for Operating Entities and Consolidated Funds - Assets and Liabilities at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Mar. 31, 2020		Dec. 31, 2019		Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value		$ 83,867		$ 62,977
Other investments		163,274		185,722
Other Investments, Consolidated Funds		149,689		175,769
Investments		1,545,664		2,439,131
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value		527,471		451,836
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value		527,471		451,836
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value		72,385		60,761
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration Arrangements, Range of Outcomes, Value, Low		1,000		1,300
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration Arrangements, Range of Outcomes, Value, High		$ 40,000		$ 40,000
Level 1
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Percentage of Total Assets at Fair Value		79.40%		95.90%
Percentage of Total Liabilities at Fair Value		82.70%		87.30%
Level 2
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Percentage of Total Assets at Fair Value		8.30%		1.70%
Percentage of Total Liabilities at Fair Value		12.20%		6.00%
Level 3
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Percentage of Total Assets at Fair Value		12.30%		2.30%
Balance Liability Value		$ 32,760		$ 36,766
Percentage of Total Liabilities at Fair Value		5.10%		6.70%
Contingent liability payable
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Balance Liability Value		$ 28,658		$ 30,896		$ 29,536	$ 3,070
Futures
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value		87		217
Swaps
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value		24,523		2,911
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value		9,469		23,169
Options
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value	[1]	58,334		60,066
Corporate Bonds
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Balance Liability Value		800		1,000
Portfolio Funds
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Other investments		113,627	[2]	114,504
Other Investments, Consolidated Funds		149,689	[2]	175,769
Carried interest [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Other investments		20,729	[2]	30,360
Equity Method Investments
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Other investments		28,918		40,858
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring (Deprecated 2018-01-31)		1,232,701		2,077,640
Investment Sold, Not yet Purchased and Derivative Liability, at Fair Value		646,580		548,262
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 1
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring (Deprecated 2018-01-31)		978,374		1,993,268
Investment Sold, Not yet Purchased and Derivative Liability, at Fair Value		535,014		478,524
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 2
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring (Deprecated 2018-01-31)		102,437		35,940
Investment Sold, Not yet Purchased and Derivative Liability, at Fair Value		78,806		32,972
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 3
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Assets, Fair Value Disclosure, Recurring (Deprecated 2018-01-31)		151,890		48,432
Investment Sold, Not yet Purchased and Derivative Liability, at Fair Value		32,760		36,766
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Common Stock
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value		460,059		425,448
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Common Stock | Level 1
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value		460,059		425,448
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Common Stock | Level 2
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value		0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Common Stock | Level 3
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value		0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Corporate Bonds
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value		4,402		5,933
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Corporate Bonds | Level 1
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value		0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Corporate Bonds | Level 2
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value		3,602		4,933
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Corporate Bonds | Level 3
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value		800		1,000
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Preferred Stock
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value		6,405		3,686
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Preferred Stock | Level 1
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value		6,405		3,686
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Preferred Stock | Level 2
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value		0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Preferred Stock | Level 3
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value		0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Warrants and Rights [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value		8,532		14,819
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Warrants and Rights [Member] | Level 1
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value		8,532		14,819
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Warrants and Rights [Member] | Level 2
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value		0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Warrants and Rights [Member] | Level 3
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value		0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Contingent liability payable
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration, Liability		28,658	[3]	30,896
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Contingent liability payable | Level 1
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration, Liability		0	[3]	0	[4]
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Contingent liability payable | Level 2
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration, Liability		0	[3]	0	[4]
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Contingent liability payable | Level 3
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration, Liability		28,658	[3]	30,896	[4]
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Futures | Options
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value		87		217
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Futures | Options | Level 1
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value		87		217
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Futures | Options | Level 2
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value		0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Futures | Options | Level 3
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value		0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Currency forward
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value		1,010
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Currency forward | Level 1
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Currency forward | Level 2
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value		1,010
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Currency forward | Level 3
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Currency forward | Options
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value		1,883		851
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Currency forward | Options | Level 1
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value		0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Currency forward | Options | Level 2
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value		1,883		851
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Currency forward | Options | Level 3
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value		0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Swaps
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value		24,523
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Swaps | Level 1
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Swaps | Level 2
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value		24,523
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Swaps | Level 3
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Swaps | Options
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value		9,469		23,169
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Swaps | Options | Level 1
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value		0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Swaps | Options | Level 2
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value		9,469		23,169
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Swaps | Options | Level 3
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value		0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Options
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value		58,334
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Options | Level 1
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value		58,002
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Options | Level 2
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Options | Level 3
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value		332
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Options | Options
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value		60,946		36,524
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Options | Options | Level 1
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value		59,144		33,604
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Options | Options | Level 2
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value		0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Options | Options | Level 3
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value		1,802		2,920
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Government Securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Trading		61,198		15,916
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Government Securities | Level 1
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Trading		14,625		15,916
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Government Securities | Level 2
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Trading		46,573		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Government Securities | Level 3
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Trading		0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Preferred Stock
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Trading Securities, Equity		14,700		12,656
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Preferred Stock | Level 1
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Trading Securities, Equity		6,500		4,821
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Preferred Stock | Level 2
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Trading Securities, Equity		0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Preferred Stock | Level 3
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Trading Securities, Equity		8,200		7,835
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Common Stock
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Trading Securities, Equity		648,134		1,546,484
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Common Stock | Level 1
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Trading Securities, Equity		630,117		1,527,769
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Common Stock | Level 2
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Trading Securities, Equity		507		1,249
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Common Stock | Level 3
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Trading Securities, Equity		17,510		17,466
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Convertible Bonds
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Trading		2,786		2,500
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Convertible Bonds | Level 1
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Trading		0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Convertible Bonds | Level 2
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Trading		0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Convertible Bonds | Level 3
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Trading		2,786		2,500
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Corporate Bonds
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Trading		16,089		25,500
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Corporate Bonds | Level 1
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Trading		0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Corporate Bonds | Level 2
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Trading		13,277		23,079
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Corporate Bonds | Level 3
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Trading		2,812		2,421
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Trade Claims
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Trading		9,648		7,320
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Trade Claims | Level 1
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Trading		0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Trade Claims | Level 2
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Trading		0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Trade Claims | Level 3
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Trading		9,648		7,320
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Term loan
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Trading				1,067
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Term loan | Level 1
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Trading				0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Term loan | Level 2
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Trading				1,067
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Term loan | Level 3
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Trading				0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Warrants and Rights [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Trading Securities, Equity		23,491		22,109
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Warrants and Rights [Member] | Level 1
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Trading Securities, Equity		22,893		21,515
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Warrants and Rights [Member] | Level 2
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Trading Securities, Equity		0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Warrants and Rights [Member] | Level 3
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Trading Securities, Equity		598		594
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Derivative Assets | Swaps
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value				2,911
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Derivative Assets | Swaps | Level 1
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value				0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Derivative Assets | Swaps | Level 2
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value				2,911
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Derivative Assets | Swaps | Level 3
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value				0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Derivative Assets | Options
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value				60,066
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Derivative Assets | Options | Level 1
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value				59,730
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Derivative Assets | Options | Level 2
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value				0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Derivative Assets | Options | Level 3
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value				336
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Operating Companies [Member] | US Government Debt Securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value		48,073		1,950
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Operating Companies [Member] | US Government Debt Securities | Level 1
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value		0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Operating Companies [Member] | US Government Debt Securities | Level 2
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value		46,573		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Operating Companies [Member] | US Government Debt Securities | Level 3
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value		1,500		1,950
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Consolidated Funds | Currency forward | Options
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value		186		88
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Consolidated Funds | Currency forward | Options | Level 1
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value		0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Consolidated Funds | Currency forward | Options | Level 2
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value		186		88
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Consolidated Funds | Currency forward | Options | Level 3
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value		0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Consolidated Funds | Options | Options
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value		787		750
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Consolidated Funds | Options | Options | Level 1
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value		787		750
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Consolidated Funds | Options | Options | Level 2
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value		0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Consolidated Funds | Options | Options | Level 3
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value		0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Consolidated Funds | Equity Swap | Options
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value		17,093		3,931
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Consolidated Funds | Equity Swap | Options | Level 1
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value		0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Consolidated Funds | Equity Swap | Options | Level 2
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value		17,093		3,931
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Consolidated Funds | Equity Swap | Options | Level 3
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value		0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Consolidated Funds | Government Securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Trading		24,998		161,607
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Consolidated Funds | Government Securities | Level 1
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Trading		24,998		161,607
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Consolidated Funds | Government Securities | Level 2
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Trading		0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Consolidated Funds | Government Securities | Level 3
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Trading		0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Consolidated Funds | Preferred Stock
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Trading Securities, Equity		4,393		4,393
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Consolidated Funds | Preferred Stock | Level 1
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Trading Securities, Equity		0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Consolidated Funds | Preferred Stock | Level 2
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Trading Securities, Equity		0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Consolidated Funds | Preferred Stock | Level 3
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Trading Securities, Equity		4,393		4,393
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Consolidated Funds | Common Stock
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Trading Securities, Equity		317,839		200,306
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Consolidated Funds | Common Stock | Level 1
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Trading Securities, Equity		217,839		200,306
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Consolidated Funds | Common Stock | Level 2
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Trading Securities, Equity		0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Consolidated Funds | Common Stock | Level 3
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Trading Securities, Equity		100,000		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Consolidated Funds | Corporate Bonds
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Trading		2,655		3,405
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Consolidated Funds | Corporate Bonds | Level 1
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Trading		0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Consolidated Funds | Corporate Bonds | Level 2
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Trading		2,655		3,405
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Consolidated Funds | Corporate Bonds | Level 3
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Trading		0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Consolidated Funds | Warrants and Rights [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Trading Securities, Equity		5,611		5,567
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Consolidated Funds | Warrants and Rights [Member] | Level 1
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Trading Securities, Equity		0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Consolidated Funds | Warrants and Rights [Member] | Level 2
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Trading Securities, Equity		0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Consolidated Funds | Warrants and Rights [Member] | Level 3
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Trading Securities, Equity		5,611		5,567
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Consolidated Funds | Derivative Assets | Currency forward
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value		3,621		3,302
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Consolidated Funds | Derivative Assets | Currency forward | Level 1
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value		0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Consolidated Funds | Derivative Assets | Currency forward | Level 2
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value		3,621		3,302
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Consolidated Funds | Derivative Assets | Currency forward | Level 3
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value		0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Consolidated Funds | Derivative Assets | Options
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value		3,400		1,604
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Consolidated Funds | Derivative Assets | Options | Level 1
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value		3,400		1,604
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Consolidated Funds | Derivative Assets | Options | Level 2
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value		0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Consolidated Funds | Derivative Assets | Options | Level 3
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value		0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Consolidated Funds | Derivative Assets | Equity Swap
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value		10,271		927
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Consolidated Funds | Derivative Assets | Equity Swap | Level 1
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value		0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Consolidated Funds | Derivative Assets | Equity Swap | Level 2
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value		10,271		927
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Consolidated Funds | Derivative Assets | Equity Swap | Level 3
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value		$ 0		$ 0

[1] Includes the volume of contracts for index, equity, commodity future and cash conversion options.

[2] In accordance with US GAAP, certain investments are measured at fair value using the net asset value per share (or its equivalent) as a practical expedient. Carried interest in portfolio funds 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.

[3] 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 31, 2019 and December 31, 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, 2020 can range from $1.0 million to $40.0 million.

[4] The undiscounted amounts as of December 31, 2019 can range from $1.3 million to $40.0 million.

XML

Investments of Operating Entities and Consolidated Funds - Operating Entities - Gross Obligations For Securities Loaned And Securities Sold Under Agreements To Repurchase (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Common stock	$ 997,794	$ 1,601,866
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value	527,471	451,836
Common stock
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Common stock	775,765	1,343,478
Common stock | Open and Overnight
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Common stock	775,765	1,343,478
Common stock | Up to 30 days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Common stock	0	0
Common stock | 31 - 90 days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Common stock	0	0
Common stock | Greater than 90 days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Common stock	0	0
Corporate Bonds
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Common stock	222,029	258,388
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value	57,421	23,244
Corporate Bonds | Open and Overnight
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Common stock	222,029	258,388
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value	0	0
Corporate Bonds | Up to 30 days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Common stock	0	0
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value	49,543	0
Corporate Bonds | 31 - 90 days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Common stock	0	0
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value	7,878	23,244
Corporate Bonds | Greater than 90 days
Transfer of Certain Financial Assets Accounted for as Secured Borrowings [Line Items]
Common stock	0	0
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value	$ 0	$ 0

XML

Segment Reporting (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Segment Reporting Information, by Segment

	Three Months Ended March 31, 2020
							Adjustments
	Operating Company		Asset Company		Total Economic Income (Loss)		Funds Consolidation		Other Adjustments			US GAAP Net Income (Loss)
	(dollars in thousands)
Revenues
Investment banking	$	98,759	$	—	$	98,759	$	—	$	6,269	(a)	$	105,028
Brokerage	132,672		—		132,672		—		6,690		(b)(g)	139,362
Management fees	14,711		204		14,915		(678)		(2,633)		(c)	11,604
Incentive income (loss)	(2,487)		(2,402)		(4,889)		—		4,889		(c)	—
Investment income (loss)	(19,449)		(11,655)		(31,104)		—		31,104		(d)(g)	—
Interest and dividends	—		—		—		—		42,077		(b)(d)	42,077
Reimbursement from affiliates	—		—		—		(25)		286		(e)	261
Reinsurance premiums	—		—		—		—		10,471		(f)	10,471
Other revenue	562		—		562		—		1,288		(f)	1,850
Consolidated Funds revenues	—		—		—		3,156		—			3,156
Total revenues	224,768		(13,853)		210,915		2,453		100,441			313,809
Interest expense (Economic Income/(Loss)) / Interest and dividend expense (US GAAP)	6,343		1,435		7,778		—		31,014		(b)(d)	38,792
Total net revenues	218,425		(15,288)		203,137		2,453		69,427			275,017
Expenses
Non interest expense	211,066		859		211,925		—		16,514		(a)(e)(h)(i)	228,439
Consolidated Funds expenses	—		—		—		2,714		—			2,714
Total expenses	211,066		859		211,925		2,714		16,514			231,153
Total other income (loss)	—		—		—		(62,054)		(55,094)		(c)(d)(i)	(117,148)
Income taxes expense / (benefit)	—		—		—		—		(1,173)		(h)	(1,173)
Income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries and investment funds	1,740		—		1,740		(62,315)		(1,613)			(62,188)
Income (loss) attributable to Cowen Inc.	5,619		(16,147)		(10,528)		—		605			$	(9,923)
Less: Preferred stock dividends	1,358		340		1,698		—		—			1,698
Economic Income (Loss)/ Income (loss) attributable to Cowen Inc. common stockholders	4,261		(16,487)		(12,226)		$	—	$	605		$	(11,621)
Add back: Depreciation and amortization expense	5,428		6		5,434
Economic operating income (loss)	$	9,689	$	(16,481)	$	(6,792)

	Three Months Ended March 31, 2019
							Adjustments
	Operating Company		Asset Company		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	111,872		—		111,872		—		(14,409)		(b)(g)	97,463
Management fees	9,728		703		10,431		(501)		(2,789)		(c)	7,141
Incentive income (loss)	16,637		110		16,747		(544)		(16,188)		(c)	15
Investment income (loss)	9,427		842		10,269		—		(10,269)		(d)(g)	—
Interest and dividends	—		—		—		—		29,092		(b)(d)	29,092
Reimbursement from affiliates	—		—		—		(34)		322		(e)	288
Reinsurance premiums	—		—		—		—		6,591		(f)	6,591
Other revenue	1,123		36		1,159		—		(98)		(f)	1,061
Consolidated Funds revenues	—		—		—		2,340		—			2,340
Total revenues	231,778		1,691		233,469		1,261		(10,633)			224,097
Interest expense (Economic Income/(Loss)) / Interest and dividend expense (US GAAP)	5,317		1,247		6,564		—		22,520		(d)	29,084
Total net revenues	226,461		444		226,905		1,261		(33,153)			195,013
Expenses
Non interest expense	206,531		2,379		208,910		—		12,091		(a)(e)(h)(i)	221,001
Consolidated Funds expenses	—		—		—		1,482		—			1,482
Total expenses	206,531		2,379		208,910		1,482		12,091			222,483
Total other income (loss)	—		—		—		621		40,321		(c)(d)(i)	40,942
Income taxes expense / (benefit)	—		—		—		—		3,177		(h)	3,177
Income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries and investment funds	1,023		—		1,023		400		(911)			512
Income (loss) attributable to Cowen Inc.	18,907		(1,935)		16,972		—		(7,189)			9,783
Less: Preferred stock dividends	1,375		323		1,698		—		—			1,698
Economic Income (Loss)/ Income (loss) attributable to Cowen Inc. common stockholders	17,532		(2,258)		15,274		$	—	$	(7,189)		$	8,085
Add back: Depreciation and amortization expense	4,939		17		4,956
Economic operating income (loss)	$	22,471	$	(2,241)	$	20,230

The following is a summary of the adjustments made to US GAAP net income (loss) 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 from clients within their respective expense category. 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 which are shown gross in interest income and interest expense for US GAAP.
(c)	Economic Income (Loss) recognizes revenues (i) net of fund start-up costs and distribution fees paid to agents, (ii) records income from uncrystallized incentive fees and (iii) the Company's 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) for which the majority of this activity is shown in other income (loss) for US GAAP reporting.
(e)	Reimbursement from affiliates is shown as a reduction of Economic Income expenses, but is included as a part of revenues under US GAAP.
(f)	Economic Income (Loss) recognizes underwriting income from the Company's insurance related activities, net of expenses, within other revenue. The costs are recorded within expenses for US GAAP reporting.
(g)	Economic Income (Loss) recognizes gains and losses on investments held as part of the Company's facilitation and trading business within brokerage revenues as these investments are directly related to the markets business activities.
(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.

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Convertible Debt and Notes Payable (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Debt and Capital Lease Obligations

As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Company's outstanding debt was as follows:

	As of March 31, 2020		As of December 31, 2019
	(dollars in thousands)
Convertible debt	$	119,929	$	118,688
Notes payable	307,019		306,818
Spike line	35,000		—
Revolving credit facility	25,000		—
Term loan	32,180		32,180
Other notes payable	4,719		2,516
Finance lease obligations	3,613		3,937
	$	527,460	$	464,139

Direct Financing Lease, Lease Income [Table Text Block]

For the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, quantitative information regarding the Company's finance lease obligations reflected in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations, the supplemental cash flow information and certain other information related to finance leases were as follows:

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2020			2019
	(dollars in thousands)
Lease cost
Finance lease cost:
Amortization of finance lease right-of-use assets	$	308		$	368
Interest on lease liabilities	49			63
Other information
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:
Operating cash flows from finance leases	49			63
Financing cash flows from finance leases	$	314		$	394
Weighted average remaining lease term - operating leases (in years)	2.97			3.90
Weighted average discount rate - operating leases	4.88		%	4.93		%

Schedule of Maturities of Debt and Future Minimum Lease Payments for Capital Leases

Annual scheduled maturities of debt and minimum payments (of principal and interest) for all debt outstanding as of March 31, 2020, are as follows:

	Convertible Debt		Notes Payable		Spike Line		Revolving Credit Facility		Term Loan		Other Notes Payable		Finance Lease Obligation
	(dollars in thousands)
2020	$	4,050	$	19,075	$	35,000	$	25,101	$	32,596	$	2,799	$	922
2021	4,050		23,548		—		—		—		593		1,394
2022	139,050		23,548		—		—		—		593		1,163
2023	—		23,548		—		—		—		593		411
2024	—		98,721		—		—		—		543		11
Thereafter	—		334,304		—		—		—		—		—
Subtotal	147,150		522,744		35,000		25,101		32,596		5,121		3,901
Less (a)	(27,221)		(215,725)		—		(101)		(416)		(402)		(288)
Total	$	119,929	$	307,019	$	35,000	$	25,000	$	32,180	$	4,719	$	3,613

(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 Company's convertible debt.

Schedule of Line of Credit Facilities

As of March 31, 2020, the Company has the following six 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 $2.9 million as of March 31, 2020, and $2.0 million as of December 31, 2019, which are released annually between March 2020 and March 2023 based on the policy periods covered by the reinsurance agreements.

Location	Amount		Maturity
	(dollars in thousands)
New York	$	360	April 2021
New York	$	398	October 2020
New York	$	1,125	October 2020
New York	$	1,635	November 2020
Boston	$	379	March 2021
San Francisco	$	711	October 2025

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Investments Of Operating Entities And Consolidated Funds - Operating Entities - Receivable On And Payable For Derivative Contracts, At Fair Value (Details)		Mar. 31, 2020 USD ($) contract	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) contract
Derivative [Line Items]
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value		$ 83,867,000	$ 62,977,000
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value		72,385,000	60,761,000
Futures
Derivative [Line Items]
Derivative Liability, Notional Amount		5,045,000	10,224,000
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value		87,000	217,000
Currency Forwards
Derivative [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Notional Amount		58,737,000	0
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value		1,010,000	0
Derivative Liability, Notional Amount		108,189,000	77,790,000
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value		1,883,000	851,000
Swaps
Derivative [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Notional Amount		232,713,000	383,752,000
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value		24,523,000	2,911,000
Derivative Liability, Notional Amount		202,650,000	607,717,000
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value		$ 9,469,000	$ 23,169,000
Options
Derivative [Line Items]
Derivative Asset, Number of Instruments Held | contract	[1]	402,281	550,188
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value	[1]	$ 58,334,000	$ 60,066,000
Option
Derivative [Line Items]
Derivative Liability, Number of Instruments Held | contract	[2]	222,709	306,306
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value	[2]	$ 60,946,000	$ 36,524,000

[1] Includes the volume of contracts for index, equity, commodity future and cash conversion options.

[2] Includes the volume of contracts for index, equity, commodity future and cash conversion options.

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Reinsurance (Details) - Hollenfels - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
SEC Schedule, 12-17, Insurance Companies, Reinsurance [Line Items]
Incurred and paid claims	$ 4,235	$ 2,907
Claims IBNR	$ 17,293	$ 10,135
Historical Average Claims Ratios, Period, Maximum	10 years

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Share-Based Compensation and Employee Ownership Plans Restricted Shares and Restricted Stock Units (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Equity Plans | Restricted Shares and Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)
Nonvested Restricted Shares and Restricted Stock Units
Balance outstanding, beginning of period, shares		5,364,486	5,962,295
Granted, shares		2,140,932	1,781,949
Vested, shares		(640,084)	(768,468)
Canceled, shares		(87,348)	(233,333)
Forfeited, shares		(30,562)	(144,346)
Balance outstanding, end of period, shares		6,747,424	6,598,097
Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value
Balance outstanding, beginning of period, in dollars per share		$ 16.67	$ 15.73
Granted, in dollars per share		17.39	16.97
Vested, in dollars per share		14.63	16.69
Canceled, in dollars per share		14.80	14.12
Forfeited, in dollars per share		15.86	13.84
Balance outstanding, end of period, in dollars per share		$ 17.12	$ 16.05
Unrecognized compensation expense		$ 86.1
Weighted-average recognition period for unrecognized compensation expense		2 years 8 months 23 days
Equity Plans | Performance based restricted stock
Nonvested Restricted Shares and Restricted Stock Units
Granted, shares	1,033,333
Vested, shares		(145,986)
Forfeited, shares		(320,681)
Non-employee Director | Equity Plans | Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)
Nonvested Restricted Shares and Restricted Stock Units
Balance outstanding, beginning of period, shares		216,912
Balance outstanding, end of period, shares		216,912
Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value
Granted, shares		0
Maximum
Nonvested Restricted Shares and Restricted Stock Units
Percent of RSU's earned		200.00%
Minimum
Nonvested Restricted Shares and Restricted Stock Units
Percent of RSU's earned		0.00%

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Investments Of Operating Entities And Consolidated Funds - Operating Entities - Portfolio Funds (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2020		Dec. 31, 2019
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Other investments		$ 163,274		$ 185,722
Portfolio Funds
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Other investments		113,627	[1]	114,504
Starboard Value and Opportunity Fund LP | Portfolio Funds | Affiliated Entity
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Other investments	[2],[3]	$ 35,299		37,895
Required notice period, withdrawal		90 days
Formation 8 Partners Fund I LP | Portfolio Funds
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Other investments	[4]	$ 32,837		33,613
RCGLongview Debt Fund V, L.P. | Portfolio Funds | Affiliated Entity
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Other investments	[3],[5]	1,243		1,732
Cowen Healthcare Investments II LP | Portfolio Funds | Affiliated Entity
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Other investments		13,907	[3],[6]	14,652
Eclipse Ventures Fund I, L.P. | Portfolio Funds
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Other investments	[7]	4,287		3,960
Healthcare Royalty Partners | Portfolio Funds | Affiliated Entity
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Other investments	[3],[8]	1,307		1,326
Lagunita Biosciences, LLC | Portfolio Funds
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Other investments	[9]	5,037		4,802
Starboard Leaders Fund LP | Portfolio Funds | Affiliated Entity
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Other investments	[3],[10]	$ 1,429		1,560
Unfunded Commitment cancellation		30 days
Elipse SPV I,LP | Portfolio Funds | Affiliated Entity
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Other investments	[11]	$ 1,637	[3]	1,447
Triartisan ES Partners, LLC | Portfolio Funds | Affiliated Entity
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Other investments	[12]	1,047		1,082
Triartisan PFC Partners, LLC | Portfolio Funds | Affiliated Entity
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Other investments	[13]	528		909
RCG Longview Equity Fund, LP | Portfolio Funds | Affiliated Entity
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Other investments	[5]	852	[3]	835
Healthcare Royalty Partners II | Portfolio Funds | Affiliated Entity
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Other investments	[3],[8]	1,796		1,781
Cowen Healthcare Investments III LP | Portfolio Funds | Affiliated Entity
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Other investments	[3],[6]	1,189		1,398
Difesa Partners LP [Member] | Portfolio Funds | Affiliated Entity
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Other investments	[3],[14]	540		508
Other Private Investment | Portfolio Funds | Affiliated Entity
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Other investments	[3],[15]	8,245		4,448
Other Funds | Portfolio Funds | Affiliated Entity
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Other investments	[3],[16]	$ 2,447		$ 2,556

[1] In accordance with US GAAP, certain investments are measured at fair value using the net asset value per share (or its equivalent) as a practical expedient. Carried interest in portfolio funds 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.

[2] Starboard Value and Opportunity Fund permits quarterly withdrawals upon 90 days' notice.

[3] These Portfolio Funds are affiliates of the Company.

[4] 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.

[5] RCG Longview Debt Fund V, L.P. and RCG Longview Equity Fund, LP are real estate private equity structures. The timing of distributions depends on the nature of the underlying investments and therefore will be made either quarterly or when the underlying investments are liquidated.

[6] Cowen Healthcare Investments II LP and Cowen Healthcare Investments III LP are private equity funds.  Distributions are made from the fund when cash flows or securities are received from the underlying investments. Investors do not have redemption rights

[7] 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.

[8] 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.

[9] 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.

[10] 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 investor's initial capital contribution.

[11] 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.

[12] TriArtisan ES Partners LLC is a co-investment vehicle organized to invest in a privately held nuclear services company. Distributions will be made when the underlying investment is liquidated.

[13] TriArtisan PFC Partners LLC is a co-investment vehicle organized to invest in a privately held casual dining restaurant chain. Distributions will be made when the underlying investment in liquidated.

[14] Difesa Partners, LP permits semi-annual withdrawals occurring on or after the anniversary of initial contribution upon 90 days written notice.

[15] Other private investment represents the Company's closed end investment in a Portfolio Fund that invests in a wireless broadband communication provider in Italy.

[16] 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.

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Stockholder's Equity - Quarterly (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
	May 19, 2015	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2019	Jun. 26, 2018	Dec. 14, 2017	Mar. 10, 2014
Equity, Class of Stock [Line Items]
Preferred stock dividends declared		$ 1,698	$ 1,698
Convertible Preferred Stock, Shares Issued upon Conversion	38.0619
Convertible Preferred Stock, Threshold Percentage of Stock Price Trigger		150.00%
Treasury Stock, Shares [Roll Forward]
Treasury stock, cost, beginning of period		$ 284,300
Shares purchased for minimum tax withholding under the Equity Plan or other similar transactions		2,825	4,671
Purchase of treasury stock, cost		18,000
Treasury stock, cost, end of period		305,200
Dividends, Cash		$ 1,429
Treasury Stock
Treasury Stock, Shares [Roll Forward]
Treasury stock, shares, beginning of period		18,605,581
Shares purchased for minimum tax withholding under the Equity Plan or other similar transactions		228,557
Treasury stock shares received, other		3,051
Purchase of treasury stock, shares		1,383,657
Treasury stock, shares, end of period		20,220,846
Treasury stock, cost, beginning of period		$ 284,301
Shares purchased for minimum tax withholding under the Equity Plan or other similar transactions		2,825
Treasury stock received, value, other		48
Purchase of treasury stock, cost		18,018
Treasury stock, cost, end of period		$ 305,192
Treasury stock, average cost per share, beginning of period, in dollars per share		$ 15.28
Shares purchased for minimum tax withholding under the Equity Plan or other similar transactions, Average Cost Per Share		12.36
Treasury stock received, per share, other		15.57
Purchase of treasury stock, average cost per share, in dollars per share		13.02
Treasury stock, average cost per share, end of period, in dollars per share		$ 15.09
Call Option
Equity, Class of Stock [Line Items]
Option indexed to Issuer's Equity, Value	$ 15,900
Minimum
Equity, Class of Stock [Line Items]
Convertible Preferred Stock, Threshold Consecutive Trading Days		20 days
Minimum | Call Option
Equity, Class of Stock [Line Items]
Option Indexed to Issuer's Equity, Strike Price		$ 26.27
Maximum
Equity, Class of Stock [Line Items]
Convertible Preferred Stock, Threshold Consecutive Trading Days		30 days
Maximum | Call Option
Equity, Class of Stock [Line Items]
Option Indexed to Issuer's Equity, Strike Price		$ 33.54
Convertible Preferred Stock
Equity, Class of Stock [Line Items]
Preferred stock issuance, net of issuance costs, shares	120,750
Preferred Stock, Dividend Rate, Percentage		5.625%
Proceeds from Issuance of Preferred Stock, net of issuance costs		$ 117,200
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Stock Issued, Issuance Costs		3,600
Preferred Stock, Liquidation Preference Per Share	$ 1,000
Convertible Preferred Stock | Retained Earnings/(Accumulated deficit)
Equity, Class of Stock [Line Items]
Preferred stock dividends declared		1,698	$ 1,698
Convertible Debt
Treasury Stock, Shares [Roll Forward]
Convertible debt, unamortized discount		13,700		$ 14,900
2022 convertible note | Convertible Debt
Treasury Stock, Shares [Roll Forward]
Purchase of treasury stock, cost		$ 19,500
Convertible debt, unamortized discount						$ 23,400	$ 23,400
Option Indexed to Issuer's Equity, Settlement Alternatives, Cash, at Fair Value					$ 29,000

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Investments of Operating Entities and Consolidated Funds - Operating Entities - Regulation S-X (Details) - Equity Method Investee, Exceeded Threshold for Income Test [Member] - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2019
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Assets	$ 793,662		$ 818,193
Liabilities	26,054		77,092
Equity	767,608		$ 741,101
Revenue	58,920	$ 28,001
Expenses	(11,661)	(27,522)
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)	(49,113)	91,334
Net Income	(2,579)	91,108
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations	(1,854)	91,813
Equity method investment, summarized financial information, income tax expense (benefit)	$ (725)	$ (705)

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Convertible Debt and Notes Payable - Term Loans, Other Notes Payable and Revolver (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2019	Jul. 01, 2019	Jun. 30, 2017
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations [Line Items]
Letter of credit, borrowing capacity	$ 300,000,000
Other Notes Payable	$ 4,719,000		$ 2,516,000
Notes Payable to Banks
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount				$ 4,000,000.0	$ 28,200,000
Short-term Debt, Percentage Bearing Variable Interest Rate	3.75%
Interest Expense, Debt, Excluding Amortization	$ 400,000	$ 400,000
Insurance Note
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations [Line Items]
Interest rate	2.01%
Debt Instrument, Periodic Payment, Principal	$ 300,000
Insurance Note
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations [Line Items]
Short-term Debt, Maximum Amount Outstanding During Period	2,900,000
Other Notes Payable	2,300,000
Revolving Credit Facility
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations [Line Items]
Line of Credit, Current	25,000,000		$ 0
Revolving Credit Facility | BMO Harris Bank
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations [Line Items]
Letter of credit, borrowing capacity	$ 25,000,000
Corporate Debt
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations [Line Items]
Interest rate	6.00%
Debt Instrument, Periodic Payment, Principal	$ 100,000
Borrowings on other long term debt	2,600,000
Other Long-term Debt	2,400,000
Spike Line
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations [Line Items]
Interest Expense, Debt, Excluding Amortization	100,000
Line of Credit, Current	35,000,000
Revolving Credit Facility
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations [Line Items]
Interest Expense, Debt, Excluding Amortization	200,000
Line of Credit, Current	25,000,000
Maximum | Spike Line
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations [Line Items]
Line of Credit, Current	$ 70,000,000

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Commitments and Contingencies Schedules of Unfunded Commitments (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020 USD ($)
Healthcare Royalty Partners | Unfunded Commitments
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Other commitments, unfunded amount	$ 7,957	[1]
Healthcare Royalty Partners | Commitment to Invest
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Commitments term	5 years
Eclipse Ventures Fund I, L.P. | Unfunded Commitments
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Other commitments, unfunded amount	$ 81
Eclipse Ventures Fund I, L.P. | Commitment to Invest
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Commitments term	5 years
Lagunita Biosciences, LLC | Unfunded Commitments
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Other commitments, unfunded amount	$ 250
Lagunita Biosciences, LLC | Commitment to Invest
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Commitments term	4 years
Eclipse Fund II, L.P. | Unfunded Commitments
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Other commitments, unfunded amount	$ 180
Eclipse Fund II, L.P. | Commitment to Invest
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Commitments term	6 years
Eclipse Continuity Fund I, L.P. | Unfunded Commitments
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Other commitments, unfunded amount	$ 68
Eclipse Continuity Fund I, L.P. | Commitment to Invest
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Commitments term	7 years
Cowen Healthcare Investments II LP | Unfunded Commitments
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Other commitments, unfunded amount	$ 2,524
Cowen Healthcare Investments II LP | Commitment to Invest
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Commitments term	2 years
Cowen Healthcare Investments III LP | Unfunded Commitments
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Other commitments, unfunded amount	$ 8,803
Cowen Healthcare Investments III LP | Commitment to Invest
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Commitments term	7 years
Cowen Sustainable Investments I LP | Unfunded Commitments
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Other commitments, unfunded amount	$ 12,989
Cowen Sustainable Investments I LP | Commitment to Invest
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Commitments term	10 years

[1] 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.

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Income Taxes

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income Taxes

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, South Africa, Canada and Hong Kong.

The Company calculates its U.S. tax provision using the actual effective tax rate methodology. Historically, the Company calculated its U.S. tax provision using the annualized 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. Due to the uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, the Company concluded that it cannot reliably estimate its annual effective tax rate. As such, the actual effective tax rate for the year-to-date period is being used. Based on these methodologies, the Company’s effective income tax rate was 1.60% and 20.95% for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

For the three months ended March 31, 2020, the effective tax rate differs from the statutory rate of 21% primarily due to income attributable to non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries and funds, foreign taxes, as well as other nondeductible expenses. For the three months ended March 31, 2019, the effective tax rate differs from the statutory rate of 21% primarily due to income attributable to non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries and funds, stock compensation, state and foreign taxes, as well as other nondeductible expenses.

As a result of the enactment of Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) signed on March 27, 2020, the Company is required to assess the tax impact of the Act in the quarter the law was enacted. Based on the preliminary analysis, there was no material impact on the Company's financial statements as of March 31, 2020.

The Company recorded an uncertain tax position liability of $0.3 million as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 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, 2020, the Company has 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 and State of Massachusetts for the 2013 to 2017 tax years and 2016 to 2017 tax years, respectively. 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, South Africa and Hong Kong.

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Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income / (Loss) [Abstract]

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

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,
	2020		2019
	(dollars in thousands)
Beginning balance	$	(5)	$	(5)
Foreign currency translation	—		—
Ending balance	$	(5)	$	(5)

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Acquisition (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Business Combinations [Abstract]

Schedule of Recognized Identified Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed [Table Text Block]

	(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

Schedule of Acquired Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets by Major Class

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

Finite-lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense [Table Text Block]

	(dollars in thousands)
2020	$	6,681
2021	2,608
2022	1,775
2023	—
2024	—
Thereafter	—
	$	11,064

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Guarantees and Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Guarantees and Off Balance Sheet Arrangements [Abstract]

Guarantees and Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

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.

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, 2020 and December 31, 2019. 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, 2020.

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
Spike Line
BMO Harris Bank Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Texas Capital Bank	70,000		35,000		August 21, 2020	Committed spike line facility to cover short term increases in National Securities Clearing Corporation margin deposit requirements
Revolving Credit Facility
BMO Harris Bank	25,000		—		December 2, 2021	Secured Corporate Revolver
Total Credit Lines	$	300,000	$	300,000

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Non-Controlling Interests in Consolidated Subsidiaries and Funds (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract]

Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries and investment funds

Redeemable and nonredeemable non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries and investment funds and the related net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries and investment funds are comprised as follows:

	As of March 31, 2020		As of December 31, 2019
	(dollars in thousands)
Redeemable non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries and investment funds
Consolidated Funds	$	318,001	$	391,275
Nonredeemable non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries and investment funds
Operating companies	11,463		11,513
Consolidated Funds	126,778		82,807
	$	456,242	$	485,595

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

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2020		2019
	(dollars in thousands)
Income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries and investment funds
Operating companies	$	127	$	112
Consolidated Funds	(62,315)		400
	$	(62,188)	$	512

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Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition (Parenthetical) - USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2020		Dec. 31, 2019
Assets
Security Owned and Pledged as Collateral, Fair Value	$ 200,278,000		$ 941,595,000
Allowance for receivable from customers	675,000		650,000
Allowance for fees receivable	2,364,000		2,620,000
Allowance for receivable from brokers	792,000		721,000
Other investments	163,274,000		185,722,000
Fixed assets, accumulated depreciation and amortization (in dollars)	34,942,000		32,846,000
Intangible assets, accumulated amortization (in dollars)	$ 29,528,000		$ 26,395,000
Stockholders' equity
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01		$ 0.01
Preferred stock, shares authorized	10,000,000		10,000,000
Preferred stock, shares issued	120,750		120,750
Preferred stock, shares outstanding	120,750		120,750
Preferred Stock, Liquidation Preference, Value	$ 120,750,000		$ 120,750,000
Portfolio Funds
Assets
Other investments	$ 113,627,000	[1]	$ 114,504,000
Common Stock Class A
Stockholders' equity
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01		$ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized	62,500,000		62,500,000
Common stock, shares issued	47,848,963		47,215,938
Common stock, shares outstanding	27,628,117		28,610,357
Common stock, restricted shares	299,436		216,912
Treasury Stock, Shares	20,220,846		18,605,581
Common Stock Class B
Stockholders' equity
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01		$ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized	62,500,000		62,500,000
Common stock, shares issued			0
Common stock, shares outstanding	0

[1] In accordance with US GAAP, certain investments are measured at fair value using the net asset value per share (or its equivalent) as a practical expedient. Carried interest in portfolio funds 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.

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Segregated Cash	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020
Segregated Cash [Abstract]
Segregated Cash	Segregated CashAs of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, cash segregated in compliance with federal regulations and other restricted deposits of $131.3 million and $107.3 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").

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Receivables from and payables to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Brokers and Dealers [Abstract]

Receivables From and Payables to Brokers, Dealers and Clearing Organizations

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 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, 2020 and December 31, 2019, amounts receivable from brokers, dealers and clearing organizations include:

	As of March 31, 2020		As of December 31, 2019
	(dollars in thousands)
Broker-dealers	$	621,271	$	623,523
Securities failed to deliver	98,810		45,673
Clearing organizations	46,345		3,180
Securities borrowed interest receivable	6,891		9,319
	$	773,317	$	681,695

As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, amounts payable to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations include:

	As of March 31, 2020		As of December 31, 2019
	(dollars in thousands)
Broker-dealers	$	92,103	$	185,838
Securities failed to receive	153,133		57,580
Clearing organizations	78,546		18,063
Securities loaned interest payable	6,314		9,537
	$	330,096	$	271,018

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Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ / shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ (72,111)	$ 10,295
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by / (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	5,442	4,956
Amortization of debt issuance costs	334	244
Amortization of debt discount	1,109	1,349
Noncash lease expense	(1,200)	(806)
Share-based compensation	8,281	7,817
Change in deferred taxes	(1,682)	2,253
Purchases of securities owned, at fair value	(749,807)	(299,969)
Proceeds from sales of securities owned, at fair value	845,779	389,551
Proceeds from sales of securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value	416,453	439,565
Payments to cover securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value	(334,068)	(361,290)
Proceeds from other investments	15,693	3,529
Net (gains) losses on securities, derivatives and other investments	38,039	(32,320)
Consolidated Funds
Purchases of securities owned, at fair value	(1,024,733)	(674,220)
Proceeds from sales of securities owned, at fair value	991,096	565,460
Purchases of other investments	(1,240)	(296)
Proceeds from other investments	6,669	1,174
Net realized and unrealized (gains) losses on investments and other transactions	74,071	(14,309)
(Increase) decrease in operating assets:
Securities owned, at fair value, held at broker-dealer	713,313	(105,939)
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value	(20,889)	3,462
Securities borrowed	(216,989)	(559,062)
Deposits with clearing organizations, brokers and banks	(40,193)	(19,887)
Receivable from brokers, dealers and clearing organizations	(91,622)	123,041
Receivable from customers, net of allowance	(87,362)	1,139
Fees receivable, net of allowance	(30,723)	(10,884)
Due from related parties	1,947	5,028
Other assets	(6,919)	(13,688)
Consolidated Funds
Cash and cash equivalents	(8,847)	35,995
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value	(11,459)	1,232
Receivable from brokers	5,296	(31,223)
Other assets	(94)	(22,456)
Increase (decrease) in operating liabilities:
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value, held at broker dealer	15,925	283,919
Securities sold under agreement to repurchase	34,176	0
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value	11,624	27,501
Securities loaned	(604,072)	437,351
Payable to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations	59,078	(54,199)
Payable to customers	58,590	(112,103)
Commission management payable	41,068	8,364
Compensation payable	(156,333)	(159,154)
Fees payable	(378)	(11,226)
Due to related parties	0	(4,561)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	24,234	9,272
Consolidated Funds
Contributions received in advance	150	1,000
Payable to brokers	399	(9,618)
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value	13,297	3,894
Due To Related Parties, Consolidated Funds	(581)	0
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	382	(211)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities	(78,857)	(130,030)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of other investments	(17,650)	(5,462)
Purchase of business	0	(48,581)
Proceeds from sales of other investments	12,059	6,337
Proceeds from loans held for investment	0	13
Purchase of fixed assets	(2,485)	(1,684)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities	(8,076)	(49,377)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments on convertible debt	0	(20,860)
Borrowings on notes and other debt	62,812	1,579
Repayments on notes and other debt	(933)	(394)
Purchase of treasury stock	$ (18,018)	$ (4,658)
Cash dividends paid	$ (1,428)	$ 0
Preferred stock dividends	$ (1,698)	$ (1,698)
Contingent liability payment	(782)	(1,235)
Capital contributions by redeemable non-controlling interests in operating entities	286	2,025
Capital withdrawals to redeemable non-controlling interests in operating entities	(462)	(346)
Consolidated Funds
Capital contributions by redeemable non-controlling interests in Consolidated Funds	207,263	159,948
Capital withdrawals to redeemable non-controlling interests in Consolidated Funds	(166,238)	(17,845)
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities	80,802	116,516
Change in cash and cash equivalents	(6,131)	(62,891)
Total cash beginning of period	415,014	442,113
Cash and cash equivalents	270,079	235,838
Cash collateral pledged	7,538	6,420
Segregated cash	131,266	136,964
Total cash at end of period	408,883	379,222
Supplemental information
Cash paid during the year for interest	29,560	8,822
Cash paid during the year for taxes	950	1,431
Purchase of treasury stock, at cost, through net settlement	2,825	4,671
Net assets (liabilities) acquired upon acquisition (net of cash)		90,727
Initial recognition of right of use asset		103,694
Initial recognition of lease liability		110,505
Noncash transfer of net assets from Unconsolidated Master Fund to Consolidated Fund		97,655
Common stock issuance upon close of acquisition	$ 618	$ 14,446

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Related Party Transactions (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2019
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Fees receivable	$ 157,081		$ 126,358
Interest Income, Related Party	100
Due from related parties	24,802		26,749
Redeemable non-controlling interests, Related Party	318,001		391,275
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries and investment funds	(60,990)	$ 800
Employees
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Redeemable non-controlling interests, Related Party	87,800		36,000
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries and investment funds	100	1,500
Employee Loans
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Due from employees	12,800		14,900
Forgivable Loan Balances	6,100		7,100
Amortization on Forgivable Loans	$ 1,100	$ 900
Employee Loans | Minimum
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Forgivable Loans, Vesting Period	1 year
Employee Loans | Maximum
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Forgivable Loans, Vesting Period	3 years
Affiliated Entity
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Fees receivable	$ 20,000		20,500
Investor
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Due to Affiliate	300		300
Other Funds
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Due from related parties	6,200		5,300
Starboard Value LP
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Effective interest rate		5.00%
Interest Income, Related Party	100	$ 100
Due from related parties	$ 5,800		$ 6,500
Finance Period	5 years

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Investments Of Operating Entities And Consolidated Funds - Consolidated Funds - Indirect Concentration of the Underlying Investments Held by Consolidated Funds (Details) - Equity Securities - Linkem - ITALY - Wireless Broadband - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Percentage of Stockholders' Equity	9.36%	9.53%
Market Value	$ 73,437	$ 77,142

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Receivable from and Payable to Customers (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Receivables and Payable to Customers [Abstract]
Receivable from customers	$ 193,009	$ 105,647
Payable to customers	$ 488,814	$ 430,224

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Fair Value Measurements for Operating Entities and Consolidated Funds - Fair Value Inputs, Unobservable Inputs, Quantitative Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2020		Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Contingent liability payable
Fair Value Inputs, Assets and Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Balance Liability Value		$ 28,658		$ 29,536	$ 30,896	$ 3,070
Options
Fair Value Inputs, Assets and Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Balance Asset Value		332			336
Trade Claims
Fair Value Inputs, Assets and Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Balance Asset Value		9,648		5,487	7,320	5,543
Warrants and Rights [Member]
Fair Value Inputs, Assets and Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Balance Asset Value		598		454	594	1,666
Corporate Bonds
Fair Value Inputs, Assets and Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Balance Asset Value		2,812		$ 261	2,421	$ 0
Balance Liability Value		800			1,000
Level 3
Fair Value Inputs, Assets and Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Balance Asset Value		151,890			48,432
Balance Liability Value		$ 32,760			36,766
Level 3 | Contingent liability payable | Market Approach, Income Approach and Replacement Cost Valuation Techniques [Member]
Fair Value Inputs, Assets and Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Balance Liability Value					30,896
Level 3 | Contingent liability payable | Valuation Technique, Discounted Cash Flow
Fair Value Inputs, Assets and Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Weighted average percent Fair Value technique		16.00%		15.00%
Level 3 | Contingent liability payable | Valuation Technique, Discounted Cash Flow | Minimum
Fair Value Inputs, Assets and Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fair value inputs		16.00%		15.00%
Level 3 | Contingent liability payable | Valuation Technique, Discounted Cash Flow | Maximum
Fair Value Inputs, Assets and Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fair value inputs		22.00%		22.00%
Level 3 | Contingent liability payable | Monte Carlo [Member]
Fair Value Inputs, Assets and Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fair value inputs		22.00%		17.00%
Weighted average percent Fair Value technique		22.00%		17.00%
Level 3 | Other Liabilities [Member] | Income Approach and Market Approach Valuation Techniques
Fair Value Inputs, Assets and Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Balance Liability Value		$ 2,300	[1]		2,950
Level 3 | Common and Preferred Stock | Market Approach, Income Approach and Replacement Cost Valuation Techniques [Member]
Fair Value Inputs, Assets and Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Balance Asset Value					10,876
Level 3 | Common and Preferred Stock | Valuation Technique, Discounted Cash Flow
Fair Value Inputs, Assets and Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Weighted average percent Fair Value technique				10.40%
Level 3 | Common and Preferred Stock | Valuation Technique, Discounted Cash Flow | Minimum
Fair Value Inputs, Assets and Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fair value inputs				8.00%
Level 3 | Common and Preferred Stock | Valuation Technique, Discounted Cash Flow | Maximum
Fair Value Inputs, Assets and Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fair value inputs				11.25%
Level 3 | Common and Preferred Stock | Valuation, Market Approach
Fair Value Inputs, Assets and Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Weighted average percent Fair Value technique				675.00%
Level 3 | Common and Preferred Stock | Valuation, Market Approach | Minimum
Fair Value Inputs, Assets and Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fair value inputs				650.00%
Level 3 | Common and Preferred Stock | Valuation, Market Approach | Maximum
Fair Value Inputs, Assets and Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fair value inputs				700.00%
Level 3 | Options | Market Approach, Income Approach and Replacement Cost Valuation Techniques [Member]
Fair Value Inputs, Assets and Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Balance Asset Value		$ 331			336
Level 3 | Options | Valuation Technique, Discounted Cash Flow
Fair Value Inputs, Assets and Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Weighted average percent Fair Value technique		11.00%		10.50%
Level 3 | Options | Valuation Technique, Discounted Cash Flow | Minimum
Fair Value Inputs, Assets and Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fair value inputs		10.00%		9.75%
Level 3 | Options | Valuation Technique, Discounted Cash Flow | Maximum
Fair Value Inputs, Assets and Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fair value inputs		12.00%		11.25%
Level 3 | Trade Claims | Market Approach, Income Approach and Replacement Cost Valuation Techniques [Member]
Fair Value Inputs, Assets and Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Balance Asset Value		$ 3,747			24
Level 3 | Warrants and Rights [Member] | Market Approach, Income Approach and Replacement Cost Valuation Techniques [Member]
Fair Value Inputs, Assets and Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Balance Asset Value					6,162
Level 3 | Warrants and Rights [Member] | Income Approach and Market Approach Valuation Techniques
Fair Value Inputs, Assets and Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Balance Asset Value		$ 6,210
Level 3 | Warrants and Rights [Member] | Valuation Technique, Discounted Cash Flow
Fair Value Inputs, Assets and Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fair value inputs		6.60%
Weighted average percent Fair Value technique		6.60%		6.10%
Level 3 | Warrants and Rights [Member] | Valuation Technique, Discounted Cash Flow | Minimum
Fair Value Inputs, Assets and Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fair value inputs				6.00%
Level 3 | Warrants and Rights [Member] | Valuation Technique, Discounted Cash Flow | Maximum
Fair Value Inputs, Assets and Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fair value inputs				7.00%
Level 3 | Corporate Bonds | Income Approach and Market Approach Valuation Techniques
Fair Value Inputs, Assets and Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Balance Asset Value		$ 311			311
Level 3 | Bonds | Valuation Technique, Discounted Cash Flow
Fair Value Inputs, Assets and Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fair value inputs		20.00%		20.00%
Weighted average percent Fair Value technique		20.00%		20.00%
Level 3 | Bonds | Probability of recovery valuation technique
Fair Value Inputs, Assets and Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Weighted average percent Fair Value technique		2.25%		2.30%
Level 3 | Bonds | Probability of recovery valuation technique | Minimum
Fair Value Inputs, Assets and Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fair value inputs		1.00%		1.00%
Level 3 | Bonds | Probability of recovery valuation technique | Maximum
Fair Value Inputs, Assets and Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fair value inputs		3.00%		3.00%
Level 3 | Other Investments | Market Approach, Income Approach and Replacement Cost Valuation Techniques [Member]
Fair Value Inputs, Assets and Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Balance Asset Value	[1]				30,723
Level 3 | Other Investments | Income Approach and Market Approach Valuation Techniques
Fair Value Inputs, Assets and Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Balance Asset Value	[1]	$ 141,291
Level 3 | Options | Valuation, Market Approach
Fair Value Inputs, Assets and Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Weighted average percent Fair Value technique		650.00%		675.00%
Level 3 | Options | Valuation, Market Approach | Minimum
Fair Value Inputs, Assets and Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fair value inputs		625.00%		650.00%
Level 3 | Options | Valuation, Market Approach | Maximum
Fair Value Inputs, Assets and Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fair value inputs		675.00%		700.00%
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring | Level 3 | Option | Options | Market Approach, Income Approach and Replacement Cost Valuation Techniques [Member]
Fair Value Inputs, Assets and Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Financial Liabilities Fair Value Disclosure					$ 2,920
Discount rate | Level 3 | Trade Claims | Valuation Technique, Discounted Cash Flow
Fair Value Inputs, Assets and Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fair value inputs		20.00%		20.00%
Weighted average percent Fair Value technique		20.00%		20.00%
Volatility | Level 3 | Warrants and Rights [Member] | Market Approach Valuation Technique
Fair Value Inputs, Assets and Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fair value inputs		36.00%		30.00%
Weighted average percent Fair Value technique		36.00%		0.00%
Volatility | Level 3 | Option | Market Approach Valuation Technique
Fair Value Inputs, Assets and Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fair value inputs		35.00%
Weighted average percent Fair Value technique		35.00%		35.00%
Volatility | Level 3 | Option | Market Approach Valuation Technique | Minimum
Fair Value Inputs, Assets and Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fair value inputs				35.00%
Volatility | Level 3 | Option | Market Approach Valuation Technique | Maximum
Fair Value Inputs, Assets and Liabilities, Quantitative Information [Line Items]
Fair value inputs				40.00%

[1] The quantitative disclosures exclude financial instruments for which the determination of fair value is based on prices from recent transactions.

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Investments of Operating Entities and Consolidated Funds - Consolidated Funds - Securities Owned at Fair Value (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Securities owned, at fair value		$ 355,496	$ 375,278
Preferred Stock
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Securities owned, at fair value		4,393	4,393
Common Stock
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Securities owned, at fair value		317,839	200,306
Government Securities
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Securities owned, at fair value	[1]	$ 24,998	$ 161,607
Investment Interest Rate			0.00%
Government Securities | Minimum
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Investment Interest Rate		0.00%
Government Securities | Maximum
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Investment Interest Rate		8.75%
Corporate Bonds
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Securities owned, at fair value	[2]	$ 2,655	$ 3,405
Corporate Bonds | Minimum
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Investment Interest Rate		0.00%	0.00%
Corporate Bonds | Maximum
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Investment Interest Rate		15.50%	15.00%
Warrants and Rights [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Securities owned, at fair value		$ 5,611	$ 5,567
Consolidated Funds | Government Securities
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Investment Interest Rate		0.00%	0.00%
Consolidated Funds | Corporate Bonds
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Investment Interest Rate		6.25%	7.50%

[1] As of March 31, 2020, the maturity was April 2020 with an interest rate of 0%. As of December 31, 2019, maturities ranged from February 2020 to March 2020 and interest rates were 0%.

[2] As of March 31, 2020, the maturity was May 2026 with an interest rate of 6.25%. As of December 31, 2019, the maturity was July 2023 with an interest rate of 7.50%.

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Segregated Cash (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019
Segregated Cash [Abstract]
Segregated cash	$ 131,266	$ 107,328	$ 136,964

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Organization and Business (Details)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020 division segment
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Number of business segments | segment	2
Number of divisions | division	4

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Acquisition (Preliminary Purchase Price Allocation) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Jan. 02, 2019
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Operating lease right-of-use assets		$ 88,306	$ 92,852
Operating lease liabilities		91,835	97,581
Goodwill		$ 137,728	$ 137,728
Quarton
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Intangible assets				$ 22,200
Total estimated purchase price	$ 103,000
Scenario, Plan | Quarton
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
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

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Investments Of Operating Entities And Consolidated Funds - Operating Entities - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2019
Derivative [Line Items]
Receivable from brokers, dealers and clearing organizations, net of allowance of $792 and $721, respectively	$ 773,317		$ 681,695
Payables to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations	330,096		271,018
Receivables from Brokers-Dealers and Clearing Organizations
Derivative [Line Items]
Collateral posted	12,900		$ 10,500
Other Income [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Realized and unrealized gains/(losses) related to derivatives trading activities	$ 28,800	$ (2,200)

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Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Computation of earnings per share:
Net income (loss)	$ (72,111)	$ 10,295
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(62,188)	512
Net income (loss) attributable to Cowen Inc.	(9,923)	9,783
Preferred stock dividends	1,698	1,698
Net income (loss) attributable to Cowen Inc. common stockholders	$ (11,621)	$ 8,085
Shares for basic and diluted calculations:
Weighted average shares used in basic computation, shares	28,598,000	29,750,000
Weighted average shares used in diluted computation, shares	28,598,000	31,625,000
Earnings (loss) per share:
Earnings Per Share, Basic (in dollars per share)	$ (0.41)	$ 0.27
Earnings Per Share, Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (0.41)	$ 0.26
Restricted Stock
Shares for basic and diluted calculations:
Shares attributable to share-based payment awards, shares	0	1,875,000
Common Stock Class A
Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Common stock, shares outstanding, shares	27,628,117	29,580,687	28,610,357	28,437,860
Common stock, restricted shares, shares	299,436		216,912

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Share-Based Compensation and Employee Ownership Plans Deferred Cash (Details) - Cowen Group, Inc. 2010 Equity and Incentive Plan - Deferred Cash Award $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020 USD ($)
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Excluding Share-based Payments and Postretirement Benefits [Line Items]
Deferred cash awards granted	$ 50.1
Deferred cash awards, vesting period	4 years
Deferred cash award, interest rate	0.70%
Deferred cash awards, unrecognized compensation expense	$ 100.7

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Commitments and Contingencies (Details) - USD ($)		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2019
Contractual Commitments, Commitment [Line Items]
Right-of-Use Asset Obtained in Exchange for Operating Lease Liability		$ 100,000
Operating Lease, Payments		8,578	$ 7,793
Lease cost		5,685,000	6,010,000
Variable lease cost		788,000	757,000
Sublease income		(216,000)	(267,000)
Total lease costs		$ 6,403,000	$ 6,628,000
Weighted average remaining lease term - operating leases (in years)		5 years 1 month 9 days	5 years 8 months 23 days
Weighted average discount rate - operating leases		4.14%	4.15%
Future minimum annual lease and service payments
Total lease liability		$ 91,835,000		$ 97,581,000
Operating lease liabilities		91,835,000		$ 97,581,000
Equipment Leases
Contractual Commitments, Commitment [Line Items]
Short-term lease cost		0
Future minimum annual lease and service payments
2020		280,000
2021		223,000
2022		91,000
2023		3,000
2024		0
Thereafter		0
Future minimum annual lease and service payments		597,000
Less discount		49,000
Total lease liability		548,000
Lessee, Operating Lease, Liability, Payments, Due		597,000
Less discount		49,000
Operating lease liabilities		548,000
Service Payments
Contractual Commitments, Commitment [Line Items]
Contractual Obligation, Due in Next Fiscal Year		20,251,000
Contractual Obligation, Due in Second Year		17,787,000
Contractual Obligation, Due in Third Year		9,991,000
Contractual Obligation, Due in Fourth Year		4,095,000
Contractual Obligation, Due in Fifth Year		1,938,000
Contractual Obligation, Due after Fifth Year		4,401,000
Contractual Obligation		58,463,000
Facility Leases
Contractual Commitments, Commitment [Line Items]
Short-term lease cost		146,000	$ 128,000
Future minimum annual lease and service payments
2020	[1],[2]	16,006,000
2021	[1],[2]	24,373,000
2022	[1],[2]	20,850,000
2023	[1],[2]	17,595,000
2024	[1],[2]	14,774,000
Thereafter	[1],[2]	10,084,000
Future minimum annual lease and service payments	[1],[2]	103,682,000
Less discount		12,249,000
Total lease liability	[1]	91,287,000
Lessee, Operating Lease, Liability, Payments, Due	[1],[2]	103,682,000
Less discount		12,249,000
Operating lease liabilities	[1]	$ 91,287,000

[1] During the three months ended March 31, 2020, the Company recognized operating right-of-use assets and leases liabilities of $0.1 million for equipment leases.

[2] The Company has entered into various agreements to sublease certain of its premises.

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Investments of Operating Entities and Consolidated Funds - Operating Entities - Equity Method Investment - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Other than Temporary Impairment Losses, Investments	$ 7,300	$ 0
Net Gains (Losses) on Securities, Derivatives and Other Investments
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	$ 40	$ 16,300
Minimum
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	15.00%
Maximum
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	55.00%

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Convertible Debt and Notes Payable - Scheduled Maturities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Repayments on long-term and short-term borrowings
Convertible debt	[1]	$ 119,929	$ 118,688
Note payable		307,019	306,818
Loans Payable to Bank		32,180	32,180
Other Notes Payable		4,719	2,516
Future minimum lease payments for capital lease obligations
2020		922
2021		1,394
2022		1,163
2023		411
2024		11
Thereafter		0
Subtotal		3,901
Capital Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Interest Included in Payments	[2]	288
Capital lease obligations		3,613	$ 3,937
Spike Line
Repayments on long-term and short-term borrowings
Subtotal		35,000
Long-term Debt and Short-term Borrowings, Amount Representing Interest		0
Future minimum lease payments for capital lease obligations
Line of Credit, Current		35,000
Repayments of Short-term Debt		35,000
Long-term Debt and Short-term Borrowings, Repayments		35,000
Long-term Debt and Short-term Borrowings, Amount Representing Interest		0
Revolving Credit Facility
Repayments on long-term and short-term borrowings
Subtotal		25,101
Long-term Debt and Short-term Borrowings, Amount Representing Interest		101
Future minimum lease payments for capital lease obligations
Line of Credit, Current		25,000
Repayments of Short-term Debt		25,101
Long-term Debt and Short-term Borrowings, Repayments		25,101
Long-term Debt and Short-term Borrowings, Amount Representing Interest		101
Convertible Debt
Repayments on long-term and short-term borrowings
2020		4,050
2021		4,050
2022		139,050
2023		0
2024		0
Thereafter		0
Subtotal		147,150
Long-term Debt and Short-term Borrowings, Amount Representing Interest	[2]	27,221
Future minimum lease payments for capital lease obligations
Long-term Debt and Short-term Borrowings, Repayments		147,150
Long-term Debt and Short-term Borrowings, Amount Representing Interest	[2]	27,221
Senior Notes
Repayments on long-term and short-term borrowings
2020		19,075
2021		23,548
2022		23,548
2023		23,548
2024		98,721
Thereafter		334,304
Subtotal		522,744
Long-term Debt and Short-term Borrowings, Amount Representing Interest	[2]	215,725
Note payable		307,019
Future minimum lease payments for capital lease obligations
Long-term Debt and Short-term Borrowings, Repayments		522,744
Long-term Debt and Short-term Borrowings, Amount Representing Interest	[2]	215,725
Loans
Repayments on long-term and short-term borrowings
2020		32,596
2021		0
2022		0
2023		0
2024		0
Thereafter		0
Subtotal		32,596
Long-term Debt and Short-term Borrowings, Amount Representing Interest	[2]	416
Future minimum lease payments for capital lease obligations
Long-term Debt and Short-term Borrowings, Repayments		32,596
Long-term Debt and Short-term Borrowings, Amount Representing Interest	[2]	416
Insurance Note and Aircraft
Repayments on long-term and short-term borrowings
2020		2,799
2021		593
2022		593
2023		593
2024		543
Thereafter		0
Subtotal		5,121
Long-term Debt and Short-term Borrowings, Amount Representing Interest	[2]	402
Future minimum lease payments for capital lease obligations
Long-term Debt and Short-term Borrowings, Repayments		5,121
Long-term Debt and Short-term Borrowings, Amount Representing Interest	[2]	$ 402

[1] The carrying amount of the convertible debt includes an unamortized discount of $13.7 million and $14.9 million as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.

[2] 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 Company's convertible debt.

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Convertible Debt and Notes Payable - Convertible Debt (Details) - USD ($)		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 14, 2017	Mar. 10, 2014
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations [Line Items]
Purchase of treasury stock, cost		$ 18,000,000.0
Convertible debt	[1]	119,929,000		$ 118,688,000
Amortization of debt discount		1,109,000	$ 1,349,000
Convertible Debt
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations [Line Items]
Convertible debt, unamortized discount		13,700,000		$ 14,900,000
2022 convertible note | Convertible Debt
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount					$ 135,000,000.0
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Conversion Price					$ 17.375
Purchase of treasury stock, cost		19,500,000
Convertible debt		135,000,000.0
Interest on Convertible Debt, Net of Tax		1,000,000.0	1,000,000.0
Convertible debt, unamortized discount					$ 23,400,000	$ 23,400,000
Amortization of debt discount		$ 1,100,000	1,100,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Percentage					7.13%
Debt Issuance Costs, Gross					$ 2,200,000
2019 convertible note | Convertible Debt
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount						$ 149,500,000
Debt Instrument, Repurchase Amount					$ 115,100,000
Interest on Convertible Debt, Net of Tax			100,000
Amortization of debt discount			$ 300,000
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Percentage						8.89%
Interest rate						3.00%

[1] The carrying amount of the convertible debt includes an unamortized discount of $13.7 million and $14.9 million as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.

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Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income / (Loss) [Abstract]

Schedule of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2020		2019
	(dollars in thousands)
Beginning balance	$	(5)	$	(5)
Foreign currency translation	—		—
Ending balance	$	(5)	$	(5)

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Share-Based Compensation and Employee Ownership Plans (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Share-based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]

Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units Activity

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, 2020 and 2019:

	Three Months Ended March 31, 2020			Three Months Ended March 31, 2019
	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	5,364,486	$	16.67	5,962,295	$	15.73
Granted	2,140,932	17.39		1,781,949	16.97
Vested	(640,084)	14.63		(768,468)	16.69
Canceled	(87,348)	14.80		(233,333)	14.12
Forfeited	(30,562)	15.86		(144,346)	13.84
Ending balance outstanding	6,747,424	$	17.12	6,598,097	$	16.05

Included in the restricted share and restricted stock unit activity are performance-linked restricted stock units of 1,033,333 which were awarded in March 2016 and April 2019. Of the awards granted, 145,986 have vested and 320,681 have been canceled, as they did not meet the performance criteria, through March 31, 2020. The remaining awards, included in the outstanding balance as of March 31, 2020, vest between December 2020 and December 2021 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 200% 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.

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Guarantees and Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements Details (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Guarantees and Off Balance Sheet Arrangements [Abstract]

Schedule of Subordinated Borrowing

The Company maintains uncommitted financing arrangements with large financial institutions, the details of which are summarized below as of March 31, 2020.

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
Spike Line
BMO Harris Bank Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Texas Capital Bank	70,000		35,000		August 21, 2020	Committed spike line facility to cover short term increases in National Securities Clearing Corporation margin deposit requirements
Revolving Credit Facility
BMO Harris Bank	25,000		—		December 2, 2021	Secured Corporate Revolver
Total Credit Lines	$	300,000	$	300,000

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Segment Reporting

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Segment Reporting

Segment Reporting

Change in segments

During the second quarter of 2019 the Company realigned the information that the CODM regularly reviews to evaluate performance for operating decision-making purposes, including evaluation and allocation of resources. As a result of this change in segment reporting, the Company retrospectively revised prior period results, by segment, to conform to the current period presentation (see Note 1). This structure includes two business segments: Op Co and Asset Co. The structure is based on the Company's domain expertise as a driver of balance sheet harmonization and repeatable revenues for its operating business versus the Company's long-term monetization strategies.

The Op Co segment consists of CIM, Investment Banking, Markets and Research. The Asset Co segment consists of the Company's private investments, private real estate investments and other legacy investment strategies.

Performance measures

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) 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 and (iv) certain costs associated with debt. 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, (b) start-up costs of a fund over the expected life of the fund and (c) 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 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 segments, as ultimately, this income or loss is not income or loss for the segments themselves. 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 Company does not disclose total asset information for its business segments as the information is not reviewed by the CODM.

The following tables set forth operating results for the Company's Op Co and Asset Co 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):

	Three Months Ended March 31, 2020
							Adjustments
	Operating Company		Asset Company		Total Economic Income (Loss)		Funds Consolidation		Other Adjustments			US GAAP Net Income (Loss)
	(dollars in thousands)
Revenues
Investment banking	$	98,759	$	—	$	98,759	$	—	$	6,269	(a)	$	105,028
Brokerage	132,672		—		132,672		—		6,690		(b)(g)	139,362
Management fees	14,711		204		14,915		(678)		(2,633)		(c)	11,604
Incentive income (loss)	(2,487)		(2,402)		(4,889)		—		4,889		(c)	—
Investment income (loss)	(19,449)		(11,655)		(31,104)		—		31,104		(d)(g)	—
Interest and dividends	—		—		—		—		42,077		(b)(d)	42,077
Reimbursement from affiliates	—		—		—		(25)		286		(e)	261
Reinsurance premiums	—		—		—		—		10,471		(f)	10,471
Other revenue	562		—		562		—		1,288		(f)	1,850
Consolidated Funds revenues	—		—		—		3,156		—			3,156
Total revenues	224,768		(13,853)		210,915		2,453		100,441			313,809
Interest expense (Economic Income/(Loss)) / Interest and dividend expense (US GAAP)	6,343		1,435		7,778		—		31,014		(b)(d)	38,792
Total net revenues	218,425		(15,288)		203,137		2,453		69,427			275,017
Expenses
Non interest expense	211,066		859		211,925		—		16,514		(a)(e)(h)(i)	228,439
Consolidated Funds expenses	—		—		—		2,714		—			2,714
Total expenses	211,066		859		211,925		2,714		16,514			231,153
Total other income (loss)	—		—		—		(62,054)		(55,094)		(c)(d)(i)	(117,148)
Income taxes expense / (benefit)	—		—		—		—		(1,173)		(h)	(1,173)
Income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries and investment funds	1,740		—		1,740		(62,315)		(1,613)			(62,188)
Income (loss) attributable to Cowen Inc.	5,619		(16,147)		(10,528)		—		605			$	(9,923)
Less: Preferred stock dividends	1,358		340		1,698		—		—			1,698
Economic Income (Loss)/ Income (loss) attributable to Cowen Inc. common stockholders	4,261		(16,487)		(12,226)		$	—	$	605		$	(11,621)
Add back: Depreciation and amortization expense	5,428		6		5,434
Economic operating income (loss)	$	9,689	$	(16,481)	$	(6,792)

	Three Months Ended March 31, 2019
							Adjustments
	Operating Company		Asset Company		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	111,872		—		111,872		—		(14,409)		(b)(g)	97,463
Management fees	9,728		703		10,431		(501)		(2,789)		(c)	7,141
Incentive income (loss)	16,637		110		16,747		(544)		(16,188)		(c)	15
Investment income (loss)	9,427		842		10,269		—		(10,269)		(d)(g)	—
Interest and dividends	—		—		—		—		29,092		(b)(d)	29,092
Reimbursement from affiliates	—		—		—		(34)		322		(e)	288
Reinsurance premiums	—		—		—		—		6,591		(f)	6,591
Other revenue	1,123		36		1,159		—		(98)		(f)	1,061
Consolidated Funds revenues	—		—		—		2,340		—			2,340
Total revenues	231,778		1,691		233,469		1,261		(10,633)			224,097
Interest expense (Economic Income/(Loss)) / Interest and dividend expense (US GAAP)	5,317		1,247		6,564		—		22,520		(d)	29,084
Total net revenues	226,461		444		226,905		1,261		(33,153)			195,013
Expenses
Non interest expense	206,531		2,379		208,910		—		12,091		(a)(e)(h)(i)	221,001
Consolidated Funds expenses	—		—		—		1,482		—			1,482
Total expenses	206,531		2,379		208,910		1,482		12,091			222,483
Total other income (loss)	—		—		—		621		40,321		(c)(d)(i)	40,942
Income taxes expense / (benefit)	—		—		—		—		3,177		(h)	3,177
Income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries and investment funds	1,023		—		1,023		400		(911)			512
Income (loss) attributable to Cowen Inc.	18,907		(1,935)		16,972		—		(7,189)			9,783
Less: Preferred stock dividends	1,375		323		1,698		—		—			1,698
Economic Income (Loss)/ Income (loss) attributable to Cowen Inc. common stockholders	17,532		(2,258)		15,274		$	—	$	(7,189)		$	8,085
Add back: Depreciation and amortization expense	4,939		17		4,956
Economic operating income (loss)	$	22,471	$	(2,241)	$	20,230

The following is a summary of the adjustments made to US GAAP net income (loss) 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 from clients within their respective expense category. 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 which are shown gross in interest income and interest expense for US GAAP.
(c)	Economic Income (Loss) recognizes revenues (i) net of fund start-up costs and distribution fees paid to agents, (ii) records income from uncrystallized incentive fees and (iii) the Company's 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) for which the majority of this activity is shown in other income (loss) for US GAAP reporting.
(e)	Reimbursement from affiliates is shown as a reduction of Economic Income expenses, but is included as a part of revenues under US GAAP.
(f)	Economic Income (Loss) recognizes underwriting income from the Company's insurance related activities, net of expenses, within other revenue. The costs are recorded within expenses for US GAAP reporting.
(g)	Economic Income (Loss) recognizes gains and losses on investments held as part of the Company's facilitation and trading business within brokerage revenues as these investments are directly related to the markets business activities.
(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.

For the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, there was no one investment fund or other customer which represented more than 10% of the Company's total revenues.

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Reinsurance

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Reinsurance [Abstract]

Reinsurance

Reinsurance

The Company's wholly-owned Luxembourg subsidiary, Hollenfels Re SA ("Hollenfels") provides reinsurance to third party insurance and reinsurance companies. Hollenfels's share of claims incurred and paid during the periods below, as well as claims incurred but not reported plus outstanding claims as of the end of the periods below ("Claims IBNR") were as follows:

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2020		2019
	(dollars in thousands)
Incurred and paid claims	$	4,235	$	2,907
Claims IBNR	$	17,293	$	10,135

Hollenfels utilizes several methods to determine its Claims IBNR. It 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. In cases where current claims development contradicts historical results, Hollenfels employs a method to average claims ratios derived through different actuarial calculation methods. Also, if an event occurs that may give rise to significant future claims in excess of the amount calculated using the above-mentioned methodologies, the impact of such an event is calculated using existing claims data and actuarial estimation methods to adjust Hollenfels's Claims IBNR. During the three months ended March 31, 2020, 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. Certain contracts Hollenfels has written are on a quota-share basis while the rest of the 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, 2020 and 2019.

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Convertible Debt and Notes Payable

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Convertible Debt and Notes Payable

Convertible Debt and Notes Payable

As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Company's outstanding debt was as follows:

	As of March 31, 2020		As of December 31, 2019
	(dollars in thousands)
Convertible debt	$	119,929	$	118,688
Notes payable	307,019		306,818
Spike line	35,000		—
Revolving credit facility	25,000		—
Term loan	32,180		32,180
Other notes payable	4,719		2,516
Finance lease obligations	3,613		3,937
	$	527,460	$	464,139

Convertible Debt

December 2022 Convertible Notes

The Company, on December 14, 2017, issued $135.0 million aggregate principal amount of 3.0% convertible senior notes due December 2022 (the “December 2022 Convertible Notes”). The December 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 December 2022 Convertible Notes is payable semi-annually on December 15 and June 15 of each year. The December 2022 Convertible Notes are senior unsecured obligations of Cowen. The December 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 December 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 March 2019 (the "March 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, 2020, the outstanding principal amount of the December 2022 Convertible Notes was $135.0 million. On June 26, 2018, the Company received shareholder approval for the Company to settle the December 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, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The Company recognized the embedded cash conversion option at issuance date fair value, which also represents the initial unamortized discount on the December 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 $1.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, based on an effective interest rate of 7.13%. 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 December 2022 Convertible Notes in interest and dividends expense in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations.

March 2019 Convertible Notes

On March 10, 2014, the Company issued $149.5 million of 3.0% cash convertible senior notes (the "March 2019 Convertible Notes"). The March 2019 Convertible Notes matured on March 15, 2019 and were fully repaid by the Company. The Company recorded interest expense of $0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019. Amortization on the discount, included within interest and dividends expense in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations was $0.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, based on an effective interest rate of 8.89%.

Notes Payable

May 2024 Notes

On May 7, 2019, the Company completed its private placement of $53.0 million aggregate principal amount of 7.25% senior notes due May 2024 (the "May 2024 Notes") with certain institutional investors. On September 30, 2019, the Company issued an additional $25.0 million of the same series of notes. The additional May 2024 Notes were purchased at a premium of $0.5 million, which is shown net in notes payable in the accompanying condensed consolidated statement of financial condition. To date the May 2024 Notes have maintained their initial private rating, and the interest rate has remained unchanged. Interest on the May 2024 Notes is payable semi-annually in arrears on May 6 and November 6. The Company recorded interest expense of $1.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020. The Company capitalized debt issuance costs of approximately $1.5 million in May 2019 and $0.6 million in December 2019, which is a direct deduction from the carrying value of the debt and will be amortized over the life of the May 2024 Notes in interest and dividends expense in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations.

June 2033 Notes

On June 11, 2018, the Company completed its public offering of $90.0 million of 7.75% senior notes due June 2033 (the "June 2033 Notes") and subsequently the underwriters exercised in full their option to purchase an additional $10.0 million principal amount of the June 2033 Notes. Interest on the June 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 and $1.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. 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 June 2033 Notes in interest and dividends expense in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations.

December 2027 Notes

On December 8, 2017, the Company completed its public offering of $120.0 million of 7.35% senior notes due December 2027 (the "December 2027 Notes") and subsequently the underwriters exercised in full their option to purchase an additional $18.0 million principal amount of the December 2027 Notes. Interest on the December 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, 2020 and 2019, 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 December 2027 Notes in interest and dividends expense in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations. 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 October 2021 and for general corporate purposes.

Term Loan

On June 30, 2017, a subsidiary of 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 (as amended) on June 26, 2020. In July 2019, the subsidiary of the Company borrowed an additional $4.0 million to fund general corporate purposes. 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, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

Other Notes Payable

During January 2020, the Company borrowed $2.9 million to fund insurance premium payments. This note had an effective interest rate of 2.01% and was due in December 2020, with monthly payment requirements of $0.3 million. As of March 31, 2020, the outstanding balance on this note was $2.3 million. Interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2020 was insignificant.

During November 2019, the Company borrowed $2.6 million to fund general corporate capital expenditures. This note had an effective interest rate of 6% and is due in November 2024, with monthly payment requirements of $0.1 million. As of March 31, 2020, the outstanding balance on this note was $2.4 million. Interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2020 was insignificant.

Spike Line

In August 2019, Cowen Execution renewed a one-year committed spike line facility to cover short term increases in National Securities Clearing Corporation margin deposit requirements. The spike line facility has a capacity of $70 million. This facility has (i) an effective interest rate equal to the Federal Funds rate plus 2.50% on any money drawn from the liquidity facility and (ii) a commitment or unused line fee that is 50 basis points on the undrawn amount. Outstanding borrowings on this liquidity facility at March 31, 2020 were $35 million. Interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2020 was $0.1 million.

Revolving Credit Facility

In December 2019, the Company entered into a two-year committed corporate credit facility with a capacity of $25 million. This credit facility has (i) an effective interest rate equal to LIBOR plus 3.25% on any money drawn from the credit facility and (ii) a commitment or unused line fee that is 50 basis points on the undrawn amount. Outstanding borrowings on this corporate credit facility at March 31, 2020 were $25 million. Interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2020 was $0.2 million.

Finance Lease Obligations

The Company has entered into various finance leases for computer equipment. These finance lease obligations are included in notes payable and other debt in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of financial condition.

For the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, quantitative information regarding the Company's finance lease obligations reflected in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations, the supplemental cash flow information and certain other information related to finance leases were as follows:

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2020			2019
	(dollars in thousands)
Lease cost
Finance lease cost:
Amortization of finance lease right-of-use assets	$	308		$	368
Interest on lease liabilities	49			63
Other information
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:
Operating cash flows from finance leases	49			63
Financing cash flows from finance leases	$	314		$	394
Weighted average remaining lease term - operating leases (in years)	2.97			3.90
Weighted average discount rate - operating leases	4.88		%	4.93		%

Annual scheduled maturities of debt and minimum payments (of principal and interest) for all debt outstanding as of March 31, 2020, are as follows:

	Convertible Debt		Notes Payable		Spike Line		Revolving Credit Facility		Term Loan		Other Notes Payable		Finance Lease Obligation
	(dollars in thousands)
2020	$	4,050	$	19,075	$	35,000	$	25,101	$	32,596	$	2,799	$	922
2021	4,050		23,548		—		—		—		593		1,394
2022	139,050		23,548		—		—		—		593		1,163
2023	—		23,548		—		—		—		593		411
2024	—		98,721		—		—		—		543		11
Thereafter	—		334,304		—		—		—		—		—
Subtotal	147,150		522,744		35,000		25,101		32,596		5,121		3,901
Less (a)	(27,221)		(215,725)		—		(101)		(416)		(402)		(288)
Total	$	119,929	$	307,019	$	35,000	$	25,000	$	32,180	$	4,719	$	3,613

(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 Company's convertible debt.

Letters of Credit

As of March 31, 2020, the Company has the following six 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 $2.9 million as of March 31, 2020, and $2.0 million as of December 31, 2019, which are released annually between March 2020 and March 2023 based on the policy periods covered by the reinsurance agreements.

Location	Amount		Maturity
	(dollars in thousands)
New York	$	360	April 2021
New York	$	398	October 2020
New York	$	1,125	October 2020
New York	$	1,635	November 2020
Boston	$	379	March 2021
San Francisco	$	711	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, 2020 and December 31, 2019 there were no amounts due related to these letters of credit.

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Convertible Debt and Notes Payable - Letters of Credit (Details)	Mar. 31, 2020 USD ($) letters_of_credit	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2019 USD ($)
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations [Line Items]
Number of letters of credit | letters_of_credit	6
Cash collateral pledged	$ 7,538,000	$ 6,563,000	$ 6,420,000
Letter of credit, borrowing capacity	300,000,000
Letter of Credit, Boston Office, Expires March 2021 | Letter of Credit
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations [Line Items]
Letter of credit, borrowing capacity	379,000
Letter of Credit, NY Office 1, Expires April 2021 | Letter of Credit
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations [Line Items]
Letter of credit, borrowing capacity	360,000
Letter of Credit, NY Office 3, Expires October 2020 | Letter of Credit
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations [Line Items]
Letter of credit, borrowing capacity	398,000
Letter of Credit, NY Office 4, Expires October 2020 | Letter of Credit
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations [Line Items]
Letter of credit, borrowing capacity	1,125,000
Letter of Credit, NY Office 5, Expires November 2020 | Letter of Credit
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations [Line Items]
Letter of credit, borrowing capacity	1,635,000
Letter of Credit, San Francisco Office, Expires October 2025 | Letter of Credit
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations [Line Items]
Letter of credit, borrowing capacity	711,000
Collateral Reinsurance Agreement
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations [Line Items]
Cash collateral pledged	$ 2,900,000	$ 2,000,000.0

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Convertible Debt and Notes Payable - Notes Payable (Details) - Senior Notes - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2019	May 07, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 11, 2018	Dec. 14, 2017	Dec. 08, 2017
2024 Notes
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount				$ 53,000,000.0
Interest rate				7.25%
Debt Instrument, Additional amount issued	$ 25,000,000.0
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Premium	500,000
Interest Expense, Debt, Excluding Amortization	1,400,000
Debt Issuance Costs, Gross			$ 600,000	$ 1,500,000
2033 Notes
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount					$ 10,000,000.0	$ 90,000,000.0
Interest rate						7.75%
Interest Expense, Debt, Excluding Amortization	1,900,000	$ 1,900,000
Debt Issuance Costs, Gross						$ 3,600,000
2027 Notes
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Face Amount							$ 18,000,000.0	$ 120,000,000.0
Interest rate								7.35%
Interest Expense, Debt, Excluding Amortization	$ 2,500,000	$ 2,500,000
Debt Issuance Costs, Gross								$ 5,000,000.0

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Investments Of Operating Entities And Consolidated Funds - Operating Entities - Other Investments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2020		Dec. 31, 2019
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Other investments	$ 163,274		$ 185,722
Portfolio Funds
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Other investments	113,627	[1]	114,504
Carried interest [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Other investments	20,729	[1]	30,360
Equity Method Investments
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Other investments	$ 28,918		$ 40,858

[1] In accordance with US GAAP, certain investments are measured at fair value using the net asset value per share (or its equivalent) as a practical expedient. Carried interest in portfolio funds 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.

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Segment Reporting (Details)		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2020 USD ($) customer segment		Mar. 31, 2019 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of operating segments | segment		2
Entity-wide revenue, major customer, number | customer		0
Revenues
Investment banking		$ 105,028,000		$ 80,106,000
Brokerage		139,362,000		97,463,000
Management fees		11,604,000		7,141,000
Incentive income		0		15,000
Investment Income		0		0
Interest and dividends		42,077,000		29,092,000
Reimbursement from affiliates		261,000		288,000
Reinsurance premiums		10,471,000		6,591,000
Other revenues		1,850,000		1,061,000
Total revenues		313,809,000		224,097,000
Interest expense		38,792,000		29,084,000
Total net revenues		275,017,000		195,013,000
Expenses
Non-interest expense		228,439,000		221,001,000
Total expenses		231,153,000		222,483,000
Other income (loss)
Total other income (loss)		(117,148,000)		40,942,000
Income tax expense (benefit)		(1,173,000)		3,177,000
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		(62,188,000)		512,000
Economic Income (Loss) / Net income (loss) attributable to Cowen Group, Inc.		(9,923,000)		9,783,000
Preferred stock dividends		1,698,000		1,698,000
Net income (loss) attributable to Cowen Inc. common stockholders		(11,621,000)		8,085,000
Consolidated Funds
Revenues
Total revenues		3,156,000		2,340,000
Expenses
Total expenses		2,714,000		1,482,000
Other income (loss)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		(62,315,000)		400,000
Operating Company
Revenues
Management fees		11,346,000		6,643,000
Incentive income		0		0
Asset Company
Revenues
Management fees		258,000		498,000
Incentive income		0		15,000
Operating Segments
Revenues
Investment banking		98,759,000		82,991,000
Brokerage		132,672,000		111,872,000
Management fees		14,915,000		10,431,000
Incentive income		(4,889,000)		16,747,000
Investment Income		(31,104,000)		10,269,000
Interest and dividends		0		0
Reimbursement from affiliates		0		0
Reinsurance premiums		0		0
Other revenues		562,000		1,159,000
Total revenues		210,915,000		233,469,000
Interest expense		7,778,000		6,564,000
Total net revenues		203,137,000		226,905,000
Expenses
Non-interest expense		211,925,000		208,910,000
Total expenses		211,925,000		208,910,000
Other income (loss)
Total other income (loss)		0		0
Income tax expense (benefit)		0		0
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		1,740,000		1,023,000
Economic Income (Loss) / Net income (loss) attributable to Cowen Group, Inc.		(10,528,000)		16,972,000
Preferred stock dividends		1,698,000		1,698,000
Net income (loss) attributable to Cowen Inc. common stockholders		(12,226,000)		15,274,000
Other Depreciation and Amortization		5,434,000		4,956,000
Economic Operating Income		(6,792,000)		20,230,000
Operating Segments | Consolidated Funds
Revenues
Total revenues		0		0
Expenses
Total expenses		0		0
Operating Segments | Operating Company
Revenues
Investment banking		98,759,000		82,991,000
Brokerage		132,672,000		111,872,000
Management fees		14,711,000		9,728,000
Incentive income		(2,487,000)		16,637,000
Investment Income		(19,449,000)		9,427,000
Interest and dividends		0		0
Reimbursement from affiliates		0		0
Reinsurance premiums		0		0
Other revenues		562,000		1,123,000
Total revenues		224,768,000		231,778,000
Interest expense		6,343,000		5,317,000
Total net revenues		218,425,000		226,461,000
Expenses
Non-interest expense		211,066,000		206,531,000
Total expenses		211,066,000		206,531,000
Other income (loss)
Total other income (loss)		0		0
Income tax expense (benefit)		0		0
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		1,740,000		1,023,000
Economic Income (Loss) / Net income (loss) attributable to Cowen Group, Inc.		5,619,000		18,907,000
Preferred stock dividends		1,358,000		1,375,000
Net income (loss) attributable to Cowen Inc. common stockholders		4,261,000		17,532,000
Other Depreciation and Amortization		5,428,000		4,939,000
Economic Operating Income		9,689,000		22,471,000
Operating Segments | Operating Company | Consolidated Funds
Revenues
Total revenues		0		0
Expenses
Total expenses		0		0
Operating Segments | Asset Company
Revenues
Investment banking		0		0
Brokerage		0		0
Management fees		204,000		703,000
Incentive income		(2,402,000)		110,000
Investment Income		(11,655,000)		842,000
Interest and dividends		0		0
Reimbursement from affiliates		0		0
Reinsurance premiums		0		0
Other revenues		0		36,000
Total revenues		(13,853,000)		1,691,000
Interest expense		1,435,000		1,247,000
Total net revenues		(15,288,000)		444,000
Expenses
Non-interest expense		859,000		2,379,000
Total expenses		859,000		2,379,000
Other income (loss)
Total other income (loss)		0		0
Income tax expense (benefit)		0		0
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		0		0
Economic Income (Loss) / Net income (loss) attributable to Cowen Group, Inc.		(16,147,000)		(1,935,000)
Preferred stock dividends		340,000		323,000
Net income (loss) attributable to Cowen Inc. common stockholders		(16,487,000)		(2,258,000)
Other Depreciation and Amortization		6,000		17,000
Economic Operating Income		(16,481,000)		(2,241,000)
Operating Segments | Asset Company | Consolidated Funds
Revenues
Total revenues		0		0
Expenses
Total expenses		0		0
Adjustments | Funds Consolidation
Revenues
Investment banking		0		0
Brokerage		0		0
Management fees		(678,000)		(501,000)
Incentive income		0		(544,000)
Investment Income		0		0
Interest and dividends		0		0
Reimbursement from affiliates		(25,000)		(34,000)
Reinsurance premiums		0		0
Other revenues		0		0
Total revenues		2,453,000		1,261,000
Interest expense		0		0
Total net revenues		2,453,000		1,261,000
Expenses
Non-interest expense		0		0
Total expenses		2,714,000		1,482,000
Other income (loss)
Total other income (loss)		(62,054,000)		621,000
Income tax expense (benefit)		0		0
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		(62,315,000)		400,000
Economic Income (Loss) / Net income (loss) attributable to Cowen Group, Inc.		0		0
Preferred stock dividends		0		0
Net income (loss) attributable to Cowen Inc. common stockholders		0		0
Adjustments | Funds Consolidation | Consolidated Funds
Revenues
Total revenues		3,156,000		2,340,000
Expenses
Total expenses		2,714,000		1,482,000
Adjustments | Other Adjustments
Revenues
Investment banking	[1]	6,269,000		(2,885,000)
Brokerage	[2],[3]	6,690,000		(14,409,000)
Management fees	[4]	(2,633,000)		(2,789,000)
Incentive income	[4]	4,889,000		(16,188,000)
Investment Income	[3],[5]	31,104,000		(10,269,000)
Interest and dividends	[2],[5]	42,077,000		29,092,000
Reimbursement from affiliates	[6]	286,000		322,000
Reinsurance premiums	[7]	10,471,000		6,591,000
Other revenues	[7]	1,288,000		(98,000)
Total revenues		100,441,000		(10,633,000)
Interest expense	[5]	31,014,000	[2]	22,520,000
Total net revenues		69,427,000		(33,153,000)
Expenses
Non-interest expense	[1],[6],[8],[9]	16,514,000		12,091,000
Total expenses		16,514,000		12,091,000
Other income (loss)
Total other income (loss)	[4],[5],[9]	(55,094,000)		40,321,000
Income tax expense (benefit)	[8]	(1,173,000)		3,177,000
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		(1,613,000)		(911,000)
Economic Income (Loss) / Net income (loss) attributable to Cowen Group, Inc.		605,000		(7,189,000)
Preferred stock dividends		0		0
Net income (loss) attributable to Cowen Inc. common stockholders		605,000		(7,189,000)
Adjustments | Other Adjustments | Consolidated Funds
Revenues
Total revenues		0		0
Expenses
Total expenses		$ 0		$ 0

[1] Economic Income (Loss) presents underwriting expenses net of investment banking revenues, expenses reimbursed from clients within their respective expense category. 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.

[2] Economic Income (Loss) brokerage revenues included net securities borrowed and securities loaned activities which are shown gross in interest income and interest expense for US GAAP.

[3] Economic Income (Loss) recognizes gains and losses on investments held as part of the Company's facilitation and trading business within brokerage revenues as these investments are directly related to the markets business activities.

[4] Economic Income (Loss) recognizes revenues (i) net of fund start-up costs and distribution fees paid to agents, (ii) records income from uncrystallized incentive fees and (iii) the Company's proportionate share of management and incentive fees of certain real estate operating entities, the healthcare royalty business and the activist business.

[5] Economic Income (Loss) recognizes Company income from proprietary trading (including interest and dividends ) for which the majority of this activity is shown in other income (loss) for US GAAP reporting.

[6] Reimbursement from affiliates is shown as a reduction of Economic Income expenses, but is included as a part of revenues under US GAAP.

[7] Economic Income (Loss) recognizes underwriting income from the Company's insurance related activities, net of expenses, within other revenue. The costs are recorded within expenses for US GAAP reporting.

[8] Economic Income (Loss) excludes income taxes and acquisition related adjustments as management does not consider these items when evaluating the performance of the segment.

[9] 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.

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Share-Based Compensation (Details) - Equity Plans - Restricted Shares and Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) - $ / shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Shares Subject to Option
Balance outstanding, beginning of period, shares	5,364,486	5,962,295
Acquired, shares	(640,084)	(768,468)
Balance outstanding, end of period, shares	6,747,424	6,598,097
Weighted Average Exercise Price/Share
Balance outstanding, beginning of period, in dollars per share	$ 16.67	$ 15.73
Acquired, in dollars per share	14.63	16.69
Balance outstanding, end of period, in dollars per share	$ 17.12	$ 16.05
Granted, shares	2,140,932	1,781,949
Granted, in dollars per share	$ 17.39	$ 16.97
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Forfeited in Period	30,562	144,346
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Forfeitures, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value	$ 15.86	$ 13.84

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Commitments and Contingencies Service Payments (Details) - Service Payments $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2020 USD ($)
Other Commitments [Line Items]
Contractual Obligation, Due in Next Fiscal Year	$ 20,251
Contractual Obligation, Due in Second Year	17,787
Contractual Obligation, Due in Third Year	9,991
Contractual Obligation, Due in Fourth Year	4,095
Contractual Obligation, Due in Fifth Year	1,938
Thereafter	4,401
Total service payment commitments	$ 58,463

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Investments of Operating Entities and Consolidated Funds - Operating Entities - Equity Method Investment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investments	$ 28,918	$ 40,858
Surf House Ocean Views Holdings, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investments	4,000	7,804
Starboard Value LP
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investments	18,527	24,292
RCG Longview Debt Fund V Partners, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investments	1,737	2,889
RCG Longview Management, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investments	105	583
Healthcare Royalty GP, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investments	143	108
Healthcare Royalty GP II, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investments	304	302
RCG Longview Debt Fund IV Management, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investments	330	331
Healthcare Royalty GP III, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investments	2,237	2,230
RCG Longview Equity Management, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investments	250	105
HCR Stafford Fund GP, LLC [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investments	125	880
Liberty Harbor North
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investments	292	292
Equity Method Investee, Other
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investments	$ 868	$ 1,042

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Regulatory Requirements Regulatory (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Regulatory [Abstract]

Computation of Net Capital under Securities and Exchange Commission Regulation

As of March 31, 2020, these regulated broker-dealers had regulatory net capital or financial resources, regulatory net capital requirements or minimum FCA or SFC requirement and excess as follows:

Subsidiary	Net Capital		Minimum Net Capital Requirement		Excess Net Capital
	(dollars in thousands)
Cowen and Company	$	134,102	$	1,000	$	133,102
Cowen Execution	$	114,384	$	7,066	$	107,318
ATM Execution	$	4,821	$	250	$	4,571
Cowen Prime	$	18,122	$	250	$	17,872
Westminster	$	18,856	$	250	$	18,606
Cowen International Ltd	$	16,378	$	6,677	$	9,701
Cowen Execution Ltd	$	11,609	$	2,963	$	8,646
Cowen Asia	$	873	$	387	$	486

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Stockholder's Equity (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Equity [Abstract]

Treasury Stock Activity

The following represents the activity relating to the treasury stock held by the Company during the three months ended March 31, 2020:

	Treasury Stock Shares	Cost (dollars in thousands)		Average Cost per Share
Balance outstanding at December 31, 2019	18,605,581	$	284,301	$	15.28
Shares purchased for minimum tax withholding under the 2010 Equity Plan or other similar transactions	228,557	2,825		12.36
Shares of stock received in respect of indemnification claims	3,051	48		15.57
Purchase of treasury stock	1,383,657	18,018		13.02
Balance outstanding at March 31, 2020	20,220,846	$	305,192	$	15.09

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Reinsurance Reinsurance (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

SEC Schedule, 12-17, Insurance Companies, Reinsurance [Abstract]

Effects of Reinsurance

Hollenfels's share of claims incurred and paid during the periods below, as well as claims incurred but not reported plus outstanding claims as of the end of the periods below ("Claims IBNR") were as follows:

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2020		2019
	(dollars in thousands)
Incurred and paid claims	$	4,235	$	2,907
Claims IBNR	$	17,293	$	10,135

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Share-Based Compensation and Employee Ownership Plans

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Share-based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]

Share-Based Compensation and Employee Ownership Plans

Share-Based and Deferred Compensation and Employee Ownership PlansThe Company issues share-based compensation under the 2010 Equity and Incentive Plan (the "2010 Equity Plan"). The 2010 Equity Plan permits the grant of options, restricted shares, restricted stock units, 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, both of which are eligible to accrue dividend equivalents, may be immediately vested or may generally vest over a two-to five-year period. Awards are subject to the risk of forfeiture. As of March 31, 2020, there were 0.1 million shares available for future issuance under the 2010 Equity Plan.

Under the 2010 Equity Plan, the Company awarded $50.1 million of deferred cash awards to its employees during the three months ended March 31, 2020. These awards vest over a four-year period and accrue interest at 0.70% per year. As of March 31, 2020, the Company had unrecognized compensation expense related to the 2010 Equity Plan deferred cash awards of $100.7 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 2010 Equity Plan, the Company recognized compensation expense of $8.3 million and $7.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The income tax effect recognized for the 2010 Equity Plan was a benefit of $1.8 million and $2.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, 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, 2020 and 2019:

	Three Months Ended March 31, 2020			Three Months Ended March 31, 2019
	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	5,364,486	$	16.67	5,962,295	$	15.73
Granted	2,140,932	17.39		1,781,949	16.97
Vested	(640,084)	14.63		(768,468)	16.69
Canceled	(87,348)	14.80		(233,333)	14.12
Forfeited	(30,562)	15.86		(144,346)	13.84
Ending balance outstanding	6,747,424	$	17.12	6,598,097	$	16.05

Included in the restricted share and restricted stock unit activity are performance-linked restricted stock units of 1,033,333 which were awarded in March 2016 and April 2019. Of the awards granted, 145,986 have vested and 320,681 have been canceled, as they did not meet the performance criteria, through March 31, 2020. The remaining awards, included in the outstanding balance as of March 31, 2020, vest between December 2020 and December 2021 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 200% 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 certain 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, 2020, there was $86.1 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 2.73 years.

Restricted Shares and Restricted Stock Units Granted to Non-Employee Board Members

There were no restricted stock units awarded or delivered to non-employee board members during the three months ended March 31, 2020. As of March 31, 2020 there were 216,912 restricted stock units outstanding. There were no restricted stock units awarded during the three months ended March 31, 2019. As of December 31, 2019 there were 216,912 restricted stock units outstanding.

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Stockholder's Equity

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Equity [Abstract]

Stockholder's Equity

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, 2020 and 2019, 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 dividend 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 the Company's 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. 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.

Embedded Cash Conversion Option on the December 2022 Convertible Notes

Upon issuance of the December 2022 Convertible Notes (see Note 17), the Company recognized the embedded cash conversion option at fair value of $23.4 million which was valued as of June 26, 2018 at $29.0 million. On June 26, 2018, the Company received shareholder approval for the Company to settle the December 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.

Cash Dividends to Common Stockholders

On February 11, 2020, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend payable on its common stock of $0.04 per common share, payable on March 16, 2020, to common stockholders of record on March 2, 2020. Dividends are payable on all outstanding shares and on granted but unvested shares under the 2010 Equity Plan on the date of record (See Note 14). During the three months ended March 31, 2020, the Company accrued $1.4 million of cash dividends to its common stockholders.

Treasury Stock

Treasury stock of $305.2 million as of March 31, 2020, compared to $284.3 million as of December 31, 2019, resulted from $2.8 million acquired through repurchases of shares to cover employee minimum tax withholding obligations related to stock compensation vesting events under the 2010 Equity Plan or other similar transactions, $0.05 million received 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 and $18.0 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, 2020:

	Treasury Stock Shares	Cost (dollars in thousands)		Average Cost per Share
Balance outstanding at December 31, 2019	18,605,581	$	284,301	$	15.28
Shares purchased for minimum tax withholding under the 2010 Equity Plan or other similar transactions	228,557	2,825		12.36
Shares of stock received in respect of indemnification claims	3,051	48		15.57
Purchase of treasury stock	1,383,657	18,018		13.02
Balance outstanding at March 31, 2020	20,220,846	$	305,192	$	15.09

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Regulatory Requirements

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Brokers and Dealers [Abstract]

Regulatory Requirements

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 that rule. Under the alternative method, Cowen and Company's minimum net capital requirement, as defined in (a)(4) of SEC Rule 15c3-1, 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 SEC Rule 15c3-1, equal to the greater of $250,000 or 2% of aggregate debits arising from customer transactions. Advances to affiliates, repayment of borrowings, distributions, dividend payments and other equity withdrawals are subject to certain notification and other provisions of SEC Rule 15c3-1 and other regulatory bodies.

As of March 30, 2020, Cowen Execution and Cowen and Company were granted regulatory approval to merge. The companies anticipate completing the merger during the second quarter of 2020 with Cowen and Company being the surviving entity.

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. On May 21, 2019, Cowen Securities Form BDW was approved and officially deregistered with the SEC. As of December 31, 2019, the entity has been dissolved.

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 $2.0 million or 2% of aggregate debit items. At March 31, 2020, Cowen Execution had $107.3 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, and must exceed the minimum capital requirement set forth by the FCA.

Cowen Asia, a previously established entity, was re-registered with regulatory approval on May 17, 2019. Cowen Asia is subject to the financial resources requirements of the Securities and Futures Commission ("SFC") of Hong Kong. Financial Resources must exceed the Total Financial Resources requirement of the SFC.

As of March 31, 2020, these regulated broker-dealers had regulatory net capital or financial resources, regulatory net capital requirements or minimum FCA or SFC requirement and excess as follows:

Subsidiary	Net Capital		Minimum Net Capital Requirement		Excess Net Capital
	(dollars in thousands)
Cowen and Company	$	134,102	$	1,000	$	133,102
Cowen Execution	$	114,384	$	7,066	$	107,318
ATM Execution	$	4,821	$	250	$	4,571
Cowen Prime	$	18,122	$	250	$	17,872
Westminster	$	18,856	$	250	$	18,606
Cowen International Ltd	$	16,378	$	6,677	$	9,701
Cowen Execution Ltd	$	11,609	$	2,963	$	8,646
Cowen Asia	$	873	$	387	$	486

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 bank accounts designated as Special Accounts for the Exclusive Benefit of Customers ("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, 2020, Cowen Execution had segregated approximately $19.0 million of cash, while its required deposit was $10.5 million.

As a clearing broker-dealer, Cowen Execution is required to compute a reserve requirement for proprietary accounts of broker-dealers ("PAB"), 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, 2020, Cowen Execution had $36.0 million of cash on deposit in PAB Reserve Bank Accounts, which was less than its required deposit of $38.9 million. An additional $11.5 million was deposited on April 2, 2020 to meet the deposit requirement of SEC Rule 15c3-3.

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 calculated as of December 31 of each year must exceed a minimum requirement. As of the last testing date, December 31, 2019, all of these entities were in excess of this minimum requirement. The companies are currently, and management expects they will be at the next testing date of December 31, 2020, in compliance with these requirements.

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, 2020. RCG Insurance Company’s capital and surplus as of March 31, 2020 totaled approximately $31.8 million.

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Receivables from and payables to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations receivables from brokers, dealers, and clearing organization (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Receivables from Brokers-Dealers and Clearing Organizations [Abstract]

Schedule of Due to (from) Broker-Dealers and Clearing Organizations

As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, amounts receivable from brokers, dealers and clearing organizations include:

	As of March 31, 2020		As of December 31, 2019
	(dollars in thousands)
Broker-dealers	$	621,271	$	623,523
Securities failed to deliver	98,810		45,673
Clearing organizations	46,345		3,180
Securities borrowed interest receivable	6,891		9,319
	$	773,317	$	681,695

As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, amounts payable to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations include:

	As of March 31, 2020		As of December 31, 2019
	(dollars in thousands)
Broker-dealers	$	92,103	$	185,838
Securities failed to receive	153,133		57,580
Clearing organizations	78,546		18,063
Securities loaned interest payable	6,314		9,537
	$	330,096	$	271,018

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Significant Accounting Policies (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Revenue from External Customers by Products and Services

Investment Income

Investment income earned by the Company is generated from investing the Company's capital in various strategies.

Revenue from contracts with customers

For the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, the following tables presents revenues from contracts with customers disaggregated by fee type and segment.

		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2020		2019
		(dollars in thousands)
Revenue from contracts with customers		Operating Company
Investment banking
Underwriting fees		$	63,270	$	48,036
Strategic/financial advisory fees		21,996		20,544
Placement and sales agent fees		17,596		9,498
Expense reimbursements from clients		2,166		2,028
	Total investment banking revenue	105,028		80,106
Brokerage
Commissions		132,208		87,359
Trade conversion revenue		4,639		4,106
Equity research fees		4,005		3,590
	Total brokerage revenue from customers	140,852		95,055
Management fees		11,346		6,643
Incentive income		—		—
Total revenue from contracts with customers - Op Co		$	257,226	$	181,804
		Asset Company
Management fees		258		498
Incentive income		—		15
Total revenue from contracts with customers - Asset Co		258		513
Total revenue from contracts with customers		$	257,484	$	182,317

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Related Party Transactions

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Related Party Transactions [Abstract]

Related Party Transactions

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, 2020 and December 31, 2019, $20.0 million and $20.5 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, 2020 and 2019, 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, 2020 and December 31, 2019, loans to employees of $12.8 million and $14.9 million, respectively, were included in due from related parties on the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of financial condition. Of these amounts $6.1 million and $7.1 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 $1.1 million and $0.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. This expense is included in employee compensation and benefits in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations. For the three months ended March 31, 2020, the interest income was $0.1 million for these related party loans and advances, respectively, and are included in interest and dividends in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations. For the three months ended March 31, 2019, the interest income was immaterial for these related party loans and advances. This income is included in interest and dividends in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations.

As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, included in due from related parties is $5.8 million and $6.5 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 five-year period and earns interest at 5.0% per annum.  The interest income for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, was $0.1 million, respectively.

The remaining balance included in due from related parties of $6.2 million and $5.3 million as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, 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 $0.3 million as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, 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, 2020 and December 31, 2019, such investments aggregated $87.8 million and $36.0 million, respectively, were included in non-controlling interests on the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of financial condition. Their share of the net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries and investment funds aggregated $0.1 million and $1.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

The Company may, at times, have unfunded commitment amounts pertaining to related parties. See Note 16 "Commitments and Contingencies" for amounts committed as of March 31, 2020.

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Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents		$ 270,079	$ 301,123
Cash collateral pledged		7,538	6,563
Segregated cash		131,266	107,328
Securities owned, at fair value ($200,278 and $941,595 were pledged to various parties)		776,046	1,633,552
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value		83,867	62,977
Securities borrowed		971,430	754,441
Other investments ($113,627 and $114,504 at fair value, respectively)		163,274	185,722
Deposits with clearing organizations, brokers and banks		131,948	91,755
Receivable from brokers, dealers and clearing organizations, net of allowance of $792 and $721, respectively		773,317	681,695
Receivable from customers, net of allowance of $675 and $650, respectively		193,009	105,647
Fees receivable, net of allowance of $2,364 and $2,620, respectively		157,081	126,358
Due from related parties		24,802	26,749
Fixed assets, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization of $34,942 and $32,846, respectively		33,909	33,661
Operating right of use assets		88,306	92,852
Goodwill		137,728	137,728
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $29,528 and $26,395, respectively		31,989	35,200
Deferred tax asset, net		80,848	79,166
Other assets		91,026	84,158
Consolidated Funds
Cash and cash equivalents, Consolidated Funds		39,721	30,874
Securities owned, at fair value		355,496	375,278
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value		17,292	5,833
Other Investments, Consolidated Funds		149,689	175,769
Receivable from brokers, Consolidated Funds		20,668	25,964
Other assets, Consolidated Funds		1,722	1,632
Total Assets		4,732,051	5,162,025
Liabilities
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value		527,471	451,836
Securities Sold under Agreements to Repurchase		57,420	23,244
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value		72,385	60,761
Securities Loaned		997,794	1,601,866
Payables to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations		330,096	271,018
Payable to customers		488,814	430,224
Commission management payable		112,688	71,620
Compensation payable		69,631	223,139
Operating lease liabilities		91,835	97,581
Notes payable and other debt	[1]	407,531	345,451
Convertible debt	[2]	119,929	118,688
Fees payable		21,162	21,540
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities		164,540	141,557
Consolidated Funds
Due to related parties		0	581
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value		18,066	4,769
Payable to brokers		1,263	864
Capital withdrawals payable		9,290	1,276
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities		1,091	560
Total Liabilities		3,491,006	3,866,575
Commitments and Contingencies
Commitments and Contingencies (Note 16)		318,001	391,275
Stockholders' equity
Additional paid-in capital		1,119,534	1,110,635
(Accumulated deficit) retained earnings		(29,869)	(16,809)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		(5)	(5)
Less: Class A common stock held in treasury, at cost, 20,220,846 and 18,605,581 shares as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.		(305,200)	(284,300)
Cowen Inc. Stockholders' Equity		784,803	809,855
Nonredeemable non-controlling interests		138,241	94,320
Permanent Equity		923,044	904,175
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity		4,732,051	5,162,025
Convertible Preferred Stock
Stockholders' equity
Preferred stock		1	1
Common Stock Class A
Stockholders' equity
Common stock		334	334
Less: Class A common stock held in treasury, at cost, 20,220,846 and 18,605,581 shares as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.		(305,192)	(284,301)
Permanent Equity		923,044	904,175
Common Stock Class B
Stockholders' equity
Common stock		$ 0	$ 0

[1] The carrying amount of the notes payable and other debt includes an unamortized premium of $0.4 million and $0.5 million as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.

[2] The carrying amount of the convertible debt includes an unamortized discount of $13.7 million and $14.9 million as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.

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Investments of Operating Entities and Consolidated Funds

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]

Investments of Operating Entities and Consolidated Funds

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, 2020 and December 31, 2019, securities owned, at fair value consisted of the following:

	As of March 31, 2020		As of December 31, 2019
	(dollars in thousands)
Common stock	$	648,134	$	1,546,484
Preferred stock	14,700		12,656
Warrants and rights	23,491		22,109
Government bonds (a)	61,198		15,916
Corporate bonds (c)	16,089		25,500
Convertible bonds (b)	2,786		2,500
Term loan (*)	—		1,067
Trade claims (*)	9,648		7,320
	$	776,046	$	1,633,552

(a)As of March 31, 2020, maturities ranged from May 2020 to February 2048 and interest rates ranged from 0% to 8.75%. As of December 31, 2019, maturities ranged from January 2020 to June 2020 with an interest rate of 0%.

(b)As of March 31, 2020, maturities ranged from April 2020 to March 2022 with an interest rate of 8%. As of December 31, 2019, maturities ranged from April 2020 to March 2022 with an interest rate of 8%.

(c)As of March 31, 2020, maturities ranged from May 2020 to October 2027 and interest rates ranged from 0% to 15.5%. As of December 31, 2019, maturities ranged from January 2020 to May 2037 and interest rates ranged from 0% to 15.0%.

* The Company has elected the fair value option for securities owned, at fair value with a fair value of $9.6 million and $8.4 million, respectively, at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019.

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 expose 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, 2020				As of December 31, 2019
	Number of contracts / Notional Value		Fair value		Number of contracts / Notional Value		Fair value
	(dollars in thousands)
Currency forwards	$	58,737	1,010		$	—	—
Swaps	$	232,713	24,523		$	383,752	2,911
Options other (a)	402,281		58,334		550,188		60,066
			$	83,867			$	62,977

(a) Includes the volume of contracts for index, equity, commodity future and cash conversion options.

Payable for derivative contracts	As of March 31, 2020				As of December 31, 2019
	Number of contracts / Notional Value		Fair value		Number of contracts / Notional Value		Fair value
	(dollars in thousands)
Futures	$	5,045	$	87	$	10,224	$	217
Currency forwards	$	108,189	1,883		$	77,790	851
Swaps	$	202,650	9,469		$	607,717	23,169
Options other (a)	222,709		60,946		306,306		36,524
			$	72,385			$	60,761

(a) Includes the volume of contracts for 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, 2020 and December 31, 2019. This table does not include the impact of over-collateralization.

							Gross amounts not offset in the Condensed Consolidated Statements 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, 2020
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value	$	92,755	$	8,888	$	83,867	$	—	$	25,532	$	58,335
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value	81,273		8,888		72,385		—		11,351		61,034
As of December 31, 2019
Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value	$	66,217	$	3,240	$	62,977	$	—	$	2,911	$	60,066
Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value	64,001		3,240		60,761		—		24,020		36,741

(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 $28.8 million and $(2.2) million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, 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 exchange traded derivatives and certain options, the Company is required to post/receive collateral. As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, collateral consisting of $12.9 million and $10.5 million of cash is included in receivable from brokers, dealers and clearing organizations of $773.3 million and $681.7 million, respectively, and payable to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations, of $330.1 million and $271.0 million, respectively, on the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of financial condition. As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, all derivative contracts were with major financial institutions.

Other investments

As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, other investments included the following:

	As of March 31, 2020		As of December 31, 2019
	(dollars in thousands)
Portfolio funds, at fair value (1)	$	113,627	$	114,504
Carried interest (2)	20,729		30,360
Equity method investments (3)	28,918		40,858
	$	163,274	$	185,722

(1) Portfolio Funds, at fair value

The Portfolio Funds, at fair value as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, included the following:

	As of March 31, 2020		As of December 31, 2019
	(dollars in thousands)
Starboard Value and Opportunity Fund (c)(*)	$	35,299	$	37,895
Formation8 Partners Fund I, L.P. (f)	32,837		33,613
RCG Longview Debt Fund V, L.P. (g)(*)	1,243		1,732
Cowen Healthcare Investments II LP (i) (*)	13,907		14,652
Eclipse Ventures Fund I, L.P. (b)	4,287		3,960
HealthCare Royalty Partners LP (a)(*)	1,307		1,326
Lagunita Biosciences, LLC (d)	5,037		4,802
Starboard Leaders Fund LP (e)(*)	1,429		1,560
Eclipse SPV I, LP (j)(*)	1,637		1,447
TriArtisan ES Partners LLC (k)(*)	1,047		1,082
TriArtisan PFC Partners LLC (l)(*)	528		909
RCG Longview Equity Fund, LP (g) (*)	852		835
HealthCare Royalty Partners II LP (a)(*)	1,796		1,781
Cowen Healthcare Investments III LP (i)(*)	1,189		1,398
Difesa Partners, LP (h) (*)	540		508
Other private investment (m)(*)	8,245		4,448
Other affiliated funds (n)(*)	2,447		2,556
	$	113,627	$	114,504

* 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 16.

(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 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 investor's 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. and RCG Longview Equity Fund, LP are real estate private equity structures. The timing of distributions depends on the nature of the underlying investments and therefore will be made either quarterly or when the underlying investments are liquidated.

(h)Difesa Partners, LP permits semi-annual withdrawals occurring on or after the anniversary of initial contribution upon 90 days written notice.

(i)Cowen Healthcare Investments II LP and Cowen Healthcare Investments III LP are private equity funds.  Distributions are made from the fund when cash flows or securities are received from the underlying investments. Investors do not have redemption rights.

(j)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.

(k)TriArtisan ES Partners LLC is a co-investment vehicle organized to invest in a privately held nuclear services company. Distributions will be made when the underlying investment is liquidated.

(l)TriArtisan PFC Partners LLC is a co-investment vehicle organized to invest in a privately held casual dining restaurant chain. Distributions will be made when the underlying investment in liquidated.

(m)Other private investment represents the Company's closed end investment in a Portfolio Fund that invests in a wireless broadband communication provider in Italy.

(n)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)Carried interest

The Company applies an accounting policy election to recognize incentive income allocated to the Company under an equity ownership model in other investments in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of financial condition (see Note 2m). Carried interest allocated to the Company from certain Portfolio Funds represents Cowen's general partner capital accounts from those funds. These balances are subject to change upon cash distributions, additional allocations or reallocations back to limited partners within the respective funds.

A portion of the Company's carried interest is granted to employees through profit sharing awards designed to more closely align compensation with the overall realized performance of the Company. These arrangements enable certain employees to earn compensation based on performance revenue earned by the Company are recorded within compensation payable in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of financial condition. 

The carried interest as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, included the following:

	As of March 31, 2020		As of December 31, 2019
	(dollars in thousands)
Cowen Healthcare Investments II LP (*)	$	14,798	$	23,759
Other private investment (a) (*)	3,737		4,737
RCG IO Renergys Sarl	1,740		1,251
Ramius Multi-Strategy Fund LP (*)	454		613
	$	20,729	$	30,360

(a)Other private investment represents the Company's closed end investment in a Portfolio Fund that invests in a wireless broadband communication provider in Italy.

* These carried interest balances are earned from affiliates of the Company.

(3)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 15% to 55%. 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.

The Company completed an assessment of the recoverability of the Company's equity method investments and determined that the carrying value of the investment in Surf House Ocean View Holdings, LLC exceeded the estimated fair value of the Company's interest, which was other than temporary. Accordingly, an other than temporary impairment charge of $7.3 million was recognized to reduce the carrying value of the investment to fair value at March 31, 2020. The Company recorded no impairment charges in relation to its equity method investments for the three months ended March 31, 2019.

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.

The following table summarizes equity method investments held by the Company:

	As of March 31, 2020		As of December 31, 2019
	(dollars in thousands)
Surf House Ocean Views Holdings, LLC	$	4,000	$	7,804
Starboard Value LP	18,527		24,292
RCG Longview Debt Fund V Partners, LLC	1,737		2,889
RCG Longview Management, LLC	105		583
HealthCare Royalty GP, LLC	143		108
HealthCare Royalty GP II, LLC	304		302
RCG Longview Debt Fund IV Management, LLC	330		331
HealthCare Royalty GP III, LLC	2,237		2,230
RCG Longview Equity Management, LLC	250		105
HCR Stafford Fund GP, LLC	125		880
Liberty Harbor North	292		292
Other	868		1,042
	$	28,918	$	40,858

The Company's income (loss) from equity method investments was a loss of $0.04 million and income of $16.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and is included in net gains (losses) on securities, derivatives and other investments on the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations.

Regulation S-X Rule 10-01(b)(1)

For the period ended March 31, 2020, certain investments subject to Regulation S-X Rule 10-01(b)(1) of the SEC guidance held by the Company in aggregate have met the significance criteria as defined thereunder. As such, the Company is required to present summarized financial information for these significant investees as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 and for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, and such information is as follows:

Other equity method investments	As of March 31, 2020		As of December 31, 2019
	(dollars in thousands)
Assets	$	793,662	$	818,193
Liabilities	26,054		77,092
Equity	$	767,608	$	741,101

	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2020		2019
	(dollars in thousands)
Revenues	$	58,920	$	28,001
Expenses	(11,661)		(27,522)
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses)	(49,113)		91,334
Income (loss) before income taxes	(1,854)		91,813
Income tax expense	(725)		(705)
Net income	$	(2,579)	$	91,108

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, 2020 and December 31, 2019, securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value consisted of the following:

	As of March 31, 2020		As of December 31, 2019
	(dollars in thousands)
Common stock	$	460,059	$	425,448
Corporate bonds (a)	4,402		5,933
Government bonds (b)	48,073		1,950
Preferred stock	6,405		3,686
Warrants and rights	8,532		14,819
	$	527,471	$	451,836

(a)As of March 31, 2020, the maturities ranged from April 2020 to May 2067 and interest rates ranged from 5.00% to 6.75%. As of December 31, 2019, the maturities ranged from January 2024 to May 2037 and interest rates ranged from 4.88% to 6.25%.

(b)As of March 31, 2020, the maturities ranged from October 2024 to February 2048 and interest rates ranged from 6.25% to 8.75%. As of December 31, 2019, the maturities ranged from October 2024 to March 2038 and interest rates ranged from 7.00% to 8.25%.

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase and securities lending and borrowing transactions

The following tables present the contractual gross and net securities borrowing and lending agreements and securities sold under agreements to repurchase and the related offsetting amount as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019.

							Gross amounts not offset on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition
	Gross amounts recognized, net of allowance		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, 2020
Securities borrowed	$	971,430	$	—	$	971,430	$	—	$	947,184	$	—	$	24,246
Securities loaned	997,794		—		997,794		—		928,973		—		68,821
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase	57,420		—		57,420		—		47,442		14,043		(4,065)
As of December 31, 2019
Securities borrowed	$	754,441	$	—	$	754,441	$	—	$	751,913	$	—	$	2,528
Securities loaned	1,601,866		—		1,601,866		—		1,585,036		—		16,830
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase	23,244		—		23,244		—		27,384		—		(4,140)

(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.

        The following tables present gross obligations for securities loaned and securities sold under agreements to repurchase by remaining contractual maturity and class of collateral pledged as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019:

	Open and Overnight		Up to 30 days		31 - 90 days		Greater than 90 days		Total
	(dollars in thousands)
As of March 31, 2020
Securities loaned
Common stock	$	775,765	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	775,765
Corporate bonds	222,029		—		—		—		222,029
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase	—		49,543		7,878		—		57,421
As of December 31, 2019
Securities loaned
Common stock	$	1,343,478	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	1,343,478
Corporate bonds	258,388		—		—		—		$	258,388
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase	—		—		23,244		—		$	23,244

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 $5.7 billion and $563.0 million as of March 31, 2020 and $6.1 billion and $617.5 million as of December 31, 2019, respectively. The carrying value of the Company's exposure to loss for these variable interest entities as of March 31, 2020 was $209.2 million, and as of December 31, 2019 was $241.2 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 Fund's investment in the Unconsolidated Master Fund 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, 2020 and December 31, 2019, was $226.1 million and $261.7 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, 2020 and December 31, 2019, securities owned, at fair value, held by the Consolidated Funds consisted of the following:

	As of March 31, 2020		As of December 31, 2019
	(dollars in thousands)
Preferred stock	$	4,393	$	4,393
Common stock	317,839		200,306
Government bonds (a)	24,998		161,607
Corporate bonds (b)	2,655		3,405
Warrants and rights	5,611		5,567
	$	355,496	$	375,278

(a)As of March 31, 2020, the maturity was April 2020 with an interest rate of 0%. As of December 31, 2019, maturities ranged from February 2020 to March 2020 and interest rates were 0%.

(b)As of March 31, 2020, the maturity was May 2026 with an interest rate of 6.25%. As of December 31, 2019, the maturity was July 2023 with an interest rate of 7.50%.

Receivable on derivative contracts

As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value, held by the Consolidated Funds are comprised of:

	As of March 31, 2020		As of December 31, 2019
	(dollars in thousands)
Currency forwards	$	3,621	$	3,302
Equity swaps	10,271		927
Options	3,400		1,604
	$	17,292	$	5,833

Payable for derivative contracts

As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, payable for derivative contracts, at fair value, held by the Consolidated Funds are comprised of:

	As of March 31, 2020		As of December 31, 2019
	(dollars in thousands)
Currency forwards	$	186	$	88
Equity swaps	17,093		3,931
Options	787		750
	$	18,066	$	4,769

Other investments, at fair value

Investments in Portfolio Funds, at fair value

As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, investments in Portfolio Funds, at fair value, included the following:

	As of March 31, 2020		As of December 31, 2019
	(dollars in thousands)
Investments of Enterprise LP	$	88,675	$	99,153
Investments of Merger Fund	61,014		76,616
	$	149,689	$	175,769

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, 2020 and December 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 investments directly as well as through affiliated portfolio funds.

Consolidated portfolio fund investments of Merger Fund 

The Merger Fund operates under a "master-feeder" structure, whereby Merger Master shareholders are Merger Fund and Ramius Merger Fund Ltd. The consolidated investments in Portfolio Funds include Merger Fund's investment of $61.0 million and $76.6 million in Merger Master as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, 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 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, 2020 and December 31, 2019, 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, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.

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 stockholders' equity
	Issuer	Security Type	Country	Industry	Percentage of Stockholders' Equity		Market Value
							(dollars in thousands)
As of March 31, 2020	Linkem	Equity	Italy	Wireless Broadband	9.36	%	$	73,437
As of December 31, 2019	Linkem	Equity	Italy	Wireless Broadband	9.53	%	$	77,142

Underlying Investments of Unconsolidated Funds Held by Consolidated Funds

Merger Master

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 Merger Master as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019:

Merger Master

	As of March 31, 2020		As of December 31, 2019
	(dollars in thousands)
Securities owned by Merger Master, at fair value
Common stock	$	175,892	$	76,531
Warrants and rights	1,365		748
Corporate bonds	2,069		2,074
	$	179,326	$	79,353
Securities sold, not yet purchased, by Merger Master, at fair value
Common stock	$	30,184	$	29,623
Exchange traded funds	6,898		38,527
	$	37,082	$	68,150

Receivable on derivative contracts, at fair value, owned by Merger Master

	As of March 31, 2020		As of December 31, 2019
Description	(dollars in thousands)
Options	$	2,945	$	2,047
Equity swaps	1,890		406
	$	4,835	$	2,453

Payable for derivative contracts, at fair value, owned by Merger Master

	As of March 31, 2020		As of December 31, 2019
Description	(dollars in thousands)
Options	$	1,126	$	1,158
Equity swaps	1,689		268
	$	2,815	$	1,426

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Receivable from and Payable to Customers	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020
Receivables and Payable to Customers [Abstract]
Receivable from and Payables to Customers [Text Block]	Receivable From and Payable To CustomersAs of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, receivable from customers of $193.0 million and $105.6 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, 2020 and December 31, 2019, payable to customers of $488.8 million and $430.2 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.

XML

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Treasury Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Retained Earnings/(Accumulated deficit)	Nonredeemable Noncontrolling Interests [Member]	Permanent Equity [Member]	Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests [Member]	Common Stock Class A	Common Stock Class A Retained Earnings/(Accumulated deficit)	Preferred Stock	Convertible Preferred Stock Retained Earnings/(Accumulated deficit)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Total Stockholders' Equity	$ 794,407
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest						$ 64,880
Common stock									$ 324
Common stock, shares outstanding, start at Dec. 31, 2018									28,437,860
Balance, start at Dec. 31, 2018		$ (234,142)	$ 1,062,877	$ (5)	$ (34,648)				$ 859,287		$ 1
Preferred stock, shares outstanding, start at Dec. 31, 2018											120,750
Redeemable Non-controlling Interest, start at Dec. 31, 2018								$ 216,923
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss) attributable to Cowen Inc.	9,783				9,783		$ 9,783
Noncontrolling Interest in Net Income (Loss) Other Noncontrolling Interests, Nonredeemable						(288)	(288)
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries and investment funds	800
Capital contributions	159,948					2,025	2,025
Capital withdrawals	(29,157)					(1,174)	(1,174)
Restricted stock awards issued, shares									751,436
Purchase of treasury stock, at cost, shares									(641,959)
Purchase of treasury stock, at cost	(9,377)	(9,377)					(9,377)
Common stock issued during period, shares, acquisitions									1,033,350
Common stock issued during period, value, acquisitions	14,446		14,436				14,446		$ 10
Preferred stock dividends	(1,698)						(1,698)					$ (1,698)
Amortization of share based compensation	7,817		7,817				7,817
Common stock, shares outstanding, end at Mar. 31, 2019									29,580,687
Balance, end at Mar. 31, 2019		(243,519)	1,084,534	(5)	(26,563)				$ 880,225		$ 1
Preferred stock, shares outstanding, end at Mar. 31, 2019											120,750
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Equity Component of Convertible Debt, Subsequent Adjustments			(596)				(596)
Redeemable Non-controlling Interest, end at Mar. 31, 2019								348,514
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Total Stockholders' Equity	814,782
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest						65,443
Common stock									334
Total Stockholders' Equity	809,855
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	94,320					94,320
Common stock									$ 334
Common stock, shares outstanding, start at Dec. 31, 2019									28,610,357
Balance, start at Dec. 31, 2019	$ 904,175	(284,301)	1,110,635	(5)	(16,809)				$ 904,175		$ 1
Preferred stock, shares outstanding, start at Dec. 31, 2019	120,750										120,750
Redeemable Non-controlling Interest, start at Dec. 31, 2019								391,275
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Effect of Adoption, Quantification	$ (10)				(10)		(10)
Net income (loss) attributable to Cowen Inc.	(9,923)				(9,923)		(9,923)
Noncontrolling Interest in Net Income (Loss) Other Noncontrolling Interests, Nonredeemable						(1,198)	(1,198)
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries and investment funds	(60,990)
Capital contributions	118,866					88,682	88,682
Capital withdrawals	(131,150)					(43,563)	(43,563)
Restricted stock awards issued, shares									591,763
Purchase of treasury stock, at cost, shares									(1,615,265)
Purchase of treasury stock, at cost	(20,891)	(20,891)					20,891
Common stock issued during period, shares, acquisitions									41,262
Common stock issued during period, value, acquisitions	618		618				618		$ 0
Preferred stock dividends	(1,698)						(1,698)					$ (1,698)
Dividends, Cash	1,429						1,429			$ 1,429
Amortization of share based compensation	8,281		8,281				$ 8,281
Common stock, shares outstanding, end at Mar. 31, 2020									27,628,117
Balance, end at Mar. 31, 2020	$ 923,044	$ (305,192)	$ 1,119,534	$ (5)	$ (29,869)				$ 923,044		$ 1
Preferred stock, shares outstanding, end at Mar. 31, 2020	120,750										120,750
Redeemable Non-controlling Interest, end at Mar. 31, 2020								$ 318,001
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Total Stockholders' Equity	$ 784,803
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	$ 138,241					$ 138,241
Common stock									$ 334

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Investments Of Operating Entities And Consolidated Funds - Consolidated Funds - Other Investments - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Portfolio Funds, Consolidated Funds	$ 149,689	$ 175,769
Enterprise LP [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Portfolio Funds, Consolidated Funds	88,675	99,153
Merger Fund [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Portfolio Funds, Consolidated Funds	$ 61,014	$ 76,616

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Receivables from and payables to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Brokers and Dealers [Abstract]
Receivable from Broker-dealers	$ 621,271	$ 623,523
Securities Failed-to-Deliver	98,810	45,673
Clearing organizations	46,345	3,180
Securities borrowed interest receivable	6,891	9,319
Receivable from brokers, dealers and clearing organizations	773,317	681,695
Payable to Broker-Dealers	92,103	185,838
Securities Failed-to-Receive	153,133	57,580
Clearing organizations	78,546	18,063
Securities loaned interest payable	6,314	9,537
Payables to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations	$ 330,096	$ 271,018

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Fair Value Measurements for Operating Entities and Consolidated Funds - Unobservable Input Roll Forward (Details) - USD ($)		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2020		Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Preferred Stock
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Balance Asset Value		$ 8,200,000		$ 7,157,000	$ 7,835,000	$ 5,168,000
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset Transfers Into Level 3		0		0
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset, Transfers out of Level 3		0		0
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset, Purchases		365,000		2,000,000
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset, Sales		0		0
Realized and unrealized gains (losses), asset		0		(11,000)
Change in Unrealized Gain (Loss), instruments still held, asset	[1]	0		(11,000)
Common Stock
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Balance Asset Value		17,510,000		4,951,000	17,466,000	9,850,000
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset Transfers Into Level 3		0		0
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset, Transfers out of Level 3		0		0
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset, Purchases		1,798,000		1,262,000
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset, Sales		593,000		5,952,000
Realized and unrealized gains (losses), asset		(1,161,000)		(209,000)
Change in Unrealized Gain (Loss), instruments still held, asset	[1]	(1,257,000)		(7,000)
Convertible Bonds
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Balance Asset Value		2,786,000		5,000,000	2,500,000	3,000,000
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset Transfers Into Level 3		0		0
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset, Transfers out of Level 3		0		0
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset, Purchases		286,000		5,000,000
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset, Sales		0		3,000,000
Realized and unrealized gains (losses), asset		0		0
Change in Unrealized Gain (Loss), instruments still held, asset	[1]	0		0
Corporate Bonds
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Balance Asset Value		2,812,000		261,000	2,421,000	0
Balance Liability Value		800,000			1,000,000
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset Transfers Into Level 3		0		0
Liability, Transfers In		0
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset, Transfers out of Level 3		0		0
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Liability, Transfers out of Level 3		0
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset, Purchases		422,000		261,000
Liability, Purchases		0
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset, Sales		24,000		0
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Liability, Sales		0
Realized and unrealized gains (losses), asset		(7,000)		0
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Liability, Gain (Loss) Included in Earnings		(200,000)
Change in Unrealized Gain (Loss), instruments still held, asset		12,000	[1]	0
Fair Value, Liability, Recurring Basis, Still Held, Unrealized Gain (Loss)	[1]	(200,000)
Options
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Balance Asset Value		332,000			336,000
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset Transfers Into Level 3		0
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset, Transfers out of Level 3		0
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset, Purchases		0
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset, Sales		0
Realized and unrealized gains (losses), asset		(4,000)
Change in Unrealized Gain (Loss), instruments still held, asset		(4,000)
Warrants and Rights [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Balance Asset Value		598,000		454,000	594,000	1,666,000
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset Transfers Into Level 3		0		0
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset, Transfers out of Level 3		0		0
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset, Purchases		0		0
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset, Sales		0		116,000
Realized and unrealized gains (losses), asset		4,000		(1,096,000)
Change in Unrealized Gain (Loss), instruments still held, asset	[1]	4,000		(109,000)
Trade Claims
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Balance Asset Value		9,648,000		5,487,000	7,320,000	5,543,000
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset Transfers Into Level 3		1,044,000		0
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset, Transfers out of Level 3		0		0
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset, Purchases		1,399,000		0
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset, Sales		0		56,000
Realized and unrealized gains (losses), asset		(115,000)		0
Change in Unrealized Gain (Loss), instruments still held, asset	[1]	(115,000)		0
US Government Debt Securities
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Balance Liability Value		1,500,000			1,950,000
Liability, Transfers In		0
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Liability, Transfers out of Level 3		0
Liability, Purchases		0
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Liability, Sales		0
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Liability, Gain (Loss) Included in Earnings		450,000
Fair Value, Liability, Recurring Basis, Still Held, Unrealized Gain (Loss)	[1]	(450,000)
Consolidated Funds | Preferred Stock
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Balance Asset Value		4,393,000		24,322,000	4,393,000	24,314,000
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset Transfers Into Level 3		0		0
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset, Transfers out of Level 3		0		0
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset, Purchases		0		0
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset, Sales		0		0
Realized and unrealized gains (losses), asset		0		8,000
Change in Unrealized Gain (Loss), instruments still held, asset	[1]	0		8,000
Consolidated Funds | Common Stock
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Balance Asset Value		100,000,000		1,017,000	0	94,000
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset Transfers Into Level 3		0		0
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset, Transfers out of Level 3		0		0
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset, Purchases		100,000,000		407,000
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset, Sales		0		0
Realized and unrealized gains (losses), asset		0		516,000
Change in Unrealized Gain (Loss), instruments still held, asset	[1]	0		516,000
Consolidated Funds | Warrants and Rights [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Balance Asset Value		5,611,000		4,708,000	5,567,000	5,279,000
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset Transfers Into Level 3		0		0
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset, Transfers out of Level 3		0		0
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset, Purchases		0		(1,088,000)
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset, Sales		0		0
Realized and unrealized gains (losses), asset		44,000		517,000
Change in Unrealized Gain (Loss), instruments still held, asset	[1]	44,000		(570,000)
Option
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Balance Liability Value		1,802,000		1,733,000	2,920,000	2,096,000
Liability, Transfers In		0		0
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Liability, Transfers out of Level 3		0		0
Liability, Purchases		0		0
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Liability, Sales		0		4,000
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Liability, Gain (Loss) Included in Earnings		1,118,000		359,000
Fair Value, Liability, Recurring Basis, Still Held, Unrealized Gain (Loss)	[1]	(1,118,000)		(359,000)
Contingent liability payable
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Balance Liability Value		28,658,000		29,536,000	$ 30,896,000	$ 3,070,000
Liability, Transfers In		0		0
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Liability, Transfers out of Level 3		0		0
Liability, Purchases		0		27,700,000
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Liability, Sales		1,400,000		1,234,000
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Liability, Gain (Loss) Included in Earnings		838,000		0
Fair Value, Liability, Recurring Basis, Still Held, Unrealized Gain (Loss)	[1]	$ (838,000)		$ 0

[1] Unrealized gains/losses are reported in other income (loss) in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations.(a) The security stopped trading on an open market.

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Investments of Operating Entities and Consolidated Funds - Operating Entities - Variable Interest Entities (Details) - Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Total assets of nonconsolidated variable interest entities	$ 5,700.0	$ 6,100.0
Total liabilities of nonconsolidated variable interest entities	563.0	617.5
Variable Interest Entity, Nonconsolidated, Comparison of Carrying Amount of Assets and Liabilities to Maximum Loss Exposure	209.2	241.2
Maximum exposure regarding nonconsolidated variable interest entities	$ 226.1	$ 261.7

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Regulatory Requirements (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Apr. 02, 2020
Regulatory Requirements for Broker-Dealers [Line Items]
Minimum net capital required	$ 250,000
Interest Income, Related Party	100,000
Cowen and Company
Regulatory Requirements for Broker-Dealers [Line Items]
Net capital requirement under alternative method	1,000,000.0
Net capital	134,102,000
Excess capital	133,102,000
Cowen Execution
Regulatory Requirements for Broker-Dealers [Line Items]
Net capital requirement under alternative method	7,066,000
Required net capital under commodity exchange act	107,300,000
Cash and securities segregated under securities exchange commission regulation	19,000,000.0
Net capital	114,384,000
Excess capital	107,318,000
Cowen and Company (Asia) Limited [Member]
Regulatory Requirements for Broker-Dealers [Line Items]
Financial resources	873,000
Financial resources requirement	387,000
Excess financial resources	486,000
ATM Execution LLC
Regulatory Requirements for Broker-Dealers [Line Items]
Net capital requirement under alternative method	250,000
Net capital	4,821,000
Excess capital	4,571,000
Cowen Prime
Regulatory Requirements for Broker-Dealers [Line Items]
Net capital requirement under alternative method	250,000
Net capital	18,122,000
Excess capital	17,872,000
Westminster Research
Regulatory Requirements for Broker-Dealers [Line Items]
Net capital requirement under alternative method	250,000
Net capital	18,856,000
Excess capital	18,606,000
RCG Insurance Company
Regulatory Requirements for Broker-Dealers [Line Items]
Minimum net capital required	300,000
Net capital	31,800,000
Options Clearing Corporation | Cowen Execution
Regulatory Requirements for Broker-Dealers [Line Items]
Minimum net capital required	$ 2,000,000.0
Minimum net capital required, percent	2.00%
U.K. Financial Services Authority | Cowen International Limited
Regulatory Requirements for Broker-Dealers [Line Items]
Financial resources	$ 16,378,000
Financial resources requirement	6,677,000
Excess financial resources	9,701,000
U.K. Financial Services Authority | Cowen Execution Services Ltd
Regulatory Requirements for Broker-Dealers [Line Items]
Financial resources	11,609,000
Financial resources requirement	2,963,000
Excess financial resources	8,646,000
Minimum | Cowen Execution
Regulatory Requirements for Broker-Dealers [Line Items]
Cash and securities segregated under securities exchange commission regulation	10,500,000
Minimum | Cowen Prime
Regulatory Requirements for Broker-Dealers [Line Items]
Required net capital under commodity exchange act	45,000
Special Reserve Accounts | Cowen Execution
Regulatory Requirements for Broker-Dealers [Line Items]
Cash and securities segregated under securities exchange commission regulation	36,000,000.0	$ 11,500,000
Special Reserve Accounts | Minimum | Cowen Execution
Regulatory Requirements for Broker-Dealers [Line Items]
Cash and securities segregated under securities exchange commission regulation	$ 38,900,000

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Significant Accounting Policies All Other - Quarterly (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020 USD ($) cowenfund	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)
Assets	$ 4,732,051	$ 5,162,025
Liabilities	3,491,006	3,866,575
Cumulative Effect of New Accounting Principle in Period of Adoption	10
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Assets	613,700	685,400
Liabilities	$ 34,900	$ 24,900
Other investment companies
Number of Funds | cowenfund	6
Operating Company [Member] | Hedge Funds
Asset Management Fees, Percent Fee	2.00%
Operating Company [Member] | During investment period | Minimum
Asset Management Fees, Percent Fee	1.00%
Operating Company [Member] | During investment period | Maximum
Asset Management Fees, Percent Fee	2.00%
Operating Company [Member] | After investment period | Healthcare Royalty Partners | Minimum
Asset Management Fees, Percent Fee	0.50%
Operating Company [Member] | After investment period | Healthcare Royalty Partners | Maximum
Asset Management Fees, Percent Fee	2.00%
Operating Company [Member] | After investment period | Other Healthcare Royalty Partners | Minimum
Asset Management Fees, Percent Fee	0.20%
Operating Company [Member] | After investment period | Other Healthcare Royalty Partners | Maximum
Asset Management Fees, Percent Fee	1.00%
Asset Company | Real Estate Funds | Minimum
Asset Management Fees, Percent Fee	0.25%
Asset Company | Real Estate Funds | Maximum
Asset Management Fees, Percent Fee	1.50%

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Acquisition (Intangible Assets) (Details) - Quarton - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Jan. 02, 2019
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross		$ 22,200
Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Assets, Weighted Average Useful Life	2 years 9 months 18 days
Trade name
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross		900
Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life	3 years
Customer relationships
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross		7,100
Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life	4 years
Backlog
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross		12,600
Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life	2 years
Proprietary software
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross		$ 1,600
Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life	3 years

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Investments of Operating Entities and Consolidated Funds - Operating Entities - Securities Owned at Fair Value (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Securities owned, at fair value ($200,278 and $941,595 were pledged to various parties)		$ 776,046	$ 1,633,552
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Securities owned, at fair value ($200,278 and $941,595 were pledged to various parties)		9,600	8,400
Common Stock
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Trading Securities, Equity		648,134	1,546,484
Preferred Stock
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Trading Securities, Equity		14,700	12,656
Warrants and Rights [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Trading Securities, Equity		23,491	22,109
Government Securities
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Trading	[1]	$ 61,198	$ 15,916
Investment Interest Rate			0.00%
Government Securities | Minimum
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Investment Interest Rate		0.00%
Government Securities | Maximum
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Investment Interest Rate		8.75%
Corporate Bonds
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Trading	[2]	$ 16,089	$ 25,500
Corporate Bonds | Minimum
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Investment Interest Rate		0.00%	0.00%
Corporate Bonds | Maximum
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Investment Interest Rate		15.50%	15.00%
Convertible Bonds
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Trading	[3]	$ 2,786	$ 2,500
Investment Interest Rate		8.00%	8.00%
Loans
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Trading	[4]	$ 0	$ 1,067
Trade Claims
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Debt Securities, Trading	[4]	$ 9,648	$ 7,320

[1] As of March 31, 2020, maturities ranged from May 2020 to February 2048 and interest rates ranged from 0% to 8.75%. As of December 31, 2019, maturities ranged from January 2020 to June 2020 with an interest rate of 0%.

[2] As of March 31, 2020, maturities ranged from May 2020 to October 2027 and interest rates ranged from 0% to 15.5%. As of December 31, 2019, maturities ranged from January 2020 to May 2037 and interest rates ranged from 0% to 15.0%.

[3] As of March 31, 2020, maturities ranged from April 2020 to March 2022 with an interest rate of 8%. As of December 31, 2019, maturities ranged from April 2020 to March 2022 with an interest rate of 8%

[4] * The Company has elected the fair value option for securities owned, at fair value with a fair value of $9.6 million and $8.4 million, respectively, at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019.