Stockholder's Equity

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2021

Equity [Abstract]

Stockholder's Equity

Stockholder's EquityThe Company is authorized to issue 125,000,000 shares of common stock, which shall consist of 62,500,000 shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and 62,500,000 shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share. Subject to the rights of holders of any outstanding preferred stock, the number of authorized shares of common stock may be increased or decreased by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares entitled to vote on such matters, but in no instance can the number of authorized shares be reduced below the number of shares then outstanding.

The certificate of incorporation of the Company provides for two classes of common stock, and for the conversion of each class into the other, to provide a mechanism by which holders of Class A common stock of the Company who may be limited in the amount of voting common stock of the Company they can hold pursuant to federal, state or foreign bank laws, to convert their shares into non-voting Class B common stock to prevent being in violation of such laws. Each holder of Class A common stock is entitled to one vote per share in connection with the election of directors and on all other matters submitted to a stockholder vote, provided, however, that, except as otherwise required by law, holders of Class A common stock are not entitled to vote on any amendment to the Company's amended and restated certificate of incorporation that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of the Company's preferred stock, if holders of the preferred stock series are entitled to vote on the amendment under the Company's certificate of incorporation or Delaware law. No holder of Class A common stock may accumulate votes in voting for directors of the Company.

No holder of Class B common stock is entitled to vote except as otherwise provided by law, provided however that the Company must obtain the consent of a majority of the holders of Class B common stock to effect any amendment, alteration or repeal of any provision of the Company's amended and restated certificate of incorporation or amended and restated by-laws that would adversely affect the voting powers, preferences or rights of holders of Class B common stock. Except as otherwise provided by law, Class B common stock shares will not be counted as shares held by stockholders for purposes of determining whether a vote or consent has been approved or given by the requisite percentage of shares.

Each share of Class A common stock is convertible at the option of the holder and at no cost into one share of Class B common stock, and each share of Class B common stock is convertible at the option of the holder and at no cost into one share of Class A common stock. The conversion ratios will be adjusted proportionally to reflect any stock split, stock dividend, merger, reorganization, recapitalization or other change in the Class A common stock and Class B common stock. Upon conversion, converted shares resume the status of authorized and unissued shares.

Subject to the preferences of the holders of any of the Company's preferred stock that may be outstanding from time to time, each share of Class A common stock and Class B common stock will have an equal and ratable right to receive dividends and other distributions in cash, property or shares of stock as may be declared by the Company's board of directors out of assets or funds legally available for the payment of dividends and other distributions.

In the event of the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, subject to the preferences of the holders of any preferred stock of the Company that may be outstanding from time to time, holders of Class A common stock and Class B common stock will be entitled to share equally and ratably in the assets available for distribution to the Company's stockholders. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the Class A or the Class B common stock.

Embedded Cash Conversion Option on the December 2022 Convertible Notes

Upon issuance of the December 2022 Convertible Notes (see Note 16), 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. The Company allocated $29.6 million of the cash consideration paid on the December 2020 partial extinguishment of the Convertible Notes (see Note 16) to this equity component. The Company redeemed all of the remaining December 2022 Convertible Notes on June 24, 2021.

Cash Dividends to Common Stockholders

During the first quarter of 2020, the Company began the declaration of a quarterly cash dividend payable on its common stock. During March 2021, the Company's Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.08 per share of Class A common stock. During June 2021, September 2021 and December 2021, the Company's Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.10 per share of Class A common stock. Dividends are payable on all outstanding shares of Class A common stock and on granted but unvested shares of Class A common stock under the Equity Plans on the date of record (See Note 23). During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company paid $11.4 million of cash dividends to its holders of Class A common stock, respectively.

Treasury Stock

Treasury stock of $547.1 million as of December 31, 2021, compared to $346.9 million as of December 31, 2020, resulted from $40.4 million acquired through repurchases of shares to cover employee minimum tax withholding obligations related to stock compensation vesting events under the Equity Plans or other similar transactions, $0.03 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 $159.8 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 year ended December 31, 2021:

	Treasury Stock Shares	Cost (dollars in thousands)		Average Cost per Share
Balance outstanding at December 31, 2020	22,619,863	$	346,870	$	15.33
Shares purchased for minimum tax withholding under the 2010 and 2020 Equity Plans or other similar transactions	1,055,620	40,392		38.26
Shares of stock received in respect of indemnification claims	1,155	29		25.33
Purchase of treasury stock	4,371,291	159,821		36.56
Balance outstanding at December 31, 2021	28,047,929	$	547,112	$	19.51