COHN Cohen & Company Inc

Registrant Name

Cohen & Co Inc.

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

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

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 22, 2023

 

 

Cohen & Company Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

Maryland		1-32026		16-1685692
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)		(Commission File Number)		(IRS Employer Identification No.)

 

Cira Centre 2929 Arch Street, Suite 1703 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania		19104
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip Code)

 

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

 

Not Applicable

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

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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

 

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

 

Emerging growth company                           ¨

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ¨

 

 

 

Item 1.01

Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

As previously disclosed, on June 9, 2023, J.V.B. Financial Group, LLC (the “Borrower”), a Delaware limited liability company and a broker dealer indirect subsidiary of Cohen & Company Inc., a Maryland corporation, entered into the Third Amended and Restated Loan Agreement (the “Loan Agreement”), with Byline Bank, as lender (the “Lender”), and the Borrower as borrower, pursuant to which, among other things, the Lender agreed to make loans to Borrower, at the Borrower’s request from time to time, in the aggregate amount of up to $15 million.

 

On December 22, 2023 and effective December 21, 2023, the Borrower and the Lender entered into the First Amendment to Third Amended and Restated Loan Agreement (the “Amendment”), pursuant to which both the maturity date and the final date upon which loans can be made under the Loan Agreement were extended to June 18, 2024. Prior to the Amendment, loans could be made under the Loan Agreement until, and would mature on, December 21, 2023. Except as described herein, no other changes were made to the Loan Agreement pursuant to the Amendment.

 

The foregoing description of the Amendment does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Amendment, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 9.01

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit Number		Description
10.1*		First Amendment to Third Amended and Restated Loan Agreement, dated December 22, 2023, by and between J.V.B. Financial Group, LLC and Byline Bank.
104		Cover Page Interactive Data File (Embedded within the inline XBRL document.)

 

 * Filed electronically herewith.

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

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

 

	COHEN & COMPANY INC.
Date: December 26, 2023	By:	/s/ Joseph W. Pooler, Jr.
		Name:	Joseph W. Pooler, Jr.
		Title:	Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.1

 

FIRST AMENDMENT TO
THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED LOAN AGREEMENT

 

This First Amendment to Third Amended and Restated Loan Agreement (this “Amendment”) is made as of December 22, 2023, to be effective December 21, 2023, by and between J.V.B. Financial Group, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Broker/Dealer”), and Byline Bank (“Lender”), with reference to the following facts:

 

A.            Pursuant to the terms and conditions of that certain Third Amended and Restated Loan Agreement, dated as of June 9, 2023 (the “Loan Agreement”) by and between Broker/Dealer and Lender, Lender agreed to make a revolving loan commitment to Broker/Dealer in the principal amount of Fifteen Million Dollars ($15,000,000) (the “Loan”). Capitalized terms used and which are not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Loan Agreement.

 

B.            Broker/Dealer has requested Lender to amend the Loan Agreement in order to extend the borrowing termination and maturity dates of the Loan, and Lender has agreed to such request, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth below.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the terms and conditions contained herein, and of any loans or extensions of credit heretofore, now or hereafter made to or for the benefit of the Broker/Dealer by the Lender, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are acknowledged, the Broker/Dealer and the Lender agree as follows:

 

Section 1.              Incorporation. The foregoing recitals are hereby made a part of this Amendment.

 

Section 2.             Amendments to Loan Agreement. Subject to the satisfaction of the conditions precedent set forth in Section 4 of this Amendment, the Loan Agreement is amended as follows:

 

2.1           The definition of “Revolving Loan Borrowing Termination Date” in Section 1(a) of the Loan Agreement is amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

 

“Revolving Loan Borrowing Termination Date” means June 18, 2024.

 

2.2          The definition of “Revolving Loan Maturity Date” in Section 1(a) of the Loan Agreement is amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

 

“Revolving Loan Maturity Date” means June 18, 2024.

 

Section 3.              Representations and Warranties. In order to induce Lender to execute and deliver this Amendment, Broker/Dealer represents and warrants to Lender that as of the date hereof:

 

3.1           The representations and warranties set forth in Section 5 of the Loan Agreement are true and correct.

 

 

3.2           Broker/Dealer is in compliance with the terms and conditions of the Loan Agreement and no Event of Default or Unmatured Event of Default has occurred and is continuing under the Loan Agreement or shall result after giving effect to this Amendment.

 

3.3           The copies of Broker/Dealer’s certificate of formation and operating agreement (with all amendments thereto) as certified by Broker/Dealer remain true and complete, and there has been no change in such documents or the ownership of Broker/Dealer since last delivered to Lender.

 

3.4           The execution and delivery of this Amendment (and the other documents set forth in Section 4 of this Amendment) and the performance of the Loan Documents as modified herein have been duly authorized by all requisite company action by or on behalf of Broker/Dealer. This Amendment has been duly executed and delivered on behalf of Broker/Dealer.

 

Section 4.              Conditions Precedent. Lender’s consent hereunder shall be subject to Broker/Dealer having delivered, or having caused to be delivered, to Lender, the following items, all of which shall be in form and substance acceptable to the Lender:

 

4.1           This Amendment, duly executed by Broker/Dealer;

 

4.2           The Fourth Amended and Restated Revolving Note in the original maximum principal amount of the Revolving Loan Commitment, duly executed by Broker/Dealer;

 

4.3           A Reaffirmation of Guaranty by each Guarantor, duly executed by such Guarantor;

 

4.4          A Reaffirmation of Pledge and Security Agreement, duly executed by Holdings LP;

 

4.5          An updated Compliance Certificate as contemplated by Section 7(g)(iv) of the Loan Agreement in the form attached as Exhibit A to the Loan Agreement; and

 

4.6          such other documents, agreements and certificates in connection as Lender may require.

 

Section 5.              Miscellaneous.

 

5.1           Except as specifically amended herein, the Loan Agreement shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with its original terms. Reference to this specific Amendment need not be made in the Loan Agreement, the Revolving Note, or any other instrument or document executed in connection therewith, or in any certificate, letter or communication issued or made pursuant to or with respect to the Loan Agreement, any reference in any of such items to the Loan Agreement being sufficient to refer to the Loan Agreement as amended hereby.

 

 

5.2           Broker/Dealer agrees to pay on demand all costs and expenses of or incurred by Lender in connection with the preparation, execution and delivery of this Amendment, including the fees and expenses of Lender’s counsel.

 

5.3           This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts, and by the different parties on different counterpart signature pages, all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. Any of the parties may execute this Amendment by signing any such counterpart and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original. Delivery of a counterpart hereof by facsimile transmission or by e-mail transmission of an Adobe portable document format file (also known as a “PDF” file) shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart hereof.

 

5.4           This Amendment shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of Illinois.

 

Section 6.              WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. BROKER/DEALER AND LENDER EACH HEREBY WAIVE ALL RIGHTS TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING WHICH PERTAINS DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY TO THIS AMENDMENT OR THE LOAN DOCUMENTS, THE OBLIGATIONS, THE COLLATERAL, ANY ALLEGED TORTIOUS CONDUCT BY BROKER/DEALER OR LENDER OR WHICH, IN ANY WAY, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, ARISES OUT OF OR RELATES TO THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BROKER/DEALER AND LENDER. IN NO EVENT SHALL LENDER BE LIABLE FOR LOST PROFITS OR OTHER SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, PUNITIVE OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES.

 

Section 7.              VENUE. TO INDUCE LENDER TO ACCEPT THIS AMENDMENT, BROKER/DEALER IRREVOCABLY AGREES THAT, SUBJECT TO LENDER’S SOLE AND ABSOLUTE ELECTION, ALL ACTIONS OR PROCEEDINGS IN ANY WAY, MANNER, OR RESPECT, ARISING OUT OF OR FROM OR RELATED TO THIS AMENDMENT SHALL BE LITIGATED IN COURTS WITHIN COOK COUNTY, STATE OF ILLINOIS AND EACH OF THEM HEREBY CONSENTS AND SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION OF ANY LOCAL, STATE OR FEDERAL COURT LOCATED WITHIN SAID COUNTY AND STATE. BROKER/DEALER HEREBY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO TRANSFER OR CHANGE THE VENUE OF ANY LITIGATION BROUGHT AGAINST BROKER/DEALER BY LENDER IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 7 OF THIS AMENDMENT OR UNDER ANY OF THE LOAN DOCUMENTS.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Amendment as of the date first above written.

 

	BROKER/DEALER:
	J.V.B. FINANCIAL GROUP, LLC
	By:	/s/ Douglas Listman
	Name:	Douglas Listman
	Title:	Chief Financial Officer
	LENDER:
	BYLINE BANK
	By:	/s/ Scott Mier
	Name:	Scott Mier
	Title:	Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to First Amendment to Third Amended and Restated Loan Agreement]

 

v3.23.4

Cover	Dec. 22, 2023
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	8-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Dec. 22, 2023
Entity File Number	1-32026
Entity Registrant Name	Cohen & Co Inc.
Entity Central Index Key	0001270436
Entity Tax Identification Number	16-1685692
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	MD
Entity Address, Address Line One	Cira Centre
Entity Address, Address Line Two	2929 Arch Street, Suite 1703
Entity Address, City or Town	Philadelphia
Entity Address, State or Province	PA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	19104
City Area Code	215
Local Phone Number	701-9555
Written Communications	false
Soliciting Material	false
Pre-commencement Tender Offer	false
Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer	false
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
Trading Symbol	COHN
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false

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