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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

Commission File Number: 001-34516

Cowen Group, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

(212) 845-7900
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

        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 ý    No o

        Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted 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 and post such files). Yes o    No o

        Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

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

APPLICABLE ONLY TO CORPORATE ISSUERS:

        As of May 9, 2011 there were 75,668,292 shares of the registrant's common stock outstanding.

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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, 2010.

        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, 2011 and 2010. The Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2010 were audited.

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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.    Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

Cowen Group, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

(unaudited)

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

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Cowen Group, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

(in thousands, except per share data)

(unaudited)

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

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Cowen Group, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity

(in thousands, except share data)

(unaudited)

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

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Cowen Group, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

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Cowen Group, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Continued)

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

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

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Cowen Group, Inc.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(unaudited)

1. Organization and Business

        Cowen Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation, was formed on June 1, 2009 in connection with the Transaction Agreement and Agreement and Plan of Merger ("Transaction Agreement"), dated as of June 3, 2009, by and among Cowen Holdings, Inc., ("Cowen Holdings," formerly Cowen Group, Inc.), Lexington Merger Corp., Ramius LLC ("Ramius," formerly Park Exchange LLC) and RCG Holdings LLC ("RCG," formerly Ramius LLC).

        Cowen Group, Inc. is a diversified financial services firm and, together with its consolidated subsidiaries (collectively, "Cowen Group" or the "Company") provides alternative investment management, investment banking, research, and sales and trading services through its two business segments: alternative investment management and broker-dealer. The alternative investment management segment includes hedge, replication products, mutual funds, managed futures, funds fund of funds, real estate funds, healthcare royalty funds, and cash management services, offered primarily under the Ramius name. The broker-dealer segment offers industry focused investment banking for growth-oriented companies including advisory and global credit markets origination and domain knowledge-driven research and a sales and trading platform for institutional investors, primarily under the Cowen name.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

a.     Basis of presentation

        These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("US GAAP") and the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") related to interim financial statements. Results for interim periods should not be considered indicative of results for any other interim period or for the full year. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2010 and 2009 and for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009, and 2008, included in the Form 10-K of Cowen Group as filed with the SEC on March 14, 2011. The financial information contained herein is unaudited; however, management believes all adjustments have been made that are necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the interim periods. The year end condensed balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. All material intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. Certain fund entities that are consolidated in these consolidated financial statements, as further discussed below, 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. Funds in which the Company has a substantive, controlling general partner interest are consolidated with the Company pursuant to US GAAP as described below. Consequently, the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements reflect the assets, liabilities, income and expenses of these funds on a gross basis. The ownership interests in these funds which are not owned by the Company are reflected as redeemable non-controlling interests in consolidated subsidiaries in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements. The management fees and incentive income earned by the Company from these funds are eliminated in consolidation.

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Cowen Group, Inc.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

(unaudited)

2. Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

b.     Principles of consolidation

        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 and (ii) the equity holders at risk have the obligation to absorb losses, the right to receive residual returns and the right to direct the activities of the entity that most significantly impact the entity's economic performance. VOEs are consolidated in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") accounting standards. In accordance with these standards, the Company presently consolidates five funds deemed to be VOEs for which it acts as the general partner and investment manager.

        Under FASB accounting standards, the usual condition for a controlling financial interest in an entity is ownership of a majority voting interest. Accordingly, the Company consolidates VOEs in which it owns a majority of the entity's voting shares or units. FASB accounting standards also provide that a general partner of a limited partnership (or a managing member, in the case of a limited liability company) is presumed to control the partnership, and thus should consolidate it, unless a simple majority of the limited partners has the right to remove the general partner without cause or to terminate the partnership. In accordance with these standards, the Company presently consolidates five funds deemed to be VOEs for which it acts as the general partner.

        As of March 31, 2011 the Company consolidates the following funds (the "Consolidated Funds"): Ramius Enterprise LP ("Enterprise LP"), Ramius Multi-Strategy FOF LP ("Multi-Strat FOF"), Ramius Vintage Multi-Strategy FOF LP ("Vintage LP"), Ramius Levered Multi-Strategy FOF LP ("Levered FOF"), and RTS Global 3x Fund LP ("RTS Global 3x").

        Variable Interest Entities—VIEs are entities that lack one or more of the characteristics of a VOE. In accordance with FASB accounting standards, an enterprise must consolidate all VIEs of which it is the primary beneficiary. Under the new FASB 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 have a controlling financial interest in the VIE and thus is required to consolidate it.

        However, the FASB has deferred the application of the new consolidation model for VIEs that meet the following conditions; (a) the entity has all the attributes of an investment company as defined under AICPA Audit and Accounting Guide, Investment Companies, or does not have all the attributes of an investment company but is an entity for which it is acceptable based on industry practice to apply measurement principles that are consistent with the AICPA Audit and Accounting Guide, Investment Companies, (b) the reporting entity does not have explicit or implicit obligations to fund any losses of the entity that could potentially be significant to the entity, and (c) the entity is not a securitization entity, asset-backed financing entity or an entity that was formerly considered a qualifying special-purpose entity. The Company's involvement with its funds is such that all three of the above conditions are met. Where the VIEs have qualified for the deferral, the analysis is based on previous

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Cowen Group, Inc.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

(unaudited)

2. Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

consolidation rules. These rules require an analysis to (a) determine whether an entity in which the Company holds a variable interest is a variable interest entity and (b) whether the Company's involvement, through holding interests directly or indirectly in the entity or contractually through other variable interests (e.g., management and performance related fees), would be expected to absorb a majority of the VIE's expected losses, receive a majority of the VIEs expected residual returns, or both. If this condition is met, the Company is considered to have a controlling financial interest in the VIE and thus is required to consolidate it. Under both guidelines, the Company determines whether it is the primary beneficiary of a VIE at the time it becomes involved with a variable interest entity and reconsiders that conclusion continuously.

        The Company determines whether it is the primary beneficiary of a VIE by performing a qualitative and/or quantitative analysis of the VIE that includes a review of, among other things, its capital structure, terms of any contracts between the Company and the VIE, which interests create or absorb variability, related party relationships and the design of the VIE. As of March 31, 2011, the Company does not consolidate any VIEs.

        The Company has determined that it no longer exercises control over Cowen Healthcare Royalty GP, LLC (the "CHRP GP") as it no longer acts as a managing member of this entity, and the beginning with the first quarter of 2010, no longer consolidates this entity. The Company now accounts for its investment in the CHRP GP under the equity method of accounting.

        As at March 31, 2011, the Company holds a variable interest in Ramius Enterprise Master Fund Ltd ("Enterprise Master"), Ramius Multi-Strategy Master FOF LP and Ramius Vintage Multi-Strategy Master FOF LP (the "Unconsolidated Master Funds") through three of its Consolidated Funds: Enterprise LP, Multi-Strat FOF and Vintage FOF (the "Consolidated Feeder Funds"), respectively. Investment companies like the Consolidated Feeder Funds, which account for their investments under the specialized industry accounting guidance for investment companies prescribed under FASB accounting standards, are not subject to the consolidation provisions for their investments. Therefore, the Company has not consolidated the Unconsolidated Master Funds.

        In the ordinary course of business, the Company also sponsors various other entities that it has determined to be VIEs. These VIEs are primarily funds and real estate entities for which the Company serves as the general partner, managing member and/or investment manager with decision-making rights.

        The Company does not consolidate any of the funds or real estate entities that are VIEs as it has concluded that it is not the primary beneficiary in each instance. 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's involvement with funds and real estate entities that are unconsolidated VIEs is limited to providing investment management services in exchange for management fees and incentive income. Although the Company may advance amounts and pay certain expenses on behalf of the funds and real estate entities 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.

        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

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Cowen Group, Inc.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

(unaudited)

2. Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

$315.3 million and $1 million as of March 31, 2011 and $383.3 million and $26.7 million as of December 31, 2010, respectively. In addition, the maximum exposure relating to these variable interest entities as of March 31, 2011 was $256.9 million all of which is in other investments, at fair value and as of December 31, 2010 was $307.8 million, of which $307.2 million is included in other investments, at fair value and $0.6 million is included in due from related parties in the Company's consolidated statements of financial condition, respectively. The Consolidated Feeder Funds' maximum exposure to loss related to their respective Unconsolidated Master Funds at March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010 was limited to their investment in their respective Unconsolidated Master Funds. See Note 4 for further information regarding the Company's investments.

        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 consolidated statements of financial condition. The Company's equity in earnings or losses from equity method investees is included in net gains (losses) on securities, derivatives and other investments in the consolidated statements of operations.

        The Company evaluates for impairment its equity method investments 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 when the loss in value is deemed other than temporary.

        Cost Method Investments—When the Company does not have a controlling financial interest and does not exert significant influence over an entity's operating and financial policies, but has an investment in private equity for which market quotations are not readily available and is not otherwise accounted for at fair value, the Company accounts for its investment in accordance with the cost method of accounting.

        Other—If the Company does not consolidate an entity, apply the equity method of accounting or account for an investment under the cost method, the Company accounts for all other debt and marketable equity securities which are bought and held principally for the purpose of selling them in the near term as trading securities in accordance with FASB accounting standards, 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 consolidated statements of operations.

        Retention of Specialized Accounting—The Consolidated Funds are investment companies and apply specialized industry accounting for investment companies. The Company has retained this specialized accounting for these funds pursuant to FASB accounting standards. The Consolidated Funds report their investments on the consolidated statements of financial condition at their estimated fair value, with unrealized gains (losses) resulting from changes in fair value reflected as a component of operations. Accordingly, the accompanying 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, Ramius Securities LLC ("Ramius Securities") and Cowen and Company, LLC ("Cowen and Company") apply the specialized industry accounting for brokers and dealers in securities also prescribed under FASB accounting standards. The Company also has retained this specialized accounting in consolidation.

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Cowen Group, Inc.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

(unaudited)

2. Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

c.     Use of estimates

        The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with 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 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.     Valuation of investments and derivative contracts

        The FASB accounting standards establish 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:

        Inputs are used in applying the various valuation techniques and broadly refer to the assumptions that market participants use to make valuation decisions, including assumptions about risk. Inputs may include price information, volatility statistics, specific and broad credit data, liquidity statistics, and other factors. A financial instrument's level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement. However, the determination of what constitutes "observable" requires significant judgment by the Company. The Company considers observable data to be that market data which is readily available, regularly distributed or updated, reliable and verifiable, not proprietary, and provided by independent sources that are actively involved in the relevant market. The categorization of a financial instrument within the hierarchy is based upon the pricing transparency of the instrument and does not necessarily correspond to the Company's perceived risk of that instrument.

        The Company and its operating company 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 analyses, 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

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Cowen Group, Inc.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

(unaudited)

2. Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

used, and, in some cases, the ability to execute, timing of, and estimated proceeds from expected financings. Significant judgment and estimation goes into the selection of an appropriate valuation methodology as well as the assumptions used in these models, and the timing and actual values realized with respect to investments could be materially different from values derived based on the use of those estimates. The valuation methodologies applied impact the reported value of the Company's investments and the investments held by the Consolidated Funds in the 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" valuation technique to value its financial instruments measured at fair value. In determining an instrument's placement within the hierarchy, the Company separates 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.

        Securities—Securities whose values are based on quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets, and are therefore classified in level 1 of the fair value hierarchy, include active listed equities, certain U.S. government and sovereign obligations, and certain money market securities. The Company does not adjust the quoted price for such instruments, even in situations where the Company holds a large position and a sale could reasonably impact the quoted price.

        Certain positions for which there is a limited market, consisting primarily of convertible debt, corporate debt and loans, are stated at fair value. The estimated fair values assigned by management are determined in good faith and are based on available information considering, among other things, 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. Such positions that trade in markets that are not considered to be active, but are valued based on quoted market prices, dealer quotations or alternative pricing sources which are supported by observable inputs are classified within level 2. As level 2 investments include positions that are not 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. Derivative contracts are included within other assets or accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities on the consolidated statements of financial condition. The Company's direct involvement with derivative financial instruments include credit default swaps, futures, equity swaps, options and warrants and rights which are included within securities owned, at fair value in the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition.

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Cowen Group, Inc.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

(unaudited)

2. Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

        Other investments—Other investments consist primarily of portfolio funds, real estate investments and equity method investments, which are valued as follows:

i.

Portfolio funds—Portfolio funds ("Portfolio Funds") include interests in funds and investment companies managed by the Company or its affiliates. The Company follows an accounting pronouncement regarding fair value measurements and disclosures relating to investments in certain entities that calculate net asset value ("NAV") per share (or its equivalent). The guidance permits, as a practical expedient, an entity holding investments in certain entities that either are investment companies as defined by the AICPA Audit and Accounting Guide, Investment Companies, or have attributes similar to an investment company, and calculate net asset value per share or its equivalent for which the fair value is not readily determinable, to measure the fair value of such investments on the basis of that NAV per share, or its equivalent, without adjustment.

The Company categorizes its investments in Portfolio Funds within the fair value hierarchy dependent on the ability to redeem the investment. If the Company has the ability to redeem its investment at NAV at the measurement date or within the near term, the Portfolio Fund is categorized as a Level 2 fair value measurement. If the Company does not know when it will have the ability to redeem its investment or cannot do so in the near term, the Portfolio Fund is categorized as a Level 3 fair value measurement. See Note 4 and Note 5 for further details of the Company's investments in Portfolio Funds.

ii.

Real estate investments—Real estate investments are valued at estimated fair value. The fair value of real estate investments are 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 earning 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.

The Company also reflects its real estate equity investments net of investment level financing. Valuation adjustments attributable to underlying financing arrangements are considered in the real estate equity valuation based on amounts at which the financing liabilities could be transferred to market participants at the measurement date.

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

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Cowen Group, Inc.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

(unaudited)

2. Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

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 within the fair value hierarchy as management uses significant unobservable inputs in determining their estimated fair value.

        See Note 4 and 5 for further information regarding the Company's investments, including equity method investments, and fair value measurements.

e.     Securities purchased under agreements to resell and securities sold under agreements to repurchase

        Transactions involving purchases of securities under agreements to resell are carried at their contract value which approximates fair value. As of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the fair value of the collateral received by the Company was $70.3 million and $95.5 million, respectively.

        Transactions involving the sale of securities under agreements to repurchase are carried at their contract value and are accounted for as collateralized financings. In connection with these financings, as of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the Company had pledged collateral in the amount of $170 million and $207.4 million, respectively, which is included in securities owned, at fair value in the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition.

        Collateral is valued periodically and the Company and its counterparties may adjust the collateral or require additional collateral to be deposited when appropriate. Collateral held by counterparties may be sold or re-hypothecated by such counterparties, subject to certain limitations sometimes imposed by the Company. Collateralized repurchase agreements may result in credit exposure in the event the counterparties to the transactions are unable to fill their contractual obligations. The Company minimizes the credit risk associated with this activity by monitoring credit exposure and collateral values, and by requiring additional collateral to be promptly deposited with or returned to the Company when deemed necessary. The Company's securities purchased under agreements to resell and securities sold under agreements to repurchase were transacted pursuant to agreements with multiple counterparties at March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010.

f.      Expenses

        Included within expenses in the first quarter of 2011 is $2.8 million in acquisition-related expenses such as legal, consulting and banking fees, associated with the proposed acquisition of LaBranche & Co Inc. and other reorganization charges within the alternative investment management business.

g.     Recently adopted accounting pronouncements

        April 2011, the FASB issued guidance to improve the accounting for repurchase agreements (repos) and other agreements by modifying the criteria for determining when the transactions would be accounted for as financings (secured borrowings/lending agreements) as opposed to sales (purchases) with commitments to repurchase (resell). Specifically, the guidance removes from the assessment of effective control the criterion requiring the transferor to have the ability to repurchase or redeem the financial assets on substantially the agreed terms, even in default by the transferee. In accordance with

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Cowen Group, Inc.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

(unaudited)

2. Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

the new guidance, the contractual rights and obligations determine effective control and there does not need to be a requirement to assess the ability to exercise those rights. The guidance is effective prospectively for new transfers and existing transactions that are modified in the first interim or annual period beginning on or after December 15, 2011. The Company is currently assessing the impact of this guidance on its condensed consolidated financial statements.

        In January 2010, the FASB issued guidance on improving disclosures about fair value measurements. The guidance requires additional disclosure on transfers in and out of Levels I and II fair value measurements in the fair value hierarchy and the reasons for such transfers. In addition, for fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs (Level III), the reconciliation of beginning and ending balances shall be presented on a gross basis, with separate disclosure of gross purchases, sales, issuances and settlements and transfers in and transfers out of Level III. The new guidance also requires enhanced disclosures on the fair value hierarchy to disaggregate disclosures by each class of assets and liabilities. In addition, an entity is required to provide further disclosures on valuation techniques and inputs used to measure fair value for fair value measurements that fall in either Level II or Level III. The guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2009, except for the disclosures about purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements in the roll forward of activity in Level III fair value measurements, which are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010. The Company adopted the guidance, excluding the reconciliation of Level III activity, with the issuance of its March 31, 2010 financial statements. In addition, the Company adopted the guidance related to the reconciliation of Level III activity in its March 31, 2011 condensed consolidation financial statements. As the guidance is limited to enhanced disclosures, adoption did not have a material impact on the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements.

        In March 2010, the FASB issued accounting guidance that changes the accounting for credit derivatives embedded in beneficial interests in securitized financial assets. The new guidance eliminates the scope exception for embedded credit derivatives, unless they are created solely by subordination of one financial instrument to another. Bifurcation and separate recognition may be required for certain beneficial interests that are currently not accounted for at fair value through earnings. The adoption of this accounting guidance on July 1, 2010 did not have a material impact on the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements.

        In April 2010, the FASB issued guidance on the accounting for stock awards to employees of a foreign operation or employees whose pay is denominated in a currency other than the one in which the equity security trades. The guidance clarifies that share-based payment awards with an exercise price denominated in the currency of a market in which a substantial portion of the entity's equity securities trade shall not be considered to contain a condition that is not a market, performance, or service condition. Such an award shall not be classified as a liability if it otherwise qualifies for equity classification. The guidance is effective for fiscal years and interim periods ending after December 15, 2010. The Company makes share-based payment awards to employees in foreign operations. The guidance did not have a material impact on the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements.

        In December 2010, the FASB issued enhanced guidance on when to perform step two of the goodwill impairment test for reporting units with zero or negative carrying amounts. The updated guidance modifies existing requirements under step one of the goodwill impairment test for reporting

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Cowen Group, Inc.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

(unaudited)

2. Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)

units with zero or negative carrying amounts and requires step two to be performed if it is more likely than not that a goodwill impairment exists. The guidance is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2010. As the Company's reporting units do not currently have zero or negative carrying values, adoption is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements.

        In December 2010, the FASB issued guidance on disclosures around business combinations for public entities that present comparative financial statements. The guidance specifies that an entity should disclose revenue and earnings of the combined entity as though the business combination(s) that occurred during the current year had occurred as of the beginning of the comparable prior annual reporting period. The guidance is effective prospectively for business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2010. As the guidance is limited to disclosures, adoption is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements.

h.     Future adoption of accounting pronouncements

        As of March 31, 2011, none of the changes to the Codification issued by the FASB that are not yet effective are expected to have a material impact on the Company's financial position or results of operations.

3. Cash collateral pledged

        As of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, cash collateral pledged in the amount of $8.6 million, respectively, primarily relates to a letter of credit issued to the landlord of the Company's premises in New York City (see Note 13). Also included in cash collateral pledged as of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010 is $0.5 million, respectively, relating to an agreement that the Company has with Société Générale to cover the costs of litigation matters included in the agreement.

4. Investments of Operating Entities and Consolidated Funds

a.     Operating Entities

Securities owned, at fair value

        Securities owned are held by the Company and considered held for trading and carried at fair value. 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.

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Cowen Group, Inc.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

(unaudited)

4. Investments of Operating Entities and Consolidated Funds

        As of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, securities owned consisted of the following, at fair value:

        The Company's direct involvement with derivative financial instruments includes credit default swaps, futures, equity swaps, options and warrants and rights. The Company's long exposure to futures, equity swap and credit default swap derivative contracts, at fair value, as of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010 of $0.5 million and $0.4 million, respectively, is included in other assets in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of financial condition. The Company's short exposure to futures and equity swap derivative contracts, at fair value, as of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010 of $0.6 million, respectively, is included in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of financial condition.

        The Company may transact in a variety of derivative instruments primarily for trading purposes with each instruments' primary risk exposure being interest rate, credit, foreign exchange, equity or commodity risk.

        Pursuant to the various derivatives transactions discussed above, the Company is required to post collateral for its obligations or potential obligations. As of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively, collateral consisting of $3.2 million, respectively, is included in receivable from brokers on the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition. As of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010 all derivative contracts were with major financial institutions.

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Cowen Group, Inc.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

(unaudited)

4. Investments of Operating Entities and Consolidated Funds (Continued)

Other investments

        As of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, other investments consisted of the following:

Other investments

(1)    Portfolio Funds, at fair value

        The Portfolio Funds, at fair value as of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, included the following:

Portfolio Funds, at fair value

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Cowen Group, Inc.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

(unaudited)

4. Investments of Operating Entities and Consolidated Funds (Continued)

(2)    Real estate investments, at fair value

        Real estate investments as of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010 are carried at fair value and include real estate equity investments held by RCG RE Manager, LLC ("RE Manager"), a real estate operating subsidiary of the Company, of $1.4 million and $1.1 million, respectively, and real estate debt investments held by the Company of $0.8 million, respectively.

(3)    Equity method investments

        Equity method investments include investments held by the Company in several operating companies whose responsibilities 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 30% to 55%. The Company holds a majority of the outstanding ownership interest (i.e., more than 50%) in three of these entities: RCG Longview Debt Fund IV Management, LLC, RCG Longview Debt Fund IV Partners, LLC and RCG Longview Partners II, LLC. The operating agreements that govern the management of day-to-day operations and affairs of each of these three entities stipulate 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 three entities require 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 that is not protective in nature. As the Company does not possess unilateral 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

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Cowen Group, Inc.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

(unaudited)

4. Investments of Operating Entities and Consolidated Funds (Continued)

of accounting. Also included in equity method investments is the investment in CHRP GP (see Note 2). The following table summarizes equity method investments held by the Company:

        As of March 31, 2011, the Company's share of losses in its equity method investment in RCG Longview Partners II, LLC has exceeded the carrying amount recorded in this investee. RCG Longview Partners II, LLC, as general partner to a real estate fund, has reversed previously recorded incentive income allocations and has recorded a current clawback obligation to the limited partners in the fund. This obligation is due to a change in unrealized value of the fund on which there have previously been distributed carried interest realizations; however, the settlement of a potential obligation is not due until the end of the life of the respective fund. As the Company is obligated to return previous distributions it received from RCG Longview Partners II, LLC, it has continued to record its share of gains/losses in the investee including reflecting its share of the clawback obligation in the amount of $6.2 million. All such amounts are included in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities in the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition.

        The Company's income (loss) from equity method investments was $1.2 million and $0.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively, and is included in net gains (losses) on securities, derivatives and other investments on the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations. In addition, the Company recorded no impairment charges in relation to its equity method investments for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2010.

        For the period ended March 31, 2011 certain single equity method investments held by the Company have exceeded the 20% threshold for the income test. As such, the Company is required to present summarized income statement information for these significant investees for current and the

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Cowen Group, Inc.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

(unaudited)

4. Investments of Operating Entities and Consolidated Funds (Continued)

comparative prior year-to-date interim periods. The summarized income statement information for individually significant investees presented in aggregate below is as follows:

(4)    Lehman Claims, at fair value

        Lehman Brothers International (Europe) ("LBIE"), through certain affiliates, was a prime broker to the Company, and the Company held cash and cash equivalent balances with LBIE. On September 15, 2008, LBIE was placed into administration (the "Administration") in the United Kingdom and, as a result, the assets held by the Company in its LBIE accounts were frozen at LBIE. The status and ultimate resolution of the assets under LBIE's Administration proceedings is uncertain. The assets of the Company at LBIE at the time of Administration (the "Total Net Equity Claim") consist of $1.0 million, which the Company believes will represent an unsecured claim against LBIE. This does not include the additional claims held by the Company against LBIE through its investment in Enterprise Master discussed in Note 4b. There can be no assurance that the Total Net Equity Claim value, as determined by the Company, will be accepted by the Administrators, nor does the Company know the manner and timing in which such claim will be satisfied and the ultimate value that will be received.

        Given the great degree of uncertainty as to the status of the assets held at LBIE and the process and prospects of the return of those assets, the Company has decided to record the fair value of the Total Net Equity Claim at an approximately 52% discount at March 31, 2011 and a 70% discount at December 31, 2010, which represents management's best estimate at the respective dates of the value that ultimately may be recovered with respect to the Total Net Equity Claim (the "Estimated Recoverable Lehman Claim"). The Estimated Recoverable Lehman Claim was recorded at estimated fair value considering a number of factors including the status of the assets under U.K. insolvency laws and the trading levels of Lehman unsecured debt. In determining the estimated value of the Total Net Equity Claim, the Company was required to use considerable judgment and is based on the facts currently available. As additional information on the LBIE proceeding becomes available, the Company may need to adjust the valuation of the Estimated Recoverable Lehman Claim. The actual loss that may ultimately be incurred by the Company with respect to the pending LBIE claim is not known and could be materially different from the estimated value assigned by the Company.

Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value

        Securities sold, not yet purchased, represent obligations of the Company to deliver a specified security at a contracted price and, thereby, create a liability to purchase that security in the market at prevailing prices. The Company's liability for securities to be delivered is measured at their fair value as

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Cowen Group, Inc.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

(unaudited)

4. Investments of Operating Entities and Consolidated Funds (Continued)

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, may exceed the amount reflected in the 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, 2011 and December 31, 2010, securities sold, not yet purchased, consisted of the following, at fair value:

Securities purchased under agreements to resell and securities sold under agreements to repurchase

        The following table represents the Company's securities purchased under agreements to resell and securities sold under agreements to repurchase as of March 31, 2011:

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Cowen Group, Inc.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

(unaudited)

4. Investments of Operating Entities and Consolidated Funds (Continued)

b.     Consolidated Funds

Securities owned, at fair value

        As of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010 securities owned, at fair value, held by the Consolidated Funds are comprised of:

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Cowen Group, Inc.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

(unaudited)

4. Investments of Operating Entities and Consolidated Funds (Continued)

Other investments, at fair value

        As of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010 other investments, at fair value, held by the Consolidated Funds are comprised of:

(1)    Investments in Portfolio Funds, at fair value

        As of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, investments in Portfolio Funds, at fair value, included the following:

Consolidated investments of Enterprise LP

        Enterprise LP operates under a "master-feeder" structure with Enterprise Master, whereby Enterprise Master's shareholders are Enterprise LP and RCG II Intermediate, LP. The consolidated investments in Portfolio Funds recorded in other investments on the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition include Enterprise LP's investment of $227 million and $257 million in Enterprise Master as of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively. On May 12, 2010, the Company announced its intention to close Enterprise Master. Prior to this announcement, strategies utilized by Enterprise Master included merger arbitrage and activist investing, investments in distressed securities, convertible hedging, capital structure arbitrage, equity market neutral, investments in private placements of convertible securities, proprietary mortgages, structured credit investments, investments in mortgage backed securities and other structured finance products, investments in real estate and real property interests, structured private placements and other relative value strategies. Enterprise Master had broad investment powers and maximum flexibility in seeking to achieve its investment objective. Enterprise Master was permitted to invest in equity securities, debt instruments, options, futures, swaps, credit default swaps and other derivatives. Enterprise Master has been selling, and will continue to sell, its positions and return capital to its investors. There are no unfunded commitments at Enterprise LP. See Note 12 for unfunded commitments of Enterprise Master.

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Cowen Group, Inc.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

(unaudited)

4. Investments of Operating Entities and Consolidated Funds (Continued)

Investments of consolidated fund of funds investment companies

        The investments of consolidated fund of funds investment companies of $48.7 million and $70 million at March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively, include the investments of Levered FOF, Multi-Strat FOF and Vintage FOF, all of which are investment companies managed by Ramius Alternative Solutions LLC, as well as RTS Global 3x, which is managed by Ramius Trading Strategies LLC. Levered FOF's and Multi-Strat FOF's investment objectives are to invest discrete pools of their capital on a leveraged basis among portfolio managers that invest through Portfolio Funds, forming a multi-strategy, diversified investment portfolio designed to achieve returns with low to moderate volatility. Vintage FOF's investment objective is to allocate its capital among portfolio managers that invest through investment pools or managed accounts thereby forming concentrated investments in high conviction managers designed to achieve attractive risk adjusted returns with moderate relative volatility. RTS Global 3x's investment objective is to achieve attractive investment returns on a risk-adjusted basis that are non-correlated with the traditional equity and bond markets by investing substantially all of its capital pursuant to managed futures and global macro-based investment strategies. RTS Global 3x seeks to achieve its objective through a multi-advisor investment approach by allocating its capital among third-party trading advisors that are unaffiliated with RTS Global 3x. However, unlike a traditional "fund of funds" that invests with advisors through entities controlled by third-parties, RTS Global 3x will allocate its capital among a number of different trading accounts organized and managed by the general partner.

        The following is a summary of the investments held by the four consolidated fund of funds, at fair value, as of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010:

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Cowen Group, Inc.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Continued)

(unaudited)

4. Investments of Operating Entities and Consolidated Funds (Continued)