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): August 31, 2011

 


 

COWEN GROUP, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 


 

Delaware

 

001-34516

 

27-0423711

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

 

(Commission File Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

599 Lexington Avenue

New York, NY 10022

(Address of Principal Executive Offices and Zip Code)

 

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

 


 

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:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 



 

Item 5.07.              Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

 

At the Company’s Annual Meeting held on August 31, 2011, stockholders voted on the election of Directors to the Board; the ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the 2011 fiscal year; an advisory vote to approve the compensation of named executive officers; and an advisory vote on the frequency of advisory votes to approve the compensation of named executive officers.  The holders of 105,905,457 shares of Class A common stock, or approximately 91% of the eligible voting shares, were represented at the meeting in person or by proxy.

 

All nominees for election to the Board were elected for a term that will continue until the next annual meeting of stockholders or until the director’s successor has been duly elected and qualified (or the director’s earlier resignation, death or removal).  The Company’s independent inspector of election reported the final vote of the stockholders as follows:

 

Name 

 

Votes For

 

Authority Withheld

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Peter A. Cohen

 

87,786,421

 

1,902,925

 

Katherine Elizabeth Dietze

 

87,855,526

 

1,833,820

 

Steven Kotler

 

87,416,100

 

2,273,246

 

George M.L. LaBranche, IV

 

87,655,138

 

2,034,208

 

Jerome S. Markowitz

 

87,474,098

 

2,215,248

 

Jack H. Nusbaum

 

66,989,355

 

22,699,991

 

John E. Toffolon, Jr.

 

87,449,070

 

2,240,276

 

Joseph R. Wright

 

87,874,146

 

1,815,200

 

 

Broker non-votes for each director totaled 16,216,111.

 

The stockholders’ vote ratified the appointment of the independent auditor.  The Company’s independent inspector of election reported the final vote of the stockholders as follows:

 

 

 

For

 

Against

 

Abstain

 

Broker
Non-
Vote

 

Ratification of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for the Year Ending December 31, 2011

 

105,418,044

 

465,164

 

22,249

 

0

 

 

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The stockholders’ advisory vote approved the compensation of the named executive officers.  The Company’s independent inspector of election reported the final vote of the stockholders as follows:

 

 

 

For

 

Against

 

Abstain

 

Broker
Non-
Vote

 

Advisory Vote to Approve the Compensation of the Company’s Named Executive Officers

 

85,272,416

 

1,073,493

 

3,343,437

 

16,216,111

 

 

The stockholders also cast an advisory vote recommending the frequency of advisory votes to approve the compensation of named executive officers. The Company’s independent inspector of election reported the final vote of the stockholders as follows:

 

 

 

One Year

 

Two Years

 

Three
Years

 

Abstain

 

Broker
Non-Vote

 

Advisory Vote on the Frequency of Advisory Votes to Approve the Compensation of the Company’s Named Executive Officers

 

32,889,184

 

76,783

 

53,332,256

 

3,391,123

 

16,216,111

 

 

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SIGNATURES

 

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

 

 

 

COWEN GROUP, INC.

 

 

 

 

Dated: August 31, 2011

By:

/s/ Owen S. Littman

 

Name:

Owen S. Littman

 

Title:

General Counsel

 

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