Cowen is a holding company. Through its subsidiaries, Co. is a financial services firm. Co. provides investment banking, research, sales and trading, prime brokerage, global clearing, securities financing, commission management services and investment management through its two business segments: the Operating Company, which consists of the Cowen Investment Management division, the Investment Banking division, the Markets division (which includes sales and trading, prime brokerage, global clearing, and commission management services) and the Research division; and the Asset Company, which consists of its private investments, private real estate investments and other investment strategies.