Exhibit 10.1


 





	
         

        

         
	
        U.S. Small Business Administration

         

        Note

         





 


	SBA Loan #	PPP 77523572-06
	SBA Loan Name	Cohen & Company, LLC
	Date	May 1,2020
	Loan Amount	$2,165,600.00
	Interest Rate	1.00%; Fixed Rate
	Borrower	Cohen & Company, LLC, a Delaware LLC
	Operating Company	N/A
	Lender	Fifth Third Bank, National Association, a federally chartered institution



 

		1.	PROMISE TO PAY:



 


In return for the Loan, Borrower promises to pay
to the order of Lender the amount of


 


	 	Two million one hundred sixty-five thousand six hundred and 00/100

                                                                                 
	 Dollars




 


interest on the unpaid principal balance, and all
other amounts required by this Note.


 


		2.	DEFINITIONS:



 


“Collateral” means any property taken
as security for payment of this Note or any guarantee of this Note.


 


“Guarantor” means each person or entity
that signs a guarantee of payment of this Note.


 


“Loan” means the loan evidenced by this
Note.


 


“Loan Documents” means the documents
related to this loan signed by Borrower, any Guarantor, or anyone who pledges collateral.


 


“SBA” means the Small Business Administration,
an Agency of the United States of America.


 




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		3.	PAYMENT TERMS:



 


Borrower must make all payments at the place Lender
designates. The payment terms for this Note are:


 


Repayment terms:


 


The interest rate is 1% per year. The interest rate
may only be changed in accordance with SOP 50 10.


 


Borrower must pay principal and interest payments
of $121,265.82 every month, beginning seven months from the month this Note is dated; payments must be made on the 1st calendar
day in the months they are due.


 


Lender will apply each installment first to pay interest
accrued to the day Lender receives the payment, then to bring principal current, then to pay any late fees, and will apply any
remaining balance to reduce principal.


 


Loan Prepayment:


 


Notwithstanding any provision in this Note to the
contrary:


 


Borrower may prepay this Note. Borrower may prepay
20 percent or less of the unpaid principal balance at any time without notice. If Borrower prepays more than 20 percent and the
Loan has been sold on the secondary market, Borrower must:


 


a. Give Lender written notice;


 


b. Pay all accrued interest; and


 


c. If this prepayment is received less than 21 days
from the date Lender receives the notice, pay an amount equal to 21 days’ interest from the date lender receives the notice,
less any interest accrued during the 21 days and paid under subparagraph b., above.


 


If Borrower does not prepay within 30 days from the
date Lender receives the notice, Borrower must give Lender a new notice.


 


All remaining principal and accrued interest is due
and payable 2 years and 0 months from date of Note.


 


		4.	DEFAULT:



 


Borrower is in default under this Note if Borrower
does not make a payment when due under this Note, or if Borrower or Operating Company:


 


		A.	Fails to do anything required by this Note and other Loan Documents;



 


		B.	Defaults on any other loan with Lender;



 


		C.	Does not preserve, or account to Lender’s satisfaction for, any of the Collateral or its proceeds;



 


		D.	Does not disclose, or anyone acting on their behalf does not disclose, any material fact to Lender or SBA;



 


		E.	Makes, or anyone acting on their behalf makes, a materially false or misleading representation to Lender or SBA;



 


		F.	Defaults on any loan or agreement with another creditor, if Lender believes the default may materially affect Borrower’s
ability to pay this Note;



 


		G.	Fails to pay any taxes when due;



 


		H.	Becomes the subject of a proceeding under any bankruptcy or insolvency law;



 


		I.	Has a receiver or liquidator appointed for any part of their business or property;



 






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		J.	Makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors;



 


		K.	Has any adverse change in financial condition or business operation that Lender believes may materially affect Borrower’s
ability to pay this Note;



 


		L.	Reorganizes, merges, consolidates, or otherwise changes ownership or business structure without Lender’s prior written
consent; or



 


		M.	Becomes the subject of a civil or criminal action that Lender believes may materially affect Borrower’s ability to pay
this Note.



 


		5.	LENDER’S RIGHTS IF THERE IS A DEFAULT:



 


Without notice or demand and without giving up any
of its rights, Lender may:


 


		A.	Require immediate payment of all amounts owing under this Note;



 


		B.	Collect all amounts owing from any Borrower or Guarantor;



 


		C.	File suit and obtain judgment;



 


		D.	Take possession of any Collateral; or



 


		E.	Sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of, any Collateral at public or private sale, with or without advertisement.



 


		6.	LENDER’S GENERAL POWERS:



 


Without notice and without Borrower’s consent,
Lender may:


 


		A.	Bid on or buy the Collateral at its sale or the sale of another lienholder, at any price it chooses;



 


		B.	Incur expenses to collect amounts due under this Note, enforce the terms of this Note or any other Loan Document, and preserve
or dispose of the Collateral. Among other things, the expenses may include payments for property taxes, prior liens, insurance,
appraisals, environmental remediation costs, and reasonable attorney’s fees and costs. If Lender incurs such expenses, it
may demand immediate repayment from Borrower or add the expenses to the principal balance;



 


		C.	Release anyone obligated to pay this Note;



 


		D.	Compromise, release, renew, extend or substitute any of the Collateral; and



 


		E.	Take any action necessary to protect the Collateral or collect amounts owing on this Note.



 


		7.	WHEN FEDERAL LAW APPLIES:



 


When SBA is the holder, this Note will be interpreted
and enforced under federal law, including SBA regulations. Lender or SBA may use state or local procedures for filing papers, recording
documents, giving notice, foreclosing liens, and other purposes. By using such procedures, SBA does not waive any federal immunity
from state or local control, penalty, tax, or liability. As to this Note, Borrower may not claim or assert against SBA any local
or state law to deny any obligation, defeat any claim of SBA, or preempt federal law.


 


		8.	SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS:



 


Under this Note, Borrower and Operating Company include
the successors of each, and Lender includes its successors and assigns.


 


		9.	GENERAL PROVISIONS:



 





		A.	All individuals and entities signing this Note are jointly and severally liable.





 






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		B.	Borrower waives all suretyship defenses.



 


		C.	Borrower must sign all documents necessary at any time to comply with the Loan Documents and to enable Lender to acquire, perfect,
or maintain Lender’s liens on Collateral.



 


		D.	Lender may exercise any of its rights separately or together, as many times and in any order it chooses. Lender may delay or
forgo enforcing any of its rights without giving up any of them.



 


		E.	Borrower may not use an oral statement of Lender or SBA to contradict or alter the written terms of this Note.



 


		F.	If any part of this Note is unenforceable, all other parts remain in effect.



 


		G.	To the extent allowed by law, Borrower waives all demands and notices in connection with this Note, including presentment,
demand, protest, and notice of dishonor. Borrower also waives any defenses based upon any claim that Lender did not obtain any
guarantee; did not obtain, perfect, or maintain a lien upon Collateral; impaired Collateral; or did not obtain the fair market
value of Collateral at a sale.



 


		10.	STATE-SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:



 


WARRANT OF ATTORNEY/CONFESSION OF JUDGMENT. In addition
to any other remedies Lender may possess, Borrower knowingly, voluntarily and intentionally authorizes any attorney to appear on
behalf of Borrower, from time to time, in any court of record possessing jurisdiction over this Note and to waive issuance and
service of process and to confess judgment in favor of Lender against Borrower, for the unpaid principal, accrued interest, accrued
charges, reasonable attorney fees and court costs and such other amount due under this Note.


 


		11.	BORROWER’S NAME(S) AND SIGNATURE(S):



 


By signing below, each individual or entity becomes
obligated under this Note as Borrower.


 


	Cohen & Company, LLC, a Delaware LLC	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	/s/
    Daniel G. Cohen	 	May 4, 20202	 
	Signature of Authorized Representative
    of Borrower 	 	Date
	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	Daniel Cohen	 	Founder and Chairman
	Name of Authorized Representative of Borrower
    	 	Title




 






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