Document:

Exhibit 10.4

    

    

    Expense Sharing Agreement

    

    

    This Agreement is made as of the 23rd day of November, 2016 between G.research, LLC (formerly
      Gabelli & Company, Inc.) (“the Firm”) and Associated Capital Group, Inc. (“AC” or “the Parent Company”), a Delaware corporation headquartered in Rye, New York and the Firm’s parent company as of November 30, 2015 subsequent to AC’s formation and
      its spin-off (“the Spin-off’) from GAMCO Investors, Inc. (“GBL”).

    

    

    WHEREAS, the Firm desires to utilize AC as paymaster of certain direct and shared expenses of the Firm, excluding payroll, and AC desires to accept such service, in each case on
      terms and conditions set forth herein; and

    

    

    NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and covenants set forth herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
      acknowledged, the parties hereto, each intending to be legally bound hereby, agree as follows:

    

    

    1.           The Firm shall maintain copies of this Agreement pursuant to SEC Rules 17a-3 and 17a-4 and all related supporting documents
        provided by the Parent Company. The Firm has notified the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) of its entry into this Agreement, and shall notify FINRA promptly of any future amendment or restatement of this Agreement and/or of the
        Firm’s entry into any new or additional expense sharing agreement.

    

    

    2.           In the capacity of a corporate utility, AC shall serve as paymaster of certain expenses, excluding payroll, for its subsidiaries
        and certain affiliated entities, including the Firm, and also at times for GAMCO Investors, Inc. (“GBL”) and its affiliates pursuant to the Transition Services Agreement entered into at the time of the Spin-off. GBL was the parent of the parent of
        the Firm prior to the formation of AC and the spin- off transaction (“the Spin-off’) that took place in November 2015. Shared expenses that are primarily for AC entities are normally paid by AC as paymaster, whereas shared expenses that are
        primarily for GBL entities are normally paid by GBL as paymaster. There is a separate expense sharing agreement between the Firm and GBL for those expenses for which it is the paymaster.

    

    

    AC’s paymaster function shall encompass both (a) certain direct expenses, including but not limited to regulatory fees, advertising, printing, and dues, which are fully allocated to the Firm; and
      (b) those expenses billed on certain shared invoices relating to the Firm as well as to the Parent Company and/or its affiliates or GAMCO Investors, Inc. (“GBL”) and/or its affiliates, as provided below.

    

    

    3.           When incurred, expenses related to the Firm shall be properly reflected as part of its general ledger, and the proper backup
        documentation related to the expense shall be maintained by the Firm.

    

    

    
      
        

    

    4.          Expenses payable by the Parent Company that are unpaid and attributable to the Firm shall be included in the Firm’s net capital
        computation by adjustments which reduce the Firm’s net capital and increase its aggregate indebtedness by the amount of such unpaid expenses, if applicable. The Firm shall reimburse the Parent Company monthly for these expenses.

    

    

    5.           The Firm is legally obligated to vendors for expenses billed directly to it. For those expenses due on shared invoices related
        to the Firm and billed to the Parent and/or an affiliate, and then billed by the Parent and/or an affiliate to the Firm, the Parent and/or the affiliate billed by the vendor is legally obligated to that vendor for the expenses.

    

    

    6.          With regard to shared invoices, certain expenses shall be apportioned to the Firm based on various allocation methodologies as
        set forth below, which shall reflect appropriate and fair relative usage of the goods and services by the Firm and its employees. These allocation methodologies shall be reviewed by management of the Firm and of the Parent Company on a periodic
        basis to insure continued appropriateness.

    

    

    
      
        	

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                Rent shall be allocated to AC and subsidiaries (including the Firm) based on the sub-lease agreement effective 4/1/16 between AC and GBL. Rental expense shall then be apportioned to the Firm based on the amount of square footage
                  occupied by the Firm’s allocated staff.

              

      

    

    
      
        	

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                General office expenses such as supplies, telephone, and courier shall be allocated to the Firm based on headcount relative to other GBL and its affiliates’ and other AC and its affiliates’ headcount.

              

      

    

    
      
        	

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                IT services shall be allocated to the Firm based on users relative to other GBL and its affiliates’ users and other AC and its affiliates’ users.

              

      

    

    
      
        	

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                Health insurance shall be allocated based on the Firm’s participating staff and in percentages related to their payroll allocation as discussed in detail in the expense sharing agreement between the Firm and Gabelli & Company
                  Investment Advisors, Inc. (“GCIA”) (formerly Gabelli Securities, Inc.), the paymaster for payroll expenses.

              

      

    

    

    

    7.           All Firm expenses paid by the Parent Company shall generally be reimbursed to the Parent Company by the Firm at each month-end
        as part of the intercompany settlement process, and all expenses attributable to the Firm either accrued or paid shall be included in reports filed by the Firm with FINRA or the SEC; provided, however, that to the extent any operating expenses
        attributable to the Firm are paid by the Parent Company and are not included in reports filed by the Firm with FINRA or the SEC, such expenses shall be recorded by the Firm on a separate Schedule of Costs and maintained pursuant to SEC Rule 17a-4.

    

    

    8.          The Parent Company shall permit inspections of its books/records by FINRA and other regulatory organizations having jurisdiction
        thereof regarding the payment or allocation of expenses by the Parent Company, which are proportionately attributed to the Firm. The Parent Company shall provide the Firm with copies of expense allocation methodologies and copies of invoices paid
        by the Parent Company on behalf of the Firm.

    

    

    
      
        

    

    9.          The Firm shall have no obligation, direct or indirect, to reimburse or otherwise compensate AC or any other party for the
        expenses related to activities of the Firm other than as provided in this Amended Agreement, in the separate Amended and Restated Expense Sharing Agreement executed by the Firm and GCIA, an affiliated company of the Firm and a subsidiary of AC, or
        in the Expense Sharing Agreement executed by the Firm and GBL.

    

    

    
      
        

    

    Governing Law.

    

    

    This Agreement is intended to be performed primarily in the State of New York, and the laws of the State of New York will control any questions concerning the validity or interpretation of this
      Agreement.

    

    

    Counter parts.

    

    

    This Agreement may be executed as counterparts, each of which will constitute an original and all of which, when taken together, will constitute one agreement.

    

    

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

    

    

    	
            G.research, LLC (dba Gabelli & Company)

          	 
	 	 	 
	
            By:

          	
            /s/ Maria Gigi

          	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	
            Maria Gigi

          	 
	 	 	 
	 	
            Controller & Financial and Operations Principal

          	 

    

    

    	
            Associated Capital Group, In. c.

          	 
	 	 	 
	
            By:

          	
            /s/ Patrick Dennis

          	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	
            Patrick Dennis

          	 
	 	 	 
	 	
            Chief Financial OfficerExhibit 10.5

      

       

      

      LICENSE AGREEMENT

       

      This License Agreement (the “Agreement”), is entered into as of the October 31, 2019, by and between GAMCO Investors, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Licensor”), and
        G.research, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Licensee” and, together with Licensor, the “Parties”), and the Parties agree as follows:

      

      

      ARTICLE 1

       

      BACKGROUND AND DEFINITIONS

       

      1.1          Licensor has adopted, is using, and is the owner of certain rights, title and interests in the Licensed Marks (as defined in Section 1.4).

       

      1.2          Licensee desires to use the Licensed Marks in connection with the Licensed Services (as defined in Section 1.5).

       

      1.3          Licensor desires to license the Licensed Marks to Licensee to be used in connection with the Licensed Services subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

       

      1.4          “Licensed Marks” means all right, title and interest of Licensor in the phrase Private Market Value with a CatalystTM which is a valuable service mark that represents
        a fundamental research methodology developed by Licensor.

       

      1.5          “Licensed Services” means the institutional research services carried out by the Licensee and ancillary activities reasonably related thereto.

       

      ARTICLE 2

       

      LICENSE GRANT AND CONDITIONS OF LICENSED USE

       

      2.1          Licensor hereby grants Licensee a non-exclusive, non-transferable, non-sublicensable license, during the term of this Agreement, to use and display the Licensed Marks in the United States and in such other
        jurisdictions, if any, as Licensee shall reasonably require in order to conduct its business, provided that use in such other jurisdictions are consented to in writing by the Licensor (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld), in
        connection with the Licensed Services.

       

      2.2          The license granted herein share be royalty free.

       

      2.3          The Licensed Marks shall remain the exclusive property of Licensor and nothing in this Agreement shall give Licensee any right or interest in the Licensed Marks except the licenses expressly granted in
        this Agreement.

       

      
        
          

      

      
      2.4          All of Licensor’s rights in and to the Licensed Marks, including, but not limited to, the right to use and to grant others the right to use the Licensed Marks, are reserved by Licensor.

       

      2.5          No license, right, or immunity is granted by either Party to the other, either expressly or by implication, or by estoppel, or otherwise with respect to any trademarks, copyrights, or trade dress, or other
        property right, other than with respect to the Licensed Marks in accordance with Section 2.1.

       

      2.6          All use of the Licensed Marks by Licensee, and all goodwill associated with such use, shall inure to the benefit of Licensor.

       

      2.7          Licensee acknowledges that Licensor is the sole owner of all right, title and interest in and to the Licensed Marks, and that Licensee has not acquired, and shall not acquire, any right, title or interest
        in or to the Licensed Marks except the right to use the Licensed Marks in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

       

      2.8          Licensee shall not register the Licensed Marks in any jurisdiction without Licensor’s express prior written consent, and Licensor shall retain the exclusive right to apply for and obtain registrations for
        the Licensed Marks throughout the world.

       

      2.9          Licensee shall not challenge the validity of the Licensed Marks, nor shall Licensee challenge Licensor’s ownership of the Licensed Marks or the enforceability of Licensor’s rights therein.

       

      2.10        Licensee shall use the Licensed Marks in a form which is in accordance with sound trademark practice so as not to weaken the value of the Licensed Marks. Licensee shall use the Licensed Marks in a manner
        that does not derogate, based on an objective business standard, Licensor’s rights in the Licensed Marks or the value of the Licensed Marks, and shall take no action that would, based on an objective standard, interfere with, diminish or tarnish
        those rights or value.

       

      2.11        Licensee agrees to cooperate, at Licensor’s expense for any out-of-pocket costs incurred by Licensee, with Licensor’s preparation and filing of any applications, renewals or other documentation necessary or
        useful to protect and/or enforce Licensor’s intellectual property rights in the Licensed Marks and agrees to the following.

       

      (a)          Licensee shall notify Licensor promptly of any actual or threatened infringements, limitations or unauthorized uses of the Licensed Marks of which Licensee becomes aware.

       

      (b)          Licensor shall have the sole right, though it is under no obligation, to bring any action for any past, present and future infringements of its intellectual property rights in the Licensed Marks.

       

      (c)          Licensee shall cooperate with Licensor, at Licensor’s expense for any out-of-pocket costs incurred by Licensee, in any efforts by Licensor to enforce its rights in the Licensed Marks or to prosecute third
        party infringers of the Licensed Marks.

       

      
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      (d)          Licensor shall be entitled to retain any and all damages and other monies awarded or otherwise paid in connection with any such action.

       

      2.12        Licensee shall bear the exclusive responsibility to assure that any activities Licensee undertakes in connection with the use of the Licensed Marks comply with all applicable statutes, laws, ordinance,
        codes, regulations, rules or requirements of any government, governmental authority, regulatory agency or self-regulatory body wherever located.

       

      ARTICLE 3

       

      TERM AND TERMINATION

       

      3.1          Either Party may terminate this Agreement upon 30 days prior written notice.

       

      3.2          Upon termination of this Agreement, Licensee shall immediately cease all use of the Licensed Marks.

       

      ARTICLE 4

       

      GENERAL PROVISIONS

       

      4.1          Indemnification. Licensee, at Licensee’s own expense, shall indemnify, hold harmless and defend Licensor, its affiliates, successors and assigns, and its and their directors, officers, employees and
        agents, against any claim, demand, cause of action, debt, expense or liability (including attorneys’ fees and costs), to the extent that the foregoing (a) results from a material breach, or is based on a claim that, if true, would be a material
        breach, of this Agreement by Licensee, or (b) is based upon Licensee’s use of the Licensed Marks other than in accordance with this Agreement.

       

      4.2          LIMITATION OF WARRANTY AND LIABILITY. LICENSOR DOES NOT MAKE WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED, RELATED TO OR ARISING OUT OF THE LICENSED MARK OR THIS AGREEMENT.

       

      (a)          LICENSOR SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT AND TITLE, AND ALL OTHER WARRANTIES THAT MAY OTHERWISE ARISE FROM COURSE OF
        DEALING, USAGE OF TRADE OR CUSTOM.

       

      (b)          IN NO EVENT SHALL LICENSOR OR ANY OF ITS DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, LICENSORS, SUPPLIERS OR OTHER REPRESENTATIVES BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, OR DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF
        PROFITS, BUSINESS INTERRUPTION, LOSS OF GOODWILL, COMPUTER FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE LICENSED MARK, EVEN IF LICENSOR IS EXPRESSLY ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. The foregoing
        limitation of liability and exclusion of certain damages shall apply regardless of the failure of essential purpose of any remedies available to either party.

       

      
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      4.3          Non-Transferable Agreement Licensee may not assign this Agreement and/or any rights and/or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of Licensor and any such attempted assignment shall
        be void.

       

      4.4          Remedies. Licensee acknowledges that a material breach of its obligations under this Agreement would cause Licensor irreparable damage. Accordingly, Licensee agrees that in the event of such breach
        or threatened breach, in addition to remedies at law, Licensor shall have the right to seek to enjoin Licensee from the unlawful and/or unauthorized use of the Licensed Marks and seek other equitable relief to protect Licensor’s rights in the
        Licensed Marks.

       

      4.5          Integration. This Agreement contains the entire agreement of the Parties. No promise, inducement, representation or agreement, other than as expressly set forth herein, has been made to or by the
        Parties hereto. All prior agreements and understandings related to the subject matter hereof, whether written or oral, are expressly superseded hereby and are of no further force or effect.

       

      4.6          Binding Agreement. This Agreement shall be binding upon the Parties’ permitted assigns and successors and references to each Party shall include such assigns and successors.

       

      4.7          Amendment. This Agreement cannot be altered, amended or modified in any respect, except by a writing duly signed by both Parties.

       

      4.8          No Strict Construction. The normal rule of construction to the effect that any ambiguities are to be resolved against the drafting Party shall not be employed in the interpretation of this
        Agreement. Headings are for reference only and shall not affect the meaning of any of the provisions of this Agreement.

       

      4.9          Waiver. At no time shall any failure or delay by either party in enforcing any provisions, exercising any option, or requiring performance of any provisions, be construed to be a waiver of same.

       

      4.10          Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Service of Process. The provisions of this Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York (excluding any conflict of
        law rule or principle that would refer to the laws of another jurisdiction).  Each Party hereto irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in New York, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to
        this Agreement, and each Party hereby irrevocably agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding must be brought and/or defended in any such court; provided, however, that matters which are under the exclusive jurisdiction of
        the federal courts shall be brought in the Federal District Court for the District of New York.  Each Party hereto consents to service of process by any means authorized by the applicable law of the forum in any action brought under or arising out
        of this Agreement, and each Party irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent each may effectively do so, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.

       

      
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      4.11        Attorney’s Fees. In the event any suit or other legal proceeding is brought for the enforcement of any of the provisions of this Agreement, the Parties hereto agree that the prevailing party shall
        be entitled to recover from the other party upon final judgment on the merits reasonable attorneys’ fees (and sales taxes thereon, if any), including attorneys’ fees for any appeal, and costs incurred in bringing such suit or proceeding.

       

      4.12        Relationship of the Parties. Nothing in this Agreement will be construed as creating a joint venture, partnership, or employment relationship between Licensor and Licensee. Neither Party will have
        the right, power or implied authority to create any obligation or duty on behalf of the other Party.

       

      4.13        Notices. Unless otherwise specified in this Agreement, all notices shall be in writing and delivered personally, mailed, first class mail, postage prepaid, or delivered by confirmed electronic or
        digital means, to the addresses set forth at the beginning of this Agreement and to the attention of the undersigned. Either Party may change the addresses or addressees for notice by giving notice to the other. All notices shall be deemed given on
        the date personally delivered, when placed in the mail as specified or when electronic or digital confirmation is received.

       

      4.14        Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, by manual or facsimile signature, each of which will be deemed an original and all of which together will constitute one and the same
        instrument.

       

      [THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

       

      
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      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.

       

      	 	
              GAMCO INVESTORS, INC.,

            
	 	 
	 	
              
                /s/ Kevin Handwerker

              

            	 
	 	
              Name:  Kevin Handwerker

            
	 	
              Title:  General Counsel

            
	 	 
	 	 
	 	 
	 	 
	 	
              G.RESEARCH, LLC

            
	 	 
	 	
              
                /s/ Vincent M. Amabile, Jr.

              

            	 
	 	
              Name: Vincent M. Amabile, Jr.

            
	 	
              Title: President

            

      
         

        

         

        

        [Signature Page to License Agreement]

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