AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO PURCHASE AND CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

EXHIBIT 2.6

AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO PURCHASE AND CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO PURCHASE AND CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT, dated as of October 29, 2010 (this “Amendment”) is made by and among Cohen & Company Inc. (“Parent”), Cohen Brothers, LLC (“Cohen Brothers”), JVB Financial Holdings, L.L.C. (“Company”), the Sellers listed on Annex I to the original Purchase and Contribution Agreement dated September 14, 2010 (the “Original Agreement”) and the Management Employees (as defined in the Original Agreement).

BACKGROUND

WHEREAS, in furtherance of the transactions contemplated by the Original Agreement, the parties desire to change the Termination Date (as defined in Section 10.1(b) of the Original Agreement) from October 31, 2010 to December 31, 2010.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

AMENDMENT OF MERGER AGREEMENT

1.1 Amendment of Definition of Termination Date. The definition of Termination Date set forth in Section 10.1(b) of the Original Agreement is hereby changed from October 31, 2010 to December 31, 2010.

ARTICLE II

MISCELLANEOUS

2.1 Definitions. Unless otherwise defined herein, all capitalized terms shall have the meanings specified or referred to in the Original Agreement.

2.2 Governing Law. This amendment shall in all respects be construed in accordance with and governed by the substantive laws of the state of New York.

2.3 Counterparts and Other Matters. This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of which will constitute one and the same instrument and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other parties. Facsimile or other electronic transmission of any signed original document shall be deemed the same as delivery of an original. Except as provided in this Amendment, the Original Agreement shall remain in full force and effect in accordance with its terms.

[Signature pages follow]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Amendment as of the date first written above.