JMP Group Inc.

Under current law and assuming full compliance with the terms of the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of JMP Group LLC (the “LLC agreement”) (and other relevant documents) and based upon factual representations that were made by us, we received an opinion of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP (“Orrick”), to the effect that JMP Group LLC will be treated as a partnership, and not as an association or a publicly-traded partnership taxable as a corporation, for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The factual representations that were made by us upon which Orrick relied relate to our organization, operation, assets, activities, income (including our ability to satisfy the qualifying income exception discussed below), and present and future conduct of our operations. Opinions of counsel, however, are not binding on the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) and no assurance can be given that the IRS will not assert, or that a court would not sustain, a contrary position.

In general, if a partnership is “publicly-traded” (as defined in the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”)), it will be treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income purposes. A publicly-traded partnership will, however, be taxed as a partnership, and not as a corporation, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, so long as 90% or more of its gross income for each taxable year constitutes “qualifying income” within the meaning of Section 7704(d) of the Code. We refer to this exception as the “qualifying income exception.” Qualifying income generally includes rents, dividends, interest (to the extent such interest is neither derived from the conduct of a trade or business nor based, directly or indirectly, upon income or profits of any person), and capital gains from the sale or other disposition of stocks, bonds and real property. Qualifying income also includes other income derived from the business of investing in, among other things, stocks and securities.

In order for JMP Group LLC to be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and not as an association or publicly-traded partnership taxable as a corporation, it must satisfy the qualifying income exception, which will require that at least 90% of its gross income each taxable year consist of interest, dividends, capital gains and other types of “qualifying income.” Interest income will not be qualifying income for the purposes of the qualifying income exception if it is derived from the conduct of a trade or business or is based, directly or indirectly, upon the income or profits of any person. This requirement will limit JMP Group LLC’s (and certain of its subsidiary’s) ability to originate loans. In addition, it is intended that JMP Group LLC (and its subsidiaries) will operate so as to avoid generating a significant amount of income that is treated as effectively connected with the conduct of a U.S. trade or business with respect to non-U.S. holders. In order to comply with these requirements, JMP Group LLC (or its subsidiaries) may be required to invest through non-U.S. or domestic corporations or forego attractive business or investment opportunities. Thus, compliance with these requirements may adversely affect JMP Group LLC’s ability to maximize revenue or net income.

We could incur a significant tax liability if the IRS successfully asserts that the “anti-stapling” rules apply to JMP Group LLC’s investments in JMP Group Inc. and certain of our non-U.S. CLO issuers, which could result in a reduction in cash flow and after-tax return for holders of shares and thus could result in a reduction of the value of those shares.

In general, expenses incurred by JMP Group LLC that are considered “miscellaneous itemized deductions” may be deducted by a holder of shares of JMP Group LLC that is an individual, estate or trust only to the extent that a holder’s allocable share of those expenses, along with the holder’s other miscellaneous itemized deductions, exceed, in the aggregate, 2% of the holder’s adjusted gross income. Additionally, in the case of individuals whose adjusted gross income exceeds a specified amount, miscellaneous itemized deductions in excess of the 2% threshold, when combined with certain of the individual taxpayer’s other itemized deductions, generally will be reduced by the lesser of (i) 3% of the holder’s adjusted gross income in excess of a threshold amount or (ii) 80% of the amount of itemized deductions otherwise allowable for such year. In addition, these expenses are also not deductible in determining the alternative minimum tax liability of a holder. Your inability to deduct all or a portion of such expenses, among other things, could result in an amount of taxable income to you with respect to JMP Group LLC that exceeds the amount of cash actually distributed to you for the year.

In the case of a disposition of shares of JMP Group LLC, debt of JMP Group LLC must be taken into account under the partnership tax accounting rules.

We anticipate that our foreign CLO issuers that are taxed as corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes, generally will continue to conduct their activities in such a way as not to be deemed to be engaged in a U.S. trade or business and not to be subject to U.S. federal income tax. There can be no assurance, however, that our foreign CLO issuers will not pursue investments or engage in activities that may cause them to be engaged in a U.S. trade or business. Moreover, there can be no assurance that as a result of any change in applicable law, treaty, rule or regulation or interpretation thereof, the activities of any of our foreign CLO issuers will not become subject to U.S. federal income tax. Further, there can be no assurance that unanticipated activities of our foreign CLO issuers will not cause such entities to become subject to U.S. federal income tax. If any of our foreign CLO issuers became subject to U.S. federal income tax (including the U.S. federal branch profits tax), it would significantly reduce the amount of cash available for distribution to us, which in turn could have an adverse impact on the value of our shares. Although our foreign CLO issuers generally are not expected to be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis, such entities may receive income that is subject to withholding taxes imposed by the United States or other countries.

Many factors could affect some or all of the anticipated benefits of the Reorganization Transaction, which we recently completed. The U.S. federal income tax treatment of holders of shares of JMP Group LLC depends in some instances on determinations of fact and interpretations of complex provisions of U.S. federal income tax law for which no clear precedent or authority may be available. You also should be aware that the U.S. federal income tax rules are constantly under review by the IRS, resulting in revised interpretations of established concepts. The IRS pays close attention to the proper application of tax laws to partnerships and investments in non-U.S. entities. The present U.S. federal income tax treatment of an investment in shares of JMP Group LLC may be modified by administrative, legislative or judicial interpretation at any time, and any such action may affect investments and commitments previously made. We and holders of shares of JMP Group LLC could be adversely affected by any such change, or by new tax law, regulation or interpretation. Our organizational documents and agreements permit our Manager to modify the LLC agreement from time to time, without the consent of the holders of shares of JMP Group LLC, in order to address certain changes in U.S. federal income tax regulations, legislation or interpretation. In some circumstances, such revisions could have an adverse impact on some or all of the holders of shares. Moreover, we intend to apply certain assumptions and conventions in an attempt to comply with applicable rules and to report income, gain, deduction, loss and credit to you in a manner that reflects your distributive share of JMP Group LLC’s items, including the monthly convention pursuant to which items of taxable income, gain, loss deduction and credit generally will be determined annually and will be prorated on a monthly basis, but these assumptions and conventions may not be in compliance with all aspects of applicable tax requirements. It is possible that the IRS may assert successfully that the conventions and assumptions we use do not satisfy the technical requirements of the Code and/or Treasury Regulations and could require that items of income, gain, deduction, loss or credit be adjusted or reallocated in a manner that adversely affects holders of shares of JMP Group LLC.