BGC Group, Inc. - Quarter Report: 2009 September (Form 10-Q)

September 30,
2009

December 31,
2008

Form 10-Q

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

x	QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the Quarterly Period Ended September 30, 2009

¨	TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Commission File Number: 0-28191

BGC Partners, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware

13-4063515

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)


499 Park Avenue, New York, NY		10022
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip Code)

(212) 610-2200

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. x Yes ¨ No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). ¨ Yes ¨ No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):


Large accelerated filer ¨		Accelerated filer x
Non-accelerated filer ¨ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)		Smaller reporting company ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). ¨ Yes x No

On November 4, 2009, the registrant had 55,403,244 shares of Class A common stock, $0.01 par value, and 26,448,107 shares of Class B common stock, $0.01 par value, outstanding.

BGC PARTNERS, INC.

TABLE OF CONTENTS


		Page
PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION		5

ITEM 1	Financial Statements (unaudited)

	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition—At September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008	5

	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations—For the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009 and September 30, 2008	6

	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows—For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009 and September 30, 2008	7

	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity—For the Year Ended December 31, 2008	9

	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity—For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009	10

	Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements	11

ITEM 2	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	35

ITEM 3	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Risk	56

ITEM 4	Controls and Procedures	57

PART II—OTHER INFORMATION		57

ITEM 1	Legal Proceedings	57

ITEM 1A	Risk Factors	57

ITEM 2	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	61

ITEM 3	Defaults Upon Senior Securities	61

ITEM 4	Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders	61

ITEM 5	Other Information	61

ITEM 6	Exhibits	61

SIGNATURES		62

SPECIAL NOTE ON FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Such statements are based upon current expectations that involve risks and uncertainties. Any statements contained herein that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. For example, words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue,” “strategy,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “expects,” “intends” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements.

Our actual results and the outcome and timing of certain events may differ significantly from the expectations discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause or contribute to such a discrepancy include, but are not limited to:

•

our relationship with Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P. and its affiliates (“Cantor”) and any related conflicts of interest, competition for and retention of brokers and other managers and key employees, support for liquidity and capital and other relationships;

•

pricing and commissions and market position with respect to any of our products and services and those of our competitors;

•

the effect of industry concentration and reorganization, reduction of customers and consolidation;

•

liquidity, clearing capital requirements and the impact of recent credit market events;

•

market conditions, including trading volume and volatility, and further deterioration of the debt capital markets;

•

economic or geopolitical conditions or uncertainties;

•

the extensive regulation of the Company’s businesses, changes in regulations relating to the financial services industry, and risks relating to compliance matters;

•

factors related to specific transactions or series of transactions, including credit, performance and unmatched principal risk, counterparty failure, and the impact of fraud and unauthorized trading;

•

the costs and expenses of developing, maintaining and protecting intellectual property, including judgments or settlements paid or received in connection with intellectual property, or employment or other litigation and their related costs;

•

certain financial risks, including the possibility of future losses and negative cash flow from operations, potential liquidity and other risks relating to the ability to obtain financing or refinancing of existing debt and risks of the resulting leverage, as well as interest and currency rate fluctuations;

•

the ability to enter new markets or develop new products, trading desks, marketplaces or services and to induce customers to use these products, trading desks, marketplaces or services and to secure and maintain market share;

•

the ability to enter into marketing and strategic alliances and other transactions, including acquisitions, dispositions, reorganizations, partnering opportunities and joint ventures, and the integration of any completed transactions;

•

the ability to hire new personnel;

•

the ability to expand the use of technology for hybrid and fully electronic trading;

•

effectively managing any growth that may be achieved;

•

financial reporting, accounting and internal control factors, including identification of any material weaknesses in our internal controls and our ability to prepare historical and pro forma financial statements and reports in a timely manner;

•

the effectiveness of risk management policies and procedures, and the impact of unexpected market moves and similar events;

•

the ability to meet expectations with respect to payments of dividends and repurchases of our common stock or purchases of BGC Holdings, L.P. (“BGC Holdings”) limited partnership interests or other equity interests in our subsidiaries, including from Cantor, our executive officers, and our employees; and

•

the risks and other factors described herein under the heading “Item 1A—Risk Factors.”

The foregoing risks and uncertainties, as well as those risks discussed under the headings “Item 2—Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Item 3—Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Risk” and elsewhere in this Form 10-Q, may cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. The information included herein is given as of the filing date of this Form 10-Q with the SEC, and future events or circumstances could differ significantly from these forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

Our Internet website address is www.bgcpartners.com. Through our Internet website, we make available, free of charge, the following reports as soon as reasonably practicable after electronically filing them with, or furnishing them to, the SEC: our annual reports on Form 10-K; our proxy statements for our annual and special stockholder meetings; our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q; our current reports on Form 8-K; Forms 3, 4 and 5 and Schedules 13D and 13G filed on behalf of Cantor, our directors and our executive officers; and amendments to those reports.

PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION

BGC PARTNERS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

(in thousands)


	(unaudited) September 30, 2009			December 31, 2008
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	423,419		$	204,930
Cash segregated under regulatory requirements		2,199			5,101
Reverse repurchase agreements		47,059			—
Reverse repurchase agreements with related parties		3,126			151,224
Loan receivables from related parties		980			980
Securities owned		1,443			887
Marketable securities		1,565			920
Receivables from brokers, dealers, clearing organizations, customers and related broker-dealers		545,947			177,831
Accrued commissions receivable, net		123,670			127,639
Forgivable loans and other receivables from employees and partners		98,329			80,597
Fixed assets, net		134,120			136,812
Investments		25,451			26,559
Goodwill		75,851			63,500
Other intangible assets, net		14,451			17,066
Receivables from related parties		10,847			14,780
Other assets		54,399			59,515

Total assets	$	1,562,856		$	1,068,341

Liabilities, Redeemable Partnership Interest, and Total Equity
Accrued compensation	$	150,613		$	113,547
Securities sold, not yet purchased		2,121			321
Payables to brokers, dealers, clearing organizations, customers and related broker-dealers		537,288			119,262
Payables to related parties		46,702			50,316
Accounts payable, accrued and other liabilities		200,728			177,340
Deferred revenue		11,252			13,774
Notes payable and collateralized borrowings		169,000			150,000

Total liabilities		1,117,704			624,560
Redeemable partnership interest (Note 2)		103,917			102,579
Equity (Note 2)
Stockholders’ equity:
Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share; 500,000 shares authorized; 69,543 and 61,735 shares issued at September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively; and 55,006 and 51,222 shares outstanding at September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively		695			617
Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share; 100,000 shares authorized; 26,448 and 30,148 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively, convertible into Class A common stock		264			301
Additional paid-in capital		288,345			271,161
Treasury stock, at cost: 14,537 and 10,513 shares of Class A common stock at September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively		(89,756	)		(81,845	)
Retained earnings		2,689			1,958
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		532			(3,942	)

Total stockholders’ equity		202,769			188,250

Noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries (Note 2)		138,466			152,952

Total equity		341,235			341,202

Total liabilities, redeemable partnership interest, and equity	$	1,562,856		$	1,068,341

The accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral

part of these financial statements.

BGC PARTNERS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(in thousands, except per share data)

(unaudited)


	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2009			2008			2009			2008
Revenues:
Commissions	$	175,219		$	225,482		$	511,804		$	692,054
Principal transactions		90,608			48,832			288,307			166,790
Fees from related parties		14,945			19,409			43,101			58,921
Market data		4,824			4,842			13,688			15,487
Software solutions		1,759			2,109			6,027			5,646
Interest income		2,189			1,019			4,203			8,803
Other revenues		1,642			1,085			4,101			731
Losses on equity investments		(1,747	)		(1,910	)		(5,742	)		(4,982	)

Total revenues		289,439			300,868			865,489			943,450
Expenses:
Compensation and employee benefits		181,479			177,739			537,907			629,205
Allocation of income to founding/working partner units		1,065			3,716			9,417			10,849
Allocation of income to REUs		662			299			3,579			551

Total compensation and employee benefits		183,206			181,754			550,903			640,605
Occupancy and equipment		27,653			25,686			80,999			85,183
Fees to related parties		3,208			2,883			10,472			12,563
Professional and consulting fees		6,852			15,460			21,641			42,809
Communications		16,880			17,459			47,850			51,220
Selling and promotion		14,432			16,262			42,187			46,567
Commissions and floor brokerage		4,084			3,418			11,834			13,316
Interest expense		2,476			2,217			7,385			13,508
Other expenses		22,593			17,603			41,213			27,229

Total expenses		281,384			282,742			814,484			933,000
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries		8,055			18,126			51,005			10,450
Provision for income taxes		3,310			4,762			17,285			21,555

Consolidated net income (loss)		4,745			13,364			33,720			(11,105	)

Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries		2,570			6,511			15,397			18,591

Net income (loss) available to common stockholders	$	2,175		$	6,853		$	18,323		$	(29,696	)

Per share data:
Basic earnings (loss) per share
Net income (loss) available to common stockholders	$	2,175		$	6,853		$	18,323		$	(29,696	)

Basic earnings (loss) per share	$	0.03		$	0.08		$	0.23		$	(0.26	)

Basic weighted average shares of common stock outstanding		79,891			82,432			79,794			114,198

Fully diluted earnings (loss) per share
Net income (loss) for fully diluted shares	$	5,967		$	16,446		$	47,263		$	(29,696	)

Fully diluted earnings (loss) per share	$	0.03		$	0.08		$	0.23		$	(0.26	)

Fully diluted weighted average shares of common stock outstanding		215,620			196,574			208,813			114,198

Dividends declared per share of common stock	$	0.09		$	0.10		$	0.22		$	0.23

Dividends declared and paid per share of common stock	$	0.09		$	—		$	0.22		$	0.13

The accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral

part of these financial statements.

BGC PARTNERS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)

(unaudited)


	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2009			2008
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Consolidated net income (loss)	$	33,720		$	(11,105	)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Compensation related to partner redemptions and exchangeability of founding partner units		(1,079	)		84,255
Allocation of income to founding/working partner units and REUs		12,995			11,400
Fixed asset depreciation and intangible asset amortization		39,470			43,414
Forgivable loan amortization		22,416			22,339
Charitable contributions		10,070			6,387
Stock-based compensation		16,915			5,854
Other investment losses		5,742			4,982
Deferred tax (benefit)		(5,797	)		(1,331	)
Recognition of deferred revenue		(10,383	)		(7,703	)
Other		196			—

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Decrease in cash segregated under regulatory requirements		2,902			2,305
(Increase) decrease in reverse repurchase agreements		(47,059	)		1,052
Increase in reverse repurchase agreements with related parties		—			(20	)
(Increase) decrease in securities owned		(556	)		14,511
Increase in receivables from brokers, dealers, clearing organizations, customers and related broker-dealers		(360,332	)		(361,100	)
Decrease (increase) in accrued commissions receivable, net		4,185			(15,688	)
Decrease (increase) in receivables from related parties		3,933			(24,563	)
Increase in forgivable loans and other receivables from employees and partners		(40,148	)		(38,678	)
Increase in loan receivables from related parties		—			(980	)
Decrease in other assets		5,528			3,347
Increase in securities sold, not yet purchased		1,800			2,301
Increase in payables to brokers, dealers, clearing organizations, customers and related broker-dealers		415,631			317,868
Increase in accrued compensation		14,684			18,346
Increase in deferred revenue		7,766			3,814
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable, accrued and other liabilities		20,143			(20,530	)
(Decrease) increase in payables to related parties		(3,614	)		21,232

Net cash provided by operating activities		149,128			81,709

(Continued)

BGC PARTNERS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)

(unaudited)


	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2009			2008
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Payment of secured loan by related party		—			65,000
Decrease in reverse repurchase agreements with related parties		148,098			—
Purchases of fixed assets		(19,798	)		(30,866	)
Capitalization of software development costs		(12,373	)		(15,339	)
Capitalization of patent defense and registration costs		(916	)		(1,697	)
Investment in Liquidez, net of cash acquired		(5,140	)		—
Investment of cash with related party		—			(62,156	)
Investment in Radix		—			(5,000	)
Investment in unconsolidated entities		(4,634	)		(3,036	)

Net cash provided/(used) by investing activities		105,237			(53,094	)

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Capital distribution upon separation / merger		—			(130,000	)
Notes Payable and collateralized borrowings		19,000			150,000
Repayments of long-term borrowings with related parties		—			(196,818	)
Proceeds from primary offering of Class A common stock, net		—			72,342
Repurchase of Class A common stock		(7,911	)		(16,603	)
Proceeds from exercises of stock options and warrants		—			1,174
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation		—			13
Earnings distributions to Cantor, founding/working and REU partners		(30,486	)		(20,797	)
Dividends to stockholders		(17,589	)		(11,673	)
Cancellation of restricted stock units in satisfaction of withholding tax requirements		—			(1,418	)

Net cash used in financing activities		(36,986	)		(153,780	)

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash		1,110			—
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		218,489			(125,165	)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		204,930			277,299

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	423,419		$	152,134


Supplemental cash information:
Cash paid during the period for taxes	$	13,716		$	13,759

Cash paid during the period for interest	$	5,438		$	11,232


Supplemental non-cash information
Conversion of Class B common stock into Class A common stock (par value)	$	37		$	10
Repurchase of Class A common stock		—		$	(5,046	)
Investment of non-cash assets in ELX		—		$	18,333
Issuance of equity instruments upon merger		—		$	(281,650	)
Fees related to primary offering of Class A common stock included in accounts payable and other accrued liabilities		—		$	(2,045	)
Forgiveness / net settlement of receivables from and payables to related parties, net, in conjunction with the separation and merger		—		$	4,354

The accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral

part of these financial statements.

BGC PARTNERS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

For the Year Ended December 31, 2008

(in thousands, except share amounts)

(unaudited)


	Members’ Equity			Class A Common Stock		Class B Common Stock			Additional Paid-in- Capital			Treasury Stock			Retained Earnings (Deficit)			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss			Noncontrolling Interest in Subsidiaries			Total
Balance, January 1, 2008	$	235,454		$	368	$	205		$	313,238		$	(62,597	)	$	(17,282	)	$	(61	)	$	2,352		$	471,677
Capital distribution to Cantor upon separation/merger		(130,000	)		—		—			—			—			—			—			—			(130,000	)
Contribution of common stock from Cantor upon separation/merger (9,618,764 Class A common stock and 12,350,307 Class B common stock)		(23,946	)		97		123			23,726			—			—			—			—			—
Settlement of intercompany balances upon separation/merger		4,354			—		—			—			—			—			—			—			4,354
Redemption of founding partner units upon separation/merger		84,063			—		—			—			—			—			—			—			84,063
Recapitalization upon merger; allocation of equity to founding partners and Cantor		(121,847	)		—		—			(93,309	)		—			—			—			113,038			(102,118	)
Conversion of Class B common stock to Class A common stock		—			27		(27	)		—			—			—			—			—			—
Primary offering of Class A common stock, net		—			100		—			28,403			—			—			—			43,839			72,342
Capital contribution by founding partners to cover 2008 Charity Day		—			—		—			6,191			—			—			—			—			6,191
Repurchase of Class A common stock, 4,011,072 shares		—			—		—			—			(19,248	)		—			—			—			(19,248	)
Dividends to stockholders		—			—		—			(19,468	)		—			868			—			—			(18,600	)
Earnings distributions to Cantor, founding/working and REU partners		—			—		—			—			—			—			—			(24,478	)		(24,478	)
Stock-based compensation		—			4		—			5,927			—			—			—			—			5,931
Issuance of Class A common stock upon exchange of founding partner units and distribution rights, 1,809,524 shares		—			18		—			6,783			—			—			—			—			6,801
Other		—			3		—			(330	)		—			3			—			(1,167	)		(1,491	)
Comprehensive income:
Consolidated net (loss) income		(48,078	)		—		—			—			—			18,369			—			19,368			(10,341	)
Other comprehensive income, net of tax
Change in cumulative translation adjustment		—			—		—			—			—			—			(2,448	)		—			(2,448	)
Unrealized loss on securities available-for-sale		—			—		—			—			—			—			(1,433	)		—			(1,433	)

Comprehensive (loss) income		(48,078	)		—		—			—			—			18,369			(3,881	)		19,368			(14,222	)

Balance, December 31, 2008	$	—		$	617	$	301		$	271,161		$	(81,845	)	$	1,958		$	(3,942	)	$	152,952		$	341,202

The accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these financial statements.

BGC PARTNERS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009

(in thousands, except share amounts)

(unaudited)


	BGC Partners, Inc. Stockholders
	Class A Common Stock		Class B Common Stock			Additional Paid-in-Capital			Treasury Stock			Retained Earnings			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss			Noncontrolling Interest in Subsidiaries			Total
Balance, December 31, 2008	$	617	$	301		$	271,161		$	(81,845	)	$	1,958		$	(3,942	)	$	152,952		$	341,202
Repurchase of Class A common stock, 4,023,959 shares		—		—			—			(7,911	)		—			—			—			(7,911	)
Conversion of Class B common stock to Class A common stock, 3,700,000 shares		37		(37	)		—			—			—			—			—			—
Stock-based compensation		—		—			9,627			—			—			—			—			9,627
Issuance of Class A common stock upon exchange of founding partner units and distribution rights, 3,682,163 shares		37		—			8,916			—			—			—			2,325			11,278
Re-allocation of equity due to additional investment by founding/working partners		—		—			(1,359	)		—			—			—			(10,192	)		(11,551	)
Dividends to stockholders		—		—			—			—			(17,589	)		—			—			(17,589	)
Earnings distributions to Cantor, founding/working and REU partners		—		—			—			—			—			—			(22,134	)		(22,134	)

Other		4		—			—			—			(3	)		—			(1	)		—
Comprehensive income:
Consolidated net income		—		—			—			—			18,323			—			15,397			33,720
Other comprehensive income, net of tax
Change in cumulative translation adjustment		—		—			—			—			—			3,534			399			3,933
Unrealized gain (loss) on securities available for sale		—		—			—			—			—			940			(280	)		660

Comprehensive income		—		—			—			—			18,323			4,474			15,516			38,313

Balance, September 30, 2009	$	695	$	264		$	288,345		$	(89,756	)	$	2,689		$	532		$	138,466		$	341,235

The accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

are an integral part of these financial statements.

BGC PARTNERS, INC.

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

1. Organization and Basis of Presentation

On April 1, 2008, BGC Partners, LLC merged with and into eSpeed, Inc. (“eSpeed”), which survived the merger and was renamed BGC Partners, Inc. (together with its subsidiaries, “BGC Partners,” “BGC” or the “Company”). In the merger, an aggregate of 133,860,000 shares of common stock and rights to acquire shares of BGC Partners were issued. Of these, 56,000,000 were in the form of Class B common stock or rights to acquire Class B common stock, and the remaining 77,860,000 were in the form of Class A common stock or rights to acquire Class A common stock. Stockholders of eSpeed held the same number and class of shares of BGC Partners common stock immediately after the merger that they held in eSpeed immediately prior to the merger. BGC Partners’ Class A common stock trades on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “BGCP.”

The merger has been accounted for as a combination of entities under common control. eSpeed was deemed the acquirer and BGC Partners, LLC was deemed the acquiree. According to Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) guidance on Business Combinations, since the merger was a transaction between entities under common control, the assets and liabilities of BGC Partners, LLC were transferred at historical cost and the results of operations and cash flows have been reflected in the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements as if the merger occurred as of the earliest period presented.

BGC Partners is a leading global financial intermediary to the financial markets specializing in the brokering of a broad range of financial products globally, including fixed income securities, interest rate swaps, foreign exchange, equities, equity derivatives, credit derivatives, commodities, futures, structured products and other instruments. BGC Partners also provides a full range of services, including trade execution, broker-dealer services, clearing, processing, information, and other back office services to a broad range of financial and non-financial institutions. Through its eSpeed and BGCantor Market Data brands, BGC Partners also offers financial technology solutions and market data and analytics related to select financial instruments and markets. BGC Partners’ customers include many of the world’s largest banks, broker-dealers, investment banks, trading firms, hedge funds, governments and investment firms. BGC Partners’ integrated platform is designed to provide flexibility to customers with regard to price discovery, execution and processing of transactions, and enables them to use voice, hybrid, or, where available, fully electronic brokerage services in connection with transactions executed either over the counter (“OTC”) or through an exchange. BGC Partners has offices in New York and London, as well as in Beijing (representative office), Chicago, Copenhagen, Hong Kong, Istanbul, Johannesburg, Mexico City, Moscow, Nyon, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Seoul, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo and Toronto.

The Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Certain information and footnote disclosure normally included in the financial statements prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted from this report as is permitted by SEC rules and regulations. However, the Company believes that the disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. This report should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes for the year ended December 31, 2008.

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements reflect the historical financial position, results of operations and cash flows of BGC Partners as if the merger occurred as of the earliest period presented, with the exception of certain capital and tax modifications which became effective as of April 1, 2008. Specifically, the historical financial statements of BGC Partners, for the periods prior to April 1, 2008, do not give effect to the following matters, which are described in more detail in Note 2, The Separation, Merger and Recapitalization, Note 3, Earnings Per Share and Note 17, Income Taxes:

•

The capitalization of the acquired net assets of BGC Partners, LLC;

•

Modification in tax structure;

•

Allocations of net income to founding/working partner units and REUs;

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Redeemable partnership interest;

•

Noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries held by Cantor; and

•

Basic and fully diluted earnings per share calculations.

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contain all normal and recurring adjustments that, in the opinion of management, are necessary for a fair presentation of the condensed consolidated statements of financial condition, the condensed consolidated statements of operations, the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows, and the condensed consolidated statements of changes in equity of the Company for the interim periods presented. The results of operations for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the entire fiscal year, which will end on December 31, 2009.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements:

In December 2007, the FASB issued guidance on Noncontrolling Interest in Consolidated Financial Statements to establish accounting and reporting standards for the noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary and for the deconsolidation of a subsidiary. It clarifies that a noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary is an ownership interest of the consolidated entity that should be reported as equity in the consolidated financial statements. This guidance also requires consolidated net income to be reported at amounts that include the amounts attributable to both the parent and the noncontrolling interest and requires disclosure, on the face of the consolidated statement of operations, of the amounts of consolidated net income attributable to the parent and to the noncontrolling interest. The Company adopted the provisions of this FASB guidance when it became effective on January 1, 2009.

In March 2008, the FASB issued guidance, Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, which requires enhanced disclosures about an entity’s derivative and hedging activities and thereby improves the transparency of financial reporting. Entities are required to provide enhanced disclosures about (a) how and why an entity uses derivative instruments, (b) how derivative instruments and related hedged items are accounted for under separate FASB guidance on the Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities and its related interpretations and (c) how derivative instruments and related hedged items affect an entity’s financial position, financial performance and cash flow. The new disclosure requirements are effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after November 15, 2008, with early adoption encouraged. The adoption of this FASB guidance did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

In April 2008, the FASB issued guidance on Determining the Useful Life of Intangible Assets, which amends the factors to be considered in determining the useful life of intangible assets. Its intent is to improve the consistency between the useful life of an intangible asset and the period of expected cash flows used to measure such asset’s fair value. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. The adoption of this FASB guidance did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

In June 2008, the FASB issued guidance on Determining Whether Instruments Granted in Share-Based Payment Transactions Are Participating Securities which addresses whether instruments granted in share-based payment transactions are participating securities prior to vesting and therefore need to be included in the earnings allocation in calculating earnings per share under the two-class method described in FASB guidance on Earnings per Share which requires companies to treat unvested share-based payment awards that have non-forfeitable rights to dividend or dividend equivalents as a separate class of securities in calculating earnings per share. This FASB guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. The adoption of this FASB guidance did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or earnings per share.

In June 2008, the Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) reached consensus on Determining Whether an Instrument (or Embedded Feature) is Indexed to an Entity’s Own Stock, which provides guidance about whether an instrument should be classified as equity and not marked to market for accounting purposes. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

In December 2007, the FASB issued guidance on Business Combinations which retains the fundamental requirements in that the acquisition method of accounting be used for all business combinations and for an acquirer to be identified for each business combination. This guidance amends the recognition provisions for assets and liabilities acquired in a business combination, including those arising from contractual and non-contractual contingencies. This FASB guidance also amends the recognition criteria for contingent consideration. The Company adopted this FASB guidance when it became effective on January 1, 2009.

In May 2009, the FASB issued guidance on Subsequent Events which establishes general standards for the disclosure of events that occur after the balance sheet date but before financial statements are issued or are available to be issued. This FASB guidance sets forth: 1) The period after the balance sheet date during which management of a reporting entity should evaluate events or transactions that may occur for potential recognition or disclosure in the financial statements. 2) The circumstances under which an entity should recognize events or transactions occurring after the balance sheet date in the financial statements and 3) The disclosures that an entity should make about events that occurred after the balance sheet date. This FASB guidance is effective for interim and annual financial periods ending after June 15, 2009. The adoption of this FASB guidance did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. See Note 20, Subsequent Events, for the required disclosures.

In June 2009, the FASB issued guidance on their Accounting Standards Codification and the Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. This FASB guidance establishes their Accounting Standards Codification (“Codification”) as the source of authoritative U.S. GAAP recognized by the FASB to be applied by nongovernmental entities. Rules and interpretative releases of the SEC under federal securities laws are also sources of authoritative U.S. GAAP for SEC registrants. All guidance contained in the Codification carries an equal level of authority. Codification is effective for financial statements issued for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. The adoption of this FASB guidance did not have a material effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

New Accounting Pronouncements:

In June 2009, the FASB issued an amendment to its guidance on Accounting for Transfers of Financial Assets. The key amendments of this guidance are the removal of the concept of a qualifying special-purpose entity (QSPE) from FASB guidance on, Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities and the elimination of the exception for QSPEs from the consolidation guidance of Variable Interest Entities. This FASB guidance also clarifies the unit of account eligible for sale accounting and requires that a transferor recognize and initially measure at fair value, all financial assets obtained and

liabilities incurred as a result of a transfer of an entire financial asset (or group of entire financial assets) accounted for as a sale. In addition, this guidance requires enhanced disclosures to provide greater transparency about transfers of financial assets and a transferor’s continuing involvement with transferred financial assets. This FASB guidance is effective as of January 1, 2010 for calendar year reporting entities. Early adoption is not permitted. The Company does not expect the adoption of this FASB guidance to have a material effect on its consolidated financial statements.

In June 2009 the FASB issued guidance that addresses the effects of eliminating the QSPE concept from existing accounting guidance and clarifies and amends certain key provisions, including the transparency of an enterprise’s involvement with variable interest entities (VIEs). The key changes resulting from this new FASB guidance are the requirement of a qualitative rather than a quantitative analysis to determine the primary beneficiary of a VIE, the requirement of continuous assessments as to whether an enterprise is the primary beneficiary of a VIE, amendments to certain existing guidance related to the determination as to which entities are deemed VIEs, and the amendment of existing consideration of related party relationships in the determination of the primary beneficiary of a VIE. This FASB guidance also requires enhanced disclosures to provide more transparent information regarding an enterprise’s involvement with a VIE. This FASB guidance is effective as of January 1, 2010 for calendar year reporting entities and early adoption is not permitted. The Company does not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material effect on its consolidated financial statements.

2. The Separation, Merger and Recapitalization

The Separation

On March 31, 2008, Cantor contributed the businesses of its inter-dealer brokerage business, known as the BGC Division, to BGC Partners, LLC and its subsidiaries. As part of the separation, two operating partnerships, BGC Partners, L.P. (“BGC US”) and BGC Global Holdings, L.P. (“BGC Global”), were established as wholly-owned subsidiaries of BGC Holdings, L.P. (“BGC Holdings”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of BGC Partners, LLC.

In connection with the separation, Cantor redeemed certain limited partnership interests in Cantor held by certain of its limited partners for limited partnership interests in BGC Holdings and rights to receive, following the merger, distributions of the Company’s stock owned by Cantor. The limited partnership interests in BGC Holdings issued at the separation are referred to as founding partner interests.

The Merger

On April 1, 2008, BGC Partners, LLC merged with and into eSpeed to form BGC Partners. In connection with the merger, eSpeed contributed its assets and liabilities to BGC US and BGC Global in exchange for limited partnership interests in these entities.

As a result of the separation and merger, the following four economic ownership classes of the Company were established:

Founding/working partner units

Founding/working partners have a limited partnership interest in BGC Holdings. Prior to the merger, this interest was accounted for as a component of stockholders’ and members’ equity section of the consolidated statements of financial condition. With effect from the merger, the Company accounts for founding/working partnership interest outside of permanent capital, as “Redeemable partnership interest”, in the consolidated statements of financial condition. This classification is in accordance with EITF guidance, Classification and Measurement of Redeemable Securities, which requires that preferred securities, or other equity instruments, including common stock, derivative instruments, and share-based payment arrangements that are classified as equity, that are redeemable for cash or other assets are to be classified outside of permanent equity if they are redeemable (1) at a fixed or determinable price on a fixed or determinable date, (2) at the option of the holder, or (3) upon the occurrence of an event that is not solely within the control of the issuer. This guidance is applicable to founding/working partner interest because founding/working partner units are redeemable upon termination of a partner, which includes the termination of employment, which can be at the option of the partner and not within the control of the issuer.

Founding/working partner units receive quarterly allocations of net income based on their weighted average pro rata share of economic ownership. This allocation is reflected in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations as “Allocation of

income to founding/working partner units”, which is a separate component of compensation expense. However, in quarterly periods in which the Company has a net loss, the Company does not reflect an allocation of the loss to founding/working partner units. Rather, the allocation of the net loss is reflected as a component of “Noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries”.

Certain founding/working partner units have been granted exchangeability into Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis and at the Company’s or Cantor’s (with respect to founding partner units) discretion, additional founding/working partner units may become exchangeable for Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis.

REU holders

BGC Holdings issues REUs to certain of its limited partners. Generally, REUs entitle the holder to participate in distributions of BGC Holdings’ income and to receive post-termination payments equal to the notional value of the grant in four equal yearly installments after the holder’s termination. REUs that are entitled to distributions receive allocations of net income for each quarterly period. This allocation is reflected in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations as “Allocation of income to REUs”, which is a separate component of compensation expense. However, in quarterly periods in which the Company has a net loss, the Company does not reflect an allocation of the loss to REUs. Rather, the allocation of the net loss is reflected as a component of “Noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries”.

Cantor

Cantor’s limited partnership interest in BGC Holdings as a result of its contribution of the BGC Division is reflected as a component of “Noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries” in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of financial condition. Cantor receives allocations of net income based on its weighted average pro rata share of economic ownership for each quarterly period. This allocation is reflected as a component of “Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries” in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations.

In quarterly periods in which the Company has a net loss, the amount reflected as a component of “Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries” represents the allocation for founding/working partner units, REUs and Cantor’s limited partnership interest.

Common stockholders

Common stockholders’ interest is the interest held by the public, including Cantor, in the form of Class A and Class B common stock. This interest is reflected as “Total stockholders’ equity” in the Company’s consolidated statements of financial condition.

Primary and Secondary Offerings

On June 10, 2008, the Company closed an underwritten public offering of additional shares of its Class A Common Stock (the “June 2008 Offering”). The offering was composed of a primary offering (the “Primary Offering”) of 10,000,000 newly issued shares offered by the Company and a secondary offering (the “Secondary Offering”) of 10,000,000 issued and outstanding shares offered by Cantor and certain limited partners of Cantor and founding partners of BGC Holdings (“the Selling Stockholders”). In the Secondary Offering, 3,926,178 shares were offered by Cantor and 6,073,822 shares were offered by certain limited partners of Cantor and founding partners of BGC Holdings.

The offering price to the public was $8.00 per share, and the price, net of underwriters’ discount of 3.5%, was $7.72 per share. The Company received proceeds of $77.2 million as a result of the Primary Offering. Offering expenses, other than underwriters’ discounts, of approximately $4.9 million were incurred by the Company. The Company did not receive any net proceeds from the sales of Class A common stock sold by the Selling Stockholders in the Secondary Offering.

Immediately following the Primary Offering, the Company repurchased 175,000 shares of Class A common stock from one of its executive officers for $7.72 per share, totaling approximately $1.4 million. BGC Partners contributed the remaining net proceeds from the Primary Offering to BGC US and BGC Global in exchange for additional partnership interests on a one-for-one basis. BGC US and BGC Global expect to use such proceeds for general corporate purposes, including potential acquisitions.

3. Earnings Per Share

The FASB guidance on, Earnings Per Share (“EPS”), establishes standards for computing and presenting EPS. This guidance requires the dual presentation of basic and diluted EPS on the face of the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations and requires a reconciliation of numerators (net income (loss)) and denominators (weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding) for both basic and diluted EPS in the footnotes. Basic EPS excludes dilution and is computed by dividing net income (loss) available to common stockholders by the weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding. From April 1, 2008, net income is allocated to each of the four economic ownership classes described above in Note 2, based on each class’s pro rata economic ownership. The weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding have been retroactively restated to all periods prior to April 1, 2008 to give effect to the shares issued in connection with the merger. There were no net income allocations to founding/working partner units, REUs, or Cantor, nor dividend equivalents to restricted stock units (“RSUs”) for the periods prior to April 1, 2008 as it is assumed that all of the Company’s net income (loss) for those periods was allocated to all economic owners, including common stockholders.

The Company’s earnings for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008 were allocated as follows (in thousands):


	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2009		2008		2009		2008
Allocation of income to founding/working partner units	$	1,065	$	3,716	$	9,417	$	10,849
Allocation of income to REUs		662		299		3,579		551
Allocation of BGC income to Cantor		1,827		5,578		15,422		16,278
Net income (loss) available to common stockholders (1)		2,175		6,853		18,323		(29,696	)

The following is a reconciliation of the Company’s basic earnings per share (in thousands, except per share data):


	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2009		2008		2009		2008
Basic earnings (loss) per share:
Net income (loss) available to common stockholders	$	2,175	$	6,853	$	18,323	$	(29,696	)

Basic weighted average shares of common stock outstanding (1)		79,891		82,432		79,794		114,198

Basic earnings (loss) per share	$	0.03	$	0.08	$	0.23	$	(0.26	)

(1)

The weighted average shares outstanding for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 have been retroactively restated to give effect to the shares and rights to acquire shares issued in connection with the merger because, for the first three months of that period, allocations to founding/working partners, REUs and Cantor’s noncontrolling interest have not been deducted from net income.

Fully diluted earnings (loss) per share is calculated utilizing net income (loss) available for common stockholders plus net income allocations to the founding/working partner units, REUs and Cantor and dividend equivalents to RSUs and dividing it by the weighted average number of BGC Holdings units held by founding/working partners and Cantor, the weighted average number of REUs eligible for distributions, the Company’s weighted average outstanding shares of common stock, and the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue shares of common stock, including options, RSUs and warrants, were exercised, resulting in the issuance of shares of common stock that would then share in earnings in the Company’s net income available to common stockholders. However, in periods where there is a net loss, as there was for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, the adjustments to net income available to common stockholders and the adjustments to basic weighted average shares of common stock outstanding are excluded as their effect would be anti-dilutive. The following is a reconciliation of the Company’s fully diluted earnings (loss) per share (in thousands, except per share data):


	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2009		2008		2009		2008 (1)
Fully diluted earnings (loss) per share:
Net income (loss) available to common stockholders	$	2,175	$	6,853	$	18 323	$	(29,696	)
Allocation of income to founding/working partner units		1,065		3,716		9,417		—
Allocation of income to REUs		662		299		3,579		—
Allocation of BGC income to Cantor		1,827		5,578		15,422		—
Dividend equivalents to RSUs		238		—		522		—

Net income (loss) for fully diluted shares	$	5,967	$	16,446	$	47,263	$	(29,696	)


	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2009		2008		2009		2008 (1)
Basic weighted average shares of common stock outstanding (2)		79,891		82,432		79,794		114,198
Restricted stock units		3,071		2,137		2,566		—
BGC Holdings units held by founding/working partners		40,698		44,702		41,281		—
REUs		24,822		209		18,034		—
BGC Holdings units held by Cantor		67,138		67,094		67,138		—

Fully diluted weighted average shares of common stock outstanding		215,620		196,574		208,813		114,198

Fully diluted earnings (loss) per share	$	0.03	$	0.08	$	0.23	$	(0.26	)

(1)	Allocations of net income to founding/working partner units, REUs and Cantor have been excluded from the calculation of net income (loss) for fully diluted shares for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 because the Company had a net loss for the period.

(2)

For the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, approximately 18.0 million and 22.4 million options, RSUs and warrants, respectively, were not included in the computation of fully diluted earnings (loss) per share because their effect would have been anti-dilutive.

Stock Issuance

On April 21, 2009, the Company issued an aggregate of 491,701 shares of its Class A common stock upon exchange of founding partner units issued in connection with the separation and merger. The Company subsequently repurchased 486,701 of these shares of its Class A common stock for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $1.2 million.

On May 7, 2009, the Company issued an aggregate of 1,793,946 shares of its Class A common stock to founding partners of BGC Holdings upon exchange of their exchangeable founding partnership units in fulfillment of the rights to acquire such shares issued by the Company to such founding partners on April 1, 2008. All of these shares were eligible for sale beginning on May 7, 2009 when the Company’s restrictions on employee stock transactions were lifted. This issuance did not change the amount of fully diluted shares outstanding.

On September 24, 2009, the Company issued an aggregate of 1,396,516 shares of its Class A common stock to founding partners of BGC Holdings upon exchange of their exchangeable founding partner units issued by the Company to such founding partners on April 1, 2008. All of these shares are eligible for sale beginning on November 4, 2009 when the Company’s restrictions on employee stock transactions are lifted. This issuance did not change the amount of fully diluted shares outstanding.

Stock Repurchase Program

The Company’s Board of Directors has authorized the repurchase of up to $100.0 million of outstanding Class A common stock.

Stock repurchase activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 was as follows:


	Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Period	Total number of shares purchased	Average price paid per share		Total number of shares purchased as part of publicly announced plans or programs	Approximate dollar value of shares that may yet be purchased under the plan
January 1, 2009 – March 31, 2009	3,537,258	$	1.89	3,537,258	$	33,629,570
April 1, 2009 – April 30, 2009	486,701	$	2.50	486,701	$	32,412,817
May 1, 2009 – May 31, 2009	—	$	—	—	$	32,412,817
June 1, 2009 – June 30, 2009	—	$	—	—	$	32,412,817
July 1, 2009 – September 30, 2009	—	$	—	—	$	32,412,817

During the nine months ended September 30, 2009, the Company repurchased 4,023,959 shares of its Class A common stock. These repurchases included 2,600,000 shares repurchased from The Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund at the market price of $1.99 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $5.2 million. A portion of these shares had been donated to The Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund by certain founding partners in connection with the 2008 Charity Day.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2008, the Company did not repurchase any shares of its Class A common stock.

At September 30, 2009, the Company had approximately $32.4 million remaining from its $100 million buyback authorization and from time to time, the Company may actively continue to repurchase shares.

4. Securities Owned and Securities Sold, Not Yet Purchased

The Company allows certain of its brokerage desks to enter into unmatched principal transactions in the ordinary course of business for the purpose of facilitating transactions, adding liquidity, improving customer satisfaction, increasing revenue opportunities and attracting additional order flow. Total securities owned was $1.4 million and $0.9 million as of September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively.

Securities owned consisted of the following (in thousands):


	September 30, 2009		December 31, 2008
Corporate debt	$	88	$	75
Government debt		—		805
Equities		1,355		7

Total	$	1,443	$	887

As of September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, the Company had pledged $0.0 million and $0.8 million of securities owned, respectively, to satisfy deposit requirements at various exchanges or clearing organizations.

Total securities sold, not yet purchased was $2.1 million and $0.3 million as of September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively.

Securities sold, not yet purchased consisted of the following (in thousands):

5. Marketable Securities

Marketable securities consisted of the Company’s ownership of 4,350,000 shares of Class A common stock of Patsystems, plc, which were purchased during 2007. The investment, which had a fair value of $1.6 million and $0.9 million as of September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, is classified as available-for-sale and recorded at fair value. Unrealized gains or losses are included as part of “Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)” on the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of financial condition. This investment is recorded in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of financial condition as “Marketable securities”.

6. Collateralized Transactions

Securities Purchased Under Agreements to Resell

Securities purchased under agreements to resell (“Reverse Repurchase Agreements”) are accounted for as collateralized financing transactions and are recorded at the contractual amount for which the securities will be resold, including accrued interest.

For Reverse Repurchase Agreements, it is the Company’s policy to obtain possession of collateral with a market value equal to or in excess of the principal amount loaned under Reverse Repurchase Agreements. Collateral is valued daily and the Company may require counterparties to deposit additional collateral or return collateral pledged when appropriate. Certain Reverse Repurchase Agreements are with Cantor (see Note 10, Related Party Transactions, for more information regarding these agreements).

As of September 30, 2009, the Company had received, as collateral, U.S. Treasury or other fixed income securities with a fair value of $50.3 million, of which $3.1 million pertained to overnight Reverse Repurchase Agreements with Cantor, and $47.2 million pertained to Reverse Repurchase Agreements with unrelated parties to cover pending settlements.

As of December 31, 2008, the Company had received, as collateral, U.S. Treasury or other fixed income securities with a fair value of $184.6 million, all of which pertained to overnight Reverse Repurchase Agreements with Cantor that were transacted as part of the Company’s cash management strategy.

7. Receivables from and Payables to Brokers, Dealers, Clearing Organizations, Customers and Related Broker-Dealers

Receivables from and payables to brokers, dealers, clearing organizations, customers and related broker-dealers primarily represent amounts due for undelivered securities, amounts related to open derivative contracts, cash held at clearing organizations and exchanges to facilitate settlement and clearance of matched principal transactions, and spreads on matched principal transactions that have not yet been remitted from/to clearing organizations and exchanges.

The receivables from and payables to brokers, dealers, clearing organizations, customers and related broker-dealers consisted of the following (in thousands):


	September 30, 2009		December 31, 2008
Receivables from brokers, dealers, clearing organizations, customers and related broker-dealers:
Contract values of fails to deliver	$	483,611	$	101,389
Open derivative contracts		1,141		2,864
Net pending trades		5,207		—
Receivables from clearing organizations		51,007		61,377
Other receivables from brokers, dealers and customers		4,981		12,201

Total	$	545,947	$	177,831

Payables to brokers, dealers, clearing organizations, customers and related broker-dealers:
Contract values of fails to receive	$	465,310	$	99,264
Net pending trades		—		5,902
Open derivative contracts		888		683
Payables to clearing organizations		54,603		235
Other payables to brokers, dealers and customers		16,487		13,178

Total	$	537,288	$	119,262

A portion of these receivables and payables is with Cantor (see Note 10, Related Party Transactions, for additional information related to these receivables and payables).

Substantially all open fails to deliver and fails to receive transactions as of September 30, 2009 have subsequently settled at the contracted amounts.

8. Derivatives

The Company has entered into both OTC and exchange-traded derivative contracts. These derivative contracts primarily consist of equity derivatives and foreign exchange swaps. The Company enters into derivative contracts to facilitate client transactions, to hedge principal positions and to facilitate hedging activities of affiliated companies. Open derivative contracts are recognized at the fair value of the related assets and liabilities as part of “Receivables from and Payables to brokers, dealers, clearing organizations, customers and related broker-dealers” in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of financial condition.

Fair values of derivative contracts are determined from quoted market prices or other public price sources. The Company does not designate any derivative contracts as hedges for accounting purposes. The change in fair value of derivative contracts is reported as part of “Principal transactions” in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations.

The fair value of derivative financial instruments, computed in accordance with the Company’s netting policy, is set forth below (in thousands):


	September 30, 2009				December 31, 2008
	Assets		Liabilities		Assets		Liabilities
Foreign exchange swaps	$	1,141	$	888	$	2,864	$	683

All of the Company’s foreign exchange swaps are with Cantor. The notional amount of the foreign exchange swap transactions at September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008 was $363.6 million and $329.3 million, respectively.

The replacement cost of contracts in a gain position at September 30, 2009, summarized by counterparty credit ratings, is as follows (in thousands):


Rating (a)	Net Replacement Cost (in thousands):
BBB	$	1,141

(a)	Credit ratings based on Standard & Poor’s.

9. Fair Value of Financial Assets and Liabilities

The following table sets forth the Company’s financial assets, including those pledged as collateral, and financial liabilities at fair value (in thousands):


	September 30, 2009
	Assets		Liabilities
Corporate debt	$	88	$	—
Equities		2,920		2,121
Foreign exchange swaps		1,141		888

Total	$	4,149	$	3,009

The following tables set forth by level within the fair value hierarchy financial assets and liabilities accounted for at fair value under FASB guidance at September 30, 2009 (in thousands):


	Assets at Fair Value at September 30, 2009
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Netting and Collateral		Total
Corporate debt	$	—	$	88	$	—	$	—	$	88
Equities		2,920		—		—		—		2,920
Foreign exchange swaps		—		1,141		—		—		1,141

Total	$	2,920	$	1,229	$	—	$	—	$	4,149


	Liabilities at Fair Value at September 30, 2009
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Netting and Collateral		Total
Equities	$	2,121	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	2,121
Foreign exchange swaps		—		888		—		—		888

Total	$	2,121	$	888	$	—	$	—	$	3,009

The following table sets forth the Company’s financial assets, including those pledged as collateral, and financial liabilities at fair value (in thousands):


	December 31, 2008
	Assets		Liabilities
Corporate debt	$	75	$	—
Sovereign obligations		805		—
Equities		927		321
Foreign exchange swaps		2,864		683

Total	$	4,671	$	1,004

The following tables set forth by level within the fair value hierarchy financial assets and liabilities accounted for at fair value under FASB guidance at December 31, 2008 (in thousands):


	Assets at Fair Value at December 31, 2008
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Netting and Collateral		Total
Corporate debt	$	—	$	75	$	—	$	—	$	75
Sovereign obligations		—		805		—		—		805
Equities		927		—		—		—		927
Foreign exchange swaps		—		2,864		—		—		2,864

Total	$	927	$	3,744	$	—	$	—	$	4,671


	Liabilities at Fair Value at December 31, 2008
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Netting and Collateral		Total
Equities	$	321	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	321
Foreign exchange swaps		—		683		—		—		683

Total	$	321	$	683	$	—	$	—	$	1,004

(1)	As required by FASB guidance, assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

10. Related Party Transactions

Administrative Services Agreements

In the United States, Cantor provides the Company with administrative services and other support for which Cantor charges the Company based on the cost to Cantor of providing such services. Such support includes allocations for occupancy of office space, utilization of fixed assets and accounting, operations, human resources and legal services. On April 1, 2008, in connection with the services Cantor provides, the Company and Cantor entered into an employee lease agreement whereby certain employees of Cantor are deemed leased employees of the Company, and the Company has the powers and rights of a common law employer of such employees.

The fees paid to Cantor for administrative and support services, other than those to cover the compensation costs of leased employees, are included as part of “Fees to related parties” in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations. The fees paid to Cantor to cover the compensation costs of leased employees are included as part of “Compensation and employee benefits” in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations.

For the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, the Company was charged $7.8 million and $7.6 million, respectively, for the services provided by Cantor and its affiliates, of which $4.6 million and $4.7 million was to cover compensation to leased employees for the three months ended September 30, 2009 and September 30, 2008, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, the Company was charged $24.7 million and $22.1 million, respectively, for the services provided by Cantor and its affiliates, of which $14.2 million and $9.5 million was to cover compensation to leased employees for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and September 30, 2008, respectively.

Throughout Europe and Asia, the Company provides Cantor with administrative services and other support for which the Company charges Cantor based on the cost of providing such services plus a mark-up, currently 7.5%. Such support includes allocations for occupancy of office space, utilization of fixed assets, accounting, operations, human resources and legal services. In the United Kingdom (“U.K.”), the Company provides these services to Cantor through Tower Bridge International Services L.P. (“Tower Bridge”). The Company established Tower Bridge on December 21, 2006, and as of the beginning of January 2007, transferred all of its current U.K. administrative employees and operations to Tower Bridge. The Company owns 52% of Tower Bridge and consolidates it, and Cantor owns 48%. Cantor’s interest in Tower Bridge is reflected as a component of “Noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries” in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of financial condition, and the portion of Tower Bridge’s income attributable to Cantor is included as part of “Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries” in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations.

In addition, prior to the merger, the Company had certain agreements with Cantor. Under these agreements, which were terminated upon closing of the merger, eSpeed was entitled to receive a portion of Cantor’s and CO2e.com, LLC (“CO2e”) CO2e’s revenues as fees for providing electronic brokerage services, voice-assisted brokerage services, fulfillment services and related services such as credit risk management, oversight of customer suitability and regulatory compliance, sales position of products and other services customary to marketplace intermediary operations.

For the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, the Company recognized related party revenues pursuant to these agreements of $9.7 million and $19.4 million, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, the Company recognized related party revenues pursuant to these agreements of $28.7 million and $58.9 million, respectively. These revenues are included as part of “Fees from related parties” in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations.

As of September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008 Cantor’s cumulative share of the net income of Tower Bridge was $5.4 million and $5.5 million, respectively. Cantor’s noncontrolling interest is included as part of “Noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries” in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of financial condition.

Clearing Agreement

Following the merger on April 1, 2008, the Company received regulatory approval from FINRA for self-clearing its own securities transactions, and has begun self-clearing transactions in mortgage-backed securities, equities, corporate and other DTC-eligible bonds and repurchase agreements. However, the Company does not clear its own transactions in U.S. Treasury and Agency securities.

Accordingly, since the closing of the merger, the Company has continued to receive certain clearing services from Cantor in the U.S. pursuant to its pre-existing clearing agreement (“Clearing Services”). These Clearing Services have been provided since April 1, 2008 in exchange for payment by the Company of third-party clearing costs and allocated costs.

On November 5, 2008, the Company entered into an Agreement (the “Agreement”) with Cantor. Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, so long as Cantor is providing Clearing Services to the Company, Cantor shall be entitled to request from the Company, and the Company shall post as soon as practicable, clearing capital in the form of cash or other property, acceptable to Cantor, in the amount reasonably requested by Cantor under the Agreement. The amounts requested shall reflect Cantor’s reasonable determination of its or its affiliates’ required capital requirements in connection with the Clearing Services and/or potential additional funds which may be required to replace Cantor funds being otherwise utilized to post capital requirements for the benefit of the Company.

The Agreement shall not require the Company to provide cash or property which is required to be maintained by the Company to meet the capital requirements of its regulated entities or the needs of the ordinary operation of its businesses. Cantor shall not be required to pay interest on the amounts provided by the Company.

The Agreement is terminable by either party on 90 days’ notice. The Company shall be entitled to withdraw a portion of the provided assets from time to time with mutual agreement by Cantor that such funds are in excess of the amounts reasonably required by Cantor. As soon as practicable following termination of the Agreement by either party, Cantor has agreed to return the provided assets to the Company. To date, no amounts have been requested by Cantor.

The Company has agreed to pay Cantor to clear its securities transactions at Cantor’s cost, which shall include all direct and third-party costs, as well as allocated costs. These amounts have been paid to Cantor since April 1, 2008.

The Company relies upon Cantor to provide Clearing Services and, in the absence of the Agreement, it would have to secure an alternative third-party clearing arrangement to provide such Clearing Services, which might be at higher rates or on less favorable terms.

The Company intends to continue this relationship with Cantor. Accordingly, the Company expects that Cantor will continue to post clearing capital on our behalf and we will post clearing capital with Cantor as requested under the Agreement or invest our excess cash via Reverse Repurchase Agreements or in other overnight investments. In the absence of such an arrangement, the Company may be required to raise additional capital, borrow funds or take other action to meet the capital requirements in connection with the clearing of these transactions. The increased capital requirements required in connection with the clearing of the Company’s securities transactions could have a material adverse impact on the Company’ ability to make distributions, repurchase its stock or affect strategic acquisitions or other opportunities. However, the Company believes that the Agreement with Cantor, or, in the alternative, a clearing agreement with an additional third-party clearing agent, will not preclude the Company from meeting its cash needs in the near term.

Debt Guaranty Agreements

On April 1, 2008, in connection with the Note Purchase Agreement, which authorized the issue and sale of $150.0 million principal amount of the Company’s Senior Notes, Cantor provided a guaranty of payment and performance on such notes. Cantor charges the Company an amount equal to 2.31% of the outstanding principal amount of the loans for the provision of the guaranty. The fees paid to Cantor for the guaranty are included as part of “Fees to related parties” in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations.

For the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, the Company recognized expense of approximately $0.9 million and $0.9 million, respectively, in relation to this charge. For the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, the Company recognized expense of approximately $2.6 million and $1.7 million in relation to this charge, respectively.

Receivables from and Payables to Brokers, Dealers, Clearing Organizations, Customers and Related Broker-Dealers

In Europe and the United States, certain trades executed by the Company are cleared and settled by Cantor. Additionally, in the UK, BGC Partners places certain trades on behalf of Cantor and its affiliates.

Amounts due from or to Cantor for undelivered securities or open derivative contracts are included as part of “Receivables from and payables to brokers, dealers, clearing organizations, customers and related broker-dealers” in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of financial condition. As of September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, the Company had receivables from Cantor of $1.1 million and $2.9 million, respectively. Additionally, as of September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, the Company had payables to Cantor of $0.9 million and $1.8 million, respectively.

Forgivable Loans and Other Receivables from Employees and Partners

The Company has entered into various agreements with certain of its employees and partners whereby these individuals receive forgivable loans. As of September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, the unamortized balance of these forgivable loans was $58.5 million and $69.5 million, respectively. These forgivable loans are included as part of “Forgivable loans and other loan receivables from employees and partners” in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of financial condition. Amortization expense for these forgivable loans for the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008 was $7.2 million and $7.3 million, respectively. Amortization expense for these forgivable loans for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008 was $22.4 million and $22.3 million, respectively. Amortization expense for forgivable loans is included as part of “Compensation and employee benefits” in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations.

Additionally, from time to time, the Company may enter into agreements with employees and partners to grant bonus and salary advances or other types of loans that are non-forgivable. These advances and loans are repayable in the timeframes outlined in the underlying agreements. As of September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, the balance of these advances and non-forgivable loans was $39.8 million and $11.1 million, respectively. These advances and non-forgivable loans are included as part of “Forgivable loans and other receivables from employees and partners” in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of financial condition.

Reverse Repurchase Agreements

From time to time, the Company enters into Reverse Repurchase Agreements with Cantor, whereby the Company receives U.S. Treasury, agency or other fixed income securities as collateral. As of September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, the Company had $3.1 million and $151.2 million, respectively, of Reverse Repurchase Agreements with Cantor, of which the fair value of the collateral received from Cantor was $3.1 million and $184.6 million, respectively.

Secured Loan to Cantor

On July 26, 2007, the Company entered into a Secured Promissory Note and Pledge Agreement (the “Secured Loan”) with Cantor in which the Company agreed to lend to Cantor up to $100.0 million (the “Secured Loan Amount”) on a secured basis from time to time. The Secured Loan was guaranteed by a pledge of the Company’s Class A common stock or Class B common stock owned by Cantor equal to 125% of the outstanding Secured Loan amount, as determined on a next day basis. The Secured Loan earned interest at the market rate for equity repurchase agreements plus 0.25% and was payable on demand. The Secured Loan was approved by the Company’s Audit Committee. In September 2008, the Company was authorized to increase the amount available under its Secured Loan with Cantor from up to $100.0 million to all excess cash other than that amount needed for regulatory purposes, and to also accept, as security, pledges of any securities in addition to pledges of Class A or Class B common stock of the Company provided for under the original Secured Loan. At September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, there was no outstanding Secured Loan balance.

Notes Payable

Historically, the Company had various subordinated loans and notes payable outstanding to Cantor. All of these notes were repaid upon BGC Partners’ separation from Cantor on March 31, 2008.

For the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, the Company did not incur any interest expense related to notes payable to Cantor. For the nine months ended September 30, 2009, the Company did not incur any interest expense related to notes payable to Cantor; and for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, the Company incurred interest expense related to the notes payable to Cantor of $4.0 million. Interest expense related to these notes is recorded as part of “Interest expense” in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations.

Grant Units

Prior to the merger, Cantor provided awards to certain employees of the Company in the form of grant units in Cantor (“grant units”). Grant units entitled the employees to participate in quarterly distributions of Cantor’s net income and to receive certain post-termination payments. See Note 15, Stock-Based Compensation, for more information regarding grant units.

Other Transactions

In February 2006, a subsidiary of Cantor acquired all of the assets of IDT Horizon GT, Inc. (“Horizon”). Immediately prior to the closing of the acquisition, the Company entered into a software license agreement with Horizon pursuant to which Horizon granted the Company a perpetual, fully paid up, non-transferrable (except to affiliates of the Company) license of Horizon’s GovREPO software, a multi-currency, multi-entity, multi-portfolio, collateral management and trading system for fixed income securities (the “Horizon License”). In consideration for the Horizon License and support services to be provided under the Horizon License, the Company issued to Horizon a warrant, which warrant was not transferred to Cantor. See Note 13, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, for more information regarding this transaction.

On August 10, 2006, the Company entered into a Sponsored Research Agreement with a researcher and a U.S. university (the “university”) in which the Company agreed to pay $100,000 per year for five years in exchange for research and certain patent rights. In October 2006, the Company agreed with Cantor that Cantor would pay 75% of all payments to be made by the Company in connection with the Sponsored Research Agreement. Additionally, Cantor agreed that to the extent, if any, that the Company makes charitable contributions to the university, Cantor will make a proportional charitable contribution. In exchange for this agreement, the Company will retain a nonexclusive license to all patents and patent applications resulting from the Sponsored Research Agreement within the field of financial services and Cantor will have patent rights to all other patents and patent applications. The Company further agreed that, in the event that the Company or Cantor grants a license to such technology in the field of fully electronic financial services, the Company and Cantor will each receive 50% of all revenue from any such license.

In January 2007, the Company announced the formation of Aqua Securities, L.P. (“Aqua”), an alternative electronic trading platform which offers new pools of block liquidity to the global equities markets. Aqua is 51% owned by Cantor and 49% owned by the Company. Cantor and the Company have collectively contributed financial, professional and technology assets to the venture, which included all of the Company’s former equities order routing business. On August 21, 2008, the Company entered into a two-year Subordinated Loan Agreement, whereby the Company agreed to lend Aqua the principal sum of $1.0 million, at the applicable rate of six month LIBOR plus 200 basis points. The cash proceeds covered by this Agreement shall be used and dealt with by Aqua as part of its capital and shall be subject to the risks of the business. The loan is recorded as part of “Loan receivables from related parties” in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of financial condition.

In June 2008, the Company was authorized to enter into loans, investments or other credit support arrangements for Aqua of up to $5.0 million in the aggregate, which arrangements would be proportionally and on the same terms as similar arrangements between Aqua and Cantor. The Company was further authorized to provide counterparty or similar guarantees on behalf of Aqua from time to time, provided that liability for any such guarantees, as well as similar guarantees provided by Cantor, would be shared proportionally with Cantor. As of September 30, 2009, the Company had not entered into any arrangements for the Aqua business.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2009, the Company made a $2.2 million cash contributions to Aqua. This contribution is recorded as part of “Investments” in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of financial condition.

On December 21, 2007, the Company and 11 other leading financial institutions announced the formation of a limited partnership that has established a fully-electronic futures exchange. The Company holds an approximate 25% interest in ELX Futures LP (“ELX”). The Company has also entered into a technology services agreement with ELX pursuant to which the Company provides software technology licenses, monthly maintenance support and other technology services as requested by ELX.

For the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, the Company recognized revenues of $5.2 million and $4.6 million, respectively, for the services provided to ELX. For the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, the Company recognized revenues of $14.6 million and $13.6 million, respectively, for the services provided to ELX. These revenues are included as part of “Fees from related parties” in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations.

In April 2008, the Company was authorized to enter into short-term arrangements with Cantor to cover any failed U.S. treasury securities transactions and to share equally any net income resulting from such transactions, as well as any similar clearing and settlement issues. As of September 30, 2009, the Company had not entered into any arrangements to cover any failed U.S. treasury transactions.

In April 2008, the Company was authorized to enter into an indemnity agreement with Cantor with respect to the guarantee by Cantor of any liabilities associated with our application for a brokering license in China.

In August 2008, the Company was authorized to cause BGC Holdings to issue REUs in connection with acquisitions and to provide for such acquisitions to be done in only one of the operating entities when appropriate. In such event, the Company would not be required to maintain parity with respect to outstanding units in such operating entities.

Effective as of September 1, 2008, the Company was authorized to divide the quarterly allocation of any profit or loss relating to foreign exchange currency hedging between Cantor and the Company. The amount allocated to each party is based on the total net exposure for the Company and Cantor. The ratio of gross exposures of Cantor and the Company will be utilized to determine the shares of profit or loss allocated to each for the period.

On September 26, 2008, the limited partnership agreement of BGC US and the limited partnership agreement of BGC Global were amended, effective as of September 1, 2008, to provide that, at the Company’s election, in connection with a repurchase of our Class A common stock or similar actions, BGC US and BGC Global will redeem and repurchase from the Company a number of units in BGC US and BGC Global equivalent to the number of shares of Class A common stock repurchased by the Company in exchange for cash in the amount of the gross proceeds to be paid in connection with such stock repurchase. The proportion of such amount to be paid by BGC US or BGC Global will be determined by BGC Partners. Certain technical amendments were also made to conform such limited partnership agreements to the BGC Holdings limited partnership agreement.

Cantor has the right to purchase from BGC Holdings any non-exchangeable BGC Holdings founding partner units that are redeemed by BGC Holdings upon termination or bankruptcy of the founding partner. Any such BGC Holdings founding partner units purchased by Cantor from BGC Holdings will be exchangeable by Cantor for shares of Class B common stock or, at Cantor’s election, shares of Class A common stock, in each case on a one-for-one basis (subject to customary anti-dilution adjustments), from the Company, on the same basis as Cantor’s other BGC Holdings limited partnership units. As of the date of this filing, as a result of the termination of 31 founding partners, BGC Holdings has the right to redeem an aggregate of 2,128,040 BGC Holdings founding partner units. Accordingly, upon the redemption of any BGC Holdings founding partner units, Cantor will have the right to purchase from BGC Holdings an equivalent number of exchangeable BGC Holdings limited partnership units pursuant to terms yet to be determined.

In March 2009, the Company and Cantor were authorized to utilize each other’s brokers to provide brokerage services for securities not brokered by such entity, so long as, unless otherwise agreed, such brokerage services were provided in the ordinary course and on terms no less than favorable to the receiving party than such services are provided to typical third-party customers.

In May 2009, the Company was authorized to enter into intercompany unsecured loan arrangements from time to time between the Company and/or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, including BGC Holdings, BGC US and BGC Global, which loans shall bear interest at the LIBOR rate for the applicable period plus 400 basis points for the period of the loan, resetting at each renewal period.

11. Investments

The Company’s investments consisted of the following (in thousands):


	September 30, 2009		December 31, 2008
ELX	$	11,031	$	14,711
Freedom International Brokerage		9,789		9,767
China Credit BGC Money Broking Company Limited		2,429		—
Aqua		1,317		1,225
EIP Holdings		885		856

Total investments	$	25,451	$	26,559

The Company’s share of losses related to its investments was $1.7 million and $1.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The Company’s share of losses related to its investments was $5.7 million and $5.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The Company’s share of the income/losses is recorded under the caption “Losses on equity investments” in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations.

In March 2009, the Company was granted preliminary approval by the China Banking Regulatory Commission (“CBRC”) to establish a money broking joint venture company with China Credit Trust Co., Ltd. (“CCT”). The joint venture, named China Credit BGC Money Broking Company Limited, (“China Credit BGC”) will seek final approval later in the year. In May 2009, in accordance with the preliminary approval, the Company contributed the USD equivalent of RMB16.5 million in cash (approximately $2.4 million) into China Credit BGC. Subject to final approval, China Credit BGC plans to provide domestic and international broking services for foreign exchange, bond, money market, and derivatives products. The Company will hold a 33% stake in China Credit BGC. The Company did not record any gains or losses in 2009 in connection with its investment in China Credit BGC.

12. Fixed Assets, net

Fixed assets, net consisted of the following (in thousands):


	September 30, 2009		December 31, 2008
Computer and communications equipment	$	181,320	$	168,186
Software, including software development costs		157,389		141,651
Leasehold improvements and other fixed assets		115,849		119,863

Total fixed assets		454,558		429,700
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization		320,438		292,888

Fixed assets, net	$	134,120	$	136,812

Depreciation expense was $9.0 million and $9.9 million for three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Depreciation expense was $26.2 million and $28.7 million for nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Depreciation is included as part of “Occupancy and equipment” in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations.

In accordance with FASB guidance on Accounting for the Costs of Computer Software Developed or Obtained for Internal Use, the Company capitalizes qualifying computer software costs incurred during the application development stage and amortizes them over their estimated useful life of three years on a straight-line basis. For the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, software development costs totaling $3.4 million and $6.9 million, respectively, were capitalized. For the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, software development costs totaling $12.4 million and $15.3 million, respectively, were capitalized. Amortization of software development costs totaled $3.0 million and $3.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively, and $9.8 million and $11.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Amortization of software development costs is included as part of “Occupancy and equipment” in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations.

13. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, Net

In June 2009, the Company acquired all of the outstanding shares of Liquidez Distribuidora de Titulos e Valores Mobiliarios Ltda. (“Liquidez”), a Brazilian financial institution and interdealer broker with offices in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. The purchase price for Liquidez is $15.6 million including an additional contingent payment subject to achievement of certain profit targets through 2013. As part of the purchase price, the Company issued an aggregate of 1,750,000 REUs to certain shareholders of Liquidez, a portion of which will become exchangeable into shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock. An additional 250,000 REUs were issued to brokers and accounted for as compensation.

The goodwill attributed to this acquisition was $12.4 million.

The results of operations of Liquidez have been included in the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements subsequent to the date of the acquisition.

Goodwill is not amortized and is reviewed annually for impairment or more frequently if impairment indicators arise, in accordance with FASB guidance on Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill at September 30, 2009 were as follows (in thousands):


	September 30, 2009
Balance at December 31, 2008	$	63,500

Liquidez acquisition		12,351

Balance at September 30, 2009	$	75,851

Other intangible assets consisted of the following (in thousands):


	September 30, 2009		December 31, 2008
Definite life intangible assets:
Patents	$	35,826	$	34,910
Customer base/relationships		15,076		15,076
Internally developed software		5,722		5,722
Covenant not to compete		1,628		1,628
Trademarks		1,315		1,315

Total gross definite life intangible assets		59,567		58,651
Less: accumulated amortization		46,616		43,085

Net definite life intangible assets		12,951		15,566

Horizon license		1,500		1,500

Total net intangible assets	$	14,451	$	17,066

Amortization expense was $1.2 million and $1.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively, and was $3.5 million and $3.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Intangible amortization is included as part of “Other expenses” in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations.

14. Notes Payable and Collateralized Borrowings

On March 31, 2008, the Company entered into a Note Purchase Agreement pursuant to which it issued $150.0 million principal amount of its Senior Notes to a number of investors. The Senior Notes are due April 1, 2010, with interest payable semiannually at the rate of 5.19% per annum (plus 2.31% per annum paid to Cantor for the guarantee provision as discussed in note 10, Related Party Transactions). The Senior Notes are subject to certain covenants, including capital covenants that require the Company to maintain consolidated capital at an amount not less than $227.5 million and debt covenants that require that the Company’s consolidated debt not to exceed 60% of its consolidation capitalization; provided, however, that if the Company’s consolidated debt exceeds 55%, then the applicable interest rate of the Senior Notes will be increased by 0.25% per annum.

The Company recorded interest expense related to the Senior Notes of $1.9 million and $1.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively, and $5.8 million and $3.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

On September 25, 2009, BGC Partners, L.P. entered into a secured loan arrangement with General Electric Capital Corporation, under which it pledged certain fixed assets including furniture, computers and telecommunications equipment to General Electric Capital Corporation in exchange for a loan of $19.0 million. The principal and interest on this secured loan arrangement is repayable in thirty six consecutive monthly installments at a fixed rate of 8.09% per annum. The loan is guaranteed by BGC Partners, Inc.

As of September 30, 2009, the Company was in compliance with all debt covenants.

15. Stock-Based Compensation

Restricted Stock Units

A summary of the activity associated with restricted stock units is as follows:


	Restricted Stock Units	Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value		Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (Years)
Balance at December 31, 2008	2,106,516	$	8.91
Granted	2,873,765		2.54
Less: Delivered units	672,759		10.12
Less: Forfeited units	153,373		7.25

Balance at September 30, 2009	4,154,149	$	4.42	1.71

The fair value of RSUs awarded to employees and directors is determined on the date of grant based on the market value of the Company’s Class A common stock, and is recognized, net of the effect of estimated forfeitures, ratably over the vesting period. The Company uses historical data, including historical forfeitures and turnover rates, to estimate expected forfeiture rates for both employee and non-employee RSUs. Each RSU is converted into one share of Class A common stock upon completion of the vesting period.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2009, the Company issued approximately 2.9 million RSUs with aggregate estimated grant date fair values of approximately $7.3 million to employees. These RSUs were awarded in lieu of cash compensation for salaries, commissions and/or discretionary or guaranteed bonuses.

As of September 30, 2009, the aggregate estimated grant date fair value of outstanding RSUs was approximately $18.4 million.

Compensation expense related to RSUs, before associated income taxes, was approximately $4.7 million and $1.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively, and $10.6 million and $5.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively

Stock Options

A summary of the activity associated with stock options is as follows:


	Options	Weighted Average Exercise Price		Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (Years)	Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Balance at December 31, 2008	15,053,505	$	14.71	4.1
Granted	—		—
Less: Exercised options	—		—
Less: Forfeited options	488,013		14.14

Balance at September 30, 2009	14,565,492	$	14.73		$	—

Options exercisable at September 30, 2009	14,565,492	$	14.73	3.5	$	—

The Company did not grant any options during the nine months ended September 30, 2009.

Total compensation expense related to stock options before associated income taxes was negligible for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

Grant Units

Prior to 2008, Cantor provided awards to certain employees of the Company in the form of grant units. Grant units entitled the employees to participate in quarterly distributions of Cantor’s net income and to receive certain post-termination payments. Grant units awarded to employees of the Company in 2005 vested immediately upon receipt by the employee. Grant units awarded to employees of the Company in 2006 and 2007 generally vested over a four-year period. Grant units are accounted for as liability awards under FASB guidance on stock based compensation. The liability incurred for such grant units is re-measured at the end of every reporting period. The Company is allocated its share of such expense by Cantor relating to grant units that are held by employees of the Company.

In connection with BGC Partners’ separation from Cantor, the unvested portion of the grant units that had been awarded to individuals whose partnership interests were contributed to BGC Holdings were transferred to BGC Holdings on March 31, 2008.

As of September 30, 2009, the estimated fair value of the grant units held by the Company’s employees was $3.0 million and the notional amount of grant units outstanding was $6.4 million.

Non-cash compensation expense for the changes in estimated fair value for the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008 was $0.1million and $0.2 million, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2009, the Company recorded a non-cash compensation benefit of $0.2 million. For the nine months ended September 30, 2008, the company recorded total non-cash compensation expense of $0.2 million.

REUs

The Company provides limited partnership interests in BGC Holdings, termed REUs, to certain employees. Generally, these REUs entitle the holder to participate in distributions of BGC Holdings’ income and to receive post-termination payments equal to the notional value of the grant in four equal yearly installments after the holder’s termination provided that the holder has not engaged in any competitive activity with the Company or its affiliates prior to the date each payment is due. Generally, REUs may also be exchangeable for Class A common stock in accordance with the terms and conditions of the grant of such REUs. REUs are accounted for by the Company as liability awards under FASB guidance on stock based compensation. The liability incurred for REUs is re-measured at the end of each reporting period. Non-cash compensation is recorded to account for changes in the estimated fair value of REUs.

As of September 30, 2009, the aggregate estimated fair value of the REUs held by executives and non-executive employees awarded in lieu of cash compensation for salaries, commissions and/or discretionary or guaranteed bonuses was $15.4 million and the notional amount of the REUs outstanding was $93.7 million.

Compensation expense related to REUs is recognized over the stated service period. The Company recognized compensation expense, before associated income taxes, related to REUs of $2.8 million and $2.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The Company recognized compensation expense, before associated income taxes, related to REUs of $6.2 million and $3.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

RPUs

In February 2009, BGC Holdings was authorized to create a separate class of working partner units called Restricted Partnership Units (“RPUs”) in an amendment to the limited partnership agreement, which was authorized to be further amended in August 2009.

The RPUs have similar features to existing REU interests except that they provide for a minimum distribution of $0.005 per quarter. The RPUs also provide that if BGC Holdings were to be dissolved, the obligation to provide post-termination payments to terminated partners holding RPUs is cancelled. The 15% cap on distributions which had been a feature of the RPUs was also eliminated. Further amendments to the limited partnership of BGC Holdings were also authorized to amend future and existing classes of partnership interests to create separate classes. As of September 30, 2009, there were 322,577 RPUs approved for issuance.

Compensation expense related to RPUs is recognized over the stated service period. The Company recognized a negligible amount of compensation expense, before income taxes, related to RPUs for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2009 and did not recognize any compensation expense related to RPUs for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2008.

Business Partner Warrants

A summary of the activity associated with business partner warrants is as follows (warrants in thousands):


	Warrants	Weighted Average Exercise Price		Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (Years)
Balance at December 31, 2008	1,986	$	27.04
Granted	—		—
Less: Exercised warrants	—		—
Less: Forfeited warrants	—		—

Balance at September 30, 2009	1,986	$	27.04	1.1

The Company did not recognize any expense related to the business partner warrants for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

16. Commitments, Contingencies and Guarantees

Contingencies

In the ordinary course of business, various legal actions are brought and are pending against the Company and its affiliates in the United States and internationally. In some of these actions, substantial amounts are claimed. The Company is also involved, from time to time, in reviews, investigations and proceedings by governmental and self-regulatory agencies (both formal and informal) regarding the Company’s business, judgments, settlements, fines, penalties, injunctions or other relief.

Employment and Competitor-Related Litigation

From time to time, the Company and its affiliates are involved in litigation, claims and arbitrations, in the United States and internationally, relating to various employment matters, including with respect to termination of employment, hiring of employees currently or previously employed by its competitors, terms and conditions of employment and other matters. In light of the competitive nature of the brokerage industry, litigation, claims and arbitration between competitors regarding employee hiring are not uncommon.

Other Matters

The National Australia Bank Limited, which we refer to as “NAB,” has filed a claim against BGC International, which we refer to as “BGCI,” and BGC Capital Markets (Japan) LLC (formerly known as Cantor Fitzgerald LLC), which we refer to as “BGC Capital Markets (Japan).” From September 2001 through January 2004, NAB employees who traded in foreign exchange options allegedly lost substantial amounts of money and allegedly overstated the positions which they held. NAB claims that it was the object of conduct by BGCI and BGC Capital Markets (Japan) and certain traders on NAB’s currency options desk, whereby BGCI and BGC Capital Markets (Japan) allegedly provided misleading and deceptive independent revaluation rates to NAB’s middle office, which were then purportedly relied upon by NAB. NAB alleges that the supply of these revaluation rates prevented NAB from discovering the true position of the currency options portfolio and that it subsequently sustained trading losses of AUD 311 million (or, based on an exchange rate of .8826 at September 30, 2009, approximately $274.5 million). The 2006 NAB annual report claims that NAB’s total loss amounted to AUD 539 million (or, based on an exchange rate of .8826 at September 30, 2009, approximately $475.7 million), implying that its consequential losses amounted to AUD 228 million (or, based on an exchange rate of .8826 at September 30, 2009, approximately $201.2 million). BGCI and BGC Capital Markets (Japan) have investigated and are investigating the legal and factual basis of the NAB allegations. At this time, based on the information provided, BGCI and BGC Capital Markets (Japan) believe that they have substantial defenses in respect of the losses claimed by NAB. Accordingly, BGCI and BGC Capital Markets (Japan) do not believe that they are responsible for the losses claimed by NAB. While no specific request for damages is alleged, the amount claimed is expected to be in excess of $600 million. If BGCI and BGC Capital Markets (Japan) do not prevail, BGCI and BGC Capital Markets (Japan) could be subject to substantial liability, and in any event, would likely incur significant legal and other costs in connection with the defense of any such action; however, at this time, we are unable to estimate a loss or range of losses. Any such losses of BGC US and BGC Global from this litigation will be allocated to BGC Holdings pursuant to the BGC US limited partnership agreement and the BGC Global limited partnership agreement. The impact of such a loss could be material to our results of operations, financial condition or cash flows.

On February 15, 2006, the SEC issued a formal order of investigation into trading by certain inter-dealer brokers in the government and fixed income securities markets. The formal order alleges that the broker-dealers named therein, including us, (1) may have made fictitious quotations or made false or misleading statements about the prices at which U.S. Treasury or other fixed income securities would be purchased or sold, (2) may have fabricated market quotations or trading activity in U.S. Treasury or other fixed income securities to stimulate trading and to generate commissions, (3) may have engaged in “front running” or “interpositioning,” (4) may have engaged in fraudulent, deceptive or manipulative acts to induce the purchase or sale of government securities, (5) may have failed to keep and preserve certain books and records as required by the SEC and/or the Treasury and (6) may have failed to supervise with a view to preventing violations of applicable rules and regulations as required by the Exchange Act. We are cooperating in the investigation. Our management believes that, based on the currently available information, the final outcome of the investigation will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

In August 2004, Trading Technologies International, Inc. (“TT”) commenced an action in the United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, against us. In its complaint, TT alleged that we infringed U.S. Patent No. 6,766,304, which issued on July 20, 2004, and U.S. Patent 6,772,132, which issued on August 3, 2004. TT later added eSpeed International Ltd., ECCO LLC and ECCO Ware LLC as defendants in a second amended complaint. On January 5, 2006, we answered TT’s second amended complaint in which we denied the infringement allegations and we filed an amended counterclaim seeking a declaration that the patents in suit are invalid, we do not make, use or sell any product that infringes any claims of the patents in suit, the patents in suit are unenforceable because of inequitable conduct before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office during the prosecution of the patents, and the patents are unenforceable due to TT’s patent misuse. The Court consolidated for certain discovery and Markman hearing purposes our case with other patent infringement cases brought by TT against other defendants. A Markman hearing was held on August 16-18, 2006. On October 31, 2006, the Court issued a ruling on claim construction, which provides the meanings of the various terms in dispute in the asserted patents. In that ruling, the Court found that we correctly defined several of the patents’ key terms. The Court’s ruling supports our consistent position that eSpeed and ECCO’s products fall outside the scope of TT’s patents. In February 2007, the Court denied TT’s motion for clarification and reconsideration of the Markman decision and reconfirmed its October 2006 ruling. On June 20, 2007, the Court granted eSpeed’s motion for partial summary judgment on TT’s claims of infringement covering the Dual Dynamic, eSpeedometer and modified eSpeedometer versions of eSpeed and ECCO’s products. As a result, the remaining products at issue in the case were the versions of the eSpeed and ECCO products that have not been on the market in the U.S. since around the end of 2004. TT moved for reconsideration of that summary judgment ruling which the court denied. The trial began on September 10, 2007 and ended on October 4, 2007. On October 10, 2007 a jury rendered a verdict that eSpeed and ECCO willfully infringed. The jury awarded damages in the amount of $3.5 million. On January 3, 2008, the court granted eSpeed’s motion for directed verdict on willfulness, finding that eSpeed’s infringement was not willful as a matter of law, and denied eSpeed’s general motions for directed verdict and for new trial. On February 6, 2008, eSpeed’s remittitur motion was conditionally granted and on February 12, 2008, TT accepted the remittitur. Accordingly, the principal amount of the verdict has been reduced to $2,539,468. Additionally, TT’s motion for pre-judgment interest was granted and interest was set at the prime rate, compounded monthly. A hearing on inequitable conduct was held on April 3-4, 2008. On May 7, 2008, the court held that TT did not engage in inequitable conduct during the prosecution of the patents in suit. On May 23, 2008, the court granted TT’s motion for a permanent injunction, and on June 13, 2008 denied its motion for attorneys’ fees. On July 16, 2008, TT’s costs were taxed in the amount of $3,321,775.78 against eSpeed. eSpeed filed a motion to strike any objections to these costs, which has been stayed pending resolution of the appeals referred to below. Both parties have appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit which heard arguments in the case on August 4, 2009. If TT ultimately prevails in the litigation, we may be required to pay TT damages and/or certain costs and expenses, and we may be forced to modify or withdraw certain products from the market. Both parties have requested attorneys’ fees from the other party, which may be awarded by the Court in exceptional cases. We are unable to estimate a possible loss or range of losses in connection with an appeal of this matter.

Since August, 2009, approximately 80 employees of subsidiaries of Tullett Prebon plc (“Tullett”) have signed contracts for future employment with affiliates of BGC and/or have started working for affiliates of BGC in the New York metropolitan area. Many of these individuals were employees at will of Tullett’s subsidiaries, although some of them had employment agreements with those subsidiaries. Certain of the employees with employment agreements commenced FINRA arbitrations against Tullett subsidiaries on the grounds that the Tullett subsidiaries breached those agreements and/or that certain restrictions in those agreements are unenforceable. In one of these arbitrations, certain employees of the Treasury Desk assert claims against Tullett Liberty Brokerage Inc. for, among other things, fraud, breach of contract, breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, and declaratory judgment as a result of its repeated promising of, and failing to deliver, electronic support for their business (a development noted by certain stock analysts). In the other arbitration, certain employees who had sold their interest in Chapdelaine Corporate Brokers, Inc. to a Tullett subsidiary seek a determination that Tullett subsidiaries have fraudulently engaged in improper practices contrary to the sale agreement with the effect of depriving them of significant payments, as well as certain other matters.

On August 25, 2009, Tullett Liberty Securities LLC (“Tullett Liberty”) informed BGC that it had filed a claim with FINRA dispute resolution (the “FINRA Claim”) in New York, N.Y. against BGC Financial, L.P., an affiliate of BGC, one of BGC Financial, L.P.’s officers, and certain persons formerly or currently employed by Tullett subsidiaries. In its statement of claim, Tullett Liberty alleged that BGC Financial harmed Tullett Liberty’s inter-dealer brokerage business by hiring 11 employees and causing 41

employees to give notice of their intent to terminate their agreements with Tullett Liberty and that BGC Financial aided and abetted various alleged wrongs by the employees, engaged in unfair competition, misappropriated trade secrets and confidential information, tortiously interfered with contract and economic relationships, and violated FINRA Rules of Conduct. Tullett Liberty also alleged certain breaches of contract and duties of loyalty and fiduciary duties against the employees. BGC Financial has generally agreed to indemnify the employees. Tullett Liberty is claiming compensatory and exemplary damages against BGC Financial and the employees in the amount of approximately $500 million. Tullett Liberty also seeks costs and permanent injunctions against the defendants.

On October 22, 2009, Tullett filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey against BGC captioned Tullett Prebon plc vs. BGC Partners, Inc. (the “New Jersey Complaint”). The New Jersey Complaint asserts claims relating to decisions made by approximately 81 brokers to terminate their employment with Tullett’s subsidiares and join BGC’s affiliates. In its complaint, Tullett makes a number of allegations against BGC related to raiding, unfair competition, New Jersey RICO, and other claims arising from the brokers’ current or prospective employment by BGC’s affiliates. Tullett is claiming compensatory damages against BGC in excess of $1 billion for various alleged injuries as well as exemplary damages. It also seeks costs and an injunction against additional hirings. The New Jersey Complaint incorporates the damages sought in the FINRA Claim, repeats many of the allegations raised in the FINRA Claim and also references matters that Tullett and/or its subsidiaries have filed outside of the United States, including one currently pending in the High Court in London and another action recently commenced by a Tullett affiliate against seven of our brokers in Hong Kong, on which we may have certain indemnity obligations. BGC and its affiliates intend to vigorously defend against both the FINRA Claim and the New Jersey Complaint, believe that they have substantial defenses to the claims asserted in those proceedings, believe that the damages and injunctive relief sought in those proceedings are unwarranted and unprecedented, and believe that Tullett and its subsidiaries are attempting to use the judicial and industry dispute resolution mechanisms in an effort to shift blame to BGC for their own failures. However, no assurance can be given as to whether Tullet or Tullett Liberty may actually succeed against either BGC or any of its affiliates.

In addition to the matters discussed above, the Company is a party to several pending legal proceedings and claims that have arisen during the ordinary course of business. The outcome of such items cannot be determined with certainty, therefore the Company cannot predict what the eventual loss or range of loss related to such matters will be. Management believes that, based on currently available information, the final outcome of these current pending matters will not have a material effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Legal reserves are established in accordance with FASB guidance on Accounting for Contingencies, when a material legal liability is both probable and reasonably estimable. Once established, reserves are adjusted when there is more information available or when an event occurs requiring a change.

Letter of Credit Agreements

The Company has irrevocable uncollateralized letters of credit with various banks, where the beneficiaries are clearing organizations through which we transact, that are used in lieu of margin and deposits with those clearing organizations. As of September 30, 2009, the Company was contingently liable for $53.3 million under these letters of credit.

Risk and Uncertainties

The Company generates revenues by providing financial intermediary and securities trading and brokerage activities to institutional customers and by executing and, in some cases, clearing transactions for institutional counterparties. Revenues for these services are transaction-based. As a result, revenues could vary based on the transaction volume of global financial markets. Additionally, financing is sensitive to interest rate fluctuations, which could have an impact on its overall profitability.

Guarantees

The Company provides guarantees to securities clearing houses and exchanges which meet the definition of a guarantee under FASB interpretations. Under these standard securities clearing house and exchange membership agreements, members are required to guarantee, collectively, the performance of other members and, accordingly, if another member becomes unable to satisfy its obligations to the clearing house or exchange, all other members would be required to meet the shortfall. In the opinion of management, the Company’s liability under these agreements is not quantifiable and could exceed the cash and securities it has posted as collateral. However, the potential of being required to make payments under these arrangements is remote. Accordingly, no contingent liability was recorded in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of financial condition for these agreements.

Financing

At September 30, 2009, in connection with its financing activities, the Company had $51.5 million in repurchase agreement commitments.

17. Income Taxes

eSpeed was a U.S. corporation and reported and paid U.S. federal income taxes as well as taxes to other jurisdictions in which it or its subsidiaries conducted business. Historically, much of BGC Partners, LLC had operated through entities that were treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As such, much of the income was not subject to U.S. federal and state income taxes because taxes related to income earned by partnerships represent obligations of the individual partners. BGC Partners, LLC did have certain companies that were incorporated and subject to U.S. federal, state and local income tax and they did report and pay U.S. federal, state and local income taxes. Outside the United States, BGC Partners, LLC had operated principally through subsidiary corporations subject to local income taxes. Prior to April 1, 2008, income taxes reported in the consolidated financial statements for BGC Partners, LLC were primarily attributable to taxes incurred by its incorporated U.S. entities and by non-U.S. entities. Subsequent to the merger, the consolidated financial statements of the Company include U.S. federal, state and local income taxes on its allocable share of the U.S. results of operations, giving effect to the post-merger structure, as well as taxes payable to jurisdictions outside the U.S.

Income taxes are accounted for using the asset and liability method, as per FASB guidance, Accounting for Income Taxes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis. Certain of the Company’s entities are taxed as U.S. partnerships and are subject to the Unincorporated Business Tax (“UBT”) in the City of New York. Therefore, the tax liability or benefit related to the partnership’s income or loss except for UBT rests with the partners, rather than the partnership entity. As such, the partners’ liability or benefit is not reflected in the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements. The tax related assets, liabilities, provisions or benefits included in the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements also reflect the results of the entities that are taxed as corporations, either in the U.S. or in foreign jurisdictions. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. A valuation allowance is recorded against deferred tax assets if it is more likely than not those assets will not be realized. No deferred U.S. federal income taxes have been provided for the undistributed foreign corporate earnings since they have been permanently reinvested in the Company’s foreign operations. It is not practical to determine the amount of additional tax that may be payable in the event these earnings are repatriated. Effective January 1, 2007, the Company, adopted FASB guidance, Accounting For Uncertainty in Income Taxes. It is the Company’s policy to provide for uncertain tax positions and the related interest and penalties based upon management’s assessment of whether a tax benefit is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by tax authorities. As of September 30, 2009, the Company had $4.5 million of unrecognized tax benefits all of which would affect the Company’s effective tax rate if recognized. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, the Company did not have any material changes with respect to interest and penalties. The Company does not anticipate any significant change in the total amount of unrecognized benefits (excluding interest and penalties) over the next twelve months.

18. Regulatory Requirements

Many of the Company’s businesses are subject to regulatory restrictions and minimum capital requirements. These regulatory capital requirements may restrict the Company’s ability to withdraw capital from its subsidiaries.

Certain U.S. subsidiaries are registered as U.S. broker-dealers or Futures Commissions Merchants subject to Rule 15c3-1 of the SEC and Rule 1.17 of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, which specify uniform minimum net capital requirements, as defined, for their registrants, and also require a significant part of the registrants’ assets be kept in relatively liquid form. As of September 30, 2009, the U.S. subsidiaries had net capital in excess of their minimum capital requirements.

Certain European subsidiaries of the Company are regulated by the FSA and must maintain financial resources (as defined by the FSA) in excess of the total financial resources requirement of the FSA. As of September 30, 2009, the European subsidiaries had financial resources in excess their requirements.

Certain other subsidiaries are subject to regulatory and other requirements of the jurisdictions in which they operate.

The regulatory requirements referred to above may restrict the Company’s ability to withdraw capital from its regulated subsidiaries. As of September 30, 2009, $308.3 million of net assets were held by regulated subsidiaries. These subsidiaries had aggregate regulatory net capital, as defined, in excess of the aggregate regulatory requirements, as defined, of $206.7 million.

19. Segment and Geographic Information

Segment Information

The Company currently operates its business in one reportable segment, that of providing financial intermediary services to the financial markets, integrated voice and electronic brokerage and trade execution services in a broad range of products and services, including global fixed income securities, equities, futures, foreign exchange, derivatives and other instruments, including proprietary market data offerings.

Geographic Information

The Company offers products and services in the North America, South America, Europe, Asia (including Australia) and the MEA region (defined as Middle East and Africa). Information regarding revenues for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively, and information regarding long-lived assets (defined as forgivable loans, fixed assets, net of accumulated depreciation, investment, goodwill, other intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization, and rent and other deposits) in geographic areas as of September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively, are as follows (in thousands):


	Three months ended September 30,				Nine months ended September 30,
	2009		2008		2009		2008
Revenues:
United Kingdom	$	125,730	$	140,521	$	377,461	$	435,051
United States		73,419		81,427		210,942		251,617
France		37,552		25,242		133,847		96,420
Asia		41,616		46,367		118,647		136,699
Other Europe/MEA		4,794		6,436		16,735		19,896
Other Americas		6,328		875		7,857		3,767

Total revenues	$	289,439	$	300,868	$	865,489	$	943,450


	As of September 30,		As of December 31,
	2009		2008
Long-lived assets:
United Kingdom	$	129,886	$	144,837
United States		134,137		126,392
France		12,512		14,874
Asia		43,326		25,928
Other Europe/MEA		2,273		3,274
Other Americas		19,132		558

Total long-lived assets	$	341,266	$	315,863

20. Subsequent Events

The Company has evaluated subsequent events through November 4, 2009, the date on which these interim financial statements are being issued.

Third Quarter Dividend

On November 2, 2009, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.08 per share payable on December 1, 2009 to Class A and Class B common stockholders of record as of November 16, 2009.

Stock Issuance

On November 3, 2009, the Company issued an aggregate of 356,602 shares of its Class A common stock to founding partners of BGC Holdings upon exchange of their exchangeable founding partner units issued by the Company to such founding partners on April 1, 2008. All of these shares are eligible for sale beginning on November 4, 2009 when the Company’s restrictions on employee stock transactions are lifted. This issuance did not change the amount of fully diluted shares outstanding.

ITEM 2.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following discussion of BGC Partners, Inc. financial condition and results of operations should be read together with BGC Partners, Inc. condensed consolidated financial statements and notes to those statements, included elsewhere in this document. When used herein, the terms “BGC Partners,” “BGC” the “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to BGC Partners, Inc., including consolidated subsidiaries.

•

our relationship with Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P. and its affiliates (“Cantor”) and any related conflicts of interest, competition for and retention of brokers and other managers and key employees, reliance on Cantor for liquidity and capital and other relationships;

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pricing and commissions and market position with respect to any of our products and services and those of our competitors;

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the effect of industry concentration and reorganization, reduction of customers and consolidation;

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liquidity, clearing capital requirements and the impact of recent credit market events;

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market conditions, including trading volume and volatility, and further deterioration of the equity and debt capital markets;

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economic or geopolitical conditions or uncertainties;

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the extensive regulation of the Company’s businesses, changes in regulations relating to the financial services industry, and risks relating to compliance matters;

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factors related to specific transactions or series of transactions, including credit, performance and unmatched principal risk, as well as counterparty failure, and the impact of fraud and unauthorized trading;

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the ability to hire new personnel;

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the ability to expand the use of technology for our hybrid platform, including hybrid and fully electronic trading;

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effectively managing any growth that may be achieved;

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the effectiveness of risk management policies and procedures and the impact of unexpected market moves and similar events;

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the ability to meet expectations with respect to payment of dividends, distributions and repurchases of our common stock or purchases of BGC Holdings, L.P. (“BGC Holdings”) limited partnership interests or other equity interests in our subsidiaries, including from Cantor, our executive officers, and our employees; and

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the risks and other factors described herein under the heading “Item 1A—Risk Factors” as set forth in this and other reports on Form 10-Q and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K.

The foregoing risks and uncertainties, as well as those risks discussed under the heading “Item 3—Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Risk” and elsewhere in the Company’s Form 10-Q, may cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. The information included herein is given as of the filing date of this Form 10-Q with the SEC, and future events or circumstances could differ significantly from these forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

This discussion summarizes the significant factors affecting our results of operations and financial condition during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008. This discussion is provided to increase the understanding of, and should be read in conjunction with, our condensed consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes thereto included elsewhere in this Report.

Overview

derivatives, commodities, futures, structured products and other instruments. BGC Partners also provides a full range of services, including trade execution, broker-dealer services, clearing, processing, information, and other back office services to a broad range of financial and non-financial institutions. Through its eSpeed and BGCantor Market Data brands, BGC Partners also offers financial technology solutions and market data and analytics related to select financial instruments and markets. BGC Partners’ customers include many of the world’s largest banks, broker-dealers, investment banks, trading firms, hedge funds, governments and investment firms. BGC Partners’ integrated platform is designed to provide flexibility to customers with regard to price discovery, execution and processing of transactions, and enables them to use voice, hybrid, or, where available, fully electronic brokerage services in connection with transactions executed either OTC or through an exchange. BGC Partners has offices in New York and London, as well as in Beijing (representative office), Chicago, Copenhagen, Hong Kong, Istanbul, Johannesburg, Mexico City, Moscow, Nyon, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Seoul, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo and Toronto.

Prior to the events of September 11, 2001, BGC Partners’ brokerage business was widely recognized as one of the leading full-service wholesale inter-dealer brokers in the world. After September 11, 2001 and the loss of the majority of its U.S.-based employees, its brokerage business operated primarily in Europe. In August 2004, Cantor announced the restructuring of its inter-dealer brokerage business, renaming it “BGC,” in honor of B. Gerald Cantor, Cantor’s co-founder and a pioneer in screen brokerage services and fixed income market data products. Over the past several years, BGC Partners has re-established its U.S. presence and has continued to expand its global presence through the acquisition and integration of established brokerage companies and the hiring of experienced brokers. Through these actions, BGC Partners has been able to expand its presence in key markets and position its business for sustained growth.

On April 1, 2008, BGC Partners, LLC merged with and into eSpeed Inc. to form BGC Partners. eSpeed is a leader in developing and deploying electronic marketplaces and related trading technology that offers traders access to some of the most liquid, efficient and neutral financial markets in the world. eSpeed is an innovator in its core electronic marketplaces, the government bond markets of the world. The merger combined eSpeed’s electronic marketplaces and related electronic trading technology expertise in the government bond and its other markets with BGC Partners’ traditional inter-dealer brokerage businesses. Management believes this combination will position BGC Partners as one of the few financial intermediaries with hybrid capabilities and technology thus allowing them to offer superior execution to its clients and drive higher trading volumes. Prior to the merger, BGC Partners and eSpeed had a strong relationship through a Joint Services Agreement (“JSA”) under which revenues for certain services were shared. Management believes that the merger has helped drive efficiencies and align the interests of both firms so that they can better focus eSpeed’s technology on supporting BGC Partners’ brokerage services.

Business Environment

The financial intermediary sector has been a competitive area that has had strong revenue growth over the period from 2001 through the middle of 2008 due to several factors. One factor is the increasing use of derivatives to manage risk or to take advantage of the anticipated direction of a market by allowing holders to guard against gains or losses in the price of underlying assets without having to buy or sell the underlying assets. Derivatives are often used to mitigate the risks associated with interest rate movements, equity ownership, changes in the value of foreign currency, credit defaults by corporate and sovereign debtors and changes in the prices of commodity products. Demand from financial institutions, financial services intermediaries and large corporations have increased volumes in the wholesale derivatives market, thereby increasing the business opportunity for financial intermediaries.

Another key factor in the growth of the financial intermediary sector has been the increase in the number of new products. As market participants and their customers strive to mitigate risk, new types of equity and fixed income securities, futures, options and other financial instruments are developed. These new securities and derivatives are not immediately ready for more liquid and standardized electronic markets, and generally increase the need for trading and require broker-assisted execution.

The continuing credit crisis and ensuing global economic slowdown, has resulted in consolidation among some of the larger market participants. Most have curtailed risk taking, de-levered, and/or seen a decline in trading activity across many of their products. As a result, there has been an industry-wide slowdown in growth or outright decline in the volumes for many of the OTC and listed products we broker. At the same time, the continued high volatility by historical standards and decrease in the number of market participants has led to widening spreads in certain markets.

As some of our largest customers reduce their staffing levels in many of the markets in which we operate, full-service financial intermediaries may see increased opportunity to be the outsourced provider of market intelligence, operational expertise and liquidity to help our clients as they seek to operate in the current uncertain economic climate. BGC Partners has invested significantly to capitalize on the current business environment through acquisitions, technology spending and the hiring of new brokers. The business climate for these acquisitions has been competitive and it is expected that these conditions will persist for the foreseeable future. BGC Partners has been able to attract businesses and brokers to its platform as it believes they recognize that BGC Partners has the scale, technology, experience and expertise to succeed in the current business environment.

Financial Highlights

Revenue Growth

Total revenues were $289.4 million and $300.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2009, and 2008 respectively, representing a 3.8% decrease. Total revenues were $865.5 million and $943.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009, and 2008 respectively, representing a 8.3% decrease. The Company’s revenues for the third quarter would have been approximately $5.4 million higher if not for the increase in the value of the US dollar relative to other major currencies year-on-year. The main factors contributing to the decline were:

•

an increase in the value of the U.S. dollar relative to other major currencies;

•

reduced volumes across global interest rate and foreign exchange option markets;

•

a decrease in the number of fixed-fee eSpeed fully electronic U.S. Treasury customers due to some industry consolidation; and

These declines were offset by:

•

expansion across both product lines and geography;

•

an increase in brokerage personnel year-over-year from 1,262 to 1,423;

•

higher Credit revenue related to BGC’s strength in cash bonds; and

•

wider spreads across most asset classes.

These variances are discussed in more detail under the discussion of “Results of Operations”.

Results of Operations

The following table sets forth BGC’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations data expressed as a percentage of total revenues for the periods indicated (in thousands):


	Three Months Ended September 30, (unaudited)										Nine Months Ended September 30, (unaudited)
	2009					2008					2009					2008
	Actual Results			Percentage of Total Revenues		Actual Results			Percentage of Total Revenues		Actual Results			Percentage of Total Revenues		Actual Results			Percentage of Total Revenues
Revenues:
Commissions	$	175,219		60.5	%	$	225,482		74.9	%	$	511,804		59.1	%	$	692,054		73.4	%
Principal transactions		90,608		31.3			48,832		16.2			288,307		33.3			166,790		17.7

Total brokerage revenues		265,827		91.8			274,314		91.1			800,111		92.4			858,844		91.1
Fees from related parties		14,945		5.2			19,409		6.5			43,101		5.0			58,921		6.2
Market data		4,824		1.7			4,842		1.6			13,688		1.6			15,487		1.6
Software solutions		1,759		0.6			2,109		0.7			6,027		0.7			5,646		0.6
Interest income		2,189		0.8			1,019		0.3			4,203		0.5			8,803		0.9
Other revenues		1,642		0.5			1,085		0.4			4,101		0.5			731		0.1
Losses on equity investments		(1,747	)	(0.6	)		(1,910	)	(0.6	)		(5,742	)	(0.7	)		(4,982	)	(0.5	)

Total revenues		289,439		100.0			300,868		100.0			865,489		100.0			943,450		100.0
Expenses:
Compensation and employee benefits		181,479		62.7			177,739		59.1			537,907		62.2			629,205		66.7
Allocation of income to founding/working partner units		1,065		0.4			3,716		1.2			9,417		1.1			10,849		1.1
Allocation of income to REUs		662		0.2			299		0.1			3,579		0.4			551		0.1

Total compensation and employee benefits		183,206		63.3			181,754		60.4			550,903		63.7			640,605		67.9
Occupancy and equipment		27,653		9.6			25,686		8.5			80,999		9.3			85,183		9.0
Fees to related parties		3,208		1.1			2,883		1.0			10,472		1.2			12,563		1.3
Professional and consulting fees		6,852		2.4			15,460		5.1			21,641		2.5			42,809		4.5
Communications		16,880		5.8			17,459		5.8			47,850		5.5			51,220		5.4
Selling and promotion		14,432		5.0			16,262		5.4			42,187		4.9			46,567		4.9
Commissions and floor brokerage		4,084		1.4			3,418		1.1			11,834		1.4			13,316		1.5
Interest expense		2,476		0.9			2,217		0.8			7,385		0.9			13,508		1.5
Other expenses		22,593		7.7			17,603		5.9			41,213		4.7			27,229		2.9

Total expenses		281,384		97.2			282,742		94.0			814,484		94.1			933,000		98.9

Income from continuing operations before income taxes and noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries		8,055		2.7			18,126		6.0			51,005		5.9			10,450		1.1
Provision for income taxes		3,310		1.1			4,762		1.6			17,285		2.0			21,555		2.3

Consolidated net income (loss)		4,745		1.6			13,364		4.4			33,720		3.9			(11,105	)	(1.2	)
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries		2,570		0. 9			6,511		2.2			15,397		1.8			18,591		2.0

Net income (loss) available to common stockholders	$	2,175		0.7	%	$	6,853		2.2	%	$	18,323		2.1	%	$	(29,696	)	(3.2	)%

Three Months Ended September 30, 2009 Compared to Three Months Ended September 30, 2008

Revenues

Brokerage Revenues

Total brokerage revenues decreased by $8.5 million, or 3.1%, for the three months ended September 30, 2009 as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2008. Commission revenues decreased by $50.3 million, or 22.3%, for the three months ended September 30, 2009 as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2008. Principal transactions revenues increased by $41.8 million, or 85.6%, for the three months ended September 30, 2009 as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2008.

The decrease in rates revenues of $4.2 million was primarily driven by a reduction in industry-wide market turnover in interest rate products. During the third quarter of 2009, volumes for CME U.S. Treasury futures, CME Eurodollar contracts, ICAP Electronic US Treasuries, and trading by U.S. Federal Reserve primary dealers were down 31.8%, 22.2%, 25.6%, and 21.6%, respectively, when compared to the third quarter of 2008. In addition, there has been some consolidation among major customers, including fixed-fee fully electronic U.S. Treasury customers.

The increase in credit brokerage revenues of $11.0 million was driven primarily by continued expansion of our core credit business across all geographies, as well as our historical strength in broking cash bonds.

Foreign exchange revenues declined by $14.7 million. This was primarily due to reduced industry-wide foreign exchange option turnover.

Revenues from other asset classes fell by $0.5 million due to the global slowdown in equity markets offset by our continued growth in equity products across all geographies.

Fees from Related Parties

Fees from related parties decreased by $4.5 million, or 23.0%, for the three months ended September 30, 2009 as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2008. The decrease was primarily due to lower fees charged to Cantor for certain administrative and other support services in the third quarter of 2009 as a result of lower costs incurred by us to provide those services, primarily driven by reductions in temporary staff and consulting costs.

Market Data

There was no significant change in market data revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2009 as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2008. The slight decrease was primarily due to a decline in existing customer usage, consolidation among clients, and was partially offset by higher audit revenues and additional business from new clients.

Software Solutions

Software solutions revenues decreased by $0.4 million, or 16.6%, for the three months ended September 30, 2009 as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2008. The decrease was primarily due to a decline in futures proprietary software sales partially offset by an increase in license fees and disaster recovery services fees.

Interest Income

Interest income increased by $1.2 million, or 114.8%, for the three months ended September 30, 2009 as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2008. The increase was primarily due to interest received on a non-recurring value added tax reclaim that we received in the three months ended September 30, 2009.

Other Revenues

Other revenues increased by $0.6 million, or 51.3%, for the three months ended September 30, 2009 as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2008. The increase was driven by legal settlements received by us from our competitors for the three months ended September 30, 2009.

Losses on Equity Investments

Losses on equity investments decreased by $0.2 million, or 8.5%, for the three months ended September 30, 2009 as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2008. The decrease was primarily driven by a reduction in our share of losses in our non-consolidated investments in Aqua and ELX.

Expenses

Compensation and Employee Benefits

Compensation and employee benefits expense increased by $3.7 million, or 2.1%, for the three months ended September 30, 2009 as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2008. The increase was primarily due to the Company replacing outside vendors and consultants with full-time employees, which also contributed to quarter over quarter reduction in professional and consulting fees and lower overall expenses.

Allocation of Income to Founding/Working Partner Units

Allocation of income to founding/working partner units decreased by $2.7 million, or 71.3%, for the three months ended September 30, 2009 as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2008. The decrease was attributable to a reduction in net income allocable to fully diluted shares as well as to a reduction in Founding/Working Partner pro rata economic ownership in 2009.

Allocation of Income to REUs

Allocation of income to REUs increased by $0.4 million, or 121.4%, for the three months ended September 30, 2009 as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2008. The increase was attributable to an increase in REUs pro rata economic ownership in 2009 partially offset by a reduction in net income allocable to fully diluted shares. The increase in REU pro rata ownership was due to the impact of the issuance of approximately 24 million REUs over the 18-month period since the merger.

Occupancy and Equipment

Occupancy and equipment expense increased by $2.0 million, or 7.7%, for the three months ended September 30, 2009 as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2008. The increase was primarily due to increased purchases of non-capitalized office equipment and an increase in the cost of hardware and software maintenance contracts in the three months ended September 30, 2009.

Fees to Related Parties

Fees to related parties increased by $0.3 million, or 11.3%, for the three months ended September 30, 2009 as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2008. The increase was primarily due to higher cost allocations from Cantor to us in the three months ended September 30, 2009.

Professional and Consulting Fees

Professional and consulting fees decreased by $8.6 million, or 55.7%, for the three months ended September 30, 2009 as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2008. The decrease was primarily due to a reduction in consulting and temporary staff for the three months ended September 30, 2009 as the Company replaced outside vendors and consultants with full-time employees.

Communications

Communications expense decreased by $0.6 million, or 3.3%, for the three months ended September 30, 2009 as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2008. The decrease was primarily the result of centralizing global communication management and eliminating excess capacity in our networks. As a percentage of total revenues, communications remained relatively unchanged at approximately 5.8% across the two periods.

Selling and Promotion

Selling and promotion expense decreased by $1.8 million, or 11.3%, for the three months ended September 30, 2009 as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2008. As a percentage of total revenues, the ratio decreased by 0.4% to 5.0% for

the three months ended September 30, 2009, from 5.4% for the three months ended September 30, 2008. The decrease was primarily the result of lower travel and entertainment expenses incurred in the three months ended September 30, 2009 as a part of our cost reduction initiatives.

Commissions and Floor Brokerage

Commissions and floor brokerage expense increased by $0.7 million, or 19.5% for the three months ended September 30, 2009 as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2008. The increase was primarily due to an increase in principal transaction revenues during the three months ended September 30, 2008.

Interest Expense

Interest expense increased by $0.3 million, or 11.7%, for the three months ended September 30, 2009 as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2008. The increase was primarily driven by certain non-recurring benefits recognized in the three months ended September 30, 2008.

Other Expenses

Other expenses increased by $5.0 million, or 28.3%, for the three months ended September 30, 2009 as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2008. The increase was primarily due to a $4.3 million increase in charitable contributions relating to our annual Charity Day, and a one- time expense in the amount $3.5 million relating to the Company assuming the liability of a September 11, 2001 worker’s compensation policy during the three months ended September 30, 2009. In addition, we incurred higher litigation costs during the three months ended September 30, 2009. These increases were partially offset by an asset write-off charge in connection with us vacating certain offices in Paris that were recognized in the third quarter of 2008, and the impact of lower foreign currency revaluation expense in the three months ended September 30, 2009.

Noncontrolling Interest in Subsidiaries

Noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries decreased by $3.9 million, or 60.5%, for the three months ended September 30, 2009 as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2008. The decrease was due to a decrease of $3.7 million in income attributable to Cantor’s interest in BGC Holdings as well as a $0.2 million decrease in the income attributable to Cantor’s interest in Tower Bridge.

The decrease attributable to Cantor’s interest in BGC Holdings was due to a reduction in net income allocable to fully diluted shares as well as to a reduction in Cantor’s pro rata economic ownership in 2009.

Provision for Income Taxes

Provision for income taxes decreased by $1.5 million, or 30.5%, for the three months ended September 30, 2009 as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2008. Income taxes decreased due to the reduction in taxable income in the three months ended September 30, 2009. Our consolidated effective tax rate can vary from period to period depending on, among other factors, the geographic and business mix of our earnings.

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009 Compared to Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008

Revenues

Brokerage Revenues

Total brokerage revenues decreased by $58.7 million, or 6.8%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2008. Commission revenues decreased by $180.3 million, or 26.0%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2008. Principal transactions revenues increased by $121.5 million, or 72.9%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2008.

The decrease in rates revenues of $49.4 million was primarily driven by a reduction in industry-wide market turnover in interest rate products. During the 9 months ended September 30, 2009, volumes for CME U.S. Treasury futures, CME Eurodollar contracts, ICAP Electronic US Treasuries, and trading by U.S. Federal Reserve primary dealers were down 43.8%, 35.2%, 37.5%, and 31.7%, respectively, when compared to the 9 months ended September 30, 2008. In addition, there has been some consolidation amongst major customers, including fixed-fee fully electronic U.S. Treasury customers.

The increase in credit brokerage revenues of $36.8 million was driven primarily by continued expansion of our core credit business across all geographies, as well as our historical strength in broking cash bonds.

Foreign exchange revenues declined by $42.9 million. This was primarily due to reduced industry-wide foreign exchange option turnover.

Revenues from other asset classes fell by $3.2 million due to the global slowdown in equity markets offset by our continued growth in equity products across all geographies.

Fees from Related Parties

Fees from related parties decreased by $15.8 million, or 26.8%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2008. The decrease was primarily due to lower fees charged to Cantor for certain administrative and other support services in the first nine months of 2009 as a result of lower costs incurred by us to provide those services, primarily related to reductions in temporary staff and consulting costs.

Market Data

Market data revenues decreased by $1.8 million, or 11.6%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2008. The decrease was primarily due to a decline in existing customer usage, consolidation among clients, the expiration of certain contracts, lower audit revenues, partially offset by additional business from new clients.

Software Solutions

Software solutions revenues increased by $0.4 million, or 6.7%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2008. The increase was primarily due to an increase in license fees and disaster recovery services fees, partially offset by a decrease in futures proprietary software sales.

Interest Income

Interest income decreased by $4.6 million, or 52.3%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2008. The decrease was primarily due to the repayment of intercompany loans by Cantor to us as part of our separation from Cantor in 2008, as well as lower yields on investments of our excess cash in both money markets and reverse repurchase agreements during nine months ended September 30, 2009.

Other Revenues

Other revenues increased by $3.4 million, or 461.0%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2008. The increase was primarily driven by legal settlements received by us from our competitors during the nine months ended September 30, 2009.

Losses on Equity Investments

Losses on equity investments increased by $0.8 million, or 15.3%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2008. The increase was primarily driven by our share of losses in non-consolidated investments in Aqua and ELX.

Expenses

Compensation and Employee Benefits

Compensation and employee benefits expense decreased by $91.3 million, or 14.5%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2008. The decrease was primarily due to non-cash compensation charges of $84.1 million, in the first quarter of 2008, specifically $47.3 million of which was in relation to the redemption of partnership units held by certain executive officers to settle outstanding loan obligations and $36.8 million of which was in relation to the activation of exchangeability of founding partner interests held by certain executives, as part of the separation, which did not recur in 2009. In addition, a decrease in revenues contributed to lower compensation expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2008.

These decreases were partially offset by a $4.9 million increase in compensation expense related to certain administrative and other support employees who provide services to us, which we lease from Cantor pursuant to an agreement executed as part of the merger. This compensation expense had been recorded as part of “Fees to related parties” in the first quarter of 2008.

Allocation of Income to Founding/Working Partner Units

Allocation of income to founding/working partner units decreased by $1.4 million, or 13.2%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2008. The decrease was attributable to a reduction in Founding/Working Partner pro rata economic ownership in 2009.

Allocation of Income to REUs

Allocation of income to REUs increased by $3.0 million, or 549.5%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2008. The increase was attributable to an increase in REUs pro rata economic ownership in 2009. The increase in REU pro rata ownership was due to the impact of the issuance of approximately 24 million REUs over the
18-month period since the merger.

Occupancy and Equipment

Occupancy and equipment expense decreased by $4.2 million, or 4.9%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2008. The decrease was primarily due to lower rent expense recognized in our foreign locations primarily resulting from the consolidation of offices and a stronger U.S. dollar during the nine months ended September 30, 2009. Other factors contributing to the decrease were lower depreciation expense due to the retirement of certain assets which occurred at the end of 2008 and a reduction in the purchases of non-capitalized hardware and equipment for the nine months ended September 30, 2009.

Fees to Related Parties

Fees to related parties decreased by $2.1 million, or 16.6%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2008. The decrease was primarily due to an agreement we entered into in conjunction with the merger, whereby we leased certain administrative and other support employees, who provide services to us, from Cantor. As a result of this agreement, the compensation costs related to these employees, which had been recorded as part of “Fees to related parties” prior to the merger, is now recorded as part of “Compensation and employee benefits”. In addition, there were lower back office costs in Cantor resulting in lower cost allocations to us in the nine months ended September 30, 2009

Professional and Consulting Fees

Professional and consulting fees decreased by $21.2 million, or 49.4%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2008. During the nine months ended September 30, 2008, we incurred higher legal, audit and consulting fees related to the merger, and higher consulting fees related to the upgrade of our regulatory reporting infrastructure to comply with FSA requirements. In addition, during the nine months ended September 30, 2009, there was a reduction in temporary staff as a result of replacing outside vendors and consultants with full-time employees.

Communications

Communications expense decreased by $3.4 million, or 6.6%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2008. As a percentage of total revenues, communications remained relatively unchanged at approximately 5.5% across the two periods. The decrease was primarily the result of centralizing global communications management and eliminating idle and abundant capacity in our networks.

Selling and Promotion

Selling and promotion expense decreased by $4.4 million, or 9.4%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2008. As a percentage of total revenues, selling and promotion expense remained relatively unchanged at approximately 5% across the two periods. The decrease was primarily the result of lower travel and entertainment expenses incurred in the nine months ended September 30, 2009 as a part of our cost reduction initiatives.

Commissions and Floor Brokerage

Commissions and floor brokerage expense decreased by $1.5 million, or 11.1% for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2008, primarily due to the recognition of a non-recurring expense recognized in the nine months ended September 30, 2008.

Interest Expense

Interest expense decreased by $6.1 million, or 45.3%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2008. The decrease was primarily due to the debt restructuring as part of our separation from Cantor in 2008, which included the repayment of intercompany loans and the issuance of new senior notes at more favorable interest rates. In addition, a more favorable interest rate environment during 2009 also contributed to this decrease.

Other Expenses

Other expenses increased by $14.0 million, or 51.4%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2008. The increase was primarily due to a $4.3 million increase in charitable contributions, primarily relating to our annual Charity Day, and a one time expense in the amount $3.5 million relating to the Company assuming the liability of a September 11, 2001 workers’ compensation policy during the nine months ended September 30, 2009. In addition, we incurred increased litigation costs in the nine months ended September 30, 2009. These increases were partially offset by an asset write-off charge in connection with us vacating certain offices in Paris that were recognized in the nine months ended September 30, 2008.

Noncontrolling Interest in Subsidiaries

Noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries decreased by $3.2 million, or 17.2%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and was due to an decrease of $2.3 million in income attributable to Cantor’s interest in BGC Holdings as well as a $0.9 million decrease in the income attributable to Cantor’s interest in Tower Bridge.

The decrease attributable to Cantor’s interest in BGC Holdings was due to a reduction in Cantor’s pro rata economic ownership in 2009.

Provision for Income Taxes

Provision for income taxes decreased by $4.3 million, or 19.8%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2008. Income taxes decreased due the reduction in taxable income in the nine months ended September 30, 2009. Our consolidated effective tax rate can vary from period to period depending on, among other factors, the geographic and business mix of our earnings.

Quarterly Results of Operations

The following table (unaudited) sets forth, our unaudited quarterly results of operations for the indicated periods (in thousands). Results of any period are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year and may, in certain periods, be affected by seasonal fluctuations in our business.


	September 30, 2009			June 30, 2009			March 31, 2009			December 31, 2008			September 30, 2008			June 30, 2008			March 31, 2008			December 31, 2007
	(in thousands)
Revenues:
Commissions	$	175,219		$	164,305		$	172,280		$	179,144		$	225,482		$	212,541		$	254,031		$	217,908
Principal transactions		90,608			106,438			91,261			80,614			48,832			66,062			51,896			23,370
Fees from related parties		14,945			13,232			14,924			17,205			19,409			18,599			20,913			21,167
Market data		4,824			4,402			4,462			3,917			4,842			5,101			5,544			4,741
Software solutions		1,759			2,770			1,498			2,134			2,109			1,454			2,083			1,926
Interest income		2,189			702			1,312			3,010			1,019			3,931			3,853			3,083
Other revenues		1,642			2,139			320			1,545			1,085			(940	)		586			36
Losses on equity investments		(1,747	)		(1,852	)		(2,143	)		(2,087	)		(1,910	)		(1,276	)		(1,796	)		(408	)

Total revenues		289,439			292,136			283,914			285,482			300,868			305,472			337,110			271,823
Expenses:
Compensation and employee benefits		181,479			180,591			175,837			190,208			177,739			176,921			274,545			162,595
Allocation of income to founding/working partner units		1,065			4,125			4,227			—			3,716			7,133			—			—
Allocation of income to REUs		662			2,065			852			—			299			252			—			—

Total compensation and employee benefits		183,206			186,781			180,916			190,208			181,754			184,306			274,545			162,595
Occupancy and equipment		27,653			27,522			25,824			26,723			25,686			28,775			30,722			27,696
Fees to related parties		3,208			2,929			4,335			2,731			2,883			3,140			6,540			10,778
Professional and consulting fees		6,852			7,305			7,484			9,207			15,460			11,803			15,546			22,820
Communications		16,880			15,646			15,324			15,696			17,459			17,041			16,720			15,972
Selling and promotion		14,432			12,751			15,004			15,520			16,262			15,070			15,235			15,183
Commissions and floor brokerage		4,084			4,075			3,675			11,284			3,418			6,185			3,713			290
Interest expense		2,476			2,512			2,397			5,442			2,217			3,628			7,663			11,730
Other expenses		22,593			10,990			7,630			9,347			17,603			3,391			6,235			9,204

Total expenses		281,384			270,511			262,589			286,158			282,742			273,339			376,919			276,268
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries		8,055			21,625			21,325			(676	)		18,126			32,133			(39,809	)		(4,445	)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes		3,310			6,944			7,031			(1,440	)		4,762			8,723			8,070			5,786

Consolidated net income (loss)		4,745			14,681			14,294			764			13,364			23,410			(47,879	)		(10,231	)

Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries		2,570			6,613			6,214			777			6,511			11,426			654			928

Net income (loss) available to common stockholders	$	2,175		$	8,068		$	8,080		$	(13	)	$	6,853		$	11,984		$	(48,533	)	$	(11,159	)

The table below (unaudited) detail our brokerage revenues by product category (in thousands):


	For the three months ended
	September 30, 2009			June 30, 2009			March 31, 2009			December 31, 2008			September 30, 2008			June 30, 2008			March 31, 2008			December 31, 2007
Brokerage revenue by product (actual results):
Rates	$	137,948		$	126,767		$	123,556		$	116,392		$	142,162		$	143,100		$	152,450		$	117,844
Credit		78,893			90,768			91,334			83,258			67,923			69,114			87,193			63,439
Foreign exchange		23,724			20,963			22,349			30,910			38,434			34,048			37,466			34,417
Other asset classes		25,262			32,245			26,302			29,198			25,795			32,341			28,818			25,578

Total brokerage revenues	$	265,827		$	270,743		$	263,541		$	259,758		$	274,314		$	278,603		$	305,927		$	241,278

Brokerage revenue by product (percentage):
Rates		51.9	%		46.8	%		46.9	%		44.8	%		51.8	%		51.4	%		49.8	%		48.8	%
Credit		29.7			33.5			34.6			32.0			24.8			24.8			28.5			26.3
Foreign exchange		8.9			7.8			8.5			12.0			14.0			12.2			12.2			14.3
Other asset classes		9.5			11.9			10.0			11.2			9.4			11.6			9.5			10.6

Total brokerage revenues		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%

Brokerage revenue by voice/hybrid and fully electronic (actual results):
Voice/hybrid	$	245,179		$	252,918		$	248,413		$	244,298		$	255,143		$	262,195		$	289,862		$	217,839
Fully electronic		20,648			17,825			15,128			15,460			19,171			16,408			16,065			23,439

Total brokerage revenues	$	265,827		$	270,743		$	263,541		$	259,758		$	274,314		$	278,603		$	305,927		$	241,278

Brokerage revenue by voice/hybrid and fully electronic (percentage):
Voice/hybrid		92.2	%		93.4	%		94.3	%		94.0	%		93.0	%		94.1	%		94.7	%		90.3	%
Fully electronic		7.8			6.6			5.7			6.0			7.0			5.9			5.3			9.7

Total brokerage revenues		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%		100.0	%

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Balance Sheet

Our balance sheet and business model are not capital intensive. We maintain minimal securities inventory; our assets consist largely of cash, collateralized receivables and less liquid assets needed to support our business. Longer term funding (equity and long term debt) is held to support the less liquid assets. Total assets at September 30, 2009 were $1.56 billion, an increase of 47% as compared to December 31, 2008. The growth in total assets was driven primarily by increases in cash, and receivables from brokers, dealers and clearing organizations. We maintain a comparatively large portion of our assets in cash, with cash and cash equivalents at September 30, 2009 at $423 million.

Funding

Our funding base consists of longer term capital (equity, notes payable and collateralized borrowings) and shorter-term liabilities/accruals that are a natural outgrowth of specific assets and /or the business model, such as matched fails and accrued commission compensation. We have limited need for and use of short-term unsecured funding. Contingent liquidity needs are largely limited to unsecured letters of credit used to meet clearinghouse/exchange margins. Capital expenditures tend to be cash neutral and approximately in line with depreciation. Current cash balances substantially exceed the sum of upcoming debt maturities plus unsecured letters of credit. We are currently evaluating our options with respect to the $150 million of notes payable that mature on April 1, 2010. These options included, but are not limited to, repayment at maturity with existing cash resources, raising external debt capital to refinance some or all of the maturing notes, entering into an arms’ length borrowing arrangement with Cantor or another party to pay off some or all of the maturing notes, and/or various combinations of the above.

Beyond the note maturity and evaluation of related financing options, we anticipate that our existing cash resources and prospective cash generation will be sufficient to meet our anticipated liquidity needs for at least the next 12 months. We expect our operating activities going forward to generate adequate cash flows to fund normal operations, including any dividends issued pursuant to our dividend policy. However, we believe that there are a significant number of relatively more capital intensive opportunities for us to maximize our growth and strategic position, including, among other things, acquisitions, strategic alliances and joint ventures potentially involving all types and combinations of equity, debt and acquisition alternatives. As a result, we may need to raise additional funds to:

•

increase the regulatory net capital necessary to support operations;

•

support continued growth in our business;

•

effect acquisitions;

•

develop new or enhanced services and markets;

•

respond to competitive pressures; and

•

clear our securities transactions.

We cannot guarantee that we will be able to obtain additional financing when needed on terms that are acceptable to us, if at all.

Credit Ratings

Subsequent to the end of the third quarter, we obtained public long-term debt ratings. Our long-term debt ratings and outlook are as follows:


	Long-Term Rating	Outlook
Moody’s Investor Service	Ba1	Stable

Standard & Poor’s	BBB-	Stable

Fitch Rating’s Inc.	BBB	Stable

Cash Flows

Net cash provided by operating activities was $149.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009, compared to net cash provided by operating activities of $81.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, an increase of $67.4 million.

This increase was primarily due to increased consolidated net income of $44.8 million, a decrease in non-cash adjustments to net income of $79.1 million, which was primarily attributable to a one-time non-cash compensation charge in the amount of $84.1 million in the nine months ending September 30, 2008, and an increase in cash provided from changes in operating assets and liabilities in the amount of $101.7. The latter increase resulted primarily from an increase in cash provided from changes in receivables and payables to and from brokers, dealers, clearing organizations and related broker-dealers. In the nine months ended September 30, 2008, there was a reduction in cash provided, primarily due to us exiting the proprietary FX trading business in 2007, which provided sources of liquidity not available to us in 2008. Additionally, in the nine months ended September 30, 2009, our cash position improved as a result of a reduction in net receivables from clearing organizations.

Net cash provided by investing activities was $105.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009, compared to net cash used in investing activities of $53.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, an increase of $158.3 million. This increase was primarily due a reduction in the amount of investing / loan activity with Cantor. In addition, we had reduced purchases of fixed assets in the nine months ended September 30, 2009. Additionally, we acquired Liquidez in the nine months ended September 30, 2009 for $5.1 million, net of cash acquired, and we acquired Radix in the nine months ended September 30, 2008 for $5.0 million.

Net cash used in financing activities was $37.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009, compared to net used in financing activities of $153.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2008, an increase of $116.8 million. During the nine months ended September 30, 2008, the net cash used in financing activities was primarily comprised of activities related to the separation from Cantor that occurred on March 31, 2008, including the settlement of $196.8 million of long-term debt obligations to Cantor, capital contributions from Cantor of $130.0 million, and the assumption of $150.0 million of Cantor’s senior notes. Additionally we received $77.2 million in proceeds, net of underwriting fees, from a primary offering of Class A common stock. Additionally during the nine months ended September 30, 2008, we had repurchases of Class A Common Stock in the amount of $16.6 million, earnings distributions to founding/working partner units, REUs and Cantor of $20.8 million and paid dividends of $11.7 million. During the nine months ended September 30, 2009, the net cash used in financing activities was primarily comprised of repurchases of Class A Common Stock in the amount of $7.9 million, earnings distributions to founding/working partner units, REUs and Cantor of $30.5 million and paid dividends of $17.6 million. Additionally during the nine months ended September 30, 2009, we entered into a secured loan arrangement with General Electric Capital Corporation, under which we pledged certain fixed assets to General Electric Capital Corporation in exchange for a loan of $19.0 million.

Notes Payable and Collateralized Borrowings

On March 31, 2008, we entered into a note purchase agreement pursuant to which $150.0 million principal amount of notes were issued to the investors named in the note purchase agreement. The notes are due April 1, 2010, with interest payable semiannually at the rate of 5.19% per annum; provided, however, that this rate is increased by 0.25% per annum for any fiscal quarter during which our consolidated debt exceeds 55% but not 60% of our consolidated capitalization, as such terms are defined in the Company guaranty. In addition, the interest rate increases by 0.50% per annum during any period in which any holder of a note is required under applicable insurance regulations to post reserves with respect to the notes greater than the reserve requirement, as such term is defined in the note purchase agreement, in effect immediately prior to March 31, 2008. Under the terms of the guaranty, we are required to maintain consolidated capital of at least $227.5 million as of the end of each fiscal quarter and cannot permit our consolidated debt to exceed 60% of our consolidated capitalization. Also, pursuant to the separation agreement, we will make semi-annual payments to Cantor during the term of the notes equal to the difference between 7.5% and the applicable interest rate of the notes.

Clearing Capital

Following the merger, Cantor has continued to clear U.S. Treasury and U.S. Government Agency securities transactions on our behalf. In November 2008, we entered into a clearing capital agreement with Cantor. Pursuant to the terms of this agreement, so long as Cantor is providing Clearing Services to us, Cantor shall be entitled to request from us, and we shall post as soon as practicable, cash or other property acceptable to Cantor in the amount reasonably requested by Cantor under the clearing capital agreement.

We intend to continue this relationship with Cantor. Accordingly, we expect that Cantor will continue to post clearing capital on our behalf and we will post clearing capital with Cantor as requested under the clearing capital agreement. In the absence of such an arrangement, we may be required to raise additional capital, borrow funds or take other action to meet the capital requirements in connection with the clearing of our transactions. The increased capital requirements required in connection with the clearing of our securities transactions could have a material adverse impact on our ability to make distributions, repurchase our stock or affect strategic acquisitions or other opportunities. However, we believe that the agreement with Cantor, or, in the alternative, a clearing agreement with an additional third-party clearing agent, will not preclude us from meeting our cash needs in the near term.

Regulatory Requirements

Our liquidity and available cash resources are restricted by regulatory requirements of our operating subsidiaries. Many of these regulators, including U.S. and non-U.S. government agencies and self-regulatory organizations, as well as state securities commissions in the United States, are empowered to conduct administrative proceedings that can result in censure, fine, the issuance of cease-and-desist orders or the suspension or expulsion of a broker-dealer. In addition, self-regulatory organizations such as the FINRA and the NFA along with statutory bodies such as the FSA and the SEC require strict compliance with their rules and regulations. The requirements imposed by regulators are designed to ensure the integrity of the financial markets and to protect customers and other third parties who deal with broker-dealers and are not designed to specifically protect stockholders. These regulations often serve to limit our activities, including through net capital, customer protection and market conduct requirements.

As of September 30, 2009, $308.3 million of net assets were held by regulated subsidiaries. As of September 30, 2009, these subsidiaries had aggregate regulatory net capital, as defined, in excess of the aggregate regulatory requirements, as defined, of $206.7 million.

Stock Repurchase Program

The Company’s Board of Directors has authorized the repurchase of up to $100.0 million of outstanding Class A common stock.

Stock repurchase activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 was as follows:


	Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Period	Total number of shares purchased	Average price paid per share		Total number of shares purchased as part of publicly announced plans or programs	Approximate dollar value of shares that may yet be purchased under the plan
January 1, 2009 – March 31, 2009	3,537,258	$	1.89	3,537,258	$	33,629,570
April 1, 2009 – April 30, 2009	486,701	$	2.50	486,701	$	32,412,817
May 1, 2009 – May 31, 2009	—	$	—	—	$	32,412,817
June 1, 2009 – June 30, 2009	—	$	—	—	$	32,412,817
July 1, 2009 – September 30, 2009	—	$	—	—	$	32,412,817

During the nine months ended September 30, 2009, the Company repurchased 4,023,959 shares of its Class A common stock. These repurchases included 2,600,000 shares repurchased from The Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund at a price of $1.99 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $5.2 million. A portion of these shares had been donated to The Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund by certain founding partners in connection with the 2008 Charity Day.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2008, the Company did not repurchase any shares of its Class A common stock.

At September 30, 2009, the Company had approximately $32.4 million remaining from its $100 million buyback authorization and from time to time, the Company may actively continue to repurchase shares.

Issuance of Shares

As previously reported, on April 1, 2008, in connection with the separation of the businesses of BGC Partners, LLC (the “separation”) and the merger of BGC Partners, LLC and eSpeed, Inc. (the “merger”), the Company issued an aggregate of 133,860,000 shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock of the Company and rights to acquire shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock of the Company pursuant to the exemption from registration provided by Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. As also previously reported, certain of those rights to acquire were issued in the merger to certain former partners of Cantor who became founding partners of BGC Holdings in connection with the separation and now underlie exchangeable Founding Partner Units of BGC Holdings.

On April 21, 2009, the Company issued an aggregate of 491,701 share of its Class A common stock upon exchange of founding partner units issued in connection with the separation and merger. The Company subsequently repurchased 486,701 of these shares of its Class A common stock for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $1.2 million.

On May 7, 2009, the Company issued an aggregate of 1,793,946 shares of Class A common stock of the Company to founding partners of BGC Holdings upon exchange of exchangeable founding partner units issued by the Company to such founding partners on April 1, 2008. This issuance did not change the amount of fully diluted shares outstanding.

On September 24, 2009, the Company issued an aggregate of 1,396,516 shares of its Class A common stock to founding partners of BGC Holdings upon exchange of exchangeable founding partner units issued by the Company to such founding partners on April 1, 2008. On November 3, 2009, the Company issued an aggregate of 356,602 shares of its Class A common stock to founding partners of BGC Holdings upon exchange of exchangeable founding partner units issued by the Company to such founding partners on April 1, 2008. All of these shares are eligible for sale beginning on November 4, 2009 when the Company’s restrictions on employee stock transactions are lifted. This issuance did not change the amount of fully diluted shares outstanding.

As previously reported, in connection with the exchange of the 1,793,946 and 1,396,516 exchangeable founding partner units, on May 7, 2009 and September 24, 2009, respectively, the Company lifted the contractual restrictions on resale of the shares of Class A common stock of the Company issuable upon such exchange. The Company had $32.4 million remaining on its authorized share repurchase program on September 30, 2009 and may actively purchase its shares in the market or in private transactions, including from partners of BGC Holdings, Cantor, and/or their affiliates from time to time.

Market Summary

The following table provides certain volume and transaction count information on the eSpeed system for the periods indicated:


	3Q 2009		2Q 2009		1Q 2009		4Q 2008		3Q 2008		2Q 2008		1Q 2008
Notional Volume (in billions)
Fully Electronic Rates (1)	$	9,703	$	9,552	$	7,757	$	6,367	$	12,266	$	13,021	$	14,447
Fully Electronic Credit & FX (2)		715		232		148		81		146		77		113

Total Fully Electronic Volume		10,418		9,784		7,906		6,448		12,412		13,097		14,560

Total Hybrid Volume (3)		19,746		18,637		19,914		18,724		22,506		21,966		21,983

Total Hybrid & Fully Electronic Volume	$	30,163	$	28,421	$	27,820	$	25,172	$	34,918	$	35,063	$	36,543

Transaction Count
Fully Electronic Rates (1)		3,513,496		3,505,517		2,748,083		2,611,456		4,091,160		3,840,747		4,079,426
Fully Electronic Credit & FX (2)		305,991		119,990		76,790		8,922		24,608		20,483		34,509

Total Fully Electronic Transactions		3,819,487		3,625,507		2,824,873		2,620,378		4,115,768		3,861,230		4,113,935

Total Hybrid Transactions		351,530		337,381		300,604		258,528		320,068		340,994		367,808

Total Transactions		4,171,017		3,962,888		3,125,477		2,878,906		4,435,836		4,202,224		4,481,743

Trading Days		64		63		61		62		64		64		61

(1)	Defined as U.S. Treasuries, Canadian Sovereigns, European Government Bonds, Repos, Interest Rate Swaps, and Futures. CBOT Futures volume calculated based on per contract notional value of $200,000

(2)	Defined as Foreign Exchange Options, Credit Default Swaps, Electronic Give-Up Straights, and Foreign Exchange Spot

(3)	Defined as volume from Hybrid transactions conducted by BGC brokers using the eSpeed system, exclusive of voice-only transactions.

Reported volumes and transaction counts include transactions by our brokers that participate in certain of our marketplaces by posting quotations for their accounts and by acting as principal on trades. While the principal participation may vary widely from product to product and may be significant for any given product or period, in no case does the principal participation by our brokers exceed 10% of any of the reported volume or transaction counts, except as otherwise noted. Such activity is intended, among other things, to assist our brokers in managing their proprietary positions, and to facilitate transactions, add liquidity, increase commissions and attract additional order flow to the eSpeed system.

Quarterly Market Activity

Fully electronic volume on the eSpeed system, excluding new products, was $27.0 trillion for the nine months ended September 30, 2009, down 32.0% from $39.7 trillion for the nine months ended September 30, 2008. Fully electronic volume on the eSpeed system, including new products, was $28.1 trillion for the nine months ended September 30, 2009, down 29.9% from $40.1 trillion for the nine months ended September 30, 2008. Our hybrid volume in the nine months ended September 30, 2009 was $58.3 trillion, a decrease of 12.3% from $66.5 trillion in the nine months ended September 30, 2008.

Contractual Obligations and Commitments

The following table summarizes certain of our contractual obligations at September 30, 2009 (in thousands, unaudited):


	Total		Less than 1 year		1-3 years		3-5 years		More than 5 years
Operating leases (1)	$	179,439	$	22,585	$	38,202	$	35,557	$	83,095
Notes payable and collateralized obligations (2)		169,000		155,326		13,674		—		—
Interest on notes payable (2)		6,356		5,125		1,231		—		—
Debt arrangement fee on notes payable (3)		1,733		1,733		—		—		—

Total contractual obligations	$	356,528	$	184,769	$	53,107	$	35,557	$	83,095

(1)	Operating leases are related to rental payments under various non-cancelable leases, principally for office space.

(2)	Notes Payable and collateralized obligations reflects the issuance of $150.0 million of Senior Notes in connection with our separation from Cantor and $19.0 million of a secured loan arrangement with General Electric Capital Corporation.

See Note 14, Notes Payable and Commitments, in BGC Partners’ Inc.’s condensed consolidated financial statements as of September 30, 2009 and 2008 for more information regarding these obligations, including timing of payments and compliance with debt covenants.

(3)	See Note 10, Related Party Transactions, in BGC Partners’ Inc.’s condensed consolidated financial statements as of September 30, 2009 and 2008 for more information regarding this debt arrangement fee payable to Cantor.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

As of September 30, 2009, we did not have any relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, such as entities often referred to as structured finance or special purpose entities, which would have been established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements or other contractually narrow or limited purposes.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements:

In June 2008, the EITF reached consensus on Determining Whether an Instrument (or Embedded Feature) is Indexed to an Entity’s Own Stock, which provides guidance about whether an instrument should be classified as equity and not marked to market for accounting purposes. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

In June 2009, the FASB issued guidance on their Accounting Standards Codification and the Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. This FASB guidance establishes their Accounting Standards Codification (“Codification”) as the source of authoritative U.S. GAAP recognized by the FASB to be applied by nongovernmental entities. Rules and interpretative releases of the SEC under federal securities laws are also sources of authoritative U.S. GAAP for SEC registrants. All guidance contained in the Codification carries an equal level of authority. Codification is effective for financial statements issued for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. The adoption of this FASB guidance did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

New Accounting Pronouncements:

In June 2009, the FASB issued an amendment to its guidance on Accounting for Transfers of Financial Assets. The key amendments are the removal of the concept of a qualifying special-purpose entity (QSPE) from FASB guidance on, Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities and the elimination of the exception for QSPEs from the consolidation guidance of Variable Interest Entities. This FASB guidance also clarifies the unit of account eligible for sale accounting and requires that a transferor recognize and initially measure at fair value, all financial assets obtained and liabilities incurred as a result of a transfer of an entire financial asset (or group of entire financial assets) accounted for as a sale. In addition, this guidance requires enhanced disclosures to provide greater transparency about transfers of financial assets and a transferor’s continuing involvement with transferred financial assets. This FASB guidance is effective as of January 1, 2010 for calendar year reporting entities. Early adoption is not permitted. The Company does not expect the adoption of this FASB guidance to have a material effect on its consolidated financial statements.

ITEM 3.

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT RISK

Credit Risk

Credit risk arises from potential non-performance by counterparties and customers. BGC Partners has established policies and procedures to manage its exposure to credit risk. BGC Partners maintains a thorough credit approval process to limit exposure to counterparty risk and employ stringent monitoring to control the counterparty risk from its matched principal and agency businesses. BGC Partners’ account opening and counterparty approval process includes verification of key customer identification, anti-money laundering verification checks and a credit review of financial and operating data. The credit review process includes establishing an internal credit rating and any other information deemed necessary to make an informed credit decision, including correspondence, due diligence calls and a visit to the entity’s premises, as necessary.

Credit approval is granted subject to certain trading limits and may be subject to additional conditions, such as the receipt of collateral or other credit support. On-going credit monitoring procedures include reviewing periodic financial statements and publicly available information on the client, collecting data from credit rating agencies, where available, to assess the on-going financial condition of the client. For transactions conducted through the eSpeed electronic trading platform, BGC Partners has developed and utilizes an electronic credit monitoring system which measures and controls credit usage on a real time basis, including the ability to prohibit execution of trades that would exceed risk limits and permit only risk reducing trades.

Principal Transaction Risk

Through its subsidiaries, BGC Partners executes matched principal transactions in which it acts as a “middleman” by serving as counterparty to both a buyer and a seller in matching back-to-back trades. These transactions are then settled through a recognized settlement system or third-party clearing organization. Settlement typically occurs within one to three business days after the trade date. Cash settlement of the transaction occurs upon receipt or delivery of the underlying instrument that was traded. BGC Partners generally avoids settlement of principal transaction on a free-of-payment basis or by physical delivery of the underlying instrument. However, free-of-payment transactions may occur on a very limited basis.

The number of matched principal trades BGC Partners executes has continued to grow as compared to prior years. Receivables from brokers, dealers and clearing organizations and payables to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations on BGC Partners” condensed consolidated statements of financial condition primarily represent the simultaneous purchase and sale of the securities associated with those matched principal transactions that have not settled as of their stated settlement dates. BGC Partners’ experience has been that substantially all of these transactions ultimately settle at the contracted amounts.

Market Risk

Market risk refers to the risk that a change in the level of one or more market prices, rates, indices or other factors will result in losses for a specified position. BGC Partners may allow certain of its desks to enter into unmatched principal transactions in the ordinary course of business and hold long and short inventory positions. These transactions are primarily for the purpose of facilitating clients’ execution needs, adding liquidity to a market or attracting additional order flow. As a result, BGC Partners may have market risk exposure on these transactions. BGC Partners’ exposure varies based on the size of its overall positions, the risk characteristics of the instruments held and the amount of time the positions are held before they are disposed of. BGC Partners has limited ability to track its exposure to market risk and unmatched positions on an intra-day basis; however, it attempts to mitigate its market risk on these positions by strict risk limits, extremely limited holding periods and hedging its exposure. These positions are intended to be held short term to facilitate customer transactions. However, due to a number of factors, including the nature of the position and access to the market on which it trades, BGC Partners may not be able to unwind the position and it may be forced to hold the position for a longer period than anticipated. All positions held longer than intra-day are marked to market.

Our risk management procedures and strict limits are designed to monitor and limit the risk of unintended loss and have been effective in the past. However, there is no assurance that these procedures and limits will be effective at limiting unanticipated losses in the future. Adverse movements in the securities positions or a downturn or disruption in the markets for these positions could result in a substantial loss. In addition, principal gains and losses resulting from these positions could on occasion have a disproportionate effect, positive or negative, on BGC Partners” consolidated financial condition and results of operations for any particular reporting period.

Operational Risk

Our businesses are highly dependent on our ability to process a large number of transactions across numerous and diverse markets in many currencies on a daily basis. If any of our data processing systems do not operate properly or are disabled or if there are other shortcomings or failures in our internal processes, people or systems, we could suffer impairment

to our liquidity, financial loss, a disruption of our businesses, liability to clients, regulatory intervention or reputational damage. These systems may fail to operate properly or become disabled as a result of events that are wholly or partially beyond our control, including a disruption of electrical or communications services or our inability to occupy one or more of our buildings. The inability of our systems to accommodate an increasing volume of transactions could also constrain our ability to expand our businesses.

In addition, despite our contingency plans, our ability to conduct business may be adversely impacted by a disruption in the infrastructure that supports our businesses and the communities in which they are located. This may include a disruption involving electrical, communications, transportation or other services used by us or third parties with whom we conduct business.

Foreign Currency Risk

BGC Partners is exposed to risks associated with changes in foreign exchange rates. Changes in foreign currency rates create volatility in the U.S. dollar equivalent of revenues and expenses in particular with regard to British Pounds and Euros. In addition changes in the remeasurement of BGC Partners’ foreign currency denominated net assets are recorded as part of its results of operations and fluctuate with changes in foreign currency rates. BGC monitors the net exposure in foreign currencies on a daily basis and hedges it’s exposure as deemed appropriate with highly rated major financial institutions.

Interest Rate Risk

BGC Partners had $169.0 million in fixed-rate debt outstanding as of September 30, 2009. These debt obligations are not currently subject to fluctuations in interest rates, although in the event of refinancing or issuance of new debt, such debt could be subject to changes in interest rates.

ITEM 4.

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

The Company’s Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, after evaluating the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures of the Company (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(d) under the Exchange Act), as of the end of the period covered by this report, have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

During the quarter ended September 30, 2009 the Company’s management implemented control enhancements to remediate a material weakness in internal controls that was identified in the quarter ended June 30, 2009, which related to four unauthorized trades and failure to submit confirmations in one of our foreign locations. These control enhancements included: improving management oversight controls to enable increased awareness of unauthorized or unmatched activity; increased controls around monitoring and recording of client instructions and settlements; enhanced procedures for pre-settlement matching of trades; automated trade confirmation processes; implementing a process to ensure that all trade date reconciliation procedures are being properly performed and reviewed; and improved management reporting regarding compliance and risk monitoring and P&L.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There have been no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with the evaluation of such internal control that occurred during the third quarter of 2009 that have materially affected, or are reasonable likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, with the exception of the initiatives aimed at addressing the material weakness that was identified during the second quarter of 2009 for BGC Partners, Inc. and described above.

PART II—OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1.

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

See Legal Matters in Note 16 “Commitments, Contingencies and Guarantees” to the condensed consolidated financial statements included in Item 1 of this Report on Form 10-Q.

ITEM 1A.

RISK FACTORS

Other than as disclosed below, there have been no material changes in our risk factors from those disclosed in our 2008 annual report on Form 10-K and Item 1A of our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2009 and June 30, 2009.

See “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A of our 2008 annual report on Form 10-K and Part II, Item 1A of our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2009 and June 30, 2009.

Risks Related to Our Business

The market price of our Class A common stock has fluctuated significantly and the market price of our Class A common stock may fluctuate in the future. In addition, future sales of shares of Class A common stock could adversely affect the market price of our Class A common stock. BGC Partners stockholders, other than Cantor and its affiliates, could be diluted by such future sales and be further diluted upon exchange of BGC Holdings limited partnership interests into our common stock and upon issuance of additional BGC US and BGC Global limited partnership interests to BGC Holdings as a result of future issuances of BGC Holdings limited partnership interests. We have also repurchased shares of our Class A common stock from time to time, and may actively do so or cease doing so at any time.

The market price of our Class A common stock has fluctuated widely since eSpeed’s initial public offering in December 1999 and the market price of Class A common stock may fluctuate widely, depending upon many factors, including our actual results of operations and perceived prospects, the prospects of our competition and of the financial marketplaces in general, differences between our actual financial and operating results and those expected by investors and analysts, changes in analysts’ recommendations or projections, seasonality, changes in general valuations for companies in our business segment, changes in general economic or market conditions and broad market fluctuations.

Future sales of our shares also could adversely affect the market price of our common stock. If our existing stockholders sell a large number of shares, or if we issue a large number of shares of our common stock in connection with future acquisitions, strategic alliances, third-party investments and private placements or otherwise, such as our public offering in June 2008, the market price of common stock could decline significantly. Moreover, the perception in the public market that these stockholders might sell shares could depress the market price of common stock.

We have registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, which we refer to as the “Securities Act,” 60,430,000 shares of common stock, which are reserved for issuance upon exercise of options, restricted stock and other incentive compensation granted under our Long-Term Incentive Plan. These shares can be sold in the public market upon issuance, subject to restrictions under the securities laws applicable to resales by affiliates. We may in the future register additional shares of common stock under the Securities Act that become reserved for issuance under our Long-Term Incentive Plan or other benefit plans. In addition, we have registered under the Securities Act 425,000 shares of common stock issuable under our stock purchase plan.

Beginning on March 31, 2009, the first anniversary of the completion of the separation, Cantor was permitted to exchange all of its BGC Holdings limited partnership interests.

The BGC Holdings founding partner interests that Cantor has provided are exchangeable with us for Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis (subject to customary anti-dilution adjustments), in accordance with the terms of the BGC Holdings limited partnership agreement, are as follows:

•

20% of the BGC Holdings founding partner interests held by each founding partner (other than Messrs. Amaitis and Lynn) became exchangeable upon the closing of the merger, with one-third of the shares receivable by such BGC Holdings founding partner upon a full exchange becoming saleable on each of the first, second and third anniversaries of the closing of the merger, subject to applicable law. These contractual restrictions were lifted on April 21, 2009 and these exchangeable founding partner interests are exchangeable at any time.

•

(1) 1,100,000 of the 3,160,215 BGC Holdings founding partner interests held by Mr. Amaitis at the closing of the merger became exchangeable upon the closing of the merger, (2) 40% of such BGC Holdings founding partner interests (less the Amaitis applicable shares) will become exchangeable on the second anniversary of the closing of the merger, (3) 60% of such BGC Holdings founding partner interests (less the Amaitis applicable shares) will become exchangeable on the third anniversary of the closing of the merger, (4) 80% of such BGC Holdings founding partner interests (less the Amaitis applicable shares) will become exchangeable on the fourth anniversary of the closing of the merger, and (5) 100% of such BGC Holdings founding partner interests (less the Amaitis applicable shares) will become exchangeable on the fifth anniversary of the closing of the merger (and any exchange of founding partner interests by Mr. Amaitis will be subject to the terms and conditions of the BGC Holdings limited partnership agreement and the Amaitis letter agreement), with the shares received by Mr. Amaitis upon exchange being immediately saleable, subject to applicable law. Exchangeability of certain of the shares which would have become exchangeable on the fifth anniversary of the closing of the merger was accelerated in connection with Mr. Amaitis’ donation of shares in connection with the 2008 Charity Day; and

•

(1) 600,000 of the 2,515,898 BGC Holdings founding partner interests held by Mr. Lynn at the closing of the merger became exchangeable upon the closing of the merger, (2) 40% of such BGC Holdings founding partner interests (less the Lynn applicable shares) will become exchangeable on the second anniversary of the closing of the merger, (3) 50% of such BGC Holdings founding partner interests (less the Lynn applicable shares) will become exchangeable on the third

anniversary of the closing of the merger, (4) 60% of such BGC Holdings founding partner interests (less the Lynn applicable shares) will become exchangeable on the fourth anniversary of the closing of the merger, (5) 70% of such BGC Holdings founding partner interests (less the Lynn applicable shares) will become exchangeable on the fifth anniversary of the closing of the merger, (6) 80% of such BGC Holdings founding partner interests (less the Lynn applicable shares) will become exchangeable on the sixth anniversary of the closing of the merger, (7) 90% of such BGC Holdings founding partner interests (less the Lynn applicable shares) will become exchangeable on the seventh anniversary of the closing of the merger, and (8) 100% of such BGC Holdings founding partner interests (less the Lynn applicable shares) will become exchangeable on the eighth anniversary of the closing of the merger (and any exchange of founding partner interests by Mr. Lynn will be subject to the terms and conditions of the BGC Holdings limited partnership agreement and the Lynn letter agreement), with the shares received by Mr. Lynn upon exchange being immediately saleable, subject to applicable law.

Any working partner interests that are issued will not be exchangeable with us unless otherwise determined by us with the written consent of a BGC Holdings exchangeable limited partnership interest majority in interest. The shares ultimately issuable pursuant to the BGC Holdings REUs (if exchangeable) and the RSUs that were issued upon the closing of the merger and subsequently would be shares of common stock issued pursuant to our Long-Term Incentive Plan or similar plan.

In connection with the merger, 111,890,929 shares of common stock were reserved for issuance upon the exchange of the BGC Holdings exchangeable limited partnership interests, which are entitled to registration rights under the terms of a registration rights agreement with Cantor that we assumed as a part of the merger, which we refer to as the “separation registration rights agreement,” and BGC Holdings founding partner interests (if exchangeable) and BGC Holdings REUs (if exchangeable). In addition, shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of shares of Class B common stock held by Cantor are entitled to registration rights under a registration rights agreement entered into in connection with the formation of eSpeed, which we refer to as the “formation registration rights agreement.” In light of the number of shares of common stock issuable in connection with the full exchange of the BGC Holdings exchangeable limited partnership interests, BGC Holdings founding partner interests (if exchangeable), and BGC Holdings REUs (if exchangeable), the price of common stock may decrease and our ability to raise capital through the issuance of equity securities may be adversely impacted as these exchanges occur and transfer restrictions lapse.

In addition, the following table reflects the timetable for distributions by Cantor of shares of our common stock that it holds or will hold in respect of the distribution rights that Cantor provided to limited partners of Cantor, including to the founding partners, in connection with the separation and merger. All of these shares of our common stock will be distributed by Cantor. Cantor expects to use shares of our Class A common stock received upon its conversion of Class B common stock, shares of our Class A common stock received upon exchange of BGC Holdings exchangeable limited partnership interests and purchases of shares of our Class A common stock in the open market to satisfy its distribution obligation under the distribution rights.

On October 1, 2009, the 18-month anniversary of the completion of the Merger, Cantor was required to distribute an aggregate of 6,999,532 shares of Class A Common Stock to retained partners, not including shares previously sold. In connection with the previous issuance of distribution rights shares and in connection with the 18-month anniversary, Cantor has offered to its partners the opportunity to elect to defer their receipt of the distribution right shares and receive a distribution equivalent rather than making an immediate issuance of such shares in the form of Class A Common Stock. Cantor partners who elect to defer their right to such shares are entitled to receive their shares of Class A Common Stock upon written notice to Cantor. Shares will be delivered on such subsequent dates as shall be determined by Cantor in its administrative discretion and Cantor shall have a right to defer such issuances for up to 3 months, although Cantor generally makes such issuances on a quarterly basis to its partners. Accordingly, of the 6,317,385 distribution rights shares to be distributed by Cantor in April 2009, partners having rights to 5,540,486 of such distribution rights shares elected to defer their receipt of shares. In May 2009, Cantor converted shares of Class B Common Stock and delivered 534,067 shares of Class A Common Stock in satisfaction of its distribution rights obligations effective April 1, 2009. On August 3, 2009, Cantor accelerated the issuance of distribution rights shares to a partner and transferred 508,045 shares of its Class A Common Stock to such partner, in full satisfaction of its distribution rights obligation to such partner. In September 2009, Cantor converted 2,700,000 shares of Class B Common Stock and delivered 134,226 shares of Class A Common Stock in satisfaction of its distribution rights obligations effective April 1, 2009. On October 1, 2009, Cantor was required to distribute to the retained partners a cumulative aggregate of 12,648,624 distribution rights shares. Cantor has offered these partners the opportunity to defer their receipt of this second tranche of distribution rights shares.

Upon completion of this October 1 distribution, the aggregate number of remaining shares of Class A Common Stock that Cantor will be required to distribute to retained and founding partners will be 24,969,402 shares of Class A Common Stock 22,262,680 shares with respect to retained partners and 2,706,722 shares with respect to founding partners).

Cantor may fund the Class A common stock scheduled to be delivered in satisfaction of its distribution rights obligations by using: (i) shares of Class A common stock owned of record by it, (ii) shares of Class A common stock receivable upon conversion by Cantor of shares of Class B common stock, (iii) shares of Class A common stock receivable upon exchange by Cantor of BGC Holdings exchangeable limited partnership units, or (iv) any combination of the above.


Anniversary of the merger (April 1, 2008)		Number of shares of our common stock that are required to be distributed by Cantor in respect of the distribution rights (1)
12 month		5,648,170
18 month		6,999,532
24 month		8,185,306
30 month		1,166,992
36 month		2,969,402
Total		24,969,402

(1)	As of October 1, 2009. Includes distribution rights shares which certain Cantor partners have elected to defer until a later time.

In addition to the table above, the managing general partner of Cantor will be able to grant earlier distribution of the shares in its discretion, as it did with respect to an additional 6,073,355 shares and 458,369 shares in connection with our public offering in June 2008 and stock repurchases by us in September 2008, respectively. Similarly, in connection with the founding partners’ charitable donations, on December 1, 2008, Cantor agreed to accelerate the distribution of the aggregate 519,276 distribution rights shares solely to permit such founding partners to donate such shares to The Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund. Cantor also agreed, on December 1, 2008, to allow one founding partner to exchange 521,957 additional BGC Holdings limited partnership units for 521,957 shares of Class A common stock, and to accelerate the exercisability of 484,445 of Mr. Amaitis’ BGC Holdings limited partnership units (which would have otherwise become exercisable on the fifth anniversary of the Merger) for 484,445 shares of Class A common stock, in each case solely to permit such founding partner to donate such exchange shares to The Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund. In addition, the Company, as the general partner of BGC Holdings, agreed to remove the contractual transfer restrictions on the aggregate 1,006,402 exchange shares solely to permit such founding partners to donate such shares to The Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund.

In addition, we have issued shares of our common stock, warrants and convertible preferred stock and granted registration rights in connection with certain of our strategic alliances.

As of September 30, 2009, during the first nine months of 2009, we repurchased common stock for a total of $7.9 million. The 4,023,959 reacquired shares were designated treasury shares and will be used for general corporate purposes. As of September 30, 2009, $32.4 million was remaining from the authorization of our board of directors and our audit committee to repurchase our Class A common stock, BGC Holdings limited partnership interests or other equity interests in our subsidiaries, including from Cantor or our executive officers. We are continuing to make stock repurchases in 2009 and from time to time we may actively repurchase shares and may cease making repurchases at anytime.

On May 7, 2009, we issued an aggregate of 1,793,946 shares of Class A Common Stock to partners of BGC Holdings, L.P. upon exchange of exchangeable founding partner units issued by us to such founding partners on April 1, 2008. All of these shares are eligible for sale beginning on May 7, 2009 when the Company’s restrictions on employee stock transactions are lifted.

On September 24, 2009, we issued an aggregate of 1,396,516 shares of Class A common stock to founding partners of BGC Holdings upon exchange of exchangeable founding partner units issued by us to such founding partners on April 1, 2008. On November 3, 2009, we issued an aggregate of 356,602 shares of its Class A common stock to founding partners of BGC Holdings upon exchange of exchangeable founding partner units issued by us to such founding partners on April 1, 2008. All of these shares are eligible for sale beginning on November 4, 2009 when our restrictions on employee stock transactions are lifted. This issuance did not change the amount of fully diluted shares outstanding.

In order to facilitate receipt of the shares by the partners of BGC Holdings and receipt of distribution rights shares to be received by partners of BGC Holdings and Cantor, we and Cantor have made arrangements for such partners to open brokerage accounts with an investment bank. These accounts will facilitate repayment by any such partners of any partnership loans or other amounts payable to Cantor or us.

ITEM 2.

UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

The information required by this item is set forth in MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (Item 2 of Part I) and is incorporated by reference herein.

ITEM 3.

DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

None

ITEM 4.

SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

None

ITEM 5.

OTHER INFORMATION

None

ITEM 6.

EXHIBITS


Exhibit No.		Description
31.1		Certification by the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

31.2		Certification by the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

32		Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2009 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


BGC Partners, Inc.

/s/ HOWARD W. LUTNICK
Name:		Howard W. Lutnick
Title:		Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer

/s/ ANTHONY GRAHAM SADLER
Name:		Anthony Graham Sadler
Title:		Chief Financial Officer

Date: November 5, 2009

[Signature page to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ending September 30, 2009 dated November 5, 2009]

Exhibit Index


Exhibit No.		Description
31.1		Certification by the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

31.2		Certification by the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

32		Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002