BGC (BGC) S-3ASR Automatic shelf registration

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 16, 2019

Registration No. 333-          

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORMS-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

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, New York 10022

(212)610-2200

(Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Registrant’s Principal Executive Offices)

Stephen M. Merkel

Executive Vice President and General Counsel

BGC Partners, Inc.

499 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10022

(212)610-2200

Fax: (212)829-4708

(Name, Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)

Copies to:

Christopher T. Jensen

Howard A. Kenny

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP

101 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10178

(212)309-6000

Fax: (212)309-6001

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement.

If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box.  ☐

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box.  ☒

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ☐

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ☐

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  ☒

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, anon-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule12b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934:

Large accelerated filer	☒	Accelerated filer	☐
Non-accelerated filer	☐	Smaller reporting company	☐
		Emerging growth company	☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the Registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act.  ☐

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

Title of Each Class of Securities to be Registered	Amount to be Registered	Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Unit	Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price	Amount of Registration Fee
5.125% Senior Notes due 2021 (the “2021 Notes”)(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(2)
5.375% Senior Notes due 2023 (the “2023 Notes”)(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(2)
3.750% Senior Notes due 2024 (the “2024 Notes”)(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(2)

(1) This Registration Statement relates to offers and sales of an indeterminate amount of the 2021 Notes, the 2023 Notes and the 2024 Notes (collectively, the “Notes”) in connection with market-making transactions in the Notes by and through affiliates of the Registrant.

(2) Pursuant to Rule 457(q) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, no filing fee is required for the registration of an indeterminate amount of the Notes to be offered and sold in market-making transactions by affiliates of the Registrant.

BGC PARTNERS, INC.

5.125% Senior Notes due 2021

5.375% Senior Notes due 2023

3.750% Senior Notes due 2024

This prospectus of BGC Partners, Inc., which we refer to as “BGC Partners,” “BGC,” the “Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our,” may be used by our affiliate, Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., which we refer to as “CF&Co.,” in connection with offers and sales by CF&Co. of:

• our 5.125% Senior Notes due 2021 (Cusip No. 05541T AH4), which we refer to as the “2021 Notes;”

• our 5.375% Senior Notes due 2023 (Cusip No. 05541T AK7), which we refer to as the “2023 Notes,” and

• our 3.750% Senior Notes due 2024 (Cusip No. 05541T AM3), which we refer to as the “2024 Notes,”

in market-making transactions. Market-making transactions in the 2021 Notes, the 2023 Notes and the 2024 Notes, which we refer to collectively as the “Notes,” may occur in the open market or may be privately negotiated at prevailing market prices at the time of sale or at related or negotiated prices.In these transactions, CF&Co. may act as principal or agent, including as agent for the counterparty in a transaction in which CF&Co. acts as principal, or as agent for both counterparties in a transaction in which CF&Co. does not act as a principal. CF&Co. may receive compensation in the form of discounts and commissions, including from both counterparties in some cases. Other affiliates of ours may also engage in market-making transactions of this kind and may use this prospectus for that purpose.

We will not receive any proceeds from these market-making transactions.

Neither CF&Co., nor any of our other affiliates, has any obligation to make a market in our Notes, and CF&Co., or any such other affiliate, may discontinue market-making activities at any time without notice.

The Notes are not listed on any exchange.

Investing in our securities involves risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 4 of this prospectus, as well as the risks described under “Special Note on Forward-Looking Information” and under “Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which we refer to as the “SEC,” and any updates to those risks contained in our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form10-Q and Current Reports on Form8-K filed with the SEC, all of which we incorporate by reference herein.

Neither the SEC nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The date of this prospectus is December 16, 2019.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SUMMARY	1
RISK FACTORS	4
USE OF PROCEEDS	7
DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTES	8
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION	22
LEGAL MATTERS	22
EXPERTS	22
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION	23
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE	24

You should rely only on the information provided in this prospectus, as well as the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. We are not making an offer of these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or any documents incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date other than the date of the applicable document. Since the respective dates of this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference, our businesses, financial condition, results of operations and prospects might have changed.

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SUMMARY

This summary highlights information contained elsewhere or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. This summary may not contain all of the information that is important to you, and it is qualified in its entirety by the more detailed information and financial statements, including the notes to those financial statements, appearing elsewhere or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. Please see the sections titled “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Documents Incorporated by Reference.” Before making an investment decision, we encourage you to consider the information contained in and incorporated by reference in this prospectus, including the risks discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” beginning on page 4 of this prospectus, and in Item 1A of Part I of our most recent Annual Report on Form10-K, and any updates to those risks included in subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form10-Q, and Current Reports on Form8-K, all of which are incorporated by reference herein.

When we use the words “BGC Partners,” “BGC,” “we,” “us,” “our” or the “Company,” we are referring to BGC Partners, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.

BGC, BGC Partners, BGC Trader, GFI, CreditMatch, Fenics, Fenics.com, Sunrise Brokers, Besso, Ed, Poten & Partners, R.P. Martin, kACE², EMBonds, Capitalab, Swaptioniser, CBID and Lucera are trademarks/service marks and/or registered trademarks/service marks of BGC Partners and/or its affiliates.

The Company

We are a leading global brokerage and financial technology company servicing the global financial markets. Our Class A common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “BGCP.”

Through brands including BGC^®, GFI^®, Sunrise^™, Besso^™, Ed Broking, Poten & Partners and R.P. Martin^™, among others, our businesses specialize in the brokerage of a broad range of products, including fixed income (rates and credit), foreign exchange, equities, energy and commodities, insurance, and futures. Our businesses also provide a wide variety of services, including trade execution, broker-dealer services, clearing, trade compression, post-trade, information, and other back-office services to a broad assortment of financial andnon-financial institutions. Our 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 in many markets, fully electronic brokerage services in connection with transactions executed either OTC or through an exchange. Through our electronic brands, including Fenics^®, BGC Trader^™, CreditMatch, Fenics Market Data^™, BGC Market Data^™, kACE², EMBonds, Capitalab^®, Swaptioniser, CBID and Lucera^®, we offer fully electronic brokerage, financial technology solutions, market data, post-trade services and analytics related to financial instruments and markets.

Our customers include many of the world’s largest banks, broker-dealers, investment banks, trading firms, hedge funds, governments, corporations, and investment firms. We have dozens of offices globally in major markets, including New York and London, as well as in Bahrain, Beijing, Bermuda, Bogotá, Brisbane, Buenos Aires, Chicago, Copenhagen, Dubai, Dublin, Frankfurt, Geneva, Hong Kong, Houston, Istanbul, Johannesburg, Madrid, Melbourne, Mexico City, Moscow, Nyon, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, Santiago, São Paulo, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney, Tel Aviv, Tokyo, and Toronto.

Executive Offices

Our executive offices are located at 499 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10022, while our international headquarters is located at 1 Churchill Place, Canary Wharf, London E14 5RD, United Kingdom. Our telephone number is (212)610-2200. Our website is located atwww.bgcpartners.com, and oure-mail address isinfo@bgcpartners.com. The information contained on, or that may be accessed through, our website is not part of, and is not incorporated in, this prospectus.

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The Offering

The summary below describes the principal terms and conditions of the Notes. Certain of the terms and conditions described below are subject to important limitations and exceptions. The “Description of Notes” section of this prospectus contains a more detailed description of the terms and conditions of the Notes. For purposes of this portion of the Summary, references to the “Company,” “we,” “our” and “us” refer only to BGC Partners, Inc., and not to our subsidiaries.

Issuer BGC Partners, Inc.

Notes Offered $300.0 million aggregate principal amount of 2021 Notes.

$450.0 million aggregate principal amount of 2023 Notes.

$300.0 million aggregate principal amount of 2024 Notes.

Maturity Date The 2021 Notes will mature on May 27, 2021.

The 2023 Notes will mature on July 24, 2023.

The 2024 Notes will mature on October 1, 2024.

Ranking The Notes are our senior unsecured obligations and rank equally in right of payment with each other and with all of our existing and future senior unsecured debt and senior in right of payment to our debt that is expressly subordinated to the Notes, if any. The Notes rank effectively junior to our secured debt to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt. The Notes are also structurally subordinated to all debt and other liabilities and commitments (including trade payables) of our subsidiaries.

Interest and Payment Dates The 2021 Notes pay interest on May 27 and November 27 of each year.

The 2023 Notes pay interest on January 24 and July 24 of each year.

The 2024 Notes will pay interest on April 1 and October 1 of each year, commencing April 1, 2020.

The interest rate payable on the 2023 Notes and 2024 Notes will be subject to adjustment from time to time based on the debt rating assigned by specific rating agencies to each of the Notes. See “Description of Notes—Interest Rate Adjustment Based on Rating Events.”

Optional Redemption We may redeem some or all of the Notes at any time or from time to time for cash at the “make-whole” redemption prices set forth under “Description of Notes—Optional Redemption.”

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Change of Control; Offer to Repurchase If a Change of Control Trigger Event described under “Description of Notes—Offer to Repurchase Upon a Change of Control Triggering Event” occurs, we must offer to repurchase the Notes for cash at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the repurchase date. See “Description of Notes—Offer to Repurchase Upon a Change of Control Triggering Event.”

Use of Proceeds We will not receive any of the proceeds from the market-making activities in our Notes by CF&Co. or any of our other affiliates pursuant to this prospectus.

Trustee The trustee for the 2021 Notes and the 2023 Notes is U.S. Bank National Association. The trustee for the 2024 Notes is Wells Fargo Bank, National Association.

Governing Law The indentures, supplemental indentures and the Notes are governed by the laws of the State of New York without regard to conflict of laws principles thereof.

Risk Factors You should refer to the section entitled “Risk Factors” and other information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus for an explanation of certain risks of investing in the Notes.

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RISK FACTORS

In addition to the other information included in this prospectus, you should carefully consider the risks described under “Special Note on Forward-Looking Information” and under “Risk Factors” set forth in our most recent Annual Report on Form10-K, and any updates to those risks contained in our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form10-Q and Current Reports on Form8-K filed with the SEC, all of which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus, and the following risks before investing in the Notes.

Risks Related to the Notes

The Notes are structurally subordinated to the obligations of our subsidiaries and to all secured indebtedness, and this may limit our ability to satisfy our obligations under the Notes.

The Notes are our senior unsecured obligations and rank equally with each other and all of our other indebtedness that is not expressly subordinated to the Notes. The Notes are structurally subordinated to the obligations of our subsidiaries and to all of our secured indebtedness to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such indebtedness. As of September 30, 2019, we had outstanding approximately $1.1 billion principal amount of senior unsecured indebtedness (exclusive of short-term borrowings, intercompany debt, trade payables, distributions payable and accrued expenses). As of September 30, 2019, our subsidiaries had outstanding approximately $4.7 billion of other liabilities (including approximately $37.1 million of secured indebtedness).

We conduct substantially all of our operations through our subsidiaries. We do not have any material assets other than our direct and indirect ownership in the equity of our operating subsidiaries. As a result, our cash flow and our ability to service our debt, including the Notes, are dependent upon the earnings of our subsidiaries. In addition, we are dependent on the distribution of earnings, loans or other payments by our subsidiaries to us. Certain regulatory requirements and debt and security agreements entered into by our subsidiaries contain various restrictions, including restrictions on payments by our subsidiaries to us and the transfer by our subsidiaries of assets pledged as collateral. In the event of a bankruptcy, liquidation, dissolution, reorganization or similar proceeding with respect to any of our subsidiaries, we, as an equity owner of such subsidiary, and therefore holders of our debt, including the Notes, will be subject to the prior claims of such subsidiary’s creditors, including trade creditors, and any preferred equity holders.

In the event of a bankruptcy, liquidation, dissolution, reorganization or similar proceeding with respect to us, the holders of any secured indebtedness will be entitled to proceed directly against the collateral that secures such secured indebtedness. Therefore, such collateral will not be available for satisfaction of any amounts owed under our unsecured indebtedness, including the Notes, until such secured indebtedness is satisfied in full.

There are limited covenants and protections in the applicable indentures and supplemental indentures for the Notes.

While the applicable indentures and the supplemental indentures governing the Notes contain terms and conditions intended to provide protection to holders upon the occurrence of certain events involving significant corporate transactions, these terms and conditions are limited and may not be sufficient to protect an investment in the Notes. For example, there are no financial covenants in the indentures and the supplemental indentures. As a result, we are not restricted under the terms and conditions of the Notes from entering into transactions that could increase the total amount of our outstanding indebtedness, adversely affect our capital structure or our credit ratings or associated outlooks, or otherwise adversely affect the holders of the Notes.

As described under “Description of the Notes—Offer to Repurchase Upon a Change of Control Triggering Event,” upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Triggering Event holders are entitled to require us to repurchase their Notes at 101% of their principal amount. However, the definition of the term “Change of

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Control Triggering Event” is limited and does not cover a variety of transactions (such as acquisitions by us, recapitalizations or “going private” transactions by our affiliates) that could negatively affect the value of the Notes. A change of control transaction under the supplemental indentures may only occur if there is a change in the controlling interest in us. Under the indenture governing the 2021 Notes and the 2023 Notes, the failure of Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P. (“Cantor”) or its affiliates to continue owning a majority of the voting power of the Company would be considered such a change in the controlling interest in us and constitute a change of control. However, such event would not constitute a change of control under the terms and conditions of the 2024 Notes. Accordingly, holders of the 2021 Notes and the 2023 Notes may have the right to require us to repurchase their notes in certain circumstances under which holders of the 2024 Notes would not have such right. For a Change of Control Triggering Event to occur there must be not only a change of control transaction as defined in the supplemental indentures, but also a ratings downgrade resulting from such transaction. If we were to enter into a significant corporate transaction that negatively affects the value of the Notes, but would not constitute a Change of Control Triggering Event, holders would not have any rights to require us to repurchase the Notes prior to their maturity, which also would adversely affect their investment.

Ratings of the Notes may not reflect all risks of an investment in the Notes, and changes in our credit ratings or associated outlooks could adversely affect the market price of the Notes.

Our long-term debt is currently rated by nationally recognized statistical rating organizations. A debt rating is not a recommendation to purchase, sell or hold the Notes. Moreover, a debt rating does not reflect all risks of an investment in the Notes and does not take into account market price or suitability for a particular investor.

The market price for the Notes is based on a number of factors, including our ratings and associated outlooks with major rating agencies. Rating agencies revise their ratings and associated outlooks for the companies that they follow from time to time, and our ratings and associated outlooks may be revised or withdrawn in their entirety at any time. We cannot be sure that rating agencies will maintain their current ratings and associated outlooks. We undertake no obligation to maintain the ratings and associated outlooks or to advise holders of the Notes of any change in ratings or associated outlooks. A negative change in our ratings or associated outlooks could have an adverse effect on the market price or liquidity of the Notes.

Changes in the credit markets could adversely affect the market price of the Notes.

The market prices for the Notes are based on a number of factors, including:

• the prevailing interest rates being paid by other companies similar to us; and

• the overall condition of the financial markets.

The condition of the credit markets and prevailing interest rates have fluctuated in the past and can be expected to fluctuate in the future. Fluctuations in these factors could have an adverse effect on the price and liquidity of the Notes.

There may not be an active trading market for the Notes, which could adversely affect the price of the Notes in the secondary market and your ability to resell the Notes should you desire to do so.

We do not intend to apply for listing of the Notes on any securities exchange, and there may not be an active trading market for any of the Notes.

We cannot make any assurance as to:

• the existence of an active trading market for the Notes;

• the liquidity of any trading market that may exist;

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• the ability of holders to sell their Notes; or

• the price at which the holders would be able to sell their Notes.

Neither CF&Co., nor any of our other affiliates, has any obligation to make a market in our Notes, and CF&Co. or any such other affiliate may discontinue market-making activities at any time without notice.

The trading market for and the future market prices of the Notes will depend on many factors, including prevailing interest rates, our credit ratings and associated outlooks published by the rating agencies that rate our indebtedness, the market for similar securities and our operating performance and financial condition. If an active trading market for the Notes does exist, there is no assurance that it will continue. If an active trading market for the Notes does not exist or does not continue, the market price and liquidity of the Notes are likely to be adversely affected, and Notes traded after their purchase may trade at a discount from their purchase price.

We may not be able to repurchase the Notes upon a Change of Control Triggering Event.

Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Triggering Event (as defined in “Description of the Notes—Offer to Repurchase Upon a Change of Control Triggering Event”), unless we have exercised our right to redeem the notes as described under “Description of the Notes—Optional Redemption,” holders of Notes will have the right to require us to repurchase all or any part of their Notes at a price in cash equal to 101% of the then-outstanding aggregate principal amount of the Notes repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Notes repurchased, to, but excluding, the date of purchase. If we experience a Change of Control Triggering Event, we can offer no assurance that we would have sufficient financial resources available to satisfy our obligations to repurchase any or all of the Notes should any holder elect to cause us to do so. Our failure to repurchase the Notes as required would result in a default under the applicable indenture and supplemental indenture for each series of Notes, which in turn could result in defaults under agreements governing certain of our other indebtedness, including the acceleration of the payment of any borrowings thereunder, and have material adverse consequences for us and the holders of the Notes.

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USE OF PROCEEDS

We will not receive any of the proceeds from the market-making activities in our Notes by CF&Co. or any of our other affiliates pursuant to this prospectus.

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DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTES

We issued the 2021 Notes and the 2023 Notes under an indenture, dated as of June 26, 2012, as supplemented, in the case of the 2021 Notes, by the Third Supplemental Indenture thereto, dated as of May 27, 2016, and in the case of the 2023 Notes, by the Fourth Supplemental Indenture thereto, dated as of July 24, 2018, in each case that we, as issuer, entered into with U.S. Bank National Association (“U.S. Bank”), as trustee. We issued the 2024 Notes under an indenture, dated as of September 27, 2019, as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture thereto, dated as of September 27, 2019, in each case that we, as issuer, entered into with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (“Wells Fargo,” and together, with U.S. Bank, the “Trustees” and each, a “Trustee”). The aforementioned indentures and each of the aforementioned supplemental indentures have been filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. The statements made in this section relating to the Notes are summaries of the material provisions thereof and do not purport to be complete and are subject to, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of the Notes, the applicable indenture and supplemental indenture, including the definitions therein of certain terms. You should read these documents carefully to fully understand the terms and conditions of the Notes because they, and not this description, will define your rights as holders of the Notes.

Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Notes, indenture and supplemental indenture, as applicable. In this description, the terms the “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer only to BGC Partners, Inc. and not to any of its subsidiaries.

The registered holder of a Note will be treated as the owner of it for all purposes. Only registered holders will have rights under the applicable indenture and supplemental indenture.

Each of the 2021 Notes, the 2023 Notes, and the 2024 Notes is referred to as a “series of Notes” or the “Notes” herein.

General

The Notes are our senior unsecured obligations and rank equally in right of payment with all of our other senior unsecured indebtedness from time to time outstanding. The 2021 Notes, the 2023 Notes, and the 2024 Notes will mature on May 27, 2021, July 24, 2023 and October 1, 2024 respectively, unless previously redeemed or repurchased in full by us as provided below under “—Optional Redemption” or “—Offer to Repurchase Upon a Change of Control Triggering Event.”

The 2021 Notes bear interest at the rate of 5.125% per annum from May 27, 2016, to the stated maturity or date of earlier redemption. Interest on the 2021 Notes is payable semi-annually in arrears on each May 27 and November 27, commencing on November 27, 2016, to the persons in whose names such 2021 Notes were registered at the close of business on the immediately preceding May 12 and November 12 (whether or not a business day), respectively.

The 2023 Notes bear interest at the rate of 5.375% per annum from July 24, 2018, to the stated maturity or date of earlier redemption. Interest on the 2023 Notes is payable semi-annually in arrears on each January 24 and July 24, commencing on January 24, 2019, to the persons in whose names such 2023 Notes were registered at the close of business on the immediately preceding January 9 and July 9 (whether or not a business day), respectively. See “—Interest Rate Adjustment Based on Rating Events” below for a description of how the interest rate of the 2023 Notes is subject to certain adjustments.

The 2024 Notes bear interest at the rate of 3.750% per annum from September 27, 2019, to the stated maturity or date of earlier redemption. Interest on the 2024 Notes is payable semi-annually in arrears on each April 1 and October 1, commencing on April 1, 2020, to the persons in whose names such 2024 Notes were registered at the close of business on the immediately preceding March 15 and September 15 (whether or not a business day), respectively. See “—Interest Rate Adjustment Based on Rating Events” below for a description of how the interest rate of the 2024 Notes is subject to certain adjustments.

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Interest payments in respect of the Notes will equal the amount of interest accrued from and including the immediately preceding interest payment date in respect of which interest has been paid or duly provided for (or from and including the date of issue, if no interest has been paid or duly provided for with respect to the Notes), to, but excluding, the applicable interest payment date or stated maturity date or date of early redemption, as the case may be. Interest on the Notes will be computed on the basis of a360-day year comprised of twelve30-day months. The principal and interest (including any additional interest), if any, on the Notes will be payable through The Depository Trust Company, which we refer to as the “Depository,” as described under“—Same-Day Funds Settlement and Payment.”

If an interest payment date or the stated maturity date or date of early redemption of the Notes falls on a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions in The City of New York are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close, the required payment due on such date will instead be made on the next business day. No further interest will accrue as a result of such delayed payment.

We issued the 2021 Notes, the 2023 Notes, and the 2024 Notes initially in aggregate principal amounts of $300.0 million, $450.0 million and $300.0 million, respectively. The applicable indenture and supplemental indenture for each series of Notes do not limit the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities which we may issue thereunder and provide that we may issue debt securities thereunder from time to time in one or more series. We may, from time to time, without the consent of or notice to holders of the Notes, issue and sell additional debt securities ranking equally and ratably with any series of the Notes in all respects and having the same terms and conditions as the applicable series (other than the issue date, and to the extent applicable, issue price, initial date of interest accrual and initial interest payment date of such additional debt securities), so that such additional debt securities shall be consolidated and form a single series with the applicable series for all purposes, including voting; provided, that such additional debt securities are fungible with the previously issued Notes of the applicable series for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

We have agreed in the applicable supplemental indenture for each series of Notes to use the net proceeds from the initial offerings of the Notes, after deducting the initial purchasers’ discount and expenses paid by us in connection with such offering of the Notes, to make loans to our subsidiaries pursuant to one or more promissory notes. So long as Notes of a particular series are outstanding, (1) the aggregate principal amount of all such promissory notes shall be not less than the amount of the net proceeds from the offering of the Notes of such series (or if less, the aggregate principal amount of Notes of such series then outstanding), (2) such promissory notes shall bear interest at rates that shall not be less than that borne by the Notes of such series and (3) such promissory notes shall have terms not later than the stated maturity date of the Notes of such series; provided, that any transfer of such obligation from one subsidiary to another or any refinancing of any such obligation by another subsidiary shall be permitted from time to time. We further agreed that for so long as the Notes of such series remain outstanding, any indebtedness for borrowed money we incur after the date of original issuance of the Notes of such series in one transaction, or in a series of related transactions, that is in excess of $25.0 million will be subject to a similar covenant.

The Notes have been issued only in fully registered form without coupons in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. The Notes may be presented for transfer (duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer, if so required by us or the security registrar) or exchanged for other notes (containing identical terms and provisions, in any authorized denominations, and of a like aggregate principal amount) at the office or agency maintained by us for such purposes (initially the corporate trust office of the applicable Trustee). Such transfer or exchange will be made without service charge, but we may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge and any other expenses then payable. Prior to the due presentment of a Note for registration of transfer, we, the applicable Trustee and any other agent of ours or the applicable Trustee may treat the registered holder of each Note as the owner of such Note for the purpose of receiving payments of principal of and interest on such Note and for all other purposes whatsoever. With respect to the 2024 Notes, a transferor shall also provide or cause to be provided to Wells Fargo all information necessary to allow the Wells Fargo to comply with any applicable tax

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reporting obligations, including without limitation any cost-basis reporting obligations under Internal Revenue Code Section 6045. Wells Fargo may rely on the information provided to it and shall have no responsibility to verify or ensure the accuracy of such information.

Except as described below under “—Offer to Repurchase Upon a Change of Control Triggering Event” and “—Interest Rate Adjustment Based on Rating Events,” the applicable indenture and supplemental indenture for each series of Notes do not contain any provisions that would limit our ability to incur unsecured indebtedness or that would afford holders of any series of the Notes protection in the event of a sudden and significant decline in our credit quality or a takeover, recapitalization or highly leveraged or similar transaction involving us. Accordingly, we could in the future enter into transactions that could increase the amount of indebtedness outstanding at that time or otherwise affect our capital structure or the credit rating of each series of the Notes.

The Notes are not entitled to the benefit of any mandatory redemption or sinking fund.

Optional Redemption

At any time and from time to time, we will be entitled at our option to redeem any series of the Notes, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed and (ii) the sum of the present values of the Remaining Scheduled Payments (as defined below) for such series of Notes, plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the redemption date, subject to the rights of holders of the Notes to be redeemed on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date.

2021 Notes / 2023 Notes

For the 2021 Notes and the 2023 Notes, in determining the present values of the Remaining Scheduled Payments of the series of Notes to be redeemed, we will discount such payments to the redemption date on a semiannual basis (assuming a360-day year consisting of twelve30-day months) using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate plus, in the case of the 2021 Notes, 50 basis points, and in the case of the 2023 Notes, 45 basis points.

The following terms are relevant to the determination of the redemption price for the 2021 Notes and the 2023 Notes:

“Comparable Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security selected by an Independent Investment Banker as having an actual or interpolated maturity comparable to the remaining term of the series of Notes to be redeemed that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of such Notes.

“Comparable Treasury Price” means, with respect to any redemption date, (1) the arithmetic average of the applicable Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such redemption date after excluding the highest and lowest Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, (2) if the Company obtains fewer than four applicable Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the arithmetic average of all applicable Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such redemption date or (3) if only one Reference Treasury Dealer Quotation is received, such quotation.

“Independent Investment Banker” means one of the Reference Treasury Dealers, or their respective successors, as may be appointed from time to time by the Company; provided, however, that if the foregoing ceases to be a primary U.S. Government securities dealer in the United States (a “primary treasury dealer”), we will substitute another primary treasury dealer.

“Reference Treasury Dealer” means Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and three other primary treasury dealers selected by the Company, and each of their respective successors and any other primary treasury dealers selected by the Company.

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“Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the arithmetic average, as determined by the Company, of the bid and asked prices for the applicable Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Company by such Reference Treasury Dealer as of 3:30 p.m., New York City time, on the third business day preceding such redemption date.

“Remaining Scheduled Payments” means, with respect to any 2021 Notes or 2023 Notes to be redeemed, the remaining scheduled payments of the principal thereof and interest thereon that would be due after the related redemption date but for such redemption; provided, however, that, if such redemption date is not an interest payment date with respect to such Notes, the amount of the next scheduled interest payment thereon will be reduced by the amount of interest accrued thereon to such redemption date.

“Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any redemption date, the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity (computed as of the third business day immediately preceding that redemption date) of the applicable Comparable Treasury Issue. In determining this rate, the Company will assume a price for the applicable Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the applicable Comparable Treasury Price for such redemption date.

2024 Notes

For the 2024 Notes, in determining the present values of the Remaining Scheduled Payments, we will discount such payments to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a360-day year consisting of twelve30-day months) using a discount rate equal to the Notes Reinvestment Rate.

If the 2024 Notes are redeemed on or after the date that is one month prior to the stated maturity date for the 2024 Notes, the redemption price for the 2024 Notes to be redeemed will equal 100% of the principal amount of such Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the redemption date.

The following terms are relevant to the determination of the redemption price for the 2024 Notes:

“Notes Reinvestment Rate” means 0.35%, or 35 basis points, plus the arithmetic mean (rounded to the nearestone-hundredth of one percent) of the yields displayed for each day in the preceding calendar week published in the most recent Statistical Release under the caption “Treasury constant maturities” for the maturity (rounded to the nearest month) corresponding to the remaining life to the date that is one month prior to the stated maturity date for the 2024 Notes as of the date of redemption. If no maturity exactly corresponds to such remaining life to maturity, yields for the two published maturities most closely corresponding to such remaining life to the date that is one month prior to the stated maturity date shall be calculated pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence and the Notes Reinvestment Rate shall be interpolated or extrapolated from such yields on a straight-line basis, rounding in each of such relevant periods to the nearest month.

“Remaining Scheduled Payments” means, with respect to any 2024 Notes to be redeemed, (i) the outstanding principal thereof plus, (ii) the interest on such principal that would be due after the related redemption date but for such redemption to, but excluding, the date that is one month prior to the stated maturity date for the 2024 Notes; provided, however, that, if such redemption date is not an interest payment date with respect to such Notes, the amount of the next scheduled interest payment thereon will be reduced by the amount of interest accrued thereon to, but excluding, such redemption date.

“Statistical Release” means that statistical release designated “H.15” or any successor publication that is published daily by the Federal Reserve System and that establishes yields on actively traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to constant maturities, or, if such statistical release (or a successor publication) is not published at the time of any determination under the indenture, then such other reasonably comparable index that shall be designated by us. For the purpose of calculating the Notes Reinvestment Rate, the most recent Statistical Release published prior to the date of determination of the Notes Reinvestment Rate shall be used.

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Offer to Repurchase Upon a Change of Control Triggering Event

If a Change of Control Triggering Event occurs, unless we have exercised our right to redeem the applicable series of Notes as described above, holders of such Notes will have the right to require us to repurchase all or any part (in minimum original principal amounts of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof) of their Notes pursuant to the offer described below (the “Change of Control Offer”) on the terms set forth in each series of the Notes. In the Change of Control Offer, we will be required to offer payment in cash equal to 101% of the then outstanding aggregate principal amount of each series of Notes repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Notes repurchased, to, but not including, the date of purchase (the “Change of Control Payment”). Within 30 days following any Change of Control Triggering Event, we will be required to mail a notice to holders of the applicable series of Notes (with a copy to the applicable Trustee) describing the transaction or transactions that constitute the Change of Control Triggering Event and offering to repurchase the applicable series of Notes on the date specified in the notice, which date will be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed (the “Change of Control Payment Date”), pursuant to the procedures required by the applicable series of Notes and the applicable supplemental indentures and described in such notice. We must comply with the requirements of Rule14e-1 under the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the applicable series of Notes as a result of a Change of Control Triggering Event. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the Change of Control Triggering Event provisions of the applicable series of Notes, we will be required to comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached our obligations under the Change of Control Triggering Event provisions of such Notes by virtue of such conflicts.

On the Change of Control Payment Date, we will be required, to the extent lawful, to:

• accept for payment all Notes or portions thereof properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer;

• deposit with the applicable Trustee an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment in respect of all Notes or portions of Notes properly tendered; and

• deliver or cause to be delivered to the applicable Trustee the Notes properly accepted together with a certificate executed by us, stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes or portions of Notes being purchased.

We will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer for a series of Notes upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Triggering Event if a third party makes such an offer for such series in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements for a Change of Control Offer made by us and the third party repurchases all Notes of such series properly tendered and not withdrawn under its offer. In addition, we will not repurchase any Notes if there has occurred and is continuing on the Change of Control Payment Date an event of default under the applicable indenture or supplemental indenture, other than a default in the payment of the Change of Control Payment upon a Change of Control Triggering Event.

The change of control feature of the Notes may in certain circumstances make more difficult or discourage a sale or takeover of us and, thus, the removal of incumbent management. We could, in the future, enter into certain transactions, including acquisitions, refinancings or other recapitalizations, that would not constitute a Change of Control under the Notes, but that could increase the amount of our indebtedness outstanding at such time or otherwise affect our capital structure or credit ratings on the Notes.

For purposes of the foregoing discussion of a repurchase at the option of holders, the following definitions are applicable:

“Below Investment Grade Rating Event” means that both Rating Agencies (as defined below) shall have ceased to rate the applicable series of Notes at an Investment Grade Rating on any date during the period (the

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“Trigger Period”) commencing 60 days prior to the first public announcement by the Company of any Change of Control (or pending Change of Control) and ending 60 days following consummation of such Change of Control (which Trigger Period will be extended following consummation of a Change of Control for so long as either of the Rating Agencies has publicly announced that it is considering a possible ratings change). If a Rating Agency is not providing a rating for such Notes at the commencement of any Trigger Period, the applicable series of Notes will be deemed to have ceased to be rated an Investment Grade Rating by such Rating Agency during that Trigger Period.

A “Change of Control” will be deemed to have occurred at such time after the original issuance of the applicable series of Notes when any of the following has occurred:

(1) a “person” or “group” within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act other than us, our subsidiaries, our and their respective employee benefit plans and any Permitted Holder, has become the direct or indirect “beneficial owner,” as defined in Rule13d-3 under the Exchange Act, of our capital stock representing, in the aggregate, more than 50% of the voting power of all classes of our capital stock; or

(2) in the case of the 2021 Notes and 2023 Notes (but not the 2024 Notes), one or more Permitted Holders shall cease to (i) own and control, beneficially, capital stock of ours that possesses the voting power under normal circumstances to cast 50% or more of the total votes entitled to be cast for the election of directors of ours; or (ii) have the voting power or the contractual right to elect a majority of our directors; or

(3) our liquidation or dissolution or the stockholders of the Company approve any plan or proposal for our liquidation or dissolution; or

(4) any conveyance, transfer, sale, lease or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of ours to another person, other than:

• any transaction:

(i) that does not result in any reclassification, conversion, exchange or cancellation of our outstanding equity interests; or

(ii) pursuant to which holders of our outstanding equity interests, immediately prior to the transaction, have the entitlement to exercise, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of the total voting power of all equity interests entitled to vote generally in elections of directors or managers of the continuing or surviving or successor entity immediately after giving effect to such issuance; or

• any transfer of assets or similar transaction solely for the purpose of changing our jurisdiction of organization and resulting in a reclassification, conversion or exchange of our outstanding equity interests, if at all, solely into outstanding equity interests of the surviving entity or a direct or indirect parent of the surviving entity; or

• any conveyance, transfer, sale, lease or other disposition with or into any of our subsidiaries, so long as such conveyance, transfer, sale, lease or other disposition is not part of a plan or a series of transactions designed to or having the effect of merging or consolidating with, or conveying, transferring, selling, leasing or disposing all or substantially all our properties and assets to, any other person.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Change of Control will be deemed to have occurred in the event any successor issuer of the applicable series of Notes shall be a corporation so long as one or more Permitted Holders shall maintain the beneficial ownership of shares of the capital stock of such successor possessing the voting power under normal circumstances to elect, or one or more Permitted Holders shall have the contractual right to elect, a majority of the directors of such successor corporation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a transaction will not be deemed to result in a Change of Control if (a) Cantor becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of a holding company and (b) the holders of the voting capital stock of such holding company immediately following that transaction are substantially the same as the holders of Cantor’s voting partnership interests immediately prior to that transaction.

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“Change of Control Triggering Event” means the occurrence of both a Change of Control and a Below Investment Grade Rating Event.

“Fitch” means Fitch Ratings.

“Investment Grade Rating” means a rating equal to or higher thanBBB- (or the equivalent) by Fitch orBBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P.

“Permitted Holder” means Howard W. Lutnick, any Person controlled by him or any trust established for Mr. Lutnick’s benefit or for the benefit of his spouse, any of his descendants or any of his relatives, in each case, so long as he is alive and, upon his death or incapacity, any person who shall, as a result of Mr. Lutnick’s death or incapacity, become a “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of the Company’s capital stock by operation of a trust, by will or the laws of descent and distribution or by operation of law.

“Person” means an individual, a corporation, a limited liability company, an association, a partnership, a joint venture, a joint stock company, a trust, an unincorporated organization or a government or agency or political subdivision thereof.

“Rating Agencies” means (1) each of Fitch and S&P; and (2) if either of Fitch or S&P ceases to rate the Notes or fails to make a rating of the Notes publicly available for reasons outside of our control, a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” within the meaning of Section 3(a)(62) under the Exchange Act, selected by us (as certified by a resolution of our Board of Directors) as a replacement agency for Fitch or S&P, or both of them, as the case may be.

“S&P” means S&P Global Ratings, a division of S&P Global Inc.

Interest Rate Adjustment Based on Rating Events

The interest rate payable on the 2023 Notes and the 2024 Notes – but not the 2021 Notes – will be subject to adjustments from time to time if, in the case of the 2023 Notes, each of Fitch and S&P, and in the case of the 2024 Notes, each of the Rating Agencies downgrades (or subsequently upgrades) the debt rating assigned to such series of Notes, in the manner described below. For the purposes of this section “Interest Rate Adjustment Based on Rating Events,” the term “Rating Agencies” is defined (i) with respect to the 2023 Notes, as Fitch and S&P; and (ii) with respect to the 2024 Notes, as defined in the section “Offer to Repurchase Upon a Change of Control Triggering Event” above.

If the rating from each of the Rating Agencies of the 2023 Notes or the 2024 Notes is decreased to a rating set forth in the immediately following table (a “Downgrade Event”), the interest rate on such series of Notes will increase such that it will equal the interest rate payable on such series of Notes on the date of the initial issuance thereof plus the percentage set forth opposite the applicable rating from the table below:

Debt Rating	Percentage
BBB- or higher		—	%
BB+		0.50	%
BB or lower		1.00	%

For the avoidance of doubt, any increase in the interest payable on the 2023 Notes or the 2024 Notes shall require a decrease in the rating of such series of Notes by each of the Rating Agencies to the relevant threshold ratings set forth above.

If, subsequent to a Downgrade Event, either Rating Agency increases its respective rating of the 2023 Notes or the 2024 Notes to any of the threshold ratings set forth above, the interest rate on such series of Notes will be

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decreased such that the interest rate for such series of Notes equals the interest rate payable on such series of Notes on the date of the initial issuance thereof plus the percentage set forth opposite the applicable rating from the table above. For the avoidance of doubt, any decrease in the interest payable on the 2023 Notes or the 2024 Notes shall require an increase in the rating of such series of Notes by only one of the Rating Agencies to relevant threshold ratings set forth above.

For so long as (i) only one of the Rating Agencies provides a rating of the 2023 Notes or the 2024 Notes or (ii) such series of Notes are not rated by either Rating Agency, the interest rate on such series of Notes will increase such that it will equal the interest rate payable on such series of Notes on the date of the initial issuance thereof plus 1.00%.

Any interest rate increase or decrease described above will take effect from the first day of the interest period during which a rating change requires an adjustment in the interest rate. If either Rating Agency changes its rating of the 2023 Notes or the 2024 Notes more than once during any particular interest period, the last change by either Rating Agency, as applicable, will control for purposes of any interest rate increase or decrease with respect to such series of Notes described above relating to either Rating Agency’s, as applicable, action. We will communicate an increase or decrease to the applicable Trustee in the form of an officers’ or officer’s certificate, as applicable, under the applicable indenture.

If the interest rate payable on the 2023 Notes or the 2024 Notes is increased as described above, the term “interest,” as used with respect to such series of Notes, will be deemed to include any such additional interest unless the context otherwise requires.

For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions described in this “Interest Rate Adjustment Based on Rating Events” shall not apply to the 2021 Notes.

Certain Covenants

Limitations on Liens on Stock of Subsidiaries

Under the applicable indenture and supplemental indenture for each series of the Notes, we covenant that, so long as any of the Notes of such series are outstanding, we will not, and we will not permit any Designated Subsidiary to, create, assume, incur, guarantee or otherwise permit to exist any Indebtedness secured by any mortgage, pledge, lien, security interest or other encumbrance (a “lien”) upon any shares of capital stock of any Designated Subsidiary directly or indirectly held by us (whether such capital stock is now owned or hereafter acquired) without effectively providing concurrently that the applicable series of Notes (and, if we so elect, any other Indebtedness of ours that is not subordinate to such series of Notes and with respect to which the governing instruments of such Indebtedness require us, or pursuant to which we are otherwise obligated, to provide such security) will be secured equally and ratably with, or prior to, such Indebtedness for at least the time period such other Indebtedness is so secured. The foregoing will not apply to liens on the securities of any entity existing at the time it becomes a Designated Subsidiary (and any extensions, renewals or replacements thereof).

For purposes of the indentures, “capital stock” of any Person means any and all shares, interests, rights to purchase, warrants, options, participations orother equivalents of or interests in (however designated) equity of such Person, including preferred stock, but excluding any debt securities convertible intosuch equity.

For purposes of the supplemental indentures, the term “Designated Subsidiary” means each of (i) BGC Holdings, L.P. (“BGC Holdings”), (ii) BGC Global Holdings, L.P., (iii) BGC Partners, L.P., and (iv) any other direct or indirect subsidiary now owned or hereafter acquired by us for which (a) the Net Assets constitute, as of the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter, 5% or more of our Total Stockholders’ Equity or (b) the net revenues constitute, as of the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter, 10% or more of the consolidated

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net revenues of ours during the most recently ended period of four consecutive fiscal quarters; provided, however, that the following shall not be Designated Subsidiaries:

(1) any Person in which the Company or any of its subsidiaries does not own sufficient equity or voting interests to elect a majority of the directors (or persons performing similar functions);

(2) any Person whose financial results would not be consolidated with those of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”);

(3) for purposes of the 2024 Notes only, any Person which is a subsidiary of a Company subsidiary the common equity of which is registered under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act; and

(4) any subsidiary of any Person described in clauses (1), (2) or, for the 2024 Notes, (3) above.

The term “Indebtedness” means, without duplication, with respect to any Person, whether or not contingent:

(1) the principal of and any premium and interest on (a) indebtedness of such Person for money borrowed or (b) indebtedness evidenced by notes, debentures, bonds or other similar instruments for the payment of which such Person is responsible or liable;

(2) all capitalized lease obligations of such Person;

(3) all obligations of such Person incurred or assumed as the deferred purchased price of property, all conditional sale obligations and all obligations under any title retention agreement (but excluding trade accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of business);

(4) all obligations of such Person for the reimbursement of any obligor on any banker’s acceptance, bank guarantees, surety bonds or similar credit transaction; and

(5) any amendments, modifications, refundings, renewals or extensions of any indebtedness or obligation described as Indebtedness in clauses (1) through (4) above;

if and to the extent any of the preceding items (other than letters of credit) would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP; provided, however, the term “Indebtedness” includes all of the following items, whether or not any such items would appear as a liability on a balance sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles:

(i) all Indebtedness of others secured by any mortgage, pledge, lien, security interest or other encumbrance on any property or asset of such Person (whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such Person);

(ii) to the extent not otherwise included, any guarantee by such person of Indebtedness of any other Person; and

(iii) preferred stock or other equity interests providing for mandatory redemption or sinking fund or similar payments issued by any subsidiary of such Person.

The term “Net Assets” means, with respect to any Person, the excess (if positive) of (a) such Person’s consolidated assets over (b) such Person’s consolidated liabilities, in each case determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

The term “Total Stockholders’ Equity” means, as of the date of determination, without duplication, all items which in conformity with U.S. GAAP would be included under total stockholders’ equity on our consolidated statement of financial condition. For purposes of any determination of total stockholders’ equity, we may include the amount of any capital to be returned pursuant to the terms of the Agreement of Limited Partnership of BGC Holdings, as amended from time to time, to any limited or general partner who has been terminated or withdrawn until such time as the amount of such partners’ capital has been paid to such limited or general partner pursuant to the terms of such Partnership Agreement plus, without duplication, redeemable partnership interests representing former partner’s equity in us. For the avoidance of doubt, Total Stockholders’ Equity is inclusive ofnon-controlling interests in subsidiaries on our consolidated statement of financial condition.

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Consolidation, Merger or Sale

We may not consolidate or merge with or into, or transfer or lease all or substantially all of our assets to, any Person unless either (a) we will be the continuing entity or (b) the successor entity or Person to which our assets are transferred or leased is an entity organized under the laws of the United States, any state of the United States or the District of Columbia and it expressly assumes our obligations on each series of the Notes and under each of the indentures and supplemental indentures. In addition, we cannot effect such a transaction unless immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no default or event of default under the applicable indenture and supplemental indenture shall have occurred and be continuing. Subject to certain exceptions, when the Person to whom our assets are transferred or leased has assumed our obligations under each series of the Notes and the applicable indenture and supplemental indenture, we will be discharged from all our obligations under each series of the Notes and the indentures and supplemental indentures, except in limited circumstances.

This covenant does not apply to any recapitalization transaction, a change of control of us or a highly leveraged transaction, unless the transaction or change of control was structured to include a merger or consolidation or transfer or lease of all or substantially all of our assets.

Modification, Amendment or Waiver

We may from time to time amend or supplement the applicable indenture with respect to any series of Notes and the Notes of such series without the consent of registered holders of such series to, among other things, (i) modify the restrictions on and procedures for resale, attempted resale, and other transfers of the Notes of such series or interests therein to reflect any change in applicable law or regulation (or interpretation thereof) or in practices relating to the resale or transfer of restricted securities generally or (ii) to cure any ambiguity or defect in and to correct or supplement any provision of the applicable indenture or any Note of such series that may be inconsistent with any other provision in the applicable indenture or the Notes of such series, provided, however, that any such cure, correction or supplement shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of the Notes of such series.

With certain exceptions, we may make modifications and amendments of the applicable indenture and supplemental indenture with respect to any series of Notes with the consent of the registered holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes of such series outstanding at the time. Compliance with certain covenants may be waived on behalf of registered holders of Notes of a series, either generally or in a specific instance and either before or after the time for compliance with those covenants, with the consent of holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes of such series. Nevertheless, without the consent of each registered holder of the Notes affected thereby, no such modification or amendment may, among other things, reduce the principal of or interest on any of the outstanding Notes, extend the stated maturity of the Notes, change the interest payment dates or terms of payment for the Notes, or reduce the percentage of registered holders necessary to modify or amend the indentures and the Notes.

Events of Default

Unless otherwise indicated, the term “Event of Default,” when used in the applicable indenture and supplemental indenture with respect to each of the 2021 Notes, the 2023 Notes, and the 2024 Notes means any of the following:

• failure to pay interest (including any additional interest) for 30 days after the date payment on any Note of such series is due and payable;

• failure to pay principal or premium, if any, on any Note of such series when due, either at maturity, upon any redemption, by declaration or otherwise;

• a default by us in the payment in respect of any Indebtedness for borrowed money, including obligations evidenced by any mortgage, indenture, bond, debenture, Note, guarantee or similar

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instrument, in an aggregate principal amount of at least $50 million in the case of the 2021 Notes, at least $75 million in the case of the 2023 Notes, and at least $100 million in the case of the 2024 Notes, beyond any applicable grace period, or default in the performance or compliance with any term respecting such debt, if as a consequence such debt becomes due and payable before its stated maturity, and such default shall not have been rescinded or annulled or such Indebtedness shall not have been discharged and such default continues for a period of 15 (or, in the case of the 2024 Notes, 30) consecutive days after written notice to us by the applicable Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes of such series;

• failure by us to perform any other covenant in the applicable indenture and supplemental indenture or the Notes of such series for 90 days after notice that performance was required; or

• events related to our bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or liquidation.

If an Event of Default relating to the payment of interest (including any additional interest) or principal with respect to the Notes of a series has occurred and is continuing, the applicable Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes of such series may declare the entire principal of the Notes of such series to be due and payable immediately.

If an Event of Default relating to the performance of other covenants occurs and is continuing (and, with respect to the 2024 Notes, a responsible officer of Wells Fargo has actual knowledge of such Event of Default), then the applicable Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Notes of a series may declare the entire principal amount of the Notes of such series to be due and payable immediately.

The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes of a series may, after satisfying conditions, rescind and annul any of the above-described declarations and consequences.

If an Event of Default relating to events of our bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or liquidation occurs and is continuing, then the principal amount of the Notes of each series outstanding, and any accrued interest, will automatically become due and payable immediately, without any declaration or other act by the applicable Trustee or any holder.

The indentures impose limitations on suits brought by holders of Notes of each series against us. Except as provided below, no holder of Notes of a series may institute any action against us under the indentures unless:

• the holder has previously given to the applicable Trustee written notice of default and continuance of that default;

• the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Notes of such series have requested in writing that the applicable Trustee institute the action;

• the requesting holders have offered the applicable Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to it for expenses and liabilities that may be incurred by bringing the action;

• the applicable Trustee has not instituted the action within 60 days after the request; and

• the applicable Trustee has not received inconsistent direction by the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes of such series.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, each holder of Notes of any series has the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of, and premium and interest, if any, on, the Notes when due and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such rights may not be impaired without the consent of that holder of Notes.

We will be required to file annually with each of the Trustees a certificate, signed by an officer of the Company, stating whether or not the officer knows of any default by us in the performance, observance or fulfillment of any condition or covenant of the applicable indenture.

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Discharge, Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

We can discharge or defease our obligations under the applicable indenture and supplemental indenture with respect to any series of Notes and the Notes of such series as set forth below.

We may discharge our obligations to holders of Notes of any series that have not already been delivered to the applicable Trustee for cancellation and that have become due and payable within one year (or are scheduled for redemption within one year). We may effect a discharge by irrevocably depositing with the applicable Trustee cash (or, in the case of the 2021 Notes and the 2023 Notes, U.S. government obligations), as trust funds, in an amount certified to be sufficient (in the case of the 2024 Notes, without reinvestment) to pay when due, whether at maturity, upon redemption or otherwise, the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, the Notes of such series.

We may also discharge any and all of our obligations to holders of Notes of any series at any time (“legal defeasance”). We also may be released from the obligations imposed by any covenants of any series of Notes and provisions of the applicable indenture and supplemental indenture with respect to such series of Notes, and we may omit to comply with those covenants without creating an Event of Default with respect to such series of Notes (“covenant defeasance”). We may effect legal defeasance and covenant defeasance only if, among other things:

• we irrevocably deposit with the applicable Trustee cash or U.S. government obligations, as trust funds, in an amount certified to be sufficient (in the case of the 2024 Notes, as certified by a written opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants to be sufficient without reinvestment) to pay when due (whether at maturity, upon redemption, or otherwise) the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on all outstanding Notes of the applicable series; and

• we deliver to the applicable Trustee an opinion of counsel from a nationally recognized law firm to the effect that the holders and beneficial owners of the Notes of the applicable series will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of the legal defeasance or covenant defeasance and that legal defeasance or covenant defeasance will not otherwise alter the holders’ and beneficial owners’ U.S. federal income tax treatment of principal, premium, if any, and interest payments on the Notes of the applicable series, which opinion, in the case of legal defeasance, must be based on a ruling of the Internal Revenue Service or a change in U.S. federal income tax law issued or pronounced after the date of this prospectus.

Although we may discharge or defease our obligations under the applicable indenture and supplemental indenture as described in the two preceding paragraphs, we may not avoid, among other things, our duty to register the transfer or exchange of any Notes, to replace any temporary, mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes or to maintain an office or agency in respect of the Notes.

Book-Entry System

The certificates representing the Notes of each series have been issued in the form of one or more fully-registered global notes without coupons (each, a “Global Note”) and have been deposited with, or on behalf of, the Depository and registered in the name of Cede & Co., as the nominee of the Depository. Except in limited circumstances, the Notes are not issuable in definitive form. Unless and until they are exchanged in whole or in part for the individual Notes represented thereby, any interests in a Global Note may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depository to a nominee of the Depository or by a nominee of the Depository to the Depository or another nominee of the Depository or by the Depository or any nominee of the Depository to a successor depository or any nominee of such successor.

The Depository is under no obligation to provide its services as depositary for the certificates of any series of Notes and may discontinue providing its services at any time. Neither we nor the Trustees will have any

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responsibility for the performance by the Depository or its direct or indirect participants under the rules and procedures governing the Depository. As noted above, owners of beneficial interests in a Global Note will not receive certificates representing their interests. However, we will prepare and deliver certificates for the Notes of that series in exchange for beneficial interests in a Global Note if:

• the Depository notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as a depositary for such Global Note of any series or if the Depository ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and a successor depositary is not appointed by us within 90 days after the notification or of our becoming aware of the Depository’s ceasing to be so registered, as the case may be;

• we determine, in our sole discretion, not to have the Notes of any series represented by one or more Global Notes; or

• an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to the Notes of any series, and the Depository wishes to exchange such Global Notes for definitive certificated Notes.

Any beneficial interest in a Global Note that is exchangeable under the circumstances described in the preceding sentence will be exchangeable for Notes in definitive certificated form registered in the names that the Depository shall direct. It is expected that these directions will be based upon directions received by the Depository from its participants with respect to ownership of beneficial interests in the Global Note.

The Depository has advised us that the Depository is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code, and a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. The Depository holds securities that its participants (“Direct Participants”) deposit with the Depository. The Depository also facilitates the post-trade settlement among Direct Participants of sales and other securities transactions in deposited securities, through electronic computerized book-entry transfers and pledges between Direct Participants’ accounts. This eliminates the need for physical movement of securities certificates. Direct Participants include both U.S. andnon-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations, and certain other organizations. The Depository is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (“DTCC”). DTCC is the holding company for the Depository, National Securities Clearing Corporation and Fixed Income Clearing Corporation, all of which are registered clearing agencies. DTCC is owned by the users of its regulated subsidiaries. Access to the Depository system is also available to others such as both U.S. andnon-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing corporations that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Direct Participant, either directly or indirectly.

Conveyance of notices and other communications by the Depository to Direct Participants, by Direct Participants to indirect participants and by direct and indirect participants to beneficial owners will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any legal requirements in effect from time to time.

Redemption notices shall be sent to the Depository or its nominee. If less than all of the Notes of a series are being redeemed, the Depository will reduce the amount of the interest of Direct Participants in such Notes in accordance with its procedures.

A beneficial owner of Notes of a series shall give written notice to elect to have its Notes repurchased or tendered, through its participant, to the applicable Trustee and shall effect delivery of such Notes by causing the Direct Participant to transfer the participant’s interest in such Notes, on the Depository’s records, to the applicable Trustee. The requirement for physical delivery of Notes in connection with a repurchase or tender will be deemed satisfied when the ownership rights in such Notes are transferred by Direct Participants on the Depository’s records and followed by a book-entry credit of such Notes to the applicable Trustee’s Depository account. With respect to the 2024 Notes, in connection with any proposed transfer outside of the book-entry only

20

system, there shall be provided to the Wells Fargo all information necessary to allow the Wells Fargo to comply with any applicable tax reporting obligations, including without limitation any cost-basis reporting obligations under Internal Revenue Code Section 6045. Wells Fargo may rely on the information provided to it and shall have no responsibility to verify or ensure the accuracy of such information.

In any case where a vote may be required with respect to the Notes of any series, neither the Depository nor Cede & Co. will give consents for or vote such global debt securities. Under its usual procedures, the Depository will mail an omnibus proxy to us as soon as possible after the record date. The omnibus proxy assigns the consenting or voting rights of Cede & Co. to those Direct Participants to whose accounts the Notes are credited on the record date identified in a listing attached to the omnibus proxy.

Principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on a Global Note will be paid to Cede & Co., as nominee of the Depository. The Depository’s practice is to credit Direct Participants’ accounts on the relevant payment date unless the Depository has reason to believe that it will not receive payments on the payment date. Payments by direct and indirect participants to beneficial owners will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with securities held for the account of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name.” Those payments will be the responsibility of participants and not of the Depository or us, subject to any legal requirements in effect from time to time. Payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, to Cede & Co. is our responsibility, disbursement of payments to Direct Participants is the responsibility of the Depository, and disbursement of payments to the beneficial owners is the responsibility of direct and indirect participants.

The rules applicable to the Depository and its Direct Participants are on file with the SEC. The information in this section concerning the Depository and the Depository’s book-entry system has been obtained from sources that we believe to be reliable, but we take no responsibility for the accuracy thereof.

Same-Day Funds Settlement and Payment

All payments of principal, premium if any, and interest in respect of Notes in book-entry form will be made by us in immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the Depository.

Governing Law

The indentures, supplemental indentures and the Notes are governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York applicable to agreements made or instruments entered into and, in each case, performed in that state.

Concerning the Trustees

U.S. Bank National Association is the Trustee under the indenture with respect to the 2021 and the 2023 Notes and also serves as the registrar and paying agent. Wells Fargo Bank, National Association is the Trustee under the indenture with respect to the 2024 Notes and also serves as the registrar and paying agent. We maintain corporate trust relationships in the ordinary course of business with the Trustees.

Registration Rights Agreement

Affiliates of Cantor currently hold approximately $15 million aggregate principal amount of the $300 million outstanding aggregate principal amount of the 2021 Notes. The Notes held by the Cantor affiliates were acquired from us in the initial offering of the Notes, and such Cantor affiliates are also our affiliates. Pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of May 27, 2016, by and between us and the other parties named therein, such Cantor affiliates, and their respective transferees, have the right to require us to file a resale registration statement to enable them to sell the Notes that they hold.

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

This prospectus may be used by CF&Co., our affiliate, in connection with offers and sales of the Notes in market-making transactions in the Notes. Market-making transactions may occur in the open market or may be privately negotiated at prevailing market prices at the time of sale or at related or negotiated prices. In these transactions, CF&Co. may act as principal or agent, including as agent for the counterparty in a transaction in which CF&Co. acts as principal, or as agent for both counterparties in a transaction in which CF&Co. does not act as principal. CF&Co. may receive compensation in the form of discounts and commissions, including from both counterparties in some cases. Other affiliates of ours may also engage in market-making transactions of this kind and may use this prospectus for that purpose. CF&Co., or any of our other affiliates, will conduct these offers and sales in compliance with the requirements of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”), including FINRA Rule 5121, regarding a FINRA member firm’s offers and sales of securities of an affiliate and related conflicts of interest. CF&Co., or any of our other affiliates, may not make sales to any discretionary account pursuant to this prospectus unless it has received prior specific written approval of the transaction from the discretionary account holder.

The 2021 Notes in the aggregate principal amount of approximately $15 million held by Cantor affiliates that were acquired from us in the initial offering of such 2021 Notes (Cusip No. 05541T AG6) will be covered by this market-making prospectus only after they are resold tonon-affiliates of Cantor and us pursuant to a resale registration statement, or otherwise become freely tradable in the hands of transferees.

We will not receive any proceeds from these market-making transactions.

Information about the trade and settlement dates, as well as the purchase price, for a market-making transaction will be provided to the purchaser in a separate confirmation of sale.

Neither CF&Co., nor any of our other affiliates, has any obligation to make a market in the Notes, and CF&Co., or any such other affiliate, may discontinue market-making activities at any time without notice.

LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the Notes offered and sold pursuant to this prospectus has been passed upon for us by Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, New York, New York.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements of BGC Partners, Inc. appearing in BGC Partners, Inc.’s Annual Report (Form10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2018 (including the schedule appearing therein), and the effectiveness of BGC Partners, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their reports thereon, included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such reports given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

Ernst & Young LLP’s report on the consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule of BGC Partners, Inc. is based in part in reliance upon KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Berkeley Point Financial LLC for the year ended December 31, 2016, not incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. These filings are also available to the public from the SEC’s website atwww.sec.gov.

Our website address iswww.bgcpartners.com. Through our website, we make available, free of charge, the following documents as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC: our Annual Reports on Form10-K; our proxy statements for our annual and special stockholder meetings; our Quarterly Reports on Form10-Q; our Current Reports on Form8-K; Forms 3, 4 and 5 and Schedules 13D with respect to our securities filed on behalf of Cantor and CF Group Management, Inc., the general partner of Cantor, our directors and our executive officers; and amendments to those documents. Our website also contains additional information with respect to our industry and businesses. The information contained on, or that may be accessed through, our website is not part of, and is not incorporated in, this prospectus.

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DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

We “incorporate by reference” the documents listed below. The information that we incorporate by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus. Specifically, we incorporate by reference:

• our Annual Report onForm10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 filed on March 1, 2019;

• our Quarterly Report onForm10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2019 filed on May 10, 2019;

• our Quarterly Report onForm10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2019 filed on August 8, 2019;

• our Quarterly Report onForm10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2019 filed on November 8, 2019;

• our Definitive Proxy Statement onSchedule 14A for our 2019 Annual Meeting of Stockholders filed on April 29, 2019;

• our Supplement to our Definitive Proxy Statement onSchedule 14A filed on May 10, 2019;

• our Current Report onForm8-K filed on February 14, 2019 (other than as indicated therein);

• our Current Report onForm8-K filed on May 7, 2019 (other than as indicated therein);

• our Current Report onForm8-K filed on June 27, 2019;

• our Current Report onForm8-K filed on July 25, 2019 (other than as indicated therein);

• our Current Report onForm8-K filed on September 20, 2019;

• our Current Report onForm8-K filed on September 26, 2019;

• our Current Report onForm8-K filed on September 30, 2019;

• our Current Report onForm8-K filed on October 24, 2019 (other than as indicated therein);

• our Current Report onForm8-K filed on October 28, 2019;

• our Current Report onForm8-K filed on December 13, 2019; and

• all documents filed by us with the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (Commission File Number0-28191) after the date of this prospectus and before the completion of the offerings contemplated hereby.

Any statement contained in this prospectus, or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein, shall be deemed to be modified or superseded to the extent that a statement contained herein, or in any subsequently filed document that also is incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein, modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.

You may obtain copies of these documents, at no cost to you, from our website (www.bgcpartners.com), or by writing or telephoning us at the following:

Investor Relations

BGC Partners, Inc.

499 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10022

(212)610-2426

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BGC PARTNERS, INC.

5.125% Senior Notes due 2021

5.375% Senior Notes due 2023

3.750% Senior Notes due 2024

PART II

Information Not Required in Prospectus

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

The following table sets forth the costs and expenses payable in connection with the offering of the securities being registered, all of which will be paid by BGC Partners, Inc. (the “Registrant”). All amounts are estimates except the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) registration fee.

	Amount
SEC registration fee	$	0
Printing and engraving expenses		5,000
Legal fees and expenses		50,000
Accounting fees and expenses		10,000
Transfer agent and registrar fees and expenses		3,000
Miscellaneous		7,000
Total	$	75,000

Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”) provides that a corporation may indemnify directors and officers as well as other employees and individuals against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with any threatened, pending or completed actions, suits or proceedings in which such person is made a party by reason of such person being or having been a director, officer, employee or agent of the Registrant. The DGCL provides that Section 145 is not exclusive of other rights to which those seeking indemnification may be entitled under any bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise. The Registrant’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws provide for indemnification by the Registrant of its directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL.

Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL permits a corporation to provide in its certificate of incorporation that a director of the corporation shall not be personally liable to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability (1) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, (2) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (3) for unlawful payments of dividends or unlawful stock repurchases, redemptions or other distributions or (4) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. The Registrant’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides for such limitation of liability to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL.

The Registrant maintains standard policies of insurance under which coverage is provided (1) to its directors and officers against loss arising from claims made by reason of breach of duty or other wrongful act, while acting in their capacity as directors and officers of the Registrant, and (2) to the Registrant with respect to payments which may be made by the Registrant to such directors and officers pursuant to any indemnification provision contained in the Registrant’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws or otherwise as a matter of law.

Item 16. Exhibits.

The Exhibit Index set forth below is hereby incorporated by reference in response to this Item 16.

Part II - 1

EXHIBIT INDEX

The following exhibits are included or incorporated by reference in this registration statement on FormS-3. Certain documents have been previously filed with the SEC pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, by the Registrant (Commission File Number0-28191):

Exhibit Number	Exhibit Title
2.1	Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of May  29, 2007, by and among eSpeed, Inc., BGC Partners, Inc., Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P., BGC Partners, L.P., BGC Global Holdings, L.P. and BGC Holdings, L.P. (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the SEC on February 11, 2008)
2.2	Amendment No. 1, dated as of November 5, 2007, to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of May  29, 2007, by and among eSpeed, Inc., BGC Partners, Inc., Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P., BGC Partners, L.P., BGC Global Holdings, L.P. and BGC Holdings, L.P. (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the SEC on February 11, 2008)
2.3	Amendment No. 2, dated as of February 1, 2008, to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of May  29, 2007, by and among eSpeed, Inc., BGC Partners, Inc., Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P., BGC Partners, L.P., BGC Global Holdings, L.P. and BGC Holdings, L.P. (incorporated by reference to the Registrant’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the SEC on February 11, 2008)
2.4	Separation Agreement, dated as of March  31, 2008, by and among Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P., BGC Partners, LLC, BGC Partners, L.P., BGC Global Holdings, L.P. and BGC Holdings, L.P. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.4 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form8-K filed with the SEC on April 7, 2008)
2.5	Purchase Agreement, dated as of April  1, 2013, by and among BGC Partners, Inc., BGC Partners, L.P., The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc., and for certain limited purposes, Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form10-Q filed with the SEC on August 8, 2013)
2.6	Tender Offer Agreement executed by BGC Partners, Inc., BGC Partners, L.P. and GFI Group Inc., dated February  19, 2015 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form8-K filed with the SEC on February 25, 2015)
2.7	Stock Purchase Agreement, dated November  15, 2015, by and among GFINet, Inc., GFI TP Holdings Pte Ltd., Intercontinental Exchange, Inc., and, solely for the purposes set forth therein, GFI Group Inc. and BGC Partners, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form8-K filed with the SEC on November 18, 2015)
2.8	Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated December  22, 2015, by and among BGC Partners, Inc., JPI Merger Sub 1, Inc., JPI Merger Sub 2, LLC, Jersey Partners Inc., New JP Inc., Michael Gooch and Colin Heffron (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form8-K filed with the SEC on December 23, 2015)
2.9	Transaction Agreement, dated as of July  17, 2017, by and among BGC Partners, Inc., BGC Partners, L.P., Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P., Cantor Commercial Real Estate Company, L.P., Cantor Sponsor, L.P., CF Real Estate Finance Holdings, L.P. and CF Real Estate Finance Holdings GP, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Registrant’s Form8-K filed with the SEC on July 21, 2017)
2.10	Separation and Distribution Agreement, dated as of December  13, 2017, by and among Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P., BGC Partners, Inc., BGC Holdings, L.P., BGC Partners, L.P., BGC Global Holdings, L.P., Newmark Group, Inc., Newmark Holdings, L.P. and Newmark Partners, L.P. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form8-K filed with the SEC on December 19, 2017)

Part II - 2

2.11	Amendment No. 1, dated November 8, 2018, to the Separation and Distribution Agreement, dated as of December  13, 2017, by and among BGC Partners, Inc., BGC Holdings, L.P., BGC Partners, L.P., Newmark Group, Inc., Newmark Holdings, L.P., Newmark Partners, L.P., Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P., and BGC Global Holdings, L.P. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form10-Q filed with the SEC on November 8, 2018)
2.12	Amended and Restated Separation and Distribution Agreement, dated as of November  23, 2018, by and among Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P., BGC Partners, Inc., BGC Holdings, L.P., BGC Partners, L.P., BGC Global Holdings, L.P., Newmark Group, Inc., Newmark Holdings, L.P. and Newmark Partners, L.P. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form8-K filed on November 27, 2018)
4.1	Indenture, dated as of June  26, 2012, by and between BGC Partners, Inc. and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Form8-K filed with the SEC on June 27, 2012)
4.2	Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May  27, 2016, by and between BGC Partners, Inc. and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee, with respect to the Registrant’s 5.125% Senior Notes due 2021 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Registrant’s Form8-K filed with the SEC on May 31, 2016)
4.3	Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of July  24, 2018, by and between BGC Partners, Inc. and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee, with respect to the Registrant’s 5.375% Senior Notes due 2023 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Registrant’s Form8-K filed with the SEC on July 25, 2018)
4.4	Indenture, dated as of September  27, 2019, between BGC Partners, Inc. and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Form8-K filed with the SEC on September  30, 2019)
4.5	First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of September  27, 2019, between BGC Partners, Inc. and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee, with respect to the Registrant’s 3.750% Senior Notes due 2024 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Registrant’s Form8-K filed with the SEC on September 30, 2019)
4.6	Form of 5.125% Senior Notes due 2021 (included as Exhibit A to Exhibit 4.2 above)
4.7	Form of 5.375% Senior Notes due 2023 (included as Exhibit A to Exhibit 4.3 above)
4.8	Form of 3.750% Senior Notes due 2024 (included as Exhibit A to Exhibit 4.5 above)
4.9	Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of May  27, 2016, by and between BGC Partners, Inc. and the parties named therein (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Form8-K filed with the SEC on May 31, 2016)
5.1	Opinion of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
23.1	Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm
23.2	Consent of KMPG, LLP independent registered public accounting firm
23.3	Consent of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP (included in the opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1)
24.1	Power of Attorney (included on the signature pages to this registration statement)
25.1	Statement of Eligibility on FormT-1 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 of U.S. Bank National Association with respect to the indenture governing the Registrant’s 5.125% Senior Notes due 2021

Part II - 3

25.2	Statement of Eligibility on FormT-1 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 of U.S. Bank National Association with respect to the indenture governing the Registrant’s 5.375% Senior Notes due 2023
25.3	Statement of Eligibility on FormT-1 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 of Wells Fargo Bank, National Association with respect to the indenture governing the Registrant’s 3.750% Senior Notes due 2024

Item 17. Undertakings.

(a) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

(i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”);

(ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement;

(iii) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

provided,however, that:

Paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initialbona fide offering thereof

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser:

(i) Each prospectus filed by a Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

(ii) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5) or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x) for the

Part II - 4

purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initialbona fide offering thereof.Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

(b) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initialbona fide offering thereof.

(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

Part II - 5

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, BGC Partners, Inc. certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on FormS-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in New York, New York on December 16, 2019.

BGC PARTNERS, INC.

/s/ Howard W. Lutnick

Name: Howard W. Lutnick

Title: Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer

POWER OF ATTORNEY

Each of the undersigned, whose signature appears below, hereby constitutes and appoints Howard W. Lutnick and Stephen M. Merkel, and each of them, his or her true and lawfulattorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments to this registration statement and to file the same with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto saidattorneys-in-fact and agents, or his or their substitute or substitutes, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing necessary or appropriate to be done with respect to this registration statement or any amendments hereto in the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that saidattorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or his or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant, BGC Partners, Inc., in the capacities and on the date indicated.

Signature	Capacity in Which Signed	Date
/s/ Howard W. Lutnick Howard W. Lutnick	Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)	December 16, 2019
/s/ Sean A. Windeatt Sean A. Windeatt	Chief Operating Officer and Interim Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)	December 16, 2019
/s/ Sean P. Galvin Sean P. Galvin	Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer)	December 16, 2019
/s/ Linda A. Bell Linda A. Bell	Director	December 16, 2019
/s/ Stephen T. Curwood Stephen T. Curwood	Director	December 16, 2019
/s/ William J. Moran William J. Moran	Director	December 16, 2019
/s/ David P. Richards David P. Richards	Director	December 16, 2019

[Signature Page to Form S-3 Market-Making Registration Statement for 5.125% Senior Notes due 2021, 5.375% Senior Notes due 2023 and 3.750% Senior Notes due 2024]