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History

BGC’s origins date back to 1945 when B. Gerald Cantor founded what became Cantor Fitzgerald. Cantor, a true pioneer, envisioned a new way of trading: a world-class brokerage service for inter-dealer fixed income markets. This service would be based on careful attention to customer service and innovation in business and technology, principles which are fundamental to BGC today.

BGC is now a world leader in financial services. Read on for our full story.

1945 Cantor's founders have a vision to create a world-class brokerage service for Wall Street's fixed income inter-dealer community. 1965 Cantor Fitzgerald launches an Institutional Equities Sales and Trading division offering large block trading and services to asset managers, pension funds and portfolio managers. 2001 On September 11, 2001, tragedy strikes. Headquartered between the 101st and 105th floors of One World Trade Center, Cantor Fitzgerald and eSpeed suffer incalculable losses when the attacks on the World Trade Center claim the lives of 658 of its employees, and destroy the companies’ headquarters.

On September 19, 2001, Cantor Fitzgerald makes a pledge to distribute 25% of the firm's profits and commit to paying for 10 years of healthcare for the benefit of the families and loved ones of its former Cantor Fitzgerald, eSpeed and Tradespark employees (profits which would otherwise be distributed to the partners of Cantor Fitzgerald). 2005 January - BGC Partners (Australia) Pty is formed and a Sydney-based office is opened. April - Maxcor Financial Group Inc. and BGC Partners, L.P. announce signing of definitive merger agreement.

In May 2005, BGC and Maxcor Financial complete merger agreement. 2007 May - BGC opens new office in Seoul, South Korea. May - eSpeed and BGC announce merger.

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