A Defining History

Our history built the foundation on what makes up BGC today. BGC has grown rapidly since its separation from Cantor Fitzgerald in 2004 both organically and through acquisitions. We have made a series of strategic acquisitions and investments in our proprietary technology platform, and our employee base and global footprint have dramatically increased.

Today we have offices in more than two dozen major markets worldwide. Our accomplishments have been widely recognised through a series of industry awards and accolades. Exceptional customer service and continued innovation in business and technology have earned BGC deserved industry recognition, including:

  • RISK MAGAZINE

    2022 OTC Trading Platform of the Year - Asia (Fenics GO)
    2021 OTC Trading Platform of the Year (Fenics GO)
    2021 OTC Infrastructure Service of the Year (Capitalab)
    2020 Inter-dealer Broker of the Year (BGC)

  • GLOBALCAPITAL GLOBAL DERIVATIVES AWARDS

    2022 Data and Analytics Vendor of the Year – Europe & Asia (Fenics Market Data)
    2021 Compression Service of the Year – Americas (Capitalab)
    2020 Equity Derivatives Inter-dealer Broker of the Year (BGC)

  • INSIDE MARKET DATA & INSIDE REFERENCE DATA AWARDS

    2023 Best Market Data Provider – Broker (Fenics Market Data)
    2022 Best Market Data Provider – Broker (Fenics Market Data)
    2021 Best Market Data Newcomer (Fenics Market Data)

  • FX MARKETS BEST BANK AWARDS

    2021 Best Broker for Options (BGC)
    2020 Best Broker of Currency Options (BGC)

  • FX MARKETS E-FX AWARDS

    2023 Best Market Data Provider (Fenics Market Data)
    2021 Best Market Data Provider (Fenics Market Data)

  • SGX COMMODITIES AWARDS

    2020 #1 Overall Top Bulk Commodities Inter-Dealer Broker (GFI)
    2020 #1 Overall Iron Ore Inter-Dealer Broker (GFI)
    2020 #1 62% Iron Ore Futures Inter-Dealer Broker
    2019 #1 Coking Coal Options Inter-Dealer Broker (GFI)

  • ENERGY RISK COMMODITY RANKINGS

    2020 #1 Overall for Precious Metals (GFI)
    2020 #1 in Gold (GFI)
    2020 #1 in Silver (GFI)
    2020 #1 in France for European Power (GFI)

  • FINANCIAL NEWS TRADING & TECHNOLOGY AWARDS

    2020 Inter-dealer Broker of the Year (BGC)

  • FOW INTERNATIONAL AWARDS

    2020 Trading and Execution Solution of the Year
    (Fenics GO)

  • TRADINGTECH INSIGHT AWARDS

    2023 Best Provider of Broker Market Data – US (Fenics Market Data)
    2023 Best Provider of Broker Market Data – Europe (Fenics Market Data)

  • FOW GLOBAL INVESTOR GROUP ASIA CAPITAL MARKETS AWARDS

    2022 Data Provider of the Year (Fenics Market Data)

  • Global Capital's 2014 Global Derivatives Awards

    Global Cross-Asset Interdealer Broker of the Year
    FX Derivatives Interdealer Broker of the Year

  • Risk Interdealer Rankings 2014

    Ranked #1 in the following five categories:
    - Interest rates, Inflation options overall
    - Interest rates, Inflation options for US Dollar
    - Interest rates, Inflation options for Euro
    - Interest rates, Inflation swaps for US Dollar
    - Foreign exchange, Forex swaps in Euro/sterling

  • Asia Risk Rankings 2013

    #1 Interdealer Broker
    #1 Rates
    #1 Equities

  • Energy Risk and Risk Commodity Rankings 2013

    #1 in Singapore – Jet Kerosene products
    #1 in Singapore – Gas Oil products

2004

In August, Cantor Fitzgerald separates out its voice brokerage business to create BGC Partners L.P.

In October, the newly-formed interdealer voice broker, BGC Partners, commences trading. As part of the separation, Cantor Fitzgerald International’s Singapore office is renamed BGC and
obtains a money broking license in Singapore.

2005

In January, BGC Partners (Australia) Pty Ltd. offers broking to the Australian wholesale market.

In May, BGC Partners, L.P. merges with Maxcor Financial Group Inc . to form BGC Partners.

In September 2005, BGC Partners holds its First Annual Charity Day in London and New York.

In October, BGC Partners acquires ETC Pollak, a major French interdealer broker based in Paris.

In December, BGC’s Beijing Representative Office is registered with the China Banking Regulatory Commission.

2006

In September, BGC Partners raises $5 million on its 2nd Annual Global Charity Day.

In October, BGC Partners acquires French equities, fixed income and derivatives broker Aurel Leven Securities

2007

In May, BGC opens a new office in Seoul, South Korea. An agreement is signed to merge BGC with eSpeed and the combined company will become BGC Partners, Inc.

In June, BGC is the first interdealer broker to open an office in Istanbul, Turkey.

In August, BGC acquires an emerging markets equity derivatives business from Marex Financial Ltd.

In September, BGC Partners raises over $6 million on its 3rd Annual Global Charity Day.

2008

In March, BGC acquires Radix Energy enabling BGC to offer its clients voice and electronic services in the world’s energy markets for the first time.

In April, BGC merged with eSpeed to form BGC Partners, Inc. (NASDAQ: BGCP)

In September, BGC Partners raises $8 million globally on its 4th Annual Charity Day.

In October, BGC merges its French businesses ETC Pollack and Aurel Leven to create a market leading interdealer broker, Aurel BGC and BGC is named ‘Interdealer Broker of the Year’ by Asia Risk magazine.

2009

In June, BGC acquires Liquidez DTVM Ltda. a leading Brazilian interdealer broker, enabling BGC to further increase its presence in Latin America.

In September, BGC Partners raises over $10 million for charity on its Fifth Annual Global Charity Day, bringing the total over 4 years to more than $33 million.

In October, BGC Partners announces the opening of a new office in Moscow which provides brokerage services to clients based locally as well as internationally.

In November, BGC Partners Wins Asia Risk Award for Technology Development as well as Best Interdealer Broker at Waters Magazine’s Inaugural European Financial IT Awards.

2010

In July, China Credit BGC, BGC Partners’ money broking alliance with China Credit Trust Co. Ltd., became the first Sino-foreign joint venture inter-dealer broking company to be granted a business license by the China Banking Regulatory Commission to operate in Beijing.

In August, BGC Partners acquires MINT Partners and MINT Equities. Over 100 MINT brokers from its international business join the Company.

In September, Risk Australia ranks BGC Partners number one broker in currencies in its annual rankings. BGC Partners also raises over $10 million on its Sixth Annual Charity Day, held in commemoration of those lost in the World Trade Center attacks bringing the total over 5 years to more than $43 million

In November, Ernst and Young names BGC’s Chairman & CEO, Howard W. Lutnick winner of its U.S. Entrepreneur of the Year award.

2011

In January, MINT Partners opens an office in Dubai.

In March, in response to the debilitating earthquake in Japan, BGC Partners announces that it will donate 100% of its Tokyo office’s revenue, along with 25% of the revenues from its other Asia-Pacific offices, for one week to relief agencies in Japan to directly help those in need. The following week, BGC Partners announces it will donate $100,000 to the New Zealand Government’s Christchurch Earthquake Appeal.

In April, BGC Partners’ money broking joint venture in China, China Credit BGC, is granted product licenses approval by the People’s Bank of China to offer interest rate swaps, bonds and interbank cash deposits products to Chinese and foreign banks in China.

BGC also announces it has entered into an agreement to acquire the U.S business of Newmark Knight Frank, the real estate advisory firm. This represents BGC Partners’ first move into the commercial real estate industry.

In September, BGC Partners hosts its 7th Annual Charity Day in commemoration of the 10th Anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Along with its affiliate, Cantor Fitzgerald, $12 million is raised globally and donated to charity. The total raised over the past 7 years is approximately $77 million dollars.

In October, BGC completes its acquisition of Newmark Knight Frank, a leading U.S. commercial real estate brokerage and advisory firm serving corporate and institutional clients, plus a controlling interest in its affiliated companies, encompassing approximately 425 brokers.

2012

In March, BGC completes the acquisition of assets of Grubb & Ellis Company, one of the nation’s leading commercial real estate firms. This further strengthens BGC Partners’ premier position in commercial real estate.

In August, BGC closes its acquisition of Northern California’s premier commercial real estate brokerage firm, Cornish & Carey.

In September, BGC, together with its affiliate Cantor Fitzgerald, raises $12 million globally on its 8th Annual Charity Day. The total raised over the past 8 years is approximately $89 million.

In October, BGC completes the acquisition of Wolfe & Hurst Bond Brokers, Inc., a municipal bonds interdealer broker in North America.

2013

In January, BGC acquires Smith Mack, a prominent real estate services company in Philadelphia, PA and the surrounding region. BGC also acquires Frederick Ross Company, the oldest commercial real estate firm in Denver, Colorado.

Also, the Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund, in conjunction with BGC Partners and Cantor Fitzgerald, announced its Hurricane Sandy Family Support Program to provide $10 million to thousands of families affected by Hurricane Sandy.

BGC France Holdings acquires Paris interdealer broker Ginalfi Finance.

In February, BGC Brokers L.P. acquires the business and cer tain assets of Sterling International Brokers Limited.

In April, BGC announces it has entered into an agreement to sell eSpeed, its benchmark, on-the-run, U.S. Treasury fully electronic trading platform to NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. for $1.234 billion.

In June, BGC closes the sale of eSpeed to NASDAQ.

In September, BGC, together with its affiliate Cantor Fitzgerald, raises $12 million globally on its 9th Annual Charity Day.

In October, BGC begins trading as a SEF, welcoming in a new era of derivatives trading.

2014

In February, BGC acquires the assets of HEAT Energy Group, an independent over-the-counter energy brokerage company focused on the regional term power markets and natural gas swaps.

In May, BGC closes its acquisition of Mexican Inter-Dealer Broker, Remate Lince.

In September, BGC, together with its affiliate Cantor Fitzgerald, raises approximately $12 million globally on its 10th Annual Charity Day.

In December, BGC acquires the U.K. assets and subsidiaries of RP Martin Group, one of the world’s oldest inter-dealer brokerage firms, which specializes in European rates and foreign exchange products. BGC also agrees to acquire the Swedish and Dutch assets of RP Martin in 2015.

In December, BGC announces an agreement to acquire Apartment Realty Advisors and its members (collectively “ARA”), the largest privately held, full-service investment brokerage network focusing exclusively on the multi-housing industry in the U.S.

2015

In February, BGC announces the successful completion of its tender offer for the shares of GFI Group that it does not own. GFI Group is a leading intermediary and provider of trading technologies and support services to the global OTC and listed markets. This transaction represents the largest acquisition in BGC’s history.

2016

In January, BGC announced the successful completion of the GFI back-end merger, thus consolidating 100% of GFI. Over the course of the year, BGC completed three other financial services acquisitions and five real estate services acquisitions. These acquisitions expanded upon BGC’s vast product offering and geographic footprint.

2017

In January, BGC completed the acquisition of Micromega Securities, which operates in the South African fixed income, rates and foreign exchange markets.

In February, BGC announced the successful completion of its acquisition of Besso Insurance Group Limited, an independent Lloyd’s of London insurance broker with a strong reputation across Property, Casualty, Marine, Aviation, Professional and Financial Risks and Reinsurance.

In September, BGC announced the successful completion of its acquisition of Berkeley Point Financial LLC, a top five GSE multifamily lender. In addition, BGC’s Real Estate Services acquisitions included Regency Capital Partners, Commercial Real Estate Consulting Firm, and certain offices of Integra Realty Resources.

Newmark completed its initial public offering in December.

2018

In October, BGC announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire Ed Broking Group Limited, an independent Lloyd’s of London insurance broker with a strong reputation across Accident and Health, Aerospace, Cargo, Energy, Financial and political Risks, Marine, Professional and Executive Risk, Property and Casualty, Specialty and Reinsurance. The completion of the transaction is subject to legal and regulatory approvals and certain closing conditions.

In November, BGC announced the successful completion of its acquisition of Poten & Partners Group, Inc., a leading ship brokerage, consulting and business intelligence firm specializing in LNG, Tanker and LPG markets.

BGC spun-off its former subsidiary Newmark Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: NMRK) (“Newmark”), effective as of November 30, 2018 to BGC stockholders of record as of the close of business on November 23, 2018. Please see related press release or click here to be redirected to the Newmark website.

2021

BGC completes sale of Insurance brokerage business to The Ardonagh Group