UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
_________________________________________________
FORM 10-Q
_________________________________________________
| ☒ | QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 | ||||
For the Quarterly Period Ended March 31, 2024
OR
| ☐ | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 | ||||
Commission File Number: 001-35591
_________________________________________________
BGC Group, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
_________________________________________________
| Delaware | 86-3748217 | ||||
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | ||||
499 Park Avenue, New York, NY | 10022 | ||||
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) | ||||
(212) 610-2200
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
___________________________________________________
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||||||||||||
| Class A Common Stock, $0.01 par value | BGC | The Nasdaq Stock Market, LLC | ||||||||||||
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. ☒ Yes ☐ No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). ☒ Yes ☐ No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-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 Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| 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 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). ☐ Yes ☒ No
On May 7, 2024, the registrant had 383,896,745 shares of Class A common stock, $0.01 par value, and 109,452,953 shares of Class B common stock, $0.01 par value, outstanding.
BGC GROUP, INC.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| Page | ||||||||
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition—At March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 | ||||||||
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations—For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2024 and March 31, 2023 | ||||||||
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)—For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2024 and March 31, 2023 | ||||||||
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows—For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2024 and March 31, 2023 | ||||||||
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity—For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2024 and March 31, 2023 | ||||||||
Except as otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires, as used herein, the terms “BGC,” the “Company,” “we,” “our,” and “us” refer to: (i) following the closing of the Corporate Conversion, effective July 1, 2023, BGC Group and its consolidated subsidiaries, including BGC Partners; and (ii) prior to the effective time of the Corporate Conversion, BGC Partners and its consolidated subsidiaries. See Note 1—“Organization and Basis of Presentation” to the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements herein for more information regarding the Corporate Conversion, and refer to the “Glossary of Terms, Abbreviations and Acronyms” for the definitions of terms used above and throughout the remainder of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
GLOSSARY OF TERMS, ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS
The following terms, abbreviations and acronyms are used to identify frequently used terms and phrases that may be used in this report:
| TERM | DEFINITION | ||||
2019 Form S-4 Registration Statement | On September 13, 2019, BGC filed a registration statement on Form S-4 with respect to the offer and sale of up to 20.0 million shares of BGC Class A common stock in connection with business combination transactions, including acquisition of other businesses, assets, properties or securities | ||||
2023 Deed of Amendment | On July 12, 2023, Mr. Windeatt executed a Deed of Amendment amending his existing Deed of Adherence with the U.K. Partnership regarding his employment | ||||
| Adjusted Earnings | A non-GAAP financial measure used by the Company to evaluate financial performance, which primarily excludes (i) certain non-cash items and other expenses that generally do not involve the receipt or outlay of cash and do not dilute existing stockholders, and (ii) certain gains and charges that management believes do not best reflect the ordinary results of BGC | ||||
| ADV | Average daily volume | ||||
| API | Application Programming Interface | ||||
| April 2008 distribution rights shares | Cantor’s deferred stock distribution rights provided to current and former Cantor partners on April 1, 2008 | ||||
| Aqua | Aqua Securities L.P., an alternative electronic trading platform, which offers new pools of block liquidity to the global equities markets and is a 49%-owned equity method investment of the Company and 51% owned by Cantor | ||||
| ASC | Accounting Standards Codification | ||||
| ASU | Accounting Standards Update | ||||
| Audit Committee | Audit Committee of the Board | ||||
| August 2022 Sales Agreement | CEO Program sales agreement, by and between the Company and CF&Co, dated August 12, 2022, pursuant to which the Company could offer and sell up to an aggregate of $300.0 million of shares of BGC Class A common stock | ||||
Aurel | The Company’s French subsidiary, Aurel BGC SAS | ||||
Berkeley Point | Berkeley Point Financial LLC, previously a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company acquired on September 8, 2017 and contributed to Newmark in the Separation | ||||
| Besso | Besso Insurance Group Limited, formerly a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, acquired on February 28, 2017. Sold to The Ardonagh Group on November 1, 2021 as part of the Insurance Business Disposition | ||||
| BGC | (i) Following the closing of the Corporate Conversion, BGC Group and, where applicable, its consolidated subsidiaries, including BGC Partners, and (ii) prior to the closing of the Corporate Conversion, BGC Partners and, where applicable, its consolidated subsidiaries | ||||
BGC Class A common stock or our Class A common stock | BGC Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share | ||||
BGC Class B common stock or our Class B common stock | BGC Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share | ||||
| BGC Credit Agreement | Agreement between BGC Partners and Cantor, dated March 19, 2018, that provides for each party or its subsidiaries to borrow up to $250.0 million, as amended on August 6, 2018, assumed by BGC Group on October 6, 2023, and further amended March 8, 2024, to increase the facility to $400.0 million at a rate equal to 25 basis points less than the applicable borrower’s borrowing rate under such borrower’s revolving credit agreement with unaffiliated third parties as administrative agent and lenders as may be in effect from time to time | ||||
BGC Derivative Markets | BGC Derivative Markets L.P. | ||||
2
| TERM | DEFINITION | ||||
| BGC Entity Group | BGC Partners, BGC Holdings, BGC U.S. OpCo and their respective subsidiaries (other than, prior to the Spin-Off, the Newmark Group), collectively, and in each case as such entities existed prior to the Corporate Conversion | ||||
| BGC Global OpCo | BGC Global Holdings, L.P., an operating partnership, which holds the non-U.S. businesses of BGC and which is indirectly wholly owned, following the closing of the Corporate Conversion, by BGC Group | ||||
| BGC Group | BGC Group, Inc., and where applicable its consolidated subsidiaries | ||||
BGC Group 3.750% Senior Notes | $255.5 million principal amount of 3.750% senior notes maturing on October 1, 2024 and issued on October 6, 2023 in connection with the Exchange Offer | ||||
BGC Group 4.375% Senior Notes | $288.2 million principal amount of 4.375% senior notes maturing on December 15, 2025 and issued on October 6, 2023 in connection with the Exchange Offer | ||||
BGC Group 8.000% Senior Notes | $347.2 million principal amount of 8.000% senior notes maturing on May 25, 2028 and issued on October 6, 2023 in connection with the Exchange Offer | ||||
| BGC Group Equity Plan | Eighth Amended and Restated BGC Partners Long Term Incentive Plan, as amended and restated and renamed the “BGC Group, Inc. Long Term Incentive Plan” and assumed by BGC Group in connection with the Corporate Conversion | ||||
| BGC Group Incentive Plan | Second Amended and Restated BGC Partners Incentive Bonus Compensation Plan, as amended and restated and renamed the “BGC Group, Inc. Incentive Bonus Compensation Plan” and assumed by BGC Group in connection with the Corporate Conversion | ||||
BGC Group Notes | BGC Group 3.750% Senior Notes, BGC Group 4.375% Senior Notes and BGC Group 8.000% Senior Notes issued by BGC Group | ||||
| BGC Holdings | BGC Holdings, L.P., an entity which, prior to the Corporate Conversion, was owned by Cantor, Founding Partners, BGC employee partners and, after the Separation, Newmark employee partners | ||||
| BGC Holdings Distribution | Pro-rata distribution, pursuant to the Separation and Distribution Agreement, by BGC Holdings to its partners of all of the exchangeable limited partnership interests of Newmark Holdings owned by BGC Holdings immediately prior to the distribution, completed on the Distribution Date | ||||
BGC Holdings Limited Partnership Agreement | Second Amended and Restated BGC Holdings Limited Partnership Agreement | ||||
| BGC OpCos | BGC U.S. OpCo and BGC Global OpCo, collectively | ||||
| BGC Partners | BGC Partners, Inc. and, where applicable, its consolidated subsidiaries | ||||
BGC Partners 3.750% Senior Notes | $300.0 million principal amount of 3.750% senior notes maturing on October 1, 2024 and issued on September 27, 2019. Following the Exchange Offer on October 6, 2023, $44.5 million aggregate principal amount of the BGC Partners 3.750% Senior Notes remain outstanding | ||||
BGC Partners 4.375% Senior Notes | $300.0 million principal amount of 4.375% senior notes maturing on December 15, 2025 and issued on July 10, 2020. Following the Exchange Offer on October 6, 2023, $11.8 million aggregate principal amount of the BGC Partners 4.375% Senior Notes remain outstanding | ||||
BGC Partners 5.375% Senior Notes | $450.0 million principal amount of 5.375% senior notes which matured on July 24, 2023 and were issued on July 24, 2018 | ||||
BGC Partners 8.000% Senior Notes | $350.0 million principal amount of 8.000% senior notes maturing on May 25, 2028 and issued on May 25, 2023. Following the Exchange Offer on October 6, 2023, $2.8 million aggregate principal amount of the BGC Partners 8.000% Senior Notes remain outstanding | ||||
| BGC Partners Equity Plan | Eighth Amended and Restated Long Term Incentive Plan, approved by BGC Partners’ stockholders at the annual meeting of stockholders on November 22, 2021 | ||||
| BGC Partners Incentive Plan | BGC Partners’ Second Amended and Restated Incentive Bonus Compensation Plan, approved by BGC Partners’ stockholders at the annual meeting of stockholders on June 6, 2017 | ||||
BGC Partners Notes | BGC Partners 3.750% Senior Notes, BGC Partners 4.375% Senior Notes, BGC Partners 5.375% Senior Notes and BGC Partners 8.000% Senior Notes issued by BGC Partners | ||||
3
| TERM | DEFINITION | ||||
| BGC U.S. OpCo | BGC Partners, L.P., an operating partnership, which holds the U.S. businesses of BGC and which is indirectly wholly owned, following the closing of the Corporate Conversion, by BGC Group | ||||
| Board | Board of Directors of the Company | ||||
| Brexit | Exit of the U.K. from the EU | ||||
| Cantor | Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P. and, where applicable, its consolidated subsidiaries | ||||
| Cantor group | Cantor and its subsidiaries other than BGC, including Newmark | ||||
| Cantor units | Limited partnership interests, prior to the Corporate Conversion, of BGC Holdings, held by the Cantor group, which BGC Holdings units were exchangeable into shares of BGC Class A common stock or BGC Class B common stock, as applicable | ||||
| CCRE | Cantor Commercial Real Estate Company, L.P. | ||||
| CECL | Current Expected Credit Losses | ||||
| CEO Program | Controlled equity offering program | ||||
| CF&Co | Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., a wholly owned broker-dealer subsidiary of Cantor | ||||
| CFGM | CF Group Management, Inc., the general partner of Cantor | ||||
| CFTC | Commodity Futures Trading Commission | ||||
| Charity Day | BGC’s annual event held on September 11th where employees of the Company raise proceeds for charity | ||||
CIO | Chief Information Officer | ||||
CISO | Chief Information Security Officer | ||||
| Class B Issuance | Issuance by BGC Partners of 10,323,366 and 712,907 shares of BGC Class B common stock to Cantor and CFGM, respectively, in exchange for an aggregate of 11,036,273 shares of BGC Class A common stock under the Exchange Agreement, completed on November 23, 2018 | ||||
| CME | CME Group Inc., a leading derivatives marketplace, made up of four exchanges: CME, CBOT, NYMEX and COMEX | ||||
| Company | Refers to (i) from after the effective time of the Corporate Conversion, BGC Group and its consolidated subsidiaries, including BGC Partners; and (ii) prior to the effective time of the Corporate Conversion, BGC Partners and its consolidated subsidiaries | ||||
| Company Debt Securities | The BGC Group Notes, the BGC Partners Notes and any future debt securities issued by the Company or its subsidiaries | ||||
| Company Equity Securities | BGC Group stock or other equity securities | ||||
| Compensation Committee | Compensation Committee of the Board | ||||
ContiCap | ContiCap SA, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, acquired on November 1, 2023 | ||||
| Contribution Ratio | Equal to a BGC Holdings limited partnership interest multiplied by one, divided by 2.2 (or 0.4545) | ||||
| Corporate Conversion | A series of mergers and related transactions pursuant to which, effective at 12:02 AM Eastern Time on July 1, 2023, BGC Partners and BGC Holdings became wholly owned subsidiaries of BGC Group, transforming the organizational structure of the BGC businesses from an “Up-C” structure to a simplified “Full C-Corporation” structure | ||||
4
| TERM | DEFINITION | ||||
| Corporate Conversion Agreement | The Corporate Conversion Agreement entered into on November 15, 2022, and as amended on March 29, 2023, by and among BGC Partners, BGC Holdings, BGC Group and other affiliated entities, and, solely for the purposes of certain provisions therein, Cantor, that provides for the Corporate Conversion of the BGC businesses | ||||
| Corporate Conversion Transactions | The Corporation Conversion Transactions refers to the series of mergers described in the Corporate Conversion Agreement and related transactions | ||||
| Corporate Conversion Mergers | The Holdings Reorganization Merger, the Corporate Merger, and the Holdings Merger, collectively | ||||
| Corporate Merger | The merger of Merger Sub 1 with and into BGC Partners on July 1, 2023 | ||||
| COVID-19 | Coronavirus Disease 2019 | ||||
| CRD | Capital Requirements Directive | ||||
| Credit Facility | A $150.0 million credit facility between BGC Group and an affiliate of Cantor entered into on April 21, 2017, which was terminated on March 19, 2018 | ||||
| DCM | Designated Contract Market | ||||
| DCO | Derivatives Clearing Organization | ||||
Deed | Mr. Windeatt’s Deed of Adherence, as amended, with the U.K. Partnership regarding the terms of employment | ||||
DGCL | Delaware General Corporation Law | ||||
| Distribution Date | November 30, 2018, the date that BGC Partners and BGC Holdings completed the Spin-Off and the BGC Holdings Distribution, respectively | ||||
| Dodd-Frank Act | Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act | ||||
| DRIP | Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan | ||||
DRIP Registration Statement | Registration statement on Form S-3 with respect to the offer and sale of up to 10.0 million shares of BGC Class A common stock under the DRIP | ||||
| ECB | European Central Bank | ||||
Ed Broking | Ed Broking Group Limited, formerly a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, acquired on January 31, 2019 and sold to The Ardonagh Group on November 1, 2021 as part of the Insurance Business Disposition | ||||
| EMIR | European Market Infrastructure Regulation | ||||
| EPS | Earnings Per Share | ||||
| ESG | Environmental, social and governance, including sustainability or similar items | ||||
| eSpeed | Various assets comprising the Fully Electronic portion of the Company’s former benchmark on-the-run U.S. Treasury brokerage, market data and co-location service businesses, sold to Nasdaq on June 28, 2013 | ||||
| ETR | Effective Tax Rate | ||||
| EU | European Union | ||||
| Exchange Act | Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended | ||||
5
| TERM | DEFINITION | ||||
| Exchange Agreement | A letter agreement by and between BGC Partners, Cantor and CFGM, dated June 5, 2015, that, prior to the Corporate Conversion, granted Cantor and CFGM the right to exchange shares of BGC Class A common stock into shares of BGC Class B common stock on a one-to-one basis up to the limits described therein, which agreement was terminated in connection with the Corporate Conversion | ||||
Exchange Offer | Consent solicitations and offers to exchange the BGC Partners 3.750% Senior Notes, BGC Partners 4.375% Senior Notes and BGC Partners 8.000% Senior Notes issued by BGC Partners for the BGC Group 3.750% Senior Notes, BGC Group 4.375% Senior Notes and BGC Group 8.000% Senior Notes issued by BGC Group, in each case with substantially similar terms to the corresponding series of BGC Partners Notes, completed on October 6, 2023 | ||||
| Exchange Ratio | Ratio by which a Newmark Holdings limited partnership interest can be exchanged for shares of Newmark Class A or Class B common stock | ||||
| FASB | Financial Accounting Standards Board | ||||
| FCA | Financial Conduct Authority of the U.K. | ||||
| FCM | Futures Commission Merchant | ||||
| FDIC | Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation | ||||
| February 2012 distribution rights shares | Cantor’s deferred stock distribution rights provided to current and former Cantor partners on February 14, 2012 | ||||
| Fenics | BGC’s group of electronic brands, offering a number of market infrastructure and connectivity services, Fully Electronic marketplaces, and the Fully Electronic brokerage of certain products that also may trade via Voice and Hybrid execution, including market data and related information services, Fully Electronic brokerage, connectivity software, compression and other post-trade services, analytics related to financial instruments and markets, and other financial technology solutions; includes Fenics Growth Platforms and Fenics Markets | ||||
| Fenics Growth Platforms | Consists of FMX UST, Fenics GO, Lucera, FMX FX and other newer standalone platforms | ||||
| Fenics Integrated | Represents Fenics businesses that utilize sufficient levels of technology such that significant amounts of their transactions can be, or are, executed without broker intervention and have expected pre-tax margins of at least 25% | ||||
| Fenics Markets | Consists of the Fully Electronic portions of BGC’s brokerage businesses, data, network and post-trade revenues that are unrelated to Fenics Growth Platforms, as well as Fenics Integrated revenues | ||||
| FINRA | Financial Industry Regulatory Authority | ||||
| FMX | Fenics Markets Exchange, LLC, which holds BGC’s business of providing a fully electronic neutral forum in which all participants enter into electronic transactions with respect to U.S. treasuries, U.S. treasury futures, U.S. SOFR futures and other select products | ||||
FMX Equity Partners | Bank of America, Barclays, Citadel Securities, Citi, Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan, Jump Trading Group, Morgan Stanley, Tower Research Capital, and Wells Fargo, being the banks which contributed $172 million between April 23, 2024 and April 24, 2024 into FMX in exchange for a 25.75% ownership interest in FMX at a post-money equity valuation of $667 million. The FMX Equity Partners received an additional 10.3% of equity ownership subject to driving trading volumes and meeting certain volume targets across the FMX ecosystem | ||||
FMX Futures Exchange | FMX Futures Exchange, L.P., which is wholly owned by FMX, and received approval from the CFTC to operate an exchange for U.S. treasury futures and U.S. SOFR futures | ||||
FMX Separation | On April 23, 2024, BGC and FMX entered into a separation agreement pursuant to which BGC contributed the assets and liabilities related to FMX’s business to FMX, and pursuant to which BGC and FMX agreed to certain restrictions in the operations of their respective businesses | ||||
6
| TERM | DEFINITION | ||||
| Founding Partners | Individuals who became limited partners of BGC Holdings in the mandatory redemption of interests in Cantor in connection with the 2008 separation and merger of Cantor’s BGC division with eSpeed, Inc. (provided that members of the Cantor group and Howard W. Lutnick (including any entity directly or indirectly controlled by Mr. Lutnick or any trust with respect to which he is a grantor, trustee or beneficiary) are not founding partners) and became limited partners of Newmark Holdings in the Separation | ||||
| Founding/Working Partners | Holders of FPUs | ||||
| FPUs | Founding/Working Partners units, in BGC Holdings, prior to the Corporate Conversion, or Newmark Holdings, generally redeemed upon termination of employment | ||||
| Freedom | Freedom International Brokerage Company, a 45%-owned equity method investment of the Company | ||||
| Fully Electronic | Broking transactions intermediated on a solely electronic basis rather than by Voice or Hybrid broking | ||||
Futures Exchange Group | A wholly owned subsidiary of the Company made up of the following entities: CFLP CX Futures Exchange Holdings, LLC, CFLP CX Futures Exchange Holdings, L.P., CX Futures Exchange Holdings, LLC, CX Clearinghouse Holdings, LLC, FMX Futures Exchange and CX Clearinghouse, L.P. | ||||
| FX | Foreign exchange | ||||
| GDPR | General Data Protection Regulation | ||||
| GFI | GFI Group Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, acquired on January 12, 2016 | ||||
| GILTI | Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income | ||||
| Ginga Petroleum | Ginga Petroleum (Singapore) Pte Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, acquired on March 12, 2019 | ||||
| GUI | Graphical User Interface | ||||
| HDUs | LPUs with capital accounts, which are liability awards recorded in “Accrued compensation” in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition | ||||
| Holdings Merger | The merger of Merger Sub 2 with and into Holdings Merger Sub | ||||
| Holdings Reorganization Merger | The reorganization of BGC Holdings from a Delaware limited partnership into a Delaware limited liability company through a merger with and into Holdings Merger Sub | ||||
| Holdings Merger Sub | BGC Holdings Merger Sub, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, and successor to BGC Holdings | ||||
| Hybrid | Broking transactions executed by brokers and involving some element of Voice broking and electronic trading | ||||
| ICAP | ICAP plc, a part of TP ICAP group, and a leading markets operator and provider of execution and information services | ||||
| ICE | Intercontinental Exchange | ||||
| Insurance brokerage business | The insurance brokerage business of BGC, including Corant, Ed Broking, Besso, Piiq Risk Partners, Junge, Cooper Gay, Global Underwriting and Epsilon, which business was sold to The Ardonagh Group on November 1, 2021 | ||||
| Insurance Business Disposition | The sale of the Insurance brokerage business for $534.9 million in gross cash proceeds after closing adjustments, subject to limited post-closing adjustments, completed on November 1, 2021 | ||||
| IR Act | Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 | ||||
7
| TERM | DEFINITION | ||||
July 2023 distribution shares | On July 2, 2023 Cantor distributed an aggregate of 15.8 million shares of BGC Class B common stock in satisfaction of its remaining deferred share distribution obligations pursuant to the April 2008 distribution rights shares and the February 2012 distribution rights shares. | ||||
| July 2023 Sales Agreement | CEO Program sales agreement, by and between the Company and CF&Co, dated July 3, 2023, pursuant to which the Company can offer and sell up to an aggregate of $300.0 million of shares of BGC Class A common stock | ||||
| LCH | London Clearing House | ||||
| LIBOR | London Interbank Offering Rate | ||||
Liquidity | A non-GAAP financial measure, comprised of the sum of Cash and cash equivalents, Reverse Repurchase Agreements, and Financial instruments owned, at fair value, less Securities loaned and Repurchase Agreements | ||||
LPA Amendment | On March 10, 2023, BGC Holdings entered into the Second Amendment to the BGC Holdings Limited Partnership Agreement which revised certain restrictive covenants pertaining to the “Partner Obligations” and “Competitive Activity” | ||||
| LPUs | Certain limited partnership units, of BGC Holdings prior to the Corporate Conversion, or Newmark Holdings, held by certain employees of BGC and Newmark and other persons who have provided services to BGC or Newmark, which units may include APSIs, APSUs, AREUs, ARPSUs, HDUs, U.K. LPUs, N Units, PLPUs, PPSIs, PPSUs, PSEs, PSIs, PSUs, REUs, and RPUs, along with future types of limited partnership units in Newmark Holdings | ||||
LSEG | London Stock Exchange Group | ||||
| Lucera | A wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, also known as “LFI Holdings, LLC” or “LFI,” which is a software defined network offering the trading community direct connectivity | ||||
March 2018 Form S-3 Registration Statement | CEO Program shelf Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed on March 9, 2018 | ||||
| March 2018 Sales Agreement | CEO Program sales agreement, by and between BGC Partners and CF&Co, dated March 9, 2018, pursuant to which BGC Partners could offer and sell up to an aggregate of $300.0 million of shares of BGC Class A common stock, which agreement expired in September 2021 | ||||
March 2021 Form S-3 Registration Statement | CEO Program shelf Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed on March 8, 2021 | ||||
MarketAxess | MarketAxess Holdings Inc. | ||||
| Merger Sub 1 | BGC Partners II, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of BGC Group | ||||
| Merger Sub 2 | BGC Partners II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and wholly owned subsidiary of BGC Group | ||||
| MEA | Middle East and Africa region | ||||
| MiFID II | Markets in Financial Instruments Directive II, a legislative framework instituted by the EU to regulate financial markets and improve protections for investors by increasing transparency and standardizing regulatory disclosures | ||||
| Mint Brokers | A wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, acquired on August 19, 2010, registered as an FCM with both the CFTC and the NFA | ||||
| Nasdaq | Nasdaq, Inc., formerly known as NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. | ||||
| NDF | Non-deliverable forwards | ||||
| Newmark | Newmark Group, Inc. (Nasdaq symbol: NMRK), a publicly traded and former majority-owned subsidiary of BGC Partners until the Distribution Date, and, where applicable, its consolidated subsidiaries | ||||
| Newmark Class A common stock | Newmark Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share | ||||
8
| TERM | DEFINITION | ||||
| Newmark Class B common stock | Newmark Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share | ||||
| Newmark Group | Newmark, Newmark Holdings, and Newmark OpCo and their respective consolidated subsidiaries, collectively | ||||
| Newmark Holdings | Newmark Holdings, L.P. | ||||
| Newmark IPO | Initial public offering of 23 million shares of Newmark Class A common stock by Newmark at a price of $14.00 per share in December 2017 | ||||
| Newmark OpCo | Newmark Partners, L.P., an operating partnership, which is owned jointly by Newmark and Newmark Holdings and holds the businesses of Newmark | ||||
| NEX | NEX Group plc, an entity formed in December 2016, formerly known as ICAP and acquired by CME Group in November 2018 | ||||
| NFA | National Futures Association | ||||
| Non-GAAP | A financial measure that differs from the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP, such as Adjusted Earnings and Liquidity | ||||
| N Units | Non-distributing partnership units, of BGC Holdings, prior to the Corporate Conversion, or Newmark Holdings, that may not be allocated any item of profit or loss, and may not be made exchangeable into shares of Class A common stock, including NREUs, NPREUs, NLPUs, NPLPUs, NPSUs, and NPPSUs | ||||
OCC | Options Clearing Corporation | ||||
Open Energy Group | Open Energy Group Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, acquired on November 1, 2023 | ||||
| OTC | Over-the-counter | ||||
| OTF | Organized Trading Facility, a regulated execution venue category introduced by MiFID II | ||||
| Period Cost Method | Treatment of taxes associated with the GILTI provision as a current period expense when incurred rather than recording deferred taxes for basis differences | ||||
| Poten & Partners | Poten & Partners Group, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, acquired on November 15, 2018 | ||||
| Preferred Distribution | Allocation of net profits of BGC Holdings (prior to the Corporate Conversion) or Newmark Holdings to holders of Preferred Units, at a rate of either 0.6875% (i.e., 2.75% per calendar year) or such other amount as set forth in the award documentation | ||||
Preferred Return | The lesser of the two-year treasury bond rate or 2.75% annually, as calculated on the determination amount applicable to certain RSU Tax Account awards, which may be adjusted or otherwise determined by management from time to time | ||||
| Preferred Units | Preferred partnership units of BGC Holdings prior to the Corporate Conversion, or Newmark Holdings, such as PPSUs, which are settled for cash, rather than made exchangeable into shares of Class A common stock, are only entitled to a Preferred Distribution, and are not included in BGC’s or Newmark’s fully diluted share count | ||||
Quantile | Quantile Group Limited | ||||
| Real Estate L.P. | CF Real Estate Finance Holdings, L.P., a commercial real estate-related financial and investment business controlled and managed by Cantor | ||||
| Record Date | Close of business on November 23, 2018, in connection with the Spin-Off | ||||
| Repurchase Agreements | Securities sold under agreements to repurchase that are recorded at contractual amounts, including interest, and accounted for as collateralized financing transactions | ||||
9
| TERM | DEFINITION | ||||
| Reverse Repurchase Agreements | Agreements to resell securities, with such securities recorded at the contractual amount, including accrued interest, for which the securities will be resold, and accounted for as collateralized financing transactions | ||||
| Revolving Credit Agreement | BGC Group’s unsecured senior revolving credit agreement with Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, and a syndicate of lenders, dated as of November 28, 2018 and most recently amended and restated on April 26, 2024. The Revolving Credit Agreement provides for a maximum revolving loan balance of $375.0 million bearing interest at either SOFR or a defined base rate plus additional margin, with the right to increase the maximum revolving loan balance up to $475 million, subject to certain conditions being met, and has a maturity date of April 26, 2027 | ||||
| ROU | Right-of-use | ||||
| RSUs | BGC or Newmark restricted stock units, payable in shares of BGC Class A common stock or Newmark Class A common stock, respectively, held by certain employees of BGC or Newmark and other persons who have provided services to BGC or Newmark, or issued in connection with certain acquisitions | ||||
| RSU Tax Account | RSU Tax Accounts were issued by BGC in connection with the Corporate Conversion in the place of certain non-exchangeable Preferred Units. The RSU Tax Accounts are settled for cash, rather than vesting into shares of Class A common stock, may be entitled to a Preferred Return, and are not included in BGC’s fully diluted share count. The RSU Tax Accounts were issued in connection with RSUs and are to cover any withholding taxes to be paid when the RSUs vest into shares of BGC Class A common stock | ||||
| Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine | Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which led to imposed sanctions by the U.S., U.K., EU, and other countries on Russian counterparties | ||||
| SBSEF | Security-based Swap Execution Facility | ||||
| SEC | U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission | ||||
| Securities Act | Securities Act of 1933, as amended | ||||
| SEF | Swap Execution Facility | ||||
| Separation | Principal corporate transactions pursuant to the Separation and Distribution Agreement, by which BGC Partners, BGC Holdings and BGC U.S. OpCo and their respective subsidiaries (other than the Newmark Group) transferred to Newmark, Newmark Holdings and Newmark OpCo and their respective subsidiaries the assets and liabilities of the BGC Entity Group relating to BGC’s real estate services business, and related transactions, including the distribution of Newmark Holdings units to holders of units in BGC Holdings and the assumption and repayment of certain BGC indebtedness by Newmark | ||||
| Separation and Distribution Agreement | Separation and Distribution Agreement, by and among the BGC Entity Group, the Newmark Group, Cantor and BGC Global OpCo, originally entered into on December 13, 2017, as amended on November 8, 2018 and amended and restated on November 23, 2018 | ||||
| SOFR | Secured Overnight Financing Rate | ||||
| SPAC | Special Purpose Acquisition Company | ||||
SPAC Investment Banking Activities | Aurel’s investment banking activities with respect to SPACs | ||||
| Spin-Off | Pro-rata distribution, pursuant to the Separation and Distribution Agreement, by BGC Partners to its stockholders of all the shares of common stock of Newmark owned by BGC Partners immediately prior to the Distribution Date, with shares of Newmark Class A common stock distributed to the holders of shares of BGC Class A common stock (including directors and executive officers of BGC Partners) of record on the Record Date, and shares of Newmark Class B common stock distributed to the holders of shares of BGC Class B common stock (Cantor and CFGM) of record on the Record Date, completed on the Distribution Date | ||||
Standing Policy | In December 2010, as amended in 2013 and in 2017 and adopted by BGC Group in connection with the Corporate Conversion, the Audit Committee and the Compensation Committee approved Mr. Lutnick’s right, subject to certain conditions, to accept or waive opportunities offered to other executive officers to monetize or otherwise provide liquidity with respect to some or all of their limited partnership units of BGC Holdings or to accelerate the lapse of or eliminate any restrictions on equity awards | ||||
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| TERM | DEFINITION | ||||
Successor | Referring to BGC Group as the parent company for the period following the Corporate Conversion | ||||
| Tax Act | Tax Cuts and Jobs Act enacted on December 22, 2017 | ||||
| TDRs | Troubled Debt Restructurings | ||||
| The Ardonagh Group | The Ardonagh Group Limited; the U.K.’s largest independent insurance broker and purchaser of BGC’s Insurance brokerage business completed on November 1, 2021 | ||||
| Tower Bridge | Tower Bridge International Services L.P., a subsidiary of the Company, which is 52%-owned by the Company and 48%-owned by Cantor | ||||
| TP ICAP | TP ICAP plc, an entity formed in December 2016, formerly known as Tullett | ||||
Tradeweb | Tradeweb Markets, Inc. | ||||
| Tradition | Compagnie Financière Tradition SA, a Swiss based inter-dealer broker | ||||
| Trident | Trident Brokerage Service LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, acquired on February 28, 2023 | ||||
| Tullett | Tullett Prebon plc, a part of TP ICAP group and an interdealer broker, primarily operating as an intermediary in the wholesale financial and energy sectors | ||||
| U.K. | United Kingdom | ||||
U.K. Partnership | BGC Services (Holdings) LLP, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company | ||||
| U.S. GAAP or GAAP | Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States of America | ||||
| UBT | Unincorporated Business Tax | ||||
| VIE | Variable Interest Entity | ||||
| Voice | Voice-only broking transactions executed by brokers over the telephone | ||||
11
SPECIAL NOTE ON FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. Such statements are based upon current expectations that involve risks and uncertainties. Any statements contained herein that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. For example, words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “possible,” “potential,” “continue,” “strategy,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “expects,” “intends,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements.
Our actual results and the outcome and timing of certain events may differ significantly from the expectations discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause or contribute to such a discrepancy include, but are not limited to, the factors set forth below:
•macroeconomic and other challenges and uncertainties, including those resulting from the wars in Ukraine and Israel and other ongoing or new conflicts in the Middle East or other jurisdictions, downgrades of U.S. Treasuries, fluctuating global interest rates, inflation and the Federal Reserve’s responses thereto, including increasing interest rates, fluctuations in the value of global currencies, including the U.S. dollar, liquidity concerns regarding and changes in capital requirements for banking and financial institutions, changes in the U.S. and global economies and financial markets, including economic activity, employment levels, supply chain issues and market liquidity, and increasing energy costs, as well as the various actions taken in response to these challenges and uncertainties by governments, central banks and others, including consumers and corporate clients and customers, as well as potential changes in these factors as a result of the upcoming U.S. Presidential election;
•market conditions and volatility, including fluctuations in interest rates and trading volume, the level of worldwide governmental debt issuances, austerity programs, government stimulus packages, increases and decreases in the federal funds interest rate and other actions to moderate inflation, increases or decreases in deficits and the impact of changing government tax rates, repatriation rules, deductibility of interest, and other changes to monetary policy, and potential political impasses or regulatory requirements, turmoil across regional banks and certain global investment banks, volatility in the demand for the products and services we provide, possible disruptions in trading, potential deterioration of equity and debt capital markets and cryptocurrency markets, and potential economic downturns, including recessions, and similar effects, which may not be predictable in future periods;
•our ability to access the capital markets as needed or on reasonable terms and conditions;
•our ability to enter new markets or develop new products, offerings, trade desks, marketplaces, or services for existing or new clients and, to pursue new operations and business initiatives, including our ability to develop new Fenics platforms and products, to successfully launch new initiatives which could require significant capital and significant efforts by management, including engaging partners on satisfactory terms, to manage long lead times to scale a successful venture, efforts to convert certain existing products to a Fully Electronic trade execution, to incorporate artificial intelligence into our products and efforts by our competitors to do the same, and to induce such clients to use these products, trading desks, marketplaces, or services and to secure and maintain market share, while managing the risks inherent in operating our cryptocurrency business and in safekeeping cryptocurrency assets;
•pricing, commissions and fees, and market position with respect to any of our products and services and those of our competitors;
•the effect of industry concentration and reorganization, reduction of customers, and consolidation;
•liquidity, regulatory, cash and clearing capital requirements;
12
•our relationships and transactions with Cantor and its affiliates, including CF&Co, and CCRE, our structure, the timing and impact of any actual or future changes to our organization or structure, including the Corporate Conversion, any related transactions, any challenges to our interpretation or application of complex tax laws to our structure, conflicts of interest or litigation, including with respect to executive compensation matters, any impact of Cantor’s results on our credit ratings and associated outlooks, any loans to or from us or Cantor, including the balances and interest rates thereof from time to time and any convertible or equity features of any such loans, CF&Co’s acting as our sales agent or underwriter under our CEO Program or other offerings, Cantor’s holdings of the Company’s Debt Securities, CF&Co’s acting as a market maker in the Company’s Debt Securities, CF&Co’s acting as our financial advisor in connection with potential acquisitions, dispositions, or other transactions, and our participation in various investments, stock loans or cash management vehicles placed by or recommended by CF&Co;
•the integration of acquired businesses and their operations and back office functions with our other businesses;
•the effect on our businesses of any extraordinary transactions, restructurings, or reorganizations, including potential dilution, taxes, costs, and other impacts;
•the rebranding of our current businesses or risks related to any potential dispositions of all or any portion of our existing or acquired businesses;
•pandemics and other international health emergencies, including the combined impact of COVID-19 with the flu and other novel or seasonal illnesses, and the impact of natural disasters or weather-related or similar events, including hurricanes and heat waves as well as power failures, communication and transportation disruptions, and other interruptions of utilities or other essential services;
•risks inherent in doing business in international markets, and any failure to identify and manage those risks, including economic or geopolitical conditions or uncertainties, the actions of governments or central banks, including the pursuit of trade, border control or other related policies by the U.S. and/or other countries (including U.S.-China trade relations), recent economic and political volatility in the U.K., rising political and other tensions between the U.S. and China, the wars in Israel and Ukraine, new or ongoing conflicts in the Middle East or other jurisdictions and additional sanctions and regulations imposed by governments and related counter-sanctions;
•the impact of U.S. government shutdowns, elections, political protests or unrest, boycotts, stalemates or other social and political developments, such as terrorist acts, acts of war or other violence, and potential changes in these factors as result of the upcoming U.S. Presidential election;
•the effect on our businesses, our clients, the markets in which we operate and the economy in general of changes in the U.S. and foreign tax and other laws, including changes in tax rates, interpretations of tax law, repatriation rules, and deductibility of interest, potential policy and regulatory changes in other countries, sequestrations, uncertainties regarding the debt ceiling and the federal budget, responses to rising global inflation rates, and other potential political policies;
•our dependence upon our key employees, our ability to build out successful succession plans, the impact of absence due to illness or leave of certain key executive officers or employees and our ability to attract, retain, motivate and integrate new employees, as well as the competing demands on the time of certain of our executive officers who also provide services to Cantor, Newmark and various other ventures and investments sponsored by Cantor and the impact of post termination covenants on awards previously granted to key employees and future awards or otherwise and the Federal Trade Commission’s recent ban on non-compete provisions, scheduled to go into effect in August 2024 but under legal challenge, which may impact our employment arrangements and awards;
•extensive regulation of our businesses and customers, the timing of regulatory approvals, changes in regulations relating to financial services companies and other industries, and risks relating to tax and compliance matters, including regulatory examinations, inspections, audits, investigations and enforcement actions, and any resulting costs, increased financial and capital requirements, enhanced oversight, remediation, fines, penalties, sanctions, and changes to or restrictions or limitations on specific activities, including potential delays in accessing markets, including due to our regulatory status and actions, operations, and compensatory arrangements, and growth opportunities, including acquisitions, hiring, and new businesses, products, or services;
13
•factors related to specific transactions or series of transactions, including credit, performance, and principal risk, trade failures, counterparty failures, and the impact of fraud and unauthorized trading;
•costs and expenses of developing, maintaining, and protecting our intellectual property, as well as employment, regulatory, and other litigation and proceedings, and their related costs, including judgments, indemnities, fines, or settlements paid and the impact thereof on our financial results and cash flows in any given period;
•certain financial risks, including the possibility of future losses, indemnification obligations, assumed liabilities, reduced cash flows from operations, increased leverage, reduced availability under our credit agreements, and the need for short- or long-term borrowings, including from Cantor, our ability to refinance our indebtedness on acceptable terms and rates, and changes to interest rates and liquidity or our access to other sources of cash relating to acquisitions, dispositions, or other matters, potential liquidity and other risks relating to our ability to maintain continued access to credit and availability of financing necessary to support our ongoing business needs, on terms acceptable to us, if at all, and risks associated with the resulting leverage, including potentially causing a reduction in our credit ratings and the associated outlooks and increased borrowing costs as well as interest rate and foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations;
•risks associated with the temporary or longer-term investment of our available cash, including in the BGC OpCos, defaults or impairments on our investments, joint venture interests, stock loans or cash management vehicles and collectability of loan balances owed to us by employees, the BGC OpCos or others;
•the impact of any restructuring or similar other transformative transactions, on our ability to enter into marketing and strategic alliances and business combinations, attract investors or partners or engage in other transactions in the financial services and other industries, including acquisitions, tender offers, dispositions, reorganizations, partnering opportunities and joint ventures, the failure to realize the anticipated benefits of any such transactions, relationships or growth, and the future impact of any such transactions, relationships or growth on our other businesses and our financial results for current or future periods, the integration of any completed acquisitions and the use of proceeds of any completed dispositions, the impact of amendments and/or terminations of strategic arrangements, and the value of and any hedging entered into in connection with consideration received or to be received in connection with such dispositions and any transfers thereof;
•our estimates or determinations of potential value with respect to various assets or portions of our businesses, including Fenics, FMX and other businesses;
•our ability to manage turnover and hire, train, integrate and retain personnel, including brokers, salespeople, managers, technology professionals and other front-office personnel, back-office and support services, and departures of senior personnel;
•our ability to expand the use of technology and maintain access to the intellectual property of others for Hybrid and Fully Electronic trade execution in our product and service offerings, and otherwise;
•the impact of artificial intelligence on the economy, our industry, our business and the businesses of our clients and vendors;
•our ability to effectively manage any growth that may be achieved, including outside the U.S., while ensuring compliance with all applicable financial reporting, internal control, legal compliance, and regulatory requirements;
•our ability to identify and remediate any material weaknesses or significant deficiencies in our internal controls which could affect our ability to properly maintain books and records, prepare financial statements and reports in a timely manner, control our policies, practices and procedures, operations and assets, assess and manage our operational, regulatory and financial risks, and integrate our acquired businesses and brokers, salespeople, managers, technology professionals and other front-office personnel;
•the impact of unexpected market moves and similar events;
•information technology risks, including capacity constraints, failures, or disruptions in our systems or those of the clients, counterparties, exchanges, clearing facilities, or other parties with which we interact, including increased demands on such systems and on the telecommunications infrastructure from remote working, cyber-security risks and incidents, compliance with regulations requiring data minimization and protection and preservation of records of access and transfers of data, privacy risk and exposure to potential liability and regulatory focus;
14
•the effectiveness of our governance, risk management, and oversight procedures and impact of any potential transactions or relationships with related parties;
•the impact of our ESG or “sustainability” ratings on the decisions by clients, investors, ratings agencies, potential clients and other parties with respect to our businesses, investments in us, our borrowing opportunities or the market for and trading price of BGC Class A common stock, Company Debt Securities, or other matters;
•the fact that the prices at which shares of our Class A common stock are or may be sold in offerings, acquisitions, or other transactions may vary significantly, and purchasers of shares in such offerings or other transactions, as well as existing stockholders, may suffer significant dilution if the price they paid for their shares is higher than the price paid by other purchasers in such offerings or transactions;
•the impact of reductions to our dividends and the timing and amounts of any future dividends, including our ability to meet expectations with respect to payments of dividends and repurchases of shares of our Class A common stock, or other equity interests in us or any of our other subsidiaries, including from Cantor, our executive officers, other employees, and others, and the net proceeds to be realized by us from offerings of shares of BGC Class A common stock and Company Debt Securities, and our ability to pay any excise tax that may be imposed on the repurchase of shares; and
•the effect on the markets for and trading prices of our Class A common stock and Company Debt Securities of various offerings and other transactions, including offerings of our Class A common stock and convertible or exchangeable debt or other securities, our repurchases of shares of our Class A common stock or other equity interests in us or in our subsidiaries, our payment of dividends on our Class A common stock, convertible arbitrage, hedging, and other transactions engaged in by us or holders of our outstanding shares, Company Debt Securities or other securities, share sales and stock pledges, stock loans, and other financing transactions by holders of our shares (including by Cantor or others), including of shares acquired pursuant to our employee benefit plans, corporate restructurings, acquisitions, conversions of shares of our Class B common stock and our other convertible securities into shares of our Class A common stock, and distributions of our Class A common stock by Cantor to its partners.
The foregoing risks and uncertainties, as well as those risks and uncertainties set forth in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, may cause actual results and events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. The information included herein is given as of the filing date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q with the SEC, and future results or events could differ significantly from these forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
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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 available to the public from the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
Our website address is www.bgcg.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 Form 10-K; our proxy statements for our annual and special stockholder meetings; our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q; our Current Reports on Form 8-K; Forms 3, 4 and 5 and Schedules 13D with respect to our securities filed on behalf of Cantor, CFGM, our directors and our executive officers; and amendments to those documents. Our website also contains additional information with respect to our industry and business. The information contained on, or that may be accessed through, our website is not part of, and is not incorporated into, this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
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PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
BGC GROUP, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
(in thousands, except per share data and numbers of shares)
(unaudited)
| March 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||
| Assets | |||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 566,791 | $ | 655,641 | |||||||
| Cash segregated under regulatory requirements | 18,317 | 17,255 | |||||||||
| Financial instruments owned, at fair value | 48,905 | 45,792 | |||||||||
| Receivables from broker-dealers, clearing organizations, customers and related broker-dealers | 1,517,757 | 350,036 | |||||||||
| Accrued commissions and other receivables, net | 348,228 | 305,793 | |||||||||
| Loans, forgivable loans and other receivables from employees and partners, net | 396,107 | 367,805 | |||||||||
| Fixed assets, net | 176,786 | 178,300 | |||||||||
| Investments | 40,233 | 38,314 | |||||||||
| Goodwill | 506,548 | 506,344 | |||||||||
| Other intangible assets, net | 206,355 | 211,285 | |||||||||
| Receivables from related parties | 5,254 | 2,717 | |||||||||
| Other assets | 544,371 | 496,655 | |||||||||
| Total assets | $ | 4,375,652 | $ | 3,175,937 | |||||||
| Liabilities, Redeemable Partnership Interest, and Equity | |||||||||||
Short-term borrowings from related parties | $ | 275,000 | $ | — | |||||||
| Accrued compensation | 169,930 | 206,364 | |||||||||
| Payables to broker-dealers, clearing organizations, customers and related broker-dealers | 1,339,095 | 202,266 | |||||||||
| Payables to related parties | 57,531 | 17,456 | |||||||||
| Accounts payable, accrued and other liabilities | 664,264 | 668,189 | |||||||||
| Notes payable and other borrowings | 944,961 | 1,183,506 | |||||||||
| Total liabilities | 3,450,781 | 2,277,781 | |||||||||
| Commitments, contingencies and guarantees (Note 19) | |||||||||||
| Equity | |||||||||||
| Stockholders’ equity: | |||||||||||
Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share; 1,500,000,000 shares authorized; 410,319,749 and 403,574,835 shares issued at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively; and 385,134,879 and 390,094,988 shares outstanding at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively | 4,103 | 4,036 | |||||||||
Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share; 300,000,000 shares authorized; 109,452,953 and 109,452,953 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively, convertible into Class A common stock | 1,095 | 1,095 | |||||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | 2,162,454 | 2,105,130 | |||||||||
Treasury stock, at cost: 25,184,870 and 13,479,847 shares of Class A common stock at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively | (137,455) | (67,414) | |||||||||
| Retained deficit | (1,074,819) | (1,119,182) | |||||||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) | (43,270) | (38,582) | |||||||||
| Total stockholders’ equity | 912,108 | 885,083 | |||||||||
| Noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries | 12,763 | 13,073 | |||||||||
| Total equity | 924,871 | 898,156 | |||||||||
| Total liabilities, redeemable partnership interest, and equity | $ | 4,375,652 | $ | 3,175,937 | |||||||
The accompanying Notes to the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these financial statements.
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BGC GROUP, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||
| Revenues: | |||||||||||
| Commissions | $ | 415,172 | $ | 377,288 | |||||||
| Principal transactions | 112,849 | 114,929 | |||||||||
| Fees from related parties | 4,421 | 3,957 | |||||||||
| Data, network and post-trade | 30,903 | 27,122 | |||||||||
| Interest and dividend income | 9,764 | 5,315 | |||||||||
| Other revenues | 5,505 | 4,256 | |||||||||
| Total revenues | 578,614 | 532,867 | |||||||||
| Expenses: | |||||||||||
| Compensation and employee benefits | 290,842 | 267,214 | |||||||||
| Equity-based compensation and allocations of net income to limited partnership units and FPUs | 96,081 | 81,373 | |||||||||
| Total compensation and employee benefits | 386,923 | 348,587 | |||||||||
| Occupancy and equipment | 40,806 | 41,165 | |||||||||
| Fees to related parties | 7,215 | 8,440 | |||||||||
| Professional and consulting fees | 14,259 | 15,701 | |||||||||
| Communications | 30,008 | 27,939 | |||||||||
| Selling and promotion | 16,771 | 14,616 | |||||||||
| Commissions and floor brokerage | 17,392 | 15,265 | |||||||||
| Interest expense | 20,136 | 15,742 | |||||||||
| Other expenses | 14,558 | 12,508 | |||||||||
| Total expenses | 548,068 | 499,963 | |||||||||
| Other income (losses), net: | |||||||||||
| Gains (losses) on equity method investments | 1,790 | 2,062 | |||||||||
| Other income (loss) | 38,762 | (1,735) | |||||||||
| Total other income (losses), net | 40,552 | 327 | |||||||||
| Income (loss) from operations before income taxes | 71,098 | 33,231 | |||||||||
| Provision (benefit) for income taxes | 22,057 | 12,061 | |||||||||
| Consolidated net income (loss) | $ | 49,041 | $ | 21,170 | |||||||
| Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries | (169) | 2,192 | |||||||||
| Net income (loss) available to common stockholders | $ | 49,210 | $ | 18,978 | |||||||
| Per share data (Note 6): | |||||||||||
| Basic earnings (loss) per share | |||||||||||
| Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders | $ | 46,378 | $ | 18,978 | |||||||
| Basic earnings (loss) per share | $ | 0.10 | $ | 0.05 | |||||||
| Basic weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding | 470,517 | 375,220 | |||||||||
| Fully diluted earnings (loss) per share | |||||||||||
| Net income (loss) for fully diluted shares | $ | 46,417 | $ | 24,155 | |||||||
| Fully diluted earnings (loss) per share | $ | 0.10 | $ | 0.05 | |||||||
| Fully diluted weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding | 477,973 | 501,067 | |||||||||
The accompanying Notes to the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
are an integral part of these financial statements.
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BGC GROUP, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||
| Consolidated net income (loss) | $ | 49,041 | $ | 21,170 | |||||||
| Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax: | |||||||||||
| Foreign currency translation adjustments | (4,829) | 2,268 | |||||||||
| Comprehensive income (loss) | 44,212 | 23,438 | |||||||||
| Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries, net of tax | (310) | 2,551 | |||||||||
| Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to common stockholders | $ | 44,522 | $ | 20,887 | |||||||
The accompanying Notes to the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
are an integral part of these financial statements.
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BGC GROUP, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||
| CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: | |||||||||||
| Consolidated net income (loss) | $ | 49,041 | $ | 21,170 | |||||||
| Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities: | |||||||||||
| Fixed asset depreciation and intangible asset amortization | 20,636 | 19,059 | |||||||||
| Employee loan amortization and reserves on employee loans | 14,768 | 13,900 | |||||||||
| Equity-based compensation and allocations of net income to limited partnership units and FPUs | 96,081 | 81,373 | |||||||||
| Deferred compensation expense | 16 | 11 | |||||||||
| Losses (gains) on equity method investments | (1,802) | (2,062) | |||||||||
| Unrealized/realized losses (gains) on financial instruments owned, at fair value and other investments | (36,963) | 1,325 | |||||||||
| Amortization of discount (premium) on notes payable | 791 | 855 | |||||||||
| Impairment of fixed assets, intangible assets and investments | 209 | 1,770 | |||||||||
| Deferred tax provision (benefit) | (602) | 1,128 | |||||||||
| Change in estimated acquisition earn-out payables | (159) | 674 | |||||||||
| Forfeitures of Class A common stock | (786) | (49) | |||||||||
| Consolidated net income (loss), adjusted for non-cash and non-operating items | 141,230 | 139,154 | |||||||||
| Decrease (increase) in operating assets: | |||||||||||
| Financial instruments owned, at fair value | (3,524) | (1,563) | |||||||||
| Receivables from broker-dealers, clearing organizations, customers and related broker-dealers | (1,169,259) | (1,291,324) | |||||||||
| Accrued commissions receivable, net | (43,178) | (36,347) | |||||||||
| Loans, forgivable loans and other receivables from employees and partners, net | (31,357) | (44,604) | |||||||||
| Receivables from related parties | (2,226) | (2,617) | |||||||||
| Other assets | (14,244) | (2,091) | |||||||||
| Increase (decrease) in operating liabilities: | |||||||||||
| Accrued compensation | (37,343) | (5,297) | |||||||||
| Payables to broker-dealers, clearing organizations, customers and related broker-dealers | 1,136,863 | 1,270,560 | |||||||||
| Payables to related parties | 40,075 | (7,220) | |||||||||
| Accounts payable, accrued and other liabilities | 11,055 | 5,836 | |||||||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities | $ | 28,092 | $ | 24,487 | |||||||
The accompanying Notes to the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
are an integral part of these financial statements.
20
BGC GROUP, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS—(Continued)
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||
| CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: | |||||||||||
| Purchases of fixed assets | $ | (3,230) | $ | (2,327) | |||||||
| Capitalization of software development costs | (11,987) | (12,210) | |||||||||
| Proceeds from equity method investments | — | 1,828 | |||||||||
| Payments for acquisitions, net of cash acquired | — | (26,177) | |||||||||
Purchase of investment carried under measurement alternative | (3,699) | — | |||||||||
| Purchase of other assets | (243) | (110) | |||||||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities | $ | (19,159) | $ | (38,996) | |||||||
| CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: | |||||||||||
| Repayments of long-term debt and collateralized borrowings | $ | (240,000) | $ | (61,621) | |||||||
| Issuance of long-term debt and collateralized borrowings, net of deferred issuance costs | — | 135,000 | |||||||||
Issuance of short-term borrowings from related parties | 275,000 | — | |||||||||
| Earnings distributions to limited partnership interests and other noncontrolling interests | (7,805) | (14,263) | |||||||||
Redemption and repurchase of equity awards | (48,366) | (34,454) | |||||||||
| Dividends to stockholders | (4,847) | (3,739) | |||||||||
| Repurchase of Class A common stock | (68,624) | (4,208) | |||||||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | $ | (94,642) | $ | 16,715 | |||||||
| Effect of exchange rate changes on Cash and cash equivalents and Cash segregated under regulatory requirements | (2,079) | 5,704 | |||||||||
Net increase (decrease) in Cash and cash equivalents, and Cash segregated under regulatory requirements | (87,788) | 7,910 | |||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents and Cash segregated under regulatory requirements at beginning of period | 672,896 | 502,010 | |||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents and Cash segregated under regulatory requirements at end of period | $ | 585,108 | $ | 509,920 | |||||||
| Supplemental cash information: | |||||||||||
| Cash paid during the period for taxes | $ | 17,333 | $ | 9,593 | |||||||
| Cash paid during the period for interest | 5,697 | 14,615 | |||||||||
| Supplemental non-cash information: | |||||||||||
| Issuance of Class A common stock upon exchange of limited partnership interests | $ | — | $ | 31,179 | |||||||
Issuance of Class A common stock upon exchange of contingent share obligations | 3,647 | — | |||||||||
| Issuance of Class A and contingent Class A common stock and limited partnership interests for acquisitions | 3,163 | 2,761 | |||||||||
| ROU assets and liabilities | 1,283 | 1,625 | |||||||||
The accompanying Notes to the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
are an integral part of these financial statements.
21
BGC GROUP, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2024
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(unaudited)
| BGC Group, Inc. Stockholders | Noncontrolling Interest in Subsidiaries | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Class A Common Stock | Class B Common Stock | Additional Paid-in Capital | Treasury Stock | Retained Deficit | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance, January 1, 2024 | $ | 4,036 | $ | 1,095 | $ | 2,105,130 | $ | (67,414) | $ | (1,119,182) | $ | (38,582) | $ | 13,073 | $ | 898,156 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Consolidated net income (loss) | — | — | — | — | 49,210 | — | (169) | 49,041 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax | — | — | — | — | (4,688) | (141) | (4,829) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Equity-based compensation, 4,977,409 shares | 62 | — | 53,527 | (12) | — | — | — | 53,577 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dividends to common stockholders and participating RSU holders | — | — | — | — | (4,847) | — | — | (4,847) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of Class A common stock (net of costs), 46,674 shares | — | — | (299) | — | — | — | — | (299) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Repurchase of Class A common stock, 9,820,280 shares | — | — | — | (68,609) | — | — | — | (68,609) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Forfeiture of Class A common stock, 636,167 shares | — | — | 635 | (1,420) | — | — | — | (785) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Contributions of capital to and from Cantor for equity-based compensation | — | — | 301 | — | — | — | — | 301 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of Class A common stock and RSUs for acquisitions, 472,255 shares | 5 | — | 3,158 | — | — | — | — | 3,163 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance, March 31, 2024 | $ | 4,103 | $ | 1,095 | $ | 2,162,454 | $ | (137,455) | $ | (1,074,819) | $ | (43,270) | $ | 12,763 | $ | 924,871 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
For the three months ended March 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dividends declared per share of common stock | $ | 0.01 | $ | 0.01 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dividends declared and paid per share of common stock | $ | 0.01 | $ | 0.01 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The accompanying Notes to the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these financial statements.
22
BGC GROUP, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2023
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
(unaudited)
| BGC Group, Inc. Stockholders | Noncontrolling Interest in Subsidiaries | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Class A Common Stock | Class B Common Stock | Additional Paid-in Capital | Treasury Stock | Retained Deficit | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance, January 1, 2023 | $ | 4,719 | $ | 459 | $ | 2,559,418 | $ | (711,454) | $ | (1,138,066) | $ | (45,431) | $ | 63,563 | $ | 733,208 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Consolidated net income (loss) | — | — | — | — | 18,978 | — | 2,192 | 21,170 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax | — | — | — | — | — | 1,909 | 359 | 2,268 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Equity-based compensation, 2,096,003 shares | 21 | — | 5,374 | — | — | — | 1,665 | 7,060 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dividends to common stockholders and participating RSU holders | — | — | — | — | (3,739) | — | — | (3,739) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Earnings distributions to limited partnership interests and other noncontrolling interests | — | — | — | — | — | — | (6,453) | (6,453) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Grant of exchangeability and redemption of limited partnership interests, issuance of 13,144,521 shares | 131 | — | 36,694 | — | — | — | 11,724 | 48,549 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Issuance of Class A common stock (net of costs), 13,303 shares | — | — | 186 | — | — | — | 10 | 196 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Redemption of FPUs, 22,914 units | — | — | — | — | — | — | (66) | (66) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Repurchase of Class A common stock, 845,890 shares | — | — | — | (3,575) | — | — | (633) | (4,208) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Forfeiture of Class A common stock, 49,201 shares | — | — | 10 | (52) | — | — | (7) | (49) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Contributions of capital to and from Cantor for equity-based compensation | — | — | 271 | — | — | — | 84 | 355 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Grant of exchangeability, redemption of limited partnership interests and issuance of Class A common stock and RSUs for acquisitions, 658,246 shares | 7 | — | 2,340 | — | — | — | 414 | 2,761 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other | — | — | (34) | — | — | — | — | (34) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance, March 31, 2023 | $ | 4,878 | $ | 459 | $ | 2,604,259 | $ | (715,081) | $ | (1,122,827) | $ | (43,522) | $ | 72,852 | $ | 801,018 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The accompanying Notes to the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these financial statements.
23
BGC GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)
| Page | ||||||||
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1. Organization and Basis of Presentation
Business Overview
On July 1, 2023, the Company completed its Corporate Conversion to a Full C-Corporation in order to reorganize and simplify its organizational structure. As a result of the Corporate Conversion, BGC Group became the public holding company for, and successor to, BGC Partners, and its Class A common stock began trading on Nasdaq, in place of BGC Partners’ Class A common stock, under the ticker symbol “BGC.” Upon completion of the Corporate Conversion, the former stockholders of BGC Partners and the former limited partners of BGC Holdings now participate in the economics of the BGC businesses through BGC Group.
BGC is a leading global marketplace, data, and financial technology services company for a broad range of products, including fixed income, foreign exchange, energy, commodities, shipping, and equities.
BGC, through its affiliates, specializes in the trade execution of a broad range of products, including fixed income securities such as government bonds, corporate bonds, and other debt instruments, as well as related interest rate derivatives and credit derivatives. Additionally, the Company provides brokerage services across FX, Equities, Energy, Commodities, and Shipping, and Futures and Options. The Company’s business also provides connectivity and network solutions, clearing, market data and network connectivity products, trade compression and other post-trade services, market data and related information services and other back-office services to a broad assortment of financial and non-financial institutions.
BGC’s integrated platform is designed to provide flexibility to customers with regard to price discovery, trade execution and transaction processing, as well as accessing liquidity through our platforms, for transactions executed either OTC or through an exchange. Through the Company’s electronic brands, BGC Group offers several trade execution, market infrastructure and connectivity services, as well as post-trade services.
The Company’s clients include many of the world’s largest banks, broker-dealers, investment banks, trading firms, hedge funds, governments, corporations, and investment firms. BGC is a global operation with offices across all major geographies, including New York and London, as well as in Bahrain, Beijing, Bogota, Brisbane, Cape Town, Chicago, Copenhagen, Dubai, Dublin, Frankfurt, Geneva, Hong Kong, Houston, Johannesburg, Madrid, Manila, Melbourne, Mexico City, Miami, Milan, Monaco, Nyon, Paris, Perth, Rio de Janeiro, Santiago, São Paulo, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney, Tel Aviv, Tokyo, Toronto, and Zurich.
Corporate Conversion
Effective as of 12:01 a.m., Eastern Time, on July 1, 2023, BGC Holdings reorganized from a Delaware limited partnership into a Delaware limited liability company through a merger with and into Holdings Merger Sub, with Holdings Merger Sub continuing as a direct subsidiary of BGC Partners. Effective as of 12:02 a.m., Eastern Time, on July 1, 2023, Merger Sub 1 merged with and into BGC Partners, with BGC Partners continuing as a direct subsidiary of BGC Group. At the same time, Merger Sub 2 merged with and into Holdings Merger Sub, with Holdings Merger Sub continuing as a subsidiary of BGC Group. As a result of the Corporate Conversion Mergers, BGC Partners and BGC Holdings became wholly owned subsidiaries of BGC Group.
In the Holdings Reorganization Merger, each unit of BGC Holdings outstanding as of immediately prior to the Holdings Reorganization Merger was converted into a substantially equivalent equity interest in Holdings Merger Sub.
In the Corporate Merger, each share of Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of BGC Partners and each share of Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of BGC Partners outstanding was converted into one share of Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of BGC Group and one share of Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of BGC Group, respectively.
In connection with, but prior to the Corporate Conversion, the Company completed various transactions which included:
•the redemption of certain non-exchangeable limited partnership units in connection with the issuance of shares of BGC Partners Class A common stock and the accompanying tax payments, which led to an equity-based compensation charge of $60.9 million;
•the exchange of the remaining 1.5 million exchangeable limited partnership units of BGC Holdings held by employees on June 30, 2023, for 1.0 million shares, after tax withholding, of BGC Partners Class A common stock;
•the redemption of certain non-exchangeable limited partnership units of BGC Holdings held by employees and issuance of 16.9 million BGC Partners RSUs on a one-for-one basis on June 30, 2023;
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•the redemption of certain non-exchangeable Preferred Units of BGC Holdings held by employees and issuance of $49.2 million of BGC Partners RSU Tax Accounts on June 30, 2023, based on the fixed cash value of the Preferred Units redeemed;
•the redemption of the remaining 5.6 million non-exchangeable FPUs and issuances of BGC Partners RSUs on a one-for-one basis on June 30, 2023, which in turn reduced the “Redeemable Partnership Interest” to zero with an offsetting impact to “Total equity” in the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition as of June 30, 2023; and
•the purchase on June 30, 2023 by Cantor from BGC Holdings of an aggregate of 5,425,209 Cantor units for an aggregate consideration of $9,715,772 as a result of the redemption of 5,425,209 FPUs, and 324,223 Cantor units for an aggregate consideration of $598,712 as a result of the exchange of 324,223 FPUs.
As a result of the Corporate Conversion:
•64.0 million Cantor units, including 5.7 million purchased on June 30, 2023, were converted into shares of BGC Group Class B common stock, subject to the terms and conditions of the Corporate Conversion Agreement, provided that a portion of the 64.0 million shares of BGC Group Class B common stock issued to Cantor will exchange into BGC Group Class A common stock in the event that BGC Group does not issue at least $75,000,000 in shares of BGC Group Class A or B common stock in connection with certain acquisition transactions prior to July 1, 2030, the seventh anniversary of the Corporate Conversion;
•BGC Group assumed all BGC Partners RSUs, RSU Tax Accounts or restricted stock awards outstanding as of June 30, 2023; and
•non-exchangeable limited partnership units of BGC Holdings were converted into equity awards denominated in cash, restricted stock and/or RSUs of BGC Group, each as further set forth in the Corporate Conversion Agreement. BGC Group granted 38.6 million restricted stock awards, 25.3 million RSUs, and $74.0 million of RSU Tax Accounts upon the conversion of the non-exchangeable shares of Holdings Merger Sub.
There were no limited partnership units of BGC Holdings remaining after the Corporate Conversion was completed.
In connection with the Corporate Conversion on July 1, 2023, BGC Group assumed and adopted: the Eighth Amended and Restated BGC Partners, Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended and restated as the BGC Group, Inc. Long Term Incentive Plan; the BGC Partners Second Amended and Restated BGC Partners Incentive Bonus Compensation Plan, as amended and restated, and renamed the BGC Group, Inc. Incentive Bonus Compensation Plan; and the BGC Partners, Inc. Deferral Plan for Employees of BGC Partners, Inc., Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P. and Their Affiliates, as amended and restated as the BGC Group, Inc. Deferral Plan for Employees of BGC Group, Inc., Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P. and Their Affiliates. The BGC Group Equity Plan provides for a maximum of 600 million shares of BGC Class A common stock that may be delivered or cash settled pursuant to the exercise or settlement of awards granted under the plan.
In connection with the Corporate Conversion on July 1, 2023, the BGC Holdings Limited Partnership Agreement was terminated, and the BGC Holdings, L.P. Participation Plan was terminated.
In connection with the Corporate Conversion on July 1, 2023, BGC Group amended and restated its certificate of incorporation to reflect an increase in the authorized shares of BGC Group Class A common stock to 1,500,000,000; an increase in the authorized shares of BGC Group Class B common stock to 300,000,000; and a provision providing for exculpation to officers of BGC Group pursuant to Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL. Additionally, BGC Group amended and restated its bylaws to adopt a provision providing that Delaware courts shall be the exclusive forum for certain matters.
Basis of Presentation
The Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes to the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC and in conformity with U.S. GAAP. Accordingly, they do not include all information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for annual financial statements and, as such, the information in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the audited Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. The Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the Company’s accounts and all subsidiaries in which the Company has a controlling interest. Intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Certain reclassifications have been made to previously reported amounts to conform to the current presentation.
During the second quarter of 2023, the Company renamed “Data, software and post-trade” as “Data, network and post-trade” on the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
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During the third quarter of 2023, the Company renamed “Net income (loss) available to common stockholders” as “Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders” under the Basic earnings (loss) per share calculation on the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
During the first quarter of 2024, the Company changed the name of the brokerage product line formerly labeled as “Energy and Commodities” to “Energy, Commodities, and Shipping” to better reflect the integrated operations of these businesses. The change did not result in any classification of revenues and had no impact on the Company’s Total brokerage revenues. See Note 22—“Segment, Geographic and Product Information.”
The unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements contain all adjustments (consisting only of normal and recurring adjustments) that, in the opinion of management, are necessary for a fair presentation of the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition, the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations, the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss), the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows and the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity of the Company for the periods presented.
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
In October 2021, the FASB issued ASU No. 2021-08, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Accounting for Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities from Contracts with Customers. The standard improves the accounting for acquired revenue contracts with customers in a business combination by addressing diversity in practice and inconsistency related to the recognition of an acquired contract liability, as well as payment terms and their effect on subsequent revenue recognized by the acquirer. The ASU requires companies to apply guidance in ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, to recognize and measure contract assets and contract liabilities from contracts with customers acquired in a business combination, and, thus, creates an exception to the general recognition and measurement principle in ASC 805, Business Combinations. BGC adopted the standard on the required effective date beginning January 1, 2023 using a prospective transition method for business combinations occurring on or after the effective date. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
In March 2022, the FASB issued ASU No. 2022-02, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Troubled Debt Restructurings and Vintage Disclosures. The guidance is intended to improve the decision usefulness of information provided to investors about certain loan refinancings, restructurings, and write-offs. The standard eliminates the recognition and measurement guidance on TDRs for creditors that have adopted ASC 326, Financial Instruments — Credit Losses and requires them to make enhanced disclosures about loan modifications for borrowers experiencing financial difficulty. The new guidance also requires public business entities to present current-period gross write-offs (on a current year-to-date basis for interim-period disclosures) by year of origination in their vintage disclosures. BGC adopted the standard on the required effective date beginning January 1, 2023. The guidance for recognition and measurement of TDRs was applied using a prospective transition method, and the amendments related to disclosures will be applied prospectively. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
In September 2022, the FASB issued ASU No. 2022-04, Liabilities—Supplier Finance Programs (Subtopic 405-50): Debt Restructurings Disclosure of Supplier Finance Program Obligations. The guidance requires entities to disclose the key terms of supplier finance programs they use in connection with the purchase of goods and services along with information about their obligations under these programs, including a rollforward of those obligations. BGC adopted the standard on the required effective date beginning on January 1, 2023, except for the rollforward requirement, which became effective for the Company beginning on January 1, 2024. The guidance was adopted using a retrospective application to all periods in which a balance sheet is presented, and the rollforward disclosure requirement, will be applied prospectively. The adoption of the guidance that was effective beginning January 1, 2023 did not have a material impact on the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. The rollforward disclosure requirement did not have a material impact on the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
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New Accounting Pronouncements
In December 2022, the FASB issued ASU No. 2022-06, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Deferral of the Sunset Date of Topic 848. ASU No. 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting provided optional guidance to ease the potential burden in accounting for (or recognizing the effects of) reference rate reform on financial reporting. The ASU was effective upon issuance and generally could be applied through December 31, 2022. Because the current relief in ASC 848, Reference Rate Reform may not cover a period of time during which a significant number of modifications may take place, the amendments in ASU No. 2022-06 defer the sunset date from December 31, 2022 to December 31, 2024, after which entities will no longer be permitted to apply the relief in ASC 848. The ASU is effective upon issuance. Management is currently evaluating the impact of the new standard on the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
In October 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-06, Disclosure Improvements—Codification Amendments in Response to the SEC’s Disclosure Update and Simplification Initiative. The standard is expected to clarify or improve disclosure and presentation requirements of a variety of ASC topics, allow users to more easily compare entities subject to the SEC’s existing disclosure requirements with those entities that were not previously subject to the requirements, and align the requirements in the Codification with the SEC’s regulations. The effective date for the guidance will be the date on which the SEC’s removal of the related disclosure from Regulation S-X or Regulation S-K becomes effective. If by June 30, 2027 the SEC has not removed the applicable requirements from Regulation S-X or Regulation S-K, the pending content of the related amendment will be removed from the Codification and will not become effective for any entity. Management is currently evaluating the impact of the new standard on the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures. The guidance was issued in response to requests from investors for companies to disclose more information about their financial performance at the segment level. The ASU does not change how a public entity identifies its operating segments, aggregates them or applies the quantitative thresholds to determine its reportable segments. The standard will require a public entity to disclose significant segment expenses and other segment items on an annual and interim basis, and to provide in interim periods all disclosures about a reportable segment’s profit or loss and assets that are currently required annually. Public entities with a single reportable segment will be required to provide the new disclosures and all the disclosures currently required under ASC 280. The new guidance will become effective for the Company’s financial statements issued for annual reporting periods beginning on January 1, 2024 and for the interim periods beginning on January 1, 2025, will require retrospective presentation, and early adoption is permitted. Management is currently evaluating the impact of the new standard on the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures. The standard improves the transparency of income tax disclosures by requiring consistent categories and greater disaggregation of information in the rate reconciliation and income taxes paid disaggregated by jurisdiction. The ASU also includes certain other amendments to improve the effectiveness of income tax disclosures. The new guidance will become effective for the Company’s financial statements issued for annual reporting periods beginning on January 1, 2025, will require prospective presentation with an option for entities to apply it retrospectively for each period presented, and early adoption is permitted. Management is currently evaluating the impact of the new standard on the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
In March 2024, the FASB issued ASU No. 2024-01, Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope Application of Profits Interest and Similar Awards. The standard is intended to reduce the complexity in determining whether profits interests and similar awards are in the scope of ASC 718 and to reduce diversity in practice. The new guidance applies to all reporting entities that grant profits interest awards or similar awards to employees or nonemployees in exchange for goods or services. The ASU adds an example to ASC 718 that illustrates how to apply the scope guidance to determine whether a profits interest award should be accounted for as a share-based payment arrangement under ASC 718 or another accounting standard. The new guidance will become effective for the Company beginning on January 1, 2025, can be applied either retrospectively to all periods presented or prospectively to profits interest awards granted or modified on or after the adoption date, and early adoption is permitted. Management is currently evaluating the impact of the new standard on the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
In March 2024, the FASB issued ASU No. 2024-02, Codification Improvements—Amendments to Remove References to the Concepts Statements. The Conceptual Framework establishes concepts that the Board considers in developing standards. The ASU was issued to remove references to the Conceptual Framework in the Codification. The FASB noted that references to the Concepts Statements in the Codification could have implied that the Concepts Statements are authoritative. Also, some of the references removed were to Concepts Statements that are superseded. The new guidance will become effective for the Company beginning on January 1, 2025, can be applied either retrospectively to all periods presented or prospectively to all new transactions recognized on or after the adoption date, and early adoption is permitted. Management is currently evaluating the impact of the new standard on the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
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SEC Rule on Climate-Related Disclosures
The SEC recently adopted the final rules, The Enhancement and Standardization of Climate-Related Disclosures for Investors that will require registrants to provide climate-related disclosures in a note to the audited financial statements. The disclosures will include certain effects of severe weather events and other natural conditions, including the aggregate amounts and where in the financial statements they are presented. If carbon offsets or renewable energy credits or certificates (RECs) are deemed a material component of the registrant’s plans to achieve its disclosed climate-related targets, registrants will be required to disclose information about the offsets and RECs. Registrants will also be required to disclose whether and how (1) exposures to risks and uncertainties associated with, or known impacts from, severe weather events and other natural conditions and (2) any disclosed climate-related targets or transition plans materially impacted the estimates and assumptions used in preparing the financial statements. Finally, registrants will be required to disclose additional contextual information about the above disclosures, including how each financial statement effect was derived and the accounting policy decisions made to calculate the effects, for the most recently completed fiscal year and, if previously disclosed or required to be disclosed, for the historical fiscal year for which audited consolidated financial statements are included in the filing. Subsequent to the issuance, the SEC has released an order staying the final rules pending judicial review of all of the petitions challenging the rules. Absent the stay, the rules would have been effective for the Company on May 28, 2024 and phased in starting in 2025. Management is currently monitoring the developments pertaining to the final rules and any resulting potential impacts on the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
2. Limited Partnership Interests in BGC Holdings and Newmark Holdings
Prior to the Corporate Conversion, BGC Partners was a holding company with no direct operations which conducted substantially all of its operations through its operating subsidiaries. Virtually all of BGC Partners’ consolidated assets and net income were those of consolidated variable interest entities. BGC Holdings was a consolidated subsidiary of BGC Partners for which BGC Partners was the general partner. BGC Partners and BGC Holdings jointly owned BGC U.S. OpCo and BGC Global OpCo, the two operating partnerships of the Company. In addition, Newmark Holdings is a consolidated subsidiary of Newmark for which Newmark is the general partner. Newmark and Newmark Holdings jointly own Newmark OpCo, the operating partnership. Listed below are the limited partnership interests in BGC Holdings, prior to the Corporate Conversion, and Newmark Holdings. The FPUs, LPUs and limited partnership interests held by Cantor, each as described below, collectively represent all of the limited partnership interests in BGC Holdings, prior to the Corporate Conversion, and Newmark Holdings. The Corporate Conversion had no impact on Newmark and its organizational structure, nor any limited partnership interests, described below, held by BGC employees in Newmark Holdings.
As a result of the Separation, limited partnership interests in Newmark Holdings were distributed to the holders of limited partnership interests in BGC Holdings, whereby each holder of BGC Holdings limited partnership interests at that time who held a BGC Holdings limited partnership interest received a corresponding Newmark Holdings limited partnership interest, determined by the Contribution Ratio, which was equal to a BGC Holdings limited partnership interest multiplied by one divided by 2.2, divided by the Exchange Ratio. Initially, the Exchange Ratio equaled one, so that each Newmark Holdings limited partnership interest was exchangeable for one share of Newmark Class A common stock. For reinvestment, acquisition or other purposes, Newmark may determine on a quarterly basis to distribute to its stockholders a smaller percentage than Newmark Holdings distributes to its equity holders (excluding tax distributions from Newmark Holdings) of cash that it received from Newmark OpCo. In such circumstances, the Separation and Distribution Agreement provides that the Exchange Ratio will be reduced to reflect the amount of additional cash retained by Newmark as a result of the distribution of such smaller percentage, after the payment of taxes. The Exchange Ratio as of March 31, 2024 equaled 0.9255.
Founding/Working Partner Units
Founding/Working Partners had FPUs in BGC Holdings and have FPUs in Newmark Holdings. As of June 30, 2023, in connection with the Corporate Conversion, all FPUs in BGC Holdings were redeemed or exchanged. The Corporate Conversion had no impact on FPUs held by partners of Newmark Holdings. Prior to the Corporate Conversion, BGC Partners accounted for FPUs outside of permanent capital, as “Redeemable partnership interest,” in the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition. This classification was applicable to Founding/Working Partner units because these units were redeemable upon termination of a partner, including a termination of employment, which could be at the option of the partner and not within the control of the issuer. The BGC RSUs issued for the redemption of non-exchangeable FPUs in BGC Holdings, in connection with the Corporate Conversion, are now accounted for as a part of permanent capital.
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FPUs were held by limited partners who were employees and generally received quarterly allocations of net income. Upon termination of employment or otherwise ceasing to provide substantive services, the FPUs were generally redeemed, and the unit holders were no longer entitled to participate in the quarterly allocations of net income. Since these allocations of net income were cash distributed on a quarterly basis and were contingent upon services being provided by the unit holder, they were reflected as a component of compensation expense under “Equity-based compensation and allocations of net income to limited partnership units and FPUs” in the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Limited Partnership Units
Certain BGC employees held LPUs in BGC Holdings and hold LPUs in Newmark Holdings (e.g., REUs, RPUs, PSUs, and PSIs). Prior to the Separation, certain employees of both BGC and Newmark received LPUs in BGC Holdings. As a result of the Separation, these employees were distributed LPUs in Newmark Holdings equal to a BGC Holdings LPU multiplied by the Contribution Ratio. Subsequent to the Separation, BGC employees were only granted LPUs in BGC Holdings, and Newmark employees are only granted LPUs in Newmark Holdings. In connection with, or as a result of, the Corporate Conversion, certain LPUs in BGC Holdings were redeemed/converted into BGC restricted stock awards or RSUs, and upon completion of the Corporate Conversion, there were no LPUs of BGC Holdings remaining. The Corporate Conversion had no impact on the LPUs in Newmark Holdings held by BGC employees.
Generally, LPUs received quarterly allocations of net income, which were cash distributed and generally were contingent upon services being provided by the unit holder. As prescribed in U.S. GAAP guidance, following the Spin-Off, the quarterly allocations of net income on BGC Holdings LPUs held by BGC employees were reflected as a component of compensation expense under “Equity-based compensation and allocations of net income to limited partnership units and FPUs” in the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations prior to the Corporate Conversion, and quarterly allocations of net income on Newmark Holdings LPUs held by BGC employees, which were not impacted by the Corporate Conversion, are reflected as a component of compensation expense under “Equity-based compensation and allocations of net income to limited partnership units and FPUs” in the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. Quarterly allocations of net income on BGC Holdings LPUs held by Newmark employees were reflected as a component of “Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries” in the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations, prior to the Corporate Conversion. From time to time, the Company also issued BGC LPUs as part of the consideration for acquisitions.
Certain of these LPUs in BGC Holdings and Newmark Holdings, such as REUs, entitle the holders to receive post-termination payments equal to the notional amount of the units in four equal yearly installments after the holder’s termination. There were none of these LPUs in BGC Holdings remaining after the Corporate Conversion was completed while these LPUs in Newmark Holdings held by BGC employees were not impacted by the Corporate Conversion. These LPUs held by BGC employees are accounted for as post-termination liability awards, and in accordance with U.S. GAAP guidance, the Company records compensation expense for the awards based on the change in value at each reporting date in the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations as part of “Equity-based compensation and allocations of net income to limited partnership units and FPUs.”
Certain BGC employees held Preferred Units in BGC Holdings and hold Preferred Units in Newmark Holdings. In connection with, or as a result of, the Corporate Conversion, certain Preferred Units in BGC Holdings were redeemed/converted into BGC restricted stock awards or RSU Tax Accounts, and upon completion of the Corporate Conversion, there were no Preferred Units of BGC Holdings remaining. The Corporate Conversion had no impact on Preferred Units in Newmark Holdings held by BGC employees. The following description of LPUs and Preferred Units in BGC Holdings is only applicable for the period prior to the Corporate Conversion, and for LPUs and Preferred Units held by BGC employees in Newmark Holdings is applicable to before and after the Corporate Conversion. Each quarter, the net profits of BGC Holdings and Newmark Holdings are allocated to such units at a rate of either 0.6875% (which is 2.75% per calendar year) or such other amount as set forth in the award documentation. These allocations are deducted before the calculation and distribution of the quarterly partnership distribution for the remaining partnership interests and are generally contingent upon services being provided by the unit holder. The Preferred Units are not entitled to participate in partnership distributions other than with respect to the Preferred Distribution. Preferred Units may not be made exchangeable into Class A common stock, and are only entitled to the Preferred Distribution; accordingly, they are not included in the fully diluted share count. The quarterly allocations of net income on Preferred Units are reflected the same as those of the LPUs described above in the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. After deduction of the Preferred Distribution, the remaining partnership units generally received quarterly allocations of net income based on their weighted-average pro rata share of economic ownership of the operating subsidiaries. Preferred Units are granted in connection with the grant of certain LPUs, such as PSUs, which may be granted exchangeability or redeemed in connection with the issuance of shares of common stock to cover the withholding taxes owed by the unit holder, rather than issuing the gross amount of shares to employees, subject to cashless withholding of shares to pay applicable withholding taxes.
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Cantor Units
Prior to the Corporate Conversion, Cantor held limited partnership interests in BGC Holdings. Cantor units were reflected as a component of “Noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries” in the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition. Cantor received allocations of net income (loss), which were cash distributed on a quarterly basis and were reflected as a component of “Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries” in the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. As a result of the Corporate Conversion, 64.0 million Cantor units were converted into shares of BGC Group Class B common stock, subject to the terms and conditions of the Corporate Conversion Agreement, provided that a portion of the 64.0 million shares of BGC Group Class B common stock issued to Cantor will exchange into BGC Group Class A common stock in the event that BGC Group does not issue at least $75,000,000 in shares of BGC Group Class A or B common stock in connection with certain acquisition transactions prior to the seventh anniversary of the Corporate Conversion.
General
Certain of the limited partnership interests, described above, were granted exchangeability into shares of BGC Class A common stock, prior to the Corporate Conversion, or shares of Newmark Class A common stock, and additional limited partnership interests could become exchangeable into shares of Newmark Class A common stock. In addition, prior to the Corporate Conversion, certain limited partnership interests were granted the right to exchange into or were exchanged into a partnership unit with a capital account, such as HDUs. HDUs had a stated capital account which was initially based on the closing trading price of Class A common stock at the time the HDU was granted. HDUs participated in quarterly partnership distributions and were generally not exchangeable into shares of Class A common stock.
Subsequent to the Spin-Off and prior to the Corporate Conversion, limited partnership interests in BGC Holdings held by a partner or Cantor could become exchangeable for BGC Class A or BGC Class B common stock on a one-for-one basis. In addition, subsequent to the Spin-Off, limited partnership interests in Newmark Holdings held by a partner or Cantor may become exchangeable for a number of shares of Newmark Class A or Newmark Class B common stock equal to the number of limited partnership interests multiplied by the then-current Exchange Ratio. Because limited partnership interests were included in the Company’s fully diluted share count, if dilutive, prior to the Corporate Conversion, any previous exchanges of limited partnership interests into shares of BGC Class A or BGC Class B common stock did not impact the fully diluted number of shares and units outstanding. Because these limited partnership interests generally received quarterly allocations of net income, such exchanges had no significant impact on the cash flows or equity of BGC Partners, prior to the Corporate Conversion.
Prior to the Corporate Conversion, each quarter, net income (loss) was allocated between the limited partnership interests and BGC Partners’ common stockholders. In quarterly periods in which BGC Partners had a net loss, the loss allocation for FPUs, LPUs and Cantor units in BGC Holdings was allocated to Cantor and reflected as a component of “Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries” in the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. In subsequent quarters in which BGC Partners had net income, the initial allocation of income to the limited partnership interests in BGC Holdings was to Cantor and was recorded as “Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries,” to recover any losses taken in earlier quarters, with the remaining income allocated to the limited partnership interests. This income (loss) allocation process had no impact on the net income (loss) allocated to common stockholders.
3. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
For a detailed discussion about the Company’s significant accounting policies, see Note 3—“Summary of Significant Accounting Policies,” in its consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. During the three months ended March 31, 2024, there were no significant changes made to the Company’s significant accounting policies.
4. Acquisitions
There were no acquisitions completed by the Company during the three months ended March 31, 2024.
Trident
On February 28, 2023 the Company completed the acquisition of Trident, primarily operating as a commodity brokerage and research company, offering OTC and exchange traded energy and environmental products.
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ContiCap
On November 1, 2023 the Company completed the acquisition of ContiCap, an independent financial product intermediary specializing in emerging markets.
Open Energy Group
On November 1, 2023 the Company completed the acquisition of Open Energy Group, a technology-driven marketplace and brokerage for renewable energy asset sales and project finance.
Total Consideration
The total consideration for all acquisitions during the year ended December 31, 2023 was approximately $71.0 million, subject to post-closing adjustments, which includes cash, restricted shares of BGC Class A common stock, and an earn-out payable in cash and restricted shares of BGC Class A common stock. The excess of the consideration over the fair value of the net assets acquired has been recorded as goodwill totaling $18.4 million.
Except where otherwise noted, the results of operations of the Company’s acquisitions have been included in the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements subsequent to the date of acquisition. The Company has made a preliminary allocation of the consideration to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed for ContiCap and Open Energy Group as of the acquisition dates, and expects to finalize its analysis with respect to the acquisitions within the first year after the completion of the transactions. Therefore, adjustments to the preliminary allocation may occur.
5. Divestitures
The Company had no divestitures or sale of investments during both the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023.
6. Earnings Per Share
Basic Earnings Per Share:
The following is the calculation of the Company’s basic EPS (in thousands, except per share data):
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||
| Basic earnings (loss) per share: | |||||||||||
| Net income (loss) available to common stockholders | $ | 49,210 | $ | 18,978 | |||||||
Less: Dividends declared and allocation of undistributed earnings to participating securities | (2,832) | — | |||||||||
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders | $ | 46,378 | $ | 18,978 | |||||||
| Basic weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding | 470,517 | 375,220 | |||||||||
| Basic earnings (loss) per share | $ | 0.10 | $ | 0.05 | |||||||
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Fully Diluted Earnings Per Share:
The following is the calculation of the Company’s fully diluted EPS (in thousands, except per share data):
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||
Fully diluted earnings (loss) per share: | |||||||||||
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders | $ | 46,378 | $ | 18,978 | |||||||
Add back: Allocations of net income (loss) to limited partnership interests, net of tax | — | 5,177 | |||||||||
Add back: Allocations of undistributed earnings to participating securities | 2,627 | — | |||||||||
Less: Reallocation of undistributed earnings to participating securities | (2,588) | — | |||||||||
| Net income (loss) for fully diluted shares | $ | 46,417 | $ | 24,155 | |||||||
| Weighted-average shares: | |||||||||||
| Common stock outstanding | 470,517 | 375,220 | |||||||||
| Partnership units¹ | — | 120,451 | |||||||||
Non-participating RSUs | — | 4,008 | |||||||||
Other2 | 7,456 | 1,388 | |||||||||
Fully diluted weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding | 477,973 | 501,067 | |||||||||
Fully diluted earnings (loss) per share | $ | 0.10 | $ | 0.05 | |||||||
____________________________
1Partnership units collectively include FPUs, LPUs, and Cantor units (see Note 2—“Limited Partnership Interests in BGC Holdings and Newmark Holdings” for more information).
2Primarily consists of other contracts to issue shares of BGC common stock.
For the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, 17.0 million and an immaterial amount, respectively, of potentially dilutive securities were excluded from the computation of fully diluted EPS because their effect would have been anti-dilutive. Anti-dilutive securities for the three months ended March 31, 2024 included 14.4 million participating RSUs and 2.6 million participating restricted stock awards.
As of March 31, 2024, approximately 60.2 million shares of contingent shares of BGC Class A common stock, non-participating RSUs and non-participating restricted stock awards were excluded from the fully diluted EPS computations because the conditions for issuance had not been met by the end of the period. As of March 31, 2023, approximately 45.7 million of contingent shares of BGC Class A common stock, N units, RSUs, and LPUs were excluded from the fully diluted EPS computations because the conditions for issuance had not been met by the end of the period.
Contingent shares excluded from the calculation of EPS included: shares promised in connection with acquisition earnout consideration whereby the acquired entity or entities are required to achieve a stated performance target defined in their respective acquisition agreements; other contingent share obligations which include agreements with terminated employees to deliver shares BGC Class A common stock over a set period of time post-termination in accordance with their respective partnership separation agreements; and non-participating RSUs and non-participating restricted stock awards which contain service conditions and/or performance conditions which have not been met during the period. When the service condition and/or performance condition has been met in the period, the securities are included in diluted EPS on the first day of the quarter in which the contingency was met.
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7. Stock Transactions and Unit Redemptions
Class A Common Stock
Changes in shares of BGC Class A common stock outstanding were as follows (in thousands):
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||
| Shares outstanding at beginning of period | 390,095 | 325,858 | |||||||||
| Share issuances: | |||||||||||
Redemptions/exchanges of limited partnership interests and contingent share obligations¹ | 364 | 13,145 | |||||||||
| Vesting of RSUs | 3,710 | 2,096 | |||||||||
| Acquisitions | 472 | 658 | |||||||||
| Other issuances of BGC Class A common stock | 2,379 | 13 | |||||||||
| Restricted stock forfeitures | (636) | (49) | |||||||||
| Treasury stock repurchases | (11,250) | (846) | |||||||||
Shares outstanding at end of period2 | 385,134 | 340,875 | |||||||||
____________________________
1Contingent share obligations include shares of BGC Class A common stock issued to terminated employees per their respective separation agreements. Included in redemptions/exchanges of limited partnership interests and contingent share obligations for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 are 0.4 million shares of BGC Class A common stock granted in connection with 0.4 million contingent share obligations, and 6.9 million shares of BGC Class A common stock granted in connection with the cancellation of 7.3 million LPUs, respectively. Because LPUs are included in the Company’s fully diluted share count, if dilutive, redemptions/exchanges in connection with the issuance of BGC Class A common stock would not impact the fully diluted number of shares outstanding.
2Shares outstanding at end of the period, March 31, 2024, includes 20.4 million shares of certain restricted stock awards that do not receive dividends until their respective vesting and contingent conditions are met. These restricted stock awards do have voting rights.
Class B Common Stock
The Company did not issue any shares of BGC Class B common stock during the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023. There were 109.5 million shares of BGC Class B common stock outstanding as of both March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023. As of March 31, 2023 there were 45.9 million shares of BGC Class B common stock outstanding.
CEO Program
On March 8, 2021, the Company filed a new CEO Program Shelf Registration Statement on Form S-3 with respect to the issuance and sale of up to an aggregate of $300.0 million of shares of BGC Class A common stock from time to time on a delayed or continuous basis. On July 8, 2022, the Company filed an amendment to the March 2021 Form S-3 Registration Statement. On August 3, 2022, the March 2021 Form S-3 Registration Statement was declared effective by the SEC, and the Company entered into the August 2022 Sales Agreement on August 12, 2022. The Company did not sell any shares under the August 2022 Sales Agreement. On July 3, 2023, in connection with the Corporate Conversion, BGC Group filed a post-effective amendment to the March 2021 Form S-3 Registration Statement, pursuant to which it adopted the March 2021 Form S-3 Registration Statement as its own registration statement. Also on July 3, 2023, BGC Group assumed the August 2022 Sales Agreement, as amended and restated to replace references to BGC Partners with references to BGC Group and to make other ministerial changes. BGC Group may sell up to an aggregate of $300.0 million of shares of BGC Class A common stock pursuant to the terms of the July 2023 Sales Agreement. Under the July 2023 Sales Agreement, the Company agreed to pay CF&Co 2% of the gross proceeds from the sale of shares. As of March 31, 2024, the Company had not sold any shares of BGC Class A common stock or paid any commission to CF&Co under the July 2023 Sales Agreement. For additional information on the Company’s CEO Program sales agreements, see Note 13—“Related Party Transactions.”
Unit Redemptions and Share Repurchase Program
The Company’s Board and Audit Committee have authorized repurchases of BGC Class A common stock and redemptions of limited partnership interests or other equity interests in the Company’s subsidiaries. On November 4, 2022, the Board and Audit Committee increased the BGC Partners share repurchase and unit redemption authorization to $400.0 million,
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which could have included purchases from Cantor, its partners or employees or other affiliated persons or entities. On July 1, 2023, the BGC Group Board and Audit Committee approved BGC Group’s share repurchase authorization in an amount up to $400.0 million, which may include purchases from Cantor, its partners or employees or other affiliated persons or entities. As of March 31, 2024, the Company had $264.6 million remaining from its share repurchase authorization. From time to time, the Company may actively continue to repurchase shares.
The tables below represent the units redeemed and/or the shares repurchased for cash or withheld to satisfy tax liabilities due upon the vesting of restricted stock and do not include units redeemed/cancelled in connection with the grant of shares of BGC Class A common stock nor the limited partnership interests exchanged for shares of BGC Class A common stock. The share repurchases of BGC Class A common stock during the three months ended March 31, 2024 were as follows (in thousands, except for weighted-average price data):
| Period | Total Number of Shares Repurchased | Weighted-Average Price Paid per Share | Approximate Dollar Value of Shares That Could Be Repurchased Under the Program at March 31, 2024 | |||||||||||||||||
Repurchases1,2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| January 1, 2024—January 31, 2024 | 3,609 | $ | 6.95 | |||||||||||||||||
| February 1, 2024—February 29, 2024 | 6,586 | 7.02 | ||||||||||||||||||
| March 1, 2024—March 31, 2024 | 1,055 | 8.23 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total Repurchases | 11,250 | $ | 7.11 | $ | 264,565 | |||||||||||||||
___________________________
1During the three months ended March 31, 2024, the Company repurchased 11.2 million shares of BGC Class A common stock at an aggregate price of $80.0 million for a weighted-average price of $7.11 per share. These repurchases includes 1.4 million restricted shares vested but withheld described in the following footnote.
2Includes an aggregate of 1.4 million shares withheld to satisfy tax liabilities due upon the vesting of restricted stock. The average price paid per share for such share withholdings is based on the closing price per share on the vesting date of the restricted stock or, if such date is not a trading day, the trading day immediately prior to such vesting date. The fair value of restricted shares vested, withheld to satisfy tax liabilities was $11.4 million at a weighted-average price of $7.99 per share.
The gross unit redemptions and share repurchases of BGC Class A common stock during the three months ended March 31, 2023 were as follows (in thousands, except for weighted-average price data):
| Period | Total Number of Units Redeemed or Shares Repurchased | Weighted-Average Price Paid per Unit or Share | Approximate Dollar Value of Shares That Could Be Redeemed/ Purchased Under the Program at March 31, 2023 | |||||||||||||||||
Redemptions1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| January 1, 2023—March 31, 2023 | 23 | $ | 3.90 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total Redemptions | 23 | $ | 3.90 | |||||||||||||||||
Repurchases2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| January 1, 2023—January 31, 2023 | — | $ | — | |||||||||||||||||
| February 1, 2023—February 28, 2023 | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
| March 1, 2023—March 31, 2023 | 846 | 4.97 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total Repurchases | 846 | $ | 4.97 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total Redemptions and Repurchases | 869 | $ | 4.95 | $ | 372,115 | |||||||||||||||
____________________________
1The Company redeemed an immaterial amount of LPUs during the three months ended March 31, 2023. During the three months ended March 31, 2023, the Company redeemed 23 thousand FPUs at an aggregate redemption price of $0.1 million for a weighted-average price of $3.90 per unit. The table above does not include units redeemed/cancelled in connection with the grant of 6.9 million shares of BGC Class A common stock during the three months ended March 31, 2023, nor the limited partnership interests exchanged for 6.3 million shares of BGC Class A common stock during the three months ended March 31, 2023.
2During the three months ended March 31, 2023, the Company repurchased 0.8 million shares of BGC Class A common stock at an aggregate price of $4.2 million for a weighted average price of $4.97 per share.
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Redeemable Partnership Interest
The changes in the carrying amount of FPUs were as follows (in thousands):
| Three Months Ended March 31, 2023 | |||||
| Balance at beginning of period | $ | 15,519 | |||
| Consolidated net income allocated to FPUs | 236 | ||||
| FPUs exchanged | (309) | ||||
| FPUs redeemed | (23) | ||||
| Balance at end of period | $ | 15,423 | |||
As a result of the Corporate Conversion, there were no redeemable partnership interests outstanding as of March 31, 2024.
8. Financial Instruments Owned, at Fair Value
Financial instruments owned, at fair value primarily consist of unencumbered U.S. Treasury bills held for liquidity purposes. Total Financial instruments owned, at fair value were $48.9 million and $45.8 million as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. For additional information, see Note 12—“Fair Value of Financial Assets and Liabilities.”
These instruments are measured at fair value, with any changes in fair value recognized in earnings in the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. The Company recognized unrealized net gains of nil for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, related to the mark-to-market adjustments on such instruments.
9. Collateralized Transactions
Repurchase Agreements
Securities sold under Repurchase Agreements are accounted for as collateralized financing transactions and are recorded at the contractual amount for which the securities will be repurchased, including accrued interest. As of both March 31, 2024, and December 31, 2023, the Company had no Repurchase Agreements.
Reverse Repurchase Agreements
Securities purchased under Reverse Repurchase Agreements are accounted for as collateralized financing transactions and are recorded at the contractual amount for which the securities will be resold, including accrued interest.
For Reverse Repurchase Agreements, it is the Company’s policy to obtain possession of collateral with a market value equal to or in excess of the principal amount loaned under Reverse Repurchase Agreements. Collateral is valued daily and the Company may require counterparties to deposit additional collateral or return collateral pledged when appropriate.
As of both March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company had no Reverse Repurchase Agreements.
10. Receivables from and Payables to Broker-Dealers, Clearing Organizations, Customers and Related Broker-Dealers
Receivables from and payables to broker-dealers, clearing organizations, customers and related broker-dealers primarily represent amounts due for undelivered securities, cash held at clearing organizations and exchanges to facilitate settlement and clearance of matched principal transactions, spreads on matched principal transactions that have not yet been remitted from/to clearing organizations and exchanges and amounts related to open derivative contracts (see Note 11—“Derivatives”). As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, Receivables from and payables to broker-dealers, clearing organizations, customers and related broker-dealers consisted of the following (in thousands):
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| March 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||
Receivables from broker-dealers, clearing organizations, customers and related broker-dealers1: | |||||||||||
| Contract values of fails to deliver | $ | 1,343,289 | $ | 182,094 | |||||||
| Receivables from clearing organizations | 136,769 | 135,789 | |||||||||
| Other receivables from broker-dealers and customers | 27,421 | 28,546 | |||||||||
| Net pending trades | 5,289 | — | |||||||||
| Open derivative contracts | 4,989 | 3,607 | |||||||||
| Total | $ | 1,517,757 | $ | 350,036 | |||||||
Payables to broker-dealers, clearing organizations, customers and related broker-dealers1: | |||||||||||
| Contract values of fails to receive | $ | 1,220,390 | $ | 172,231 | |||||||
| Payables to clearing organizations | 100,007 | 10,846 | |||||||||
| Other payables to broker-dealers and customers | 15,613 | 13,357 | |||||||||
| Net pending trades | — | 76 | |||||||||
| Open derivative contracts | 3,085 | 5,756 | |||||||||
| Total | $ | 1,339,095 | $ | 202,266 | |||||||
1Includes receivables and payables with Cantor. See Note 13—“Related Party Transactions” for additional information.
Substantially all open fails to deliver, open fails to receive and pending trade transactions as of March 31, 2024 have subsequently settled at the contracted amounts.
11. Derivatives
In the normal course of operations, the Company enters into derivative contracts to facilitate client transactions, hedge principal positions and facilitate hedging activities of affiliated companies. These derivative contracts primarily consist of FX swaps, FX/commodities options, futures and forwards.
The fair value of derivative contracts, presented in accordance with the Company’s netting policy, is set forth below (in thousands):
| March 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Derivative contract | Assets | Liabilities | Notional Amounts1 | Assets | Liabilities | Notional Amounts1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FX swaps | $ | 4,067 | $ | 2,408 | $ | 946,438 | $ | 2,674 | $ | 5,119 | $ | 545,669 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Forwards | 831 | 616 | 201,420 | 805 | 609 | 310,880 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest rate swaps | 91 | — | 14,023,833 | 128 | — | 34,272,592 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Futures | — | 61 | 6,930,238 | — | 28 | 6,703,624 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 4,989 | $ | 3,085 | $ | 22,101,929 | $ | 3,607 | $ | 5,756 | $ | 41,832,765 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1Notional amounts represent the sum of gross long and short derivative contracts, an indication of the volume of the Company’s derivative activity, and do not represent anticipated losses.
Certain of the Company’s FX swaps are with Cantor. See Note 13—“Related Party Transactions,” for additional information related to these transactions.
The replacement costs of contracts in a gain position were $5.0 million and $3.6 million, as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.
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The following tables present information about the offsetting of derivative instruments (in thousands):
| March 31, 2024 | |||||||||||||||||
| Gross Amounts | Gross Amounts Offset | Net Amounts Presented in the Statements of Financial Condition1 | |||||||||||||||
| Assets | |||||||||||||||||
| FX swaps | $ | 4,663 | $ | (596) | $ | 4,067 | |||||||||||
| Forwards | 861 | (30) | 831 | ||||||||||||||
| Interest rate swaps | 9,359 | (9,268) | 91 | ||||||||||||||
| Futures | 69,555 | (69,555) | — | ||||||||||||||
| Total derivative assets | $ | 84,438 | $ | (79,449) | $ | 4,989 | |||||||||||
| Liabilities | |||||||||||||||||
| FX swaps | $ | 3,004 | $ | (596) | $ | 2,408 | |||||||||||
| Forwards | 646 | (30) | 616 | ||||||||||||||
| Futures | 69,616 | (69,555) | 61 | ||||||||||||||
| Interest rate swaps | 9,268 | $ | (9,268) | — | |||||||||||||
| Total derivative liabilities | $ | 82,534 | $ | (79,449) | $ | 3,085 | |||||||||||
| December 31, 2023 | |||||||||||||||||
| Gross Amounts | Gross Amounts Offset | Net Amounts Presented in the Statements of Financial Condition1 | |||||||||||||||
| Assets | |||||||||||||||||
| FX swaps | $ | 3,467 | $ | (793) | $ | 2,674 | |||||||||||
| Forwards | 855 | (50) | 805 | ||||||||||||||
| Interest rate swaps | 12,310 | (12,182) | 128 | ||||||||||||||
| Futures | 62,693 | (62,693) | — | ||||||||||||||
| Total derivative assets | $ | 79,325 | $ | (75,718) | $ | 3,607 | |||||||||||
| Liabilities | |||||||||||||||||
| FX swaps | $ | 5,912 | $ | (793) | $ | 5,119 | |||||||||||
| Forwards | 659 | (50) | 609 | ||||||||||||||
| Futures | 62,721 | (62,693) | 28 | ||||||||||||||
| Interest rate swaps | 12,182 | (12,182) | — | ||||||||||||||
| Total derivative liabilities | $ | 81,474 | $ | (75,718) | $ | 5,756 | |||||||||||
1There were no additional balances in gross amounts not offset as of either March 31, 2024 or December 31, 2023.
The change in fair value of derivative contracts is reported as part of “Principal transactions” in the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
The table below summarizes gains and (losses) on derivative contracts (in thousands):
| Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||
| Derivative contract | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||||
| Futures | $ | 3,806 | $ | 3,421 | ||||||||||
| Interest rate swaps | 2,096 | 28 | ||||||||||||
| FX swaps | 498 | 770 | ||||||||||||
| FX/commodities options | 47 | 41 | ||||||||||||
| Gains | $ | 6,447 | $ | 4,260 | ||||||||||
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12. Fair Value of Financial Assets and Liabilities
Fair Value Measurements on a Recurring Basis
The following tables set forth by level within the fair value hierarchy financial assets and liabilities accounted for at fair value under U.S. GAAP guidance (in thousands):
| Assets at Fair Value at March 31, 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Netting and Collateral | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Financial instruments owned, at fair value—Domestic government debt | $ | 31,388 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 31,388 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Financial instruments owned, at fair value—Foreign government debt | — | 16,343 | — | — | 16,343 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Financial instruments owned, at fair value—Equities | 780 | — | — | — | 780 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Financial instruments owned, at fair value—Corporate bonds | — | 394 | — | — | 394 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FX swaps | — | 4,663 | — | (596) | 4,067 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Forwards | — | 861 | — | (30) | 831 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest rate swaps | — | 9,359 | — | (9,268) | 91 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Futures | 69,555 | — | — | (69,555) | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 101,723 | $ | 31,620 | $ | — | $ | (79,449) | $ | 53,894 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Liabilities at Fair Value at March 31, 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Netting and Collateral | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FX swaps | $ | — | $ | 3,004 | $ | — | $ | (596) | $ | 2,408 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Forwards | — | 646 | — | (30) | 616 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Futures | 69,616 | — | — | (69,555) | 61 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest rate swaps | — | 9,268 | — | (9,268) | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Contingent consideration | — | — | 9,727 | — | 9,727 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 69,616 | $ | 12,918 | $ | 9,727 | $ | (79,449) | $ | 12,812 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Assets at Fair Value at December 31, 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Netting and Collateral | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Financial instruments owned, at fair value—Domestic government debt | $ | 31,141 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 31,141 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Financial instruments owned, at fair value—Foreign government debt | — | 14,164 | — | — | 14,164 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Financial instruments owned, at fair value—Equities | 487 | — | — | — | 487 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FX swaps | — | 3,467 | — | (793) | 2,674 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Forwards | — | 855 | — | (50) | 805 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest rate swaps | — | 12,310 | (12,182) | 128 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Futures | — | 62,693 | — | (62,693) | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 31,628 | $ | 93,489 | $ | — | $ | (75,718) | $ | 49,399 | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Liabilities at Fair Value at December 31, 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Netting and Collateral | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FX swaps | $ | — | $ | 5,912 | $ | — | $ | (793) | $ | 5,119 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Futures | — | 62,721 | — | (62,693) | 28 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Forwards | — | 659 | — | (50) | 609 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest rate swaps | — | 12,182 | — | (12,182) | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Contingent consideration | — | — | 11,929 | — | 11,929 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | — | $ | 81,474 | $ | 11,929 | $ | (75,718) | $ | 17,685 | |||||||||||||||||||
Level 3 Financial Liabilities
Changes in Level 3 liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis for the three months ended March 31, 2024 were as follows (in thousands):
| Unrealized (gains) losses for the period included in: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Opening Balance at January 1, 2024 | Total realized and unrealized (gains) losses included in Net income (loss)¹ | Unrealized (gains) losses included in Other comprehensive income (loss)² | Purchases/ Issuances3 | Sales/ Settlements | Closing Balance at March 31, 2024 | Net (income) loss on Level 3 Assets/Liabilities Outstanding at March 31, 2024 | Other comprehensive income (loss) on Level 3 Assets/Liabilities Outstanding at March 31, 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Liabilities | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Accounts payable, accrued and other liabilities: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Contingent consideration | $ | 11,929 | $ | (159) | $ | — | $ | — | $ | (2,043) | $ | 9,727 | $ | (159) | $ | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
____________________________
1Realized and unrealized gains (losses) are reported in “Other income (loss),” in the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
2Unrealized gains (losses) are reported in “Foreign currency translation adjustments,” in the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss).
Changes in Level 3 liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis for the three months ended March 31, 2023 were as follows (in thousands):
| Unrealized (gains) losses for the period included in: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Opening Balance at January 1, 2023 | Total realized and unrealized (gains) losses included in Net income (loss)¹ | Unrealized (gains) losses included in Other comprehensive income (loss)² | Purchases/ Issuances | Sales/ Settlements | Closing Balance at March 31, 2023 | Net (income) loss on Level 3 Assets/Liabilities Outstanding at March 31, 2023 | Other comprehensive income (loss) on Level 3 Assets/Liabilities Outstanding at March 31, 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Liabilities | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Accounts payable, accrued and other liabilities: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Contingent consideration | $ | 24,279 | $ | 674 | $ | — | $ | 4,675 | $ | (1,955) | $ | 27,673 | $ | 924 | $ | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
____________________________
1Realized and unrealized gains (losses) are reported in “Other income (loss),” in the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
2Unrealized gains (losses) are reported in “Foreign currency translation adjustments,” in the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss).
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Quantitative Information About Level 3 Fair Value Measurements on a Recurring Basis
The following tables present quantitative information about the significant unobservable inputs utilized by the Company in the fair value measurement of Level 3 liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis (dollar amounts in thousands):
| Fair Value as of March 31, 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assets | Liabilities | Valuation Technique | Unobservable Inputs | Range | Weighted Average | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Discount rate1 | 7.2%-9.2% | 8.5% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Contingent consideration | $ | — | $ | 9,727 | Present value of expected payments | Probability of meeting earnout and contingencies | 20%-100% | 87.1%2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
____________________________
1The discount rate is based on the Company’s calculated weighted-average cost of capital.
2The probability of meeting the earnout targets was based on the acquirees’ projected future financial performance, including revenues.
| Fair Value as of December 31, 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assets | Liabilities | Valuation Technique | Unobservable Inputs | Range | Weighted Average | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Discount rate1 | 7.2%-9.2% | 8.6% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Contingent consideration | $ | — | $ | 11,929 | Present value of expected payments | Probability of meeting earnout and contingencies | 20%-100% | 86.5%2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
____________________________
1The discount rate is based on the Company’s calculated weighted-average cost of capital.
2The probability of meeting the earnout targets was based on the acquirees’ projected future financial performance, including revenues.
Information About Uncertainty of Level 3 Fair Value Measurements
The significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value of the Company’s contingent consideration are the discount rate and forecasted financial information. Significant increases (decreases) in the discount rate would have resulted in a significantly lower (higher) fair value measurement. Significant increases (decreases) in the forecasted financial information would have resulted in a significantly higher (lower) fair value measurement. As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the present value of expected payments related to the Company’s contingent consideration was $9.7 million and $11.9 million, respectively. The undiscounted value of the payments, assuming that all contingencies are met, was $18.1 million and $18.6 million, as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.
Fair Value Measurements on a Non-Recurring Basis
Pursuant to the recognition and measurement guidance for equity investments, equity investments carried under the measurement alternative are remeasured at fair value on a non-recurring basis to reflect observable transactions which occurred during the period. The Company applied the measurement alternative to equity securities with the fair value of $126.1 million and $85.8 million, which were included in “Other assets” in the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. These investments are classified within Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy, because their estimated fair value is based on valuation methods using the observable transaction price at the transaction date.
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13. Related Party Transactions
In connection with the Corporate Conversion on July 1, 2023, the BGC Group Board and the Board of Directors of BGC Partners authorized the assumption of all agreements and arrangements between BGC Partners and any executive officer, director or affiliate of BGC Partners, with such modifications necessary to reflect the Corporate Conversion. Pursuant to the foregoing authorization, any existing agreements and arrangements between BGC Partners and any executive officer, director or affiliate of BGC Partners, were generally assumed unchanged, other than making BGC Group a party thereto.
Service Agreements
Throughout Europe and Asia, the Company provides Cantor with administrative services, technology services and other support for which it charges Cantor based on the cost of providing such services plus a mark-up, generally 7.5%. In the U.K., the Company provides these services to Cantor through Tower Bridge. The Company owns 52% of Tower Bridge and consolidates it, and Cantor owns 48%. Cantor’s interest in Tower Bridge is reflected as a component of “Noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries” in the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition, and the portion of Tower Bridge’s income attributable to Cantor is included as part of “Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries” in the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. In the U.S., the Company provides Cantor with technology services, for which it charges Cantor based on the cost of providing such services.
The administrative services agreement provides that direct costs incurred are charged back to the service recipient. Additionally, the service recipient generally indemnifies the service provider for liabilities that it incurs arising from the provision of services other than liabilities arising from fraud or willful misconduct of the service provider. In accordance with the administrative service agreement, the Company has not recognized any liabilities related to services provided to affiliates.
For the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, Cantor’s share of the net profit in Tower Bridge was $0.2 million and $0.1 million, respectively. This net profit or loss is included as part of “Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries” in the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
On September 21, 2018, the Company entered into agreements to provide a guarantee and related obligation to Tower Bridge in connection with an office lease for the Company’s headquarters in London. The Company is obligated to guarantee the obligations of Tower Bridge in the event of certain defaults under the applicable lease and ancillary arrangements. In July 2018, the Audit Committee also authorized management of the Company to enter into similar guarantees or provide other forms of credit support to Tower Bridge or other affiliates of the Company from time to time in similar circumstances and on similar terms and conditions.
For the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company recognized related party revenues of $4.4 million and $4.0 million, respectively, for the services provided to Cantor. These revenues are included as part of “Fees from related parties” in the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
In the U.S., Cantor and its affiliates provide the Company with administrative services and other support for which Cantor charges the Company based on the cost of providing such services. In connection with the services Cantor provides, the Company and Cantor entered into an administrative services agreement whereby certain employees of Cantor are deemed leased employees of the Company.
For the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company was charged $26.6 million and $23.9 million, respectively, for the services provided by Cantor and its affiliates, of which $19.4 million and $15.5 million, respectively, were to cover compensation to leased employees for these periods. The fees charged by Cantor for administrative and support services, other than those to cover the compensation costs of leased employees, are included as part of “Fees to related parties” in the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. The fees charged by Cantor to cover the compensation costs of leased employees are included as part of “Compensation and employee benefits” in the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
In connection with the Corporate Conversion on July 1, 2023, BGC Group, Cantor and certain affiliates of Cantor entered into an Amended and Restated U.S. Master Administrative Services Agreement and an Amended and Restated U.K. Master Administrative Services Agreement.
Clearing Agreement with Cantor
The Company receives certain clearing services from Cantor pursuant to its clearing agreement. These clearing services are provided in exchange for payment by the Company of third-party clearing costs and allocated costs. The costs associated with these payments are included as part of “Fees to related parties” in the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. The costs for these services are included as part of the charges to BGC for services provided by Cantor and its affiliates as discussed in “Service Agreements” above.
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Purchase of Futures Exchange Group
On July 30, 2021, the Company completed the purchase of the Futures Exchange Group for a purchase price of $4.9 million at closing, plus the cash held at closing by the Futures Exchange Group, and an earn-out, only payable out of the Company’s portion of the profits of the Futures Exchange Group, capped at the amount Cantor contributed to the Futures Exchange Group prior to closing. The transaction has been accounted for as a transaction between entities under common control.
As part of the purchase of the Futures Exchange Group, Cantor has agreed to indemnify the Company for certain expenses arising at the Futures Exchange Group up to a maximum of $1.0 million. As of both March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company had recorded assets of $1.0 million in the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition for this indemnity.
Newmark Spin-Off
The Separation and Distribution Agreement sets forth certain agreements among BGC, Cantor, Newmark and their respective subsidiaries relating to the Spin-Off. For additional information, see Note 2—“Limited Partnership Interests in BGC Holdings and Newmark Holdings” herein and Note 2—“Limited Partnership Interests in BGC Holdings and Newmark Holdings” and Note 13—“Related Party Transactions” to our Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Subsequent to the Spin-Off, there were remaining partners who held limited partnership interests in BGC Holdings who are Newmark employees, and there are remaining partners who hold limited partnership interests in Newmark Holdings who are BGC employees. These limited partnership interests represent interests that were held prior to the Newmark IPO or were distributed in connection with the Separation. Following the Newmark IPO, employees of BGC and Newmark only receive limited partnership interests in BGC Holdings and Newmark Holdings, respectively. As a result of the Spin-Off, as the previous limited partnership interests in BGC Holdings held by Newmark employees and the existing limited partnership interests in Newmark Holdings held by BGC employees were/are exchanged/redeemed, the related capital is contributed to and from Cantor, respectively.
Prior to the Corporate Conversion, all BGC Holdings units held by employees of Newmark were redeemed or exchanged, in each case, for shares of BGC Class A common stock.
Clearing Capital Agreement with Cantor
In November 2008, the Company entered into a clearing capital agreement with Cantor to clear U.S. Treasury and U.S. government agency securities transactions on the Company’s behalf. In June 2020, this clearing capital agreement was amended to cover Cantor providing clearing services in all eligible financial products to the Company and not just U.S. Treasury and U.S. government agency securities. Pursuant to the terms of this agreement, so long as Cantor is providing clearing services to BGC, Cantor shall be entitled to request from the Company cash or other collateral acceptable to Cantor in the amount reasonably requested by Cantor under the clearing capital agreement or Cantor will post cash or other collateral on BGC’s behalf for a commercially reasonable charge. During the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company was charged $1.0 million and $0.3 million, respectively, by Cantor for the cash or other collateral posted by Cantor on BGC’s behalf. Cantor had not requested any cash or other property from the Company as collateral as of March 31, 2024.
Other Agreements with Cantor
The Company is authorized to enter into short-term arrangements with Cantor to cover any delivery failures in connection with U.S. Treasury securities transactions. As of both March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, there were no Repurchase Agreements between the Company and Cantor.
As part of the Company’s cash management process, the Company may enter into Reverse Repurchase Agreements and other short-term investments with Cantor. As of both March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, there were no Reverse Repurchase Agreements between the Company and Cantor.
To more effectively manage the Company’s exposure to changes in FX rates, the Company and Cantor have agreed to jointly manage the exposure. As a result, the Company is authorized to divide the quarterly allocation of any profit or loss relating to FX currency hedging between the Company and Cantor. The amount allocated to each party is based on the total net exposure for the Company and Cantor. The ratio of gross exposures of the Company and Cantor is utilized to determine the shares of profit or loss allocated to each for the period. For the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company recognized its share of FX loss of $0.1 million and FX gain of $1.3 million, respectively. These gains are included as part of “Other expenses” in the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
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Pursuant to the separation agreement relating to the Company’s acquisition of certain BGC businesses from Cantor in 2008, Cantor has a right, subject to certain conditions, to be the Company’s customer and to pay the lowest commissions paid by any other customer, whether by volume, dollar or other applicable measure. In addition, Cantor has an unlimited right to internally use market data from the Company without any cost. Any future related-party transactions or arrangements between the Company and Cantor are subject to the prior approval by the Audit Committee. During both the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company recorded revenues from Cantor entities of $0.1 million related to commissions paid to the Company by Cantor. These revenues are included as part of “Commissions” in the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
The Company and Cantor are authorized to utilize each other’s brokers to provide brokerage services for securities not brokered by such entity, so long as, unless otherwise agreed, such brokerage services were provided in the ordinary course and on terms no less favorable to the receiving party than such services are provided to typical third-party customers.
In August 2013, the Audit Committee authorized the Company to invest up to $350.0 million in an asset-backed commercial paper program for which certain Cantor entities serve as placement agent and referral agent. The program issues short-term notes to money market investors and is expected to be used by the Company from time to time as a liquidity management vehicle. The notes are backed by assets of highly rated banks. The Company is entitled to invest in the program so long as the program meets investment policy guidelines, including policies related to ratings. Cantor will earn a spread between the rate it receives from the short-term note issuer and the rate it pays to the Company on any investments in this program. This spread will be no greater than the spread earned by Cantor for placement of any other commercial paper note in the program. As of both March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company did not have any investments in the program.
On June 5, 2015, BGC Partners entered into the Exchange Agreement with Cantor providing Cantor, CFGM and other Cantor affiliates entitled to hold BGC Partners Class B common stock the right to exchange BGC Partners Class A common stock into shares of BGC Partners Class B common stock from time to time, on a one-to-one basis, subject to adjustment, up to an aggregate of 34.6 million shares of BGC Class A common stock then owned or subsequently acquired by such Cantor entities for up to an aggregate of 34.6 million shares of BGC Class B common stock. The Exchange Agreement enabled the Cantor entities to acquire the same number of shares of BGC Class B common stock that they were entitled to acquire, prior to the Corporate Conversion, without having to exchange Cantor units in BGC Holdings.
In connection with the Corporate Conversion on July 1, 2023, the Exchange Agreement with Cantor terminated based on its own terms.
On July 1, 2023, as a result of the Corporate Conversion, the total outstanding 64.0 million Cantor units were converted into shares of BGC Class B common stock, subject to the terms and conditions of the Corporate Conversion Agreement, provided that a portion of the 64.0 million shares of BGC Class B common stock issued to Cantor will convert into BGC Class A common stock in the event that BGC Group does not issue at least $75.0 million in shares of BGC Class A or B common stock in connection with certain acquisition transactions prior to the seventh anniversary of the Corporate Conversion.
As of March 31, 2024, Cantor and CFGM did not own any shares of BGC Class A common stock. As of March 31, 2024, Cantor and CFGM owned 93.3 million and 3.0 million shares of BGC Class B common stock, respectively.
On March 19, 2018, BGC Partners entered into the BGC Credit Agreement with Cantor. The BGC Credit Agreement provides for each party and certain of its subsidiaries to issue loans to the other party or any of its subsidiaries in the lender’s discretion in an aggregate principal amount up to $250.0 million outstanding at any time. The BGC Credit Agreement replaced the previous Credit Facility between BGC Partners and an affiliate of Cantor. On August 6, 2018, BGC Partners entered into an amendment to the BGC Credit Agreement, which increased the aggregate principal amount that could be loaned to the other party or any of its subsidiaries from $250.0 million to $400.0 million that can be outstanding at any time. On October 6, 2023, BGC Group assumed all rights and obligations of BGC Partners under the BGC Credit Agreement. On March 8, 2024, the Company entered into a second amendment to the BGC Credit Agreement which further amends the BGC Credit Agreement, and decreases the interest rate on loans advanced by either party under the BGC Credit Agreement. Loans will now bear interest at a rate equal to 25 basis points less than the applicable borrower’s borrowing rate under such borrower’s revolving credit agreement with unaffiliated third parties as administrative agent and lenders as may be in effect from time to time. The BGC Credit Agreement automatically extends for successive one-year periods unless prior written notice of non-extension is given by a lending party to a borrowing party at least six months in advance of such renewal date, in which case the BGC Credit Agreement will terminate six months following receipt of such notice. As of March 11, 2024, borrowings under the Revolving Credit Agreement bore interest at a rate equal to approximately 7.17% per annum. As of March 11, 2024, the applicable interest rate for loans made to the Company under the BGC Credit Agreement would be approximately 6.92%. On March 12, 2024, the Company borrowed $275.0 million from Cantor under the BGC Credit Agreement and used the proceeds from such borrowing to repay the principal and interest related to all of the $240.0 million of borrowings outstanding under the Revolving Credit Agreement. As of March 31, 2024, there were $275.0 million of borrowings by the Company outstanding under the BGC Credit Agreement. As of December 31, 2023, there were no borrowings by BGC Partners or Cantor outstanding under this agreement.
44
As of March 31, 2024, the interest rate on this facility was 6.92%. The Company recorded interest expense related to the BGC Credit Agreement of $1.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024. The Company did not record any interest expense related to the BGC Credit Agreement for the three months ended March 31, 2023.
Receivables from and Payables to Related Broker-Dealers
Amounts due to or from Cantor and Freedom, one of the Company’s equity method investments, are for transactional revenues under a technology and services agreement with Freedom, as well as for open derivative contracts. These are included as part of “Receivables from broker-dealers, clearing organizations, customers and related broker-dealers” or “Payables to broker-dealers, clearing organizations, customers and related broker-dealers” in the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition. As of both March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company had receivables from Freedom of $1.4 million. As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company had $4.1 million and $2.7 million, respectively, in receivables from Cantor related to open derivative contracts. As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company had $2.2 million and $4.9 million, respectively, in payables to Cantor related to open derivative contracts. As of March 31, 2024, the Company had $0.9 million in payable to Cantor related to fails and pending trades. As of December 31, 2023, the Company had $0.8 million in receivables from Cantor related to fails and pending trades.
Loans, Forgivable Loans and Other Receivables from Employees and Partners, Net
The Company has entered into various agreements with certain BGC employees and, prior to the Corporate Conversion, partners whereby these individuals receive loans which may be either wholly or in part repaid from the distributions that the individuals receive on some or all of their LPUs in BGC Holdings and Newmark Holdings, prior to the Corporate Conversion, and by distributions that the individuals receive on some or all of their LPUs in Newmark Holdings and any dividends paid on participating RSUs and restricted stock awards, subsequent to the Corporate Conversion. Certain of these loans also may be either wholly or in part repaid from the proceeds of the sale of the BGC employees’ shares of BGC Class A common stock. In addition certain loans may be forgiven over a period of time. The forgivable portion of these loans is recognized as compensation expense over the life of the loan. From time to time, the Company may also enter into agreements with employees to grant bonus and salary advances or other types of loans. These advances and loans are repayable in the timeframes outlined in the underlying agreements.
As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the aggregate balance of employee loans, net, was $396.1 million and $367.8 million, respectively, and is included as “Loans, forgivable loans and other receivables from employees and partners, net” in the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition. Compensation expense for the above-mentioned employee loans for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 was $14.8 million and $13.9 million, respectively. The compensation expense related to these employee loans is included as part of “Compensation and employee benefits” in the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Interest income on the above-mentioned employee loans for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 was $3.2 million and $1.8 million, respectively. The interest income related to these employee loans is included as part of “Interest and dividend income” in the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
CEO Program and Other Transactions with CF&Co
As discussed in Note 7—“Stock Transactions and Unit Redemptions,” BGC Partners entered into the August 2022 Sales Agreement, and after the Corporate Conversion, BGC Group entered into the July 2023 Sales Agreement with CF&Co as the Company’s sales agent under the CEO Program. During both the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company did not sell any shares of Class A common stock under its CEO Program. For both the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company was not charged for services provided by CF&Co related to the CEO Program with CF&Co. The net proceeds of any shares sold would be included as part of “Additional paid-in capital” in the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition.
The Company has engaged CF&Co and its affiliates to act as financial advisors in connection with one or more third-party business combination transactions as requested by the Company on behalf of its affiliates from time to time on specified terms, conditions and fees. The Company may pay finders’, investment banking or financial advisory fees to broker-dealers, including, but not limited to, CF&Co and its affiliates, from time to time in connection with certain business combination transactions, and, in some cases, the Company may issue shares of BGC Class A common stock in full or partial payment of such fees.
On October 3, 2014, management was granted approval by the Board and Audit Committee to enter into stock loan transactions with CF&Co utilizing equities securities. Such stock loan transactions will bear market terms and rates. As of March 31, 2024, and December 31, 2023, the Company did not have any Securities loaned transactions with CF&Co.
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On July 24, 2018, the Company issued an aggregate of $450.0 million principal amount of BGC Partners 5.375% Senior Notes. The BGC Partners 5.375% Senior Notes were general senior unsecured obligations of the Company. In connection with this issuance of the BGC Partners 5.375% Senior Notes, the Company recorded approximately $0.3 million in underwriting fees payable to CF&Co. The Company also paid CF&Co an advisory fee of $0.2 million in connection with the issuance. These fees were recorded as a deduction from the carrying amount of the debt liability, which was amortized as interest expense over the term of the notes. The BGC Partners 5.375% Senior Notes matured on July 24, 2023.
On September 27, 2019, the Company issued an aggregate of $300.0 million principal amount of BGC Partners 3.750% Senior Notes. In connection with this issuance of BGC Partners 3.750% Senior Notes, the Company recorded $0.2 million in underwriting fees payable to CF&Co. These fees were recorded as a deduction from the carrying amount of the debt liability, which is amortized as interest expense over the term of the notes.
On June 11, 2020, BGC Partners’ Board of Directors and its Audit Committee authorized a debt repurchase program for the repurchase by the Company of up to $50.0 million of Company Debt Securities, and on July 1, 2023, BGC Group’s Board of Directors and its Audit Committee authorized a debt repurchase program for the repurchase by the Company of up to $50.0 million of Company Debt Securities. Repurchases of Company Debt Securities, if any, are expected to reduce future cash interest payments, as well as future amounts due at maturity or upon redemption. Under the authorization, the Company may make repurchases of Company Debt Securities for cash from time to time in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions upon such terms and at such prices as management may determine. Additionally, the Company is authorized to make any such repurchases of Company Debt Securities through CF&Co (or its affiliates), in its capacity as agent or principal, or such other broker-dealers as management shall determine to utilize from time to time, and such repurchases shall be subject to brokerage commissions which are no higher than standard market commission rates. As of March 31, 2024, the Company had $50.0 million remaining under its debt repurchase authorization.
On July 10, 2020, the Company issued an aggregate of $300.0 million principal amount of the BGC Partners 4.375% Senior Notes. In connection with this issuance of BGC Partners 4.375% Senior Notes, the Company recorded $0.2 million in underwriting fees payable to CF&Co. These fees were recorded as a deduction from the carrying amount of the debt liability, which is amortized as interest expense over the term of the notes. Cantor purchased $14.5 million of such senior notes and tendered such notes in the Exchange Offer in exchange for an equivalent amount of BGC Group 4.375% Senior Notes. Cantor holds such BGC Group 4.375% Senior Notes as of March 31, 2024.
On May 25, 2023, the Company issued an aggregate of $350.0 million principal amount of the BGC Partners 8.000% Senior Notes. In connection with this issuance of BGC Partners 8.000% Senior Notes, the Company paid $0.2 million in underwriting fees to CF&Co. These fees were recorded as a deduction from the carrying amount of the debt liability, which is amortized as interest expense over the term of the notes.
Cantor Rights to Purchase Cantor Units from BGC Holdings
Prior to the Corporate Conversion, Cantor had the right to purchase Cantor units from BGC Holdings upon redemption of non-exchangeable FPUs redeemed by BGC Holdings upon termination or bankruptcy of the Founding/Working Partner. In addition, where current, terminating, or terminated partners were permitted by the Company to exchange any portion of their FPUs and Cantor consented to such exchangeability, the Company would offer to Cantor the opportunity for Cantor to purchase the same number of Cantor units in BGC Holdings at the price that Cantor would have paid for Cantor units had the Company redeemed the FPUs. If Cantor acquired any Cantor units as a result of the purchase or redemption by BGC Holdings of any FPUs, Cantor would be entitled to the benefits (including distributions) of such units it acquired from the date of termination or bankruptcy of the applicable Founding/Working Partner.
On May 17, 2022, Cantor purchased from BGC Holdings an aggregate of 427,494 Cantor units for an aggregate consideration of $841,010 as a result of the redemption of 427,494 FPUs, and 52,681 Cantor units for an aggregate consideration of $105,867 as a result of the exchange of 52,681 FPUs.
On October 25, 2022, Cantor purchased from BGC Holdings an aggregate of 275,833 Cantor units for an aggregate consideration of $397,196 as a result of the redemption of 275,833 FPUs, and 77,507 Cantor units for aggregate consideration of $142,613 as a result of the exchange of 77,507 FPUs.
On April 16, 2023, Cantor purchased from BGC Holdings an aggregate of 533,757 Cantor units for an aggregate consideration of $1,051,080 as a result of the redemption of 533,757 FPUs, and 85,775 Cantor units for an aggregate consideration of $173,154 as a result of the exchange of 85,775 FPUs.
On June 30, 2023, Cantor purchased from BGC Holdings an aggregate of 5,425,209 Cantor units for an aggregate consideration of $9,715,772 as a result of the redemption of 5,425,209 FPUs, and 324,223 Cantor units for an aggregate consideration of $598,712 as a result of the exchange of 324,223 FPUs.
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As of March 31, 2024, there were no FPUs in BGC Holdings remaining.
Cantor Aurel Revenue Sharing Agreement
On June 24, 2021, the Board and Audit Committee authorized the Company’s French subsidiary, Aurel BGC SAS, to enter into a revenue sharing agreement pursuant to which Cantor shall provide services to Aurel to support Aurel’s investment banking activities with respect to special purpose acquisition companies. The services provided by Cantor to Aurel in support of such SPAC Investment Banking Activities shall include referral of clients, structuring advice, financial advisory services, referral of investors, deal execution services, and other advisory services in support of Aurel’s SPAC Investment Banking Activities pursuant to its French investment services license. As compensation, Cantor shall receive a revenue share of 80% of Aurel’s net revenue attributable to SPAC Investment Banking Activities. The term of the revenue sharing agreement was for an initial period of 12 months, which automatically renews each year unless either party provides notice of termination at least three months prior to the anniversary. Aurel is also authorized to serve as bookrunner, underwriter or advisor in connection with French SPACs which are sponsored by Cantor at market rates for such services. For both the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, Aurel had no revenue or fees payable to Cantor attributable to SPAC Investment Banking Activities. Any revenue or fees payable to Cantor attributable to SPAC Investment Banking Activities would be included as part of “Other revenues” and “Fees to related parties,” respectively, in the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Transactions with Executive Officers and Directors
On January 2, 2024, Mr. Merkel sold 136,891 shares of Class A common stock to the Company in an exempt transaction made pursuant to Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act. The sale price per share of $6.98 was the closing price of a share of Class A common stock on January 2, 2024. The transaction was approved by the Audit and Compensation Committees of the Board and was made pursuant to the Company’s stock buyback authorization.
On September 21, 2023, Mr. Windeatt sold 474,808 shares of BGC Class A common stock to the Company. The sale price per share of $5.29 was the closing price of a share of BGC Class A common stock on September 21, 2023. The transaction was approved by the Audit Committee and the Compensation Committee of the Board and was made pursuant to the Company’s stock buyback authorization.
On June 8, 2023, the Company repurchased all of Mr. Windeatt’s 128,279 exchangeable BGC Holdings LPUs at a price of $4.79 per unit, which was the closing price of a share of our Class A common stock on June 8, 2023. The Compensation Committee granted Mr. Windeatt 128,279 non-exchangeable BGC Holdings LPUs on April 1, 2021. Pursuant to the exchange rights schedule of the grant, on April 1, 2023, the 128,279 non-exchangeable BGC Holdings LPUs became immediately exchangeable.
In connection with the Corporate Conversion, on June 2, 2023 Mr. Merkel sold 150,000 shares of Class A common stock to BGC Partners at $4.21 per share, the closing price of a share of Class A common stock on June 2, 2023. The transaction was approved by the Audit and Compensation Committees of the Board of BGC Partners and was made pursuant to BGC Partners’ stock buyback authorization.
In connection with the Corporate Conversion, on May 18, 2023, the BGC Partners Compensation Committee approved the redemption of all of the non-exchangeable BGC Holdings units held by Mr. Merkel at that time. On May 18, 2023, Mr. Merkel’s 148,146 NPSU-CVs, 33,585 PSU-CVs, and 74,896 PSUs were redeemed for zero and an aggregate of 256,627 shares of Class A common stock were granted to Mr. Merkel, and 148,146 NPPSU-CVs with a total determination amount of $681,250 and 33,585 PPSU-CVs with a total determination amount of $162,500 were redeemed for an aggregate cash payment of $843,750. After deduction of shares of BGC Class A common stock to satisfy applicable tax withholding through the surrender of shares of BGC Class A common stock valued at $4.61 per share, Mr. Merkel received 196,525 net shares of Class A common stock.
Since Mr. Lutnick had previously repeatedly waived his rights under the Standing Policy, as of May 18, 2023 his rights had accumulated for 7,879,736 non-exchangeable PSUs, and 103,763 non-exchangeable PPSUs with a determination amount of $474,195. Due to the May 18, 2023 monetization of all of Mr. Merkel’s then-remaining non-exchangeable BGC Holdings units, on such date Mr. Lutnick received additional incremental monetization rights for his then-remaining 3,452,991 non-exchangeable PSUs, and 1,348,042 non-exchangeable PPSUs with a determination amount of $6,175,805.
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In connection with the Corporate Conversion and, as a result of the monetization event for Mr. Merkel, on May 18, 2023 Mr. Lutnick elected to exercise in full his monetization rights under the Standing Policy, which he had previously waived in prior years. All of the non-exchangeable BGC Holdings units that Mr. Lutnick held at that time were monetized as follows: 11,332,727 PSUs were redeemed for zero and 11,332,727 shares of Class A common stock were granted to Mr. Lutnick, and 1,451,805 PPSUs with an aggregate determination amount of $6,650,000 were redeemed for an aggregate cash payment of $6,650,000. After deduction of applicable tax withholding through the surrender of shares of BGC Class A common stock valued at $4.61 per share, Mr. Lutnick received 5,710,534 net shares of Class A common stock.
On May 18, 2023, Mr. Lutnick also exchanged his then-remaining 520,380 exchangeable PSUs for 520,380 shares of Class A common stock. After deduction of applicable tax withholding through the surrender of shares of Class A common stock valued at $4.61 per share, Mr. Lutnick received 232,610 net shares of Class A common stock. In addition, on May 18, 2023, Mr. Lutnick’s then-remaining 1,474,930 non-exchangeable HDUs were redeemed for a cash capital account payment of $9,148,000, $2.1 million of which was paid by BGC Partners with the remainder paid by Newmark. As a result of the various transactions on May 18, 2023 described above, on May 18, 2023, Mr. Lutnick no longer held any limited partnership units of BGC Holdings.
On April 18, 2023, Dr. Bell sold 21,786 shares of Class A common stock to the Company. The sale price per share of $4.59 was the closing price of a share of Class A common stock on April 18, 2023. The transaction was approved by the Audit Committee and the Compensation Committee of the Board and was made pursuant to the Company’s stock buyback authorization.
Mr. Windeatt 2023 Deed of Amendment
On July 12, 2023, Mr. Windeatt executed the 2023 Deed of Amendment with the U.K. Partnership which amends his prior executed Deed of Adherence with the U.K. Partnership regarding the terms of his employment. Under the 2023 Deed of Amendment, the initial period of Mr. Windeatt’s membership in the U.K. Partnership was extended from September 30, 2025 to December 31, 2028. In addition, under the 2023 Deed of Amendment, commencing January 1, 2027, either party may terminate the Deed by giving written notice to the other party at least 24 months prior to the expiration of the initial period. Mr. Windeatt’s membership, unless terminated earlier in accordance with the terms of the Deed, will continue following December 31, 2028 on the same terms and conditions set forth in the Deed until written notice to terminate is provided and the 24-month notice period expires.
Pursuant to the 2023 Deed of Amendment, Mr. Windeatt is also entitled to an increase in drawings from an aggregate amount of £600,000 per year to an aggregate amount of £700,000 per year effective January 1, 2023, which shall be reviewed by the Compensation Committee annually. Mr. Windeatt is also eligible for additional allocations of the U.K. Partnership’s profits, subject to the approval of the Compensation Committee.
In connection and in consideration for Mr. Windeatt’s execution of the 2023 Deed of Amendment, on July 10, 2023 the Company approved accelerating the vesting of 720,509 of the Company’s RSUs held by Mr. Windeatt (calculated based upon the closing price of the Company’s Class A common stock on July 10, 2023 which was $4.45) and the vesting of $780,333 of the RSU Tax Account held by Mr. Windeatt. Such RSUs and RSU Tax Account amount vested on July 12, 2023, and the total value of this transaction was approximately $3,986,600.
Transactions with the Relief Fund
During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company committed to make charitable contributions to the Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund in the amount of $40.0 million, which was included in “Other expenses” in the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2015 and “Accounts payable, accrued and other liabilities” in the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition. The Company had fully paid the $40.0 million commitment during the third quarter of 2022.
As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company had an additional liability to the Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund and The Cantor Foundation (UK) for $12.9 million and $12.7 million, respectively, which included $6.7 million and $6.4 million of additional expense taken in September 2023 and 2022, respectively, above the original $40.0 million commitment.
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Other Transactions
The Company was authorized to enter into loans, investments or other credit support arrangements for Aqua, an alternative electronic trading platform that offered new pools of block liquidity to the global equities markets; such arrangements were proportionally and on the same terms as similar arrangements between Aqua and Cantor. On February 15, 2022 and February 25, 2021, the Board and Audit Committee increased the authorized amount by an additional $1.0 million and $1.0 million, respectively, to an aggregate of $21.2 million. The Company had been further authorized to provide counterparty or similar guarantees on behalf of Aqua from time to time, provided that liability for any such guarantees, as well as similar guarantees provided by Cantor, would be shared proportionally with Cantor. Aqua was 51% owned by Cantor and 49% owned by the Company.
The Company had also entered into a subordinated loan agreement with Aqua, whereby the Company loaned Aqua the principal sum of $1.0 million, and was recorded as part of “Receivables from related parties” in the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition. The scheduled maturity date on the subordinated loan was September 1, 2024. The Company did not recognize any interest income on the subordinated loan subsequent to it being designated as a non-accrual loan in November 2022. As of December 31, 2022, the Company wrote off $0.6 million of the subordinated loan, which was recorded as part of “Other expenses” on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations. During the fourth quarter of 2023, the Company received cash payment fully satisfying the remaining subordinated loan receivable of $0.4 million.
On October 25, 2016, the Board and Audit Committee authorized the purchase of 9,000 Class B Units of Lucera, representing all of the issued and outstanding Class B Units of Lucera not already owned by the Company. On November 4, 2016, the Company completed this transaction. As a result of this transaction, the Company owns 100% of the ownership interests in Lucera.
In the purchase agreement, by which the Company acquired Cantor’s remaining interest in Lucera, Cantor agreed, subject to certain exceptions, not to solicit certain senior executives of Lucera’s business and was granted the right to be a customer of Lucera’s businesses on the best terms made available to any other customer.
The Company periodically acts as an intermediary to administer payments on behalf of related parties.
14. Investments
Equity Method Investments and Investments Carried Under the Measurement Alternative
(dollar amounts in thousands) | Percent Ownership1 | March 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||||||
| Advanced Markets Holdings | 25 | % | $ | 4,457 | $ | 4,481 | |||||||||||
| China Credit BGC Money Broking Company Limited | 33 | % | 23,825 | 21,277 | |||||||||||||
| Freedom International Brokerage | 45 | % | 9,659 | 9,507 | |||||||||||||
| Other | 2,100 | 2,857 | |||||||||||||||
Equity method investments | $ | 40,041 | $ | 38,122 | |||||||||||||
| Investments carried under measurement alternative | 192 | 192 | |||||||||||||||
| Total equity method and investments carried under measurement alternative | $ | 40,233 | $ | 38,314 | |||||||||||||
_______________________________________
1Represents the Company’s voting interest in the equity method investment as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023.
The carrying value of the Company’s equity method investments was $40.0 million as of March 31, 2024 and $38.1 million as of December 31, 2023, and is included in “Investments” in the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition.
The Company recognized gains of $1.8 million and $2.1 million related to its equity method investments for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The Company’s share of the net gains or losses is reflected in “Gains (losses) on equity method investments” in the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
For the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company did not record impairment charges related to existing equity method investments. The Company did not sell any equity method investments during the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023.
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See Note 13—“Related Party Transactions,” for information regarding related party transactions with unconsolidated entities included in the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
Investments Carried Under Measurement Alternative
The Company has acquired equity investments for which it did not have the ability to exert significant influence over operating and financial policies of the investees. These investments are accounted for using the measurement alternative in accordance with the guidance on recognition and measurement. The carrying value of these investments as of both March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 was $0.2 million, and they are included in “Investments” in the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition. The Company did not recognize any gains, losses, or impairments relating to investments carried under the measurement alternative for both the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023.
In addition, the Company owns membership shares, which are included in “Other assets” in the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition as of both March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023. These equity investments are accounted for using the measurement alternative in accordance with the guidance on recognition and measurement. These investments, which do not have a readily determinable fair value, are initially recognized at cost and remeasured through earnings when there is an observable transaction involving the same or similar investment of the same issuer, or due to an impairment. The Company recorded $36.6 million of unrealized gains and $1.3 million of unrealized losses to reflect observable transactions for these shares during the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The unrealized gains (losses) are reflected in “Other income (loss)” in the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Investments in VIEs
One of the Company’s equity method investments is considered a VIE, as defined under the accounting guidance for consolidation. The Company is not considered the primary beneficiary of and therefore does not consolidate the VIE. The Company’s involvement with the VIE is in the form of direct equity interest. The Company’s maximum exposure to loss with respect to the VIE is its investment.
The following table sets forth the Company’s investment in its unconsolidated VIE and the maximum exposure to loss (in thousands):
| March 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Investment | Maximum Exposure to Loss | Investment | Maximum Exposure to Loss | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Variable interest entity | $ | 2,100 | $ | 2,100 | $ | 2,857 | $ | 2,857 | |||||||||||||||
Consolidated VIE
The Company invested in a limited liability company that is focused on developing a proprietary trading technology. The limited liability company is a VIE and it was determined that the Company is the primary beneficiary of this VIE because the Company was the provider of the majority of this VIE’s start-up capital and has the power to direct the activities of this VIE that most significantly impact its economic performance, primarily through its voting percentage and consent rights on the activities that would most significantly influence the entity. The consolidated VIE had total assets of $8.2 million and $9.5 million as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively, which primarily consisted of clearing margin. There were no material restrictions on the consolidated VIE’s assets. The consolidated VIE had total liabilities of $0.7 million and $1.2 million as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. The Company’s exposure to economic loss on this VIE was $5.3 million and $5.7 million as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.
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15. Fixed Assets, Net
Fixed assets, net consisted of the following (in thousands):
| March 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||
| Computer and communications equipment | $ | 104,450 | $ | 103,621 | |||||||
| Software, including software development costs | 371,636 | 360,047 | |||||||||
| Leasehold improvements and other fixed assets | 99,358 | 99,034 | |||||||||
| 575,444 | 562,702 | ||||||||||
| Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization | (398,658) | (384,402) | |||||||||
| Fixed assets, net | $ | 176,786 | $ | 178,300 | |||||||
Depreciation expense was $5.4 million and $5.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Depreciation is included as part of “Occupancy and equipment” in the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
The Company has $5.8 million and $5.9 million of asset retirement obligations related to certain of its leasehold improvements as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. The associated asset retirement cost is capitalized as part of the carrying amount of the long-lived asset. The liability is discounted and accretion expense is recognized using the credit adjusted risk-free interest rate in effect when the liability was initially recognized.
For the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, software development costs totaling $12.0 million and $12.2 million, respectively, were capitalized. Amortization of software development costs totaled $10.4 million and $9.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Amortization of software development costs is included as part of “Occupancy and equipment” in the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Impairment charges of $0.2 million and $1.8 million were recorded for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, related to the evaluation of capitalized software projects for future benefit and for fixed assets no longer in service. Impairment charges related to capitalized software and fixed assets are reflected in “Occupancy and equipment” in the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
16. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, Net
The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill were as follows (in thousands):
| Goodwill | |||||
| Balance at December 31, 2023 | $ | 506,344 | |||
| Measurement period adjustments | 221 | ||||
| Cumulative translation adjustment | (17) | ||||
| Balance at March 31, 2024 | $ | 506,548 | |||
For additional information on Goodwill, see Note 4—“Acquisitions.”
Goodwill is not amortized and is reviewed annually for impairment or more frequently if impairment indicators arise, in accordance with U.S. GAAP guidance on Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.
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Other intangible assets consisted of the following (in thousands, except weighted-average remaining life):
| March 31, 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gross Amount | Accumulated Amortization | Net Carrying Amount | Weighted- Average Remaining Life (Years) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Definite life intangible assets: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Customer-related | $ | 210,779 | $ | 101,347 | $ | 109,432 | 9.5 | ||||||||||||||||
| Technology | 23,997 | 23,997 | — | N/A | |||||||||||||||||||
| Noncompete agreements | 20,966 | 19,728 | 1,238 | 2.1 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Patents | 12,191 | 10,797 | 1,394 | 2.9 | |||||||||||||||||||
| All other | 19,830 | 7,769 | 12,061 | 11.0 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total definite life intangible assets | 287,763 | 163,638 | 124,125 | 9.5 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Indefinite life intangible assets: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Trade names | 79,570 | — | 79,570 | N/A | |||||||||||||||||||
| Licenses | 2,206 | — | 2,206 | N/A | |||||||||||||||||||
| Domain name | 454 | — | 454 | N/A | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total indefinite life intangible assets | 82,230 | — | 82,230 | N/A | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 369,993 | $ | 163,638 | $ | 206,355 | |||||||||||||||||
| December 31, 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gross Amount | Accumulated Amortization | Net Carrying Amount | Weighted- Average Remaining Life (Years) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Definite life intangible assets: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Customer-related | $ | 210,655 | $ | 97,401 | $ | 113,254 | 9.7 | ||||||||||||||||
| Technology | 23,997 | 23,997 | — | N/A | |||||||||||||||||||
| Noncompete agreements | 20,892 | 19,322 | 1,570 | 2.2 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Patents | 11,950 | 10,703 | 1,247 | 2.9 | |||||||||||||||||||
| All other | 20,325 | 7,364 | 12,961 | 10.3 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total definite life intangible assets | 287,819 | 158,787 | 129,032 | 9.6 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Indefinite life intangible assets: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Trade names | 79,570 | — | 79,570 | N/A | |||||||||||||||||||
| Licenses | 2,229 | — | 2,229 | N/A | |||||||||||||||||||
| Domain name | 454 | — | 454 | N/A | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total indefinite life intangible assets | 82,253 | — | 82,253 | N/A | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 370,072 | $ | 158,787 | $ | 211,285 | |||||||||||||||||
Intangible amortization expense was $4.9 million and $3.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Intangible amortization is included as part of “Other expenses” in the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. There were no impairment charges for the Company’s definite and indefinite life intangibles for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023.
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The estimated future amortization expense of definite life intangible assets as of March 31, 2024 is as follows (in millions):
| 2024 | $ | 13.5 | |||
| 2025 | 17.4 | ||||
| 2026 | 17.0 | ||||
| 2027 | 12.7 | ||||
| 2028 | 11.9 | ||||
| 2029 and thereafter | 51.6 | ||||
| Total | $ | 124.1 | |||
17. Notes Payable and Other Borrowings
Notes payable and other borrowings consisted of the following (in thousands):
| March 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||
| Unsecured senior revolving credit agreement | $ | — | $ | 239,180 | |||||||
BGC Group 3.750% Senior Notes due October 1, 2024 | 255,056 | 254,814 | |||||||||
BGC Partners 3.750% Senior Notes due October 1, 2024 | 44,410 | 44,383 | |||||||||
BGC Group 4.375% Senior Notes due December 15, 2025 | 286,908 | 286,729 | |||||||||
BGC Partners 4.375% Senior Notes due December 15, 2025 | 11,802 | 11,800 | |||||||||
BGC Group 8.000% Senior Notes due May 25, 2028 | 344,039 | 343,852 | |||||||||
BGC Partners 8.000% Senior Notes due May 25, 2028 | 2,746 | 2,748 | |||||||||
Total Notes payable and other borrowings1, 2 | $ | 944,961 | $ | 1,183,506 | |||||||
__________________________
1The Company was in compliance with all debt covenants, as applicable, as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023.
2Presented net of deferred financing costs, which are recorded in the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition as a direct reduction of the Notes payable and other borrowings. As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, total deferred financing costs were $5.0 million and $6.5 million, respectively.
Exchange Offer and Market-Making Registration Statement
On October 6, 2023, BGC Group completed the Exchange Offer, in which BGC Group offered to exchange the BGC Partners Notes for new notes to be issued by BGC Group with the same respective interest rates, maturity dates and substantially identical terms as the tendered notes, and cash. In connection with the Exchange Offer, and on behalf of BGC Partners, BGC Group also solicited consents from (i) holders of the BGC Partners Notes to certain proposed amendments to the indenture and supplemental indentures pursuant to which such BGC Partners Notes were issued to, among other things, eliminate certain affirmative and restrictive covenants and events of default, including the “Change of Control” provisions described below, which had applied to each series of the BGC Partners Notes, and (ii) from holders of the BGC Partners 8.000% Senior Notes to amend the registration rights agreement relating thereto to terminate such agreement. As of September 19, 2023, the requisite note holder consents were received to adopt the proposed indenture amendments and terminate the registration rights agreement relating to the BGC Partners 8.000% Senior Notes. In connection with the October 6, 2023 closing of the Exchange Offer, (i) $255.5 million aggregate principal amount of BGC Partners 3.750% Senior Notes were exchanged for BGC Group 3.750% Senior Notes and subsequently canceled, $288.2 million aggregate principal amount of BGC Partners 4.375% Senior Notes were exchanged for BGC Group 4.375% Senior Notes and subsequently cancelled, $347.2 million aggregate principal amount of BGC Partners 8.000% Senior Notes were exchanged for BGC Group 8.000% Senior Notes and subsequently cancelled, and equivalent aggregate principal amounts of BGC Group 3.750% Senior Notes, BGC Group 4.375% Senior Notes and BGC Group 8.000% Senior Notes, respectively, were issued; (ii) the indenture and supplemental indentures relating to the BGC Partners 3.750% Senior Notes, the BGC Partners 4.375% Senior Notes and the BGC Partners 8.000% Senior Notes were amended as proposed; and (iii) the registration rights agreement relating to the BGC Partners 8.000% Senior Notes was terminated. Issuance costs related to the Exchange Offer of $0.9 million are amortized as interest expense and the carrying value of the BGC Group 3.750% Senior Notes, the BGC Group 4.375% Senior Notes, and the BGC Group 8.000% Senior Notes will accrete up to the face amount over the term of the notes.
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On October 19, 2023, the Company filed a resale registration statement on Form S-3 pursuant to which CF&Co may make offers and sales of the BGC Group 3.750% Senior Notes, the BGC Group 4.375% Senior Notes and the BGC Group 8.000% Senior Notes in connection with ongoing market-making transactions which may occur from time to time. Such market-making transactions in these securities may occur in the open market or may be privately negotiated at prevailing market prices at a time of resale or at related or negotiated prices. Neither CF&Co, nor any other of the Company’s affiliates, has any obligation to make a market for the Company’s securities, and CF&Co or any such other affiliate may discontinue market-making activities at any time without notice.
Unsecured Senior Revolving Credit Agreement
On November 28, 2018, BGC Partners entered into the Revolving Credit Agreement with Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, and a syndicate of lenders, which replaced the previously existing committed unsecured senior revolving credit agreement. The maturity date of the Revolving Credit Agreement was November 28, 2020, and the maximum revolving loan balance was $350.0 million. Borrowings under this Revolving Credit Agreement bore interest at either LIBOR or a defined base rate plus additional margin. On December 11, 2019, BGC Partners entered into an amendment to the Revolving Credit Agreement. Pursuant to the amendment, the maturity date was extended to February 26, 2021. On February 26, 2020, BGC Partners entered into a second amendment to the Revolving Credit Agreement, pursuant to which the maturity date was extended by two years to February 26, 2023. There was no change to the interest rate or the maximum revolving loan balance. On March 10, 2022, BGC Partners entered into an amendment and restatement of the senior unsecured revolving credit agreement, pursuant to which the maturity date was extended to March 10, 2025, the size of the credit facility was increased to $375.0 million, and borrowings under this agreement bear interest based on either SOFR or a defined base rate plus additional margin. On October 6, 2023, the Revolving Credit Agreement was amended to exclude the BGC Partners Notes from the restrictive covenant in the Revolving Credit Agreement limiting the indebtedness of subsidiaries, and BGC Group assumed all of the rights and obligations of BGC Partners under the Revolving Credit Agreement and has become the borrower thereunder.
On March 12, 2024, the Company repaid in full the $240.0 million of borrowings outstanding under the Revolving Credit Agreement. As of March 31, 2024, there were no borrowings outstanding under the Revolving Credit Agreement. As of December 31, 2023, there were $239.2 million of borrowings outstanding, net of deferred financing costs of $0.8 million under the Revolving Credit Agreement. The average interest rate on the outstanding borrowings was 7.19% for the three months ended March 31, 2024. BGC Group recorded interest expense related to the Revolving Credit Agreement of $3.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024. BGC Partners recorded interest expense related to the Revolving Credit Agreement of $1.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023.
Senior Notes
The BGC Group Notes and BGC Partners Notes are recorded at amortized cost. The carrying amounts and estimated fair values of the BGC Group Notes and BGC Partners Notes were as follows (in thousands):
| March 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Carrying Amount | Fair Value | Carrying Amount | Fair Value | ||||||||||||||||||||
BGC Group 3.750% Senior Notes due October 1, 2024 | $ | 255,056 | $ | 251,233 | $ | 254,814 | $ | 249,722 | |||||||||||||||
BGC Partners 3.750% Senior Notes due October 1, 2024 | 44,410 | 43,727 | 44,383 | 43,464 | |||||||||||||||||||
BGC Group 4.375% Senior Notes due December 15, 2025 | 286,908 | 280,373 | 286,729 | 276,569 | |||||||||||||||||||
BGC Partners 4.375% Senior Notes due December 15, 2025 | 11,802 | 11,527 | 11,800 | 11,371 | |||||||||||||||||||
BGC Group 8.000% Senior Notes due May 25, 2028 | 344,039 | 369,311 | 343,852 | 363,274 | |||||||||||||||||||
BGC Partners 8.000% Senior Notes due May 25, 2028 | 2,746 | 2,949 | 2,748 | 2,901 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | 944,961 | $ | 959,120 | $ | 944,326 | $ | 947,301 | |||||||||||||||
The fair values of the BGC Group Notes and BGC Partners Notes were determined using observable market prices as these securities are traded, and based on whether they are deemed to be actively traded, the BGC Partners 5.375% Senior Notes, the BGC Group 3.750% Senior Notes, the BGC Partners 3.750% Senior Notes, the BGC Group 4.375% Senior Notes, the BGC Partners 4.375% Senior Notes, the BGC Group 8.000% Senior Notes and the BGC Partners 8.000% Senior Notes are considered Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.
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5.375% Senior Notes
On July 24, 2018, BGC Partners issued an aggregate of $450.0 million principal amount of BGC Partners 5.375% Senior Notes. The BGC Partners 5.375% Senior Notes were general senior unsecured obligations of BGC Partners. The BGC Partners 5.375% Senior Notes bore interest at a rate of 5.375% per year, payable in cash on January 24 and July 24 of each year, commencing January 24, 2019. The BGC Partners 5.375% Senior Notes matured on July 24, 2023. Prior to maturity, BGC Partners was able to redeem some or all of the BGC Partners 5.375% Senior Notes at any time or from time to time for cash at certain “make-whole” redemption prices (as set forth in the supplemental indenture related to the BGC Partners 5.375% Senior Notes). If a “Change of Control Triggering Event” (as defined in the supplemental indenture governing the BGC Partners 5.375% Senior Notes) occurred, holders could have required BGC Partners to purchase all or a portion of their notes for cash at a price equal to 101% of the principal amount of the notes to be purchased plus any accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the purchase date. The initial carrying value of the BGC Partners 5.375% Senior Notes was $444.2 million, net of the discount and debt issuance costs of $5.8 million. The issuance costs were amortized as interest expense and the carrying value of the BGC Partners 5.375% Senior Notes accreted up to the face amount over the term of the notes. On July 24, 2023, BGC Partners repaid the principal plus accrued interest on the BGC Partners 5.375% Senior Notes. BGC Partners recorded interest expense related to the BGC Partners 5.375% Senior Notes of $6.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023.
3.750% Senior Notes
On September 27, 2019, BGC Partners issued an aggregate of $300.0 million principal amount of BGC Partners 3.750% Senior Notes. The BGC Partners 3.750% Senior Notes are general unsecured obligations of BGC Partners. The BGC Partners 3.750% Senior Notes bear interest at a rate of 3.750% per year, payable in cash on April 1 and October 1 of each year, commencing April 1, 2020. The BGC Partners 3.750% Senior Notes will mature on October 1, 2024. BGC Partners may redeem some or all of the BGC Partners 3.750% Senior Notes at any time or from time to time for cash at certain “make-whole” redemption prices (as set forth in the supplemental indenture governing the BGC Partners 3.750% Senior Notes). The initial carrying value of the BGC Partners 3.750% Senior Notes was $296.1 million, net of discount and debt issuance costs of $3.9 million. The issuance costs are amortized as interest expense and the carrying value of the BGC Partners 3.750% Senior Notes will accrete up to the face amount over the term of the notes.
As discussed above, on October 6, 2023, pursuant to the Exchange Offer, $255.5 million aggregate principal amount of BGC Partners 3.750% Senior Notes were exchanged for BGC Group 3.750% Senior Notes and subsequently cancelled, and certain amendments to the indenture and supplemental indenture governing the BGC Partners 3.750% Senior Notes became effective. The BGC Group 3.750% Senior Notes will mature on October 1, 2024 and bear interest at a rate of 3.750% per year, payable in cash on April 1 and October 1 of each year, commencing April 1, 2024. BGC Group may redeem some or all of the BGC Group 3.750% Senior Notes at any time or from time to time for cash at certain “make-whole” redemption prices (as set forth in the supplemental indenture related to the BGC Group 3.750% Senior Notes). If a “Change of Control Triggering Event” (as defined in the supplemental indenture related to the BGC Group 3.750% Senior Notes) occurs, holders may require BGC Group to purchase all or a portion of their notes for cash at a price equal to 101% of the principal amount of the notes to be purchased plus any accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the purchase date.
Following the closing of the Exchange Offer, $44.5 million aggregate principal amount of BGC Partners 3.750% Senior Notes remained outstanding.
The carrying value of the BGC Group 3.750% Senior Notes was $255.1 million as of March 31, 2024. BGC Group recorded interest expense related to the BGC Group 3.750% Senior Notes of $2.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024. BGC Group did not record interest expense related to the BGC Group 3.750% Senior Notes for the three months ended March 31, 2023.
The carrying value of the BGC Partners 3.750% Senior Notes was $44.4 million as of March 31, 2024. BGC Partners recorded interest expense related to the BGC Partners 3.750% Senior Notes of $0.4 million and $3.0 million, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023.
4.375% Senior Notes
On July 10, 2020, BGC Partners issued an aggregate of $300.0 million principal amount of BGC Partners 4.375% Senior Notes. The BGC Partners 4.375% Senior Notes are general unsecured obligations of BGC Partners. The BGC Partners 4.375% Senior Notes bear interest at a rate of 4.375% per year, payable in cash on June 15 and December 15 of each year, commencing December 15, 2020. The BGC Partners 4.375% Senior Notes will mature on December 15, 2025. BGC Partners may redeem some or all of the BGC Partners 4.375% Senior Notes at any time or from time to time for cash at certain “make-whole” redemption prices (as set forth in the supplemental indenture governing the BGC Partners 4.375% Senior Notes). The initial carrying value of the BGC Partners 4.375% Senior Notes was $296.8 million, net of discount and debt issuance costs of
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$3.2 million. The issuance costs are amortized as interest expense and the carrying value of the BGC Partners 4.375% Senior Notes will accrete up to the face amount over the term of the notes.
As discussed above, on October 6, 2023, pursuant to the Exchange Offer, $288.2 million aggregate principal amount of BGC Partners 4.375% Senior Notes were exchanged for BGC Group 4.375% Senior Notes and subsequently cancelled, and certain amendments to the indenture and supplemental indenture governing the BGC Partners 4.375% Senior Notes became effective. The BGC Group 4.375% Senior Notes will mature on December 15, 2025 and bear interest at a rate of 4.375% per year, payable in cash on June 15 and December 15 of each year, commencing December 15, 2023. BGC Group may redeem some or all of the BGC Group 4.375% Senior Notes at any time or from time to time for cash at certain “make-whole” redemption prices (as set forth in the supplemental indenture related to the BGC Group 4.375% Senior Notes). If a “Change of Control Triggering Event” (as defined in the supplemental indenture related to the BGC Group 4.375% Senior Notes) occurs, holders may require BGC Group to purchase all or a portion of their notes for cash at a price equal to 101% of the principal amount of the notes to be purchased plus any accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the purchase date.
Following the closing of the Exchange Offer, $11.8 million aggregate principal amount of BGC Partners 4.375% Senior Notes remained outstanding. Cantor participated in the Exchange Offer, and currently holds $14.5 million aggregate principal amount of BGC Group 4.375% Senior Notes.
The carrying value of the BGC Group 4.375% Senior Notes was $286.9 million as of March 31, 2024. BGC Group recorded interest expense related to the BGC Group 4.375% Senior Notes of $3.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024. BGC Group did not record interest expense related to the BGC Group 4.375% Senior Notes for the three months ended March 31, 2023.
The carrying value of the BGC Partners 4.375% Senior Notes was $11.8 million as of March 31, 2024. BGC Partners recorded interest expense related to the BGC Partners 4.375% Senior Notes of $0.1 million and $3.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
8.000% Senior Notes
On May 25, 2023, BGC Partners issued an aggregate of $350.0 million principal amount of BGC Partners 8.000% Senior Notes. The BGC Partners 8.000% Senior Notes are general unsecured obligations of BGC Partners. The BGC Partners 8.000% Senior Notes bear interest at a rate of 8.000% per year, payable in cash on May 25 and November 25 of each year, commencing November 25, 2023. The BGC Partners 8.000% Senior Notes will mature on May 25, 2028. BGC Partners may redeem some or all of the BGC Partners 8.000% Senior Notes at any time or from time to time for cash at certain “make-whole” redemption prices (as set forth in the supplemental indenture governing the BGC Partners 8.000% Senior Notes). The initial carrying value of the BGC Partners 8.000% Senior Notes was $346.6 million, net of debt issuance costs of $3.4 million. The issuance costs are amortized as interest expense and the carrying value of the BGC Partners 8.000% Senior Notes will accrete up to the face amount over the term of the notes.
On October 6, 2023, pursuant to the Exchange Offer, $347.2 million aggregate principal amount of BGC Partners 8.000% Senior Notes were exchanged for BGC Group 8.000% Senior Notes and subsequently cancelled, and certain amendments to the indenture and supplemental indenture governing the BGC Partners 8.000% Senior Notes became effective. The BGC Group 8.000% Senior Notes will mature on May 25, 2028 and bear interest at a rate of 8.000% per year, payable in cash on May 25 and November 25 of each year, commencing November 25, 2023. BGC Group may redeem some or all of the BGC Group 8.000% Senior Notes at any time or from time to time for cash at certain “make-whole” redemption prices (as set forth in the supplemental indenture related to the BGC Group 8.000% Senior Notes). If a “Change of Control Triggering Event” (as defined in the supplemental indenture related to the BGC Group 8.000% Senior Notes) occurs, holders may require BGC Group to purchase all or a portion of their notes for cash at a price equal to 101% of the principal amount of the notes to be purchased plus any accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the purchase date.
Following closing of the Exchange Offer, $2.8 million aggregate principal amount of the BGC Partners 8.000% Senior Notes remained outstanding. In connection with the issuance of the BGC Partners 8.000% Senior Notes, BGC Partners entered into a registration rights agreement providing for a future registered exchange offer by May 25, 2024 in which holders of the BGC Partners 8.000% Senior Notes, issued in a private placement on May 25, 2023, could exchange such notes for new registered notes with substantially identical terms. Such registration rights agreement was terminated in connection with the closing of the Exchange Offer.
The carrying value of the BGC Group 8.000% Senior Notes was $344.0 million as of March 31, 2024. BGC Group recorded interest expense related to the BGC Group 8.000% Senior Notes of $7.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024. BGC Group did not record interest expense related to the BGC Group 8.000% Senior Notes for the three months ended March 31, 2023.
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The carrying value of the BGC Partners 8.000% Senior Notes was $2.7 million as of March 31, 2024. BGC Partners recorded interest expense related to the BGC Partners 8.000% Senior Notes of $0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024. BGC Partners did not record interest expense related to the BGC Partners 8.000% Senior Notes for the three months ended March 31, 2023.
Collateralized Borrowings
On April 8, 2019, BGC Partners entered into a $15.0 million secured loan arrangement, under which it pledged certain fixed assets as security for a loan. This arrangement incurred interest at a fixed rate of 3.77% and matured on April 8, 2023, at which point the loan was repaid in full; therefore, there were no borrowings as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023. The interest expense related to this secured loan arrangement for the three months ended March 31, 2023 was nil.
On April 19, 2019, BGC Partners entered into a $10.0 million secured loan arrangement, under which it pledged certain fixed assets as security for a loan. This arrangement incurred interest at a fixed rate of 3.89% and matured on April 19, 2023, at which point the loan was repaid in full; therefore, there were no borrowings as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023. The interest expense related to this secured loan arrangement for the three months ended March 31, 2023 was nil.
Short-Term Borrowings
On August 22, 2017, BGC Partners entered into a committed unsecured loan agreement with Itau Unibanco S.A. The agreement provided for short-term loans of up to $4.0 million (BRL 20.0 million). Borrowings under this agreement bore interest at the Brazilian Interbank offering rate plus 3.20%. During June 2023, the borrowings under this agreement were repaid in full, and the loan was terminated. As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, there were no borrowings outstanding under the agreement. As of March 31, 2023, the interest rate was 17.00%. BGC Partners recorded interest expense related to the agreement of $0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023.
On August 23, 2017, BGC Partners entered into a committed unsecured credit agreement with Itau Unibanco S.A. The agreement provided for an intra-day overdraft credit line up to $10.0 million (BRL 50.0 million). On August 20, 2021, the agreement was renegotiated, increasing the credit line to $12.0 million (BRL 60.0 million). On May 22, 2023 the agreement was renegotiated, increasing the credit line to $14.0 million (BRL 70.0 million.) This agreement bears a fee of 1.35% per year and the maturity date of the agreement is May 17, 2024. As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, there were no borrowings outstanding under this agreement. The bank fees related to the agreement were nil for each of the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023.
BGC Credit Agreement with Cantor
On March 12, 2024, the Company borrowed $275.0 million from Cantor under the BGC Credit Agreement and held those borrowings as of March 31, 2024, recorded under “Short-term borrowings from related parties” in the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition. See Note 13—“Related Party Transactions” for additional information related to this transaction.
18. Compensation
The Compensation Committee may grant various equity-based awards, including RSUs, restricted stock, stock options, LPUs (prior to the Corporate Conversion) and shares of BGC Class A common stock. Upon vesting of RSUs, issuance of restricted stock, exercise of stock options and redemption/exchange of LPUs (prior to the Corporate Conversion), the Company generally issues new shares of BGC Class A common stock.
On November 22, 2021, at the annual meeting of stockholders, the stockholders approved amendments to the BGC Partners Equity Plan to increase from 400.0 million to 500.0 million the aggregate number of shares of BGC Class A common stock that may be delivered or cash-settled pursuant to awards granted during the life of the BGC Partners Equity Plan.
In connection with the Corporate Conversion on July 1, 2023, BGC Group assumed and adopted the BGC Partners Equity Plan, as amended and restated as the BGC Group Equity Plan. The BGC Group Equity Plan provides for a maximum of 600.0 million shares of BGC Class A common stock that may be delivered or cash settled pursuant to the exercise or settlement of awards granted under the plan. As of March 31, 2024, the limit on the aggregate number of shares authorized to be delivered allowed for the grant of future awards relating to 469.4 million shares.
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In connection with the Corporate Conversion, on June 30, 2023, the Company issued 22.5 million RSUs for the redemption of 16.9 million non-exchangeable LPUs and 5.6 million non-exchangeable FPUs in BGC Holdings, and issued $49.2 million of RSU Tax Accounts for the redemption of 10.6 million non-exchangeable Preferred Units in BGC Holdings, based on their fixed cash value. As a result of the Corporate Conversion, on July 1, 2023, the Company issued 38.6 million restricted stock awards and 25.3 million RSUs for the redemption of 54.0 million non-exchangeable LPUs and 9.9 million non-exchangeable Preferred Units in BGC Holdings, and granted $74.0 million of RSU Tax Accounts for the redemption of 16.3 million non-exchangeable Preferred Units in BGC Holdings, based on their fixed cash value.
The Company incurred compensation expense related to Class A common stock, LPUs (prior to the Corporate Conversion) and RSUs held by BGC employees as follows (in thousands):
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||
| Issuance of common stock and grants of exchangeability | $ | 33,832 | $ | 51,966 | |||||||
| Allocations of net income and dividend equivalents¹ | 1,294 | 2,380 | |||||||||
| LPU amortization | — | 21,431 | |||||||||
| RSU, RSU Tax Account, and restricted stock amortization | 60,955 | 5,596 | |||||||||
Equity-based compensation and allocations of net income to limited partnership units and FPUs | $ | 96,081 | $ | 81,373 | |||||||
____________________________
1Prior to the Corporate Conversion, certain LPUs generally received quarterly allocations of net income, including the Preferred Distribution, and were generally contingent upon services being provided by the unit holders. Subsequent to the Corporate Conversion, this includes dividend equivalents on participating securities, the Preferred Return on certain RSU Tax Accounts, and quarterly allocations of net income, including the Preferred distribution to LPUs held by BGC employees in Newmark Holdings.
Limited Partnership Units
A summary of the activity associated with Newmark Holdings LPUs held by BGC employees is as follows (in thousands):
| Newmark LPUs | |||||
| Balance at December 31, 2023 | 8,779 | ||||
| Granted | — | ||||
| Redeemed/exchanged units | (117) | ||||
| Forfeited units | (7) | ||||
| Balance at March 31, 2024 | 8,655 | ||||
The LPUs table above includes both regular and Preferred Units. Preferred Units are not entitled to participate in partnership distributions other than with respect to the Preferred Distribution (see Note 2—“Limited Partnership Interests in BGC Holdings and Newmark Holdings” for further information on Preferred Units). Subsequent to the Corporate Conversion, there are still BGC employees who hold limited partnership interests in Newmark Holdings. These limited partnership interests represent interests that were held prior to the Newmark IPO and were distributed in connection with the Separation. Following the Newmark IPO, employees of BGC and Newmark only received limited partnership interests in BGC Holdings and Newmark Holdings, respectively. As a result of the Spin-Off, as the previous limited partnership interests in BGC Holdings held by Newmark employees and the existing limited partnership interests in Newmark Holdings held by BGC employees were/are exchanged/redeemed, the related capital was contributed to and from Cantor, respectively. The compensation expenses under GAAP related to the limited partnership interests are based on the company where the partner is employed. Therefore, compensation expenses related to the limited partnership interests of both BGC Holdings (prior to the Corporate Conversion) and Newmark Holdings that are held by BGC employees are recognized by BGC. The BGC Holdings limited partnership interests held by Newmark employees could have been included in the BGC share count and the Newmark Holdings limited partnership interests held by BGC employees may be included in the Newmark share count, if applicable. There were no limited partnership interests in BGC Holdings remaining upon the completion of the Corporate Conversion, and therefore, there was no compensation expense related to limited partnership interest in BGC Holdings recognized by BGC subsequent to the Corporate Conversion.
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A summary of the Newmark Holdings LPUs held by BGC employees as of March 31, 2024, is as follows (in thousands):
| Newmark LPUs | |||||
| Regular Units | 6,666 | ||||
| Preferred Units | 1,989 | ||||
| Balance at March 31, 2024 | 8,655 | ||||
Issuance of Common Stock and Grants of Exchangeability
Compensation expense related to the issuance of BGC or Newmark Class A common stock and grants of exchangeability on BGC Holdings (prior to the Corporate Conversion) and Newmark Holdings LPUs held by BGC employees is as follows (in thousands):
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||
| Issuance of common stock and grants of exchangeability | $ | 33,832 | $ | 51,966 | |||||||
Prior to the Corporate Conversion, BGC LPUs held by BGC employees had become exchangeable or were redeemed for BGC Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis.
Newmark LPUs held by BGC employees may become exchangeable or redeemed for a number of shares of Newmark Class A common stock equal to the number of limited partnership interests multiplied by the current Exchange Ratio. As of March 31, 2024, the Exchange Ratio was 0.9255.
A summary of the LPUs redeemed in connection with the issuance of BGC Class A common stock or Newmark Class A common stock (at the then-current Exchange Ratio) or granted exchangeability for BGC Class A common stock or Newmark Class A common stock (at the then-current Exchange Ratio) held by BGC employees is as follows (in thousands):
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||
| BGC Holdings LPUs | — | 10,975 | |||||||||
| Newmark Holdings LPUs | 61 | 78 | |||||||||
| Total | 61 | 11,053 | |||||||||
As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, there were no BGC Holdings LPUs remaining as a result of the Corporate Conversion. As of both March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the number of Newmark Holdings LPUs exchangeable into shares of Newmark Class A common stock at the discretion of the unit holder held by BGC employees (at the then-current Exchange Ratio) was 0.2 million.
Subsequent to the Corporate Conversion, BGC may issue BGC Class A common stock and record compensation expense for the grant date fair value of the shares issued. For the three months ended March 31, 2024, BGC issued 2.3 million of net shares of BGC Class A common stock to BGC employees, and withheld shares of BGC Class A common stock valued at $11.0 million to pay taxes due at the time of issuance. There were no such issuances for the three months ended March 31, 2023.
LPU Amortization
Compensation expense related to the amortization of BGC Holdings (prior to the Corporate Conversion) and Newmark Holdings LPUs held by BGC employees is as follows (in thousands):
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||
| Stated vesting schedule | $ | — | $ | 21,407 | |||||||
| Post-termination payout | — | 24 | |||||||||
| LPU amortization | $ | — | $ | 21,431 | |||||||
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Prior to the Corporate Conversion, there were certain LPUs that had a stated vesting schedule and did not receive quarterly allocations of net income. These LPUs generally vested between and five years from the date of grant. The fair value was based on the market value of an equivalent share of BGC or Newmark Class A common stock (adjusted if appropriate based upon the award’s eligibility to receive quarterly allocations of net income) on the grant date, and is recognized as compensation expense, net of the effect of estimated forfeitures, ratably over the vesting period.
As of both March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, there were no outstanding LPUs held by BGC employees with a stated vesting schedule that did not receive quarterly allocations of net income.
Compensation expense related to LPUs held by BGC employees with a post-termination pay-out amount, such as REUs, and/or a stated vesting schedule was recognized over the stated service period. These LPUs generally vested between and five years from the date of grant. As of March 31, 2024, there were 0.1 million outstanding Newmark Holdings LPUs with a post-termination payout held by BGC employees, with a notional value of approximately $0.7 million and an aggregate estimated fair value of $0.3 million. As of December 31, 2023, there were 0.1 million outstanding Newmark Holdings LPUs with a post-termination payout held by BGC employees, with a notional value of approximately $0.7 million and an aggregate estimated fair value of $0.3 million.
Restricted Stock Units
Compensation expense related to RSUs held by BGC employees is as follows (in thousands):
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||
RSU amortization | $ | 19,467 | $ | 5,596 | |||||||
A summary of the activity associated with RSUs held by BGC employees and directors is as follows (RSUs and dollars in thousands):
| RSUs | Weighted- Average Grant Date Fair Value | Fair Value Amount | Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Term (Years) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2023 | 64,942 | $ | 4.11 | $ | 267,015 | 5.96 | |||||||||||||||||
| Granted | 4,231 | 5.79 | 24,514 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Delivered | (5,166) | 3.99 | (20,618) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Forfeited | (719) | 4.75 | (3,419) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at March 31, 2024 | 63,288 | $ | 4.23 | $ | 267,492 | 5.68 | |||||||||||||||||
The fair value of RSUs held by BGC employees and directors is based on the market value of BGC Class A common stock on the grant date and adjusted as appropriate based upon the award’s ineligibility to receive dividends. As of March 31, 2024, 25.4 million RSUs of the total outstanding were eligible to receive dividends. The compensation expense is recognized ratably over the vesting period, taking into effect estimated forfeitures or accelerations of vestings. The Company uses historical data, including historical forfeitures and turnover rates, to estimate expected forfeiture rates for both employee and director RSUs. Each RSU is settled in one share of Class A common stock upon completion of the vesting period and conditions.
For the RSUs that vested during the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company withheld shares of BGC Class A common stock valued at $11.8 million and $6.2 million to pay taxes due at the time of vesting. As of March 31, 2024, there was approximately $168.9 million of total unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested RSUs held by BGC employees and directors that is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 5.68 years.
In relation to the Corporate Conversion, the Company granted in total $123.1 million of RSU Tax Accounts. During the three months ended March 31, 2024, $3.5 million of RSU Tax Accounts vested to pay taxes due at the time for certain related RSU vestings. As of March 31, 2024, there was approximately $86.0 million of total unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested RSU Tax Accounts held by BGC employees that is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 8.61 years. The compensation expense related to the RSU Tax Accounts amortization held by BGC employees was $6.0 million for three months ended March 31, 2024.
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Acquisitions
In connection with certain of its acquisitions, the Company has granted certain LPUs (prior to the Corporate Conversion) and RSUs, and other deferred compensation awards. As of March 31, 2024, the aggregate estimated fair value of acquisition-related RSUs was $5.3 million, and as of December 31, 2023, the aggregate estimated fair value of acquisition-related LPUs and RSUs was $7.4 million. As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the aggregate estimated fair value of the deferred compensation awards was nil and $0.6 million, respectively. The liability for such acquisition-related RSUs is included in “Accounts payable, accrued and other liabilities” on the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition.
Restricted Stock
BGC employees hold shares of BGC and Newmark restricted stock. Such restricted shares are generally salable by partners in to ten years. Transferability of the restricted shares of stock issued prior to the Corporate Conversion, is not subject to continued employment or service with the Company or any affiliate or subsidiary of the Company; however, transferability is subject to compliance with BGC and its affiliates’ customary noncompete obligations.
During the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, 0.2 million and nil BGC or Newmark restricted shares held by BGC employees were forfeited in connection with this provision, respectively. During both the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company released the restrictions with respect to nil and nil of such BGC shares held by BGC employees. As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, there were nil and 0.1 million of such restricted BGC shares held by BGC employees outstanding, respectively. During the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, Newmark released the restrictions with respect to nil and nil, respectively, of restricted Newmark shares held by BGC employees. As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, there were nil and nil, respectively, of restricted Newmark shares held by BGC employees outstanding.
In addition, as a result of the Corporate Conversion, on July 1, 2023, the Company granted 38.6 million restricted stock awards, which are subject to continued employment or service with the Company or any affiliate or subsidiary of the Company.
The fair value of these restricted stock awards held by BGC employees is based on the market value of BGC Class A common stock on the grant date and adjusted as appropriate based upon the award’s ineligibility to receive dividends. As of March 31, 2024, 1.3 million of the total 21.5 million restricted stock awards outstanding, were eligible to receive dividends. The compensation expense is recognized ratably over the vesting period, taking into effect estimated forfeitures or accelerations of vestings. The Company uses historical data, including historical forfeitures and turnover rates, to estimate expected forfeiture rates for employee restricted stock awards. Each restricted stock award is settled in one share of Class A common stock upon completion of the vesting period and conditions. The compensation expense related to the restricted stock amortization on these awards held by BGC employees was $35.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024. The compensation expense related to restricted stock includes the acceleration of approximately 4.3 million restricted stock awards of a former executive officer which resulted in a $25.4 million compensation expense for the three months ended March 31, 2024.
For the restricted stock awards that vested during the three months ended March 31, 2024, the Company withheld 1.4 million shares of BGC Class A common stock to pay taxes due at the time of vesting. As of March 31, 2024, there was approximately $28.3 million of total unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested restricted stock awards held by BGC employees that is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.05 years.
A summary of the activity associated with these restricted stock awards held by BGC employees is as follows (restricted stock and dollars in thousands):
Restricted Stock | Weighted- Average Grant Date Fair Value | Fair Value Amount | Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Term (Years) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at December 31, 2023 | 27,953 | $ | 4.20 | $ | 117,468 | 2.55 | |||||||||||||||||
| Granted | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Delivered | (6,256) | 4.87 | (30,485) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Forfeited | (225) | 4.43 | (997) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Balance at March 31, 2024 | 21,472 | $ | 4.00 | $ | 85,986 | 1.05 | |||||||||||||||||
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19. Commitments, Contingencies and Guarantees
Contingencies
In the ordinary course of business, various legal actions are brought and are pending against the Company and its subsidiaries in the U.S. and internationally. In some of these actions, substantial amounts are claimed. The Company is also involved, from time to time, in reviews, examinations, investigations and proceedings by governmental and self-regulatory agencies (both formal and informal) regarding the Company’s businesses, operations, reporting or other matters, which may result in regulatory, civil and criminal judgments, settlements, fines, penalties, injunctions, enhanced oversight, remediation, or other relief. The following generally does not include matters that the Company has pending against other parties which, if successful, would result in awards in favor of the Company or its subsidiaries.
Employment, Competitor-Related and Other Litigation
From time to time, the Company and its subsidiaries are involved in litigation, claims and arbitrations in the U.S. and internationally, relating to, inter alia, various employment matters, including with respect to termination of employment, hiring of employees currently or previously employed by competitors, terms and conditions of employment and other matters. In light of the competitive nature of the brokerage industry, litigation, claims and arbitration between competitors regarding employee hiring are not uncommon. The Company is also involved, from time to time, in other reviews, investigations and proceedings by governmental and self-regulatory agencies (both formal and informal) regarding the Company’s businesses. Any such actions may result in regulatory, civil or criminal judgments, settlements, fines, penalties, injunctions, enhanced oversight, remediation, or other relief.
Legal reserves are established in accordance with U.S. GAAP guidance on Accounting for Contingencies, when a material legal liability is both probable and reasonably estimable. Once established, reserves are adjusted when there is more information available or when an event occurs requiring a change. The outcome of such items cannot be determined with certainty. The Company is unable to estimate a possible loss or range of loss in connection with specific matters beyond its current accruals and any other amounts disclosed. Management believes that, based on currently available information, the final outcome of these current pending matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.
Letter of Credit Agreements
The Company has irrevocable uncollateralized letters of credit with various banks, where the beneficiaries are clearing organizations through which it transacts, that are used in lieu of margin and deposits with those clearing organizations. As of both March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 the Company was contingently liable for $1.4 million, respectively, under these letters of credit.
Risk and Uncertainties
The Company generates revenues by providing financial intermediary and brokerage activities to institutional customers and by executing and, in some cases, clearing transactions for institutional counterparties. Revenues for these services are transaction-based. As a result, revenues could vary based on the transaction volume of global financial markets. Additionally, financing is sensitive to interest rate fluctuations, which could have an impact on the Company’s overall profitability.
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentration of credit risk consist of cash accounts in a financial institution which, at times, may exceed the FDIC maximum coverage limit of $250,000. Any loss incurred or a lack of access to such funds could have a significant adverse impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements. For the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company did not incur losses on any FDIC insured cash accounts.
During the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company reserved $2.0 million and $2.0 million, respectively, in connection with potential losses associated with Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine, which is included in “Other expenses” in the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations, and which was recorded as part of the allowance for credit losses (see Note 25—“Current Expected Credit Losses (CECL)” for additional information).
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Insurance
The Company is self-insured for health care claims, up to a stop-loss amount for eligible participating employees and qualified dependents in the U.S., subject to deductibles and limitations. The Company’s liability for claims incurred but not reported is determined based on an estimate of the ultimate aggregate liability for claims incurred. The estimate is calculated from actual claim rates and adjusted periodically as necessary. The Company has accrued $4.3 million and $3.7 million in health care claims as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. The Company does not expect health care claims to have a material impact on its financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.
Guarantees
The Company provides guarantees to securities clearinghouses and exchanges which meet the definition of a guarantee under FASB interpretations. Under these standard securities clearinghouse and exchange membership agreements, members are required to guarantee, collectively, the performance of other members and, accordingly, if another member becomes unable to satisfy its obligations to the clearinghouse or exchange, all other members would be required to meet the shortfall. In the opinion of management, the Company’s liability under these agreements is not quantifiable and could exceed the cash and securities it has posted as collateral. However, the potential of being required to make payments under these arrangements is remote. Accordingly, no contingent liability has been recorded in the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition for these agreements.
20. Income Taxes
The Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include U.S. federal, state and local income taxes on the Company’s allocable share of the U.S. results of operations, as well as taxes payable to jurisdictions outside the U.S. In addition, certain of the Company’s entities are taxed as U.S. partnerships and are subject to the UBT in New York City. Therefore, the tax liability or benefit related to the partnership income or loss, except for UBT, rests with the partners (see Note 2—“Limited Partnership Interests in BGC Holdings and Newmark Holdings” for discussion of partnership interests), rather than the partnership entity.
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. A valuation allowance is recorded against deferred tax assets if it is deemed more likely than not that those assets will not be realized.
Pursuant to U.S. GAAP guidance, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, the Company provides for uncertain tax positions as a component of income tax expense based upon management’s assessment of whether a tax benefit is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by tax authorities.
As of both March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company’s unrecognized tax benefits, excluding related interest and penalties were $6.7 million, of which the entire amount, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate. The Company is currently open to examination by tax authorities in U.S. federal, state and local jurisdictions, and certain non-U.S. jurisdictions for tax years 2012 through 2019. The Company is currently under examination by tax authorities in the U.S. federal and certain state, local and foreign jurisdictions. The Company does not believe that the amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will materially change over the next 12 months.
The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in “Provision (benefit) for income taxes” in the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company had accrued $3.8 million and $3.4 million, respectively, for income tax-related interest and penalties.
21. Regulatory Requirements
Many of the Company’s businesses are subject to regulatory restrictions and minimum capital requirements. These regulatory restrictions and capital requirements may restrict the Company’s ability to withdraw capital from its subsidiaries.
Certain U.S. subsidiaries of the Company are registered as U.S. broker-dealers or FCMs subject to Rule 15c3-1 of the SEC and Rule 1.17 of the CFTC, which specify uniform minimum net capital requirements, as defined, for their registrants, and also require a significant part of the registrants’ assets be kept in relatively liquid form. As of March 31, 2024, the Company’s U.S. subsidiaries had net capital in excess of their minimum capital requirements.
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Certain U.K. and European subsidiaries of the Company are regulated by their national regulator, which include the FCA and L’Autorité des Marchés Financiers and must maintain financial resources (as defined by their national regulator) in excess of the total financial requirement (as defined by their national regulator). As of March 31, 2024, the U.K. and European subsidiaries had financial resources in excess of their requirements.
Certain other subsidiaries of the Company are subject to regulatory and other requirements of the jurisdictions in which they operate.
Certain BGC subsidiaries also operate as a DCM and DCO which are required to maintain financial resources to cover operating costs for at least one year, keeping at least enough cash or highly liquid securities to cover six months’ operating costs. In addition, BGC subsidiaries operate as SEFs which are required to maintain financial resources to cover operating costs for at least one year, keeping at least enough cash or highly liquid securities to cover the greater of three months of projected operating costs, or the projected costs needed to wind down the swap execution facility’s operations.
The regulatory requirements referred to above may restrict the Company’s ability to withdraw capital from its regulated subsidiaries. As of March 31, 2024, the Company’s regulated subsidiaries held $711.1 million of net capital. These subsidiaries had aggregate regulatory excess net capital of $394.5 million.
22. Segment, Geographic and Product Information
Segment Information
The Company currently operates in one reportable segment, brokerage services. The Company provides or has provided brokerage services to the financial markets, through integrated Voice, Hybrid and Fully Electronic brokerage in a broad range of products, including fixed income (Rates and Credit), FX, Equities, Energy, Commodities, and Shipping, and Futures and Options. BGC also provides a wide range of services, including trade execution, brokerage, clearing, trade compression, post-trade, information, consulting, and other back-office services to a broad range of financial and non-financial institutions.
Geographic Information
The Company offers products and services in the U.K., U.S., Asia (including Australia), Other Europe, MEA, France, and Other Americas. Information regarding revenues is as follows (in thousands):
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||
| Revenues: | |||||||||||
| U.K. | $ | 209,588 | $ | 191,184 | |||||||
| U.S. | 182,086 | 169,337 | |||||||||
| Asia | 73,845 | 71,371 | |||||||||
| Other Europe/MEA | 67,894 | 54,889 | |||||||||
| France | 27,258 | 27,138 | |||||||||
| Other Americas | 17,943 | 18,948 | |||||||||
| Total revenues | $ | 578,614 | $ | 532,867 | |||||||
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Information regarding long-lived assets (defined as loans, forgivable loans and other receivables from employees and partners, net; fixed assets, net; ROU assets; certain other investments; rent and other deposits; excluding goodwill and other intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization) in the geographic areas is as follows (in thousands):
| March 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||
| Long-lived assets: | |||||||||||
| U.S. | $ | 224,869 | $ | 220,050 | |||||||
| U.K. | 317,075 | 306,085 | |||||||||
| Asia | 77,005 | 75,496 | |||||||||
| Other Europe/MEA | 67,724 | 64,865 | |||||||||
France | 14,554 | 14,260 | |||||||||
Other Americas | 5,997 | 5,900 | |||||||||
| Total long-lived assets | $ | 707,224 | $ | 686,656 | |||||||
Product Information
The Company’s business is based on the products and services provided and reflects the manner in which financial information is evaluated by management.
The Company specializes in the brokerage of a broad range of products, including fixed income (Rates and Credit), FX, Equities, Energy, Commodities, and Shipping, and Futures and Options. It also provides a wide range of services, including trade execution, broker-dealer services, clearing, trade compression, post-trade, information, consulting, and other back-office services to a broad range of financial and non-financial institutions.
Product information regarding revenues is as follows (in thousands):
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||
| Revenues: | |||||||||||
| Rates | $ | 175,085 | $ | 164,737 | |||||||
| Energy, Commodities, and Shipping | 118,464 | 89,659 | |||||||||
| FX | 84,023 | 80,158 | |||||||||
| Credit | 87,592 | 89,549 | |||||||||
| Equities | 62,857 | 68,114 | |||||||||
| Total brokerage revenues | $ | 528,021 | $ | 492,217 | |||||||
| All other revenues | 50,593 | 40,650 | |||||||||
| Total revenues | $ | 578,614 | $ | 532,867 | |||||||
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23. Revenues from Contracts with Customers
The following table presents the Company’s total revenues separated between revenues from contracts with customers and other sources of revenues (in thousands):
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||
| Revenues from contracts with customers: | |||||||||||
| Commissions | $ | 415,172 | $ | 377,288 | |||||||
| Data, network and post-trade | 30,903 | 27,122 | |||||||||
| Fees from related parties | 4,421 | 3,957 | |||||||||
| Other revenues | 3,117 | 2,454 | |||||||||
| Total revenues from contracts with customers | 453,613 | 410,821 | |||||||||
| Other sources of revenues: | |||||||||||
| Principal transactions | 112,849 | 114,929 | |||||||||
| Interest and dividend income | 9,764 | 5,315 | |||||||||
| Other revenues | 2,388 | 1,802 | |||||||||
| Total revenues | $ | 578,614 | $ | 532,867 | |||||||
See Note 3—“Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” in our consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 for detailed information on the recognition of the Company’s revenues from contracts with customers.
Disaggregation of Revenue
See Note 22—“Segment, Geographic and Product Information,” for a further discussion on the allocation of revenues to geographic regions.
Contract Balances
The timing of the Company’s revenue recognition may differ from the timing of payment by its customers. The Company records a receivable when revenue is recognized prior to payment and the Company has an unconditional right to payment. Alternatively, when payment precedes the provision of the related services, the Company records deferred revenue until the performance obligations are satisfied.
The Company had receivables related to revenues from contracts with customers of $348.2 million and $314.8 million at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. The Company had no impairments related to these receivables during the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023.
The Company’s deferred revenue primarily relates to customers paying in advance or billed in advance where the performance obligation has not yet been satisfied. Deferred revenue at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 was $18.0 million and $14.7 million, respectively.
During the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company recognized revenue of $9.8 million and $8.1 million, respectively, that was recorded as deferred revenue at the beginning of the period.
Contract Costs
The Company capitalizes costs to fulfill contracts associated with different lines of its business where the revenue is recognized at a point in time and the costs are determined to be recoverable. Capitalized costs to fulfill a contract are recognized at the point in time that the related revenue is recognized.
The Company did not have any capitalized costs to fulfill a contract as of March 31, 2024 or December 31, 2023.
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24. Leases
The Company, acting as a lessee, has operating leases and finance leases primarily relating to office space, data centers and office equipment. The leases have remaining lease terms of 0.1 years to 15.4 years, some of which include options to extend the leases in 0.1 to 10 year increments for up to 15 years. Renewal periods are included in the lease term only when renewal is reasonably certain, which is a high threshold and requires management to apply judgment to determine the appropriate lease term. Certain leases also include periods covered by an option to terminate the lease if the Company is reasonably certain not to exercise the termination option. The Company measures its lease payments by including fixed rental payments and, where relevant, variable rental payments tied to an index, such as the Consumer Price Index. Payments for leases in place before the date of adoption of ASC 842, Leases were determined based on previous leases guidance. The Company recognizes lease expense for its operating leases on a straight-line basis over the lease term, and variable lease expense not included in the lease payment measurement is recognized as incurred. Interest expense on finance leases is recognized using the effective interest method over the lease term.
Pursuant to the accounting policy election, leases with an initial term of twelve months or less are not recognized on the balance sheet. The short-term lease expense over the period reasonably reflects the Company’s short-term lease commitments.
ASC 842, Leases requires the Company to make certain assumptions and judgments in applying the guidance, including determining whether an arrangement includes a lease, determining the term of a lease when the contract has renewal or cancelation provisions, and determining the discount rate.
The Company determines whether an arrangement is a lease or includes a lease at the contract inception by evaluating whether the contract conveys the right to control the use of an identified asset for a period of time in exchange for consideration. If the Company has the right to obtain substantially all of the economic benefits from, and can direct the use of, the identified asset for a period of time, the Company accounts for the identified asset as a lease. The Company has elected the practical expedient to not separate lease and non-lease components for all leases other than real estate leases. The primary non-lease component that is combined with a lease component represents operating expenses, such as utilities, maintenance or management fees.
As the rate implicit in the lease is not usually available, the Company used an incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at the adoption date of the new Leases standard in determining the present value of lease payments for existing leases. The Company has elected to use a portfolio approach for the incremental borrowing rate, applying corporate bond rates to the leases. The Company calculated the appropriate rates with reference to the lease term and lease currency. The Company uses information available at the lease commencement date to determine the discount rate for any new leases.
As of March 31, 2024, the Company did not have any leases that have not yet commenced but that create significant rights and obligations.
Supplemental information related to the Company’s operating and financing leases are as follows (dollar amounts in thousands):
| Classification in Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition | March 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |||||||||||||||
| Assets | |||||||||||||||||
| Operating lease ROU assets | $ | 118,200 | $ | 124,165 | |||||||||||||
| Finance lease ROU assets | $ | 3,938 | $ | 4,264 | |||||||||||||
| Liabilities | |||||||||||||||||
| Operating lease liabilities | $ | 142,395 | $ | 149,640 | |||||||||||||
| Finance lease liabilities | $ | 4,295 | $ | 4,721 | |||||||||||||
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| March 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||
| Weighted-average remaining lease term | |||||||||||
| Operating leases (years) | 7.2 | 7.3 | |||||||||
| Finance leases (years) | 3.1 | 3.4 | |||||||||
| Weighted-average discount rate | |||||||||||
| Operating leases | 5.0 | % | 5.0 | % | |||||||
| Finance leases | 4.3 | % | 4.3 | % | |||||||
The components of lease expense are as follows (in thousands):
| Classification in Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations | Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||||||||
Operating lease cost1 | Occupancy and equipment | $ | 8,445 | $ | 8,853 | ||||||||||||
| Finance lease cost | |||||||||||||||||
| Amortization on ROU assets | Occupancy and equipment | $ | 326 | $ | 326 | ||||||||||||
| Interest on lease liabilities | Interest expense | $ | 47 | $ | 60 | ||||||||||||
__________________________
1Short-term lease expense was not material for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023.
The following table shows the Company’s maturity analysis of its operating lease liabilities (in thousands):
| March 31, 2024 | |||||||||||
| Operating leases | Finance leases | ||||||||||
| 2024 (excluding the three months ended March 31, 2024) | $ | 24,386 | $ | 1,238 | |||||||
| 2025 | 27,755 | 1,448 | |||||||||
| 2026 | 20,938 | 1,290 | |||||||||
| 2027 | 19,383 | 627 | |||||||||
| 2028 | 13,526 | — | |||||||||
| Thereafter | 78,274 | — | |||||||||
| Total | $ | 184,262 | $ | 4,603 | |||||||
| Interest | (41,867) | (308) | |||||||||
| Total | $ | 142,395 | $ | 4,295 | |||||||
The following table shows cash flow information related to lease liabilities (in thousands):
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities | 2024 | 2023 | |||||||||
| Operating cash flows from operating lease liabilities | $ | 9,363 | $ | 9,604 | |||||||
| Operating cash flows from finance lease liabilities | $ | 47 | $ | 60 | |||||||
| Financing cash flows from finance lease liabilities | $ | 211 | $ | 302 | |||||||
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25. Current Expected Credit Losses (CECL)
The allowance for credit losses reflects management’s current estimate of potential credit losses related to the receivable balances included in the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition. See Note 3—“Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” for further discussion of the CECL reserve methodology.
As required, any subsequent changes to the allowance for credit losses are recognized in “Net income (loss) available to common stockholders” in the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. During the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company recorded changes in the allowance for credit losses as follows (in millions):
| Accrued commissions and other receivables, net | Loans, forgivable loans and other receivables from employees and partners, net | Receivables from broker-dealers, clearing organizations, customers and related broker-dealers | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Beginning balance, January 1, 2024 | $ | 5.0 | $ | 2.3 | $ | 18.9 | $ | 26.2 | |||||||||||||||
| Current-period provision for expected credit losses | 0.9 | — | 0.6 | 1.5 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Ending balance, March 31, 2024 | $ | 5.9 | $ | 2.3 | $ | 19.5 | $ | 27.7 | |||||||||||||||
| Accrued commissions and other receivables, net | Loans, forgivable loans and other receivables from employees and partners, net | Receivables from broker-dealers, clearing organizations, customers and related broker-dealers | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Beginning balance, January 1, 2023 | $ | 5.4 | $ | 2.5 | $ | 7.0 | $ | 14.9 | |||||||||||||||
| Current-period provision for expected credit losses | — | (0.1) | 2.0 | 1.9 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Ending balance, March 31, 2023 | $ | 5.4 | $ | 2.4 | $ | 9.0 | $ | 16.8 | |||||||||||||||
For the three months ended March 31, 2024, there was an increase of $0.9 million in the allowance for credit losses against “Accrued commissions and other receivables, net” due to the updated macroeconomic assumptions, bringing the allowance for credit losses recorded pertaining to “Accrued commissions and other receivables, net” to $5.9 million as of March 31, 2024. For the three months ended March 31, 2023, there was no change in the allowance for credit losses against “Accrued commissions and other receivables, net.”
For the three months ended March 31, 2024, there was no change in the allowance for credit losses pertaining to “Loans, forgivable loans and other receivables from employees and partners, net.” For the three months ended March 31, 2023, there was a decrease of $0.1 million in the allowance for credit losses recorded pertaining to “Loans, forgivable loans and other receivables from employees and partners, net” as a result of employee loan collections.
For the three months ended March 31, 2024, there was an increase of $0.6 million in the allowance for credit losses against “Receivables from broker-dealers, clearing organizations, customers and related broker-dealers” which reflected the downward credit rating migration of certain unsettled trades related to Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine, bringing the allowance for credit losses recorded pertaining to “Receivables from broker-dealers, clearing organizations, customers and related broker-dealers” to $19.5 million as of March 31, 2024. For the three months ended March 31, 2023, there was an increase of $2.0 million in the allowance for credit losses recorded pertaining to “Receivables from broker-dealers, clearing organizations, customers and related broker-dealers” which reflected the downward credit rating migration of certain unsettled trades related to Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine.
26. Subsequent Events
First Quarter 2024 Dividend
On April 29, 2024, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.02 per share for the first quarter of 2024, payable on June 4, 2024 to BGC Class A and Class B common stockholders of record as of May 21, 2024.
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Amendment to the Revolving Credit Agreement
On April 26, 2024, the Company amended and restated the Revolving Credit Agreement, to among other things, extend the maturity date to April 26, 2027 and provide the Company with the right to increase the facility up to $475.0 million, subject to certain conditions being met. The borrowing rates and financial covenants under the amended and restated Credit Agreement are substantially unchanged.
FMX Investment
On April 23, 2024, BGC and FMX entered into a separation agreement pursuant to which BGC contributed the assets and liabilities related to FMX’s business to FMX (the “FMX Separation”) and pursuant to which BGC and FMX agreed to certain restrictions in the operations of their respective businesses. Following the FMX Separation, the FMX Equity Partners contributed $171.7 million between April 23, 2024 and April 24, 2024 into FMX.
In connection with the FMX Separation, on April 23, 2024, BGC and FMX also entered into an Administrative Services Agreement and a Technology Services Agreement, pursuant to which BGC would provide certain administrative services and technology services to FMX.
Draw down on the Revolving Credit Agreement and Repayment of the BGC Credit Agreement
On April 1, 2024, the Company borrowed $275.0 million of principal amount from the Revolving Credit Agreement and subsequently repaid in full the $275.0 million of principal amount outstanding from the BGC Credit Agreement.
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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations should be read together with our unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and notes to those statements, as well as the cautionary statements relating to forward-looking statements included in this report.
The objective of this Management’s Discussion and Analysis is to allow investors to view the Company from management’s perspective, considering items that have had and could have a material impact on future operations. This discussion summarizes the significant factors affecting our results of operations and financial condition as of and during the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023. This discussion is provided to increase the understanding of, and should be read in conjunction with, our unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and the notes thereto included elsewhere in this report.
OVERVIEW AND BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT
We are a leading global marketplace, data, and financial technology services company for a broad range of products, including fixed income, foreign exchange, energy, commodities, shipping, and equities.
BGC, through its affiliates, specializes in the trade execution of a broad range of products, including fixed income securities such as government bonds, corporate bonds, and other debt instruments, as well as related interest rate derivatives and credit derivatives. Additionally, we provide brokerage services across FX, Equities, Energy, Commodities, and Shipping, and Futures and Options. Our businesses also provide connectivity and network solutions, clearing, market data and network connectivity products, trade compression and other post-trade services, market data and related information services and other back-office services to a broad assortment of financial and non-financial institutions.
Our integrated platform is designed to provide flexibility to customers with regard to price discovery, trade execution and transaction processing, as well as accessing liquidity through our platforms, for transactions executed either OTC or through an exchange. Through our electronic brands, we offer several trade execution, market infrastructure and connectivity services, as well as post-trade services.
Our clients include many of the world’s largest banks, broker-dealers, investment banks, trading firms, hedge funds, governments, corporations, and investment firms. BGC is a global operation with offices across all major geographies, including New York and London, as well as in Bahrain, Beijing, Bogota, Brisbane, Cape Town, Chicago, Copenhagen, Dubai, Dublin, Frankfurt, Geneva, Hong Kong, Houston, Johannesburg, Madrid, Manila, Melbourne, Mexico City, Miami, Milan, Monaco, Nyon, Paris, Perth, Rio de Janeiro, Santiago, São Paulo, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney, Tel Aviv, Tokyo, Toronto, and Zurich.
As of March 31, 2024, we had 2,119 brokers, salespeople, managers, technology professionals and other front-office personnel across our businesses.
Corporate Conversion
On July 1, 2023, the Company completed its Corporate Conversion to a Full C-Corporation in order to reorganize and simplify its organizational structure. As a result of the Corporate Conversion, BGC Group became the public holding company for, and successor to, BGC Partners, and its Class A common stock began trading on Nasdaq, in place of BGC Partners’ Class A common stock, under the ticker symbol “BGC.” Upon completion of the Corporate Conversion, the former stockholders of BGC Partners and the former limited partners of BGC Holdings now participate in the economics of the BGC businesses through BGC Group.
Effective as of 12:01 a.m., Eastern Time, on July 1, 2023, BGC Holdings reorganized from a Delaware limited partnership into a Delaware limited liability company through a merger with and into Holdings Merger Sub, with Holdings Merger Sub continuing as a direct subsidiary of BGC Partners. Effective as of 12:02 a.m., Eastern Time, on July 1, 2023, Merger Sub 1 merged with and into BGC Partners, with BGC Partners continuing as a direct subsidiary of BGC Group. At the same time, Merger Sub 2 merged with and into Holdings Merger Sub, with Holdings Merger Sub continuing as a subsidiary of BGC Group. As a result of the Corporate Conversion Mergers, BGC Partners and BGC Holdings became wholly owned subsidiaries of BGC Group.
In the Holdings Reorganization Merger, each unit of BGC Holdings outstanding as of immediately prior to the Holdings Reorganization Merger was converted into a substantially equivalent equity interest in Holdings Merger Sub.
In the Corporate Merger, each share of Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of BGC Partners and each share of Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of BGC Partners outstanding was converted into one share of Class
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A common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of BGC Group and one share of Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of BGC Group, respectively.
In connection with, but prior to the Corporate Conversion, the Company completed various transactions which included:
•the redemption of certain non-exchangeable limited partnership units in connection with the issuance of shares of BGC Partners Class A common stock and the accompanying tax payments, which led to an equity-based compensation charge of $60.9 million;
•the exchange of the remaining 1.5 million exchangeable limited partnership units of BGC Holdings held by employees on June 30, 2023, for 1.0 million shares, after tax withholding, of BGC Partners Class A common stock;
•the redemption of certain non-exchangeable limited partnership units of BGC Holdings held by employees and issuance of 16.9 million BGC Partners RSUs on a one-for-one basis on June 30, 2023;
•the redemption of certain non-exchangeable Preferred Units of BGC Holdings held by employees and issuance of $49.2 million of BGC Partners RSU Tax Accounts on June 30, 2023, based on the fixed cash value of the Preferred Units redeemed;
•the redemption of the remaining 5.6 million non-exchangeable FPUs and issuances of BGC Partners RSUs on a one-for-one basis on June 30, 2023, which in turn reduced the “Redeemable Partnership Interest” to zero with an offsetting impact to “Total equity” in the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition as of June 30, 2023; and
•the purchase on June 30, 2023 by Cantor from BGC Holdings of an aggregate of 5,425,209 Cantor units for an aggregate consideration of $9,715,772 as a result of the redemption of 5,425,209 FPUs, and 324,223 Cantor units for an aggregate consideration of $598,712 as a result of the exchange of 324,223 FPUs.
As a result of the Corporate Conversion:
•64.0 million Cantor units, including 5.7 million purchased on June 30, 2023, were converted into shares of BGC Group Class B common stock, subject to the terms and conditions of the Corporate Conversion Agreement, provided that a portion of the 64.0 million shares of BGC Group Class B common stock issued to Cantor will exchange into BGC Group Class A common stock in the event that BGC Group does not issue at least $75,000,000 in shares of BGC Group Class A or B common stock in connection with certain acquisition transactions prior to July 1, 2030, the seventh anniversary of the Corporate Conversion;
•BGC Group assumed all BGC Partners RSUs, RSU Tax Accounts or restricted stock awards outstanding as of June 30, 2023; and
•non-exchangeable limited partnership units of BGC Holdings were converted into equity awards denominated in cash, restricted stock and/or RSUs of BGC Group, each as further set forth in the Corporate Conversion Agreement. BGC Group granted 38.6 million restricted stock awards, 25.3 million RSUs, and $74.0 million of RSU Tax Accounts upon the conversion of the non-exchangeable shares of Holdings Merger Sub.
There were no limited partnership units of BGC Holdings remaining after the Corporate Conversion was completed.
In connection with the Corporate Conversion on July 1, 2023, the BGC Group Board and the Board of Directors of BGC Partners authorized the assumption of all agreements and arrangements between BGC Partners and any executive officer, director or affiliate of BGC Partners, with such modifications necessary to reflect the Corporate Conversion. Pursuant to the foregoing authorization, any existing agreements and arrangements between BGC Partners and any executive officer, director or affiliate of BGC Partners, were generally assumed unchanged, other than making BGC Group a party thereto.
In connection with the Corporate Conversion on July 1, 2023, the Board and Audit Committee of BGC Group approved the authorized repurchases of Company Equity Securities from any holder of Company Equity Securities, including our directors, officers, and employees, of up to $400.0 million.
In connection with the Corporate Conversion on July 1, 2023, the Board and Audit Committee of BGC Group approved the authorized repurchases of Company Debt Securities from any holder of Company Debt Securities, including our directors, officers, and employees, of up to $50.0 million.
In connection with the Corporate Conversion on July 1, 2023, BGC Group assumed and adopted: the Eighth Amended and Restated BGC Partners, Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended and restated as the BGC Group, Inc. Long Term Incentive Plan; the BGC Partners Second Amended and Restated BGC Partners Incentive Bonus Compensation Plan, as amended and restated, and renamed the BGC Group, Inc. Incentive Bonus Compensation Plan; and the BGC Partners, Inc.
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Deferral Plan for Employees of BGC Partners, Inc., Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P. and Their Affiliates, as amended and restated as the BGC Group, Inc. Deferral Plan for Employees of BGC Group, Inc., Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P. and Their Affiliates. The BGC Group Equity Plan provides for a maximum of 600 million shares of BGC Class A common stock that may be delivered or cash settled pursuant to the exercise or settlement of awards granted under the plan.
In connection with the Corporate Conversion on July 1, 2023, the BGC Holdings Limited Partnership Agreement was terminated, and the BGC Holdings, L.P. Participation Plan was terminated.
In connection with the Corporate Conversion on July 1, 2023, BGC Group amended and restated its certificate of incorporation to reflect an increase in the authorized shares of BGC Group Class A common stock to 1,500,000,000; an increase in the authorized shares of BGC Group Class B common stock to 300,000,000; and a provision providing for exculpation to officers of BGC Group pursuant to Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL. Additionally, BGC Group amended and restated its bylaws to adopt a provision providing that Delaware courts shall be the exclusive forum for certain matters.
In connection with the Corporate Conversion on July 1, 2023, the Exchange Agreement with Cantor terminated based on its own terms.
In connection with the Corporate Conversion on July 1, 2023, BGC Group, Cantor and certain affiliates of Cantor entered into an Amended and Restated U.S. Master Administrative Services Agreement and an Amended and Restated U.K. Master Administrative Services Agreement.
FMX
FMX, our electronic U.S. Treasury, Rates futures and Spot FX platform represents the unique opportunity to reshape the U.S. interest rate cash and futures market.
In January 2024, FMX received CFTC approval to operate an exchange for U.S. interest rate futures products, the largest and most widely traded futures contracts in the world.
The FMX Equity Partners contributed $171.7 million between April 23, 2024 and April 24, 2024 into FMX in exchange for a 25.75% ownership interest at a post-money equity valuation of $666.7 million. The FMX Equity Partners received an additional 10.3% of equity ownership subject to driving trading volumes and meeting certain volume targets across the FMX ecosystem. FMX Futures Exchange is expected to launch in September 2024.
FMX combines the world’s fastest growing cash U.S. Treasuries platform with its spot Foreign Exchange business, along with its U.S. interest rate futures exchange. FMX’s cash U.S. Treasuries platform, formerly known as Fenics UST, has been renamed FMX UST. FMX’s spot Foreign Exchange business, formerly known as Fenics FX, has been renamed FMX FX.
FMX UST revenue increased by over 33.0% in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the first quarter of 2023, on a 21.0% improvement in average daily volume. FMX UST grew its central limit order book market share to 28.0% for the first quarter, up from 26.0% in the fourth quarter of 2023, and 21.0% a year ago.
Fenics
For the purposes of this document and subsequent SEC filings, all of our higher margin, technology-driven businesses are referred to as Fenics. We categorize our Fenics businesses as Fenics Markets and Fenics Growth Platforms. Fenics Markets includes the fully electronic portion of BGC’s brokerage businesses, data, network and post-trade revenues that are unrelated to Fenics Growth Platforms, as well as Fenics Integrated revenues. Fenics Growth Platforms includes FMX UST, Fenics GO, Lucera, FMX FX, PortfolioMatch and other newer standalone platforms. Revenue generated from data, network and post-trade attributable to Fenics Growth Platforms are included within their related businesses.
Historically, technology-based product growth has led to higher margins and greater profits over time for exchanges and wholesale financial intermediaries alike, even if overall Company revenues remain consistent. This is largely because automated and electronic trading efficiency allows the same number of employees to manage a greater volume of trades as the marginal cost of incremental trading activity falls. Over time, the conversion of exchange-traded and OTC markets to fully electronic trading has also typically led to an increase in volumes which offset lower commissions, and often lead to similar or higher overall revenues. We have been a pioneer in creating and encouraging hybrid and fully electronic execution, and continually work with our customers to expand such trading across more asset classes and geographies.
These electronic markets for OTC products have grown as a percentage of overall industry volumes over the past decade as firms like BGC have invested in the kinds of technology favored by our customers. Regulation across banking, capital markets, and OTC derivatives has accelerated the adoption of fully electronic execution, and we expect this demand to continue. We also believe that new clients, beyond our large bank customer base, will primarily transact electronically across our Fenics platforms.
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The combination of wider adoption of hybrid and fully electronic execution and our competitive advantage in terms of technology and experience has contributed to our strong growth in electronically traded products. We continue to invest in our high-growth, high-margin, technology-driven businesses, including our standalone fully electronic Fenics Growth Platforms. Fenics has exhibited strong growth over the past several years, and we believe that this growth has outpaced the wholesale brokerage industry. We expect this trend to accelerate as we continue to convert more of our Voice/Hybrid execution into higher-margin, technology-driven execution across our Fenics platforms and continue to grow our Fenics Growth Platforms.
We expect to benefit from the trend towards electronic trading, increased demand for market data, and the need for increased connectivity, automation, and post-trade services. We continue to onboard new customers as the opportunities created by electronic and algorithmic trading continue to transform our industry. We continue to roll out our next-generation Fenics execution platforms across more products and geographies with the goal of seamlessly integrating the liquidity of voice transactions with customer electronic orders either by a GUI, API, or web-based interface.
Revenues in our Fenics businesses increased 6.4%, to a record $149.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, as compared to the prior year period.
Within our Fenics businesses, Fenics Markets revenue grew 3.6% to $127.4 million in the first quarter of 2024 as compared to the prior year period. Fenics Markets growth was driven by higher electronic Rates and Credit volumes, along with strong Fenics Market Data subscription revenues.
Fenics Growth Platforms revenue grew 26.2% to $21.9 million in the first quarter of 2024, as compared to the prior year period, primarily driven by FMX UST, PortfolioMatch, Lucera, and Capitalab. Collectively, our newer Fenics Growth Platform offerings are not yet fully up to scale, but continue to grow at a leading rate. Over time, we expect these new products and services to become profitable, high-margin businesses as their scale and revenues increase, all else equal.
We continue to invest in our Fenics Growth Platforms, and notable highlights for the first quarter of 2024 include:
•FMX UST revenue increased by over 33% on a 21% improvement in average daily volume.
•PortfolioMatch more than doubled its U.S. credit volumes year-over-year. These record volumes drove revenues 87% higher. PortfolioMatch continues to onboard new accounts and increase its market share in its rapidly growing segment of the market.
•Lucera, our network business, revenues grew by 36%, primarily driven by new clients and expansion of existing client agreements. Lucera’s subscription based revenues have consistently grown by strong double-digits.
•Capitalab, our post-trade business, generated revenue growth of 40%, driven by higher interest rate compression.
Total revenues from our high-margin Data, network and post-trade business, which is predominately comprised of recurring revenue, increased by 13.9%, to $30.9 million, for the three months ended March 31, 2024, as compared to the prior year period.
Data, network and post-trade revenue growth for the first quarter of 2024 was driven by broad based revenue growth across Fenics Market Data, Lucera, and Capitalab.
Fenics brokerage revenues increased by 4.6% to $118.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, as compared to the prior year period.
Fenics’ revenue growth was led by Fenics Rates, Credit and Data, network and post-trade businesses, and Fenics represented 25.8% of BGC’s overall revenue in the first quarter of 2024.
Acquisitions
On November 1, 2023 the Company completed the acquisition of ContiCap, an independent financial product intermediary specializing in emerging markets.
On November 1, 2023 the Company completed the acquisition of Open Energy Group, a technology-driven marketplace and brokerage for renewable energy asset sales and project finance.
On February 28, 2023 the Company completed the acquisition of Trident, primarily operating as a commodity brokerage and research company, offering OTC and exchange traded energy and environmental products.
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Brands and Trademarks
The trademarks/service marks and/or registered trademarks/service marks of BGC Group and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and/or other jurisdictions are Amerex, Aurel, Aurel BGC, Capitalab, Caventor, CBID, Conticap, CreditMatch, BGC, BGC Group, BGC Partners, BGC Trader, ELX, Euro Brokers, Fenics, Fenics.com, Fenics Markets Xchange, Fenics Digital, Fenics UST, Fenics FX, Fenics Repo, Fenics Direct, Fenics MID, Fenics MD, Fenics Market Data, Fenics GO, Fenics PortfolioMatch, FMX, FMX Futures, FMX Markets Xchange, FMX UST, FMX FX, FMX Repo, GFI, GFI Ginga, kACE2, Lake Securities, Latium Capital, LumeFX, LumeMarkets, Lucera, Martin Brokers, Maxcor, Matchbox, Mint, MIS Brokers, Perimeter Markets Inc., Poten & Partners, RP Martin, Tower Bridge, Sunrise Brokers, Swaptioniser and VolumeMatch.
Other Matters
In February 2022, the U.S., U.K., EU, and other countries imposed sanctions on Russian counterparties, and as a result BGC has ceased trading with those clients. The Company derived less than 1% of total revenue from its Moscow branch and sanctioned Russian counterparties. During the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company reserved $2.0 million and $2.0 million, respectively, in connection with unsettled trades and receivables with sanctioned Russian entities.
Recent Developments / Tax Policy Changes
On August 16, 2022, the IR Act was signed into federal law. The IR Act provides for, among other things, a new corporate alternative minimum tax based on 15% of adjusted financial statement income for applicable corporations. The IR Act also provides for a new U.S. federal 1% excise tax on certain repurchases (including redemptions) of stock by publicly traded U.S. corporations and certain U.S. subsidiaries of publicly traded foreign corporations. The excise tax is imposed on the repurchasing corporation itself and not its stockholders from which the shares are repurchased. In addition, certain exceptions apply to the excise tax. These tax provisions of the IR Act were effective January 1, 2023. The IR Act and related regulatory developments did not have a material impact on our financial statements nor is it expected to have a material impact in future periods.
On July 1, 2021, the OECD released a statement on the Two-Pillar Solution to Address the Tax Challenges Arising From the Digitalization of the Economy, reflecting the agreement of 130 of the member jurisdictions of the Inclusive Framework on some key parameters with respect to Pillars I and II. The objective is to introduce a global minimum tax rate of 15% applicable to multinational groups with global book revenue in excess of EUR 750 million. The tax has the effect of increasing the ETR to 15% in jurisdictions where the ETR calculated under the GloBE Rules is under 15%. In December 2022, the Council of the EU unanimously adopted the EU Minimum Tax Directive, which would require member states to implement these rules. Due to complexities in applying the legislation and calculating GloBE income, the detailed quantitative impact of the enacted or substantively enacted legislation is not yet reasonably estimable. Management performed an analysis of the potential impact of the Pillar Two provisions on its multinational activities. Based on that analysis, management does not believe that the Pillar Two tax regime will result in a material increase to its tax expense. Management will continue to evaluate the potential impact the Pillar Two Framework may have on the future results of operations and financial condition.
Financial Services Industry
The financial services industry has grown historically due to several factors. One factor was the increasing use of derivatives to manage risk or to take advantage of the anticipated direction of a market by allowing users to protect gains and/or guard against losses in the price of underlying assets without having to buy or sell the underlying assets. Derivatives are often used to mitigate the risks associated with interest rates, equity ownership, changes in the value of FX, credit defaults by corporate and sovereign debtors, and changes in the prices of commodity products. Over this same timeframe, demand from financial institutions, large corporations and other end-users of financial products have increased volumes in the wholesale derivatives market, thereby increasing the business opportunity for financial intermediaries.
Another key factor in the historical growth of the financial services industry has been the increase in the number of new financial products. As market participants and their customers strive to mitigate risk, new types of equity and fixed income securities, futures, options and other financial instruments have been developed. Most of these new securities and derivatives were not immediately ready for more liquid and standardized electronic markets, and generally increased the need for trading and required broker-assisted execution.
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Due largely to the impacts of the global financial crisis of 2008-2009, our businesses had faced more challenging market conditions from 2009 until the second half of 2016. Accommodative monetary policies were enacted by several major central banks, including the Federal Reserve, Bank of England, Bank of Japan and the European Central Bank, in response to the global financial crises. These policies resulted in historically low levels of volatility and interest rates across many of the financial markets in which we operate. The global credit markets also faced structural issues, such as increased bank capital requirements under Basel III. Consequently, these factors contributed to lower trading volumes in our Rates and Credit asset classes across most geographies in which we operated.
From mid-2016 until the first quarter of 2020, the overall financial services industry benefited from sustained economic growth, lower unemployment rates in most major economies, higher consumer spending, the modification or repeal of certain U.S. regulations, and higher overall corporate profitability. The trend towards digitization and electronification within the industry contributed to higher overall volumes and transaction count in fully electronic execution. From the second quarter of 2020 onward, concerns about the future trade relationship between the U.K. and the EU after Brexit, a slowdown in global growth driven by the outbreak of COVID-19, and an increase in trade protectionism were tempered by monetary and fiscal stimulus. During 2021, as the global economy recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic, higher inflation across the U.S. and other G8 countries led many central banks to begin and/or announce tapering and unwinding of asset purchases under quantitative easing programs, as well as implement multiple interest rate hikes.
During the fourteen years between 2008 and 2022, BGC and the entire financial service industry’s trading volumes were constrained by low interest rates and quantitative easing. Manufactured zero and near-zero interest rates caused the breakdown and disappearance of the historic correlation between issuance and trading volume growth. The change in central bank monetary policies away from zero interest rates, following the highest inflation in decades, together with rising interest rates set the stage for a resurgence in secondary market trading volumes for rates, credit and foreign exchange. We believe the return of this strong positive correlation in the current macro trading environment, which has meaningful interest rates and issuance that is multiples above 2008 levels, positions BGC to benefit and drive its trading volumes, revenue and profitability higher for the foreseeable future.
On March 4, 2024, our company made the announcement that it would be joining the S&P SmallCap 600 Index, with the inclusion taking effect before trading commenced on March 18, 2024. The S&P SmallCap 600 is designed to track the performance of the small-cap sector of the U.S. stock market.
Brexit
On January 1, 2021, the U.K. formally left the EU and U.K.-EU trade became subject to a new agreement that was concluded in December of 2020. The exit from the EU is commonly referred to as Brexit. Financial services fall outside of the scope of this trade agreement. At the time, the relationship was expected to be determined by a series of “equivalence decisions,” each of which would grant mutual market access for a limited subset of financial services where either party finds the other party has a regulatory regime that achieves similar outcomes to its own. In March 2021, the U.K. and EU entered into a Memorandum of Understanding on Financial Services Regulatory Cooperation which creates a structure for dialogue but does not include commitments on equivalence.
In light of ongoing uncertainties, market participants are still adjusting the way in which they conduct business between the U.K. and EU. The impact of Brexit on the U.K.-EU flow of financial services and economies of the U.K. and the EU member states continues to evolve.
We have implemented measures to ensure continuity of service in Europe and continue to have regulated offices in place in many of the major European markets. As part of our ongoing Brexit strategy, ownership of BGC Madrid, Copenhagen and Frankfurt and GFI Paris, Madrid and Dublin branches were transferred to Aurel BGC SAS (a French-based operation and therefore based in the EU) in July 2020. We have been generally increasing our footprint in the EU, including the establishment of a new branch office of Aurel BGC SAS in Milan, and a new office in Monaco under a new local Monaco subsidiary.
Regardless of these and other mitigating measures, our European headquarters and largest operations are in London, and market access risks and uncertainties have had and could continue to have a material adverse effect on our customers, counterparties, business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations. Furthermore, in the future the U.K. and EU’s regulation may further diverge, which could disrupt and increase the costs of our operations, and result in a loss of existing levels of cross-border market access.
Regulation
Regulators in the U.S. have finalized most of the new rules across a range of financial marketplaces, including OTC derivatives, as mandated by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Many of these rules became effective in prior years, while ongoing phase-ins are anticipated over coming years.
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In addition to regulations in the U.S., legislators and regulators in Europe have crafted similar rules: MiFID II, which made sweeping changes to market infrastructure, European Market Infrastructure Regulation, which focused specifically on derivatives, and Capital Requirements Directive IV for prudential standards. Over the past few years, European policymakers have launched various reviews of post-financial crisis legislation, leading to legislative updates such as EMIR Regulatory Fitness and Performance and CRD V. In May 2019, the European Securities Market Authority produced a report on proposals to further enhance the harmonization and standardization of derivatives reporting under EMIR, known as EMIR Refit. These proposals will require significant changes to the content and format of trade and transaction reporting systems across the industry. The current go-live dates for these changes are April 29, 2024 for Europe and September 30, 2024 for the U.K. We remain on track to be in compliance with the reporting enhancements. Furthermore, they introduced a new prudential regime tailored specifically to investment firms such as our firm – the Investment Firm Review. As all these rules take effect, they will continue to alter the environment in which we operate. We note that various internal and external factors have made the EU more rigid in its regulatory approach to non-EU countries, which could impact the ease with which the global financial system is connected.
In 2019, a new European Commission took office which may, over the course of its five-year mandate, introduce new legislative proposals for the Financial Services Sector and change the Brexit landscape for EU and U.K. financial firms alike. We are unable to predict how any of these new laws and proposed rules and regulations in the U.S., the EU or the U.K. will be implemented or in what form, or whether any additional or similar changes to statutes or rules and regulations, including the interpretation or implementation thereof or a relaxation or other amendment of existing rules and regulations, will occur in the future. Any such action could affect us in substantial and unpredictable ways, including important changes in market infrastructure, increased reporting costs and a potential rearrangement in the sources of available revenue in a more transparent market. Certain enhanced regulations could subject us to the risk of fines, sanctions, enhanced oversight, increased financial or capital requirements and additional restrictions or limitations on our ability to conduct or grow our businesses, and could otherwise have an adverse effect on our businesses, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. We believe that uncertainty and potential delays around the final form of such new rules and regulations may negatively impact our customers and trading volumes in certain markets in which we transact, although a relaxation of existing rules and requirements could potentially have a positive impact in certain markets. Increased capital requirements may also diminish transaction velocity.
BGC Derivative Markets and GFI Swaps Exchange, our subsidiaries, operate as SEFs. Mandatory Dodd-Frank Act compliant execution on SEFs by eligible U.S. persons for “made available to trade” products, and a wide range of other rules relating to the execution and clearing of derivative products have been implemented. We also own ELX, which became a dormant contract market on July 1, 2017, and in July 2021 we completed the purchase of the CX Futures Exchange (now FMX Futures Exchange) from Cantor, which represents our futures exchange and related clearinghouse. These rules require authorized execution facilities to maintain robust front-end and back-office IT capabilities and to make large and ongoing technology investments. These execution facilities may be supported by a variety of voice and auction-based execution methodologies, and our Hybrid and Fully Electronic trading capability have performed strongly in this regulatory environment.
On June 25, 2020, the CFTC approved a final rule prohibiting post-trade name give-up for swaps executed, prearranged or pre-negotiated anonymously on or pursuant to the rules of a SEF and intended to be cleared. The rule provides exemptions for package transactions that include a component transaction that is not a swap that is intended to be cleared. The rule went into effect on November 1, 2020 for swaps subject to the trade execution requirement under the Commodity Exchange Act Section 2(h)(8) and July 5, 2021 for swaps not subject to the trade execution requirement but intended to be cleared.
On November 2, 2023, the SEC adopted Regulation SE under the Exchange Act to create a regime for the registration and regulation of SBSEFs. The SEC rules regarding the over-the-counter derivatives market seek to harmonize as closely as practicable with parallel rules of the CFTC that govern SEFs and swap execution generally. Among other things, Regulation SE under the Exchange Act made changes to implement the Exchange Act’s trade execution requirement for security-based swaps and address the cross-border application of that requirement; implement Section 765 of the Dodd-Frank Act to mitigate conflicts of interest at SBSEFs and national securities exchanges that trade security-based swaps; and promote consistency between proposed Regulation SE and existing rules under the Exchange Act. Any entity that meets the definition of a SBSEF must file an application to register with the SEC within 180 days of the effective date of February 13, 2024.
The SEC also adopted final rules on December 13, 2023 regarding central clearing of certain secondary market repurchase and reverse repurchase transactions and secondary market purchase and sale transactions involving U.S. Treasury securities. The central clearing mandate will impact certain market participants who do not clear today, and some have expressed concerns about the potential impact of additional clearing costs on liquidity. The full impact of this change, whether positive or negative, on our industry, our clients or us is unknown at this time.
In addition, several state-level laws in the U.S. that have recently come into effect, and may come into effect in the future, have created and will create new compliance obligations in relation to personal data.
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See “Regulation” included in Part I, Item 1 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 for additional information related to our regulatory environment.
Industry Consolidation
Over the past decade, there has been significant consolidation among the interdealer-brokers and wholesale brokers with which we compete. We continue to compete with the electronic markets, post-trade and information businesses of the CME, through the various offerings on our Fenics platform, which includes FMX. We will also continue to compete with TP ICAP and Tradition across various Voice/Hybrid brokerage marketplaces as well as via Fenics.
Additionally, there has been an increase in acquisitions of OTC trading platforms by exchanges and electronic marketplaces, such as ICE buying BondPoint and TMC Bonds, Deutsche Börse buying 360T, CBOE buying Hotspot, MarketAxess buying LiquidityEdge, Tradeweb buying Nasdaq’s U.S. Fixed Income Electronic Trading Platform, LSEG acquiring Quantile, etc. We view the recent consolidation in the industry favorably, as we expect it to provide additional operating leverage to our businesses in the future.
Growth Drivers
As a wholesale intermediary in the financial services industry, our businesses are driven primarily by secondary trading volumes in the markets in which we broker, the size and productivity of our front-office headcount including brokers, salespeople, managers, technology professionals and other front-office personnel, regulatory issues, and the percentage of our revenues we are able to generate by Fully Electronic means. BGC’s revenues tend to have low correlation in the short- and medium-term with global bank and broker-dealer sales and trading revenues, which reflect bid-ask spreads and mark-to-market movements, as well as industry volumes in both the primary and secondary markets.
Below is a brief analysis of the market and industry volumes for some of our products, including our overall Hybrid and Fully Electronic execution activities.
Overall Market Volumes and Volatility
Volume is driven by a number of factors, including the level of issuance for financial instruments, price volatility of financial instruments, macro-economic conditions, creation and adoption of new products, regulatory environment, and the introduction and adoption of new trading technologies. Historically, increased price volatility has often increased the demand for hedging instruments, including many of the cash and derivative products that we broker.
Rates volumes in particular are influenced by market volumes and, in certain instances, volatility. Historically low and negative interest rates, as well as central bank quantitative easing programs, across the globe significantly reduced the overall trading appetite for rates products. Such programs depressed rates volumes because they entail central banks buying government securities or other securities in the open market in an effort to promote increased lending and liquidity and bring down long-term interest rates. When central banks hold these instruments, they tend not to trade or hedge, thus lowering rates volumes across cash and derivatives markets industry-wide. Following the market dislocation and pandemic, major central banks such as the U.S. Federal Reserve, ECB, Bank of Japan, Bank of England, and Swiss National Bank restarted quantitative easing programs in 2020. Beginning in 2022 inflationary concerns have resulted in rising interest rates and tapering and/or unwinding of central bank asset purchases.
The return of interest rates has led to improved macro trading conditions which has benefited BGC. This improved backdrop is expected to support both BGC’s Fenics and Voice/Hybrid businesses for the foreseeable future.
Additional factors have weighed on market volumes in the products we broker. For example, the Basel III accord, implemented in late 2010 by the G-20 central banks, is a global regulatory framework on bank capital adequacy, stress testing and market liquidity risk that was developed with the intention of making banks more stable in the wake of the financial crisis by increasing bank liquidity and reducing bank leverage. The accord, which took effect on January 1, 2023, requires most large banks in G-20 nations to hold approximately three times as much Tier 1 capital as was required under the previous set of rules. These capital rules have made it more expensive for banks to hold non-sovereign debt assets on their balance sheets, and as a result, analysts say that banks have reduced their proprietary trading activity in corporate and asset-backed fixed income securities as well as in various other OTC cash and derivative instruments. We believe that this has further reduced overall market exposure and industry volumes in many of the products we broker, particularly in Credit.
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During the three months ended March 31, 2024, industry volumes were generally higher across Rates, Credit and Energy, Commodities, and Shipping compared to the prior year period. Secondary trading volumes were mixed across FX, while volumes were generally lower across Equities compared to the prior year period. BGC’s brokerage revenues were up by 7.3% year-on-year in the quarter, driven by strong performance across Energy, Commodities, and Shipping, Rates, and Foreign Exchange.
Below is an expanded discussion of the volume and growth drivers of our various brokerage product categories.
Rates Volumes and Volatility
Our Rates business is influenced by a number of factors, including global sovereign issuances, interest rates, central bank policies, secondary trading and the hedging of these sovereign debt instruments. The amount of global sovereign debt outstanding remains at historically high levels; the level of secondary trading and related hedging activity was generally higher during the first quarter of 2024 compared to the prior year period. According to Bloomberg and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the average daily volume of U.S. Government Securities was up 12% compared to the prior year period. Over the same time period, listed products on CME were down 4%, while interest rate swap volumes traded on SEF were up 24% compared to the first quarter of 2023, according to Clarus. In comparison, our overall Rates revenues were up 6.3%, as compared to a year earlier, to $175.1 million.
Our Rates revenues, like the revenues for most of our products, are not fully dependent on market volumes and, therefore, do not always fluctuate consistently with industry metrics. This is largely because our Voice, Hybrid, and Fully Electronic Rates desks often have volume discounts built into their price structure, which results in our Rates revenues being less volatile than the overall industry volumes.
Overall, analysts and economists expect the absolute level of sovereign debt outstanding to remain at elevated levels for the foreseeable future as governments finance their future deficits and roll over their sizable existing debt. Additionally, yields on government bonds have steadily increased over the course of 2022 and 2023, which has given rise to increased volatility and higher demand to hedge interest rate exposure. The tapering and/or unwinding of asset purchases by central banks and, interest rate hikes, along with elevated levels of government debt issuance, are expected to provide tailwinds to our Rates business.
Energy, Commodities, and Shipping Volumes
Energy, Commodities, and Shipping volumes were higher during the first quarter of 2024 compared to the prior year period. CME and ICE energy futures and options volumes were up 16% and 27%, respectively, compared to the prior year period. In comparison, BGC’s Energy, Commodities, and Shipping revenues increased 32.1%, compared to the prior year period, to $118.5 million.
FX Volumes and Volatility
Global FX volumes were mixed during the first quarter of 2024. Volumes for CME EBS spot FX was down 19%, while Euronext FX was up 18%, during the quarter compared to the prior year period. In comparison, our overall FX revenues increased by 4.8%, compared to the prior year period, to $84.0 million.
Credit Volumes
Our Credit business is impacted by the level of global corporate bond issuance, and interest rates. Credit volumes were generally higher during the first quarter of 2024 compared to the prior year period. FINRA TRACE average daily volume for U.S. Investment Grade was up 19% and U.S. High Yield was up 9% according to Bloomberg and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, respectively. In comparison, our overall Credit revenues decreased by 2.2%, compared to the prior year period, to $87.6 million.
Equities Volumes
Global equity volumes were generally lower during the first quarter of 2024 compared to the prior year period. According to the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association, or SIFMA, the average daily volume of U.S. cash equities traded was flat as compared to a year earlier. Over the same timeframe, Eurex average daily volumes of equity and equity index derivatives were down 19% while Euronext equity derivative index volumes were down 18%. However, according to the OCC, the average daily volume of U.S. options was up 3%. BGC’s equity business primarily consists of equity
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derivatives, particularly European equity derivatives. Our overall revenues from Equities decreased by 7.7%, compared to the prior year period, to $62.9 million.
REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT
See “Regulation” in Part I, Item 1 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information related to our regulatory environment.
LIQUIDITY
See “Liquidity and Capital Resources” herein for information related to our Liquidity and capital resources.
HIRING
Key drivers of our revenue are front-office producer headcount and average revenue per producer. We believe that our strong technology platform and unique compensation structure have enabled us to use both acquisitions and recruiting to uniquely position us to be able out perform our peer group.
We have invested significantly through acquisitions and the hiring of new brokers, salespeople, managers, technology professionals and other front-office personnel. The business climate for these acquisitions has been competitive, and it is expected that these conditions will persist for the foreseeable future. We have been able to attract businesses and brokers, salespeople, managers, technology professionals and other front-office personnel to our platform as we believe they recognize that we have the scale, technology, experience and expertise to succeed.
As of March 31, 2024, our front-office headcount was 2,119 brokers, salespeople, managers, technology professionals and other front-office personnel, up 5.3% from 2,012 a year ago. Compared to the prior year, average revenue per front-office employee for the three months ended March 31, 2024, increased by 1.3% to $0.3 million.
The laws and regulations passed or proposed on both sides of the Atlantic concerning OTC trading seem likely to favor increased use of technology by all market participants, and are likely to accelerate the adoption of both Hybrid and Fully Electronic execution. We believe these developments will favor the larger inter-dealer brokers over smaller, non-public local competitors, as the smaller players generally do not have the financial resources to invest the necessary amounts in technology. We believe this will lead to further consolidation across the wholesale financial brokerage industry, and thus allow us to grow profitably.
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FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
For the three months ended March 31, 2024 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023
Income from operations before income taxes was $71.1 million compared to $33.2 million in the prior year period.
Total revenues increased $45.7 million compared to the prior year period, or 8.6%, to $578.6 million, largely due to growth of 7.3% in our brokerage revenues, driven by strong growth across most of our asset classes:
•Energy, Commodities, and Shipping increased $28.8 million, or 32.1%;
•Rates increased $10.3 million, or 6.3%;
•FX increased $3.9 million, or 4.8%;
•Credit decreased $2.0 million, or 2.2%; and
•Equities decreased $5.3 million, or 7.7%.
In addition, there was an increase of $4.4 million in Interest and dividend income, primarily driven by income earned on money market funds. Further, there was an increase of $3.8 million in Data, network and post-trade revenues, primarily driven by strong revenue growth across Fenics Market Data, our Lucera network business and our Capitalab post-trade business, as a result of expanding both our client base and our offerings.
Total expenses increased $48.1 million, or 9.6%, to $548.1 million. There was a $38.3 million increase in total compensation expenses primarily driven by higher commission revenues on variable compensation and an increase in equity-based compensation. The $9.8 million increase in non-compensation expenses was primarily driven by an increase in Interest expense related to the BGC Partners 8.000% Senior Notes issued on May 24, 2023 and borrowings on both the Revolving Credit Agreement and BGC Credit Agreement. These higher interest expenses were partially offset by lower interest due to the repayment in full of the BGC Partners 5.375% Senior Notes on July 24, 2023.
Total other income (losses), net increased $40.2 million, to $40.6 million, largely driven by a $36.6 million unrealized gain recorded in the three months ended March 31, 2024 related to fair value adjustments on investments carried under the measurement alternative.
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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following table sets forth our unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations data expressed as a percentage of total revenues for the periods indicated (dollar amounts in thousands):
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Actual Results | Percentage of Total Revenues | Actual Results | Percentage of Total Revenues | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Revenues: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Commissions | $ | 415,172 | 71.8 | % | $ | 377,288 | 70.8 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Principal transactions | 112,849 | 19.5 | 114,929 | 21.6 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total brokerage revenues | 528,021 | 91.3 | 492,217 | 92.4 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Fees from related parties | 4,421 | 0.8 | 3,957 | 0.7 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Data, network and post-trade | 30,903 | 5.3 | 27,122 | 5.1 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Interest and dividend income | 9,764 | 1.6 | 5,315 | 1.0 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Other revenues | 5,505 | 1.0 | 4,256 | 0.8 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total revenues | 578,614 | 100.0 | 532,867 | 100.0 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Expenses: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Compensation and employee benefits | 290,842 | 50.3 | 267,214 | 50.1 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Equity-based compensation and allocations of net income to limited partnership units and FPUs¹ | 96,081 | 16.6 | 81,373 | 15.3 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total compensation and employee benefits | 386,923 | 66.9 | 348,587 | 65.4 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Occupancy and equipment | 40,806 | 7.1 | 41,165 | 7.7 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Fees to related parties | 7,215 | 1.2 | 8,440 | 1.6 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Professional and consulting fees | 14,259 | 2.5 | 15,701 | 3.0 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Communications | 30,008 | 5.2 | 27,939 | 5.2 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Selling and promotion | 16,771 | 2.9 | 14,616 | 2.7 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Commissions and floor brokerage | 17,392 | 3.0 | 15,265 | 2.9 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense | 20,136 | 3.5 | 15,742 | 3.0 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Other expenses | 14,558 | 2.4 | 12,508 | 2.3 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total expenses | 548,068 | 94.7 | 499,963 | 93.8 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Other income (losses), net: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gains (losses) on equity method investments | 1,790 | 0.3 | 2,062 | 0.4 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Other income (loss) | 38,762 | 6.7 | (1,735) | (0.3) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total other income (losses), net | 40,552 | 7.0 | 327 | 0.1 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Income (loss) from operations before income taxes | 71,098 | 12.3 | 33,231 | 6.3 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Provision (benefit) for income taxes | 22,057 | 3.8 | 12,061 | 2.3 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Consolidated net income (loss) | $ | 49,041 | 8.5 | % | $ | 21,170 | 4.0 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Less: Net income (loss) from operations attributable to noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries | (169) | 0.0 | 2,192 | 0.4 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) available to common stockholders | $ | 49,210 | 8.5 | % | $ | 18,978 | 3.6 | % | |||||||||||||||
____________________________
1The components of Equity-based compensation and allocations of net income to limited partnership units and FPUs are as follows (dollar amounts in thousands):
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Actual Results | Percentage of Total Revenues | Actual Results | Percentage of Total Revenues | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of common stock and grants of exchangeability | $ | 33,832 | 5.9 | % | $ | 51,966 | 9.8 | % | |||||||||||||||
| Allocations of net income and dividend equivalents | 1,294 | 0.2 | 2,380 | 0.4 | |||||||||||||||||||
| LPU amortization | — | 0.0 | 21,431 | 4.0 | |||||||||||||||||||
| RSU, RSU Tax Account, and restricted stock amortization | 60,955 | 10.5 | 5,596 | 1.1 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Equity-based compensation and allocations of net income to limited partnership units and FPUs | $ | 96,081 | 16.6 | % | $ | 81,373 | 15.3 | % | |||||||||||||||
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Three Months Ended March 31, 2024 Compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2023
Revenues
Brokerage Revenues
Total brokerage revenues increased by $35.8 million, or 7.3%, to $528.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023. Commission revenues increased by $37.9 million, or 10.0%, to $415.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023. Principal transactions revenues decreased by $2.1 million, or 1.8%, to $112.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023.
Our brokerage revenues from Energy, Commodities, and Shipping increased by $28.8 million, or 32.1%, to $118.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023, which was primarily driven by strong double-digit volume growth across our energy complex and our environmental business.
Our brokerage revenues from Rates increased by $10.3 million, or 6.3%, to $175.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023, reflecting strong growth across interest rate derivatives, government bonds, and emerging market rates products.
Our FX revenues increased by $3.9 million, or 4.8%, to $84.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023, which was primarily driven by higher volumes across emerging markets currencies and options.
Our Credit revenues decreased by $2.0 million, or 2.2%, to $87.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023, primarily driven by lower trading volumes in Asian credit, partially offset by strong European credit activity.
Our brokerage revenues from Equities decreased by $5.3 million, or 7.7%, to $62.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023, primarily driven by lower secondary trading volumes in equity derivative products, partially offset by higher cash equity volumes consistent with industry-wide volumes.
Fees from Related Parties
Fees from related parties increased by $0.5 million, or 11.7%, to $4.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023. This was primarily driven by an increase in revenues in connection with services provided to Cantor.
Data, Network and Post-Trade
Data, network and post-trade revenues increased by $3.8 million, or 13.9%, to $30.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023. This increase was primarily driven by strong revenue growth across Fenics Market Data, Lucera, our network business and Capitalab, our post-trade business, as a result of expanding both our client base and our offerings.
Interest and Dividend Income
Interest and dividend income increased by $4.4 million, or 83.7%, to $9.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023. This was driven by an increase in interest income on money market funds and employee loans, which were primarily driven by changing interest rates and larger balances.
Other Revenues
Other revenues increased by $1.2 million, or 29.3%, to $5.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023, primarily driven by an increase in consulting income and dividend income on investments.
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Expenses
Compensation and Employee Benefits
Compensation and employee benefits expense increased by $23.6 million, or 8.8%, to $290.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023, primarily driven by higher commission revenues on variable compensation, as well as an increase in newly hired brokers and new business lines.
Equity-Based Compensation and Allocations of Net Income to Limited Partnership Units and FPUs
Equity-based compensation and allocations of net income to limited partnership units and FPUs increased by $14.7 million, or 18.1%, to $96.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023. This was primarily driven by an increase in RSU, RSU Tax Account, and restricted stock amortization expenses, partially offset by a cessation of LPU amortization expense, related to the Corporate Conversion, and a decrease in issuance of common stock. The equity based compensation expense also includes the acceleration of approximately 4.3 million restricted stock awards of a former executive officer which resulted in a $25.4 million compensation expense for the three months ended March 31, 2024.
Occupancy and Equipment
Occupancy and equipment expense decreased by $0.4 million, or 0.9%, to $40.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023.
Fees to Related Parties
Fees to related parties decreased by $1.2 million, or 14.5%, to $7.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023. Fees to related parties are allocations paid to Cantor for administrative and support services, such as accounting, occupancy, and legal.
Professional and Consulting Fees
Professional and consulting fees decreased by $1.4 million, or 9.2%, to $14.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023, primarily driven by a decrease in consulting and other professional services and fees.
Communications
Communications expense increased by $2.1 million, or 7.4%, to $30.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 as compared to three months ended March 31, 2023, primarily driven by an increase in various terminal and line service costs across market data and communications.
Selling and Promotion
Selling and promotion expense increased by $2.2 million, or 14.7%, to $16.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023, primarily driven by an increase in business related travel and client entertainment.
Commissions and Floor Brokerage
Commissions and floor brokerage expense increased by $2.1 million, or 13.9%, to $17.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023, which was primarily driven by a higher number of trades in the three months ended March 31, 2024 and an increase in commission expense.
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Interest Expense
Interest expense increased by $4.4 million, or 27.9%, to $20.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023, primarily driven by interest expense related to the Company’s 8.000% Senior Notes issued on May 24, 2023 and higher interest expense related to the borrowings on both the Revolving Credit Agreement and BGC Credit Agreement, partially offset by a decrease in interest expense related to the BGC Partners 5.375% Senior Notes due to their maturity on July 24, 2023.
Other Expenses
Other expenses increased by $2.1 million, or 16.4%, to $14.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023, which was primarily due to an increase in amortization expenses of intangible assets and an increase in revaluation expenses.
Other Income (Losses), Net
Gains (Losses) on Equity Method Investments
Gains (losses) on equity method investments decreased by $0.3 million, or 13.2%, due to a gain of $1.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 as compared to a gain of $2.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023.
Other Income (Loss)
Other income (loss) increased by $40.5 million to a gain of $38.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023, primarily driven by a $36.6 million unrealized gain recorded related to fair value adjustments on investments carried under the measurement alternative.
Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes
Provision (benefit) for income taxes increased by $10.0 million, or 82.9%, to $22.1 million of tax expense for the three months ended March 31, 2024 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023. The increase was primarily driven by an increase in pre-tax earnings and change in the geographical and business mix of earnings, which can impact our consolidated effective tax rate from period-to-period.
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest in Subsidiaries
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries decreased by $2.4 million, or 107.7%, to a loss of $0.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2023, primarily due to no longer reflecting net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries related to BGC Holdings as a result of the Corporate Conversion.
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QUARTERLY RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following table sets forth our unaudited quarterly results of operations for the indicated periods (in thousands). Results of any period are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year and may, in certain periods, be affected by seasonal fluctuations in our business. Certain reclassifications have been made to prior period amounts to conform to the current period’s presentation.
| March 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | September 30, 2023 | June 30, 2023 | March 31, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | September 30, 2022 | June 30, 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Revenues: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Commissions | $ | 415,172 | $ | 388,211 | $ | 350,305 | $ | 348,720 | $ | 377,288 | $ | 315,658 | $ | 299,430 | $ | 309,542 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Principal transactions | 112,849 | 73,563 | 84,725 | 94,883 | 114,929 | 82,169 | 79,568 | 88,169 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fees from related parties | 4,421 | 4,226 | 3,723 | 4,062 | 3,957 | 3,896 | 3,896 | 3,625 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Data, network and post-trade | 30,903 | 29,551 | 27,797 | 27,000 | 27,122 | 25,063 | 23,808 | 23,391 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest and dividend income | 9,764 | 16,586 | 10,150 | 13,371 | 5,315 | 5,501 | 4,110 | 8,961 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other revenues | 5,505 | 4,623 | 5,994 | 5,044 | 4,256 | 4,228 | 5,755 | 2,068 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total revenues | 578,614 | 516,760 | 482,694 | 493,080 | 532,867 | 436,515 | 416,567 | 435,756 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Expenses: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Compensation and employee benefits | 290,842 | 248,915 | 233,087 | 243,387 | 267,214 | 181,671 | 202,353 | 211,873 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Equity-based compensation and allocations of net income to limited partnership units and FPUs | 96,081 | 78,093 | 69,268 | 126,644 | 81,373 | 89,332 | 57,730 | 46,133 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total compensation and employee benefits | 386,923 | 327,008 | 302,355 | 370,031 | 348,587 | 271,003 | 260,083 | 258,006 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupancy and equipment | 40,806 | 41,062 | 40,028 | 40,488 | 41,165 | 40,197 | 38,710 | 39,921 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fees to related parties | 7,215 | 9,172 | 7,046 | 7,991 | 8,440 | 7,377 | 6,551 | 6,009 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Professional and consulting fees | 14,259 | 16,144 | 13,734 | 14,819 | 15,701 | 24,286 | 15,048 | 13,810 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Communications | 30,008 | 29,169 | 29,222 | 27,813 | 27,939 | 26,237 | 26,802 | 27,166 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Selling and promotion | 16,771 | 17,009 | 14,939 | 15,320 | 14,616 | 14,461 | 11,373 | 12,443 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Commissions and floor brokerage | 17,392 | 15,342 | 14,755 | 16,161 | 15,265 | 13,591 | 13,104 | 14,239 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense | 20,136 | 20,795 | 20,780 | 19,914 | 15,742 | 14,788 | 14,499 | 14,342 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other expenses | 14,558 | 26,519 | 22,030 | 13,221 | 12,508 | 26,695 | 19,951 | 23,010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total expenses | 548,068 | 502,220 | 464,889 | 525,758 | 499,963 | 438,635 | 406,121 | 408,946 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other income (losses), net: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gain (loss) on divestiture and sale of investments | — | — | — | — | — | (846) | (183) | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gains (losses) on equity method investments | 1,790 | 2,584 | 2,094 | 2,412 | 2,062 | 2,158 | 3,230 | 2,729 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other income (loss) | 38,762 | 14,765 | 3,967 | (1,011) | (1,735) | 2,415 | 5,545 | 1,909 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total other income (losses), net | 40,552 | 17,349 | 6,061 | 1,401 | 327 | 3,727 | 8,592 | 4,638 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Income (loss) from operations before income taxes | 71,098 | 31,889 | 23,866 | (31,277) | 33,231 | 1,607 | 19,038 | 31,448 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Provision (benefit) for income taxes | 22,057 | 10,626 | 5,314 | (9,067) | 12,061 | (1,991) | 10,813 | 15,105 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Consolidated net income (loss) | $ | 49,041 | $ | 21,263 | $ | 18,552 | $ | (22,210) | $ | 21,170 | $ | 3,598 | $ | 8,225 | $ | 16,343 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries | (169) | 1,318 | 1,506 | (2,506) | 2,192 | 1,382 | 2,463 | 1,581 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) available to common stockholders | $ | 49,210 | $ | 19,945 | $ | 17,046 | $ | (19,704) | $ | 18,978 | $ | 2,216 | $ | 5,762 | $ | 14,762 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The table below details our brokerage revenues by product category for the indicated periods (dollar amounts in thousands):
| March 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | September 30, 2023 | June 30, 2023 | March 31, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | September 30, 2022 | June 30, 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Brokerage revenue by product: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rates | $ | 175,085 | $ | 155,802 | $ | 145,703 | $ | 144,209 | $ | 164,737 | $ | 123,594 | $ | 129,971 | $ | 137,129 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Energy, Commodities, and Shipping | 118,464 | 104,739 | 93,120 | 98,688 | 89,659 | 73,608 | 68,975 | 66,687 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FX | 84,023 | 77,226 | 79,795 | 77,527 | 80,158 | 71,868 | 73,481 | 74,347 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Credit | 87,592 | 65,642 | 63,747 | 65,806 | 89,549 | 68,067 | 58,187 | 61,257 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Equities | 62,857 | 58,365 | 52,665 | 57,373 | 68,114 | 60,690 | 48,384 | 58,291 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total brokerage revenues | $ | 528,021 | $ | 461,774 | $ | 435,030 | $ | 443,603 | $ | 492,217 | $ | 397,827 | $ | 378,998 | $ | 397,711 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Brokerage revenue by product (percentage): | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rates | 33.2 | % | 33.8 | % | 33.5 | % | 32.5 | % | 33.5 | % | 31.0 | % | 34.3 | % | 34.5 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Energy, Commodities, and Shipping | 22.4 | 22.7 | 21.4 | 22.2 | 18.2 | 18.5 | 18.2 | 16.8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FX | 15.9 | 16.7 | 18.3 | 17.5 | 16.3 | 18.1 | 19.4 | 18.7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Credit | 16.6 | 14.2 | 14.7 | 14.8 | 18.2 | 17.1 | 15.3 | 15.4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Equities | 11.9 | 12.6 | 12.1 | 13.0 | 13.8 | 15.3 | 12.8 | 14.6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total brokerage revenues | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Brokerage revenue by type: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Voice/Hybrid | $ | 409,597 | $ | 360,536 | $ | 337,522 | $ | 345,478 | $ | 379,005 | $ | 313,994 | $ | 297,316 | $ | 311,541 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fully Electronic1 | 118,424 | 101,238 | 97,508 | 98,125 | 113,212 | 83,833 | 81,682 | 86,170 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total brokerage revenues | $ | 528,021 | $ | 461,774 | $ | 435,030 | $ | 443,603 | $ | 492,217 | $ | 397,827 | $ | 378,998 | $ | 397,711 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Brokerage revenue by product (percentage): | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Voice/Hybrid | 77.6 | % | 78.1 | % | 77.6 | % | 77.9 | % | 77.0 | % | 78.9 | % | 78.4 | % | 78.3 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fully Electronic1 | 22.4 | 21.9 | 22.4 | 22.1 | 23.0 | 21.1 | 21.6 | 21.7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total brokerage revenues | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
____________________________
1Includes Fenics Integrated.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Balance Sheet
Our balance sheet and business model are not capital intensive. Our assets consist largely of Cash and cash equivalents, collateralized and uncollateralized short-dated receivables and less liquid assets needed to support our business. Longer-term capital (equity and notes payable) is held to support the less liquid assets and potential capital investment opportunities. Total assets as of March 31, 2024 were $4.4 billion, an increase of 37.8% as compared to December 31, 2023. The increase in total assets was driven primarily by an increase in Receivables from broker-dealers, clearing organizations, customers and related broker-dealers, Accrued commissions and other receivables, net, and Loans, forgivable loans and other receivables from employees and partners, net. We maintain a significant portion of our assets in Cash and cash equivalents and Financial instruments owned, at fair value, with Cash and cash equivalents as of March 31, 2024 of $566.8 million, and our Liquidity as of March 31, 2024 of $615.7 million. See “Liquidity Analysis” below for a further discussion of our Liquidity and a reconciliation to the most comparable GAAP financial measure. Our Financial instruments owned, at fair value, were $48.9 million as of March 31, 2024, compared to $45.8 million as of December 31, 2023.
As part of our cash management process, we may enter into Reverse Repurchase Agreements and other short-term investments, some of which may be with Cantor. As of both March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, there were no Reverse Repurchase Agreements outstanding. Further, as of both March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, there were no Repurchase Agreements or Securities loaned outstanding.
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Additionally, in August 2013, the Audit Committee authorized us to invest up to $350.0 million in an asset-backed commercial paper program for which certain Cantor entities serve as placement agent and referral agent. The program issues short-term notes to money market investors and is expected to be used from time to time as a liquidity management vehicle. The notes are backed by assets of highly rated banks. We are entitled to invest in the program so long as the program meets investment policy guidelines, including policies relating to ratings. Cantor will earn a spread between the rate it receives from the short-term note issuer and the rate it pays to us on any investments in this program. This spread will be no greater than the spread earned by Cantor for placement of any other commercial paper note in the program. As of both March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, we did not have any investments in the program.
Funding
Our funding base consists of longer-term capital (equity and notes payable), collateralized financings and shorter-term liabilities incurred through the normal course of business. We have limited need for short-term unsecured funding in our regulated entities for their brokerage business. Contingent liquidity needs are largely limited to potential cash collateral that may be needed to meet clearing bank, clearinghouse, and exchange margins and/or to fund fails. Current cash and cash equivalent balances exceed our potential normal course contingent liquidity needs. We believe that cash and cash equivalents in and available to our largest regulated entities, inclusive of financing provided by clearing banks and cash segregated under regulatory requirements, is adequate for potential cash demands of normal operations, such as margin or financing of fails. We expect our operating activities going forward to generate adequate cash flows to fund normal operations, share repurchases, and any dividends paid pursuant to our dividend policy. However, we continually evaluate opportunities for growth and to further enhance our strategic position, including, among other things, acquisitions, strategic alliances and joint ventures potentially involving all types and combinations of equity, debt and acquisition alternatives. As a result, we may need to raise additional funds to:
•increase the regulatory net capital necessary to support operations;
•support continued growth in our businesses;
•effect acquisitions, strategic alliances, joint ventures and other transactions;
•develop new or enhanced products, services and markets; and
•respond to competitive pressures.
Acquisitions and financial reporting obligations related thereto may impact our ability to access longer term capital markets funding on a timely basis and may necessitate greater short-term borrowings in the interim. This may impact our credit rating or our costs of borrowing. We may need to access short-term capital sources to meet business needs from time to time, including, but not limited to, conducting operations; hiring or retaining brokers, salespeople, managers, technology professionals and other front-office personnel; financing acquisitions; and providing liquidity, including in situations where we may not be able to access the capital markets in a timely manner when desired by us. Accordingly, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to obtain additional financing when needed on terms that are acceptable to us, if at all.
As discussed below, our Liquidity remained strong at $615.7 million as of March 31, 2024, which can be used for share repurchases, dividends, new hires, tax payments, ordinary movements in working capital, and our continued investment in Fenics Growth Platforms. During the three months ended March 31, 2024, we repurchased 9.8 million shares of BGC Class A common stock for aggregate consideration of $68.5 million, representing a weighted-average price per share of $6.98.
As of May 7, 2024, we have repurchased an additional 1.4 million shares of BGC Class A common stock during the second quarter for aggregate consideration of $11.7 million, representing a weighted-average price per share of $8.31.
On April 29, 2024, our Board declared a $0.02 dividend for the first quarter of 2024. Our current capital allocation priorities are to return capital to stockholders and to continue investing in the growth of our business.
Notes Payable and Other Borrowings
Unsecured Senior Revolving Credit Agreement
On March 12, 2024, the Company repaid in full the $240.0 million of borrowings outstanding under the Revolving Credit Agreement. As of March 31, 2024, there were no borrowings outstanding under the Revolving Credit Agreement. As of December 31, 2023, there were $240.0 million of borrowings outstanding under the Revolving Credit Agreement. BGC Group recorded interest expense related to the Revolving Credit Agreement of $3.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024. BGC Partners recorded interest expense related to the Revolving Credit Agreement of $1.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023.
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On April 1, 2024, we borrowed $275.0 million under the Revolving Credit Agreement, and used the proceeds from such borrowing, along with cash on hand, to repay the principal and interest related to all of the $275.0 million of borrowings outstanding under the BGC Credit Agreement. On April 26, 2024, the Company amended and restated the Revolving Credit Agreement, to, among other things, extend the maturity date to April 26, 2027 and provide the Company with the right to increase the facility up to $475.0 million, subject to certain conditions being met. The borrowing rates and financial covenants under the amended and restated Credit Agreement are substantially unchanged. Our Liquidity remains strong and was $615.7 million as of March 31, 2024, as discussed below.
See Note 17—“Notes Payable and Other Borrowings” to our unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for information regarding our Revolving Credit Agreement.
BGC Credit Agreement with Cantor
On March 8, 2024, the Company entered into a second amendment to the BGC Credit Agreement which further amends the BGC Credit Agreement, The BGC Credit Agreement automatically extends for successive one-year periods unless prior written notice of non-extension is given by a lending party to a borrowing party at least six months in advance of such renewal date, in which case the BGC Credit Agreement will terminate six months following receipt of such notice. On March 12, 2024, the Company borrowed $275.0 million from Cantor under the BGC Credit Agreement and used the proceeds from such borrowing to repay the principal and interest related to all of the $240.0 million of borrowings outstanding under the Revolving Credit Agreement. As of March 31, 2024, there were $275.0 million of borrowings by the Company outstanding under the BGC Credit Agreement. As of December 31, 2023, there were no borrowings by BGC Partners or Cantor outstanding under this agreement. As of March 31, 2024, the interest rate on this facility was 6.92%. The Company recorded interest expense related to the BGC Credit Agreement of $1.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024. The Company did not record any interest expense related to the BGC Credit Agreement for the three months ended March 31, 2023.
On April 1, 2024, the Company borrowed $275.0 million under the Revolving Credit Agreement, and used the proceeds from such borrowing, along with cash on hand, to repay the principal and interest related to all of the $275.0 million of borrowings outstanding under the BGC Credit Agreement. See Note 13—“Related Party Transactions” and Note 17—“Notes Payable and Other Borrowings” to our unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for information regarding our BGC Credit Agreement with Cantor.
5.375% Senior Notes due July 24, 2023
On July 24, 2018, BGC Partners issued an aggregate of $450.0 million principal amount of BGC Partners 5.375% Senior Notes. The BGC Partners 5.375% Senior Notes were general senior unsecured obligations of BGC Partners. On July 24, 2023, BGC Partners repaid the $450.0 million principal amount plus accrued interest on the BGC Partners 5.375% Senior Notes using the proceeds from the issuance of the BGC Partners 8.000% Senior Notes, cash on hand and borrowings under the Revolving Credit Agreement. We recorded interest expense related to the 5.375% Senior Notes of $6.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023.
See Note 13—“Related Party Transactions” and Note 17—“Notes Payable and Other Borrowings” to our unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for information regarding our 5.375% Senior Notes.
Exchange Offer and Market-Making Registration Statement
On October 6, 2023, we completed the Exchange Offer, in which we exchanged BGC Partners Notes for new notes issued by BGC Group with the same respective interest rates, maturity dates and substantially identical terms as the tendered notes, and cash. In connection with the Exchange Offer, and on behalf of BGC Partners, we also solicited consents from (i) holders of the BGC Partners Notes to certain proposed amendments to the indenture and supplemental indentures pursuant to which such BGC Partners Notes were issued to, among other things, eliminate certain affirmative and restrictive covenants and events of default, including the “Change of Control” provisions, which had applied to each series of the BGC Partners Notes, and (ii) from holders of the BGC Partners 8.000% Senior Notes to amend the registration rights agreement relating thereto to terminate such agreement.
On October 19, 2023, we filed a resale registration statement on Form S-3 pursuant to which CF&Co may make offers and sales of the BGC Group Notes in connection with ongoing market-making transactions which may occur from time to time. Such market-making transactions in these securities may occur in the open market or may be privately negotiated at prevailing market prices at a time of resale or at related or negotiated prices. Neither CF&Co, nor any other of our affiliates, has any obligation to make a market in our securities, and CF&Co or any such other affiliate may discontinue market-making activities at any time without notice.
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See Note 17—“Notes Payable and Other Borrowings” to our unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for information regarding our Exchange Offer and the market-making registration statement.
3.750% Senior Notes due October 1, 2024
On October 11, 2019, BGC Partners filed a Registration Statement on Form S-4, which was declared effective by the SEC on October 24, 2019. On October 28, 2019, BGC Partners launched an exchange offer in which holders of the BGC Partners 3.750% Senior Notes, issued in a private placement on September 27, 2019, could exchange such notes for new registered notes with substantially identical terms. The exchange offer closed on December 9, 2019, at which point the initial BGC Partners 3.750% Senior Notes were exchanged for new registered notes with substantially identical terms.
The outstanding aggregate principal amount of BGC Group 3.750% Senior Notes, which are general senior unsecured obligations of BGC Group, was $255.5 million as of March 31, 2024. There were no BGC Group 3.750% Senior Notes outstanding as of March 31, 2023. BGC Group recorded interest expense related to the BGC Group 3.750% Senior Notes of $2.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024. BGC Group did not record interest expense related to the BGC Group 3.750% Senior Notes for the three months ended March 31, 2023.
The outstanding aggregate principal amount of BGC Partners 3.750% Senior Notes, which are general senior unsecured obligations of BGC Partners, was $44.5 million as of March 31, 2024. The outstanding aggregate principal amount of BGC Partners 3.750% Senior Notes was $300.0 million as of March 31, 2023. BGC Partners recorded interest expense related to the BGC Partners 3.750% Senior Notes of $0.4 million and $3.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
The BGC Group 3.750% Senior Notes and the BGC Partners 3.750% Senior Notes will mature on October 1, 2024. We intend to either refinance the 3.750% Senior Notes prior to maturity, or use cash on hand, cash flow from operations, the Revolving Credit Agreement, or the BGC Credit Agreement to settle such amounts.
See Note 13—“Related Party Transactions” and Note 17—“Notes Payable and Other Borrowings” to our unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for information regarding our 3.750% Senior Notes.
4.375% Senior Notes due December 15, 2025
On August 28, 2020, BGC Partners filed a Registration Statement on Form S-4, which was declared effective by the SEC on September 8, 2020. On September 9, 2020, BGC Partners launched an exchange offer in which holders of the BGC Partners 4.375% Senior Notes, issued in a private placement on July 10, 2020, could exchange such notes for new registered notes with substantially identical terms. The exchange offer closed on October 14, 2020, at which point the initial BGC Partners 4.375% Senior Notes were exchanged for new registered notes with substantially identical terms.
The outstanding aggregate principal amount of BGC Group 4.375% Senior Notes, which are general senior unsecured obligations of BGC Group, was $288.1 million as of March 31, 2024. There were no BGC Group 4.375% Senior Notes outstanding as of March 31, 2023. BGC Group recorded interest expense related to the BGC Group 4.375% Senior Notes of $3.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024. BGC Group did not record interest expense related to the BGC Group 4.375% Senior Notes for the three months ended March 31, 2023.
The outstanding aggregate principal amount of BGC Partners 4.375% Senior Notes, which are general senior unsecured obligations of BGC Partners, was $11.9 million as of March 31, 2024.The outstanding aggregate principal amount of BGC Partners 4.375% Senior Notes was $300.0 million as of March 31, 2023. BGC Partners recorded interest expense related to the BGC Partners 4.375% Senior Notes of $0.1 million and $3.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
See Note 13—“Related Party Transactions” and Note 17—“Notes Payable and Other Borrowings” to our unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for information regarding our 4.375% Senior Notes.
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8.000% Senior Notes due May 25, 2028
The outstanding aggregate principal amount of BGC Group 8.000% Senior Notes, which are general senior unsecured obligations of BGC Group, was $347.2 million as of March 31, 2024. There were no BGC Group 8.000% Senior Notes outstanding as of March 31, 2023. BGC Group recorded interest expense related to the BGC Group 8.000% Senior Notes of $7.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024. BGC Group did not record interest expense related to the BGC Group 8.000% Senior Notes for the three months ended March 31, 2023.
The outstanding aggregate principal amount of BGC Partners 8.000% Senior Notes, which are general senior unsecured obligations of BGC Partners, was $2.8 million as of March 31, 2024. There were no BGC Partners 8.000% Senior Notes outstanding as of March 31, 2023. BGC Partners recorded interest expense related to the BGC Partners 8.000% Senior Notes of $0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024. BGC Partners did not record interest expense related to the BGC Partners 8.000% Senior Notes for the three months ended March 31, 2023.
See Note 13—“Related Party Transactions” and Note 17—“Notes Payable and Other Borrowings” to our unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for information regarding our 8.000% Senior Notes.
Collateralized Borrowing
On April 8, 2019, BGC Partners entered into a $15.0 million secured loan arrangement, under which it pledged certain fixed assets as security for a loan. This arrangement incurred interest at a fixed rate of 3.77% and matured on April 8, 2023, at which point the loan was repaid in full; therefore, there were no borrowings as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023. The interest expense related to this secured loan arrangement for the three months ended March 31, 2023 was nil.
On April 19, 2019, BGC Partners entered into a $10.0 million secured loan arrangement, under which it pledged certain fixed assets as security for a loan. This arrangement incurred interest at a fixed rate of 3.89% and matured on April 19, 2023, at which point the loan was repaid in full; therefore, there were no borrowings as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023. The interest expense related to this secured loan arrangement for the three months ended March 31, 2023 was nil.
See Note 17—“Notes Payable and Other Borrowings” to our unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for information regarding our collateralized borrowings.
Weighted-average Interest Rate
For the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, the weighted-average interest rate of our total Notes payable and other borrowings, which include our Revolving Credit Agreement, Company Debt Securities, BGC Credit Agreement, and collateralized borrowings, was 5.51% and 5.84%, respectively.
Short-term Borrowings
On August 22, 2017, BGC Partners entered into a committed unsecured loan agreement with Itau Unibanco S.A. The agreement provided for short-term loans of up to $4.0 million (BRL 20.0 million). Borrowings under this agreement bore interest at the Brazilian Interbank offering rate plus 3.20%. During June 2023, the borrowings under this agreement were repaid in full, and the loan was terminated. As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, there were no borrowings outstanding under the agreement. As of March 31, 2023, the interest rate was 17.00%. BGC Partners recorded interest expense related to the agreement of $0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2023.
On August 23, 2017, BGC Partners entered into a committed unsecured credit agreement with Itau Unibanco S.A. The agreement provided for an intra-day overdraft credit line up to $10.0 million (BRL 50.0 million). On August 20, 2021, the agreement was renegotiated, increasing the credit line to $12.0 million (BRL 60.0 million). On May 22, 2023 the agreement was renegotiated, increasing the credit line to $14.0 million (BRL 70.0 million.) This agreement bears a fee of 1.35% per year and the maturity date of the agreement is May 17, 2024. As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, there were no borrowings outstanding under this agreement. The bank fees related to the agreement were nil for each of the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023.
See Note 17—“Notes Payable and Other Borrowings” to our unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for information regarding our short-term borrowings.
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DEBT REPURCHASE PROGRAM
On June 11, 2020, BGC Partners’ Board of Directors and its Audit Committee authorized a debt repurchase program for the repurchase by the Company of up to $50.0 million of Company Debt Securities, and on July 1, 2023, BGC Group’s Board of Directors and its Audit Committee authorized a debt repurchase program for the repurchase by the Company of up to $50.0 million of Company Debt Securities. Repurchases of Company Debt Securities, if any, are expected to reduce future cash interest payments, as well as future amounts due at maturity or upon redemption.
Under the authorization, the Company may make repurchases of Company Debt Securities for cash from time to time in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions upon such terms and at such prices as management may determine. Additionally, the Company is authorized to make any such repurchases of Company Debt Securities through CF&Co (or its affiliates), in its capacity as agent or principal, or such other broker-dealers as management shall determine to utilize from time to time, and such repurchases shall be subject to brokerage commissions which are no higher than standard market commission rates.
As of March 31, 2024, the Company had $50.0 million remaining under its debt repurchase authorization.
LIQUIDITY ANALYSIS
We consider our Liquidity, a non-GAAP financial measure, to be comprised of the sum of Cash and cash equivalents, Reverse Repurchase Agreements, and Financial instruments owned, at fair value, less Securities loaned and Repurchase Agreements. We consider liquidity to be an important metric for determining the amount of cash that is available or that could be readily available to the Company on short notice. The discussion below describes the key components of our Liquidity analysis. We believe our cash, cash flows, and financing arrangements are sufficient to support our cash requirements for the next twelve months and beyond.
We consider the following in analyzing changes in our Liquidity:
•Our Liquidity analysis includes a comparison of our Consolidated net income (loss) adjusted for certain non-cash items (e.g., Equity-based compensation) as presented on the cash flow statement. Dividends are payments made to our holders of common shares and are related to earnings from prior periods. These timing differences will impact our cash flows in a given period;
•Our investing and funding activities represent a combination of our capital raising activities, including short-term borrowings and repayments, BGC Class A common stock repurchases and, previously, partnership unit redemptions, purchases and sales of securities, dispositions, and other investments (e.g., acquisitions, forgivable loans to new brokers and capital expenditures—all net of depreciation and amortization);
•Our securities settlement activities primarily represent deposits with clearing organizations;
•Other changes in working capital represent changes primarily in receivables and payables and accrued liabilities that impact our Liquidity; and
•Changes in Reverse Repurchase Agreements and Financial instruments owned, at fair value may result from additional cash investments or sales, which will be offset by a corresponding change in Cash and cash equivalents and, accordingly, will not result in a change in our Liquidity. Conversely, changes in the market value of such securities are reflected in our earnings or other comprehensive income (loss) and will result in changes in our Liquidity.
At December 31, 2019, the Company completed the calculation of the one-time transition tax on the deemed repatriation of foreign subsidiaries’ earnings pursuant to the Tax Act and previously recorded a net cumulative tax expense of $28.6 million, net of foreign tax credits. An installment election can be made to pay the taxes over eight years with 40% paid in equal installments over the first five years and the remaining 60% to be paid in installments of 15%, 20% and 25% in years six, seven and eight, respectively. The cumulative remaining balance as of March 31, 2024 was $18.8 million.
As of March 31, 2024, the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries had $566.8 million of Cash and cash equivalents. The Company and its consolidated subsidiaries held securities of $48.9 million within their Liquidity position as of March 31, 2024. In addition, the FMX Equity Partners contributed $171.7 million between April 23, 2024 and April 24, 2024 into FMX.
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Discussion of the three months ended March 31, 2024
The table below presents our Liquidity Analysis as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023:
| March 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||
| (in thousands) | |||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 566,791 | $ | 655,641 | |||||||
| Financial instruments owned, at fair value | 48,905 | 45,792 | |||||||||
| Total | $ | 615,696 | $ | 701,433 | |||||||
The $85.7 million decrease in our Liquidity position from $701.4 million as of December 31, 2023 to $615.7 million as of March 31, 2024 was primarily related to share repurchases of $68.6 million, ordinary movements in working capital, capitalized expenditures, tax payments, dividends and distributions, and our continued investment in Fenics Growth Platforms, partially offset by borrowings of $275.0 million principal amount on the BGC Credit Agreement, net of repayment of the $240.0 million of borrowings on the Revolving Credit Agreement, and cash flows from operations.
Discussion of the three months ended March 31, 2023
The table below presents our Liquidity Analysis as of March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022:
| March 31, 2023 | December 31, 2022 | ||||||||||
| (in thousands) | |||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 493,496 | $ | 484,989 | |||||||
| Financial instruments owned, at fair value | 41,302 | 39,319 | |||||||||
| Total | $ | 534,798 | $ | 524,308 | |||||||
The $10.5 million increase in our Liquidity position from $524.3 million as of December 31, 2022 to $534.8 million as of March 31, 2023, was primarily related to cash flow from operations and borrowings on the Revolving Credit Agreement, partially offset by ordinary movements in working capital, the acquisition of Trident, tax payments, dividends and distributions, share repurchases and our continued investment in Fenics Growth Platforms.
CREDIT RATINGS
As of March 31, 2024, our public long-term credit ratings and associated outlooks were as follows:
| Rating | Outlook | ||||||||||
| Fitch Ratings Inc. | BBB- | Stable | |||||||||
| Standard & Poor’s | BBB- | Stable | |||||||||
| Japan Credit Rating Agency, Ltd. | BBB+ | Stable | |||||||||
| Kroll Bond Rating Agency | BBB | Stable | |||||||||
Credit ratings and associated outlooks are influenced by a number of factors, including, but not limited to: operating environment, earnings and profitability trends, the prudence of funding and liquidity management practices, balance sheet size/composition and resulting leverage, cash flow coverage of interest, composition and size of the capital base, available liquidity, outstanding borrowing levels and the firm’s competitive position in the industry. A credit rating and/or the associated outlook can be revised upward or downward at any time by a rating agency if such rating agency decides that circumstances warrant such a change. Any downgrade in our credit ratings and/or the associated outlooks could adversely affect the availability of debt financing on terms acceptable to us, as well as the cost and other terms upon which we are able to obtain any such financing. In addition, credit ratings and associated outlooks may be important to customers or counterparties when we compete in certain markets and when we seek to engage in certain transactions. In connection with certain agreements, we may be required to provide additional collateral in the event of a credit ratings downgrade.
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CLEARING CAPITAL
In November 2008, we entered into a clearing capital agreement with Cantor to clear U.S. Treasury and U.S. government agency securities transactions on our behalf. In June 2020, this clearing capital agreement was amended to cover Cantor providing clearing services in all eligible financial products to us and not just U.S. Treasury and U.S. government agency securities. Pursuant to the terms of this agreement, so long as Cantor is providing clearing services to us, Cantor shall be entitled to request from us cash or other collateral acceptable to Cantor in the amount reasonably requested by Cantor under the clearing capital agreement or Cantor will post cash or other collateral on our behalf for a commercially reasonable charge. During the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company was charged $1.0 million and $0.3 million, respectively, by Cantor for the cash or other collateral posted by Cantor on BGC’s behalf. Cantor had not requested any cash or other property from the Company as collateral as of March 31, 2024.
REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS
Our Liquidity and available cash resources are restricted by regulatory requirements applicable to our operating subsidiaries. Many of these regulators, including U.S. and non-U.S. government agencies and self-regulatory organizations, as well as state securities commissions in the U.S., are empowered to conduct administrative proceedings that can result in civil and criminal judgments, settlements, fines, penalties, injunctions, enhanced oversight, remediation, or other relief.
In addition, self-regulatory organizations, such as FINRA and the NFA, along with statutory bodies such as the FCA, the SEC, and the CFTC, require strict compliance with their rules and regulations. The requirements imposed by regulators are designed to ensure the integrity of the financial markets and to protect customers and other third parties who deal with broker-dealers and are not designed to specifically protect stockholders. These regulations often serve to limit our activities, including through net capital, customer protection and market conduct requirements.
The final phase of Basel III (unofficially called “Basel IV”) is a global prudential regulatory standard designed to make banks more resilient and increase confidence in the banking system. Its wide scope includes reviewing market, credit and operational risk along with targeted changes to leverage ratios. Basel IV includes updates to the calculation of bank capital requirements with the aim of making outcomes more comparable across banks globally.
The FCA is the relevant statutory regulator in the U.K. The FCA’s objectives are to protect customers, maintain the stability of the financial services industry and promote competition between financial services providers. It has broad rule-making, investigative and enforcement powers derived from the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 and subsequent derivative legislation and regulations.
In January 2022, the FCA introduced a new Internal Capital and Risk Assessment (ICARA) process as a replacement for the Internal Capital Adequacy Assessment Process (ICAAP). The ICARA process incorporates business model assessment, forecasting and stress testing, recovery planning and wind-down planning. All firms were required to submit their proposed ICARA documentation by March 31, 2023, after which the FCA will provide feedback that may require further documentation and may lead to a change in capital requirements. The adoption of these proposed rules could restrict the ability of our large bank and broker-dealer customers to operate trading businesses and to maintain current capital market exposures under the present structure of their balance sheets, and will cause these entities to need to raise additional capital in order to stay active in our marketplaces.
In July 2023, the FCA further ensured that Consumer Duty is at the heart of every financial institution by rolling out Principle 12 specifically related to Consumer Duty, where a firm must act to deliver good outcomes for retail customers. This initiative is poised to redefine the relationship between consumers and financial institutions, where the FCA has demanded financial institutions foster a culture of trust, transparency, and accountability. Under Consumer Duty, the onus has shifted to financial institutions to prioritize their customers’ best interest in every consideration made by the financial institution (the entire customer life cycle) including demonstration and evidence that the product/service/action is in the best interest of the customer. Although not immediately applicable to our business as we do not conduct business directly with the retail sector, we are conscious of the impact that this will have on underlying clients who have obligations to fulfil. In so doing, they may require our firm to provide additional reporting in order to help them evidence their obligations.
In addition, the majority of our other foreign subsidiaries are subject to similar regulation by the relevant authorities in the countries in which they do business. Certain other of our foreign subsidiaries are required to maintain non-U.S. net capital requirements. For example, in Hong Kong, BGC Securities (Hong Kong), LLC, GFI (HK) Securities LLC and Sunrise Brokers (Hong Kong) Limited are regulated by the Securities and Futures Commission. BGC Capital Markets (Hong Kong), Limited and GFI (HK) Brokers Ltd are regulated by The Hong Kong Monetary Authority. All are subject to Hong Kong net capital requirements. In France, Aurel BGC and BGC France Holdings; in Australia, BGC Partners (Australia) Pty Limited and Fixed Income Solutions Pty Limited; in Japan, BGC Shoken Kaisha Limited’s Tokyo branch; in Singapore, BGC Partners (Singapore) Limited, GFI Group Pte Ltd and Ginga Global Markets Pte Ltd; in Korea, BGC Capital Markets & Foreign Exchange Broker
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(Korea) Limited and GFI Korea Money Brokerage Limited; in Philippines, GFI Group (Philippines) Inc. and in Brazil, BGC Liquidez Distribuidora De Titulos E Valores Mobiliarios Ltda., all have net capital requirements imposed upon them by local regulators.
These subsidiaries may also be prohibited from repaying the borrowings of their parents or affiliates, paying cash dividends, making loans to their parent or affiliates or otherwise entering into transactions, in each case, which may result in a significant reduction in their regulatory capital position without prior notification or approval from their principal regulator. See Note 21—“Regulatory Requirements” to our unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for further details on our regulatory requirements.
As of March 31, 2024, $711.1 million of net assets were held by regulated subsidiaries. As of March 31, 2024, these subsidiaries had aggregate regulatory net capital, as defined, in excess of the aggregate regulatory requirements, as defined, of $394.5 million.
In April 2013, the Board and Audit Committee authorized management to enter into indemnification agreements with Cantor and its affiliates with respect to the provision of any guarantees provided by Cantor and its affiliates from time to time as required by regulators. These services may be provided from time to time at a reasonable and customary fee. In 2020, the introducing broker guarantees were moved from CF&Co to Mint Brokers for the firm’s stand alone and foreign NFA registered introducing brokers.
BGC Derivative Markets and GFI Swaps Exchange, our subsidiaries, operate as SEFs. Mandatory Dodd-Frank Act compliant execution on SEFs by eligible U.S. persons for “made available to trade” products, and a wide range of other rules relating to the execution and clearing of derivative products have been implemented. We also own ELX, which became a dormant contract market on July 1, 2017 and in July 2021, we completed the purchase of the CX Futures Exchange (now FMX Futures Exchange) from Cantor, which represents our futures exchange and related clearinghouse. These rules require authorized execution facilities to maintain robust front-end and back-office IT capabilities and to make large and ongoing technology investments. These execution facilities may be supported by a variety of voice and auction-based execution methodologies, and our Hybrid and Fully Electronic trading capability have performed strongly in this regulatory environment.
Much of our global derivatives volumes continue to be executed by non-U.S. based clients outside the U.S. and subject to local prudential regulations. As such, we will continue to operate a number of European regulated venues in accordance with EU or U.K. legislation and licensed by the FCA or EU-based national supervisors. These venues are also operated for non-derivative instruments for these clients. MiFID II was published by the European Securities and Markets Authority in September 2015, and implemented in January 2018 and introduced important infrastructural changes.
MiFID II requires a significant part of the market in these instruments to trade on trading venues subject to transparency regimes, not only in pre- and post-trade prices, but also in fee structures and access. In addition, it has impacted a number of key areas, including corporate governance, transaction reporting, pre- and post-trade transparency, technology synchronization, best execution and investor protection.
MiFID II was intended to help improve the functioning of the EU single market by achieving a greater consistency of regulatory standards. By design, therefore, it was intended that EU member states should have very similar regulatory regimes in relation to the matters addressed to MiFID. MiFID II has also introduced a new regulated execution venue category called an OTF that captures much of the Voice-and Hybrid-oriented trading in the EU. Much of our EU derivatives and fixed income execution business now takes place on OTFs. Further to its decision to leave the EU, the U.K. has implemented MIFID II’s requirements into its own domestic legislation. Brexit may impact future market structures and MiFID II rulemaking and implementation due to potential changes in mutual passporting and equivalence arrangements between the U.K. and EU member states (for further information see “Overview and Business Environment—Brexit” herein).
In addition, the GDPR came into effect in the EU on May 25, 2018 (with the equivalent in the U.K.) and creates new compliance obligations in relation to personal data. The GDPR may affect our practices, and will increase financial penalties for non-compliance significantly.
Apart from some minor non-material changes, at this time there has not been any legislation from the EU Commission or the U.K. Government that has materially changed how the U.K. and EU approach financial regulation since MiFID II and the implementation of Brexit. Although divergence of U.K. regulation from EU regulation may occur, there has been no firm legislative change signaled or published by the FCA or the U.K. Government. While we generally believe the net impact of the rules and regulations are positive for our business, it is possible that unintended consequences of the rules and regulations may materially adversely affect us in ways yet to be determined.
See “Regulation” included in Part I, Item 1 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 for additional information related to our regulatory environment.
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EQUITY
As of March 31, 2024, we have 385.1 million shares of BGC Class A common stock and 109.5 million shares of BGC Class B common stock outstanding. Additional disclosures regarding our accounting for stock transactions and unit redemptions are provided in Note 7—“Stock Transactions and Unit Redemptions” to the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
The weighted-average share counts, including securities that were anti-dilutive for our earnings per share calculations, for the three months ended March 31, 2024 were as follows (in thousands):
| Three Months Ended March 31, 2024 | |||||
Common stock outstanding1 | 470,517 | ||||
RSUs and restricted stock (Treasury stock method)2 | 16,976 | ||||
| Other | 7,456 | ||||
Total | 494,950 | ||||
______________________________
1Common stock consisted of shares of BGC Class A common stock, shares of BGC Class B common stock and contingent shares of our Class A common stock for which all necessary conditions have been satisfied except for the passage of time. For the three months ended March 31, 2024, the weighted-average number of shares of BGC Class A common stock was 360.6 million and the weighted-average number of shares of BGC Class B common stock was 109.5 million.
2For the three months ended March 31, 2024, 17.0 million of potentially dilutive securities were not included in the computation of fully diluted EPS because their effect would have been anti-dilutive. Anti-dilutive securities for the three months ended March 31, 2024, included $14.4 million of participating RSUs and $2.6 million of participating restricted shares of BGC Class A common stock. Also as of March 31, 2024, 60.2 million shares of contingent BGC Class A common stock, non-participating RSUs, and non-participating restricted shares of BGC Class A common stock were excluded from fully diluted EPS computations because the conditions for issuance had not been met by the end of the period. The contingent BGC Class A common stock is recorded as a liability and included in “Accounts payable, accrued and other liabilities” in our unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition as of March 31, 2024.
Registration Statements
Our effective March 2021 Form S-3 Registration Statement was originally filed on March 8, 2021, with respect to the issuance and sale of up to an aggregate of $300.0 million shares of BGC Class A common stock from time to time on a delayed or continuous basis. As of March 31, 2024, the Company had not issued shares of BGC Class A common stock under the March 2021 Form S-3. We also entered into the July 2023 Sales Agreement, under which we agreed to pay CF&Co 2% of the gross proceeds from the sale of shares. CF&Co is a wholly owned subsidiary of Cantor and an affiliate of BGC. For additional information on our CEO Program sales agreement, see Note 13—“Related Party Transactions” to our unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
We intend to use the net proceeds of any shares of BGC Class A common stock sold under our CEO Program for general corporate purposes, including for potential acquisitions, repurchases of shares of BGC Class A common stock from executive officers and other employees of ours or our subsidiaries and of Cantor and its affiliates. Prior to the Corporate Conversion, we also used the net proceeds for redemption of LPUs and FPUs in BGC Holdings. Certain of such executive officers and other employees of ours or our subsidiaries and of Cantor and its affiliates will be expected to use the proceeds from such sales to repay outstanding loans issued by, or credit enhanced by, Cantor or BGC.
Our effective 2019 Form S-4 Registration Statement was originally filed on September 13, 2019, with respect to the offer and sale of up to 20 million shares of BGC Class A common stock from time to time in connection with business combination transactions, including acquisitions of other businesses, assets, properties or securities. As of March 31, 2024, the Company had issued an aggregate of 2.8 million shares of BGC Class A common stock under the 2019 Form S-4 Registration Statement.
Our effective DRIP Registration Statement was originally filed on June 24, 2011, with respect to the offer and sale of up to 10 million shares of BGC Class A common stock under the DRIP. As of March 31, 2024, the Company had issued 0.8 million shares of BGC Class A common stock under the DRIP.
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Our effective Equity Plan Registration Statement was originally filed on July 3, 2023 with respect to registering the offer and sale of up to 600 million shares of BGC Class A common stock under the BGC Group Equity Plan. The BGC Group Equity Plan provides for a maximum of 600 million shares of BGC Class A common stock that may be delivered or cash settled pursuant to the exercise or settlement of awards granted under the BGC Group Equity Plan. As of March 31, 2024, the limit on the aggregate number of shares authorized to be delivered under the BGC Group Equity Plan allowed for the grant of future awards relating to 469.4 million shares of BGC Class A common stock.
CONTINGENT PAYMENTS RELATED TO ACQUISITIONS
Since 2016, the Company has completed acquisitions whose purchase price included an aggregate of approximately 3.3 million shares of the BGC Class A common stock (with an acquisition date fair value of approximately $13.5 million), 0.1 million LPUs (with an acquisition date fair value of approximately $0.2 million), 0.2 million RSUs (with an acquisition date fair value of approximately $1.2 million) and $43.1 million in cash that may be issued contingent on certain targets being met through 2027.
As of March 31, 2024, the Company has issued 1.9 million shares of BGC Class A common stock, 0.2 million of RSUs and paid $53.4 million in cash related to such contingent payments.
As of March 31, 2024, there are 0.4 million shares of BGC Class A common stock, including contingent shares for which all necessary conditions have been satisfied except for the passage of time and which are included in our computation of basic EPS, as well as 0.7 million shares of BGC Class A common stock which will be issued if related targets are met and $4.2 million in cash which will be issued if related targets are met, net of forfeitures and other adjustments.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
On August 10, 2023, the shareholder derivative suit concerning our 2017 acquisition of Berkeley Point (as described below) was fully and finally decided in favor of the defendants, with the Delaware Chancery Court issuing a post-trial decision denying the plaintiffs’ causes of action and finding that the transaction was entirely fair to our shareholders and the Delaware Supreme Court affirming that result.
On March 9, 2023, a purported class action complaint was filed against Cantor, BGC Holdings, and Newmark Holdings in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware (Civil Action No. 1:23-cv-00265). The collective action, which was filed by seven former limited partners of the defendants on their own behalf and on behalf of other similarly situated limited partners, alleges a claim for breach of contract against all defendants on the basis that the defendants failed to make payments due under the relevant partnership agreements. Specifically, the plaintiffs allege that the non-compete and economic forfeiture provisions upon which the defendants relied to deny payment are unenforceable under Delaware law. The plaintiffs allege a second claim against Cantor and BGC Holdings for antitrust violations under the Sherman Act on the basis that the Cantor and BGC Holdings partnership agreements constitute unreasonable restraints of trade. In that regard, the plaintiffs allege that the non-compete and economic forfeiture provisions of the Cantor and BGC Holdings partnership agreements, as well as restrictive covenants included in partner separation agreements, cause anticompetitive effects in the labor market, insulate Cantor and BGC Holdings from competition, and limit innovation. The plaintiffs seek a determination that the case may be maintained as a class action, an injunction prohibiting the allegedly anticompetitive conduct, and monetary damages of at least $5.0 million. The Company believes the lawsuit has no merit. However, as with any litigation, the outcome cannot be determined with certainty.
Other legal proceedings
On February 16, 2024, an alleged Company shareholder, Martin J. Siegel, filed a putative class action lawsuit against Cantor Fitzgerald, LP and Howard W. Lutnick in the Delaware Court of Chancery, asserting that the Corporate Conversion was unfair to Class A shareholders of BGC Partners, Inc. because it increased Cantor’s percentage voting control over the Company. The suit is captioned Martin J. Siegel v. Cantor Fitzgerald, LP, C.A. 2024-0146-LWW. Defendants moved to dismiss the complaint on April 22, 2024. While the lawsuit is in its early stages and does not name the Company as a party, the Company believes the action lacks merit.
UNIT REDEMPTIONS AND EXCHANGES, AND EMPLOYMENT ARRANGEMENTS—EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
On January 2, 2024, Mr. Merkel sold 136,891 shares of Class A common stock to the Company in an exempt transaction made pursuant to Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act. The sale price per share of $6.98 was the closing price of a share of Class A common stock on January 2, 2024. The transaction was approved by the Audit and Compensation Committees of the Board and was made pursuant to the Company’s stock buyback authorization.
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On September 21, 2023, Mr. Windeatt sold 474,808 shares of Class A common stock to the Company in an exempt transaction made pursuant to Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act. The sale price per share of $5.29 was the closing price of a share of Class A common stock on September 21, 2023. The transaction was approved by the Audit Committee and the Compensation Committee of the Board and was made pursuant to the Company’s stock buyback authorization.
On June 8, 2023, the Company repurchased all of Mr. Windeatt’s 128,279 exchangeable BGC Holdings LPUs at a price of $4.79 per unit, which was the closing price of a share of our Class A common stock on June 8, 2023. The Compensation Committee granted Mr. Windeatt 128,279 non-exchangeable BGC Holdings LPUs on April 1, 2021. Pursuant to the exchange rights schedule of the grant, on April 1, 2023, the 128,279 non-exchangeable BGC Holdings LPUs became immediately exchangeable.
In connection with the Corporate Conversion, on June 2, 2023 Mr. Merkel sold 150,000 shares of Class A common stock to BGC Partners at $4.21 per share, the closing price of a share of Class A common stock on June 2, 2023. The transaction was approved by the Audit and Compensation Committees of the Board of BGC Partners and was made pursuant to BGC Partners’ stock buyback authorization.
In connection with the Corporate Conversion, on May 18, 2023, the BGC Partners Compensation Committee approved the redemption of all of the non-exchangeable BGC Holdings units held by Mr. Merkel at that time. On May 18, 2023, Mr. Merkel’s 148,146 NPSU-CVs, 33,585 PSU-CVs, and 74,896 PSUs were redeemed for zero and an aggregate of 256,627 shares of Class A common stock were granted to Mr. Merkel, and 148,146 NPPSU-CVs with a total determination amount of $681,250 and 33,585 PPSU-CVs with a total determination amount of $162,500 were redeemed for an aggregate cash payment of $843,750. After deduction of shares of BGC Class A common stock to satisfy applicable tax withholding through the surrender of shares of BGC Class A common stock valued at $4.61 per share, Mr. Merkel received 196,525 net shares of Class A common stock.
Since Mr. Lutnick had previously repeatedly waived his rights under the Standing Policy, as of May 18, 2023 his rights had accumulated for 7,879,736 non-exchangeable PSUs, and 103,763 non-exchangeable PPSUs with a determination amount of $474,195. Due to the May 18, 2023 monetization of all of Mr. Merkel’s then-remaining non-exchangeable BGC Holdings units, on such date Mr. Lutnick received additional incremental monetization rights for his then-remaining 3,452,991 non-exchangeable PSUs, and 1,348,042 non-exchangeable PPSUs with a determination amount of $6,175,805.
In connection with the Corporate Conversion and, as a result of the monetization event for Mr. Merkel, on May 18, 2023 Mr. Lutnick elected to exercise in full his monetization rights under the Standing Policy, which he had previously waived in prior years. All of the non-exchangeable BGC Holdings units that Mr. Lutnick held at that time were monetized as follows: 11,332,727 PSUs were redeemed for zero and 11,332,727 shares of Class A common stock were granted to Mr. Lutnick, and 1,451,805 PPSUs with an aggregate determination amount of $6,650,000 were redeemed for an aggregate cash payment of $6,650,000. After deduction of applicable tax withholding through the surrender of shares of BGC Class A common stock valued at $4.61 per share, Mr. Lutnick received 5,710,534 net shares of Class A common stock.
On May 18, 2023, Mr. Lutnick also exchanged his then-remaining 520,380 exchangeable PSUs for 520,380 shares of Class A common stock. After deduction of applicable tax withholding through the surrender of shares of BGC Class A common stock valued at $4.61 per share, Mr. Lutnick received 232,610 net shares of Class A common stock. In addition, on May 18, 2023, Mr. Lutnick’s then-remaining 1,474,930 non-exchangeable HDUs were redeemed for a cash capital account payment of $9,148,000, $2.1 million of which was paid by BGC with the remainder paid by Newmark Group, Inc. As a result of the various transactions on May 18, 2023 described above, on May 18, 2023, Mr. Lutnick no longer held any limited partnership units of BGC Holdings.
On April 18, 2023, the Dr. Bell sold 21,786 shares of Class A common stock to the Company. The sale price per share of $4.59 was the closing price of a share of Class A common stock on April 18, 2023. The transaction was approved by the Audit Committee and the Compensation Committee of the Board and was made pursuant to the Company’s stock buyback authorization.
Mr. Windeatt 2023 Deed of Amendment
On July 12, 2023, Mr. Windeatt executed the 2023 Deed of Amendment with the U.K. Partnership which amends his prior executed Deed of Adherence with the U.K. Partnership regarding the terms of his employment. Under the 2023 Deed of Amendment, the initial period of Mr. Windeatt’s membership in the U.K. Partnership was extended from September 30, 2025 to December 31, 2028. In addition, under the 2023 Deed of Amendment, commencing January 1, 2027, either party may terminate the Deed by giving written notice to the other party at least 24 months prior to the expiration of the initial period. Mr. Windeatt’s membership, unless terminated earlier in accordance with the terms of the Deed, will continue following December 31, 2028 on the same terms and conditions set forth in the Deed until written notice to terminate is provided and the 24-month notice period expires.
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Pursuant to the 2023 Deed of Amendment, Mr. Windeatt is also entitled to an increase in drawings from an aggregate amount of £600,000 per year to an aggregate amount of £700,000 per year effective January 1, 2023, which shall be reviewed by the Compensation Committee annually. Mr. Windeatt is also eligible for additional allocations of the U.K. Partnership’s profits, subject to the approval of the Compensation Committee.
In connection and in consideration for Mr. Windeatt’s execution of the 2023 Deed of Amendment, on July 10, 2023 the Company approved accelerating the vesting of 720,509 of the Company’s RSUs held by Mr. Windeatt (calculated based upon the closing price of the Company’s Class A common stock on July 10, 2023 which was $4.45) and the vesting of $780,333 of the RSU Tax Account held by Mr. Windeatt. Such RSUs and RSU Tax Account amount vested on July 12, 2023, and the total value of this transaction was approximately $3,986,600.
MARKET SUMMARY
The following table provides certain volume and transaction count information for the quarterly periods indicated:
| March 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | September 30, 2023 | June 30, 2023 | March 31, 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notional Volume (in billions) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total Fully Electronic volume1 | $ | 15,926 | $ | 14,157 | $ | 14,051 | $ | 13,736 | $ | 13,571 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total Hybrid volume | 65,806 | 78,272 | 67,965 | 73,109 | 74,498 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Fully Electronic and Hybrid volume | $ | 81,732 | $ | 92,429 | $ | 82,016 | $ | 86,845 | $ | 88,069 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Transaction Count (in thousands, except for days) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total Fully Electronic transactions1 | 4,639 | 4,316 | 4,385 | 4,351 | 4,550 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Hybrid transactions | 1,620 | 1,473 | 1,401 | 1,409 | 1,731 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Fully Electronic and Hybrid transactions | 6,259 | 5,789 | 5,786 | 5,760 | 6,281 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Trading days | 63 | 63 | 63 | 63 | 63 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
_____________________________________
1Includes Fenics Integrated.
Note: Certain information may have been recast with current estimates to reflect changes in reporting methodology. Such revisions have no impact on the Company’s revenues or earnings.
Fully Electronic volume, including new products, was $15.9 trillion for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to $13.6 trillion for the three months ended March 31, 2023. Our Hybrid volume for the three months ended March 31, 2024 was $65.8 trillion, compared to $74.5 trillion for the three months ended March 31, 2023.
OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
In the ordinary course of business, we enter into arrangements with unconsolidated entities, including variable interest entities. See Note 14—“Investments” to our unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for additional information related to our investments in unconsolidated entities.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES
A summary of our “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” is included in Part II Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2023. There were no significant changes made to the Company’s critical accounting policies from those reported in our 2023 Annual report on Form 10-K. See below for updates to the Company’s critical accounting policies due to newly issued compensation awards and other impacts as a result of the Corporate Conversion.
Equity-Based and Other Compensation
Discretionary Bonus: A portion of our compensation and employee benefits expense is comprised of discretionary bonuses, which may be paid in cash, equity, partnership awards or a combination thereof. We accrue expense in a period based on revenues in that period and on the expected combination of cash, equity and, prior to the Corporate Conversion, partnership units. Given the assumptions used in estimating discretionary bonuses, actual results may differ.
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Restricted Stock Units: We account for equity-based compensation awards using the guidance in ASC 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation. RSUs provided to certain employees are accounted for as equity awards, and in accordance with U.S. GAAP, we are required to record an expense for the portion of the RSUs that is ultimately expected to vest. Further, forfeitures are estimated at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. Because assumptions are used in estimating employee turnover and associated forfeiture rates, actual results may differ from our estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
The fair value of RSU awards to employees is based on the market value of the BGC Class A common stock on the grant date. As part of employee compensation, we have granted both participating RSUs, which receive dividends, or non-participating RSUs. For non-participating RSUs, which do not receive dividend equivalents, we adjust the fair value of the RSUs for the present value of expected forgone dividends, which requires us to include an estimate of expected dividends as a valuation input. This grant-date fair value is amortized to expense ratably over the awards’ vesting periods.
For participating RSUs where dividends are paid during the vesting period or accumulated and paid to the employee upon vesting, the grant-date fair value of the award should not be reduced. As such, we do not adjust the fair value of the RSUs for the present value of expected forgone dividends. This grant-date fair value is amortized to expense ratably over the awards’ vesting periods.
For RSUs with graded vesting features, we have made an accounting policy election to recognize compensation cost on a straight-line basis. The amortization is reflected as part of “Equity-based compensation and allocations of net income to limited partnership units and FPUs” in our unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Restricted Stock: Restricted stock provided to certain employees is accounted for as an equity award, and as per U.S. GAAP guidance, we are required to record an expense for the portion of the restricted stock that is ultimately expected to vest. We have granted restricted stock prior to the Corporate Conversion that is not subject to continued employment or service; however, transferability is subject to compliance with our and our affiliates’ customary noncompete obligations. Such shares of restricted stock are generally salable by partners in five to ten years. Because the restricted stock is not subject to continued employment or service, the grant-date fair value of the restricted stock is expensed on the date of grant. The non-cash equity-based compensation expense is reflected as part of “Equity-based compensation and allocations of net income to limited partnership units and FPUs” in our unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
As a result of the Corporate Conversion, the Company has also granted shares of unvested restricted stock, which are subject to continued employment or service with the Company or any affiliate or subsidiary of the company. The fair value of these restricted stock awards held by BGC employees is based on the market value of BGC Class A common stock on the grant date, adjusted as appropriate based upon the award’s ineligibility to receive dividends, as not all of these awards participate in receiving dividends, similar to the RSUs above. The grant-date fair value of the restricted stock is amortized to expense ratably over the awards’ expected vesting periods. The non-cash equity-based amortization expense is reflected as a component of “Equity-based compensation and allocations of net income to limited partnership units and FPUs” in our unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Limited Partnership Units: Certain BGC employees held LPUs in BGC Holdings and hold LPUs in Newmark Holdings. Generally, such units received quarterly allocations of net income, which were cash distributed on a quarterly basis and generally contingent upon services being provided by the unit holders. In addition, Preferred Units were granted in connection with the grant of certain LPUs, such as PSUs, which may be granted exchangeability or redeemed in connection with the grant of shares of common stock to cover the withholding taxes owed by the unit holder upon such exchange or grant. This was an acceptable alternative to the common practice among public companies of issuing the gross amount of shares to employees, subject to cashless withholding of shares to pay applicable withholding taxes. Preferred Units were not entitled to participate in partnership distributions other than with respect to the Preferred Distribution. There were none of these LPUs or Preferred Units in BGC Holdings remaining after the Corporate Conversion was completed, while these LPUs and Preferred Units in Newmark Holdings held by BGC employees were not impacted by the Corporate Conversion. The quarterly allocations of net income on BGC Holdings LPUs held by BGC employees were reflected as a component of compensation expense under “Equity-based compensation and allocations of net income to limited partnership units and FPUs” in our unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations prior to the Corporate Conversion, and quarterly allocations of net income on Newmark Holdings LPUs held by BGC employees, which were not impacted by the Corporate Conversion, are reflected as a component of compensation expense under “Equity-based compensation and allocations of net income to limited partnership units and FPUs” in our unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
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Certain of these LPUs entitle the holders to receive post-termination payments equal to the notional amount, generally in four equal yearly installments after the holder’s termination. There were none of these LPUs in BGC Holdings remaining after the Corporate Conversion was completed, while these LPUs in Newmark Holdings held by BGC employees were not impacted by the Corporate Conversion. These LPUs are accounted for as post-termination liability awards under U.S. GAAP. Accordingly, we recognize a liability for these units on our unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition as part of “Accrued compensation” for the amortized portion of the post-termination payment amount, based on the current fair value of the expected future cash payout. We amortize the post-termination payment amount, less an expected forfeiture rate, over the vesting period, and record an expense for such awards based on the change in value at each reporting period in our unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations as part of “Equity-based compensation and allocations of net income to limited partnership units and FPUs.”
Certain LPUs were granted exchangeability into shares of BGC or Newmark Class A common stock or were redeemed in connection with the grant of BGC or Newmark Class A common stock issued; BGC Class A common stock was issued on a one-for-one basis, and Newmark Class A common stock is issued based on the number of LPUs exchanged or redeemed multiplied by the then-current Exchange Ratio. At the time exchangeability was granted or shares of BGC or Newmark Class A common stock were issued, we recognized an expense based on the fair value of the award on that grant date, which was included in “Equity-based compensation and allocations of net income to limited partnership units and FPUs” in our unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. There were no LPUs in BGC Holdings remaining after the Corporate Conversion was completed, while LPUs in Newmark Holdings held by BGC employees were not impacted by the Corporate Conversion. During the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, we incurred equity-based compensation expense of $33.8 million and $52.0 million, respectively, related to LPUs and issuance of common stock.
Prior to the Corporate Conversion, certain LPUs had a stated vesting schedule and did not receive quarterly allocations of net income. Compensation expense related to these LPUs was recognized over the stated service period, and these units generally vest between two and five years. During the three months ended March 31, 2023, we incurred equity-based compensation expense related to these LPUs of $21.4 million. This expense is included in “Equity-based compensation and allocations of net income to limited partnership units and FPUs” in our unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Employee Loans: We have entered into various agreements with certain employees, and prior to the Corporate Conversion, partners whereby these individuals receive loans which may be either wholly or in part repaid from the distributions that the individuals receive on some or all of their LPUs in BGC Holdings and Newmark Holdings, prior to the Corporate Conversion, and by distributions that the individuals receive on some or all of their LPUs in Newmark Holdings and any dividends paid on participating RSUs and restricted stock awards, subsequent to the Corporate Conversion. Certain of these loans also may be either wholly or in part repaid from the proceeds of the sale of the BGC employees’ shares of BGC Class A common stock. In addition, certain loans may be forgiven over a period of time. The forgivable portion of these loans is recognized as compensation expense over the life of the loan. From time to time, we may also enter into agreements with employees to grant bonus and salary advances or other types of loans. These advances and loans are repayable in timeframes outlined in the underlying agreements. We review the loan balances each reporting period for collectability. If we determine that the collectability of a portion of the loan balances is not expected, we recognize a reserve against the loan balances. Actual collectability of loan balances may differ from our estimates.
As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the aggregate balance of employee loans, net of reserve, was $396.1 million and $367.8 million, respectively, and is included as “Loans, forgivable loans and other receivables from employees and partners, net” in our unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition. Compensation expense (benefit) for the above-mentioned employee loans for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 was $14.8 million and $13.9 million, respectively. The compensation expense related to these loans was included as part of “Compensation and employee benefits” in our unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
See Note 1—“Organization and Basis of Presentation” to our unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for information regarding recent accounting pronouncements.
CAPITAL DEPLOYMENT PRIORITIES, DIVIDEND POLICY AND REPURCHASE PROGRAM
BGC’s current capital allocation priorities are to use our liquidity to return capital to stockholders and to continue investing in the growth of our business. We have repurchased or redeemed 11.3 million shares during the three months ended March 31, 2024.
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Any dividends, if and when declared by our Board, will be paid on a quarterly basis. The dividend to our common stockholders is expected to be calculated based on a number of factors. No assurance can be made, however, that a dividend will be paid each quarter. The declaration, payment, timing, and amount of any future dividends payable by us will be at the sole discretion of our Board using the fully diluted share count.
We are a holding company, with no direct operations, and therefore we are able to pay dividends only from our available cash on hand and funds received from distributions from BGC U.S. OpCo and BGC Global OpCo. Our ability to pay dividends may also be limited by regulatory considerations as well as by covenants contained in financing or other agreements. In addition, under Delaware law, dividends may be payable only out of surplus, which is our net assets minus our capital (as defined under Delaware law), or, if we have no surplus, out of our net profits for the fiscal year in which the dividend is declared and/or the preceding fiscal year. Accordingly, any unanticipated accounting, tax, regulatory or other charges against net income may adversely affect our ability to declare and pay dividends. While we intend to declare and pay dividends quarterly, there can be no assurance that our Board will declare dividends at all or on a regular basis or that the amount of our dividends will not change.
OUR ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
Dual Class Equity Structure of BGC Group, Inc. We have a dual class equity structure, consisting of shares of BGC Class A common stock and BGC Class B common stock. We expect to retain and have no plans to change our dual class structure.
BGC Class A common stock. Each share of BGC Class A common stock is generally entitled to one vote on matters submitted to a vote of our stockholders. As of March 31, 2024, there were 410.3 million shares of BGC Class A common stock issued and 385.1 million shares outstanding. On June 21, 2017, Cantor pledged 10.0 million shares of BGC Class A common stock in connection with a partner loan program. On November 23, 2018, those shares of BGC Class A common stock were converted into 10.0 million shares of BGC Class B common stock and remain pledged in connection with the partner loan program, as amended and restated effective as of October 5, 2023 with such modifications thereto as necessary to reflect the Corporate Conversion.
From time to time, we may actively continue to repurchase shares of our Class A common stock including from Cantor, Newmark, our executive officers, other employees, partners and others.
BGC Class B common stock. Each share of BGC Class B common stock is generally entitled to the same rights as a share of BGC Class A common stock, except that on matters submitted to a vote of our stockholders, each share of BGC Class B common stock is entitled to 10 votes. The BGC Class B common stock generally votes together with the BGC Class A common stock on all matters submitted to a vote of our stockholders. As of March 31, 2024, Cantor and CFGM held an aggregate of 96.3 million shares of BGC Class B common stock, representing 88.0% of the outstanding shares of BGC Class B common stock and approximately 65.1% of our total voting power. As of March 31, 2024, Mr. Lutnick and individuals related to Mr. Lutnick owned 13.1 million shares of our outstanding Class B common stock, representing 12.0% of the outstanding shares of BGC Class B common stock and approximately 8.9% of our total voting power. Together, Cantor, CFGM, Mr. Lutnick and individuals related to Mr. Lutnick owned 100% of the outstanding shares of BGC Class B common stock and approximately 74.0% of our total voting power.
Shares of BGC Class B common stock are convertible into shares of BGC Class A common stock at any time in the discretion of the holder on a one-for-one basis. Accordingly, if Cantor, CFGM, Mr. Lutnick and individuals related to Mr. Lutnick converted all of their BGC Class B common stock into BGC Class A common stock on March 31, 2024, Cantor would have held 18.9% of the voting power of our outstanding capital stock, CFGM would have held 0.6% of the voting power, Mr. Lutnick and individuals related to Mr. Lutnick would have held 6.5% of the voting power, and the public stockholders would have held 74.0% of the voting power of our outstanding capital stock (and Cantor and CFGM’s indirect economic interests in BGC U.S. and BGC Global would remain unchanged).
As a result of the Corporate Conversion, 64.0 million Cantor units, including 5.7 million purchased on June 30, 2023, were converted into shares of BGC Group Class B common stock, subject to the terms and conditions of the Corporate Conversion Agreement, provided that a portion of the 64.0 million shares of BGC Group Class B common stock issued to Cantor will exchange into BGC Group Class A common stock in the event that BGC Group does not issue at least $75,000,000 in shares of BGC Group Class A or B common stock in connection with certain acquisition transactions prior to July 1, 2030, the seventh anniversary of the Corporate Conversion.
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On July 2, 2023, Cantor distributed an aggregate of 15.8 million shares of Class B common stock held by it in satisfaction of its remaining deferred share distribution obligations pursuant to the April 2008 distribution rights shares and the February 2012 distribution rights shares. 14.0 million of the July 2023 distribution shares were distributed to satisfy April 2008 distribution rights shares and 1.8 million of the July 2023 distribution shares were distributed to satisfy February 2012 distribution rights shares. 15.4 million of the July 2023 distribution shares will remain Class B common stock in the hands of the recipient, and 0.4 million of such shares were converted into an equivalent number of shares of Class A common stock in the hands of the recipient pursuant to the terms of BGC Group’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation. Upon distribution of the July 2023 distribution shares, Cantor satisfied all obligations to deliver shares of common stock to satisfy the April 2008 distribution rights shares and February 2012 distribution rights shares.
Classes of Founding/Working Partner Interests and Limited Partnership Units Prior to the Corporate Conversion
Prior to the Corporate Conversion, our executives and front-office employees held partnership stakes in us and our subsidiaries and generally received their equity compensation through LPUs. Upon the closing of the Corporate Conversion, the BGC Holdings Limited Partnership Agreement was terminated, and the former stockholders of BGC Partners and former limited partners of BGC Holdings now participate in the economics of the BGC businesses through BGC Group. Following the Corporate Conversion, the equity portion of our compensation structure is no longer based upon the issuance of partnership units but instead based upon the use of equity awards, such as RSUs, issued under the Equity Plan in order to incentivize and retain our employees, executive officers, and directors.
Prior to the Corporate Conversion, while BGC Holdings limited partnership interests generally entitled our partners to participate in distributions of income from the operations of our business, upon leaving BGC Holdings (or upon any other redemption or purchase of such limited partnership interests as described below) any such partners were only entitled to receive over time, and provided he or she did not violate certain partner obligations, an amount for his or her BGC Holdings limited partnership interests that reflected such partner’s capital account or compensatory grant awards, excluding any goodwill or going concern value of our business, unless Cantor, in the case of the founding partners, and we, as the general partner of BGC Holdings at that time, otherwise determined. Prior to the Corporate Conversion, we also had the right to effect redemptions of BGC Holdings LPUs and FPUs and concurrently grant shares of our Class A common stock, or to grant our partners the right to exchange their BGC Holdings limited partnership interests for shares of our Class A common stock (if, in the case of founding partners, Cantor so determined and, in the case of working partners and limited partnership unit holders, if we, as the BGC Holdings general partner at that time, with Cantor’s consent, determined otherwise) and thereby allowed them to realize any higher value associated with our Class A common stock. Similar provisions with respect to Newmark Holdings limited partnership interests are contained in the Newmark Holdings limited partnership agreement.
Limited partnership interests in BGC Holdings (prior to the Corporate Conversion) and Newmark Holdings (received in connection with the Spin-Off) consist of: (i) “founding/working partner units” held by limited partners who are employees of the relevant company; (ii) “limited partnership units,” which consist of a variety of units that are generally held by employees such as REUs, RPUs, PSUs, PSIs, PSEs, HDUs, U.K. LPUs, APSUs, APSIs, APSEs, AREUs, ARPUs and N Units; (iii) “Cantor units” which are the exchangeable limited partnership interests held by Cantor entities; and (iv) Preferred Units, which are working partner units that may be awarded to holders of, or contemporaneous with, the grant of certain limited partnership units. These Preferred Units carried the same name as the underlying unit, with the insertion of an additional “P” to designate them as Preferred Units. Such Preferred Units could not be made exchangeable into BGC Class A common stock and accordingly were not included in the fully diluted share count. Each quarter, the net profits of BGC Holdings were allocated to such Preferred Units at a rate of either 0.6875% (which is 2.75% per calendar year) of the allocation amount assigned to them based on their award price, or such other amount as set forth in the award documentation, before calculation and distribution of the quarterly BGC Holdings distribution for the remaining BGC Holdings units. The Preferred Units were not entitled to participate in BGC Holdings distributions other than with respect to the Preferred Distribution.
Non-distributing partnership units, or N Units, carried the same name as the underlying unit with the insertion of an additional “N” to designate them as the N Unit type and were designated as NREUs, NPREUs, NLPUs, NPLPUs and NPPSUs. The N Units were not entitled to participate in BGC Holdings distributions, were not allocated any items of profit or loss and were not made exchangeable into shares of BGC Class A common stock. Subject to the approval of the Compensation Committee or its designee, certain N Units may have been converted into the underlying unit type (i.e., an NREU could be converted into an REU) and could then participate in BGC Holdings distributions, subject to terms and conditions determined by us as the general partner of BGC Holdings, in our sole discretion, including that the recipient continue to provide substantial services to us and comply with his or her partnership obligations.
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BGC OpCos Partnership Structures
We are a holding company with no direct operations, and our business is operated through two operating partnerships, BGC U.S. OpCo, which holds our U.S. businesses, and BGC Global OpCo, which holds our non-U.S. businesses.
Prior to the Corporate Conversion, the limited partnership interests of the two operating partnerships were held by us and BGC Holdings, and the limited partnership interests of BGC Holdings were held by LPU holders, Founding Partners, and Cantor. We held the BGC Holdings general partnership interest and the BGC Holdings special voting limited partnership interest, which entitled us to remove and appoint the general partner of BGC Holdings, and served as the general partner of BGC Holdings, which entitled us to control BGC Holdings. BGC Holdings, in turn, held the BGC U.S. OpCo general partnership interest and the BGC U.S. OpCo special voting limited partnership interest, which entitled the holder thereof to remove and appoint the general partner of BGC U.S. OpCo, and the BGC Global OpCo general partnership interest and the BGC Global OpCo special voting limited partnership interest, which entitled the holder thereof to remove and appoint the general partner of BGC Global OpCo, and served as the general partner of BGC U.S. OpCo and BGC Global OpCo, all of which entitled BGC Holdings (and thereby us) to control each of BGC U.S. OpCo and BGC Global OpCo.
Since BGC Holdings held BGC U.S. OpCo limited partnership interests and BGC Global OpCo limited partnership interests, LPU holders, Founding Partners, and Cantor indirectly had interests in BGC U.S. OpCo limited partnership interests and BGC Global OpCo limited partnership interests. Further, in connection with the Separation and Distribution Agreement, limited partnership interests in Newmark Holdings were distributed to the holders of limited partnership interests in BGC Holdings, whereby each holder of BGC Holdings limited partnership interests who at that time held a BGC Holdings limited partnership interest received a corresponding Newmark Holdings limited partnership interest, equal in number to each holder’s BGC Holdings limited partnership interest divided by 2.2 (i.e., 0.4545 of a unit in Newmark Holdings). Accordingly, existing partners at the time of the Separation in BGC Holdings are also partners in Newmark Holdings and received corresponding units issued at the applicable ratio. Thus, such partners have an indirect interest in Newmark OpCo.
As a result of a series of transactions prior to and in anticipation of the Corporate Conversion, all BGC Holdings units held by Newmark employees were redeemed or exchanged, in each case, for shares of BGC Class A common stock or cash. Upon the closing of the Corporate Conversion, the BGC Holdings Limited Partnership Agreement was terminated, we became the owner of all of the limited partnership interests of the two BGC operating partnerships, and the former stockholders of BGC Partners and former limited partners of BGC Holdings now participate in the economics of the BGC businesses through BGC Group.
Corporate Conversion
See “Overview and Business Environment” herein for information related to Corporate Conversion.
Structure of BGC Group, Inc. as of March 31, 2024
The following diagram illustrates our organizational structure as of March 31, 2024. The diagram does not reflect the various subsidiaries of BGC Partners, BGC U.S. OpCo, BGC Global OpCo, or Cantor, or the noncontrolling interests in our consolidated subsidiaries. The diagram also does not reflect certain ownership of BGC Group as follows: (a) for purposes of economic percentages, 20.4 million shares of BGC Group Class A restricted common stock as these are not entitled to receive any dividends (however, these shares of BGC Group Class restricted common stock are included for voting power of BGC Group); (b) 11.1 million assumed RSUs; (c) 34.8 million RSUs converted from former partners’ units in BGC Holdings; (d) 17.4 million RSUs issued in relation to employee compensation; (e) 5.7 million contingent shares to be issued to terminated employees per their respective separation agreements; and (f) 0.4 million contingent shares issued in exchange for acquisition units.
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* Percentage includes restricted shares issued in exchange for former partners’ units in BGC Holdings.
** BGC Partners is a wholly owned subsidiary of BGC Group and consolidated with other wholly and non wholly-owned subsidiaries.
*** Public Stockholders includes unrestricted shares owned by employees, executives, and directors due to an inability to track such shares once they leave the Company’s transfer agent.
The diagram reflects the following activity of BGC Class A common stock and BGC Class B common stock from December 31, 2023 through March 31, 2024 as: (a) the restrictions released on 6.3 million shares of BGC Class A common stock; (b) 11.2 million shares of BGC Class A common stock repurchased by us; (c) 3.7 million shares of BGC Class A common stock issued for vested RSUs; (d) 0.5 million shares of BGC Class A common stock issued for contingent shares issued in exchange for acquisition units; (e) 0.4 million shares of BGC Class A common stock issued for contingent shares issued in exchange for former partners’ units in BGC Holdings; (f) 0.6 million shares of BGC Class A restricted common stock forfeited by former partners and employees; and (g) 2.4 million shares of BGC Class A common stock issued for compensation. 0.5 million shares of Class A common stock were issued by us under our acquisition shelf 2019 Form S-4 Registration Statement (Registration No. 333-233761) between December 31, 2023 and March 31, 2024; 17.2 million of such shares remain available for issuance by us under such Registration Statement. Also, an immaterial number of shares of Class A common stock were issued by us under our DRIP Registration Statement (Registration No. 333-173109) between December 31, 2023 and March 31, 2024; 9.2 million of such shares remain available for issuance by us under the DRIP Registration Statement.
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Credit Risk
Credit risk arises from potential non-performance by counterparties and customers. BGC has established policies and procedures to manage its exposure to credit risk. BGC maintains a thorough credit approval process to limit exposure to counterparty risk and employs stringent monitoring to control the counterparty risk from its matched principal and agency businesses. BGC’s account opening and counterparty approval process includes verification of key customer identification, anti-money laundering verification checks and a credit review of financial and operating data. The credit review process includes establishing an internal credit rating and any other information deemed necessary to make an informed credit decision, which may include correspondence, due diligence calls and a visit to the entity’s premises, as necessary.
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Credit approval is granted subject to certain trading limits and may be subject to additional conditions, such as the receipt of collateral or other credit support. Ongoing credit monitoring procedures include reviewing periodic financial statements and publicly available information on the client and collecting data from credit rating agencies, where available, to assess the ongoing financial condition of the client.
In addition, BGC incurs limited credit risk related to certain brokerage activities. The counterparty risk relates to the collectability of the outstanding brokerage fee receivables. The review process includes monitoring both the clients and the related brokerage receivables. The review includes an evaluation of the ongoing collection process and an aging analysis of the brokerage receivables.
Principal Transaction Risk
Through its subsidiaries, BGC executes matched principal transactions in which it acts as a “middleman” by serving as counterparty to both a buyer and a seller in matching back-to-back trades. These transactions are then settled through a recognized settlement system or third-party clearing organization. Settlement typically occurs within one to three business days after the trade date. Cash settlement of the transaction occurs upon receipt or delivery of the underlying instrument that was traded. BGC generally avoids settlement of principal transactions on a free-of-payment basis or by physical delivery of the underlying instrument. However, free-of-payment transactions may occur on a very limited basis.
The number of matched principal trades BGC executes has continued to grow as compared to prior years. Receivables from broker-dealers, clearing organizations, customers and related broker-dealers and Payables to broker-dealers, clearing organizations, customers and related broker-dealers on the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition primarily represent the simultaneous purchase and sale of the securities associated with those matched principal transactions that have not settled as of their stated settlement dates. BGC’s experience has been that substantially all of these transactions ultimately settle at the contracted amounts, however, the ability to settle has the potential to be impacted by unforeseen circumstances.
Market Risk
Market risk refers to the risk that a change in the level of one or more market prices, rates, indices or other factors will result in losses for a specified position. BGC may allow certain of its desks to enter into unmatched principal transactions in the ordinary course of business and hold long and short inventory positions. These transactions are primarily for the purpose of facilitating clients’ execution needs, adding liquidity to a market or attracting additional order flow. As a result, BGC may have market risk exposure on these transactions. BGC’s exposure varies based on the size of its overall positions, the risk characteristics of the instruments held and the amount of time the positions are held before they are disposed of. BGC has limited ability to track its exposure to market risk and unmatched positions on an intra-day basis; however, it attempts to mitigate its market risk on these positions by strict risk limits, extremely limited holding periods and hedging its exposure. These positions are intended to be held short term to facilitate customer transactions. However, due to a number of factors, including the nature of the position and access to the market on which it trades, BGC may not be able to unwind the position and it may be forced to hold the position for a longer period than anticipated. All positions held longer than intra-day are marked to market.
We also had Financial instruments owned, at fair value, of $48.9 million as of March 31, 2024. These include investments in equity securities, which are publicly-traded. Investments in equity securities carry a degree of risk, as there can be no assurance that the equity securities will not lose value and, in general, securities markets can be volatile and unpredictable. As a result of these different market risks, our holdings of equity securities could be materially and adversely affected. We may seek to minimize the effect of price changes on a portion of our investments in equity securities through the use of derivative contracts. However, there can be no assurance that our hedging activities will be adequate to protect us against price risks associated with our investments in equity securities. See Note 11—“Derivatives” and Note 12—“Fair Value of Financial Assets and Liabilities” to our unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for further information regarding these investments and related hedging activities.
Our risk management procedures and strict limits are designed to monitor and limit the risk of unintended loss and have been effective in the past. However, there is no assurance that these procedures and limits will be effective at limiting unanticipated losses in the future. Adverse movements in the securities positions or a downturn or disruption in the markets for these positions could result in a substantial loss. In addition, principal gains and losses resulting from these positions could on occasion have a disproportionate effect, positive or negative, on BGC’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Condition and Results of Operations for any particular reporting period.
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Operational Risk
Our businesses are highly dependent on our ability to process a large number of transactions across numerous and diverse markets in many currencies on a daily basis. If any of our data processing systems do not operate properly or are disabled or if there are other shortcomings or failures in our internal processes, people or systems, we could suffer impairment to our liquidity, financial loss, a disruption of our businesses, liability to clients, regulatory intervention or reputational damage. These systems may fail to operate properly or become disabled as a result of events that are wholly or partially beyond our control, including cybersecurity incidents, a disruption of electrical or communications services or our inability to occupy one or more of our buildings. The inability of our systems to accommodate an increasing volume of transactions could also constrain our ability to expand our businesses.
In addition, despite our contingency plans, our ability to conduct business may be adversely impacted by a disruption in the infrastructure that supports our businesses and the communities in which they are located. This may include a disruption involving electrical, communications, transportation or other services used by us or third parties with whom we conduct business.
Further, our operations rely on the secure processing, storage and transmission of confidential and other information on our computer systems and networks. Although we take protective measures such as software programs, firewalls and similar technology to maintain the confidentiality, integrity and availability of our and our clients’ information, the nature of the threats continue to evolve. As a result, our computer systems, software and networks may be vulnerable to unauthorized access, loss or destruction of data (including confidential client information), account takeovers, unavailability or disruption of service, computer viruses, acts of vandalism, or other malicious code, cyber-attacks and other events that could have an adverse security impact. There have also been an increasing number of malicious cyber incidents in recent years in various industries, including ours. Any such cyber incidents involving our computer systems and networks, or those of third parties important to our businesses, could present risks to our operations.
Foreign Currency Risk
BGC is exposed to risks associated with changes in FX rates. Changes in FX rates create volatility in the U.S. dollar equivalent of the Company’s revenues and expenses. In addition, changes in the remeasurement of BGC’s foreign currency denominated financial assets and liabilities are recorded as part of its results of operations and fluctuate with changes in foreign currency rates. BGC monitors the net exposure in foreign currencies on a daily basis and hedges its exposure as deemed appropriate with highly rated major financial institutions.
The majority of the Company’s foreign currency exposure is related to the U.S. dollar versus the pound sterling and the euro. For the financial assets and liabilities denominated in the pound sterling and euro, including foreign currency hedge positions related to these currencies, we evaluated the effects of a 10% shift in exchange rates between those currencies and the U.S. dollar, holding all other assumptions constant. The analysis used the stress-tested scenario as the U.S. dollar strengthening against both the euro and against the pound sterling. If as of March 31, 2024, the U.S. dollar had strengthened against both the euro and the pound sterling by 10%, the currency movements would have had an aggregate negative impact on our net income of approximately $27.8 million.
Interest Rate Risk
BGC had $950.0 million in fixed-rate debt outstanding as of March 31, 2024. These debt obligations are not currently subject to fluctuations in interest rates, although in the event of refinancing or issuance of new debt, such debt could be subject to changes in interest rates. As of March 31, 2024, BGC did not have any borrowings outstanding under its Revolving Credit Agreement. The Revolving Credit Agreement interest rate on borrowings is based on SOFR or a defined base rate plus additional margin. In addition, as of March 31, 2024, BGC had $275.0 million of borrowings outstanding under its BGC Credit Agreement. Borrowings under the BGC Credit Agreement bear interest at a rate equal to 25 basis points less than the applicable borrower’s borrowing rate under its revolving credit agreement with third party banks. To assess exposure to interest rate risk, we evaluated the effect of a 1% increase in interest rates, holding all other assumptions constant. The analysis indicated that our consolidated net earnings in the quarter ended March 31, 2024 would have declined by $0.6 million if interest rates increased by an additional 1%.
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ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company is recorded, processed, accumulated, summarized and communicated to its management, including its Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer and its Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. The Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer have performed an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2024. Based on that evaluation, the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of March 31, 2024.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
During the three months ended March 31, 2024, there were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
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PART II—OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
The information required by this Item is set forth in Note 19—“Commitments, Contingencies and Guarantees” to the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and under the heading “Legal Proceedings” included in Part I, Item 2 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”, which are incorporated by reference herein.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
There have been no material changes to the risk factors previously disclosed under Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on February 29, 2024.
ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
Our Board of Directors and our Audit Committee have authorized repurchases of our Class A common stock and redemptions of equity interests in our subsidiaries, including from Cantor, our executive officers, other employees, and others, including Cantor employees and partners. On July 1, 2023, the BGC Group Board and Audit Committee approved BGC Group’s repurchase authorization in an amount up to $400.0 million. As of March 31, 2024 we had approximately $264.6 million remaining under this authorization and may continue to actively make repurchases or purchases, or cease to make such repurchases or purchases, from time to time.
The table below sets forth certain information regarding BGC’s repurchases of its common stock during the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2024 (in thousands):
| Period | Total Number of Shares Repurchased1 | Weighted- Average Price Paid per Share | Total Number of Shares Repurchased Under Publicly Announced Program | Approximate Dollar Value of Shares That May Yet Be Repurchased Under the Program2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
January 1, 2024—January 31, 2024 | 3,609 | $ | 6.95 | 3,035 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
February 1, 2024—February 29, 2024 | 6,586 | $ | 7.02 | 6,585 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
March 1, 2024—March 31, 2024 | 1,055 | $ | 8.23 | 200 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total Repurchases | 11,250 | $ | 7.11 | 9,820 | $ | 264,565 | ||||||||||||||||||||
1 Includes an aggregate of 1.4 million shares withheld to satisfy tax liabilities due upon the vesting of restricted stock. The average price paid per share for such share withholdings is based on the closing price per share on the vesting date of the restricted stock or, if such date is not a trading day, the trading day immediately prior to such vesting date. The fair value of restricted shares vested but withheld to satisfy tax liabilities was $11.4 million at a weighted-average price of $7.99 per share.
2 Represents amount available under a repurchase program authorized by the Board and Audit Committee on July 1, 2023 up to an amount of $400.0 million for which there is no expiration date.
ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
None.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
None.
ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION
10b5-1 Trading Arrangements
During the quarter ended March 31, 2024, none of the Company’s directors or executive officers informed the Company of the adoption or termination of a “Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement” or “non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement,” as those terms are defined in Regulation S-K, Item 408.
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2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders Date
The Board has set the date of the Company’s 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders for September 18, 2024, which has been changed by more than 30 days from the first anniversary of our 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The exact time and place of the 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders will be specified in our Notice of 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and related proxy statement.
As previously indicated in our proxy statement for the Company’s 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, if a stockholder desires to present a proposal for inclusion in our proxy statement for the 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, the proposal must be submitted in writing to us for receipt not later than June 4, 2024. Additionally, to be included in our proxy materials, proposals must comply with the proxy rules relating to stockholder proposals, in particular Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act. Stockholders who wish to raise a proposal for consideration at the 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, but who do not wish to submit a proposal for inclusion in our proxy materials pursuant to Rule 14a-8, should comply with our bylaws and deliver to us a copy of their proposal no later than June 4, 2024. If a stockholder fails to provide such notice, the respective proposal need not be addressed in our proxy materials and the proxies may exercise their discretionary voting authority if the proposal is raised at the 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. In addition to satisfying the requirements of the advance notice provisions of our bylaws, stockholders who intend to solicit proxies in support of director nominees other than our nominees must provide us with the information required by Rule 14a-19(b) under the Exchange Act. In any case, proposals should be sent to BGC Group, Inc., 499 Park Avenue, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10022, Attention: Corporate Secretary.
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ITEM 6. EXHIBITS
The exhibit index set forth below is incorporated by reference in response to this Item 6.
| Exhibit Number | Exhibit Title | |||||||
| 10.1 | Second Amendment, dated as of March 8, 2024, to the Credit Agreement, dated as of March 19, 2018, as amended as of August 6, 2018 and as assumed by BGC Group, Inc. as of October 6, 2024, by and between BGC Partners, Inc. and Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to BGC Group, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 12, 2024) | |||||||
| 10.2 | ||||||||
| 31.1 | ||||||||
| 31.2 | ||||||||
| 32 | ||||||||
| 101 | The following materials from BGC Group’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2024 are formatted in inline eXtensible Business Reporting Language (iXBRL): (i) the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition, (ii) the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations, (iii) the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss), (iv) the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, (v) the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity, and (vi) Notes to the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. The XBRL Instance Document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the iXBRL document. | |||||||
| 104 | The cover page from this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, formatted in Inline XBRL (included in Exhibit 101). | |||||||
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
| BGC Group, Inc. | ||||||||
/ S / HOWARD W. LUTNICK | ||||||||
| Name: | Howard W. Lutnick | |||||||
| Title: | Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer | |||||||
/ S / JASON W. HAUF | ||||||||
| Name: | Jason W. Hauf | |||||||
| Title: | Chief Financial Officer | |||||||
Date: May 9, 2024
[Signature page to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2024 dated May 9, 2024.]
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