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AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF BGC HOLDINGS, L.P.1

Limited Partnership Agreement

AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF BGC HOLDINGS, L.P.1 | Document Parties: BGC PARTNERS, INC. | BGC Global Holdings, LP | BGC Holdings, LP | BGC Partners, LLC | Cantor Fitzgerald, LP | Cantor, BGC Partners, BGC Partners, LP | New York, New York Communications You are currently viewing:
This Limited Partnership Agreement involves

BGC PARTNERS, INC. | BGC Global Holdings, LP | BGC Holdings, LP | BGC Partners, LLC | Cantor Fitzgerald, LP | Cantor, BGC Partners, BGC Partners, LP | New York, New York Communications

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Title: AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF BGC HOLDINGS, L.P.1
Governing Law: Delaware     Date: 4/7/2008
Industry: Consumer Financial Services     Sector: Financial

AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF BGC HOLDINGS, L.P.1, Parties: bgc partners  inc. , bgc global holdings  lp , bgc holdings  lp , bgc partners  llc , cantor fitzgerald  lp , cantor  bgc partners  bgc partners  lp , new york  new york communications
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Exhibit 10.1

EXECUTION VERSION

 

 

AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

OF

BGC HOLDINGS, L.P. 1

Amended and Restated as of March 31, 2008

 

 

 

1

THE TRANSFER OF THE PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS DESCRIBED IN THIS AGREEMENT IS RESTRICTED AS DESCRIBED HEREIN.

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.01.   Definitions    2
SECTION 1.02.   Other Definitional Provisions    19
SECTION 1.03.   References to Schedules    19
ARTICLE II
FORMATION, CONTINUATION AND POWERS
SECTION 2.01.   Formation    19
SECTION 2.02.   Name    19
SECTION 2.03.   Purpose and Scope of Activity    20
SECTION 2.04.   Principal Place of Business    20
SECTION 2.05.   Registered Agent and Office    20
SECTION 2.06.   Authorized Persons    20
SECTION 2.07.   Term    21
SECTION 2.08.   Treatment as Partnership    21
SECTION 2.09.   Compliance with Law; Offset Rights    21
ARTICLE III
MANAGEMENT
SECTION 3.01.   Management by the General Partner    21
SECTION 3.02.   Role and Voting Rights of Limited Partners; Authority of Partners    23
SECTION 3.03.   Partner Obligations    24
ARTICLE IV
PARTNERS; CLASSES OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS
SECTION 4.01.   Partners    26
SECTION 4.02.   Interests    26
SECTION 4.03.   Admission and Withdrawal of Partners    29
SECTION 4.04.   Liability to Third Parties; Capital Account Deficits    31
SECTION 4.05.   Classes    32
SECTION 4.06.   Certificates    32
SECTION 4.07.   Uniform Commercial Code Treatment of Units    32
SECTION 4.08.   Priority Among Partners    32

 

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ARTICLE V
CAPITAL AND ACCOUNTING MATTERS
SECTION 5.01.   Capital    33
SECTION 5.02.   Withdrawals; Return on Capital    34
SECTION 5.03.   Maintenance of Capital Accounts    34
SECTION 5.04.   Allocations and Tax Matters    34
SECTION 5.05.   General Partner Determinations    35
SECTION 5.06.   Books and Accounts    35
SECTION 5.07.   Tax Matters Partner    36
SECTION 5.08.   Tax Information    36
SECTION 5.09.   Withholding    36
ARTICLE VI
DISTRIBUTIONS
SECTION 6.01.   Distributions in Respect of Partnership Interests    37
SECTION 6.02.   Limitation on Distributions    39
ARTICLE VII
TRANSFERS OF INTERESTS
SECTION 7.01.   Transfers Generally Prohibited    39
SECTION 7.02.   Permitted Transfers    39
SECTION 7.03.   Admission as a Partner Upon Transfer    41
SECTION 7.04.   Transfer of Units and Capital with the Transfer of an Interest    41
SECTION 7.05.   Encumbrances    41
SECTION 7.06.   Legend    42
SECTION 7.07.   Effect of Transfer Not in Compliance with this Article    42
ARTICLE VIII
EXCHANGE RIGHTS
SECTION 8.01   Exchange Rights    42
SECTION 8.02.   No Fractional Shares of BGC Partners Common Stock    47
SECTION 8.03.   Taxes in Respect of an Exchange    47
SECTION 8.04.   Reservation of BGC Partners Common Stock    47
SECTION 8.05.   Compliance with Applicable Laws in the Exchange    48
SECTION 8.06.   Adjustments to Exchange Ratio    48
SECTION 8.07.   Redemption for Opco Units    49

 

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ARTICLE IX
DISSOLUTION
SECTION 9.01.   Dissolution    51
SECTION 9.02.   Liquidation    52
SECTION 9.03.   Distributions    52
SECTION 9.04.   Reconstitution    53
SECTION 9.05.   Deficit Restoration    53
ARTICLE X
INDEMNIFICATION AND EXCULPATION
SECTION 10.01.   Exculpation    53
SECTION 10.02.   Indemnification    53
SECTION 10.03.   Insurance    56
SECTION 10.04.   Subrogation    57
SECTION 10.05.   No Duplication of Payments    57
SECTION 10.06.   Survival    57
ARTICLE XI
EXTRAORDINARY ITEMS
SECTION 11.01.   Certain Arrangements Regarding Extraordinary Items    57
ARTICLE XII
FOUNDING PARTNERS, WORKING PARTNERS AND REU PARTNERS
SECTION 12.01.   Units    59
SECTION 12.02.   Transfers of Founding Partner Interests, Working Partner Interests and REU Interests    64
SECTION 12.03.   Redemption of a Founding/Working Partner Interest    81
SECTION 12.04.   Purchase Price for Redemption; Other Redemption Provisions    83
SECTION 12.05.   Redemption of Opco Units Following a Redemption of Founding/Working Partner Interests or REU Interest    84
SECTION 12.06.   Section 7704 of the Code    85
SECTION 12.07.   Provisions Relating to Issuances of Shares of BGC Partners Common Stock and Distributions    86
SECTION 12.08.   Application of Proceeds From Sale of Shares of BGC Partners Common Stock by a Founding/Working Partner or REU Partner    86

 

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ARTICLE XIII
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 13.01.   Amendments    87
SECTION 13.02.   Benefits of Agreement    89
SECTION 13.03.   Waiver of Notice    89
SECTION 13.04.   Jurisdiction and Forum; Waiver of Jury Trial    89
SECTION 13.05.   Successors and Assigns    90
SECTION 13.06.   Confidentiality    90
SECTION 13.07.   Notices    91
SECTION 13.08.   No Waiver of Rights    91
SECTION 13.09.   Power of Attorney    91
SECTION 13.10.   Severability    92
SECTION 13.11.   Headings    92
SECTION 13.12.   Entire Agreement    92
SECTION 13.13.   Governing Law    92
SECTION 13.14.   Counterparts    92
SECTION 13.15.   Opportunity; Fiduciary Duty    93
SECTION 13.16.   Reimbursement of Expenses    95
SECTION 13.17.   Effectiveness    95
SECTION 13.18.   Parity of Units    95
SECTION 13.19.   Limitation on Challenge Period and Exclusive Remedies Available to Partners with Respect to any Redemption of Units    95

 

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This AGREEMENT OF LIMITED PARTNERSHIP (together with all exhibits, annexes and schedules hereto, this “Agreement” ) of BGC Holdings, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership” ), dated as of March 31, 2008, is by and among BGC GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company ( “BGC GP LLC” ), as the general partner of the Partnership, Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership ( “Cantor” ), as a limited partner, BGC Partners, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company ( “BGC Partners” ), and the Persons to be admitted as Partners (as defined below) or otherwise parties hereto as set forth herein.

RECITALS

WHEREAS, the Partnership was formed as a limited partnership under the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, Del. Code Ann. tit. 6, §17-101, et seq ., as amended from time to time (the “Act” ), pursuant to an Agreement of Limited Partnership, dated as of August 24, 2004, by and among BGC Holdings II, LLC, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Initial General Partner” ) and Cantor, as limited partner (as amended and restated on July 15, 2005, the “Original Limited Partnership Agreement” ); and

WHEREAS, Cantor, BGC Partners, BGC Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership ( “U.S. Opco” ), BGC Global Holdings, L.P., a Cayman Islands limited partnership ( “Global Opco” ), and the Partnership have entered into that certain Separation Agreement, dated as of March 31, 2008 (the “Separation Agreement” ), pursuant to which, among other things, Cantor has agreed to separate the Inter-Dealer Brokerage Business, the Market Data Business and the Fulfillment Business (each as defined in the Separation Agreement and together, the “BGC Businesses” ) from the remainder of the businesses of Cantor by contributing the BGC Businesses to BGC Partners and its applicable Subsidiaries, including U.S. Opco and Global Opco, in the manner and on the terms and conditions set forth in the Separation Agreement (the “Separation” );

WHEREAS, as part of the Separation, the Initial General Partner withdrew as general partner of the Partnership;

WHEREAS, as part of the Separation, BGC GP LLC accepted the General Partnership Interest and was admitted as the General Partner and continued the Partnership without dissolution;

WHEREAS, as part of the Separation, certain partners of Cantor associated with the BGC Businesses are having their limited partner interests in Cantor redeemed (the “Cantor Redemption” ) for, among other things, Limited Partnership Interests held by Cantor and are being admitted as Founding Partners, and such interests shall be designated as Founding Partner Interests when held by such Persons and as Exchangeable Limited Partnership Interests when held by Cantor;

WHEREAS, as a part of the compensation of certain employees of the BGC Businesses, concurrently with the Merger, the Partnership is issuing REU Interests to such employees of the BGC Business, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement;

 


WHEREAS, certain of the Limited Partnership Interests designated as Exchangeable Limited Partnership Interests, Founding Partner Interests or REU Interests will be exchangeable with BGC Partners for shares of BGC Partners Common Stock, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement; and

WHEREAS, the Partners are amending and restating the Original Limited Partnership Agreement in order to, among other things, provide for or attest to the foregoing transactions contemplated by the Separation Agreement, effective immediately.

NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto hereby adopt the following as the amended and restated “partnership agreement” of the Partnership within the meaning of the Act:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

SECTION 1.01. Definitions . As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings set forth below:

“Accounting Period” means (a) in the case of the first Accounting Period, the period commencing on the date of this Agreement and ending at the next Closing of the Books Event, and (b) in the case of each subsequent Accounting Period, the period commencing immediately after a Closing of the Books Event and ending at the next Closing of the Books Event.

“Act” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

“Action” means any action, claim, suit, litigation, proceeding (including arbitral) or investigation.

“Acquired Global Opco Interest” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.07.

“Acquired Interests” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.07.

“Acquired U.S. Opco Interest” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.07.

“Additional Amounts” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 12.02(c)(ii).

“Adjusted Capital Account” means, with respect to the Founding/Working Partner Interest of a Founding/Working Partner or the REU Interest of an REU Partner, as the case may be, and subject to Section 6.01(c) and (d), the Capital Account balance with respect to such Interest determined without regard to (a) any adjustment pursuant to the penultimate sentence of Section 5.03 or, unless otherwise deemed appropriate by the General Partner in its sole and absolute discretion, the provisions of Exhibit D or (b) the balance of any Extraordinary Account and adjusted to reflect, to the extent deemed appropriate by the General Partner in its sole and absolute discretion, any special allocations to such Interest pursuant to Section 5.04(b) not otherwise reflected in the Capital Account of such Interest. Any gain recognized or deemed recognized as a result of such distribution shall not affect any Adjusted Capital Account unless

 

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otherwise deemed appropriate by the General Partner in its sole and absolute discretion. The Adjusted Capital Account is used for calculating amounts payable to certain Founding/Working Partners or REU Partners, as the case may be, upon termination or redemption of their Founding/Working Partner Interest or the REU Interest, as the case may be.

“Adjusted Capital Account Surplus” means, with respect to the Working Partner Interest of a Working Partner, the Adjusted Capital Account with respect to such Working Partner Interest less the Capital Return Account with respect to such Working Partner Interest.

“Adjustment Amount” means, with respect to the Founding/Working Partner Interest of a Founding/Working Partner or the REU Interest of an REU Partner, the sum of (i) the amounts of all distributions, if any, paid to any such Partner with respect to such Partner’s Founding/Working Partner Interest or REU Interest, as the case may be, subsequent to the Calculation Date or such other date as is provided herein for calculating the amount payable to such Partner, and (ii) the outstanding principal of any loan and accrued and unpaid interest thereon or any other indebtedness (including negative participations, if any) of such Partner owed to the Partnership or any Affiliated Entity, whether or not actually reflected on the books of the Partnership or any Affiliated Entity.

“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, such first Person.

“Affiliated Entities” shall mean the limited and general partnerships, corporations or other entities owned, controlled by or under common control with the Partnership.

“AFR” means the applicable federal rate pursuant to Section 1274 of the Code as in effect from time to time. Unless otherwise determined by the General Partner, AFR shall mean the short term AFR.

“Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

“Ancillary Agreements” means “Ancillary Agreements” as defined in the Separation Agreement.

“any employer or secondary contributor” has the meaning set forth in Section 12.07.

“Applicable Tax Rate” means the estimated highest aggregate marginal statutory U.S. federal, state and local income, franchise and branch profits tax rates (determined taking into account the deductibility of state and local income taxes for federal income tax purposes and the creditability or deductibility of foreign income taxes for federal income tax purposes) ( “Tax Rate” ) applicable to any Partner on income of the same character and source as the income allocated to such Partner pursuant to Sections 5.04(a) and (b) for such fiscal year, fiscal quarter or other period, as determined by the tax matters partner in its discretion; provided that, in the case of a Partner that is a partnership, grantor trust or other pass-through entity under U.S. federal income tax law, the Tax Rate applicable to such Partner for purposes of determining the Applicable Tax Rate shall be the weighted average of the Tax Rates of such Partner’s members,

 

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grantor-owners or other beneficial owners (weighted in proportion to their relative economic interests in such Partner), as determined by the tax matters partner in its discretion; provided , further , that if any such member, grantor-owner or other beneficial owner of such Partner is itself a partnership, grantor trust or other pass-through entity similar principles shall be applied by the tax matters partner in its discretion to determine the Tax Rate of such member, grantor-owner or other beneficial owner.

“Article XI Term” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.01(b).

“Assumed Tax Amount” shall mean, with respect to any Units held by a Partner, the product of all items of income or gain allocated to a Partner with respect to such Units (reduced, but not below zero (0), by all items of loss or deduction allocated to such Partner with respect to such Units) times the Assumed Tax Rate.

“Assumed Tax Rate” shall mean 50%.

“Bankruptcy” (including the form “Bankrupt” ) means, with respect to a Founding/Working Partner or an REU Partner, as the case may be, (a) the making of an assignment for the benefit of creditors by such Partner, (b) the filing of a voluntary petition in bankruptcy by such Partner, (c) the adjudication of such Partner as a bankrupt or insolvent, or the entry against such Partner of an order for relief in any bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding; provided that such order for relief or involuntary proceeding is not stayed or dismissed within 120 days, (d) the filing by such Partner of a petition or answer seeking for itself or any reorganization, arrangement, composition, readjustment, liquidation, dissolution or similar relief under any bankruptcy statute, law or regulation, or (e) the filing by such Partner of an answer or other pleading admitting or failing to contest the material allegations of a petition filed against it in any proceeding of that nature. With respect to a Founding/Working Partner or an REU Partner, as the case may be, “Bankruptcy” shall also include the appointment of or the seeking of the appointment of (in each case by any person), a trustee, receiver or liquidator of it or of all or any substantial part of the properties of such Partner. With respect to a corporate Founding/Working Partner or an REU Partner, as the case may be, Bankruptcy shall also include the occurrence of any of the aforementioned events with respect to the beneficial owner of a majority of the stock of such Partner. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no event shall constitute the “Bankruptcy” of a Founding/Working Partner or an REU Partner, as the case may be, unless the General Partner so determines in its sole and absolute discretion.

“Base Amount” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 12.02(b)(iii).

“BGC Businesses” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

“BGC GP LLC” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

“BGC Partners” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement; provided that, after the effective time of the Merger, “BGC Partners” shall refer to the surviving company in the Merger.

“BGC Partners Class A Common Stock” means (1) prior to the Merger, the Class A Units of BGC Partners; and (2) after the Merger, the Class A common stock, par value $0.01

 

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per share, of BGC Partners (it being understood that if the BGC Partners Class A Common Stock, as a class, shall be reclassified, exchanged or converted into another security (including as a result of a merger, consolidation or otherwise) or the right to receive such security, each reference to BGC Partners Class A Common Stock in this Agreement shall refer to such other security into which the BGC Partners Class A Common Stock was reclassified, exchanged or converted).

“BGC Partners Class B Common Stock” means (1) prior to the Merger, the Class B Units of BGC Partners; and (2) after the Merger, the Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of BGC Partners (it being understood that if the BGC Partners Class B Common Stock, as a class, shall be reclassified, exchanged or converted into another security (including as a result of a merger, consolidation or otherwise) or the right to receive such security, each reference to BGC Partners Class B Common Stock in this Agreement shall refer to such other security into which the BGC Partners Class B Common Stock was reclassified, exchanged or converted).

“BGC Partners Common Stock” means (1) prior to the Merger, the limited liability company interests of BGC Partners; and (2) after the Merger, the BGC Partners Class A Common Stock or the BGC Partners Class B Common Stock, as applicable.

“BGC Partners Company” means any member of the BGC Partners Group.

“BGC Partners Group” means BGC Partners and its Subsidiaries (other than the Partnership and its Subsidiaries, U.S. Opco and its Subsidiaries and Global Opco and its Subsidiaries).

“BGC Ratio” means, as of any time, the number equal to (a) the aggregate number of U.S. Opco Units held by the BGC Partners Group as of such time divided by (b) the aggregate number of shares of BGC Partners Common Stock issued and outstanding as of such time.

“Book Value” of an asset shall mean the value of an asset on the books and records of the Partnership (as adjusted pursuant to the penultimate sentence of Section 5.03) except that the initial Book Value of an asset contributed to the Partnership shall be the amount credited to the Capital Account of the contributing Partner with respect to such contribution.

Business Day ” shall mean any day excluding Saturday, Sunday and any day on which banking institutions located in New York, New York are authorized or required by applicable Law or other governmental action to be closed.

Calculation Date ” means, at the election of the General Partner, (a) the date on which a Founding/Working Partner or an REU Partner, as the case may be, becomes a Terminated or Bankrupt Founding/Working Partner or a Terminated or Bankrupt REU Partner, as the case may be (the “termination date” ); or (b) any date selected by the General Partner between the termination date and the 120th day preceding the date on which a Founding/Working Partner or an REU Partner, as the case may be, becomes a Terminated or Bankrupt Founding/Working Partner or an REU Partner, as the case may be ( provided , however , that if such day is not the last day of a calendar month, the General Partner may select as the

 

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Calculation Date the last day of the month preceding the month in which such 120th preceding the termination date; provided , however , that if such 120th day is not the last day of a calendar month, the General Partner may select as the Calculation Date the last day of the month preceding the month in which such 120th preceding day occurs.

“Cantor” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

“Cantor Company” means any member of the Cantor Group.

“Cantor Group” means Cantor and its Subsidiaries (other than the Partnership and its Subsidiaries or any member of the BGC Partners Group).

“Cantor HDIV Tax Payment Account” shall have the meaning ascribed to the term “HDIV Tax Payment Account” in the Cantor Partnership Agreement.

“Cantor Partnership Agreement” shall mean the Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Cantor, as it may be amended from time to time.

“Cantor Redemption” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

“Capital” means, with respect to any Partner, such Partner’s capital in the Partnership as reflected in such Partner’s Capital Account.

“Capital Account” means, with respect to any Partner, such Partner’s capital account established on the books and records of the Partnership.

“Capital Return Account” shall mean, with respect to any Partner’s Interest, the excess, if any, of (i) the initial Capital Account with respect to such Interest, increased by any subsequent capital contributions with respect to such Interest and reduced by the amount of any losses or deductions (or items thereof) allocated to such Partner with respect to such Interest in excess of income or gain allocated to such Partner with respect to such Interest, over (ii) the aggregate of all distributions made to such Partner with respect to such Interest pursuant to Section 6.01 less the Assumed Tax Amount with respect to such Interest; provided that in no event shall a Capital Return Account be negative.

“Certificate of Limited Partnership” means the certificate of limited partnership of the Partnership filed with the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on August 24, 2004.

“CFLP HDII Account” shall have the meaning ascribed to the term “HDII Account” in the Cantor Partnership Agreement.

CFLP HDII Special Allocation Rate ” shall have the meaning ascribed to the term “HDII Special Allocation Rate” in Cantor Partnership Agreement.

“CFLP HDII Account Reduction Obligation” shall have the meaning ascribed to the term “HDII Account Reduction Obligation” in the Cantor Partnership Agreement.

 

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“CFLP HDIII Account” shall have the meaning ascribed to the term “HDIII Account” in the Cantor Partnership Agreement.

“Challenge” has the meaning set forth in Section 13.19(a) of this Agreement.

“Challenge Deadline” has the meaning set forth in Section 13.19(a) of this Agreement.

“Closing of the Books Event” means any of (a) the close of the last day of each calendar year and each calendar quarter, (b) the dissolution of the Partnership, (c) the acquisition of an additional interest in the Partnership by any new or existing Partner in exchange for more than a de minimis amount of property, (d) the distribution by the Partnership to a Partner of more than a de minimis amount of Partnership property as consideration for an interest in the Partnership, or (e) any other time that the General Partner determines to be appropriate for an interim closing of the Partnership’s books.

“Code” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any successor statute thereto.

“Competing Business” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 12.02(c)(iii).

“Competing Owner” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 12.02(c)(vi).

“Competitive Activities” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 12.02(c)(iii).

“Contribution” means “Contribution” as defined in the Separation Agreement.

“Corporate Opportunity” means any business opportunity that the Partnership is financially able to undertake, that is, from its nature, in any of the Partnership’s lines of business, of practical advantage to the Partnership and one in which the Partnership has an interest or a reasonable expectancy, and in which, by embracing the opportunities, the self-interest of Cantor, BGC Partners or their respective Representatives will be brought into conflict with the Partnership’s self-interest.

“Current Market Price” means, as of any date: (a) if shares of BGC Partners Class A Common Stock are listed on an internationally recognized stock exchange, the average of the closing price per share of BGC Partners Class A Common Stock on each of the 10 consecutive trading days ending on such date (it being understood that such price shall be appropriately adjusted in the event that there is a stock dividend or stock split during such 10-consecutive-trading-day period), or (b) if shares of BGC Partners Class A Common Stock are not listed on an internationally recognized stock exchange, the fair value of a share of BGC Partners Class A Common Stock as agreed in good faith by Cantor and the Audit Committee of BGC Partners.

“DGCL” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.02(a).

“Disinterested Director” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.02(i)(i).

“Effective Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 13.19.

 

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“Electing Partner” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.01(e).

“Eligible Recipient” means (a) any Limited Partner, (b) any Cantor Company or any Affiliate, employee or partner of a Cantor Company, or (c) any other Person selected by the Exchangeable Limited Partners (by Majority in Interest); provided that such Person in this clause (c) shall not be primarily engaged in any business that competes with any business conducted directly by the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries in each case at the time of issuance of the Founding/Working Partner Units or REUs, as the case may be, to such Person.

“Encumbrance” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.05.

“Estimated Proportionate Quarterly Tax Distribution” means the Proportionate Quarterly Tax Distribution calculated using the Tax Matters Partner’s estimate of the aggregate amount of taxable income or gain to be allocated to the Partners pursuant to Section 5.04(a) for the applicable period (excluding any items of income, gain, loss or deduction allocated in respect of any Special Item).

“Estimated Tax Due Date” means (a) in the case of a Partner that is not an individual, the 15th day of each April, June, September and December or (b) in the case of a Partner that is an individual, the 15th day of each April, June, September and January.

“Excess Prior Distributions” means, with respect to any Working Partner Interest of a Working Partner, the excess, if any, of (a) the aggregate of all distributions made to such Working Partner with respect to such Working Partner Interest pursuant to Section 6.01 less the Assumed Tax Amount with respect to such Working Partner Interest, over (b) such Working Partner’s initial Capital Account with respect to such Working Partner Interest, increased by any Capital contributions with respect to such Working Partner Interest and reduced by the amount of any net loss or deduction (or items thereof) allocated pursuant to Section 5.04 to such Working Partner with respect to such Working Partner Interest in excess of net income or gain allocated pursuant to Section 5.04 to such Working Partner in respect of such Working Partner Interest. In no event shall Excess Prior Distributions be negative.

“Exchange” means an exchange of all or a portion of an Exchange Right Interest with BGC Partners for BGC Partners Common Stock, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement.

“Exchange Effective Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.01(e).

“Exchange Effective Time” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.01(f).

“Exchange Ratio” means, with respect to each Exchange, one (1) Exchange Right Unit shall be exchangeable for one (1) share of BGC Partners Common Stock, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 8.06.

“Exchange Request” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.01(e).

 

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“Exchange Right” means the right of a holder of an Exchange Right Interest to exchange all or a portion of such Exchange Right Interest with BGC Partners for BGC Partners Common Stock, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement.

“Exchange Right Interest” means any of (a) an Exchangeable Limited Partnership Interest, (b) if and to the extent that Cantor shall so determine with respect to all or a portion of a Founding Partner Interest pursuant to Section 8.01(b)(ii), such Founding Partner Interest or portion thereof, (c) if and to the extent that the General Partner shall so determine (with the consent of a Majority in Interest) with respect to all or a portion of an REU Interest pursuant to Section 8.01(b)(iii), such REU Interest or portion thereof and (d) if and to the extent that the General Partner shall so determine (with the consent of a Majority in Interest) with respect to all or a portion of a Working Partner Interest pursuant to Section 8.01(b)(iv), such Working Partner Interest or portion thereof.

“Exchange Right Unit” means (a) any Unit designated as an Exchangeable Limited Partner Unit, (b) if and to the extent that Cantor shall have determined that a Founding Partner Unit shall be exchangeable pursuant to Section 8.01(b)(ii), such Founding Partner Unit, (c) if and to the extent that the General Partner shall have determined (with the consent of a Majority in Interest) that an REU shall be exchangeable pursuant to Section 8.01(b)(iii), such REU or (d) if and to the extent that the General Partner shall have determined (with the consent of a Majority in Interest) that a Working Partner Unit shall be exchangeable pursuant to Section 8.01(b)(iv), such Working Partner Unit.

“Exchangeable Limited Partner” means (a) any Cantor Company that holds an Exchangeable Limited Partnership Interest and that has not ceased to hold such Exchangeable Limited Partnership Interest and (b) any Person to whom a Cantor Company has Transferred an Exchangeable Limited Partnership Interest and, prior to or at the time of such Transfer, whom Cantor has agreed shall be designated as an Exchangeable Limited Partner for purposes of this Agreement.

“Exchangeable Limited Partnership Interest” means, with respect to any Exchangeable Limited Partner, such Partner’s Exchangeable Limited Partner Units and Capital designated as an “Exchangeable Limited Partnership Interest” on Schedule 4.02 and Schedule 5.01 in accordance with this Agreement and rights and obligations with respect to the Partnership pursuant to this Agreement and applicable law by virtue of such Partner holding such Exchangeable Limited Partner Units and having such Capital. For the avoidance of doubt, except as otherwise set forth in Section 4.03(c)(iii), Founding/Working Partner Interests, Working Partner Interests and REU Interests shall be deemed not to be Exchangeable Limited Partnership Interests.

“Exchangeable Limited Partner Unit” means any Unit designated as an Exchangeable Limited Partner Unit.

“Exempt Organization” means a charitable organization, private foundation or other similar organization that is exempt from federal income tax under Section 501 of the Code.

“Extraordinary Account” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.01(a).

 

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“Extraordinary Expenditures” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.01(a).

“Extraordinary Income Items” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.01(a).

“Extraordinary Percentage Interest” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.01(d)(ii).

“Final Adjudication” has the meaning set forth in Section 13.19(b).

“Final Adjudication Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 13.19(b).

“Five Year Units” means any Working Partner Units acquired by a Working Partner who becomes a Terminated or Bankrupt Partner after the 60-month anniversary of the later of the date on which such Partner acquired such Working Partner Units from the Partnership, but on or prior to the 120-month anniversary of such date.

“Founding Partner” means a holder of Founding Partner Interests; provided that any member of the Cantor Group and Howard W. Lutnick (including any entity directly or indirectly controlled by Howard W. Lutnick or any trust of which he is a grantor, trustee or beneficiary) shall not be a Founding Partner.

“Founding Partner Interest” means, with respect to any Founding Partner, such Partner’s Founding Partner Units and Capital designated as “Founding Partner Interest” on Schedule 4.02 and Schedule 5.01 (such Schedule to include the Adjusted Capital Account and Capital Account of such Founding Partner immediately following the Cantor Redemption, reduced as provided for under the Cantor Partnership Agreement by an amount equal to one-sixth of the sum of (i) the “adjusted capital account” (as such term was then defined in the Cantor Partnership Agreement, and subject to adjustment under the terms of the Cantor Redemption) of such Founding Partner’s units in Cantor which were redeemed in the Cantor Redemption and (ii) the CFLP HD II Account or CFLP HD III Account, if any, attributable to such units) in accordance with this Agreement and rights and obligations with respect to the Partnership pursuant to this Agreement and applicable law by virtue of such Partner holding such Units and having such Capital.

“Founding Partner Unit” means any Unit (High Distribution Units, High Distribution II Units, High Distribution III Units, High Distribution IV Units, Grant Units or Matching Grant Units) that are received by such Partner in the Cantor Redemption or received by such Partner from a Cantor Company and, in each case, designated as a Founding Partner Unit in accordance with this Agreement.

“Founding/Working Partner” means any holder of a Founding Partner Interest and/or a Working Partner Interest.

“Founding/Working Partner Interest” means a Founding Partner Interest or a Working Partner Interest.

“Founding/Working Partner Unit” means any Unit underlying a Founding/Working Partner Interest.

 

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“General Partner” means BGC GP LLC or any Person who has been admitted, as herein provided, as an additional or substitute general partner, and who has not ceased to be a general partner, each in its capacity as a general partner of the Partnership.

“General Partnership Interest” means, with respect to the General Partner, such Partner’s Unit and Capital designated as the “General Partnership Interest” on Schedule 4.02 and Schedule 5.01 in accordance with this Agreement and rights and obligations with respect to the Partnership pursuant to this Agreement and applicable law by virtue of such Partner being a General Partner and having such Unit and Capital.

“Global Opco” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

“Global Opco Capital” means “Capital” as defined in the Global Opco Limited Partnership Agreement.

“Global Opco General Partner” means the “General Partner” as defined in the Global Opco Limited Partnership Agreement.

“Global Opco General Partnership Interest” means the “General Partnership Interest” as defined in the Global Opco Limited Partnership Agreement.

“Global Opco Interest” means an “Interest” as defined in the Global Opco Limited Partnership Agreement.

“Global Opco Limited Partnership Agreement” means the amended and restated limited partnership agreement of Global Opco, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A.

“Global Opco Limited Partnership Interest” means the “Limited Partnership Interest” as defined in the Global Opco Limited Partnership Agreement.

“Global Opco Special Voting Limited Partnership Interest” means the “Special Voting Limited Partnership Interest” as defined in the Global Opco Limited Partnership Agreement.

“Global Opco Units” means “Units” as defined in the Global Opco Limited Partnership Agreement.

“Grant Tax Payment Account” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 12.02(g)(i).

“Grant Units” means any Unit designated as a Grant Unit in accordance with this Agreement.

“Group” means the Cantor Group or the BGC Partners Group, as applicable.

“HDII Account” means, with respect to any Founding/Working Partner holding High Distribution II Units, such Founding/Working Partner’s HDII account established on the books and records of the Partnership.

 

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“HDII Account Reduction Obligation” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 12.01(b)(iv).

“HDII Contributions” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 12.01(b)(ii)(A).

“HDII Special Allocation” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 12.01(b)(iii).

“HDII Special Allocation Rate” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 12.01(b)(iii).

“HDIII Account” means, with respect to any Founding/Working Partner holding High Distribution III Units, such Founding/Working Partner’s HDIII account established on the books and records of the Partnership.

“HDIII Account Reduction Obligation” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 12.01(c).

“High Distribution Units” means any Unit designated as a High Distribution Unit in accordance with this Agreement.

“High Distribution II Units” means any Unit designated as a High Distribution II Unit in accordance with this Agreement.

“High Distribution III Units” means any Unit designated as a High Distribution III Unit in accordance with this Agreement.

“High Distribution IV Units” means any Unit designated as a High Distribution IV Unit in accordance with this Agreement.

“Holdings Group” means the Partnership and its Subsidiaries (other than U.S. Opco, Global Opco and their respective Subsidiaries).

“Holdings Ratio” means, as of any time, the number equal to (a) the aggregate number of U.S. Opco Units held by the Holdings Group as of such time divided by (b) the aggregate number of Units issued and outstanding as of such time.

“Hypothetical Unit” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.01(d)(iii).

“Independent Counsel” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.02(i)(ii).

“Initial General Partner” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

“Initial Vesting Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.01(d)(i).

“Interest” means the General Partnership Interest and any Limited Partnership Interest (including, for the avoidance of doubt, a Regular Limited Partnership Interest, an Exchangeable Limited Partnership Interest, the Special Voting Limited Partnership Interest, the Founding Partner Interest, the REU Interest and the Working Partner Interest).

 

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“Limited Partner” means a Regular Limited Partner (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Exchangeable Limited Partners and the Special Voting Limited Partners), a Founding Partner, the REU Partner or a Working Partner, each in its capacity as a limited partner of the Partnership.

“Limited Partnership Interests” means the Regular Limited Partnership Interests, the Exchangeable Limited Partnership Interests, the Special Voting Limited Partnership Interest, the Founding Partner Interests, the REU Interests and the Working Partner Interests.

“Majority in Interest” means the Exchangeable Limited Partner(s) holding a majority of the Units underlying the Exchangeable Limited Partnership Interests outstanding as of the applicable record date.

“Matching Grant Tax Payment Account” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 12.02(i)(i).

“Matching Grant Units” means any Unit designated as a Matching Grant Unit in accordance with this Agreement.

“Matching Post-Termination Payment” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 12.02(h)(i).

“Merger Agreement” means the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of May 29, 2007, as amended as of November 5, 2007, and as further amended from time to time, by and among BGC Partners, Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P., eSpeed, Inc., U.S. Opco, Global Opco and the Partnership.

“Merger” means the merger of BGC Partners and eSpeed, Inc. set forth in the Merger Agreement.

“NIC” has the meaning set forth in Section 12.07.

“NIC Liability” has the meaning set forth in Section 12.07.

“Opcos” means U.S. Opco and Global Opco.

“Original Limited Partnership Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

“Participation Plan” means the participation plan of the Partnership, as amended from time to time, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B.

“Partner Obligations” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.03(a).

“Partners” means the Limited Partners (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the

 

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Regular Limited Partners, the Exchangeable Limited Partners, the Special Voting Limited Partner, the Founding Partners, the REU Partners and the Working Partners) and the General Partner, and “Partner” means any of the foregoing.

“Partnership” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

“PAYE” has the meaning set forth in Section 12.07.

“Payment Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 12.02(b)(ii).

“Percentage Interest” means, as of the applicable calculation time, with respect to a Partner, the ratio, expressed as a percentage, of the number of Units held by such Partner over the number of Units held by all Partners.

“Person” means any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, trust, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, joint stock company, limited liability company, governmental entity or other entity of any kind, and shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of such entity.

“Personal Representative” shall mean the executor, administrator or other personal representative of any deceased or disabled Founding/Working Partner or REU Partner, as the case may be, or any trustee of the estate of any bankrupt or deceased Founding/Working Partner or REU Partner, as the case may be.

“Post-Termination Payment” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 12.02(f)(i).

“Pre Five Year Units” means any Working Partner Units acquired by a Working Partner who becomes a Terminated or Bankrupt Partner on or prior to the 60-month anniversary of the date on which such Partner acquired such Working Partner Units.

“proceeding” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.02(a).

“Proportionate Quarterly Tax Distribution” means, for each Partner for each fiscal quarter or other applicable period, such Partner’s Proportionate Tax Share for such fiscal quarter or other applicable period.

“Proportionate Tax Share” means, with respect to a Partner, the product of (a) the Tax Distribution for the fiscal year, fiscal quarter or other period, as applicable, and (b) the Percentage Interest of such Partner for such fiscal year, fiscal quarter or other period. In the event that the Percentage Interest of a Partner changes during any fiscal year, fiscal quarter or other period, the Proportionate Tax Share of such Partner and the other Partners, as the case may be, for such fiscal year, fiscal quarter or other period shall be appropriately adjusted to take into account the Partners’ varying interests.

“Publicly Traded Shares” means shares of BGC Partners Common Stock (if listed on any national securities exchange or included for quotation in any quotation system in the United States (even if such shares are restricted securities under the Securities Act) and any

 

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shares of capital stock of any other entity, if such shares are of a class that is listed on any national securities exchange or included for quotation in any quotation system in the United States (even if such shares are restricted securities under the Securities Act).

“Redemption Consideration” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 13.19(a).

“Reduction Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 12.01(c).

“Regular Limited Partner” means any Person who has acquired a Regular Limited Partnership Interest pursuant to and in compliance with this Agreement and who shall have been admitted to the Partnership as a Regular Limited Partner in accordance with this Agreement and shall not have ceased to be a Regular Limited Partner under the terms of this Agreement.

“Regular Limited Partnership Interest” means, with respect to any Regular Limited Partner, such Partner’s Units (including, any Units designated as Exchange Right Units), Capital, designated as a “Regular Limited Partnership Interest” (including, for the avoidance of doubt, designation as an “Exchangeable Limited Partnership Interest” and the “Special Voting Limited Partnership Interest”) on Schedule 4.02 and Schedule 5.01 in accordance with this Agreement and rights and obligations with respect to the Partnership pursuant to this Agreement and applicable law by virtue of such Partner holding such Units and having such Capital.

“Requested Exchange Effective Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.01(e).

“Representatives” means, with respect to any Person, the Affiliates, directors, officers, employees, general partners, agents, accountants, managing member, employees, counsel and other advisors and representatives of such Person.

“REU” means any Unit designated as an REU in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

“REU Interest” means, with respect to any REU Partner, such Partner’s REUs and Capital designated as “REU Interest” on Schedule 4.02 and Schedule 5.01 in accordance with this Agreement and rights and obligations with respect to the Partnership pursuant to this Agreement and applicable law by virtue of such Partner holding such REUs and having such Capital.

“REU Partner” means a holder of REU Interests.

“REU Post-Termination Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 12.03(e)(i).

“REU Post-Termination Payment” has the meaning set forth in Section 12.02(j)(i).

“Restricted Period” means (a) with respect to the obligations described in clauses (i) and (v) of Section 3.03(a), the period from the date on which a Person first becomes a Founding/Working Partner or REU Partner (or, with respect to a Partner holding Founding

 

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Partner Units, the date on which such Person first became a partner of Cantor), through the date on which such Person ceases, for any reason, to be a Partner, (b) with respect to the obligations described in clause (iii) of Section 3.03(a), the period from the date on which a Person first becomes a Founding/Working Partner or REU Partner (or, with respect to a Partner holding Founding Partner Units, the date on which such Person first became a partner of Cantor), through the one-year period immediately following the date on which such Person ceases, for any reason, to be a Partner, (c) with respect to the obligations described in clause (ii) of

Section 3.03(a), the period from the date on which a Person first becomes a Founding/Working Partner or REU Partner (or, with respect to a Partner holding Founding Partner Units, the date on which such Person first became a Partner of Cantor) through the two-year period immediately following the date on which such Person ceases, for any reason, to be a Partner, and (d) with respect to the obligations described in clauses (iv) and (vi) of Section 3.03(a), the period from the date on which a Person first becomes a Founding/Working Partner or REU Partner (or, with respect to a Partner holding Founding Partner Units, the date on which such Person first became a partner of Cantor) through the four-year period immediately following the date on which such Person ceases, for any reason, to be a Partner.

“Securities Act” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.06 of this Agreement.

“Separation” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

“Separation Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

“Special Item” means the matters set forth on Schedule A .

“Special Voting Limited Partner” means the Regular Limited Partner holding the Special Voting Limited Partnership Interest pursuant to and in compliance with this Agreement and who shall have been admitted to the Partnership as a Regular Limited Partner designated as the Special Voting Limited Partner in accordance with this Agreement and shall not have ceased to be a Regular Limited Partner designated as the Special Voting Limited Partner under the terms of this Agreement.

“Special Voting Limited Partnership Interest” means, with respect to the Special Voting Limited Partner, such Partner’s Unit and Capital designated as the “Special Voting Limited Partnership Interest” on Schedule 4.02 and Schedule 5.01 in accordance with this Agreement and rights and obligations with respect to the Partnership pursuant to this Agreement and applicable law by virtue of such Partner holding such Unit and having such Capital.

“Special Voting Partnership Unit” means the Unit designated as the Special Voting Partnership Unit in accordance with this Agreement.

“Subsidiary” means, as of the relevant date of determination, with respect to any Person, any corporation or other Person of which 50% or more of the voting power of the outstanding voting equity securities or 50% or more of the outstanding economic equity interest is held, directly or indirectly, by such Person.

 

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“Tax Distribution” means, for any fiscal quarter or fiscal year or other period of the Partnership during the term of the Partnership, the product of (a) the aggregate amount of taxable income or gain allocated to the Partners pursuant to Section 5.04(a) for such period (excluding any item of income, gain, loss or deduction allocated in respect of any Special Item) and (b) the Applicable Tax Rate for such period.

“Ten Year Units” means any Working Partner Units acquired by a Working Partner who becomes a Terminated or Bankrupt Partner after the 120-month anniversary of the date on which such Partner acquired such Units.

“Termination” (including the form “Terminated” ) shall mean, with respect to any Founding/Working Partner or REU Partner, (a) the actual termination of the employment of such Partner, such that such Partner is no longer an employee of the Opcos or any Affiliated Entities, for any reason whatsoever, including termination by the employer with or without cause, by such Partner or by reason of death, or (b) in the sole and absolute discretion of the General Partner, the termination by the General Partner, which may occur without termination of a Partner’s employment, of the Partner’s status as a Partner by reason of the determination by the General Partner that such Partner has breached this Agreement or that such Partner has otherwise ceased to provide substantial services to the Partnership or any Affiliated Entity (such as by going or being placed on “garden leave” or entering into a similar type of arrangement), even if such cessation is at the direction of the Partnership or any Affiliated Entity. Termination shall also include the date on which a Founding/Working Partner or REU Partner ceases to be a Partner for any other reason including the date on which all of a Partner’s Units are redeemed pursuant to Section 12.03. With respect to a corporate or other entity Partner, Termination shall also include the Termination of the beneficial owner, grantor, beneficiary or trustee of such Partner. A Partner shall be considered to be Terminated immediately upon the occurrence of the events described above (or, in the sole and absolute discretion of the General Partner, as of the first day of the fiscal quarter in which the event giving rise to such Termination occurs); provided , however , that such Partner (or in the case of a deceased Partner, the Personal Representative of such Partner), and the General Partner may agree in writing that such Partner shall not become a Terminated Partner until such later time as selected at any time by the General Partner or as is set forth in such written agreement.

“Transfer” means any transfer, sale, conveyance, assignment, gift, hypothecation, pledge or other disposition, whether voluntary or by operation of law, of all or any part of an Interest or any right, title or interest therein.

“Transferee” means the transferee in a Transfer or proposed Transfer.

“Transferor” means the transferor in a Transfer or proposed Transfer.

“UCC” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.07.

“Under Three-Year Units” means any Working Partner Units acquired by a Working Partner who becomes a Terminated or Bankrupt Working Partner prior to the 36 month anniversary of the date such Partner acquired such Units.

 

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“Unit” means, with respect to any Partner, such Partner’s partnership interest in the Partnership entitling the holder to a share in the Partnership’s profits, losses and operating distributions as provided in this Agreement (including any Unit designated as an Exchange Right Unit, a Founding Partner Unit, an REU or a Working Partner Unit).

“U.S. Opco” means BGC Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.

“U.S. Opco Capital” means “Capital” as defined in the U.S. Opco Limited Partnership Agreement.

“U.S. Opco General Partner” means the “General Partner” as defined in the Global Opco Limited Partnership Agreement.

“U.S. Opco General Partnership Interest” means the “General Partnership Interest” as defined in the U.S. Opco Limited Partnership Agreement.

“U.S. Opco Interest” means an “Interest” as defined in the U.S. Opco Limited Partnership Agreement.

“U.S. Opco Limited Partnership Agreement” means the amended and restated limited partnership agreement of U.S. Opco, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C.

“U.S. Opco Limited Partnership Interest” means the “Limited Partnership Interest” as defined in the U.S. Opco Limited Partnership Agreement.

“U.S. Opco Special Voting Limited Partnership Interest” means the “Special Voting Limited Partnership Interest” as defined in the U.S. Opco Limited Partnership Agreement.

“U.S. Opco Units” means “Units” as defined in the U.S. Opco Limited Partnership Agreement.

“Vested Percentage” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.01(d)(i).

“Working Partner” means a holder of Working Partner Interests.

“Working Partner Interest” means, with respect to any Working Partner, such Partner’s Working Partner Units and Capital designated as “Working Partner Interest” on Schedule 4.02 and Schedule 5.01 in accordance with this Agreement and rights and obligations with respect to the Partnership pursuant to this Agreement and applicable law by virtue of such Partner holding such Working Partner Units and having such Capital.

“Working Partner Unit” means any Unit (including High Distribution Units, High Distribution II Units, High Distribution III Units, High Distribution IV Units, Grant Units or Matching Grant Units) designated as a Working Partner Unit in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

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SECTION 1.02. Other Definitional Provisions . Wherever required by the context of this Agreement, the singular shall include the plural and vice versa, and the masculine gender shall include the feminine and neuter genders and vice versa, and references to any agreement, document or instrument shall be deemed to refer to such agreement, document or instrument as amended, supplemented or modified from time to time. When used herein:

(a) the word “or” is not exclusive unless the context clearly requires otherwise;

(b) the word “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with” ), as used with respect to any Person, means the direct or indirect possession of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise;

(c) the words “including,” “includes,” “included” and “include” are deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation” ;

(d) the terms “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular section, paragraph or subdivision; and

(e) all section, paragraph or clause references not attributed to a particular document shall be references to such parts of this Agreement, and all exhibit, appendix, annex and schedule references not attributed to a particular document shall be references to such exhibits, appendixes, annexes and schedules to this Agreement.

SECTION 1.03. References to Schedules . The General Partner shall maintain and revise from time to time all schedules referred to in this Agreement in accordance with this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything in Section 13.01 to the contrary, any such revision shall not be deemed an amendment to this Agreement, and shall not require any further act, vote or approval of any Person.

ARTICLE II

FORMATION, CONTINUATION AND POWERS

SECTION 2.01. Formation . Effective as of 8:01 p.m., Wilmington, Delaware time, on August 24, 2004, the Partnership was formed pursuant to the laws of the State of Delaware pursuant to a Certificate of Limited Partnership. The Original Limited Partnership Agreement was entered into on August 24, 2004 and amended on July 15, 2005 and, prior to the effectiveness of this Agreement, constituted the partnership agreement (as defined in the Act) of the parties thereto. The Original Limited Partnership Agreement shall be amended and restated in its entirety to be this Agreement effective immediately prior to the closing of the Contribution pursuant to the Separation Agreement, and this Agreement shall thereafter constitute the partnership agreement (as defined in the Act) of the parties hereto.

SECTION 2.02. Name . The name of the Partnership is “BGC Holdings, L.P.”

 

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SECTION 2.03. Purpose and Scope of Activity . The purposes of the Partnership shall be to perform its obligations under the Ancillary Agreements; to hold, directly or indirectly, U.S. Opco General Partnership Interest, the U.S. Opco Special Voting Limited Partnership Interest, U.S. Opco Limited Partnership Interests, the Global Opco General Partnership Interest, the Global Opco Special Voting Limited Partnership Interest and Global Opco Limited Partnership Interests; to administer the exchanges of Exchange Right Units in accordance with this Agreement and the Separation Agreement; to administer and manage the Partnership’s relationship with Cantor, the Founding/Working Partners, the REU Partners, BGC Partners and the Opcos and its rights and obligations under the Ancillary Agreements to which it is a party (including by exercising its rights thereunder); and to engage in any activity, and to take any action, necessary, appropriate, proper, advisable, convenient or incidental to carrying out the foregoing purposes to the extent consistent with applicable laws (including entering into agreements, opening bank accounts, making filings, applications and reports, consenting to service of process, appointing an attorney to receive service of process and executing any other papers and instruments which may be necessary, convenient or incidental thereto).

SECTION 2.04. Principal Place of Business . For purposes of the Act, the principal place of business of the Partnership shall be located in New York, New York or at such other place as may hereafter be designated from time to time by the General Partner. The Partnership, committee and officer meetings shall take place at the Partnership’s principal place of business unless decided otherwise for any particular meeting.

The Partnership may qualify to transact business in such other states and under such assumed business names (for which all applicable assumed business name certificates or filings shall be made) as the General Partner shall determine. Each Partner shall execute, acknowledge, swear to and deliver all certificates or other documents necessary or appropriate to qualify, continue and terminate the Partnership as a foreign limited partnership in such jurisdictions in which the Partnership may conduct or cease to conduct business, as applicable.

SECTION 2.05. Registered Agent and Office . The registered agent for service of process is, and the mailing address of the registered office of the Partnership in the State of Delaware is in care of, The Corporation Trust Company, 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, Delaware. At any time, the Partnership may designate another registered agent and/or registered office.

SECTION 2.06. Authorized Persons . The execution and causing to be filed of the Certificate of Limited Partnership by the applicable authorized Persons on behalf of the General Partner are hereby specifically ratified, adopted and confirmed. The officers of the Partnership and the General Partner are hereby designated as authorized Persons to act in connection with executing and causing to be filed, when approved by the appropriate governing body or bodies hereunder, any certificates required or permitted to be filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and any certificates (and any amendments and/or restatements thereof) necessary for the Partnership to file in any jurisdiction in which the Partnership is required to make a filing.

 

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SECTION 2.07. Term . The term of the Partnership began on the date the Certificate of Limited Partnership of the Partnership became effective, and the Partnership shall have perpetual existence unless sooner dissolved as provided in Article IX.

SECTION 2.08. Treatment as Partnership . Except as otherwise required pursuant to a determination within the meaning of Section 1313(a)(1) of the Code, the parties shall treat the Partnership as a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes and agree not to take any action or fail to take any action which action or inaction would be inconsistent with such treatment.

SECTION 2.09. Compliance with Law; Offset Rights . (a) The Partnership shall use its best efforts to comply with any and all governmental requirements applicable to it, including the making of any and all necessary or advisable governmental registrations.

(b) Each Founding/Working Partner and each REU Partner agrees to use his, her or its best efforts to comply with any and all governmental requirements applicable to the Partnership and the Affiliated Entities. Each Founding/Working Partner and each REU Partner agrees to indemnify the Partnership and the Affiliated Entities against any loss, claim, damage or cost, including attorneys’ fees and expenses resulting from a failure to comply with any such requirement occasioned by such Partner’s willful misconduct or gross negligence.

(c) Upon a breach of this Agreement by, or the Termination or Bankruptcy of, a Founding/Working Partner or an REU Partner that is subject to the Partner Obligations, or in the event that any such Founding/Working Partner or REU Partner, as the case may be, owes any amount to the Partnership or to any Affiliated Entity or fails to pay any amount to any other Person with respect to which amount the Partnership or any Affiliated Entity is a guarantor or surety or is similarly liable (in each case whether or not such amount is then due and payable), the Partnership shall have the right to set off the amount that such Partner owes to the Partnership or any Affiliated Entity or any such other Person under any agreement or otherwise and the amount of any cost or expense incurred or projected to be incurred by the Partnership in connection with such breach, such Termination or Bankruptcy or such indebtedness (including attorneys’ fees and expenses and any diminution in value of any Partnership assets and including in each case both monetary obligations and the fair market value of any non-cash item and amounts not yet due or incurred) against any amounts that it owes to such Partner under this Agreement or otherwise, or to reduce the Capital Account, the Base Amount and/or the distributions (quarterly or otherwise) of such Partner by any such amount.

ARTICLE III

MANAGEMENT

SECTION 3.01. Management by the General Partner . (a) Subject to the terms and provisions of this Agreement, the management and control of the business and affairs of the Partnership shall be vested solely in, and directed and exercised solely by, the General Partner. In furtherance of the activities of the Partnership, subject to the terms and provisions of this

 

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Agreement, the General Partner shall have all rights and powers, statutory or otherwise, possessed by general partners of limited partnerships under the laws of the State of Delaware.

(b) Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the General Partner has full and exclusive power and authority to do, on behalf of the Partnership, all things that are deemed necessary, appropriate or desirable by the General Partner to conduct, direct and manage the business and other affairs of the Partnership and is authorized and empowered, on behalf and in the name of the Partnership, to carry out and implement, directly or through such agents as the General Partner may appoint, such actions and execute such documents as the General Partner may deem necessary or advisable, or as may be incidental to or necessary for the conduct of the business of the Partnership. Without limiting the foregoing, and notwithstanding other provisions contained in this Agreement, the General Partner shall have the authority to waive the application of any provision of this Agreement with respect to a Founding/Working Partner or REU Partner or all or a portion of a Founding/Working Partner’s or REU Partner’s Units; provided that no waiver shall be enforceable as against the General Partner and the Partnership unless in writing and signed by the General Partner. Unless expressly otherwise provided in this Agreement, all determinations, judgments and/or actions, that may be made or taken, or not made or not taken, with respect to the Founding/Working Partners or the REU Partners by the General Partner in its discretion pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement, shall be in the sole and absolute discretion of the General Partner. All determinations and judgments made by the General Partner with respect to the Founding/Working Partners or the REU Partners, as the case may be, in good faith and not in violation of the terms of the Agreement shall be conclusive and binding on all Founding/Working Partners or the REU Partners, as the case may be.

(c) The General Partner agrees to use its best efforts to meet all requirements of the Code and currently applicable regulations, rulings and other procedures of the Internal Revenue Service to ensure that the Partnership will be classified for United States federal income tax purposes as a partnership.

(d) The General Partner may appoint officers, managers or agents of the Partnership and may delegate to such officers, managers or agents all or part of the powers, authorities, duties or responsibilities possessed by or imposed on the General Partner pursuant to this Agreement (without limitation on the General Partner’s ability to exercise such powers, authorities or responsibilities directly at any time); provided that, notwithstanding anything herein or in any other agreement to the contrary, the General Partner may remove any such officer, manager or agent, and may revoke any or all such powers, authorities and responsibilities so delegated to any such person, in each case at any time with or without cause. The officers of the Partnership shall consist of such positions and titles that the General Partner may in its discretion designate or create, including a Chairman, a Chief Executive Officer, a President, a Chief Financial Officer, one or more Vice Presidents, a Treasurer, one or more Assistant Treasurers, a Secretary or one or more Assistant Secretaries. A single person may hold more than one office. Each officer shall hold office until his successor is chosen, or until his death, resignation or removal from office.

 

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Each of such officers shall have such powers and duties with respect to the business and other affairs of the Partnership, and shall be subject to such restrictions and limitations, as are prescribed from time to time by the General Partner; provided , however , that each officer shall at all times be subject to the direction and control of the General Partner in the performance of such powers and duties.

(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, without the prior written consent of Cantor, the General Partner shall not take any action that may adversely affect Cantor’s Purchase Rights (as defined in the Separation Agreement) in Section 4.11 of the Separation Agreement.

SECTION 3.02. Role and Voting Rights of Limited Partners; Authority of Partners . (a)  Limitation on Role of Limited Partners. No Limited Partner shall have any right of control or management power over the business or other affairs of the Partnership as a result of its status as a Limited Partner except as otherwise provided in this Agreement. No Limited Partner shall participate in the control of the Partnership’s business in any manner that would, under the Act, subject such Limited Partner to any liability beyond those liabilities expressly contemplated hereunder, including holding himself, herself or itself out to third parties as a general partner of the Partnership; provided that any Limited Partner may be an employee of the Partnership or of any Affiliated Entities and perform such duties and do all such acts required or appropriate in such role, and no such performance or acts shall subject such Limited Partner to any liability beyond those liabilities expressly contemplated hereunder. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in accordance with, and to the fullest extent permitted by the Act (including Section 17-303 thereof), Limited Partners (directly or through an Affiliate) (i) may consult with and advise the General Partner or any other Person (including, if applicable, the general partner of the General Partner) with respect to any matter, including the business of the Partnership, (ii) may, or may cause the General Partner or any other Person (including, if applicable, the general partner of the General Partner) to, take or to refrain from taking any action, including by proposing, approving, consenting or disapproving, by voting or otherwise, with respect to any matter, including the business of the Partnership, (iii) may transact business with the General Partner (including, if applicable, the general partner of the General Partner) or the Partnership, and (iv) may be an officer, director, partner or stockholder of the General Partner (including, if applicable, the general partner of the General Partner) or have its Representatives serve as officers or directors of the General Partner (including, if applicable, of the general partner of the General Partner) without incurring additional liabilities to third parties.

(b) No Limited Partner Voting Rights. To the fullest extent permitted by Section 17-302(f) of the Act, the Limited Partners shall not have any voting rights under the Act, this Agreement or otherwise, and shall not be entitled to consent to, approve or authorize any actions by the Partnership or the General Partner, except in each case as otherwise specifically provided in this Agreement.

(c) Authority of Partners. Except as set forth herein with respect to the General Partner, no Limited Partner shall have any power or authority, in such Partner’s capacity as a Limited Partner, to act for or bind the Partnership except to the extent that such Limited Partner is so authorized in writing prior thereto by the General Partner. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, except as set forth herein with respect to

 

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the General Partner, no Limited Partner, as such, shall, except as so authorized, have any power or authority to incur any liability or execute any instrument, agreement or other document for or on behalf of the Partnership, whether in the Partnership’s name or otherwise. Persons dealing with the Partnership are entitled to rely conclusively upon the power and authority of the General Partner. Each Limited Partner hereby agrees that, except to the extent provided in this Agreement and except to the extent that such Limited Partner shall be the General Partner, it will not participate in the management or control of the business and other affairs of the Partnership, will not transact any business for the Partnership and will not attempt to act for or bind the Partnership.

(d) Consent Rights . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the General Partner shall not take any of the following actions without the written consent of a Majority in Interest:

(i) decreasing the amount distributed to Partners pursuant to Article VI or Section 12.03 with respect to any fiscal quarter or other period;

(ii) amending this Agreement pursuant to Section 13.01, or directing the Partnership in its capacity as the U.S. Opco General Partner and/or Global Opco General Partner, as the case may be, to amend or consent to an amendment of the U.S. Opco Limited Partnership Agreement and/or Global Opco Limited Partnership Agreement, as the case may be;

(iii) taking any other action, or directing the Partnership in its capacity as the U.S. Opco General Partner and/or Global Opco General Partner, as the case may be, to take any other action, that may adversely affect any member of the Cantor Group’s exercise of its rights under Article XII or its right to exchange certain Exchange Right Units, together with Limited Partnership Interests and related Capital for shares of BGC Partners Common Stock under Article VIII; and/or

(iv) Transferring any U.S. Opco Units or Global Opco Units beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by the Partnership or its Subsidiaries.

(e) Founding/Working Partners . Each of the Founding/Working Partners shall have the rights and obligations set forth in this Agreement, including Article XII, and each of the Founding/Working Partners shall remain a Founding/Working Partner until he, she or it ceases to be a Limited Partner pursuant to this Agreement.

(f) REU Partners . Each of the REU Partners shall have the rights and obligations set forth in this Agreement, including Article XII, and each of the REU Partners shall remain an REU Partner until he, she or it ceases to be a Limited Partner pursuant to this Agreement.

SECTION 3.03. Partner Obligations . (a) Each Founding/Working Partner and each REU Partner agrees that, in addition to any other obligations that he, she or it may have under this Agreement, he, she or it shall have a duty of loyalty to the Partnership and further agrees during the Restricted Period, not to, either directly or indirectly (including by or through an Affiliate) (collectively, clauses (i) through (vi), the “Partner Obligations” ):

 

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(i) breach such Limited Partner’s duty of loyalty to the Partnership;

(ii) engage in any activity of the nature set forth in clause (A) of the definition of Competitive Activity;

(iii) engage in any activity of the nature set forth in clauses (B) through (E) of the definition of Competitive Activity or take any action that results directly or indirectly in revenues or other benefit for such Limited Partner or any third party that is or could be considered to be engaged in any activity of the nature set forth in clauses (B) through (E) of the definition of Competitive Activity, except as otherwise agreed to in writing by the General Partner, in its sole and absolute discretion;

(iv) make or participate in the making of (including through the applicable Partner’s or any of his, her or its Affiliates’ respective Representatives) any comments to the media (print, broadcast, electronic or otherwise) that are disparaging regarding (A) BGC Partners, any of the Affiliated Entities or any of their Affiliates, or (B) the senior executive officers of BGC Partners, any Affiliated Entity, or any of their Affiliates, or are otherwise contrary to the interests of BGC Partners, any Affiliated Entity or any of their Affiliates, as determined by the General Partner in its sole and absolute discretion;

(v) except as otherwise permitted in Section 13.15, take advantage of, or provide another person with the opportunity to take advantage of, a “corporate opportunity” (as such term would apply to the Partnership if it were a corporation) including opportunities related to intellectual property, which for this purpose shall require granting BGC Partners a right of first refusal for BGC Partners to acquire any assets, stock or other ownership interest in a business being sold by any Partner or Affiliate of such Partner, if an investment in such business would constitute a “corporate opportunity” (as such term would apply to the Partnership if it were a corporation), that has not been presented to and rejected by BGC Partners, or that BGC Partners rejects but reserves for possible further action by BGC Partners in writing, unless otherwise consented to by the General Partner in writing in its sole and absolute discretion; or

(vi) otherwise take any action to harm, that harms, or that reasonably could be expected to harm BGC Partners, any of the Affiliated Entities or any of their Affiliates, or any Affiliated Entity, including, without limitation, any breach of the provisions of Section 13.06 hereof.

The determination of whether a Founding/Working Partner or REU Partner has breached its Partner Obligations will be made in good faith by the General Partner in its sole and absolute discretion, which determination will be final and binding.

(b) If a Founding/Working Partner or REU Partner breaches his, her or its Partner Obligations as determined by the General Partner in its sole and absolute discretion, then, in addition to any other rights or remedies that the General Partner may

 

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have, and unless otherwise determined by the General Partner in its sole and absolute discretion, the Partnership shall redeem all of the Units held by such Partner for a redemption price equal to their Base Amount, and such Partner shall have no right to receive any further distributions, including any Additional Amounts, or any other distributions or payments of cash, stock or property, to which such Partner otherwise might be entitled.

(c) Without limiting any of the foregoing, for all purposes of this Agreement, any Founding/Working Partner or REU Partner that breaches any Partner Obligation shall be subject to all of the consequences (including the consequences provided for in Sections 12.02 and 12.03 applicable to a Founding/Working Partner or REU Partner, as the case may be, that engages in a Competitive Activity).

(d) Any Founding/Working Partner or REU Partner that breaches his, her or its Partner Obligations shall indemnify the Partnership for and pay any resulting attorneys’ fees and expenses of the Partnership, as well as any and all damages resulting from such breach.

(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, and unless Cantor shall determine otherwise, none of the obligations, limitations, restrictions or other provisions set forth in Sections 3.03(a), 3.03(b), 3.03(c) or 3.03(d) shall apply to any Founding/Working Partner or REU Partner that is also a Cantor Company or any of its Affiliates or any partner or member of a Cantor Company or any of its Affiliates.

ARTICLE IV

PARTNERS; CLASSES OF PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS

SECTION 4.01. Partners . The Partnership shall have (a) a General Partner; (b) one or more Regular Limited Partners (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Exchangeable Limited Partners and the Special Voting Limited Partner); (c) one or more Founding/Working Partners; and (d) one or more REU Partners. Schedule 4.01 sets forth the name and address of the Partners. Schedule 4.01 shall be amended pursuant to Section 1.03 to reflect any change in the identity or address of the Partners in accordance with this Agreement. Each Person admitted to the Partnership as a Partner pursuant to this Agreement shall be a partner of the Partnership until such Person ceases to be a Partner in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.

SECTION 4.02. Interests . (a)  Generally. (i)  Classes of Interests . Interests in the Partnership shall be divided into two classes: (A) a General Partnership Interest and (B) Limited Partnership Interests (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Regular Limited Partnership Interests, the Exchangeable Limited Partnership Interests, the Special Voting Limited Partnership Interest, the Founding Partner Interests, the REU Interests and the Working Partner Interests (which shall not constitute separate classes or groups of partnership interests within the meaning of the Act)). The General Partnership Interest and the Limited Partnership Interests shall consist of, and be issued as, Units and Capital (with all of the Units associated with the Exchangeable Limited Partnership Interests designated as Exchangeable Limited Partner Units;

 

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with all of the Units associated with the Founding Partner Interests designated as Founding Partner Units; with all of the Units associated with the REU Interests designated as REUs; with all of the Units associated with the Working Partner Interests designated as Working Partner Units; and with all of the Units associated with the Special Voting Limited Partnership Interest designated as the Special Voting Partnership Unit). The aggregate number of authorized Units is 600,000,000. The aggregate number of authorized Units shall not be changed, modified or adjusted from that set forth in the immediately preceding sentence; provided that, in the event that the total number of authorized Units of U.S. Opco under the U.S. Opco Limited Partnership Agreement shall be increased or decreased after the date of this Agreement, then the total number of authorized Units shall be correspondingly increased or decreased by the same number by the General Partner without any act, vote or approval of any other Person. Any Units repurchased by or otherwise transferred to the Partnership or otherwise forfeited or cancelled shall be cancelled and thereafter deemed to be authorized but unissued, and may be subsequently issued as Units for all purposes hereunder in accordance with this Agreement.

(ii) Issuances of Additional Units . Any authorized but unissued Units may be issued:

(1) pursuant to the Contribution and Schedule 2.03 of the Separation Agreement;

(2) to members of the Cantor Group in connection with an investment in the Partnership by the members of the Cantor Group as provided in Section 4.11 of the Separation Agreement;

(3) with respect to Founding/Working Partner Units, to an Eligible Recipient, in each case as directed by the Exchangeable Limited Partners (by affirmative vote of a Majority in Interest);

(4) as otherwise agreed by each of the General Partner and the Exchangeable Limited Partners (by affirmative vote of a Majority in Interest);

(5) pursuant to the Participation Plan or in connection with the Merger;

(6) to any Founding/Working Partner or REU Partner pursuant to Section 5.01(c);

(7) to any Partner in connection with a conversion of an issued Unit and Interest into a different class or type of Unit and Interest in accordance with this Agreement; and

(8) to Cantor (or any member of the Cantor Group) pursuant to Sections 12.02 and 12.03;

provided that each Person to be issued additional Units pursuant to clause (1), (2), (3), (4) or (5) of this sentence shall, as a condition to such issuance, execute and deliver to the Partnership an agreement in which such Person agrees to be admitted as a Partner

 

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with respect to such Units and bound by this Agreement and any other agreements, documents or instruments specified by the General Partner; provided , however , that if such Person (A) is at the time of such issuance a Partner of the applicable class of Interests being issued or (B) has previously entered into an agreement pursuant to which such Person shall have agreed to become a Partner and be bound by this Agreement with respect to the applicable class of Interests being issued (which agreement is in effect at the time of such issuance), such Person shall not be required to enter into any such agreements unless otherwise determined by the General Partner. Upon any such issuance, any such Person not already a Partner shall be admitted as a limited partner with respect to the issued Interests.

(b) General Partnership Interest. The Partnership shall have one General Partnership Interest. The Unit issued to the General Partner in respect of such Partner’s General Partnership Interest is set forth on Schedule 4.02 . Schedule 4.02 shall be amended pursuant to Section 1.03 to reflect any change in the number or the issuance or allocation of the Unit in respect of such Partner’s General Partnership Interest in accordance with this Agreement.

(c) Regular Limited Partnership Interests. (i) The Partnership may have one or more Regular Limited Partnership Interests. The number of Units issued to each Regular Limited Partner in respect of such Partner’s Regular Limited Partnership Interest is set forth on Schedule 4.02 . Schedule 4.02 shall be amended pursuant to Section 1.03 to reflect any change in the number or the issuance or allocation of the Units in respect of such Partner’s Regular Limited Partnership Interest in accordance with this Agreement.

(ii) The Partnership shall have one Regular Limited Partnership Interest designated as the Special Voting Limited Partnership Interest, as provided in Section 4.03(b). There shall only be one (1) Unit associated with the Special Voting Limited Partnership Interest.

(d) Exchangeable Limited Partnership Interests. The Partnership may have one or more Regular Limited Partnership Interests designated as Exchangeable Limited Partnership Interests. The number of Exchangeable Limited Partner Units issued to each Exchangeable Limited Partner in respect of such Partner’s Exchangeable Limited Partnership Interest is set forth on Schedule 4.02 . Schedule 4.02 shall be amended pursuant to Section 1.03 to reflect any change in the number or the issuance or allocation of the Exchangeable Limited Partner Units in respect of such Partner’s Exchangeable Limited Partnership Interest in accordance with this Agreement.

(e) Founding Partners. The Partnership may have one or more Founding Partner Interests. The Founding Partner Interests shall be sub-divided into six classes: (A) Grant Units, (B) Matching Grant Units, (C) High Distribution Units, (D) High Distribution II Units, (E) High Distribution III Units, and (F) High Distribution IV Units. Each class shall be governed by the terms and conditions of this Agreement, including Article XII. The number and class of Founding Partner Units Transferred or issued to each Founding Partner in respect of such Founding Partner Units is set forth on Schedule 4.02 . Schedule 4.02 shall be amended pursuant to Section 1.03 to reflect any change in the number or the

 

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issuance or allocation of the Founding Partner Units in respect of such Partner’s Founding Partner Interest in accordance with this Agreement.

(f) Working Partners. The Partnership may have one or more Working Partner Interests. The Working Partner Interests shall be sub-divided into six classes: (A) Grant Units, (B) Matching Grant Units, (C) High Distribution Units, (D) High Distribution II Units, (E) High Distribution III Units, and (F) High Distribution IV Units. Each class shall be governed by the terms and conditions of this Agreement, including Article XII. The number and class of Working Partner Units Transferred or issued to each Working Partner in respect of such Working Partner Units is set forth on Schedule 4.02. Schedule 4.02 shall be amended pursuant to Section 1.03 to reflect any change in the number or the issuance or allocation of the Working Partner Units in respect of such Partner’s Working Partner Interest in accordance with this Agreement.

(g) REU Partners. The Partnership may have one or more REU Interests. Each REU Interests shall be governed by the terms and conditions of this Agreement, including Article XII, and the terms and conditions of the grant of such REU Interest, which terms and conditions shall be determined by the General Partner in its sole discretion. The number and class of REUs Transferred or issued to each REU Partner in respect of such REUs is set forth on Schedule 4.02. Schedule 4.02 shall be amended pursuant to Section 1.03 to reflect any change in the number or the issuance or allocation of the REUs in respect of such Partner’s REU Interest in accordance with this Agreement.

(h) No Additional Classes of Interests. There shall be no additional classes of partnership interests in the Partnership.

SECTION 4.03. Admission and Withdrawal of Partners . (a)  General Partner. (i) The General Partner is BGC GP, LLC. On the date of this Agreement, BGC GP LLC shall have the General Partnership Interest, which shall have the Units and the Capital set forth on Schedule 4.02 and Schedule 5.01 , respectively.

(ii) The admission of a Transferee as a General Partner, and resignation or withdrawal of any General Partner, shall be governed by Section 7.02.

(iii) Effective immediately upon the Transfer of the General Partner’s entire General Partnership Interest as provided in Section 7.02(e), such Partner shall cease to have any interest in the profits, losses, assets, properties or capital of the Partnership with respect to such General Partnership Interest and shall cease to be the General Partner.

(b) Regular Limited Partners. (i) The initial Limited Partners are BGC GP LLC, Cantor and BGC Partners, and the initial Special Voting Limited Partner is BGC GP LLC. On the date of this Agreement, immediately following the Separation, the Limited Partners shall have the Limited Partnership Interests (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Special Voting Limited Partnership Interest), which shall have the Units (including those designated as Exchangeable Limited Partnership Units) and the Capital set forth on Schedule 4.02 and Schedule 5.01 , respectively.

 

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(ii) The admission of a Transferee as a Regular Limited Partner pursuant to any Transfer permitted by Section 7.02(a), 7.02(b), 7.02(c), or 7.02(d) as applicable, shall be governed by Section 7.02, and the admission of a Person as a Regular Limited Partner in connection with the issuance of additional Regular Limited Partnership Interests and Units pursuant to Section 4.02(a)(ii) shall be governed by such applicable Section.

(iii) Effective immediately upon the Transfer of a Regular Limited Partner’s entire Regular Limited Partnership Interest as provided in Section 7.02(a), 7.02(b), 7.02(c) or 7.02(d), as applicable, such Partner shall cease to have any interest in the profits, losses, assets, properties or capital of the Partnership with respect to such Regular Limited Partnership Interest and shall cease to be a Regular Limited Partner.

(c) Founding Partners. (i) On the date of this Agreement, immediately following the Separation and pursuant to the Cantor Redemption, the Founding Partners shall receive the Founding Partner Interests, which shall have the Units (including the class designation) and the Capital and Adjusted Capital Account set forth on Schedule 4.02 and Schedule 5.01 , respectively. Upon the Transfer of such Founding Partner Interests to the Founding Partners by Cantor, pursuant to the Cantor Redemption, the Founding Partners are hereby deemed automatically admitted as Limited Partners with respect to such Interests and bound by this Agreement.

(ii) Effective immediately upon the Transfer of the Founding Partner’s entire Founding Partner Interest as provided in Section 7.02(c) or Article XII, as applicable, such Partner shall cease to have any interest in the profits, losses, assets, properties or capital of the Partnership with respect to such Founding Partner Interest, and shall cease to be a Founding Partner.

(iii) Any Founding Partner Interest Transferred to any Cantor Company, pursuant to Section 12.02 or 12.03 or otherwise, shall cause such Founding Partner Interest and related Units (or portion thereof) to automatically be designated as an Exchangeable Limited Partnership Interest and the related Units (or portion thereof) shall automatically be designated as Exchangeable Limited Partnership Units, and the Cantor Company acquiring such Interest shall have all rights and obligations of a holder of Exchangeable Limited Partnership Interests with respect to such Interest.

(d) Working Partners. (i) On the date of this Agreement, immediately following the Separation, there shall be no Working Partners.

(ii) The admission of a Person as a Working Partner in accordance with the issuance of additional Working Partner Units shall be governed by Section 4.02 and Article XII.

(iii) Effective immediately upon the Transfer of the Working Partner’s entire Working Partner Interest as provided in Section 7.02(d) or Article XII, as applicable, such Partner shall cease to have any interest in the profits, losses, assets,

 

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properties or capital of the Partnership with respect to such Working Partner Interest, and shall cease to be a Working Partner.

(e) REU Partners. (i) On the date of this Agreement, concurrently with the Merger, the REU Partners shall receive the REU Interests, which shall have the Units set forth on Schedule 4.02 and Schedule 5.01 , respectively, and shall be admitted as limited partners with respect to such Interests and bound by this Agreement. Upon the issuance of such REU Interests to the REU Partners, such REU Partners shall be deemed automatically admitted as Limited Partners with respect to such Interests and bound by this Agreement. Each REU Interests shall initially have zero (0) dollars in Capital. Each grant of an REU Interest shall set forth an amount (the “REU Post-Termination Amount” ), potentially payable to the holder of such REU Interest following the redemption of such REU Interest in accordance with Section 12.03(c), as well as a vesting schedule setting forth the portion of the REU Post-Termination Amount that shall become payable in such circumstances and the terms and conditions of such vesting; provided that unless otherwise specified, the REU Post-Termination Amount shall vest over three (3) years on a pro rata basis.

(ii) The admission of a Person as an REU Partner after the date of this Agreement in accordance with the issuance of additional REUs shall be governed by Section 4.02 and Article XII and the terms and conditions of the grant of such additional REUs, which shall be determined by the General Partner in its sole discretion.

(iii) Effective immediately upon the Transfer of the REU Partner’s entire REU Partner Interest as provided in Section 7.02(f) or Article XII, as applicable, or upon an REU Redemption as provided in Section 12.03(c)(iii), such Partner shall cease to have any interest in the profits, losses, assets, properties or capital of the Partnership with respect to such REU Partner Interest, and shall cease to be an REU Partner.

(f) No Additional Partners. No additional Partners shall be admitted to the Partnership except in accordance with this Article IV; provided that additional Working Partners and additional REU Partners shall be admitted in accordance with this Article IV or Article XII.

SECTION 4.04. Liability to Third Parties; Capital Account Deficits. (a) Except as may otherwise be expressly provided by the Act, the General Partner shall have unlimited personal liability for the satisfaction and discharge of all debts, liabilities, contracts and other obligations of the Partnership. The General Partner shall not be personally liable for the return of any portion of the capital contribution of any Limited Partner, the return of which shall be made solely from the Partnership’s assets.

(b) Except as may otherwise be expressly provided by the Act or this Agreement, no Limited Partner shall be liable for the debts, liabilities, contracts or other obligations of the Partnership. Each Limited Partner shall be liable only to make its capital contributions as provided in this Agreement or the Separation Agreement or as otherwise agreed by such Limited Partner and the Partnership in writing after the date of this

 

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Agreement and shall not be required, after its capital contribution shall have been paid, to make any further capital contribution to the Partnership or to lend any funds to the Partnership except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement or the Separation Agreement or as otherwise agreed by such Limited Partner and the Partnership in writing after the date of this Agreement. No Limited Partner shall be required to repay the Partnership, any Partner or any creditor of the Partnership any negative balance in such Limited Partner’s Capital Account, except as provided in Section 12.01(b)(x).

(c) No Partner shall be liable to make up any deficit in its Capital Account; provided that nothing in this Section 4.04(c) shall relieve a Partner of any liability it may otherwise have, either pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or pursuant to the terms of any agreement to which the Partnership or such Partner may be a party (including Section 12.01(b)(x)).

SECTION 4.05. Classes . Any Person may own one or more classes of Interests. Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, the ownership of other classes of Interests shall not affect the rights or obligations of a Partner with respect to other classes of Interests. As used in this Agreement, the General Partner, the Limited Partners (including the Special Voting Limited Partner, the Exchangeable Limited Partners, the Founding Partners, the REU Partners and the Working Partners) shall be deemed to be separate Partners even if any Partner holds more than one class of Interest. References to a certain class of Interest with respect to any Partner shall refer solely to that class of Interest of such Partner and not to any other class of Interest, if any, held by such Partner.

SECTION 4.06. Certificates . The Partnership may, in the discretion of the General Partner, issue any or all Units in certificated form, which certificates shall be held by the Partnership as custodian for the applicable Partners. The form of any such certificates shall be approved by the General Partner and include the legend required by Section 7.06. If certificates are issued, a transfer of Units will require delivery of an endorsed certificate.

SECTION 4.07. Uniform Commercial Code Treatment of Units . Each Unit in the Partnership shall constitute a “security” within the meaning of, and governed by, (i) Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code (including Section 8-102(a)(15) thereof) as in effect from time to time in the State of Delaware (6 Del. C . § 8-101, et seq .) (the “UCC” ), and (ii) Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code of any other applicable jurisdiction that now or hereafter substantially includes the 1994 revisions to Article 8 thereof as adopted by the American Law Institute and the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws and approved by the American Bar Association on February 14, 1995. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, to the extent that any provision of this Agreement is inconsistent with any non-waivable provision of Article 8 of the UCC, such provision of Article 8 of the UCC shall control. The Partnership shall maintain books for the purpose of registering the Transfer of Units. Any Transfer of Units shall be effective as of the registration of the Transfer of such Units in the books and records of the Partnership.

SECTION 4.08. Priority Among Partners . No Partner shall be entitled to any priority or preference over any other Partner either as to return of capital contributions or as to

 

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profits, losses or distributions, except to the extent that this Agreement may be deemed to establish such a priority or preference.

ARTICLE V

CAPITAL AND ACCOUNTING MATTERS

SECTION 5.01. Capital . (a)  Capital Accounts. There shall be established on the books and records of the Partnership a Capital Account for each Partner. Schedule 5.01 sets forth the names and the Capital Account of the Partners as of the date of this Agreement. Schedule 5.01 shall be amended pursuant to Section 1.03 to reflect any change in the identity or Capital Accounts in accordance with this Agreement.

(b) Capital Contributions. (i) On the date of this Agreement, contributions of assets, property and/or cash shall be made by or on behalf of the Partners listed on Schedule 4.01 in connection with the Contribution, pursuant to the terms set forth in the Separation Agreement.

(ii) In return for such initial contributions, Interests shall be issued or Transferred to the Partners as provided on Schedule 5.01.

(iii) The parties shall treat the contributions described in this Section 5.01(b) as contributions pursuant to Section 721 of the Code in which no gain or loss is recognized to any extent, except as otherwise required pursuant to a determination within the meaning of Section 1313(a)(1) of the Code.

(iv) Except as otherwise provided in Section 5.01(b)(i) or, with respect to the Founding/Working Partners or REU Partners, as the case may be, only, in Article XII, no capital contributions shall be required (A) unless otherwise determined by the General Partner and agreed to by the contributing Partner, or (B) unless otherwise determined by the General Partner in connection with the admission of a new Partner or the issuance of additional Interests to a Partner.

(v) The Partnership may invest or cause to be invested all amounts received by the Partnership as capital contributions in its sole and absolute discretion.

(c) Additional Contributions. Subject to Section 4.02(a)(ii) and Article XII, at any time and from time to time, subject to the prior written consent of the compensation committee of BGC Partners (or its designee), the Partnership may offer and grant additional Working Partner Units or REUs in the Partnership to existing or new Founding/Working Partners or REU Partners, in each case, at a price per Working Partner Unit or REU, as the case may be, determined by the General Partner in its sole and absolute discretion and for such other consideration or for no consideration determined by the General Partner in its sole and absolute discretion; provided that no offeree shall be obligated to accept such offer; provided, further, that solely for the purposes of this Section 5.01(c), the price per Working Partner Unit of a High Distribution II Unit or High Distribution III Unit shall be deemed to include the associated HDII Account or HDIII Account, respectively. Any payment for Working Partner Units or REUs purchased by a

 

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new or existing Partner pursuant to this Section 5.01(c) may be made, in the General Partner’s sole and absolute discretion, in the form of Publicly Traded Shares, valued at the average of the closing prices of such shares (as reported by the Nasdaq Global Market or any other national securities exchange or quotation system on which such shares are then listed or quoted) during the 10-trading-day period immediately preceding each payment (or such other fair and reasonable pricing method as may be reasonably selected by the General Partner), or in the form of other property valued at its then-fair market value, as reasonably determined by the General Partner in its sole and absolute discretion. Any net proceeds for any such Working Partner Units or REUs purchased by a new or existing Partner pursuant to this Section 5.01(c) shall be contributed by the Partnership to U.S. Opco and Global Opco, as the case may be, in exchange for U.S. Opco Units and Global Opco Units from each of U.S. Opco and Global Opco, as the case may be, in an amount equal to the number of Working Partner Units or REUs, as the case may be, being so issued or Transferred, in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in Section 4.11 of the Separation Agreement.

SECTION 5.02. Withdrawals; Return on Capital . No Partner shall be entitled to withdraw or otherwise receive any distributions in respect of any Interest (including the associated Units or Capital), except as provided in Section 6.01 or 9.03. The Partners shall not be entitled to any return on their Capital.

SECTION 5.03. Maintenance of Capital Accounts . As of the end of each Accounting Period, the balance in each Partner’s Capital Account shall be adjusted by (a) increasing such balance by (i) such Partner’s allocable share of each item of the Partnership’s income and gain for such Accounting Period (allocated in accordance with Section 5.04(a)) and (ii) the amount of cash or the fair market value (or book value, if so agreed by the applicable Partner and the General Partner) of other property (determined in accordance with Section 5.05) contributed to the Partnership by such Partner in respect of such Partner’s related Interest during such Accounting Period, net of liabilities assumed by the Partnership with respect to such other property, and (b) decreasing such balance by (i) the amount of cash or the fair market value (or book value, if so agreed by the applicable Partner and the General Partner) of other property (determined in accordance with Section 5.04) distributed to such Partner in respect of such class of Interest associated with such Capital Account pursuant to this Agreement, net of liabilities (if any) assumed by such Partner with respect to such other property, and (ii) such Partner’s allocable share of each item of the Partnership’s deduction and loss for such Accounting Period (allocated in accordance with Section 5.04(a)). The balances in each Partner’s Capital Account may also be adjusted by the General Partner in its sole and absolute discretion and with the consent of a Majority in Interest at the time and in the manner permitted by the capital accounting rules of the Treasury Regulation section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(f). The foregoing and the other provisions of this Agreement relating to the maintenance of Capital Accounts are intended to comply with Treasury Regulation section 1.704-1(b), and shall be interpreted and applied in a manner consistent therewith.

SECTION 5.04. Allocations and Tax Matters . (a)  Book Allocations . After giving effect to the allocations set forth in Section 2 of Exhibit D hereto and Section 6.01(d), for purposes of computing Capital Accounts and allocating any items of income, gain, loss or deduction thereto, with respect to each Accounting Period, all items of income, gain, loss or

 

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deduction of the Partnership shall be allocated among the Capital Accounts of the Partners in proportion to their Percentage Interest as of the end of such Accounting Period; provided that any and all items of income, gain, loss or deduction to the extent resulting from a Special Item will be allocated entirely to the Capital Accounts of the Limited Partnership Interests (other than the Special Voting Limited Partnership Interest), pro rata in proportion to the number of Units underlying such Interests or in other proportion as determined by a Majority in Interest (it being the intention that, in all cases, BGC Partners, as the holder of the Special Voting Limited Partner Interest or otherwise, shall not bear the benefits and burdens of the Special Item). For purposes of the foregoing, except as may be otherwise agreed by the General Partner and the holders of a Majority in Interest, items of income, gain, loss and deductions of the Partnership allocable to the Partners shall be calculated in the same manner in which such items are calculated for federal income tax purposes with the following adjustments: (i) items of gain, loss and deduction shall be computed based on the Book Values of the Partnership’s assets rather than upon the assets’ adjusted bases for federal income tax purposes; (ii) the amount of any adjustment to the Book Value of any assets of the Partnership pursuant to Section 743 of the Code shall not be taken into account; (iii) any tax exempt income received by the Partnership shall be taken into account as an item of income; and (iv) any expenditure of the Partnership described in Section 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code and any expenditure considered to be an expenditure described in Section 705(a)(2)(B) of the Code pursuant to Treasury Regulations under Section 704(b) of the Code shall be treated as a deductible expense. The General Partner may, with the consent of a Majority in Interest, make such other adjustments to the calculation of items of income, gain, loss and deduction as it deems appropriate to more properly reflect the income or loss of the Partnership.

(b) Tax Allocations . Except as otherwise required under Section 704(c) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, the Partnership shall cause each item of income, gain, loss or deduction recognized by the Partnership to be allocated among the Partners for U.S. federal, state and local income and, where relevant, non-U.S. tax purposes in the same manner that each such item is allocated to the Partners’ Capital Accounts or as otherwise provided herein. Allocations required by Section 704(c) of the Code shall be made using the “traditional method” described in Treasury Regulation section 1.704-3(b).

SECTION 5.05. General Partner Determinations . All determinations, valuations and other matters of judgment required to be made for purposes of this Article V, including with respect to allocations to Capital Accounts and accounting procedures and tax matters not expressly provided for by the terms of this Agreement, or for determining the value of any type or form of proceeds, contribution or distributions hereunder shall be made by the General Partner in good faith. In the event that an additional Partner is admitted to the Partnership and contributes property to the Partnership, or an existing Partner contributes additional property to the Partnership, pursuant to this Agreement, the value of such contributed property shall be the fair market value (or book value, if so agreed by the applicable Partner and the General Partner) of such property as reasonably determined by the General Partner.

SECTION 5.06. Books and Accounts . (a) The Partnership shall at all times keep or cause to be kept true and complete records and books of account, which records and books shall be maintained in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

 

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Such records and books of account shall be kept at the principal place of business of the Partnership by the General Partner. The Limited Partners shall have the right to gain access to all such records and books of account (including schedules thereto) for inspection and view (at such reasonable times as the General Partner shall determine) for any purpose reasonably related to their Interests. The Partnership’s accounts shall be maintained in U.S. dollars.

(b) The Partnership’s fiscal year shall begin on the first day of January and end on the thirty-first day of December of each year, or shall be such other period designated by the General Partner. At the end of each fiscal year, the Partnership’s accounts shall be prepared, presented to the General Partner and submitted to the Partnership’s auditors for examination.

(c) The Partnership’s auditors shall be an independent accounting firm of international reputation to be appointed from time to time by the General Partner. The Partnership’s auditors shall be entitled to receive promptly such information, accounts and explanations from the General Partner and each Partner that they deem reasonably necessary to carry out their duties. The Partners shall provide such financial, tax and other information to the Partnership as may be reasonably necessary and appropriate to carry out the purposes of the Partnership.

SECTION 5.07. Tax Matters Partner . The General Partner is hereby designated as the tax matters partner of the Partnership, in accordance with the Treasury Regulations promulgated pursuant to Section 6231 of the Code and any similar provisions under any other state or local or non-U.S. tax laws. The General Partner shall have the authority, in its sole and absolute discretion, to (a) make an election under Section 754 of the Code on behalf of the Partnership, and each Partner agrees to provide such information and documentation as the General Partner may reasonably request in connection with any such election, (b) determine the manner in which “excess nonrecourse liabilities” (within the meaning of Treasury Regulation section 1.752-3(a)(3)) are allocated among the Partners and (c) make any other election or determination with respect to taxes (including with respect to depreciation, amortization and accounting methods).

SECTION 5.08. Tax Information . The Partnership shall use commercially reasonable efforts to prepare and mail as soon as reasonably practicable after the end of each taxable year of the Partnership, to each Partner (and each other Person that was such a Partner during such taxable year or its legal representatives), U.S. Internal Revenue Service Schedule K-1, “Partner’s Share of Income, Credits, Deductions, Etc.,” or any successor schedule or form, for such Person.

SECTION 5.09. Withholding . Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Partnership is authorized to withhold from distributions and allocations to the Partners, and to pay over to any federal, state, local or foreign governmental authority any amounts believed in good faith to be required to be so withheld pursuant to the Code or any provision of any other federal, state, local or foreign law and, for all purposes under this Agreement, shall treat such amounts (together with any amounts that are withheld from payments to the Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries attributable to a direct or indirect Partner of the Partnership) as distributed to those Partners with respect to which such amounts were withheld. If the Partnership is obligated

 

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to pay any amount to a taxing authority on behalf of (or in respect of an obligation of) a Partner (including, federal, state and local or other withholding taxes), then such Partner shall indemnify the Partnership in full for the entire amount of any Tax (but not any interest, penalties and expenses associated with such payment). If the Partnership elects to withhold or make any payment to any federal, state, local or foreign governmental authority in respect of a payment that otherwise would be made to any Founding/Working Partner or REU Partner, such Founding/Working Partner or REU Partner shall cooperate with the General Partner by providing such information or forms as are reasonably requested by the General Partner in connection with such withholding or the making of such payments. Each Founding/Working Partner or REU Partner who is an employee of the Partnership, the Opcos, their Subsidiaries or of an Affiliated Entity (or whose stock or other beneficial interest is owned by such an employee) authorizes the Partnership to withhold additional amounts for payment on behalf of such Founding/Working Partner or REU Partner of federal, state and local income tax from the compensation paid to such Founding/Working Partner or REU Partner (or owner of stock or other beneficial interest of a corporate or other entity Founding/Working Partner or REU Partner).

ARTICLE VI

DISTRIBUTIONS

SECTION 6.01. Distributions in Respect of Partnership Interests . (a) Subject to the remaining sentence of this Section 6.01(a), the Partnership shall distribute to each Partner from such Partner’s Capital Account (i) on or prior to each Estimated Tax Due Date such (y) Partner’s Estimated Proportionate Quarterly Tax Distribution for such fiscal quarter, plus (z) with respect to Partners who are members of the Cantor Group, the Founding/Working Partners and the REU Limited Partners, an amount (positive or negative) calculated using the methodology contemplated by the definition “Estimated Proportionate Quarterly Tax Distribution” (taking into account for this purpose items of income, gain, loss or deduction allocated in respect of any Special Item and disregarding all other items) for such fiscal quarter in respect of any items of income, gain, loss or deduction allocated in respect of any Special Item, and (ii) as promptly as practicable after the end of each fiscal quarter of the Partnership (but otherwise on such date and time as determined by the General Partner) an amount equal to all amounts allocated to such Partner’s Capital Account with respect to such quarter (reduced by the amount of any prior distributions pursuant to this Section 6.01(a)), with such distribution to occur on such date and time as determined by the General Partner; provided that distributions pursuant to this clause (ii) shall be made to a Partner only to the extent of the positive balance in such Partner’s Capital Account unless otherwise determined by the General Partner; provided , however , that in each case appropriate adjustments shall be made to reflect any amounts treated as distributed pursuant to Section 5.09; provided , further , however , that with the prior written consent of the holders of a Majority in Interest, the Partnership may decrease the amount distributed from such Partners’ Capital Accounts; provided , further , that the Partnership shall not be obligated to make distributions in excess of its cash available for such distributions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Section 6.01, if the Partnership is unable to make the distributions contemplated by the foregoing as a result of any Special Item, then the Partnership shall use reasonable best efforts to borrow such amounts as are necessary to make distributions that would have been received by the BGC Partners Group in the absence of any such Special Item and to make the Estimated Proportionate Quarterly Tax Distributions to

 

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the Cantor Group and to Founding/Working Partners, and the costs of any such costs borrowing shall be treated as a Special Item. No distributions shall be made by the Partnership except as expressly contemplated by Sections 6.01 and 9.03(a) and Article XII.

(b) In accordance with Article XI, the General Partner may determine to withhold from distributions pursuant to this Section 6.01 amounts reflecting an Extraordinary Income Item or an Extraordinary Expenditure with respect to Founding/Working Partner Interests or REU Interests.

(c) The General Partner, with the consent of a Majority in Interest, may direct the Partnership to distribute all or part of any amount that is otherwise distributable to a Founding/Working Partner or an REU Partner, as the case may be, under this Section 6.01 in the form of a distribution of Publicly Traded Shares, valued at the average of the closing prices of such shares, as reported by the national securities exchange or quotation system upon which such shares are then listed or quoted, during the 10-trading-day period immediately preceding the distribution (or such other fair and reasonable pricing method as may be selected by the General Partner), or in other property valued at its then-fair market value, as determined by the General Partner in its sole and absolute discretion. The distribution of Publicly Traded Shares or other property to a Partner pursuant to this Section 6.01(c) shall result in a reduction in such Partner’s Capital Account and Adjusted Capital Account by an amount equal to the value of such distributed shares or property determined as provided in this Section 6.01(c). Any gain recognized or deemed recognized as a result of such distribution shall not affect any Adjusted Capital Account unless otherwise deemed appropriate by mutual agreement of the General Partner and a Majority in Interest, in their sole and absolute discretion.

(d) The General Partner, with the consent of a Majority in Interest, in its sole and absolute discretion, may direct the Partnership, upon a Founding/Working Partner’s or REU Partner’s death, retirement, withdrawal from the Partnership or other full or partial redemption of Units, to distribute to such Partner (or to his or her Personal Representative, as the case may be) a number of Publicly Traded Shares or an amount of other property that the General Partner determines is appropriate in light of the goodwill associated with such Partner and his, her or its Units, such Partner’s length of service, responsibilities and contributions to the Partnership and/or other factors deemed to be relevant by the General Partner. Notwithstanding Sections 5.01 and 5.04, the distribution of Publicly Traded Shares or other property to a Founding/Working Partner or REU Partner, as the case may be, pursuant to this Section 6.01(d) shall result in a net reduction in such Partner’s Capital Account and Adjusted Capital Account, unless otherwise determined by the General Partner in its sole and absolute discretion. To the extent necessary or appropriate to give effect to the intent of this provision, as determined by the General Partner in its sole and absolute discretion, the Partnership shall make a special allocation to the distributee Founding/Working Partner or REU Partner, as the case may be, of gain, if any, that arises on any such distribution of the Publicly Traded Shares or other property.

(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, no amount shall be distributed to any Founding/Working Partner or REU Partner in respect of income or gain allocable to such Founding/Working Partner or REU Partner pursuant to Section 2

 

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of Exhibit D to this Agreement except to the extent the General Partner determines in its sole and absolute discretion that such a distribution is consistent with the intent of this Agreement.

SECTION 6.02. Limitation on Distributions . Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Partnership and the General Partner, on behalf of the Partnership, shall not be required to make a distribution to a Partner on account of its interest in the Partnership if such distribution would violate the Act or any other applicable law.

ARTICLE VII

TRANSFERS OF INTERESTS

SECTION 7.01. Transfers Generally Prohibited . No Partner may Transfer or agree or otherwise commit to Transfer all or any portion of, or any of rights, title and interest in and to, its Interest, except as permitted by the terms and conditions set forth in this Article VII (and, with respect to the Founding/Working Partners and the REU Partners only, Article XII). The Schedules shall be revised pursuant to Section 1.03 from time to time to reflect any change in the Partners or Interests to reflect any Transfer permitted by this Article VII.

SECTION 7.02. Permitted Transfers . (a)  Regular Limited Partnership Interests . No Regular Limited Partner (other than the Special Voting Limited Partner, which shall be governed by Section 7.02(b)) may Transfer or agree or otherwise commit to Transfer all or any portion of, or any right, title and interest in and to, its Regular Limited Partnership Interest (other than the Special Voting Limited Partnership Interest, which shall be governed by Section 7.02(b)), except any such Transfer (i) pursuant to Section 4.03(b)(i) in connection with the Contribution and the Separation or Section 4.03(b)(iv) or 8.01, (ii) if such Regular Limited Partner shall be a member of the Cantor Group, to any Person; or (iii) for which the General Partner and the Exchangeable Limited Partners (with such consent to require the affirmative vote of a Majority in Interest) shall have provided their respective prior written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed). With respect to any Exchangeable Limited Partnership Interest Transferred by a Cantor Company to another Person, Cantor may elect, prior to or at the time of such Transfer, either (1) that such Person shall receive such Interest in the form of an Exchangeable Limited Partnership Interest and that such Person shall thereafter be an Exchangeable Limited Partner for purposes of this Agreement so long as such Person continues to hold such Interest or (2) that such Person shall receive such Interest in the form of a Regular Limited Partnership Interest (other than an Exchangeable Limited Partnership Interest or a Special Voting Limited Partnership Interest), and that such Person shall not be an Exchangeable Limited Partner for purposes of this Agreement as a result of holding such Interest. For the avoidance of doubt, if Cantor shall not so elect, such Transferred Interest shall not be designated as an Exchangeable Limited Partnership Interest.

(b) Special Voting Limited Partnership Interest . The Special Voting Limited Partner may not Transfer or agree or otherwise commit to Transfer all or any portion of, or any right, title and interest in and to, its Special Voting Limited Partnership Interest, except any such Transfer (i) to a wholly owned Subsidiary of BGC Partners; provided that, in the event that such transferee shall cease to be a wholly owned Subsidiary

 

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of BGC Partners, the Special Voting Limited Partnership Interest shall automatically be Transferred to BGC Partners, without the requirement of any further action on the part of the Partnership, BGC Partners or any other Person; or (ii) pursuant to Section 4.03(b)(i) in connection with the Contribution and the Separation. Upon removal of any Special Voting Limited Partner, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Special Voting Limited Partnership Interest shall be transferred to the Person being admitted as the new Special Voting Limited Partner, simultaneously with admission and without the requirement of any action on the part of the Special Voting Limited Partner being removed or any other Person.

(c) Founding Partner Interest. No Founding Partner may Transfer or agree or otherwise commit to Transfer all or any portion of, or any right, title and interest in and to, its Founding Partner Interest, except any such Transfer (i) pursuant to a redemption as set forth in Section 12.03; (ii) pursuant to Section 4.03(c)(i) in connection with the Contribution and the Separation or Section 4.03(c)(iii) or 8.01; (iii) to any Cantor Company; provided that in the event that such transferee shall cease to be a Cantor Company, such Founding Partner Interest shall


 
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