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Compensation
 6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2023
Share-Based Payment Arrangement [Abstract]  
Compensation Compensation
The Compensation Committee may grant various equity-based awards, including RSUs, restricted stock, stock options, LPUs and shares of BGC Class A common stock. Upon vesting of RSUs, issuance of restricted stock, exercise of stock options and redemption/exchange of LPUs, the Company generally issues new shares of BGC Class A common stock.
On November 22, 2021, at the annual meeting of stockholders, the stockholders approved amendments to the Equity Plan to increase from 400 million to 500 million the aggregate number of shares of BGC Class A common stock that may be delivered or cash-settled pursuant to awards granted during the life of the Equity Plan. As of June 30, 2023, the limit on the aggregate number of shares authorized to be delivered allowed for the grant of future awards relating to 90.0 million shares.
The Company incurred compensation expense related to Class A common stock, LPUs and RSUs held by BGC employees as follows (in thousands):
Three Months Ended June 30,Six Months Ended June 30,
2023202220232022
Issuance of common stock and grants of exchangeability$101,938 $20,460 $153,904 $50,595 
Allocations of net income¹637 4,734 3,017 8,424 
LPU amortization19,447 15,601 40,878 34,624 
RSU amortization4,622 5,338 10,218 10,366 
Equity-based compensation and allocations of net income
to limited partnership units and FPUs
$126,644 $46,133 $208,017 $104,009 
____________________________
1Certain LPUs generally receive quarterly allocations of net income, including the Preferred Distribution, and are generally contingent upon services being provided by the unit holders.
Limited Partnership Units
A summary of the activity associated with LPUs held by BGC employees is as follows (in thousands):
BGC
LPUs		Newmark
LPUs
Balance at December 31, 2022110,347 9,351 
Granted9,690 — 
Redeemed/exchanged units(48,218)(348)
Forfeited units(225)— 
Balance at June 30, 202371,594 9,003 
The LPUs table above includes both regular and Preferred Units. The Preferred Units are not entitled to participate in partnership distributions other than with respect to the Preferred Distribution (see Note 2—“Limited Partnership Interests in BGC Holdings and Newmark Holdings” for further information on Preferred Units). Subsequent to the Spin-Off, there were remaining partners who hold limited partnership interests in BGC Holdings who are Newmark employees, and there are remaining partners who hold limited partnership interests in Newmark Holdings who are BGC employees. These limited partnership interests represent interests that were held prior to the Newmark IPO or were distributed in connection with the Separation. Following the Newmark IPO, employees of BGC and Newmark only receive limited partnership interests in BGC Holdings and Newmark Holdings, respectively. As a result of the Spin-Off, as the previous limited partnership interests in BGC Holdings held by Newmark employees and the existing limited partnership interests in Newmark Holdings held by BGC employees were/are exchanged/redeemed, the related capital is contributed to and from Cantor, respectively. The compensation expenses under GAAP related to the limited partnership interests are based on the company where the partner is employed. Therefore, compensation expenses related to the limited partnership interests of both BGC and Newmark but held by a BGC employee are recognized by BGC. However, the BGC Holdings limited partnership interests held by Newmark employees are included in the BGC share count and the Newmark Holdings limited partnership interests held by BGC employees are included in the Newmark share count.
A summary of the BGC Holdings and Newmark Holdings LPUs held by BGC employees is as follows (in thousands):
BGC
LPUs		Newmark
LPUs
Regular Units49,240 6,897 
Preferred Units22,354 2,106 
Balance at June 30, 202371,594 9,003 
Issuance of Common Stock and Grants of Exchangeability
Compensation expense related to the issuance of BGC or Newmark Class A common stock and grants of exchangeability on BGC Holdings and Newmark Holdings LPUs held by BGC employees is as follows (in thousands):
Three Months Ended June 30,Six Months Ended June 30,
2023202220232022
Issuance of common stock and grants of exchangeability$101,938 $20,460 $153,904 $50,595 
BGC LPUs held by BGC employees may become exchangeable or redeemed for BGC Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis, and Newmark LPUs held by BGC employees may become exchangeable or redeemed for a number of shares of Newmark Class A common stock equal to the number of limited partnership interests multiplied by the then-current Exchange Ratio. As of June 30, 2023, the Exchange Ratio was 0.9235.
A summary of the LPUs redeemed in connection with the issuance of BGC Class A common stock or Newmark Class A common stock (at the then-current Exchange Ratio) or granted exchangeability for BGC Class A common stock or Newmark Class A common stock (at the then-current Exchange Ratio) held by BGC employees is as follows (in thousands):
Three Months Ended June 30,Six Months Ended June 30,
2023202220232022
BGC Holdings LPUs14,710 4,879 25,684 10,666 
Newmark Holdings LPUs100 83 179 347 
Total14,810 4,962 25,863 11,013 
As of both June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the number of share-equivalent BGC LPUs exchangeable for shares of BGC Class A common stock at the discretion of the unit holder held by BGC employees was 0.2 million. and 1.2 million respectively. As of both June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the number of Newmark LPUs exchangeable into shares of Newmark Class A common stock at the discretion of the unit holder held by BGC employees (at the then-current Exchange Ratio) was 0.2 million.
LPU Amortization
Compensation expense related to the amortization of LPUs held by BGC employees is as follows (in thousands):
Three Months Ended June 30,Six Months Ended June 30,
2023202220232022
Stated vesting schedule$19,440 $15,609 $40,848 $34,578 
Post-termination payout7 (8)30 46 
LPU amortization$19,447 $15,601 $40,878 $34,624 
There are certain LPUs that have a stated vesting schedule and do not receive quarterly allocations of net income. These LPUs generally vest between two and five years from the date of grant. The fair value is determined on the date of grant based on the market value of an equivalent share of BGC or Newmark Class A common stock (adjusted if appropriate based upon the award’s eligibility to receive quarterly allocations of net income), and is recognized as compensation expense, net of the effect of estimated forfeitures, ratably over the vesting period.
A summary of the outstanding LPUs held by BGC employees with a stated vesting schedule that do not receive quarterly allocations of net income is as follows (in thousands):
June 30, 2023December 31, 2022
BGC Holdings LPUs45,112 47,222 
Newmark Holdings LPUs63 98 
Aggregate estimated grant date fair value – BGC and Newmark Holdings LPUs$190,273 $194,951 
As of June 30, 2023, there was approximately $84.0 million of total unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested BGC and Newmark LPUs held by BGC employees with a stated vesting schedule that do not receive quarterly allocations of net income that is expected to be recognized over 1.95 years.
Compensation expense related to LPUs held by BGC employees with a post-termination pay-out amount, such as REUs, and/or a stated vesting schedule is recognized over the stated service period. These LPUs generally vest between two and five years from the date of grant. As of June 30, 2023, there were 0.2 million outstanding BGC LPUs with a post-termination payout, with a notional value of approximately $1.7 million and an aggregate estimated fair value of $1.2 million, and 0.1 million outstanding Newmark LPUs with a post-termination payout, with a notional value of approximately $0.7 million and an aggregate estimated fair value of $0.3 million. As of December 31, 2022, there were 0.8 million outstanding BGC LPUs with a post-termination payout, with a notional value of approximately $8.6 million and an aggregate estimated fair value of $3.9 million, and 0.1 million outstanding Newmark LPUs with a post-termination payout, with a notional value of approximately $0.7 million and an aggregate estimated fair value of $0.3 million.
Restricted Stock Units
Compensation expense related to RSUs held by BGC employees is as follows (in thousands):
Three Months Ended June 30,Six Months Ended June 30,
2023202220232022
RSU amortization$4,622 $5,338 $10,218 $10,366 
A summary of the activity associated with RSUs held by BGC employees and directors is as follows (RSUs and dollars in thousands):
RSUsWeighted-
Average
Grant
Date Fair
Value		Fair Value
Amount		Weighted-
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term (Years)
Balance at December 31, 202212,046 $4.11 $49,486 2.42
Granted27,307 3.49 95,340 
Delivered(4,302)3.78 (16,267)
Forfeited(284)4.15 (1,178)
Balance at June 30, 202334,767 $3.66 $127,381 5.49
The fair value of RSUs held by BGC employees and directors is determined on the date of grant based on the market value of BGC Class A common stock adjusted as appropriate based upon the award’s ineligibility to receive dividends. The compensation expense is recognized ratably over the vesting period, taking into effect estimated forfeitures. The Company uses historical data, including historical forfeitures and turnover rates, to estimate expected forfeiture rates for both employee and director RSUs. Each RSU is settled in one share of Class A common stock upon completion of the vesting period.
For the RSUs that vested during the three months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, the Company withheld shares of BGC Class A common stock valued at $1.4 million and $0.7 million to pay taxes due at the time of vesting. For the RSUs that vested during the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, the Company withheld shares of BGC Class A common stock valued at $7.6 million and $6.2 million to pay taxes due at the time of vesting. As of June 30, 2023, there was approximately $123.1 million of total unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested RSUs held by BGC employees and directors that is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 5.5 years.
During the three months ended June 30, 2023, the Company granted $49.2 million of RSU Tax Accounts, which were all outstanding as of June 30, 2023. As of June 30, 2023, there was approximately $48.2 million of total unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested RSU Tax Accounts held by BGC employees that is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 9.3 years.
Acquisitions
In connection with certain of its acquisitions, the Company has granted certain LPUs and RSUs, and other deferred compensation awards. As of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the aggregate estimated fair value of these acquisition-related LPUs and RSUs was $5.8 million and $5.9 million, respectively. As of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the aggregate estimated fair value of the deferred compensation awards was $0.2 million and $23.9 million, respectively. The liability for such acquisition-related LPUs and RSUs is included in “Accounts payable, accrued and other liabilities” on the Company’s unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition.
Restricted Stock
BGC employees hold shares of BGC and Newmark restricted stock. Such restricted shares are generally salable by partners in five to ten years. Partners who agree to extend the length of their employment agreements and/or other contractual modifications sought by the Company are expected to be able to sell their restricted shares over a shorter time period. Transferability of the restricted shares of stock is not subject to continued employment or service with the Company or any affiliate or subsidiary of the Company; however, transferability is subject to compliance with BGC and its affiliates’ customary noncompete obligations.
During the three and six months ended June 30, 2023, 0.2 million BGC or Newmark restricted shares held by BGC employees were forfeited in connection with this provision. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, no BGC or Newmark restricted shares held by BGC employees were forfeited in connection with this provision. During the three months
ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, the Company released the restrictions with respect to 2.1 million and 0.1 million of such BGC shares held by BGC employees, respectively. During the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, the Company released the restrictions with respect to 2.3 million and 0.2 million of such BGC shares held by BGC employees, respectively. As of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, there were 0.1 million and 2.3 million of such restricted BGC shares held by BGC employees outstanding, respectively. During the three months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, Newmark released the restrictions with respect to 1.1 million and 0.1 million, respectively, of restricted Newmark shares held by BGC employees. During the six months ended June 30, 2023 and 2022, Newmark released the restrictions with respect to 1.1 million and 0.1 million, respectively, of restricted Newmark shares held by BGC employees. As of June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, there were nil and 1.1 million, respectively, of restricted Newmark shares held by BGC employees outstanding.