San Diego, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/20/2012 -- An investor in NASDAQ: BGCP shares filed a lawsuit against Cantor Fitzgerald LP, its CEO and members of the BGC Partners board of directors.

The plaintiff alleges that BGC Partners relationship with Cantor Fitzgerald caused it to enter into debt and equity transactions that hurt its shareholders.

Investors who are current long term stockholders in NASDAQ:BGCP have certain options and should contact the Shareholders Foundation at mail(at)shareholdersfoundation.com or call +1(858) 779 - 1554.

The plaintiff alleges in breach of their fiduciary duties to BGC Partners, Inc, its controlling shareholders Cantor Fitzgerald LP and Cantor’s Chief Executive Officer Howard Lutnick and members of the BGC Partners’ board of directors have knowingly causes BGC Partners, Inc to enter into a series of related party transactions that have unduly benefits Cantor Fitzgerald LP, Howard Lutnick, and their affiliates at the expense of BGC Partners and its remaining shareholders.

The plaintiff claims that BGC Partners, Inc. made a $150 million debt transaction at an “unfair interest rate” that diluted the investors’stock. The plaintiff says the $150 million debt transaction was initially made in 2008 at a 5.19%t interest rate and was later replaced by notes at an 8.75% interest rate that could be converted into stock, thus diluting NASDAQ: BGCP shares.

In June 2010 BGC Partners, Inc entered into a controlled equity offering sales agreement with Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. pursuant to which BGC Partners, Inc could offer and sell up to 5.5 million shares of Class A coming stock through Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., as the company’s sales agent. Among other thing, BGC Partners, Inc would pay all expenses incurred in connection with the equity offering, and Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. would be entitled to compensation equal to 2% of the gross proceeds of any equity offerings. IN September BGC Partners entered into to additional controlled equity offering sales agreements with Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. under with BGC Partners, Inc could offer and sell up to a cumulative 15.5million shares of Class A common stock thorugh Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., as the company’s sales agents. The plaintiff says that as a result of those equity transactions Cantor Fitzgerald received about $17.3million in cash and BGC Partners paid Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. approximately $362,000 in sales commissions, but the BGC Partners Inc received no benefits from the equity transactions.

Since April 2011 BGCP stocks fell from as high as $9.66 to under $6 per share in early 2012.

Those who purchased shares of BGC Partners (NASDAQ:BGCP) and currently hold those BGCP shares, have certain options and should contact the Shareholders Foundation.

Contact:
Shareholders Foundation, Inc.
Trevor Allen
3111 Camino Del Rio North - Suite 423
92108 San Diego
Phone: +1-(858)-779-1554
Fax: +1-(858)-605-5739
mail@shareholdersfoundation.com