UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): June 4, 2013

BGC Partners, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

499 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10022

(Address of principal executive offices)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (212) 610-2200

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

ITEM 5.02. DEPARTURE OF DIRECTORS OR CERTAIN OFFICERS; ELECTION OF DIRECTORS; APPOINTMENT OF CERTAIN OFFICERS; COMPENSATORY ARRANGEMENTS OF CERTAIN OFFICERS

On June 4, 2013, at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) of BGC Partners, Inc. (the “ Company”), the Company’s stockholders approved an amendment to the Company’s Third Amended and Restated Long Term Incentive Plan (the “Equity Plan”) to increase from 150 million to 200 million the aggregate number of shares of the Company’s Class A common stock that may be delivered or cash settled pursuant to awards granted during the life of the Equity Plan.

For a description of the terms and conditions of the Equity Plan, as amended and restated and approved by the Company’s stockholders at the Annual Meeting, see Description of the Equity Plan under Proposal 2 – Approval of the Fourth Amended and Restated BGC Partners, Inc. Long Term Incentive Plan, in the Company’s proxy statement for the Annual Meeting, which description is incorporated herein by reference. The description of the Equity Plan contained in the proxy statement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Equity Plan, as amended and restated, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.

The following matters were voted upon at the Annual Meeting:

For more information about the foregoing proposals, see the proxy statement for the Annual Meeting.

At the Annual Meeting, holders of Class A common stock were entitled to one vote per share, and holders of Class B common stock were entitled to 10 votes per share, and the two classes voted together as a single class on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders. The number of votes cast for and against and the number of withheld votes, abstentions and broker non-votes with respect to each matter voted upon at the Annual Meeting are set forth below:

Proposal 1 - Election of Directors

The four nominees were elected to the Board of Directors and will serve as directors until our next annual meeting or until their respective successors are elected and qualified.

Proposal 2 - Approval of the Fourth Amended and Restated BGC Partners, Inc. Long Term Incentive Plan

Stockholders approved the Fourth Amended and Restated BGC Partners, Inc. Long Term Incentive Plan.

(d) Exhibits

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report on Form 8-K to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

[Signature Page to Form 8-K, dated June 5, 2013, regarding the Company’s 2013

Annual Meeting of Stockholders.]

EXHIBIT INDEX