UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K/A

(Amendment No. 1)

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 11, 2015

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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):

EXPLANATORY NOTE

On December 14, 2015, BGC Partners, Inc. filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) a Current Report on Form 8-K reporting the completion of the disposition of all of the equity interests in the entities that make up the Trayport business to Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. This Amendment No. 1 to Current Report on Form 8-K/A amends Item 2.01 and Item 9.01 of the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 14, 2015 to present certain unaudited pro forma financial information in connection with such transaction, which unaudited pro forma financial information is filed as an exhibit hereto.

As previously reported, on December 11, 2015 BGC Partners, Inc. (the “Company” or “BGC”) completed the disposition of all the equity interests in the entities that make up the Trayport business of the Company’s consolidated subsidiary GFI Group Inc. (“GFI”) to Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (“ICE”) for 2,527,658 shares of the common stock of ICE with respect to the $650 million purchase price as adjusted at closing (the “Trayport Transaction”). The Trayport Transaction was pursuant to the previously reported Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of November 15, 2015, by and among GFINet, Inc., GFI TP Holdings Pte Ltd., ICE, GFI, and BGC. The Company has the right to sell the shares of ICE common stock that it received upon completion of the Trayport Transaction pursuant to a registration rights agreement entered into at the closing. In connection with the completion of the Trayport Transaction, the Company incurred a banking fee from Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., an affiliate, of approximately $5.1 million.

Discussion of Forward-Looking Statements by BGC Partners

Statements in this report regarding BGC that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Except as required by law, BGC undertakes no obligation to release any revisions to any forward-looking statements. For a discussion of additional risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual events and results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see BGC’s SEC filings, including, but not limited to, the risk factors set forth in its public filings, including its most recent Form 10-K and any updates to such risk factors contained in subsequent Form 10-Q or Form 8-K filings. These risks include those related to the possibility that any of the anticipated benefits of the Trayport Transaction will not be realized; the effect of such transaction on BGC’s business relationships, operating results and business generally; general competitive, economic, political and market conditions and fluctuations; and actions taken or conditions imposed by regulatory authorities.

(b) Pro Forma Financial Information

The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated and combined financial information specified in Article 11 of Regulation S-X is filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

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SIGNATURES

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

[Signature page to Form 8-K/A, filed on December 17, 2015, regarding the Company’s pro forma information with respect to the Trayport Transaction]

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EXHIBIT INDEX