UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K/A
(Amendment No. 1)
FOR ANNUAL AND TRANSITION REPORTS
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
(Mark One)
☒ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31 , 2025
OR
☐
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from_______to_________
Commission File Number: 001-38329
NEWMARK GROUP, INC.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in
its charter)
Delaware
6531 81-4467492
(State or other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization) (Primary Standard Industrial
Classification Code Number) (I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)
125 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10017
(212) 372-2000
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of Registrant’s principal executive offices)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b)
of the Act:
Title of Each Class
Trading Symbol(s) Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered
Class A Common Stock, $0.01 par value NMRK The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
Securities registered pursuant to Section
12(g) of the Act:
None
(Title of Class)
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a
well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☒
No ☐
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is
not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ☐
No ☒
Indicate by check mark whether the
registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the
preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to
such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the
registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T
(§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to
submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant
is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company.
See definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and
“emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer ☒ Accelerated filer ☐
Non-accelerated filer ☐ Smaller reporting company ☐
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check
mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting
standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant
has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial
reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C.7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or
issued its audit report. ☒
If securities are registered pursuant to Section
12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction
of an error to previously issued financial statements. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether any of those error
corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s
executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the
registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒
The aggregate market value of voting common equity
held by non-affiliates of the registrant, based upon the closing price of the Class A common stock on June 30, 2025 as reported on
Nasdaq, was approximately $ 1.8 billion.
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each
of the registrant’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
Class Outstanding at April 28, 2026
Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share 156,337,861 shares
Class B Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share 21,285,533 shares
Auditor Name: Ernst & Young, LLP Auditor Location: New York, New York PCAOB ID Number: 42
Newmark Group, Inc.
2025 FORM 10-K/A ANNUAL REPORT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
EXPLANATORY NOTE
ii
PART III
1
ITEM 10.
DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
1
ITEM 11.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
20
ITEM 12.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
61
ITEM 13.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
65
ITEM 14.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
93
PART IV
94
ITEM 15.
EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
94
i
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Throughout this document Newmark Group, Inc.
is referred to as “Newmark,” and, together with its subsidiaries, as the “Company,” “we,” “us,”
or “our.”
On March 2, 2026, Newmark filed its Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 (the “Original Form 10-K”). Certain Part III information was
omitted from the Original Form 10-K in reliance on General Instruction G(3) to Form 10-K. General Instruction G(3) to Form 10-K provides
that registrants may incorporate by reference certain information from a definitive proxy statement which involves the election of directors
if such definitive proxy statement is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) within 120 days after
the end of the fiscal year. The Company does not anticipate that its definitive proxy statement involving the election of directors in
connection with its 2026 annual meeting of stockholders will be filed by April 30, 2026 (i.e., within 120 days after the end of the Company’s
2025 fiscal year). Accordingly, this Amendment No. 1 (this “Amendment”) hereby amends and restates Part III, Items 10
through 14 of the Original Form 10-K as set forth below. The information included herein as required by Part III, Items 10 through 14
of the Original Form 10-K is more limited than what is required to be included in the definitive proxy statement to be filed in connection
with our 2026 annual meeting of stockholders. Accordingly, the definitive proxy statement to be filed at a later date will include additional
information related to the topics herein and additional information not required by Part III, Items 10 through 14 of Form 10-K.
This Amendment also restates Item 15 of Part
IV of the Original Form 10-K. In addition, as required by Rule 12b-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange
Act”), new certifications by our principal executive officer and principal financial officer are filed as exhibits to this Amendment
under Item 15 of Part IV hereof.
No other amendments are being made hereby to the
Original Form 10-K. Except as stated herein, this Amendment does not reflect events occurring after the filing of the Original Form 10-K
with the SEC on March 2, 2026, and no attempt has been made in this Amendment to modify or update other disclosures as presented in the
Original Form 10-K. Terms used but not defined herein have the meanings given to them in the Original Form 10-K.
ii
PART III
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Our Board of Directors (“Board of Directors”
or “Board”) is currently composed of five members. Information with respect to our directors is set forth below.
INFORMATION ABOUT OUR DIRECTORS
Name
Age
Director
Since
Biographies
Stephen M. Merkel
67
2025
Mr. Merkel has been a director of our Company since February 2025 and serves as Chairman of our Board. Mr. Merkel has served as our Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer since 2019. Mr. Merkel is Executive Vice Chairman, Executive Managing Director, and General Counsel for the Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P. (“Cantor”) group of companies, including Cantor, CF Group Management, Inc. (“CFGM”) and Cantor Fitzgerald & Co (“CF&Co”). Cantor and CFGM are our parent companies and CF&Co is a subsidiary of Cantor and is our affiliate. Mr. Merkel has served as our affiliate BGC Group, Inc.’s (“BGC,” including its predecessors eSpeed Inc. and BGC Partners, Inc., the latter of which is also referred to herein as “BGC Partners,” where appropriate) Executive Vice President and General Counsel since 2001. Since February 2025, Mr. Merkel has served as a director of BGC and as Chairman of BGC’s board of directors. Mr. Merkel also holds offices at and provides services to various other affiliates of Cantor and provides services to BGC’s and Newmark’s operating partnerships and subsidiaries, as applicable. Prior to joining Cantor in 1993, Mr. Merkel was Vice President and Assistant General Counsel at Goldman Sachs & Co., dedicated to the J. Aron Division, and prior to that, he was an associate with the law firm of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison. Prior to that, he was a law clerk for the Honorable Irving R. Kaufman of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Mr. Merkel received a Bachelor’s degree with a major in History and Sociology of Science from the University of Pennsylvania and received his law degree from the University of Michigan Law School.
Kyle S. Lutnick
30
2025
Mr. Kyle S. Lutnick (“Mr. Kyle Lutnick”) has been
a director of our Company since February 2025. Mr. Kyle Lutnick is Executive Vice Chairman of Cantor and President of
CFGM. He also serves as a director of the Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund. From 2024 to 2025, he served as Global Managing
Director of Knotel, Inc. (“Knotel”), Newmark’s flexible office and workspace business. From 2022 to 2024, he held
positions within Knotel, including General Manager of UK & EMEA and Vice President of Business Development. Prior to
joining Knotel, from 2020 to 2021, Mr. Kyle Lutnick was part of Newmark’s retail advisory team, where he advised clients
in New York City. In 2019, Mr. Kyle Lutnick graduated from Stanford University with a Bachelor’s degree in
Psychology. Mr. Kyle Lutnick is the son of our former Executive Chairman, Mr. Howard W. Lutnick
(“Mr. Howard Lutnick”).
1
Name
Age
Director
Since
Biographies
Virginia S. Bauer
69
2018
Ms. Bauer has been a director of our Company since June 2018. From 2010 to 2022, Ms. Bauer served as Chief Executive Officer of GTBM, Inc., a security technology company that develops and markets proprietary software solutions, where she currently serves as an advisor. Prior thereto, Ms. Bauer served as Senior Vice President of Covenant House International from 2009 to 2010, as the Secretary of Commerce for the State of New Jersey from 2004 to 2008, and as Director of the New Jersey Lottery Commission from 2003 to 2004. In addition, Ms. Bauer has served on the board of directors of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority since January 2020, on the Foundation Board of Monmouth Medical Center since 2009 and on the board of directors of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum since 2008. She previously served on the Board of Commissioners of The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey from 2008 to 2012 and on the Advisory Board of the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation from 2001 to 2004. She received an undergraduate degree from Rosemont College .
Jay Itzkowitz
66
2022
Mr. Itzkowitz has been a director of our Company since August 2022. Mr. Itzkowitz is an experienced real estate and mergers and acquisitions attorney. Since 2016, Mr. Itzkowitz has been the Executive Vice President and General Counsel of S.D. Malkin Properties, a Connecticut-based real estate investment firm. Mr. Itzkowitz holds senior positions in affiliates of S.D. Malkin Properties, including Value Retail PLC, the London-based owner and operator of large-scale premium shopping villages in Europe and China, and NY Hockey Holdings, the holding company of the New York Islanders and UBS Arena. From 2013 to 2016, Mr. Itzkowitz served as Senior Vice President and General Counsel for Los Angeles-based Anuvu Operations LLC (formerly Global Eagle Entertainment Inc.). From 2004 to 2014, Mr. Itzkowitz served as a Senior Managing Director of Cantor and affiliated entities. Prior to joining Cantor, Mr. Itzkowitz practiced law at Hogan Lovells (formerly Hogan & Hartson L.L.P.) and was Head of Mergers & Acquisitions for Vivendi Universal S.A. in New York and Paris. From 1992 to 2002, Mr. Itzkowitz held senior legal positions at The News Corporation Limited and its affiliate Fox Entertainment Group in Los Angeles, London, and New York. Prior to joining News Corporation, Mr. Itzkowitz practiced law at the firm of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, LLP. In addition, Mr. Itzkowitz currently serves on the Board of Pininfarina S.p.A., a Milan Stock Exchange-listed automotive design firm. Mr. Itzkowitz graduated from Rutgers University School of Law and Harvard College .
2
Name
Age
Director
Since
Biographies
Kenneth A. McIntyre
65
2020
Mr. McIntyre has been a director of our Company since January 2020. Mr. McIntyre has over 30 years of experience in the commercial real estate industry. Since February 2020, Mr. McIntyre has been the Chief Executive Officer of the Real Estate Executive Council (“REEC”), having served as a founding member of the board of directors of the organization since 2003. REEC is a preeminent trade association in the U.S. for minority commercial real estate professionals. Since 2012, Mr. McIntyre has been the Founder and Managing Principal of PassPort Real Estate, LLC, a New York-based consulting firm focused on advising developers and institutions on commercial real estate deals and platform structuring. His clients have included the Real Estate Associate Program (Project REAP), a non-profit that is focused on increasing the diversity of talent in the commercial real estate industry, where he served as the Executive Director, and The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, where he served as Executive Advisor to the Office of Diversity & Inclusion. Mr. McIntyre was a Senior Vice President and Head of Commercial Real Estate at Hudson City Savings Bank from May 2014 to May 2016. Prior to joining Hudson City Savings Bank, Mr. McIntyre was a Managing Director in MetLife’s Real Estate Investments Group with various responsibilities across both the debt and equity portfolios, including Head of Equity Acquisitions; Head of Strategic Initiatives; Head of Real Estate Capital Markets; and Head of Commercial Mortgage Production and Pricing. Prior to joining MetLife, Mr. McIntyre held senior origination and relationship management roles at KeyBank, GE Capital Real Estate, UBS and Chase. Since March 2021, Mr. McIntyre has served on the Board of Trustees of Acadia Realty Trust. In addition, he is a member of The Real Estate Roundtable, where he serves on the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee. Mr. McIntyre is also a Member of the Board of Governors for the Real Estate Board of New York and serves on the boards of directors of the National Jazz Museum of Harlem and the Yorkville Youth Athletic Association. Mr. McIntyre graduated from Florida A&M University with a degree in Economics and a concentration in Banking and Finance.
3
INFORMATION ABOUT OUR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Our executive officers are appointed annually by,
and serve at the discretion of, our Board. In addition to Mr. Stephen Merkel, who serves as Chairman of our Board and our Executive
Vice President and Chief Legal Officer, our executive officers, their respective ages and positions, and certain other information with
respect to each of them, are as follows:
Barry M. Gosin , 75, has served as our
Chief Executive Officer since 1979 and a principal since 1978, and as Chairman of our operating company, Newmark & Co., since
February 2025. Mr. Gosin guides our national and global expansion initiatives and oversees all facets of our day-to-day
operations. Mr. Gosin spearheaded our merger with BGC in 2011 (see “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director
Independence — Separation, Initial Public Offering, and Spin-Off Separation and Distribution Agreement” for a discussion
of our Spin-Off (as defined) from BGC) and has since led our acquisition and hiring efforts and increased our annual revenues by over
12 times since 2011. An active industry and community leader, Mr. Gosin serves as a member of the board of directors of the Partnership
for New York City, Trustee of the Citizens Budget Commission, and Trustee of Pace University. Mr. Gosin also serves as a member
of the board of directors of Fountain House, a national mental health nonprofit organization. Mr. Gosin is a graduate of Indiana
University.
Michael J. Rispoli , 54, has served as
our Chief Financial Officer since 2012. As head of the finance and accounting departments, Mr. Rispoli steers our financial activities,
with a focus on managing risk and monitoring cash flow. His responsibilities include financial planning and forecasting, accounting, financial
reporting, financial due diligence, investor relations, and analysis and integration of acquisitions. Mr. Rispoli also provides services
to our operating partnership and subsidiaries. Prior to joining Newmark, Mr. Rispoli was the Chief Financial Officer of Grubb &
Ellis from August 2010 to April 2012 and had served in various capacities with such firm since May 2007. Mr. Rispoli
served as executive director and corporate controller at Conexant Systems, Inc. from 2000 to 2007. Mr. Rispoli began his career at
PricewaterhouseCoopers as manager of business assurance. Mr. Rispoli holds a Bachelor’s degree in accounting from Seton Hall
University and is a licensed CPA in the State of New Jersey (inactive).
Luis A. Alvarado , 66, has served
as our Chief Operating Officer since April 2025. Mr. Alvarado joined Newmark in 2015 as Executive Vice President and Boston
Market Leader. Beginning in 2018, he served as Newmark’s Chief Revenue Officer and East Region Market Leader, positions he held
until his appointment as Chief Operating Officer. Prior to his positions at Newmark, from 2008 to 2015, Mr. Alvarado served as President
of Cushman & Wakefield’s East Region and also served as a member of Cushman’s Management Committee. Prior to that,
Mr. Alvarado was a founding partner of Insight Partners, Inc., a value-add development company, where he served as general partner
from 1994 to 2008. Mr. Alvarado was previously employed at The Travelers Insurance Company (“Travelers”) for 10 years
and served as Vice President for the Eastern Region Asset Management Group. Mr. Alvarado began his career as a Controller of The
Prospect Company, a subsidiary of Travelers. Mr. Alvarado graduated from Central Connecticut State University with a Bachelor’s
degree in Accounting.
4
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Controlled Company Status
Although
we may qualify as a “controlled company” under the corporate governance rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”)
because Cantor and CFGM control the majority of our total voting power, we have nevertheless currently opted to have, and our Corporate
Governance Guidelines currently provide for, a majority independent board of directors and a compensation committee composed of independent
directors, and our director nominees are also recommended for the Board’s selection by a majority of our independent directors,
each as more fully described below. In the future, we may consider relying on all or a portion of the exemptions from these requirements
provided to “controlled companies” under Nasdaq rules.
Independence of Directors
Our
Board has determined that each of Ms. Bauer and Messrs. McIntyre and Itzkowitz qualifies as an “independent director”
in accordance with the published listing standards of Nasdaq. The Nasdaq independence definition consists of a series of objective tests,
including that the director is not an officer or employee of ours, our parent or a consolidated subsidiary, and has not engaged in various
types of business dealings with us. In addition, as further required by Nasdaq rules, our Board has made a subjective determination with
respect to each independent director that no relationships exist which, in the opinion of our Board, would interfere with the exercise
of independent judgment by each such director in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. In making these determinations, our
Board has reviewed and discussed information provided by the individual directors and us with regard to each director’s business
and personal activities as they may relate to us and our management, including participation on any boards of other organizations in which
other members of our Board are members. In evaluating Ms. Bauer’s independence, the Board took into consideration her service
on the board of directors of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum since 2008, an organization where Mr. Howard
Lutnick, our former Executive Chairman and former member of our Board, was a member of the board of directors, as well as the fact that
Ms. Bauer’s husband was employed by an affiliate of Cantor and, subsequent to his death on September 11, 2001, her family
received the payments and health care coverage distributed to all affected victims from The Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund. In evaluating
Mr. McIntyre’s independence, the Board took into consideration his service as an independent director at a public company for
which the Company provides an immaterial amount of ordinary course real estate services. In evaluating Mr. Itzkowitz’s independence,
the Board took into consideration his prior employment by a Cantor affiliate and his prior partnership interest in Cantor, which ended
in 2014 .
2025 Board
of Directors and Executive Officers Changes and Mr. Howard Lutnick Divestiture
On February 18, 2025, Mr.
Howard Lutnick was confirmed by the United States Senate as the 41st Secretary of Commerce. Following his confirmation, Mr. Howard Lutnick
stepped down as Chairman of the Board and Executive Chairman of the Company. On February 18, 2025, the Board appointed Mr. Kyle Lutnick,
son of Mr. Howard Lutnick, to serve as a member of the Board. Additionally, the Board appointed our Executive Vice President and Chief
Legal Officer, Mr. Stephen M. Merkel, to serve as a member of the Board and as Chairman of the Board and the Board appointed our Chief
Executive Officer, Mr. Barry M. Gosin, as Principal Executive Officer of the Company and as Chairman of Newmark & Company Real Estate,
Inc. (“Newmark & Co.”), following Mr. Howard Lutnick’s departure and divestiture.
On October 6, 2025, Mr.
Howard Lutnick completed the divestiture of his holdings in the Company, Cantor and CFGM in compliance with U.S. government ethics
rules, including through the sale of all of the voting shares of CFGM and outstanding equity interests in various entities and
family trusts that hold our common stock to trusts controlled by Mr. Brandon Lutnick. See “Certain
Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence — 2025 Howard W. Lutnick Divestiture Events and
Lutnick Family Voting and Transfer Agreement” for more information.
On April 7, 2025, the Board appointed Mr. Luis
Alvarado to serve as our Chief Operating Officer.
Meetings and Committees of Our Board of Directors
Our
Board held 21 meetings during the year ended December 31, 2025. In addition to meetings, our Board and its committees reviewed and
acted upon matters by unanimous written consent from time to time. During 2025, each independent director attended 100% of the total number
of meetings of the Board and the committees of which he or she was a member .
5
Audit Committee
Our Board has an Audit Committee. The members of
the Committee are currently Ms. Bauer and Messrs. McIntyre and Itzkowitz, with Mr. McIntyre serving as Chair of the Committee.
Each member of the Committee qualifies as “independent” in accordance with the published listing standards of Nasdaq and under
special standards established by the SEC for members of audit committees, and each member of the Committee has been determined by our
Board to meet the qualifications of an “audit committee financial expert” in accordance with SEC rules. The Committee operates
pursuant to an Audit Committee Charter, which is available at www.nmrk.com/corporate-responsibility/corporate-governance under
the heading “Audit Committee Charter” or upon written request from us free of charge.
Our Audit Committee selects our independent registered
public accounting firm (our “auditors”), consults with our auditors and with management with regard to the adequacy of our
financial reporting, internal control over financial reporting and the audit process and considers any permitted non-audit services to
be performed by our auditors. The Committee also approves all related party transactions, oversees the management of our enterprise
risk management program, oversees compliance with our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (the “Code of Ethics”) and administers
our Whistleblower Complaint and Investigation Policy, including the establishment of procedures with respect to the receipt, retention
and treatment of complaints received by us regarding accounting, internal controls and auditing matters, and the anonymous submission
by employees of complaints involving questionable accounting or auditing matters (collectively, the “Whistleblower Policy”).
The Committee pre-approves all audit services, audit-related services and permitted non-audit services to be performed for us by our auditors,
subject to certain minimum exceptions set forth in our Audit Committee Charter. The Committee held 14 meetings during the year ended December 31,
2025.
During 2025, our Audit Committee approved the
appointment of Ernst & Young LLP (“Ernst & Young”) as our auditors for the year ending December 31,
2025. Ernst & Young was also approved to perform reviews of each of our quarterly financial reports for the year ending December 31,
2025, and certain other audit-related services such as accounting consultations. Pursuant to our Audit Committee Charter, the Committee
will pre-approve audit services, internal control-related services and permitted non-audit services to be performed for us by Ernst &
Young, as set forth in the Audit Committee Charter.
Compensation Committee
Our
Board of Directors has a Compensation Committee. The Committee consists of Ms. Bauer and Messrs. Itzkowitz and McIntyre, with Ms. Bauer
serving as Chair of the Committee. Each member of the Committee currently qualifies as “independent” in accordance with the
published listing standards of Nasdaq. The Committee is responsible for establishing the compensation philosophy, policies and practices,
participating in executive hiring and succession matters, reviewing and approving all compensation arrangements for our executive officers
and for administering the Amended and Restated Newmark Holdings, L.P. Participation Plan, which we refer to as the “Participation
Plan,” our Amended and Restated Long Term Incentive Plan, which we refer to as the “Equity Plan,” and our Amended and
Restated Incentive Bonus Compensation Plan, which we refer to as our “Incentive Plan” (together with the Equity Plan and the
Participation Plan, the “Newmark Compensation Plans”). The Committee operates pursuant to a Compensation Committee Charter,
which is available at www.nmrk.com/corporate-responsibility/corporate-governance under the heading “Compensation Committee
Charter,” or upon written request from us free of charge. The Committee held 20 meetings during the year ended December 31,
2025 .
Corporate Responsibility Committee
Our
Board also has a Corporate Responsibility Committee (formerly known as our Environmental, Social and Governance Committee). The members
of the Committee are currently Ms. Bauer and Mr. McIntyre. Mr. McIntyre is the Chair of the Committee. Each member of the
Committee currently qualifies as “independent” in accordance with the published listing standards of Nasdaq. The Committee
is responsible for working with management to provide oversight of corporate responsibility, social and human capital management, environmental
and sustainability initiatives and procedures appropriate to the Company, to provide periodic reviews of the Company’s corporate
responsibility practices and policies, to review management’s current corporate responsibility strategy to ensure the Company engages
in appropriate practices and technologies and to otherwise make recommendations on these matters to the full Board. The Committee operates
pursuant to a Corporate Responsibility Committee Charter, which is available at www.nmrk.com/corporate-responsibility/corporate-governance
under the heading “Corporate Responsibility Committee Charter,” or upon written request from us free of charge. The Committee
held six meetings during the year ended December 31, 2025 .
Nominating Process
All directors participate in the consideration
of director nominees recommended for selection by a majority of the independent directors as defined by the published listing standards
of Nasdaq. Accordingly, our Board does not have a separate nominating committee or committee performing similar functions and does not
have a nominating committee charter. The Board believes that such participation of all directors is appropriate given the size of our
Board and the level of participation of all of our independent directors in the nomination process. The Board will also consider qualified
director candidates identified by a member of senior management or by a stockholder. However, it is our general policy to re-nominate
qualified incumbent directors and, absent special circumstances, the Board will not consider other candidates when a qualified incumbent
consents to stand for re-election. A stockholder wishing to submit a recommendation for a director candidate should follow the instructions
set forth herein under the section below entitled “Communications with Our Board of Directors.”
6
Qualification Criteria
Our Board considers the following minimum criteria
when reviewing a director nominee: director candidates must (1) have the highest character and integrity, (2) be free of any
conflict of interest which would violate applicable laws or regulations or interfere with the proper performance of the responsibilities
of a director, (3) possess substantial and significant experience which would be of particular importance in the performance of the
duties of a director, (4) have sufficient time available to devote to our affairs in order to carry out the responsibilities of a
director and (5) have the capacity and desire to represent the best interests of our stockholders. The Board also considers diversity
of skills and experience as well as geographic background. Our Board screens candidates, does reference checks and conducts interviews,
as appropriate. Our Board does not evaluate nominees for director any differently because the nominee is or is not recommended by a stockholder.
With respect to qualifications of the members of
the Board, the Board generally values the broad business experience and independent business judgment in the financial, real estate or
other fields of each member. Specifically, Mr. Kyle Lutnick is qualified based on his business experience and real estate experience,
including prior experience while employed at Newmark, Mr. Merkel is qualified based on his extensive business and legal experience
and prior public company service, Ms. Bauer is qualified based on her depth of experience in both the technology and government sectors,
Mr. Itzkowitz is qualified based on his experience as a mergers and acquisitions attorney in the real estate and media industries
and his general business experience, and Mr. McIntyre is qualified based on his extensive experience in the commercial real estate
industry and general business experience. Each of Ms. Bauer and Messrs. McIntyre and Itzkowitz is additionally qualified as a result
of his or her status as an “audit committee financial expert.”
The
following matrix provides information regarding the members of our Board, including certain types of knowledge, skills, experiences and
attributes possessed by one or more of our directors which our Board believes are relevant to our business and industry. The matrix does
not encompass all of the knowledge, skills, experiences or attributes of our directors, and the fact that a particular type of knowledge,
skill, experience or attribute is not listed does not mean that a director does not possess it. In addition, the absence of a particular
type of knowledge, skill, experience or attribute with respect to any of our directors does not mean the director in question is unable
to contribute to the decision-making process in that area. The type and degree of knowledge, skill and experience listed below may vary
among the members of the Board .
Skills and Experience
Merkel
K. Lutnick
Bauer
Itzkowitz
McIntyre
Business Operations
X
X
X
X
Finance/Accounting
X
X
X
X
Risk Management
X
X
X
X
Global Business
X
X
X
Human Capital Management
X
X
M&A
X
X
Other Public Company Board Service and Governance
X
X
X
X
Environmental
X
Real Estate Industry Experience
X
X
X
X
Global Financial Markets
X
X
X
Brokerage
X
X
X
Regulatory
X
X
Innovation and Strategy
X
X
X
X
Artificial Intelligence
X
Ethics and Integrity
X
X
X
X
X
Senior Leadership/CEO
X
X
X
X
Technology/Information Security
X
X
7
Chairman of the Board
Our Board has determined that, in light of the current
ownership structure of the Company, having an independent or non-executive Chairman of the Board is not efficient or appropriate for our
Company. Additionally, our Board does not have a lead independent director for the same reasons. Our strong, majority independent Board
effectively oversees our management and provides vigorous oversight of our business and affairs and any proposed related party transactions.
Our Board is primarily composed of independent, active and effective directors. Three of our five current directors meet the independence
qualifications of the published listing standards of Nasdaq and the SEC and our Board’s standards for determining director independence.
Only two of our current directors are affiliated with Cantor, our controlling stockholder, and only one member of executive management
is currently a director. Requiring that the Chairman of the Board be an independent director is not necessary to ensure that our Board
provides independent and effective oversight of our business and affairs. Such oversight is maintained at the Company through the composition
of our Board, and through the strong leadership of our majority independent directors and Board committees and our highly effective corporate
governance structures and processes. Accordingly, our Corporate Governance Guidelines provide for the annual election of the Chairman
of the Board by our majority independent Board (which, if applicable, shall be the nominee of the stockholders who control a majority
of the vote). The Board typically elects its Chair following the annual stockholders’ meeting, although this may be revisited at
any time.
We
believe that the Company and its stockholders are well served by having Mr. Merkel, our Chief Legal Officer, serve as Chairman of
the Board, given Mr. Merkel’s deep leadership experience with the Company .
Corporate Governance Guidelines
The
Board has adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines that provide the framework for the governance of the Company. The Corporate Governance
Guidelines address, among other things, the composition and structure of the Board, including membership criteria, independence standards
and limits on other directorships, duties and responsibilities of directors, meeting procedures, committees of the Board, executive officer
leadership development and stockholder engagement, including with respect to corporate responsibility matters. The Board reviews these
principles and other aspects of governance annually. The Corporate Governance Guidelines are available at www.nmrk.com/corporate-responsibility/corporate-governance
under the heading “Corporate Governance Guidelines” or upon written request from the Company free of charge .
Executive Sessions
In
order to comply with Nasdaq rules, the Board has resolved that it will continue to schedule and/or provide opportunities during at least
two meetings per year in which the independent directors will meet without the presence of non-independent directors .
Annual Meetings
The
Corporate Governance Guidelines provide that each member of the Board is expected to attend Annual Meetings of Stockholders of the Company.
At the 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, held on December 30, 2025, all of the Company’s directors were in attendance .
Communications with Our Board of Directors
Stockholders may contact any member of our Board,
including to recommend a candidate for director, by addressing their correspondence to the director, c/o Newmark Group, Inc., 125
Park Avenue, New York, New York 10017, Attention: Corporate Secretary. Our Corporate Secretary will forward all such correspondence
to the named director.
The Board’s Role in Risk Oversight
Risk oversight is an integral part of Board and
Committee deliberations throughout the year. The Audit Committee oversees the management of our enterprise risk management program, and
it annually reviews an assessment prepared by management of the critical risks facing us, their relative magnitude and management’s
actions to monitor and mitigate these risks.
8
Our management implemented an enterprise risk management
program to enhance our existing processes through an integrated effort to identify, evaluate and manage risks that may affect our ability
to execute our corporate strategy and fulfill our business objectives. The activities of the enterprise risk management program entail
the identification, prioritization and assessment of a broad range of risks (e.g., strategic, operational, cybersecurity and information
security, financial, legal/regulatory, reputational and market) and the formulation of plans to mitigate their effects.
Our Board and the Audit Committee receive periodic
reports regarding the Company’s cybersecurity and information security risks from the Chief Information Security Officer (“CISO”)
and the Chief Information Officer (“CIO”). Material events and updates related to such risks are reported to the full Board
and Audit Committee annually and on an ad hoc basis where warranted, including based on the level of materiality of any cybersecurity
incidents as determined by the incident reporting and escalation process led by our CISO and CIO. Our processes are regularly evaluated
by internal and external experts, and the results of those reviews are reported to senior management and, where appropriate, the Board
and Audit Committee.
Similarly, in designing and implementing our executive
compensation program, the Compensation Committee takes into consideration our operating and financial objectives, including our risk profile,
and considers executive compensation decisions based in part on incentivizing our executive officers to take appropriate business risk
consistent with our overall goals and risk tolerance.
Non-executive
brokers, managers and other professionals are generally compensated based upon production or commissions, which may involve our committing
to certain transactions. These transactions may expose the Company to risks taken by individual employees who are motivated to increase
production. While we have in place management oversight and risk-management policies, there is an inevitable conflict of interest between
our compensation structure and certain brokerage, transactional, or similar risks to various portions of our businesses .
Succession Planning and Leadership Development
In accordance with our Corporate
Governance Guidelines and the Compensation Committee Charter, the Board of Directors and the Committee regularly discuss leadership development
and succession, operational strategy, and organizational design with our Chief Executive Officer and other executive officers, as well
as outside advisors when appropriate. The goal is to promote leadership continuity and provide orderly successions, both planned and unplanned,
including in connection with the expiration or termination of existing employment arrangements with key personnel. The Board also reviews
short-term succession plans to deliver continuity of leadership in the event that certain senior executive officers become temporarily
unable to fulfill their duties.
In July 2025, following discussions
with our Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Gosin, the Board retained a leadership advisory firm to assist with long-term succession planning.
The Board determined that engaging external advisors at this stage represented a prudent and forward-looking step. The Board, in conjunction
with Mr. Gosin, is now assessing long-term leadership options and advancing its succession planning efforts for the Company’s most
senior executives, including the Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Gosin remains under an employment agreement covering 2026 that automatically
renews each year unless either party provides notice of non-renewal or the term is otherwise extended by mutual agreement.
As part of this process,
the Board periodically reviews the pipeline for critical roles. The Board considers, among other things, succession strategy, the impact
of any potential absence due to illness or leave of certain key executive officers or employees, as well as competing demands on the time
of certain of our personnel who also provide services to Cantor, BGC, their respective subsidiaries or other ventures and investments
sponsored by Cantor. Our Board also discusses the engagement and encouragement of future business leaders and the process of introducing
directors to leaders in our business lines, and initiatives to support the hiring, promotion and retention of leaders required for the
changing business landscape and leading future business lines. Such individuals could include internal and external candidates, and the
Board may retain additional third-party consultants to assist with succession planning, talent identification, operational strategy and
organizational matters.
Our succession discussions
were particularly relevant in 2024, as in November 2024, Mr. Howard Lutnick was nominated as the 41st U.S. Secretary of Commerce. Mr.
Howard Lutnick was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on February 18, 2025 and stepped down from all of his positions with Newmark and as Chairman
of the Board. Our Board elected Mr. Kyle Lutnick and Mr. Merkel to join our Board of Directors and Mr. Merkel to serve as Chairman of
the Board. Our Board has appointed Mr. Gosin as Principal Executive Officer of the Company and as Chairman of Newmark & Co., following
Mr. Howard Lutnick’s departure. On April 7, 2025, the Board appointed Mr. Alvarado to serve as our Chief Operating Officer as part
of our leadership development initiatives.
9
CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY
We believe our business-focused corporate
responsibility , governance, and environmental and sustainability-related policies and practices support our efforts to be an exemplary
corporate citizen and creates sustainable long-term value for Newmark, our stockholders, our clients, employees, and other stakeholders.
As Newmark continues to expand globally, we expect that our corporate responsibility
programs will add value and enhance the sustainable business solutions we offer our clients and positively impact the communities in which
we and our clients operate.
Our Board-level Corporate Responsibility Committee
provides oversight with respect to our corporate responsibility policies
and practices. The Corporate Responsibility Committee charter may be found on our website at www.nmrk.com/corporate-responsibility/corporate-governance
under the heading “Corporate Responsibility Committee Charter.” With the Board’s and the Corporate Responsibility Committee’s
oversight, we are embedding social and human capital, employment, environmental, sustainability, charitable and corporate governance policies
and practices into our corporate strategy, compensation, disclosure, and goals to maintain and advance long-term value for our investors
and others.
Newmark supports sustainable
business practices and is focused on taking the steps necessary to continue developing our sustainability program internally and further
develop the sustainability-related services we offer our clients. We retained a nationally certified women-owned firm to assist our leadership
in this endeavor. We also established a Corporate Responsibility Executive Committee, comprised of key Company executives and other senior
leaders, to provide direction for Newm ark’s corporate responsibility,
governance and sustainability progress and initiatives. Their results include:
● The
publication of our first Corporate Responsibility Report in 2023 and recent publication of
our 2024 report;
● Prioritization
of industry-relevant corporate responsibility topics to guide our actions, informed by management,
market, employee and investor interests and corporate responsibility standards;
● Engagement
on corporate responsibility topics to meet business and client objectives; and
● Recognition
as a Green Lease Leader from the Department of Energy and Institute for Market Transformation
for sustainability, as well as green lease guidance used internally and shared with clients.
Human Capital Resources
Newmark is an organization built on strong values,
employee engagement and ownership. At our core we are committed to our employees by providing them with an opportunity to participate
in our success. We believe that by cultivating a dynamic mix of people and ideas, we enrich the performance of our businesses, the experiences
of our employee base, and the level of engagement in the communities in which we operate. We value hard work, innovation, superior client
service, strong ethics and governance and equal employment opportunity. Further, philanthropy is woven into our corporate culture. We
believe these values foster sustainable, profitable growth. We strive to be exemplary corporate citizens and honor high ethical principles
in our interactions with other businesses, our employees and the communities in which we live and work.
Human Capital and Social Policies and Practices
We are committed to our people, our stockholders
and the community as a whole. We have a variety of programs to incentivize and support our employees, from employee ownership to comprehensive
benefits and learning and development. We are also committed to equal employment opportunity, and other policies and practices designed
to fulfill our commitment to social and human capital development.
Attracting and Retaining the Best Talent
Our success depends on our ability to attract and
retain talented, productive and skilled employees to transact with our clients in a challenging and regulated environment that is experiencing
ever-increasing competition for talent. We are investing in fostering an inclusive and incentivized work environment where our people
can deliver their best work every day. In 2021 and in 2024, we were named by GlobeSt.com as one of commercial real estate’s “Best
Places to Work.” Newmark was ranked #1 on LinkedIn’s 2022 “Top Companies in Real Estate” list, which ranks the
top 25 companies at which to grow a career in the industry.
10
Safe and Healthy Work Environment
We recognize that the health and well-being of
our employees is fundamentally linked to the success of our organization. We have implemented significant measures to create a safe work
environment. In addition to ensuring our offices meet applicable state and local regulatory standards, Newmark maintains a comprehensive
Health and Safety Manual that guides our policies and procedures in compliance with federal standards enforced by the Occupational Safety
and Health Administration. Our employees receive safety awareness training via Newmark’s online safety training platform, providing
access to over 1,000 courses across three safety catalogs. We are committed to a culture that is built around the evolving needs of our
talented workforce, promoting safety, empowerment, and flexibility. As part of this commitment, we proudly offer a comprehensive benefits
package crafted to enhance our culture and support the success of our employees, both at work and home. To facilitate the retention of
our employees, we also provide additional benefits, including a 401(k) match.
Performance-Based and Highly Retentive Compensation
Structure
Virtually all of our key
executives and producers have equity or partnership stakes in the Company and/or its subsidiaries. Generally, they receive deferred equity,
limited partnership units or RSUs as part of their compensation. As of December 31, 2025, our employees, brokers, independent contractors,
partners, executive officers and directors owned approximately 24% of our equity on a fully diluted basis. See the organizational chart
under the heading “Item 1—Our Organizational Structure” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2025, filed with the SEC on March 2, 2026, for more information.
We issue limited partnership
units and other forms of equity-based compensation, such as RSUs, which:
● Provide
liquidity to our partners and employees over time;
● Align
the interests of our partners and employees and management with those of common stockholders;
● Help
motivate and retain key partners and employees; and
● Encourage
a collaborative culture that drives cross-selling and growth.
The non-exchangeable limited
partnership units held by our partners are subject to forfeiture (such as if the non-compete, confidentiality or non-solicit provisions
of the Newmark Holdings limited partnership agreement are violated), and unvested restricted stock units are subject to service conditions
that must be met in order for them to vest into shares of Newmark common stock. In addition, any partnership amounts paid following termination
of service generally are paid over a number of years for compliance with partner obligations. This compensation structure has proven to
be highly retentive, and between 2021 and 2025, we have retained approximately 93% of our top-performing producers.
From time to time, we may enter into various agreements
with certain of our employees and brokers whereby these individuals may receive loans or bonus or salary advances under terms outlined
in the underlying agreements. We believe these advances and loans provide incentives and promote entrepreneurship, retention and long-term
engagement.
Compensation Recovery/Clawback Policy
The Company has adopted a compensation recovery
policy (“Clawback Policy”) for its executive officers that complies with Nasdaq listing standards and Section 10D of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The policy applies to compensation received by the company’s executive officers that results
from the attainment of a financial reporting measure based on or derived from financial information (“Incentive-Based Compensation”).
The policy provides for the recovery of Incentive-Based Compensation received by a covered person in the event of an accounting restatement
due to material noncompliance with financial reporting requirements that is in excess of the Incentive-Based Compensation that such person
would have received based upon the restated financial reporting measure. The policy only applies to Incentive-Based Compensation and does
not apply to compensation that is purely discretionary or purely based on subjective goals or goals unrelated to financial reporting measures.
Equal Employment Opportunity
We are committed to equal employment opportunity,
and other policies and practices that seek to further our development of a productive and inclusive workplace. We consider all qualified
applicants for job openings and promotions without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national
origin or ancestry, age, disability, service in the armed forces, or any other protected characteristic. We continue to develop initiatives
to support these values.
11
Employee Engagement, Communication, Career Management
and Training and Development
We invest in our employees’
long-term development and engagement by delivering training and development programs and a culture where our people can thrive and maximize
their potential. We require mandatory annual training in workplace respect and inclusion on various topics including, anti-money laundering,
and anti-crime, global sanctions, ethics, cybersecurity and anti-harassment and anti-discrimination. We also provide or support periodic
job-specific and other developmental training and support for our employees so they can maximize their potential, as well as tuition reimbursement
programs to eligible employees.
We provide virtual and in-person
leadership training to managers on topics, including management effectiveness, communication skills, interview skills, writing and delivering
effective performance evaluations, and other topics. This training is supplemented by a comprehensive library of on-line courses that
managers and employees may access. Finally, our individual business lines offer ongoing learning and development opportunities tied to
deepening the subject matter expertise of their professionals.
Our success depends on employees understanding
how their work and engagement contribute to our strategy, culture, values and regulatory environment. We use various channels to facilitate
open and direct communication, including internal calls and meetings with employees, training and policy updates, and our social outings
and events.
Our Environmental Focus, Workplace Strategies
and Sustainable Business Practices
We are focused on the environment
and recognize the importance of treating our natural resources with respect so that they are available to future generations. Building
operations have a significant impact on the environment, and as technology continues to place greater demands on building systems for
power and cooling, energy consumption is expected to continue to rise at a potentially unsustainable rate. As one of the largest global
commercial real estate service providers, we believe it is our responsibility to improve energy efficiency and reduce energy consumption
to protect the environment through continuous improvement of building practices. Newmark has a public-facing Environmental Policy that
highlights our strategies toward reducing resource consumption, assessing performance through utility data collection and upholding stakeholder
interests around environmental performance. We understand that sustainable buildings provide a better work environment, lower costs, increase
building efficiency, and reduce the environmental impact of building operations, and recognize that this requires continuous improvement
in our own spaces and increasingly sophisticated support for our clients.
As a responsible business,
we are acutely aware of climate change and other major issues affecting the environment. We also understand the impact commercial real
estate can have on the health of the environment. That is why we encourage sustainable building practices and, in our occupier solutions
business and property management businesses, recommend strategies to clients to maximize energy efficiency, recycle materials and limit
waste. These goals apply to Newmark’s offices as well as to the work we do for our clients, whether in selecting a location, building
out space or managing an asset. Newmark’s property, facilities and energy/sustainability management teams work internally and with
clients to reduce energy demand and carbon emissions. Newmark is increasingly collecting and measuring environmental data and this data
is used to build client strategies around energy efficiency and renewable energy supply initiatives.
We are taking steps to minimize the environmental
impact and carbon footprint of our corporate offices. We have updated our site selection guidelines to prioritize more energy efficient
and sustainably managed spaces. We also updated our energy efficiency policy, our interior fit-out standards and our waste reduction policy.
We continue to explore strategies for reducing our greenhouse gas emissions, increasing use of renewable energy, conserving water, and
reducing waste. Newmark is working with the owners and property management teams that oversee the buildings we occupy to collect accurate
and actionable energy data. As this data becomes more available, Newmark plans to implement energy efficiency initiatives where possible
that will help lower our overall carbon footprint. We are also investigating the purchase of renewable energy supply where possible in
deregulated energy markets. For all newly leased space for Newmark, we generally consider green lease options and strive to build and
operate a sustainable workplace. Newmark occupies over a dozen buildings that are LEED certified and over 30 that are Energy Star certified.
For example, our New York City headquarters at 125 Park Avenue is in a building that has received U.S. Green Building Council LEED Gold
certification and is also Energy Star certified.
Environmental Policy and Energy and Sustainable
Service Reference Guide
We have a policy with respect to the
responsible environmental management of our operations. We are creating a baseline to understand and minimize the impact that our
business has on the environment and are actively searching for ways to reduce our footprint. We are pursuing traditional, as well as
new and innovative, methods to achieve our goals. Further information on our policy can be found on our website
at www.nmrk.com/corporateresponsibility/ environmental-initiatives under the heading “Environmental
Policy.”
12
Energy and sustainability
are growing areas of focus for our clients and client services. Since 2017, Newmark’s Energy and Sustainability Services team has
led energy management initiatives for Newmark clients. The team partners with clients to help identify, develop and manage green building
investments, pursue Energy Star certifications, manage their greenhouse gas emissions inventory, and establish long-term energy conservation
measures to help meet their corporate decarbonization and net zero emissions goals. The team utilizes a cloud-based Energy Intelligence
Platform that empowers clients with access to their utility data, offers facility utility bill payment services and manages third-party
procurement contracts, which it integrates with Energy Star reporting. To support our services, we have also developed an Energy and Sustainability
Services Reference Guide, available at www.nmrk.com/storage-nmrk/uploads/documents/Newmark-Energy-and-Sustainability-Services-Guide_2023.pdf,
which assists clients and property teams in reducing the environmental impact of property operations, maintenance and construction associated
with real estate assets.
For more information about
our policies and these initiatives and services provided to clients and within our own facilities as they evolve, please refer to our
website at www.nmrk.com/corporate-responsibility.
Newmark annually publishes further details on
our policies and programs in a Corporate Responsibility Report including employee resources, learning and development programs and supplier
and vendor practices. You may also find our Corporate Governance Guidelines, Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, the charters of the
committees of our Board of Directors, Policy Statement on Hedging, information about our charitable initiatives and other sustainability
and corporate responsibility policies and practices on our website. The
information contained in such report and on, or accessed through, our website, is not part of, and not incorporated into, this Annual
Report on Form 10-K.
Business Continuity and Resiliency
We
have implemented practices to protect the continuity of our business and operations to maintain and advance value for stockholders and
other stakeholders. These policies and practices include disaster recovery and crisis management protocols to minimize the impact of health
emergencies and natural or other disasters on our operations. We maintain concurrent data centers in the United States and internationally
to provide backup of our computer systems and capacity for our employees to work remotely during crises or from time to time. These policies
and practices enabled our employees to maintain a high level of performance while working in offices or remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic
and other global events in compliance with relevant rules and regulations in applicable jurisdictions, and in preservation of the health,
safety and welfare of our workforce .
Charitable Policies and Practices
Our commitment to our people and others is evident
through our corporate giving and charitable work. Newmark actively encourages our professionals to engage in civic and charitable efforts
to support our clients and the communities in which we live and operate. In 2024, we supported approximately 200 different national and
community-based organizations including hospitals, schools and universities, food banks and mental health providers. Some of the charities
we supported include the American Heart Association, Big Brothers, Big Sisters, Boston Children’s Hospital, City of Hope, Fountain
House, HFS Chicago Scholars, Homes Fit for Heroes, Lincoln Center, Mid-Ohio Food Bank, National Kidney Foundation, Pancreatic Cancer Foundation,
Project Lyme, Stamford Hospital, Vision Forward, and the Youth Renewal Fund.
We actively encourage volunteerism and philanthropy
among our people. As part of these values in action, we offer a matching program for employee donations to certain organizations recognized
as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Code”). The Company matches
100% of individual employee donations to The Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund made in September of each year, up to $5,000 per employee,
in remembrance of the events of September 11, 2001. Employees have the option of designating a bona fide charity as the beneficiary
of the donation and the match. Additionally, we offer a Volunteer Time Off program to support individual employee volunteerism in their
communities. All full- and part-time regular employees are eligible to utilize one paid workday (one whole day or two half-days)
each calendar year to volunteer with bona fide charitable organizations of their choice. Participation is growing, and we intend to encourage
broader use of this benefit and participation by employees in charitable and community service activities within all our office communities.
In addition, the Company circulates a Charitable Newsletter quarterly, highlighting the philanthropic efforts of our employees around
the world.
Additional
charitable initiatives are in effect from time to time. In 2025, Newmark organized drives with The Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund for victims
of the Los Angeles wildfires and the Central Texas flooding. Additional information about our charitable efforts is available at www.nmrk.com/corporate-responsibility/human-capital-social .
13
Corporate Governance Policies and Practices
Our commitment to good corporate governance policies
and practices is demonstrated by our Corporate Governance Guidelines, our rigorous Code of Ethics, the charters of the Audit, Compensation
and Corporate Responsibility Committees of our Board, our Insider Trading Policy, our Policy Statement on Hedging (“Hedging Policy”),
our Clawback Policy and our other corporate governance policies and practices. Some highlights of our corporate governance policies and
practices include the following:
● Independence of a majority of directors;
● Only independent directors serve on each standing, Board-level
committee;
● Board-level Corporate Responsibility Committee;
● Annual independence review of independent outside directors;
● Diverse array of professional experience of the Board;
● Annual director elections — we do not have
a classified (“staggered”) Board;
● The ability of our Board to accept the required resignation
of a director who fails to obtain a majority vote for election;
● No stockholder rights plan or other “poison pill”
or similar anti-takeover device;
● A prohibition on personal loans to directors and executive
officers;
● Requirement for directors to inform the Board of changes
in their principal job responsibilities;
● Limits on the service of directors and executive officers
on other public company boards;
● Director orientation and continuing education;
● Annual self-assessments of the performance of our Board and
its committees and individual directors;
● Insider Trading Policy, including prohibitions against trading
while in possession of material, non-public information;
● Prohibitions against hedging;
● Clawback Policy for Incentive-Based Compensation;
● Strict procedures and enforcement of our ethical standards
and our conflict of interest policies, including our robust Whistleblower Policy — completely confidential and with a
whistleblower hotline available 24/7;
● Annual evaluation of the performance of our Chief Executive
Officer;
● Procedures for establishing and disseminating agendas and
materials for meetings of the Board and its committees in advance;
● Periodic executive sessions of independent directors;
● Strict ethical and other criteria for membership on the Board;
● Detailed processes and review of all related party transactions
and required approval by independent directors;
● Access of the Board and its committees to management and
to outside independent advisors;
14
● Diversified mix of cash and short- and long-term equity awards
designed to be highly retentive and risk-appropriate, and to align the interests of our executive officers with those of our stockholders;
● Executive officers holding much of their personal net worth
in our and our affiliates’ equity;
● Robust annual review and oversight of Code of Ethics responses;
● Succession planning and leadership development of executive
officers and potential senior managers having significant responsibility for business areas;
● Annual stockholder say-on-pay votes;
● Annual ratification of the appointment of our independent
registered public accounting firm; and
● Annual
review of our corporate governance policies and practices .
Whistleblower Complaint and Investigation Policy
We have a policy regarding reporting of complaints
about accounting, internal controls, employment and labor practices, auditing matters, or questionable financial practices. The policy
is designed to provide a channel of communication for employees and others who have concerns about our conduct or any of our directors
or employees. Complaints are treated seriously and handled expeditiously. Any person may submit a complaint to our independent outside
law firm via a dedicated hotline and e-mail account available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Complaints that are accounting
or financial in nature (“Accounting Complaints”) will be handled by the Chair of our Audit Committee and/or by our Chief Legal
Officer, Corporate Secretary or designee.
Employees submitting an Accounting Complaint need
not provide their names or other personal information and reasonable efforts will be used to conduct the investigation that follows from
an Accounting Complaint from an employee in a manner that protects the confidentiality and anonymity of the employee submitting the Accounting
Complaint.
Employees are reminded of the Whistleblower Policy
at least annually and information is provided in local languages. We honor a culture of investigation, confidentiality and non-retaliation.
Persons submitting complaints in good faith will not be subject to retaliation and the policy does not prohibit other actions protected
under applicable law. Our Whistleblower Policy is publicly available on our website at www.nmrk.com/corporate-responsibility/corporate-governance
under the heading “Whistleblower Complaint and Investigation Policy.”
Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
Our corporate values and strong policies and procedures
regarding ethics, conflicts of interests, related party transactions and similar matters are contained in our Code of Ethics. This commitment
applies to members of our Board, executive officers, other officers and our other covered employees globally. The Code of Ethics and its
training modules are circulated in local languages and training and certifications are conducted annually for all employees. Annual written
certifications are required. Potential violations and disclosures globally are reviewed annually by executive management and escalated
to the Audit Committee. Director and executive officer disclosures are reviewed by the Audit Committee on an annual basis. The Code of
Ethics is available on our website at www.nmrk.com/corporate-responsibility/corporate-governance under the heading “Code
of Business Conduct and Ethics.”
Compliance and Anti-Financial Crime Program
Policy Statement
We are committed globally to our policy regarding
anti-money laundering and anti-financial crime, including anti-bribery and corruption, counter-terrorism financing, anti-fraud and anti-market
abuse initiatives. We are committed to compliance and training regarding all relevant laws, rules, and regulations designed to combat
bribery and corruption, including, but not limited to, the UK Bribery Act of 2010 and the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices
Act of 1977, as amended. Further information on this policy can be found on our website at www.nmrk.com/corporate-responsibility/corporate-governance
under the heading “Compliance and Anti-Financial Crime Program Policy Statement.”
15
In addition, our Code of Ethics provides that
we will not enter into a business relationship or engage in an activity if we know or have reasonable grounds to suspect that a business
relationship or activity is connected with or facilitates bribery or corruption. It is the responsibility of each person covered under
the Code of Ethics to comply with applicable anti-bribery and corruption laws. Persons covered under the Code of Ethics are required to
report any suspicions of bribery or corruption to the Compliance Officer or, as appropriate, to the Audit Committee or the Board, or in
accordance with our Whistleblower Policy. For more information on our Code of Ethics and Whistleblower Policy, see the section entitled
“Code of Ethics and Whistleblower Policy.”
Global Anti-Bribery and Corruption Policy Statement
We
have a specific global policy to combat bribery and corruption through a clear set of policies and procedures outlining anti-bribery and
corruption standards, procedures and annual employee training. The policy specifically defines “bribery” and “corruption”
and provides for management and Board oversight. Further information on this policy can be found on our website at www.nmrk.com/corporate-responsibility/corporate-governance
under the heading “Global Anti-Bribery and Corruption Policy Statement. ”
Annual Risk Evaluation and Board-Level Risk
Oversight
Our
Board of Directors meets at least annually with our senior risk officer to review and evaluate our enterprise risk framework, risk management
policies and practices, credit and risk mitigation policies and practices, and other related issues .
Focus on Our Internal Control Environment
As described more fully in its charter, the primary
function of the Audit Committee is to assist our Board of Directors in its general oversight of the Company’s financial reporting,
internal control over financial reporting and audit process. Management is responsible for the preparation, presentation and integrity
of the Company’s financial statements; accounting and financial reporting principles; internal control over financial reporting;
disclosure controls; and procedures designed to ensure compliance with accounting standards, applicable laws and regulations.
Our overall control environment is a focal point
for our management, the Audit Committee and the Board. With this focus and with the oversight of the Audit Committee and the Board, management
regularly enhances our overall control environment.
Cybersecurity Program Policy Statement
We
are committed to combating the global threat of cyberattacks, endeavoring to secure our business through our information security programs
to operate with confidence, through a deep understanding of cybersecurity risks, vulnerabilities, mitigations, and threats. These processes
are managed by our cybersecurity team headed by our CISO and supported by our business continuity teams. We conduct periodic internal
and external vulnerability audits and assessments and penetration testing and provide periodic cybersecurity training to employees. Further
information on these processes can be found on our website at www.nmrk.com/corporate-responsibility/corporate-governance under
the heading “Cybersecurity Program Policy Statement.” Further information on our cybersecurity risk-management strategy and
the role of our Board and management in cybersecurity matters can be found in “Corporate Governance — The Board’s
Role in Risk Oversight” herein, and Part I, Item 1C, Cybersecurity, of the 2025 Form 10-K .
16
Data Privacy Program Policy Statement
We
have a global data privacy policy statement applicable to all subsidiaries and business lines. We are committed to conducting our business
in line with the right to privacy set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 12). As such, we are committed
to handling personal information responsibly and recognize the privacy rights of persons involved in our business dealings. Our policy provides
a mechanism for data subjects to raise concerns about personal information and privacy as well as the right of access to personal information,
the right to correct or amend such information and the right to request deletion of such personal information. Further information on
this program can be found on our website at www.nmrk.com/corporate-responsibility/corporate-governance under the heading “Data
Privacy Program Policy Statement. ”
Insider Trading Policy
We have an Insider Trading Policy applicable to
transactions by, among others, our directors, officers and employees, in BGC or Newmark securities (“Covered Securities”)
and transactions in other companies’ securities, which prohibits trading while in possession of material, non-public information
about BGC, Newmark or other companies. Additionally, all trades involving Covered Securities must be disclosed to the Company’s
compliance department before such trades are made. The Insider Trading Policy states that it is our policy to comply with all applicable
securities and other laws and regulations when engaging in transactions in Covered Securities or the securities of other companies.
Additionally,
under the Insider Trading Policy, we have pre-clearance procedures and processes for transactions in Covered Securities by our directors,
executive officers, and other designated persons. Under these procedures and processes, such persons’ transactions in Covered Securities
are subject to pre-clearance through our legal and compliance department. Persons subject to pre-clearance requirements are also required
to receive approval in advance of entering into or modifying any trading plans designed to be compliant with Rule 10b5-1 under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Further information can be found on our website at
www.nmrk.com/corporate-responsibility/corporate-governance under the heading “Insider Trading Policy. ”
Hedging Policy
We
have a Hedging Policy with respect to equity securities issued by Newmark. In this regard, we prohibit our directors, officers and
employees, including leased employees, brokers and independent contractors, from purchasing financial instruments (including
prepaid variable forward contracts, equity swaps, collars, and exchange funds), or otherwise engaging in transactions that are
designed to or have the effect of hedging or offsetting any decrease in the market value of equity securities issued by Newmark held
by such persons, except with the explicit approval of our Audit Committee or its designees. For avoidance of doubt, Cantor and its
affiliated entities or any securities issued by such entities other than the Company are not covered under the Hedging Policy.
Further information can be found on our website at www.nmrk.com/corporate-responsibility/corporate-governance under the
heading “Policy Statement on Hedging. ”
Additional Corporate Responsibility Information
To learn more about our policies and practices
and our continuing efforts related to human capital management, corporate responsibility, sustainability, charitable giving and other
matters, please refer to the Corporate Responsibility section of our website at www.nmrk.com/corporate-responsibility/corporate-governance ,
our most recent Corporate Responsibility Report and to our periodic reports filed under the Exchange Act, for further information.
You may also find our Corporate Governance Guidelines, Code of Ethics, the charters of the committees of our Board of Directors, Insider
Trading Policy, Hedging Policy, Environmental Policy, information about our charitable initiatives and other corporate responsibility
policies and practices on our website. The information contained on, or that may be accessed through, our website, is not part of, and
is not incorporated into, this Proxy Statement.
17
STOCKHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
Our Board of Directors and management team value
the opportunity to engage with our stockholders and gain insight year-round on their views on a broad range of topics, including our strategy,
financial performance, executive compensation, corporate governance, human capital management, and environmental and social goals. Our
Board of Directors receives reporting on feedback from investors and stockholder voting results. In addition, our management routinely
engages with investors at conferences and other forums. We also speak with proxy advisors to discuss, and receive feedback on, our governance
practices and executive compensation programs. Feedback from investors informs the Board’s ongoing review of governance and compensation
matters.
In recent years, we have also enhanced our
engagement strategy through:
● Information available on our website including SEC alerts,
more detailed financial and operational disclosures in our investor presentations and supplemental Excel tables;
● Commercial real estate-focused market reports, white papers,
and thought leadership; and
● Investor meetings, analyst and investor days, and conferences,
including nearly 140 of such interactions with individuals at 65 firms in 2024. We had more than 300 of such interactions with individuals
at more than 85 firms in 2025.
In each of the above periods, we reached out to
institutions who collectively represented the majority of Newmark shares held by active professional investors. Of those who engaged with
us, our interactions with them covered topics including industry and business trends, strategic initiatives and acquisitions, changes
to management and key personnel, capital allocation, geographic and business line expansion, our recruitment and retention policies, key
drivers of our growth, corporate responsibility and governance matters, board changes and composition, our executive compensation program,
and ways to enhance our disclosures. We also periodically engage a third-party research firm to conduct anonymous surveys of our top institutional
owners and the broader investment community to solicit candid feedback on these and other issues.
We
look forward to further expanding our communication with stockholders and will continue to consider their views and perspectives, as
appropriate, in making governance decisions and establishing strategic direction for the Company going forward .
18
DELINQUENT SECTION 16(a) REPORTS
Under the securities laws of the United States,
our directors, executive officers and any person beneficially owning more than 10% of our Class A common stock are required to file
initial forms of ownership of our Class A common stock and reports of changes in that ownership with the SEC. Based solely on
our review of the copies of such forms received by us through the date hereof, other than as previously disclosed, the Company believes
that all reports were filed on a timely basis, except that Mr. Alvarado filed two late Forms 4 to report the receipt of one grant of exchange
rights on each of May 2, 2025 and July 28, 2025.
INSIDER TRADING POLICY, CODE OF BUSINESS CONDUCT
AND ETHICS AND
WHISTLEBLOWER PROCEDURES
See “Corporate Responsibility — Insider
Trading Policy,” above, for information regarding our insider trading policy.
Our Board has adopted a Code of Business Conduct
and Ethics that applies to members of our Board, our executive officers, other officers and our covered employees globally. The Code of
Ethics is publicly available on our website at www.nmrk.com/corporate-responsibility/corporate-governance under the heading “Code
of Business Conduct and Ethics.” If we amend or grant any waiver from a provision of our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics for
which disclosure is required pursuant to the rules of Nasdaq or the SEC, we intend to publicly disclose such amendment or waiver by posting
information about such amendment or waiver on our website.
In
accordance with the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the Audit Committee has established our Whistleblower Policy, which sets forth
procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints regarding accounting, internal controls, or auditing matters, and for
the confidential, anonymous reporting of employee concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters. The Chief Legal Officer
and the Corporate Secretary, and his, her or their designees and/or the Chair of the Audit Committee will direct the investigation of
any such complaints in accordance with the procedures. Our Whistleblower Policy is publicly available on our website at www.nmrk.com/corporate-responsibility/corporate-governance
under the heading “Whistleblower Complaint and Investigation Policy.” Information available on our website is not incorporated
herein by reference .
19
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Background
The following Compensation Discussion and Analysis
describes the material elements of our executive compensation program for 2025, as well as aspects of our executive compensation program
which were designed and implemented by the Compensation Committee in February 2026, at which time 2025 year-end compensation decisions
with respect to each of our executive officers in office at that time were reviewed and approved.
Since February 18, 2025, our principal executive
officer for 2025 has been our Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Gosin. Our principal financial officer for 2025 was our Chief Financial Officer,
Michael J. Rispoli. Our other two executive officers for 2025 were Messrs. Merkel and Alvarado. As reflected below, compensation
for 2025 was paid to our former Chairman of the Board and Executive Chairman, Mr. Howard Lutnick, until he stepped down from his positions
at the Company.
At the beginning of 2025, our principal executive
officer was our former Chairman of the Board and Executive Chairman, Mr. Howard Lutnick. On February 18, 2025, Mr. Howard Lutnick
was confirmed by the United States Senate as the 41 st Secretary of Commerce. Following his confirmation, Mr. Howard
Lutnick stepped down as Chairman of the Board and Executive Chairman of the Company and as principal executive officer, and our Board
appointed Mr. Gosin as our principal executive officer and as Chairman of Newmark & Co. On April 7, 2025, the Board appointed
Mr. Alvarado to serve as our Chief Operating Officer.
Compensation Philosophy
Our executive compensation program, which is under
the direction and control of our Compensation Committee, is designed to integrate compensation with the achievement of our short- and
long-term business objectives and to assist it in attracting, motivating and retaining the highest quality executive officers and rewarding
them for superior performance. Different components of our executive compensation program are geared to shorter- and longer-term performance,
with the unified goal of increasing stockholder value over the long term.
In determining the compensation of our
executive officers, our Compensation Committee considers a variety of factors, both qualitative and quantitative, consistent with
our overall goals. Our objectives include a program that reflects the retentive effect of the payment of appropriate compensation
for each executive officer, the pay practices of the Company’s peer group and other companies, the Company’s financial
performance as a whole and the performance of various business lines, including as compared to peer data, and the Company’s
and the executives’ success in meeting corporate objectives including attracting and retaining qualified brokers and other
professionals, market position, revenue and profitability and other financial criteria, strategic growth and business positioning
and objectives for long-term competitive advantage. While many of our brokers and other professionals are paid commissions, the
compensation received by our executive officers is not specifically tied to mathematical formula-based performance targets.
Additionally, from time to time, certain of our officers including Mr. Gosin and Mr. Alvarado have received compensation related to
legacy commission-based arrangements. Unless compensation is specifically set forth in
an applicable employment agreement, the compensation of our executive officers is determined based on a holistic review of all
relevant compensation factors by the Compensation Committee with no particular weighting toward any specific metric or other factor.
Such compensation factors may also include the ability to respond to extraordinary events and manage the business under changing
financial, global, health, environmental and other circumstances.
We also believe that executive compensation should
reflect achievement of individual managerial objectives established for specific executive officers at the beginning of the fiscal year
as well as reflect specific achievements by such individuals over the course of the year, such as development of specific products or
customer relationships or executing or integrating specific acquisitions, dispositions and other strategic arrangements. We further believe
that specific significant events led by executives, including acquisitions, dispositions and other strategic arrangements, as well as
management activities that create significant value and other significant transactions, should also be given significant weight. We believe
that the performance of our executives in managing our Company, and in the provision of services to our operating partnerships and subsidiaries,
considered in light of general economic and specific company, industry and competitive conditions, should be the basis for determining
their overall compensation. Further, although the vote is advisory and non-binding on the Board, the Compensation Committee considers
the results of the “say-on-pay” vote alongside other considerations and data in reviewing our executive compensation programs.
20
In designing and implementing our executive compensation
program, our Compensation Committee considers our operating and financial objectives, including our risk profile, and the effect that
our executive compensation decisions will have on encouraging our executive officers to take an appropriate level of business, operational
and market risk consistent with our overall goal of enhancing long-term stockholder value. In particular, the Committee considers those
risks identified in our risk factors, among others, and the known trends and uncertainties identified in our public filings and considers
how our executive compensation program serves to achieve its operating, financial and other strategic objectives while at the same time
mitigating any incentives for executive officers to engage in excessive risk-taking to achieve short-term results that may not be sustainable
in the long term. Although reviewed by the Compensation Committee, our policy is generally that the compensation of our executive officers
should not be based on the short-term performance of our Class A common stock, whether favorable or unfavorable, since we believe
that the price of our Class A common stock will, in the long term, reflect our overall performance and, ultimately, our management
by our executives. Long-term stock performance is incentivized in our executive compensation program through the grant of various equity
and partnership awards to our executive officers as described below. We believe these awards closely align the interests of our executive
officers with long-term stockholder value creation.
Our
Compensation Committee is aware that Mr. Merkel may also receive compensation from our affiliates, including Cantor and BGC, for services
rendered to each of them, but the Committee generally does not specifically review the nature or amount of such compensation. In 2025,
Mr. Merkel spent approximately 30% of his working time on our matters. Mr. Merkel expects to spend approximately 25% of his working
time on our matters in 2026. Our other current executive officers expect to spend 100% of their time working on our matters in 2026. These
percentages may vary during 2026 depending on business developments at BGC, Newmark, Cantor or any of our or Cantor’s affiliates .
Overview of Compensation and Processes
For
2025, executive compensation was composed of the following principal components: (i) a base salary, which is designed to retain talented
executive officers and contribute to motivating and rewarding individual performance; (ii) an incentive bonus award that is intended
to tie financial rewards to the achievement of the Company’s short- or longer-term performance objectives; and (iii) incentive awards
granted that are designed to promote the achievement of short- and long-term performance goals and to align the long-term interests of
executive officers with those of stockholders through the grant of awards. In all cases, performance objectives and goals relate to the
performance of our business lines and the performance of the Company and
our executives at the Company and in the provision of services to our operating partnerships and subsidiaries.
From time to time, we may also restructure the existing
partnership, equity and compensation arrangements of our executive officers. We may also adopt various policies or take actions related
to or in addition to such restructurings, including with respect to the grant of exchange rights, other monetization of awards, and the
acceleration of the lapse of restrictions on restricted stock. We may also issue potential extraordinary grants to executive officers
which may or may not be based on prior results or other performance measures, including stock price increase or other measures to be specified.
From time to time, we have also used employment
agreements, change of control agreements, retention agreements, and other arrangements, including some with specified target or guaranteed
bonus components, and extraordinary bonuses to attract, motivate and retain talented executives. Any such arrangements with the executive
officers currently in effect are summarized under “Executive Compensation — Change of Control Agreements”
and “Executive Compensation — Employment Agreements.”
Our Compensation Committee, with assistance where
appropriate of special project committees and advisors, approves, and recommends to our Board of Directors that it approve the salaries,
bonuses and other compensation of our executive officers. In addition, the Committee approves grants to executive officers under and otherwise
administers our Incentive Plan, our Equity Plan and our Participation Plan.
21
From time to time, the Compensation Committee has
engaged a compensation consultant in connection with its compensation decisions. With respect to 2025 compensation, Korn Ferry (the “Compensation
Advisor”) advised the Committee. The Committee retained the Compensation Advisor to provide surveys, information, and other assistance
with respect to pay practices and compensation levels at the Company’s peer group and other companies, and the Committee discussed
with the Compensation Advisor all compensation arrangements for 2025. For 2025, the Committee and the Compensation Advisor also reviewed
additional pay for performance considerations and metrics and other measures including financial measures calculated in accordance with
U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and non-GAAP financial results, our total consolidated revenue,
fee revenue, and share price change, our relative performance versus our peers in individual business lines including leasing, capital
markets fees, fees from management services, servicing and other, non-U.S. revenues, our market share in government-sponsored enterprise
(“GSE”) origination and mortgage brokerage and debt placement, our development of strategic customer relationships, catalyst
transactions, acquisitions, and strategy and management responsibility, challenges and risk management, international expansion and other
specific line items and measures in order to review performance and consider compensation awards. The Committee reviewed the Company’s
total revenues as a key performance measure for 2025. The Committee and the Compensation Advisor reviewed additional performance metrics
and goals for 2025, including strategic hires or retention of key employees in competitive market conditions, the market penetration of
the Company’s products and businesses in new geographies or markets, and they considered various discretionary factors. The Committee
reviewed this data with no particular weighting toward any specific metric or other factor. While the Committee does take into consideration
peer data and percentiles, the Committee does not attempt to benchmark executive compensation against any level, range, or percentile
of compensation paid at any other companies, does not apply any specific measures of internal or external pay equity in reaching its conclusions,
and does not employ tally sheets, wealth accumulation, or similar tools in its analysis.
The Compensation Committee considered whether the
Compensation Advisor had any conflicts of interest and was otherwise independent in connection with its advice to the Committee. The Committee
considered whether the Compensation Advisor had been providing services of any other nature to the Company; the amount of fees received
from the Company by the Compensation Advisor; the policies and procedures adopted by the Compensation Advisor that have been designed
to prevent conflicts of interest; whether any business or personal relationships existed between the consultants employed by the Compensation
Advisor who worked on Company matters and any member of the Committee; whether any business or personal relationship existed between such
consultants and any of our executive officers; and whether the Compensation Advisor or such consultants hold any of our Class A common
stock. The Compensation Advisor also provides services to the compensation committee of the board of directors of BGC. Upon evaluating
such considerations, the Committee found no conflicts of interest in the Compensation Advisor advising the Committee or other factors
that comprise the independence of the Compensation Advisor’s relationship with the Compensation Committee.
In attempting to strike an appropriate balance,
our Compensation Committee seeks to provide executive officers with an appropriately diversified mix of fixed and variable cash and non-cash
compensation opportunities, time-based and performance-based awards, and short- and long-term incentives. In particular, our performance-based
bonuses under our Incentive Plan focus on a mix of Company-wide and product-specific operating and financial metrics, in some cases based
upon our absolute performance and in other cases based upon our performance relative to our peer group or other companies. In addition,
the Incentive Plan award opportunities provide for the exercise of discretion by the Committee in light of individual and corporate performance.
Further, the Committee retains the discretion to pay out any amounts finally awarded under the Incentive Plan in equity or partnership
awards, rather than cash, and to include restrictions on vesting, resale and forfeiture in any such equity or partnership awards.
Our policy for allocating between currently paid
short- and long-term compensation is designed to ensure adequate base compensation to attract and retain talented executive officers,
while providing incentives to maximize long-term value for our Company and our stockholders. Cash compensation is provided in the form
of base salary to meet competitive salary norms and reward superior performance on an annual basis, and in the form of bonuses and awards
for achievement of specific short-term goals or in the discretion of the Compensation Committee. Equity and partnership awards reward
superior performance with regards to specific objectives and long-term strategic goals and assist in retaining executive officers and
aligning their interests with those of our Company and our stockholders. From time to time, we may provide additional equity or partnership
awards on a periodic basis to reward superior performance, which awards may provide further long-term retention incentives.
Base salaries for the following year are generally
set for our executive officers at year-end meetings of the Compensation Committee or in the early part of the applicable year. At these
meetings, the Compensation Committee also approves incentive bonuses under the Incentive Plan for the prior year and any discretionary
bonuses and grants of equity and partnership awards under our Equity Plan and the Participation Plan to our executive officers for the
prior year.
We provide long-term incentives to our executive
officers through the grants of limited partnership units under the Participation Plan and exchange rights or cash settlement awards in
connection with such partnership units and restricted stock and other equity grants under the Equity Plan. In addition, executive officers
may receive a portion of their Incentive Plan bonuses in equity or partnership awards, rather than cash, with the number of awards determined
by reference to the market price of a share of our Class A common stock on the date that the award is granted or such other date
that awards to executive officers are made. Grants under our Equity Plan and our Participation Plan generally have vesting provisions
that are time-based, rather than performance-based, although both plans are flexible enough to provide for performance-based vesting provisions.
22
Historically in prior years, at or around the
year-end or first quarter Compensation Committee meetings, Mr. Howard Lutnick, in his former role as Executive Chairman, made compensation
recommendations to the Committee with respect to the other executive officers. Such executive officers were not present at the time of
these deliberations. With respect to the determination of compensation for executive officers, the Committee has historically reviewed
information from Mr. Howard Lutnick as it deemed necessary or appropriate, and the input from the Compensation Advisor, but ultimately
the Committee made the sole determination of the compensation of all of our executive officers, including that of Mr. Howard Lutnick
during the periods where he served as an executive officer.
Beginning with compensation
for fiscal year 2025, Mr. Gosin and our other executive officers separately presented recommendations to our Compensation Committee with
respect to their compensation and the compensation of the other executive officers. The Committee also met separately in executive sessions
with the Advisor outside the presence of our executive officers to discuss compensation. The Committee deliberated on compensation decisions
with respect to all executive officers with recommendations from the executive officers, members of our Board, and from time to time with
recommendations of our controlling stockholder. When making its final compensation deliberations, the Committee met separately in executive
sessions outside the presence of our executive officers. The Compensation Committee will continue to maintain its process of deliberation
and to make the sole determination of the compensation of all of our executive officers.
During the first half of each fiscal year, the
practice of our Compensation Committee is to establish annual incentive performance goals and guidelines for all executive officers under
the Incentive Plan, with the Committee retaining discretion to determine any bonuses earned at or after the end of the year. All executive
officers in office at that time are eligible to participate in the Incentive Plan. In all cases, such performance goals relate to the
performance of the Company and of our executive officers at the Company and in the provision of services to our operating partnership
and subsidiaries.
Timing of Awards
Equity and partnership awards to executive officers
that are in payment of the Incentive Plan or discretionary bonuses are typically granted annually in conjunction with the Compensation
Committee’s review of Company performance and individual performance of executive officers, although interim grants may be considered
and approved from time to time. The Committee’s annual review generally takes place at year-end meetings, which are generally
held in the first quarter of each year, although the reviews may be held at any time and from time to time throughout the year. Grants
to executive officers may be made on a mid-year or other basis in the event of business developments, changing compensation
requirements or other factors, in the discretion of the Committee.
Our policy in recent years has generally been
to award year-end grants to executive officer recipients by the end of the calendar year or in or shortly after the first quarter thereafter,
with grants to non-executive employees occurring closer to the end of the first quarter of the following year. Grants, if any, to newly
hired employees are generally effective on the first day of the quarter following the employee’s first day of employment.
In addition, from time to time the Company may offer compensation enhancements or modifications to employees that it does not offer to
its executive officers.
The
exercise price of all exercisable equity-based compensation is set at the closing price of our Class A common stock on the Nasdaq
Global Select Market on the date of grant. With respect to limited partnership units and other equity or partnership awards, grants may
be made based on a dollar value, with the number of units or shares determined by reference to the market price of our Class A common
stock on the date of grant and other factors such as the number of outstanding units intended to receive exchange rights or distribution-earning
rights .
The Compensation Committee does not grant equity-based
awards in anticipation of the release of material nonpublic information, nor do we accelerate or delay the release of material nonpublic
information based on equity award grant dates or for the purpose of affecting the value of executive compensation.
Equity Plan and Participation Plan Awards
It is the Compensation Committee’s general
policy to award restricted stock, exchange rights, awards that are repurchased for cash, which we refer to as “cash settlement awards,”
and other equity or partnership awards to executive officers in order to align their interests with those of our long-term investors and
to help attract and retain qualified individuals. Our Equity Plan permits the Committee to grant restricted stock, stock options, stock
appreciation rights, deferred stock such as RSUs, bonus stock, performance awards, dividend equivalents and other stock-based awards,
including to provide exchange rights for shares of our Class A common stock and cash settlement awards relating to Newmark Holdings
limited partnership units.
Our Participation Plan provides for the grant or
sale of Newmark Holdings limited partnership units. The total number of Newmark Holdings limited partnership units issuable under the
Participation Plan will be determined from time to time by our Board of Directors, provided that exchange rights or cash settlement awards
relating to units may only be granted pursuant to other stock-based awards granted under our Equity Plan. Partnership units in Newmark
Holdings (other than NPSUs (as described below)) are entitled to participate in preferred or quarterly partnership distributions from
Newmark Holdings and other than Preferred Units (as defined below) and NPSUs are eligible to be made exchangeable for shares of our
Class A common stock. We view these incentives as an effective tool in motivating, rewarding and retaining our executive officers.
23
Our
Compensation Committee retains the right to grant a combination of forms of such awards under our Equity Plan and our Participation Plan
to executive officers as it considers appropriate or to differentiate among executive officers with respect to different types of awards;
however, the Committee has granted joint authority to Messrs. Gosin and Rispoli, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer,
to grant awards to non-executive officer employees of the Company under the Equity Plan and Participation Plan and to establish sub-plans
for such persons. In addition, our executive officers and other employees may also be offered the opportunity to purchase limited partnership
units .
Discretionary and Retentive Partnership Opportunities
To incentivize executive officers and hold them
accountable to stockholders, our Compensation Committee uses a variety of highly retentive partnership units issued under the Participation
Plan. These partnership awards are granted as a tax-efficient, strongly retentive, and risk-appropriate means to align the interests of
the executive officers with those of our long-term stockholders. For executive officers, these grants may include NPSUs, PSUs, and PPSUs,
each as described below. The Committee believes that the features of the units, coupled with the discretion of the Committee to grant
the right to partnership distributions, exchangeability into shares of Class A common stock of Newmark, and various liquidity opportunities,
create a best-in-class form of incentive award program for our executives. Until such units are made exchangeable into shares of Class A
common stock or exchanged for cash or, in some cases, made exchangeable into another partnership unit with a capital account such as an
HDU, at the discretion of the Committee, these units are generally forfeitable for any reason, subject to certain exceptions.
We believe this structure incentivizes performance.
These partnership units may be redeemed for zero by the Committee at its discretion while in non-exchangeable form. Traditionally, the
Committee generally has not granted options and equity-based awards such as RSUs to executives and emphasized instead these flexible and
retentive limited partnership units. The Committee has granted NPSUs, along with PSUs, and HDUs, provided as long-term incentives to executive
officers, which awards may receive discretionary grants of exchange rights and be coupled with cash settlement awards. The Committee may
consider RSUs and options, as well as partnership units and other forms of compensation, in future grants.
NPSUs have no value for accounting or other purposes
at the time of grant, do not participate in quarterly partnership distributions, are not allocated any items of profit or loss and may
not be made exchangeable into shares of Class A common stock. NPSUs are non-exchangeable until replaced with a different unit. Grants
of NPSU awards are highly discretionary and provide additional flexibility for the Compensation Committee to determine the timing and
circumstances of replacing such units with units that earn partnership distributions and any rights to exchange such units for shares
of Class A common stock or cash. NPSUs have generally been granted to our executives in the event of business developments, changing
compensation requirements or other factors, or in connection with execution of long-term employment arrangements.
From time to time, our Compensation Committee may
choose to replace an NPSU with a non-exchangeable PSU or HDU. NPSUs are subject to adjustment at the time of conversion into PSUs
based on the then-applicable exchange ratio (as described herein). A non-exchangeable PSU may also be replaced with a non-exchangeable
HDU. A non-exchangeable PSU that has been granted the right to convert into a non-exchangeable HDU is referred to as a “PSU-H,”
and a non-exchangeable PPSU that has been granted the right to be converted into cash upon conversion of the underlying PSU-H into an
HDU is referred to as a “PPSU-H.” PSUs participate in quarterly partnership distributions, but otherwise generally have no
value for accounting purposes and are not exchangeable into shares of Class A common stock until such exchange rights are granted
by the Committee. HDUs have a stated capital account and are valued based upon such capital account which is initially based on the closing
trading price of Class A common stock at the time the HDU right is granted. HDUs participate in quarterly partnership distributions
and are not exchangeable into shares of Class A common stock unless such exchange rights are granted by the Committee.
Executive officers may also receive PPSUs. These
units are preferred limited partnership units that may be awarded to holders of, or contemporaneously with the grant of, PSUs. PPSUs are
entitled to a preferred distribution of net profits of Newmark Holdings, but otherwise are not entitled to participate in quarterly distributions.
PPSUs cannot be made exchangeable into shares of Class A common stock, and can only be exchanged for cash, at the determination price
on the date of grant, in connection with an exchange of the related PSUs or HDUs, and therefore are not included in our fully diluted
share count. The ratio of the grant of PPSUs to traditional units (e.g., PSUs) is expected to approximate the compensatory tax rate applicable
in the relevant country jurisdiction of the partner recipient. The determination price used to exchange PPSUs for cash is determined by
the Compensation Committee on the date of the grant of such unit and is based on a closing trading price of Class A common stock
identified by the Committee on such date.
Over time, as compensation goals are met and our
executives are awarded other incentives, the Compensation Committee may choose, in its sole discretion, to grant an exchange right with
respect to a PSU, held by an executive, thereby creating a potential liquidity event for the executive and creating a value for accounting
purposes. The life cycle of these units, as they may evolve from NPSUs to shares of Class A common stock, provides the Committee
and the Board of Directors with superior opportunities to retain and incentivize executives and employees in a tax-efficient and discretionary
manner.
24
Until
non-exchangeable units are made exchangeable into a share of Class A common stock or exchanged for cash at the discretion of the
Committee, they are generally forfeitable for any reason, subject to certain exceptions. We believe this incentivizes performance and
helps align the interests of our executives with those of our investors .
Tax and Accounting Treatment
Our management and Compensation Committee recognize
that we are subject to certain Financial Accounting Standards Board and SEC guidance on share-based awards and other accounting charges
with respect to compensation of the executive officers and other employees. However, management and the Committee do not believe that
these accounting charges should necessarily determine the appropriate types and levels of compensation to be made available. Where material
to the Committee’s decisions, these accounting charges will be described in our compensation discussion and analysis, compensation
tables and related narratives.
Our Compensation Committee may grant equity and
partnership awards to executive officers in a variety of ways under the Equity Plan and the Participation Plan, including restricted stock,
RSUs, exchange rights, cash settlement awards, options, and other equity grants under the Equity Plan and non-exchangeable limited partnership
unit awards under the Participation Plan. Grants of such awards may have different accounting treatments and may be reported differently
in the compensation tables and related narratives depending upon the type of award granted and how and when it is granted. All such charges
are recorded under GAAP in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations as part of “Equity-based compensation
and allocations of net income to limited partnership units and FPUs.”
Certain limited partnership units held by Newmark
employees entitle the holders to receive post-termination cash payments equal to the notional amount of the units. These limited partnership
units are accounted for as post-termination liability awards under GAAP, which requires that Newmark record an expense for such awards
based on the change in value at each reporting period. The liability for limited partnership units with a post-termination payout is included
in “Other long-term liabilities” on our consolidated balance sheets. A GAAP compensation charge is also recorded on limited
partnership units if and when (i) an exchange right is granted to such units to acquire shares of Class A common stock, or (ii) when
an offsetting number of shares of Class A common stock are issued in connection with the redemption of non-exchangeable limited partnership
units. Such charges are based on the market price of a share of Class A common stock on the date on which the exchange right is granted
or the unit is redeemed, regardless of when such actions occur. Additionally, when an employee exchanges limited partnership units for
a share of Class A common stock, a statutory tax deduction is generally allowed (including for U.S. federal income tax purposes)
equal to the fair market value of a share of our Class A common stock on the date of the exchange. The date of the actual exchange
and the related statutory tax deduction may occur in a fiscal period subsequent to when any relevant GAAP charges were recorded.
If shares of restricted stock granted are not subject
to continued employment or service with us or any of our affiliates or subsidiaries, even if they are subject to compliance with our customary
non-compete obligations, the grant-date fair value of the restricted stock will be expensed under GAAP on the date of grant.
Furthermore, for equity-based awards with a stated
vesting schedule that are not subject to post-termination payments (which for Newmark generally means RSUs) equity-based compensation
expense is recognized under GAAP during the relevant period based on the value of the portion of equity-based awards that are ultimately
expected to vest. The grant-date fair value of such equity-based awards is amortized ratably over the awards’ vesting periods. In
addition, forfeitures of RSUs are estimated at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures
differ from those estimates. In cases where actual forfeitures change original forfeiture assumptions, then an adjustment to previously
recognized compensation charges and the related deferred tax asset will be recorded under GAAP. A statutory tax deduction is generally
allowed (including for U.S. federal income tax purposes) on RSUs and restricted stock when the vesting occurs. The tax deduction
for RSUs and restricted stock generally is measured as the restrictions lapse (i.e., as the employee vests in the award). At that time,
the Company will determine if there is any excess tax benefit or deficiency by reference to the current stock price in relation to the
grant date fair value.
For
more information on Newmark’s equity-based compensation charges under GAAP, see “Note 27. Compensation” in the
notes to the consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2025 .
25
Compensation Recovery/Clawback Policy and Forfeiture and Recoupment
Clawback Policy
The
Company adopted the Clawback Policy for its executive officers. The Clawback Policy applies to Incentive-Based Compensation. The Clawback
Policy provides for recovery of Incentive-Based Compensation received by a covered person in the event of an accounting restatement due
to material noncompliance with financial reporting requirements that is in excess of the Incentive-Based Compensation that such person
would have received based upon the restated financial reporting measure. The Clawback Policy applies to Incentive-Based Compensation and
not to compensation that is purely discretionary or based on subjective goals or goals unrelated to financial reporting measures .
Forfeiture and Recoupment
The partnership units issued to our executive officers,
certain of which, such as PSUs or NPSUs, may be redeemed for zero at any time by the Compensation Committee, as well as partnership obligations
under the Newmark Holdings limited partnership agreement, are retentive and provide broad discretion and significant clawback power to
the Compensation Committee.
Further,
our policy is to provide much of our compensation through highly retentive partnership units or other equity with strong vesting mechanisms.
Accordingly, we do not require additional share ownership or hold-through-retirement thresholds. However, our executive officers
currently hold much of their personal net worth in a combination of deferred compensation, including non-exchangeable and exchangeable
limited partnership units and RSUs. Messrs. Gosin, Merkel, Rispoli and Alvarado hold limited partnership units in Newmark Holdings. Messrs. Rispoli
and Alvarado also hold RSUs in Newmark .
2025 Compensation Actions Taken by the Compensation Committee
The
compensation approved by our Compensation Committee and paid to our executive officers for 2025 is described in full in our Summary Compensation
Table herein and the footnotes thereto. Below are descriptions of the various considerations and actions taken by our Compensation Committee
for the determination of year-end compensation for our executive officers .
Consideration of Peer Data for 2025 and Other
Factors
As part of its compensation process, in addition
to qualitative and strategic factors, the Compensation Committee considered various peer, financial and market metrics by reviewing the
latest public financial information available at the time compared with the disclosed growth rates for these same metrics at our full-service
listed peers. These peers were CBRE Group, Inc., Colliers International Group Inc., Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated, Cushman &
Wakefield plc, and Savills plc for available data. The metrics included total consolidated revenue, fee revenue, share price change, and
other financial measures including changes in GAAP and non-GAAP earnings metrics. The Committee also reviewed our relative performance
versus these peers in individual business lines including leasing, capital markets fees, fees from management services, servicing and
other, and non-U.S. revenues, as well as our market share in GSE origination and mortgage brokerage and debt placement. Items noted
during the Committee’s review included growth in fees from management services, servicing, and other, leasing, capital markets,
consolidated fee revenues and consolidated total revenues, and increases in 2025 volumes in investment sales and in total debt (which
includes GSE and non-GSE commercial and multifamily originations, in all cases as compared to peers in the relevant periods presented.
Performance
data, including both financial and market data, is often reviewed by the Committee as presented by management and by the Compensation
Advisor. As part of its compensation process, the Committee reviewed this data broadly and as part of its mix of factors, with no particular
weighting toward any specific metric or other factor. Further, as discussed under “— Overview of Compensation and Processes,”
while we use market data from peer companies as a reference point for evaluating our executive compensation program among other qualitative
and quantitative factors, we do not benchmark against any specific compensation level or metric .
Base Salary
Our executive officers receive base salaries or
similar cash payments intended to reflect their skills, expertise and responsibilities. Subject to any applicable employment or other
agreements, such payments and subsequent adjustments, if any, are reviewed and approved by the Compensation Committee annually, based
on a variety of factors, which may include, from time to time, a review of relevant salaries of executives at our peer group of companies
and others, and each executive officer’s individual performance for the prior year, including such executive officer’s experience
and responsibilities.
We generally establish base pay at levels comparable
to our peer group and other companies which employ similarly skilled personnel, including CBRE Group, Inc., Colliers International Group,
Inc., Compass, Inc., Cushman & Wakefield plc, FirstService Corporation, Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated, Marcus & Millichap
Inc., Opendoor Technologies Inc., RE/MAX Holdings, Inc., Savills plc, and Zillow Group, Inc. While we determine these levels by reviewing
publicly available information with respect to our peer group of companies and others, we generally do not expect to engage in benchmarking.
26
Base Salaries for 2025
Annual
base salary rates for 2025 were established in January 2025 by our Compensation Committee with respect to each of our executive officers
in office at that time, based on their continuing qualifications, experience and responsibilities. The base salary rate for 2025 was continued
at $1,000,000 for each of Messrs. Howard Lutnick and Gosin. The base salary rate for Mr. Rispoli for 2025 was continued at $850,000,
and the base salary rate for Mr. Merkel for 2025 was continued at $500,000. The base salary rate of $1,000,000 for Mr. Alvarado
was established on April 7, 2025 by our Compensation Committee upon his appointment as an executive officer . After February
18, 2025, Mr. Howard Lutnick did not receive a salary.
Base Salaries for 2026
Annual
base salary rates for 2026 were established in February 2026 by our Compensation Committee with respect to each of our executive officers
in office at that time, based on their continuing qualifications, experience and responsibilities. The base salary rate for 2026 was continued
at $1,000,000 for Mr. Gosin. The base salary rate for Mr. Rispoli for 2026 was continued at $850,000, and the base salary rate for
Mr. Merkel for 2026 was continued at $500,000. The base salary rate for Mr. Alvarado for 2026 was established in April 2025
by our Compensation Committee and was $1,000,000 .
Incentive Plan Awards
We generally intend to award performance-based compensation
in the form of bonuses to our executive officers, including pursuant to the Incentive Plan. The Compensation Committee believes that such
performance-based compensation appropriately aligns the interests of our executive officers with the interests of our stockholders.
With respect to each performance period, our Compensation
Committee specifies the applicable performance criteria and targets to be used under the Incentive Plan for that performance period. These
performance criteria, which may vary from participant to participant, will be determined by the Committee and may be based upon one or
more of the following financial performance measures and may be expressed on an absolute and/or relative basis and on a GAAP or non-GAAP
basis:
● pre-tax or after-tax net income;
● pre-tax or after-tax operating income;
● total or gross revenues or similar items;
● profit, earnings or other margins;
● stock price, dividends and/or total stockholder return;
● EBITDA measures;
● cash flow(s);
● market share;
● pre-tax or after-tax earnings per share;
● pre-tax or after-tax operating earnings per share;
● expenses;
● return on investment or equity;
● environmental, social, governance or similar criteria; or
● strategic business criteria, consisting of one or more objectives
based on meeting specified revenue, market penetration, or geographic business expansion goals, cost targets, goals relating to acquisitions,
strategic hires, dispositions or divestitures, or any combination thereof.
The actual Incentive Plan bonus paid to any given
participant at the end of a performance period is based upon the extent to which the applicable performance goals for such performance
period are achieved, subject to the exercise of discretion by the Compensation Committee based on such other factors as the Compensation
Committee determines, and may be paid in cash or in equity or partnership awards. These awards also serve as incentives for future performance
and retention.
27
In
addition, from time to time, our Compensation Committee may provide for target or guaranteed bonuses in employment or other agreements
in order to attract and retain talented executives, or may grant ad hoc discretionary bonuses when an executive officer is not eligible
to participate in the Incentive Plan award opportunities for that performance period or when it otherwise considers such bonuses to be
appropriate. Such bonuses may also be paid in cash or in equity or partnership awards .
Incentive Plan Bonus Goals for 2025
In April 2025, our Compensation Committee determined
that Messrs. Gosin, Rispoli, Alvarado and Merkel, our executive officers for 2025, would be participating executives for 2025 in our Incentive
Plan. Mr. Howard Lutnick was not a participating executive for 2025 because he stepped down before the Committee designated the participating
executives for the Incentive Plan for 2025.
For
2025, the Compensation Committee established performance criteria for all executive officers and determined that each individual would
be eligible for the opportunity to be paid a bonus equal to the maximum value allowed for each individual pursuant to the terms of the
Incentive Plan (i.e., $25 million) provided that (i) the Company achieved operating profits or Adjusted Earnings annually for
2025, as calculated on substantially the same basis as in the Company’s earnings release for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2024, (ii) the Company achieved improvement or percentage growth in gross revenue or total or net transaction volumes for any product
for 2025 as compared to 2024 over any of its peer group members or other industry measures, as reported in the Company’s earnings
release for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, in each case calculated on substantially the same basis as in the Company’s
2024 earnings release and compared to the most recently available peer group information or other industry measures, (iii) the Company
increased its market penetration for any product or business into any new market or geography in 2025 as compared to 2024, (iv) the
Company has increased its revenue for any product or business so as to achieve greater diversification of its existing businesses in 2025
as compared to 2024, (v) the Company achieved the successful execution in
2025 of any material, significant, accretive, or strategic acquisition, entry into any joint venture, or disposition of any business or
asset, (vi) the Company achieved in 2025 the strategic hire, retention or development of key personnel in competitive market conditions,
or (vii) the Company achieved in 2025 other strategic or significant performance as recognized by the Compensation Committee in its
sole discretion (collectively, the “Performance Goals”).
The
Compensation Committee determined that the payment of any such amount may be in the form of cash, shares of Class A common stock,
limited partnership units, or other equity or partnership awards permitted under the Equity Plan, the Participation Plan or otherwise.
The Compensation Committee retained the right to reduce, in its sole and absolute discretion, the amount of any Incentive Plan bonus payment
based upon any factors it determines, including whether and the extent to which the Performance Goals or any other corporate, as well
as individual, performance objectives had been achieved .
Incentive Plan Bonuses Awarded for 2025
On February 18, 2026, having determined that the
Performance Goals established in the first quarter of 2025 had been met for 2025, our Compensation Committee made awards to the participating
executive officers for 2025 under our Incentive Plan. The awards were granted using a stock price of $15.50 on February 18, 2026, as adjusted
by the 0.9264 exchange ratio in effect as of such date, resulting in a per Newmark Holdings unit price of $14.36, and provided a combination
of short- and long-term incentives that align the Company’s financial performance with its executive compensation. In addition to
short-term cash compensation awarded to the participating executives, the Committee awarded significant portions of the 2025 Incentive
Plan awards to Messrs. Merkel and Alvarado in the form of long-term partnership units. These units are eligible for partnership distributions,
if any, in a given period, which are tied to the Company’s current and future earnings and may rise and fall with the Company’s
results and market conditions in a given period. The partnership unit awards, however, are issued as non-exchangeable, and the non-Preferred
Unit awards may be made exchangeable into the Company’s Class A common stock at a future time, at the Committee’s discretion,
thus incentivizing future performance by aligning it with the Company’s stock price. All of such 2025 partnership awards are forfeitable
in the event that any such executive were to leave the Company and compete or otherwise violate applicable partnership obligations. By
choosing to pay a portion of Messrs. Merkel and Alvarado’s Incentive Plan awards in partnership units, the Compensation Committee
expects to incentivize him with respect to future performance and encourage ongoing contributions to management, our results and our existing
and future businesses in a similar manner to how Messrs. Gosin and Rispoli are incentivized by the partnership unit and RSU awards, respectively,
that they have received under their respective employment agreements.
28
In
making its bonus determinations for 2025, our Compensation Committee considered various qualitative and quantitative compensation factors,
including the Performance Goals, the retentive effect of the payment of appropriate compensation for each executive officer, and the Company’s
financial performance as a whole and the performance of various business lines, including as compared to peer data. The impact of any
of these measures during 2025 or beyond may materially impact the value of current and previous partnership and equity awards, thus aligning
the interests of the executive officers with those of our stockholders. The Compensation Committee also considered the pay practices of
the Company’s peer group and other companies, including a compensation survey prepared by, and advice from, the Compensation Advisor.
The specific Incentive Plan awards to our executive officers were as follows:
●
Mr. Rispoli’s aggregate bonus of $1,500,000 for 2025 was paid $1,050,000 in current cash compensation and $450,000 in a long-term partnership award represented by 15,669 non-exchangeable PSUs and 15,669 non-exchangeable PPSUs with a determination price of $14.36 per unit. In exercising its discretion regarding the amount and form of this award, the Compensation Committee noted Mr. Rispoli’s leadership and efforts in 2025 as well as his contribution to the Company’s ongoing financial strategy, treasury and other financial matters, and the Company’s improved performance in 2025. In addition to his Incentive Plan award, Mr. Rispoli received a portion of his previously awarded RSU award which vested as provided for in his employment agreement. See “Executive Compensation — Employment Agreements — Rispoli Employment Agreement” for more information on the vesting schedule of these RSUs.
●
Mr. Merkel’s aggregate bonus of $1,300,000 for 2025 was paid $812,500 in current cash compensation and $487,500 in a long-term partnership award represented by 16,974 non-exchangeable PSUs and 16,974 non-exchangeable PPSUs with a determination price of $14.36 per unit. In exercising its discretion regarding the amount and form of this award, the Compensation Committee noted Mr. Merkel’s guidance on regulatory and other matters, advice for developing businesses and overall leadership on business, legal, personnel and regulatory matters during the year, as well as his additional expected management responsibilities before and after Mr. Howard Lutnick’s departure.
● Mr. Alvarado’s aggregate bonus of $2,150,000 for 2025 was paid $1,190,000
in current cash compensation and $960,000 in a long-term partnership award represented by 33,426 non-exchangeable PSUs and 33,426 non-exchangeable
PPSUs with a determination price of $14.36 per unit. In exercising its discretion regarding the amount and form of this award, the Compensation
Committee noted Mr. Alvarado’s broker and client management and leadership and improved performance.
As noted
below, the compensation attributed to fiscal year 2025 for Mr. Gosin was previously awarded to him under his employment agreement.
See “Executive Compensation — Employment Agreements Awards — Gosin Employment Agreement
Awards” for more information.
Incentive Plan Bonus Goals for 2026
In April 2026, the Compensation Committee determined
that Messrs. Gosin, Merkel, Rispoli and Alvarado, our current executive officers, would be participating executives for 2026 in the Incentive
Plan. For 2026, the Committee established performance criteria for all executive officers and determined that each individual would be
eligible for the opportunity to be paid a bonus in accordance with the terms of the Incentive Plan; provided that (i) the Company
achieves operating profits or Adjusted Earnings annually for 2026, as calculated on substantially the same basis as in the Company’s
earnings release for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, (ii) the Company achieves improvement or percentage growth in
gross revenue or total or net transaction volumes for any product for 2026 as compared to 2025 over any of its peer group members or other
industry measures, as reported in the Company’s earnings release for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2026, in each case
calculated on substantially the same basis as in the Company’s 2025 earnings release and compared to the most recently available
peer group information or other industry measures, (iii) the Company increases its market penetration for any product or business
into any new market or geography in 2026 as compared to 2025, (iv) the Company increases its revenue for any product or business
so as to achieve greater diversification of its existing businesses in 2025 as compared to 2025, (v) the Company achieves the successful
execution in 2026 of any material, significant, accretive, or strategic acquisition, entry into any joint venture, or disposition of any
business or asset, (vi) the Company achieves in 2026 the strategic hire, retention or development of key personnel in competitive
market conditions, (vii) the Company meaningfully engages in 2026 in automation initiatives, AI adoption and other appropriate technology
efficiencies or progression, or (viii) the Company achieves in 2026 other strategic or significant performance as recognized by the
Compensation Committee in its sole discretion (collectively, the “2026 Performance Goals”).
The 2026 Performance Goals, in each case, are expected
to be reviewed by the Compensation Committee with no particular weighting toward any specific 2026 Performance Goal or other factor and
are subject to any appropriate corporate adjustment to reflect stock splits, reverse stock splits, mergers, spin offs or any other extraordinary
corporate transactions. As each of the Company’s executive officers also provides services to certain of our operating partnerships
and subsidiaries, potential bonuses for 2026 are also on behalf of all such operating partnerships and subsidiaries, as may be applicable.
29
The Compensation Committee determined that the
payment of any such bonus may be in the form of cash, shares of Class A common stock, limited partnership units or other equity or
partnership awards permitted under the Equity Plan, the Participation Plan or otherwise. To the extent determined to reflect the portion
of an executive officer’s compensation related to services performed for a particular subsidiary, entity or affiliate as noted above,
the cost of compensation awarded under any of the Newmark Compensation Plans shall be borne by such operating partnership or entity. The
Committee, in its sole and absolute discretion, retains the right to determine the amount of any Incentive Plan bonus payment based upon
any factors it determines, including whether and the extent to which the 2026 Performance Goals or any other corporate, as well as individual,
performance objectives have been achieved. The Committee retains discretion to authorize bonuses and other awards, as well as other compensation,
to the participating executives regardless of whether or not such bonuses or other compensation is tax deductible by the Company under
tax law in effect at such time.
Employment Agreement Awards
Messrs. Gosin’s and Rispoli’s respective
employment agreements provided for awards issued at the signing of the employment agreements but attributed by the Compensation Committee
to compensation for fiscal years through 2027, but also allow the Compensation Committee to grant additional discretionary annual
bonuses, including under the Incentive Plan. See “Executive Compensation — Employment Agreements” below for
more information on each respective employment agreement.
Gosin Employment Agreement Awards
Mr. Gosin received a $1,500,000 cash bonus
award for 2025 pursuant to the terms of the 2024 Gosin Employment Agreement (as defined below). Additionally (i) 1,145,474 of Mr. Gosin’s
NPSUs previously awarded under the 2023 Gosin Employment Agreement (as defined below), as adjusted by the then-current exchange ratio
of 0.9258, were converted into 1,237,280 non-exchangeable PSUs on December 31, 2025; and (ii) 423,729 NPSUs of Mr. Gosin’s
NPSUs previously awarded under the 2024 Gosin Employment Agreement, as adjusted by the then-current exchange ratio of 0.9258, were converted
into 457,689 non-exchangeable PSUs on December 31, 2025. See “Executive Compensation — Employment Agreements — Gosin
Employment Agreement” below for more information on the schedule and criteria for the NPSUs granted pursuant to the 2023 Gosin Employment
Agreement and the 2024 Gosin Employment Agreement, to convert into non-exchangeable PSUs and to receive exchange rights.
Rispoli Employment Agreement Awards
Pursuant to the Rispoli Employment Agreement (as
defined below), Mr. Rispoli received an aggregate of 750,000 RSUs, which will vest over a seven-year schedule. Of these RSUs,
the Compensation Committee attributed 100,000 RSUs to the signing of the Rispoli Employment Agreement, and 150,000 RSUs to compensation
for each of fiscal years 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025, and 50,000 RSUs to compensation for fiscal year 2026. See “Executive Compensation — Employment
Agreements — Rispoli Employment Agreement” for more information on the vesting schedule of these RSUs.
Transactions with and Modifications of Awards to Executive Officers
From time to time, the Compensation Committee generally
approves monetization of previously issued and outstanding units or the acceleration of the vesting of RSUs or other awards or other repurchase
or monetization transactions in order to provide liquidity to the executives, taking into consideration the retentive impact of the remaining
awards held by the executives. See below under “— Former Standing Policy for Mr. Howard W. Lutnick” for actions
relating to Mr. Howard Lutnick’s partnership units in connection with the Standing Policy (as defined below).
Vesting, Replacement and Exchange Right Grants in 2025
On February 5, 2025, the Compensation Committee
granted Mr. Howard Lutnick 1,148,970 exchange rights with respect to 1,148,970 previously awarded PSUs that were previously non-exchangeable.
Also on February 5, 2025, in connection with and immediately following the grant of the 1,148,970 exchange rights, Mr. Howard
Lutnick exercised exchange rights with respect to 2,859,437 PSUs, at the then-current exchange ratio of 0.9279 shares of Class A
common stock per Newmark Holdings unit, for 2,653,272 shares of Class A common stock, delivered less 1,343,905 shares withheld by
Newmark for taxes at $14.14 per share, in the amount of 1,309,367 net shares.
On March 15, 2025, 42,865 of Mr. Rispoli’s
RSUs vested pursuant to the vesting schedule of the RSUs granted under the Rispoli Employment Agreement, delivered less 15,454 shares
withheld by Newmark for taxes at $12.40 per share, in the amount of 27,411 net shares.
30
On May 2, 2025, Mr. Alvarado received exchangeability
on 1,219 PSUs and 1,219 PPSUs with an aggregate determination amount of $18,755, in accordance with a monetization schedule approved before
Mr. Alvarado became an executive officer of the Company. Also pursuant to this schedule, on July 28, 2025, Mr. Alvarado received exchangeability
on 1,220 PSUs and 1220 PPSUs with an aggregate determination amount of $18,755.
On July 29, 2025, the Compensation Committee
(i) granted Mr. Merkel 68,302 shares of Class A common stock following the redemption and cancellation of 73,657 of Mr. Merkel’s
non-exchangeable PSUs at the then-current exchange ratio of 0.9273 shares of Class A common stock per unit delivered less 13,158
shares withheld by Newmark for taxes at $14.37 per share, in the amount of 55,144 net shares, and (ii) redeemed 73,657 of Mr. Merkel’s
non-exchangeable PPSUs for an aggregate determination value of $795,097.47, less taxes.
On October 1, 2025, Mr. Rispoli received exchangeability
on 4,378 PSUs and 4,378 PPSUs with an aggregate determination amount of $41,897, in accordance with the previously approved monetization
schedule in connection with the signing of the Rispoli Employment Agreement, and 14,285 of Mr. Rispoli’s RSUs vested pursuant to
the vesting schedule of the RSUs granted under the Rispoli Employment Agreement, delivered less 7,293 shares withheld by Newmark for taxes
at $18.49 per share, in the amount of 6,992 net shares. For more detail regarding the monetization schedule for Mr. Rispoli’s PSUs
and PPSUs entered into in connection with the signing of the Rispoli Employment Agreement, see “— Replacement and Exchange
Right Grants in 2022.”
On December 31, 2025, Mr. Gosin received
exchange rights on (i) 1/7 th of the 1,237,624 Newmark Holdings PSUs converted on April 1, 2023, (ii) 1/6 th of
the 1,240,901 Newmark PSUs converted on December 31, 2024; and (iii) 1/5 th of 1,238,620 Newmark PSUs converted on August 14,
2024 resulting in an aggregate of 531,022 exchangeable Newmark Holdings PSUs.
Historical Lutnick Award
On December 27, 2021, the Compensation Committee
approved a one-time bonus award to Mr. Howard Lutnick (the “Historical Lutnick Award”), which was evidenced by the execution
and delivery of a Retention Bonus Agreement, dated December 28, 2021 (the “Retention Bonus Agreement”), in consideration
of his success in managing certain aspects of the Company’s performance as its principal executive officer and Chairman. The bonus
award rewarded Mr. Howard Lutnick for his efforts in delivering superior financial results for the Company and its stockholders,
including in particular his success in creating substantial value for the Company and its stockholders in connection with creating, structuring,
hedging and monetizing the forward share contract to receive over time shares of common stock of Nasdaq held by the Company and the strong
balance sheet and significant amount of income created from this. A principal reason for structuring the bonus award with a substantial
portion to be paid out over three years was also to further incentivize Mr. Howard Lutnick to continue to serve as both the
Company’s principal executive officer and its Executive Chairman for the benefit of the Company’s stockholders.
The
Retention Bonus Agreement provided for an aggregate cash payment of $50 million, which was paid as follows: $20 million within
three days of the date of the Retention Bonus Agreement and $10 million within thirty days following vesting on each of
the first, second and third anniversaries of the date of the Retention Bonus Agreement. As of December 31, 2024, all payment obligations
under the Retention Bonus Agreement and related to the Historical Lutnick Award have been fully satisfied .
Former Standing Policy for Mr. Howard W. Lutnick
In March 2018, our Compensation Committee and
Audit Committee approved a standing policy (the “Standing Policy”) that gave Mr. Howard Lutnick the same right, subject
to certain conditions, to accept or waive opportunities that have previously been offered, or that may be offered in the future, to other
executive officers to (i) participate in any opportunity to monetize or otherwise provide liquidity with respect to some or all of
their non-exchangeable limited partnership units; (ii) accelerate the lapse of or eliminate any restrictions on transferability with
respect to shares of restricted stock; or (iii) participate in transactions that monetize and/or provide liquidity of equity or partnership
awards granted to other executive officers, including the right to exchange non-distribution earning units such as NPSUs into distribution-earning
units such as PSUs, or convert Preferred Units such as PPSUs into regular, non-Preferred Units, such as PSUs, based upon the highest
percentage of distribution earning awards and in the same proportion of regular to Preferred Units held by another executive.
31
The policy provided generally that Mr. Howard
Lutnick would be treated no less favorably than, and in proportion to, any other executive officer with respect to the change, right or
modification of equity or partnership awards, which include, but are not limited to, opportunities (i) to have non-exchangeable units
redeemed or replaced by other non-exchangeable units; (ii) to have non-exchangeable units received upon such replacement redeemed
by Newmark Holdings for cash, or, with the concurrence of Cantor, granted exchange rights for shares of Newmark’s Class A common
stock; (iii) to accelerate the lapse of or eliminate any restrictions on transferability with respect to restricted shares of Class A
common stock; and (iv) to replace non-distributing units with distributing units and replace Preferred Units with non-Preferred
Units. The policy may also include exchange of units into HDUs or other units with a capital account and the cancellation or redemption
of non-exchangeable units and the issuance of new shares or units.
Under the policy, Mr. Howard Lutnick had the
right to accept or waive in advance some or all of the foregoing opportunities that we may offer to any other executive officer. In each
case, Mr. Howard Lutnick’s right to accept or waive any opportunity offered to him to participate in any such opportunity would
be cumulative (and, accordingly, Mr. Howard Lutnick would again have the right to accept or waive the opportunity to participate
with respect to such portion previously waived if and when any additional opportunity is offered to any executive officer) and be equal
to the greatest proportion of outstanding units and the greatest percentage of shares of restricted stock with respect to which any other
executive officer has been or is offered with respect to all of such opportunities. This policy could result in grants to him of exchange
rights/cash settlement awards, grants of HDUs or other units with a capital account, the cancellation or redemption of non-exchangeable
units and the issuance of new shares or units, or the acceleration of the lapse of restrictions on transferability of shares of restricted
stock owned by him.
On January 2, 2025, pursuant to the Standing
Policy, and in connection with a grant of exchangeability made to Newmark Holdings units held by Mr. Gosin pursuant to the terms
of the 2023 Gosin Employment Agreement, the Company granted exchange rights and monetization rights under the Standing Policy to Mr. Howard
Lutnick, and he elected to accept 101,133 exchange rights with respect to 101,133 previously awarded PSUs that were previously non-exchangeable.
As
of February 18, 2025, the date that Mr. Howard Lutnick stepped down from his positions with the Company, Mr. Howard Lutnick
no longer had units for which he had previously waived monetization rights and for which he could have future monetization rights pursuant
to the Standing Policy .
Partnership Enhancement Programs
We
have from time to time undertaken partnership redemption and compensation restructuring programs to enhance our employment arrangements
by leveraging our unique partnership structure. Under these programs, participating partners generally may agree to extend the length
of their employment or service agreements, to accept a larger portion of their compensation in partnership units and to other contractual
modifications sought by us. As part of these programs, we may also redeem limited partnership interests for cash and/or other units and
grant exchangeability to certain units .
32
Perquisites
From time to time, we may provide certain of our
executive officers with perquisites and other personal benefits that we believe are reasonable. While we do not view perquisites as a
significant element of our executive compensation program, we believe that they can be useful in attracting, motivating, and retaining
the executive talent for which we compete. From time to time, these perquisites might include travel, transportation, and housing benefits.
We believe that these additional benefits may assist our executive officers in performing their duties and provide time efficiencies for
them in appropriate circumstances, and we may consider their use in the future. All present or future practices regarding executive officer
perquisites will be subject to periodic review and approval by our Compensation Committee.
Mr. Gosin receives the use of a car and driver
in connection with his duties as an executive officer. In 2025, such personal benefits had an aggregate incremental cost of approximately
$168,848.
We
offer medical, dental, life insurance and short- and long-term disability insurance and the opportunity to participate in our 401(k) Plan
to all employees on a non-discriminatory basis. Medical insurance premiums are charged to employees at varying levels based on total cash
compensation .
Post-Employment Compensation
Pension Benefits
We
do not currently provide pension arrangements or post-retirement health coverage for our employees .
Retirement Benefits
Our
executive officers are generally eligible to participate in our 401(k) Plan. Pursuant to our 401(k) Plan, all U.S. eligible
employees, including our executive officers, are provided with a means of saving for their retirement. While we have a 401(k) match
for some of our employees, we currently do not match any of our executive officers’ contributions to our 401(k) Plan .
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation
We
do not provide any nonqualified deferred compensation plans to our employees .
33
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT
The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed
the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, which we refer to as the “CD&A,” set forth in this document with management
of the Company and, based on such review and discussions, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Company’s Board of Directors
that the CD&A be included in this document.
Dated: April 30, 2026
THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
Virginia S. Bauer, Chair
Jay Itzkowitz
Kenneth A. McIntyre
34
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Summary Compensation Table
(a)
Name and
Principal Position
(b)
Year
(c)
Salary
($)
(d)
Bonus
($) (1)
(e)
Equity
Awards
($) (2)(3)
(f)
Option
Awards
($)
(g)
Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
($) (4)
(h)
Change in
Pension
Value and
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
($)
(i)
All Other
Compensation
($)
(j)
Total
($)
Barry M. Gosin,
2025
1,000,000
1,500,000
— *
—
—
—
168,848 (5)
2,668,848 *
Chief Executive Officer
2024
1,000,000
6,500,000
20,000,000
—
—
—
159,664 (5)
27,659,664
2023
1,000,000
6,500,000
40,000,000
—
—
—
238,735 (5)
47,738,735
Michael J. Rispoli,
2025
850,000
—
—
—
1,500,000
—
—
2,350,000
Chief Financial
2024
850,000
—
—
—
600,000
—
—
1,450,000
Officer
2023
850,000
—
—
—
500,000
—
—
1,350,000
Stephen M. Merkel,
2025
500,000
—
1,300,000
—
—
1,800,000
Chief Legal Officer
2024
500,000
—
—
—
1,150,000
—
—
1,650,000
2023
500,000
—
—
—
1,000,000
—
—
1,500,000
Luis A. Alvarado,
2025
953,846
—
2,150,000
—
—
3,103,846
Chief Operating Officer (6)
2024
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
2023
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
Howard W. Lutnick,
2025
136,986
—
5,792,626
—
—
—
—
5,929,612
Former Executive Chairman (7)
2024
1,000,000
10,000,000
—
—
9,000,000
—
—
20,000,000
2023
1,000,000
10,000,000
—
—
9,000,000
—
—
20,000,000
* The amount for Mr. Gosin excludes $15,000,000 of awards granted in
prior periods, which were instead reported in the year of grant ($10,000,000 in 2023 and $5,000,000 in 2024) in accordance with SEC disclosure
rules. These amounts were attributed by the Compensation Committee to be part of Mr. Gosin’s 2025 compensation package. Accordingly,
if these amounts had been included in Mr. Gosin’s 2025 compensation in the Summary Compensation Table above, the Total Compensation
for 2025 reported under column (j) above for Mr. Gosin would have been $17,668,648.
(1) For Mr. Gosin, the $1,500,000 in Column (d) for
2025 represents the $1,500,000 cash bonus Mr. Gosin received with respect to 2025 pursuant to the terms of the 2023 Gosin Employment
Agreement, (ii) the $6,500,000 in column (d) for 2024 represents the $5,000,000 cash retention bonus paid to Mr. Gosin in 2024
in connection with the terms of the 2024 Gosin Employment Agreement and the $1,500,000 cash bonus Mr. Gosin received with respect
to 2024 pursuant to the terms of the 2023 Gosin Employment Agreement, and (iii) the $6,500,000 in column (d) for 2023 represents
the $5,000,000 discretionary cash bonus paid to Mr. Gosin in 2023 and approved by the Compensation Committee on December 12,
2023 and the $1,500,000 cash bonus Mr. Gosin received with respect to 2023 pursuant to the terms of the 2023 Gosin Employment Agreement.
35
For Mr. Howard Lutnick, Column (d) includes $10,000,000
paid to Mr. Howard Lutnick in each of 2024 and 2023 in connection with the Historical Lutnick Award described above under “Historical
Lutnick Award.”
(2) Column (e) does not include units that have previously appeared
in the Summary Compensation Table as compensation in prior years and were reflected in column (g) of the table for each of those prior
years at their full notional dollar values, or the monetization thereof.
See “Compensation
Discussion and Analysis — Transactions with and Modifications of Awards to Executive Officers” and “Compensation Discussion
and Analysis — Former Standing Policy for Mr. Howard W. Lutnick” for a discussion of the monetization events in prior years
relating to these previously reported units.
(3) Gosin column (e) summary
The 2025 amount under column (e) for
Mr. Gosin excludes the grant date fair values of the awards previously issued to Mr. Gosin under the 2023 Gosin Employment Agreement
and 2024 Gosin Employment Agreement as noted below, which is each disclosed in its entirety in its respective grant year in accordance
with SEC rules, but were attributed by the Compensation Committee to have been part of Mr. Gosin’s compensation with respect
to calendar year 2025 due to their exchangeability set forth in the applicable employment agreement ($10,000,000 attributed to calendar
year 2025 from the 2023 Gosin Employment Agreement Award and $5,000,000 attributed to calendar year 2025 from the 2024 Gosin Employment
Agreement Award). Including only these attributed amounts to Mr. Gosin’s 2025 compensation in the Summary Compensation Table would
result in the amount of $17,668,648 being reported for Mr. Gosin in 2025 under column (j).
The 2024 amount of $20,000,000
under column (e) for Mr. Gosin represents the fair value at the time of grant of 1,694,915 non-exchangeable Newmark Holdings
NPSUs granted in 2024 to Mr. Gosin at $11.80 per unit (which was the price of our Class A common stock on August 7, 2024),
which had a schedule for the grant of exchange rights pursuant to the terms of the 2024 Gosin Employment Agreement. The grant date fair
value of this award is disclosed in its entirety in calendar year 2024 in accordance with SEC rules but is attributed by the Compensation
Committee to be part of Mr. Gosin’s compensation with respect to each of calendar years 2026 and 2025 ($15,000,000 to
be attributed to calendar year 2026 and $5,000,000 attributed to calendar year 2025. Including only these attributed amounts to Mr. Gosin’s
2024 compensation in the Summary Compensation Table (and including the amounts attributed to 2024 relating to Mr. Gosin’s
$40,000,000 award granted in 2023 as described below) would result in the amount of $17,659,664 being reported for Mr. Gosin in
2024 under column (j).
The 2023 amount of $40,000,000 under column (e) for
Mr. Gosin represents the fair value at the time of grant of 4,581,902 non-exchangeable Newmark Holdings NPSUs granted in 2023 to
Mr. Gosin at $8.73 per unit (which was the price of our Class A common stock on February 10, 2023), which had a schedule
for the grant of exchange rights pursuant to the terms of the 2023 Gosin Employment Agreement. The grant date fair value of this award
is disclosed in its entirety in calendar year 2023 in accordance with SEC rules but were attributed ratably (in $10,000,000 increments
for each year) by the Compensation Committee to Mr. Gosin’s compensation with respect to each of calendar years 2025,
2024, 2023 and 2022. Including only these attributed amounts to Mr. Gosin’s 2023 compensation in the Summary Compensation Table
would result in the amount of $17,738,735 being reported for Mr. Gosin in 2023 under column (j).
See “— Employment Agreements — Gosin
Employment Agreement” below for more information, including regarding the criteria and schedule for the grant of exchange rights
to the units described above.
Howard Lutnick column (e) summary
The 2025 amount of $5,792,626 under
column (e) for Mr. Lutnick represents the aggregate fair value of the exchange of 250,000 exchangeable PSUs into 250,000 shares of our
Company Class A common stock at $14.14 per share and the exchange of 250,000 exchangeable PPSUs for their determination amount of $2,512,000.
These 250,000 PSUs and 250,000 PPSUs were issued to Mr. Howard Lutnick in connection with the monetization of long-term incentive awards
originally issued to Mr. Howard Lutnick in 2019 in the form of NPSUs and PNPSUs, which were not previously included in column (g) at
full notional value.
36
Rispoli column (e) summary
The compensation amounts for 2025, 2024, and 2023 for Mr.
Rispoli exclude the previously reported 2022 amount of $5,650,000 under column (e) for Mr. Rispoli which represented the
fair value at the time of grant of the 750,000 Newmark RSUs granted to Mr. Rispoli in connection with the execution of the Rispoli
Employment Agreement on September 29, 2022. The award consisted of: (i) 100,000 Newmark RSUs granted as consideration for entering
into the Rispoli Employment Agreement, (ii) 400,000 Newmark RSUs presented in their totality in calendar year 2022 in accordance
with SEC rules but attributed ratably by the Compensation Committee to Mr. Rispoli’s compensation with respect to each of calendar years
2025, 2024, 2023, and 2022 (100,000 RSUs attributed to each year), and (iii) 250,000 RSUs presented in their totality in calendar
year 2022 in accordance with SEC rules but attributed ratably by the Compensation Committee to Mr. Rispoli’s compensation with
respect to each of calendar years 2026, 2025, 2024, 2023, and 2022 (50,000 RSUs attributed to each year). Including only these attributed
amounts to Mr. Rispoli’s 2025, 2024, and 2023 compensation in the Summary Compensation Table would result in the amounts of $3,850,000,
$2,950,000, $2,850,000 being reported for Mr. Rispoli for 2025, 2024, and 2023, respectively, under column (j).
See “— Employment Agreements — Rispoli
Employment Agreement” below for more information, including the schedule for the vesting of these RSUs. Information regarding the
assumptions used in computing the fair value of the RSUs is included in is included in “Note 27. Compensation” to the
consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of the 2025 Form 10-K
Alvarado column (e) summary
Column (e) does not include Mr. Alvarado’s
partnership units awarded to and held by Mr. Alvarado prior to his appointment as Chief Operating Officer on April 7, 2025. Column (e)
also does not include the grant of 88,731 NPSUs Mr. Alvarado received in connection with his appointment because these awards were attributed
to his 2024 compensation. These do not represent a right to acquire shares of Newmark Class A common stock, nor do they entitle Mr. Alvarado
to receive post-termination cash payments. These will be included if and when an exchange right is granted or common stock is issued in
connection with the redemption of these units. See “Tax and Accounting Treatment” for more information about how limited partnership
units are accounted for.
(4) The awards represented in column (g) for 2025 reflect
the bonus awards to our named executive officers (“NEOs”) under our Incentive Plan, which typically are granted in a combination
of cash and partnership unit awards, and were approved on February 18, 2026.
For 2025, Mr. Rispoli’s Incentive Plan bonus was paid
$1,050,000 in cash and $450,000 in the form of 15,669 non-exchangeable PSUs and 15,669 non-exchangeable PPSUs. For 2025, Mr. Merkel’s
Incentive Plan bonus was paid $812,500 in cash and $487,500 in the form of 16,974 non-exchangeable PSUs and 16,974 non-exchangeable PPSUs.
For 2025, Mr. Alvarado’s Incentive Plan bonus was paid $1,190,000 in cash compensation and $960,000 in the form of 33,426 non-exchangeable
PSUs and 33,426 non-exchangeable PPSUs. The approval and issuance of Messrs. Rispoli, Merkel, and Alvarado’s PSUs and PPSUs awards
were effective as of April 1, 2026 and reflect a price of $14.36 per unit (the closing price of our Class A common stock of $15.50 as
of February 18, 2026 as adjusted by the then applicable exchange ratio of 0.9264).
For 2024, Mr. Howard Lutnick’s Incentive Plan bonus
was paid $4,000,000 in cash and $5,000,000 in the form of 419,112 shares of our Class A common stock, based upon the closing price
of $11.93 of our Class A common stock on January 13, 2025; Mr. Rispoli’s bonus was paid $600,000 in cash; and Mr. Merkel’s
bonus was paid $737,500 in cash and $412,500 in the form of 18,682 non-exchangeable PSUs and 18,682 non-exchangeable PPSUs. The approval
and issuance of Mr. Merkel’s PSU and PPSU awards were effective April 1, 2025 and reflect a price of $11.04 per unit (the
closing price of our Class A common stock of $11.93 as of January 13, 2025 as adjusted by the then applicable exchange ratio
of 0.9257).
For
2023, Mr. Howard Lutnick’s Incentive Plan bonus was paid $4,000,000 in cash and $5,000,000 in the form of 500,000 non-exchangeable
Newmark Holdings PSUs at $10.00 per unit; Mr. Rispoli’s bonus was paid $500,000 in cash; and Mr. Merkel’s bonus
was paid $500,000 in cash and $500,000 in the form of 25,000 non-exchangeable Newmark Holdings PSUs and 25,000 non-exchangeable Newmark
Holdings PPSUs at $10.00 per unit.
(5) Mr. Gosin receives the use of a car and driver in connection
with Mr. Gosin’s duties. Such personal benefits had an aggregate incremental cost of approximately $238,735 in 2023, $159,664
in 2024 and $168,848 in 2025.
(6) Mr. Alvarado served as Chief Operating Officer of the Company starting
on April 7, 2025. The base salary rate of $1,000,000 for Mr. Alvarado was established on April 7, 2025 by our Compensation Committee
upon his appointment as an executive officer . The amount reflected for
2025 in column (c) is Mr. Alvarado’s annualized paid amount out of which $725,000 represents the actual paid amount since serving
as Chief Operating Officer of the Company starting on April 7, 2025.
(7) Mr. Howard
Lutnick previously served as Executive Chairman until February 18, 2025, when he stepped down following his confirmation by the United States Senate as the 41 st Secretary of Commerce.
37
Grants of Plan-Based Awards
The following table shows all grants of plan-based
awards to the named executive officers in 2025:
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)
(i)
(j)
(k)
(l)
Estimated Possible Payouts Under Non Equity Incentive Plan
Estimated Future Payouts Under Equity Incentive Plan Awards
All Other Grant Awards: Number of Shares of Stock
or
All Other Grant Awards: Number of Securities Underlying
Exercise or Base Price of Option
Grant Date Fair Value of Stock and Option
Name
Grant
Date
Threshold ($)
Target ($)
Maximum ($) (1)
Threshold (#)
Target (#)
Maximum (#)
Units (2) (#)
Options
(#)
Awards ($/Sh)
Awards
($)
Barry M. Gosin
—
—
25,000,000
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
Michael J. Rispoli
—
—
25,000,000
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
Stephen M. Merkel
—
—
25,000,000
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
Luis Alvarado
—
—
25,000,000
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
Howard W. Lutnick (former Executive Chairman)
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
(1) The amounts in column (e) reflect the
maximum possible individual payment under the Incentive Plan. During 2025, there were no specific minimum or target levels under the
Incentive Plan. The $25,000,000 maximum amount was the maximum annual amount available for payment to any one executive officer
under the Incentive Plan at the time the Performance Goals were established, and our Compensation Committee retained negative
discretion to award less than this amount. Actual amounts paid to each named executive officer for 2025 are set forth in column
(g) of the Summary Compensation Table. Mr. Howard Lutnick previously served as Executive Chairman until February 18, 2025, when
he stepped down following his confirmation by the United States Senate as the 41st Secretary of Commerce. As a result, he was
not a participating executive for 2025 because he stepped down before the Compensation Committee designated the participating
executives for the Incentive Plan for 2025.
38
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End
None of the named executive officers held any
unexercised options as of December 31, 2025. The following table shows all exchangeable units representing a right to acquire shares
of our Class A common stock and unvested RSUs held by each of the named executive officers as of December 31, 2025:
Option Awards
Stock Awards
(a)
Name
(b)
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options/
Exchangeable
Units
Exercisable/
Exchangeable
(#) (1)
(c)
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options/
Exchangeable
Units
Unexercisable/
Unexchangeable
(#)
(d)
Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Unearned
Options
(#) (2)
(e)
Option
Exercise
Price
($)
(f)
Option
Expiration
Date
(g)
Number of
Shares or
Units of
Stock
That Have
Not Vested
(#) (3)
(h)
Market
Value of
Shares or
Units of
Stock
That
Have Not
Vested
($) (3)
(i)
Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Number of
Unearned
Shares,
Units or
Other
Rights
That
Have Not
Vested
(#)
(j)
Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Market or
Payout
Value of
Unearned
Shares,
Units or
Other
Rights
That
Have Not
Vested
($)
Barry M. Gosin
819,424
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
Michael J. Rispoli
33,307
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
642,837
11,146,794
—
—
Stephen M. Merkel
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
Luis. A. Alvarado
7,158
3,887
Howard W. Lutnick (former Executive Chairman)
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
(1) The numbers in column (b) represent the number of shares
of Class A common stock issuable if the exchangeable Newmark Holdings spin-off units granted in connection with the Spin-Off (“SPUs”),
PSUs, and granted in connection with acquisitions (“APSUs”) held by our NEOs, were exchanged on December 31, 2025 at
a 1:0.9258 basis (based on the exchange ratio as of December 31, 2025) for shares of Newmark’s Class A common stock.
As of December 31, 2025, the closing market price of a share of Class A common stock was $17.34.
For
Mr. Gosin, column (b) represents 885,098 exchangeable Newmark Holdings PSUs held as of December 31, 2025, which if exchanged
at the exchange ratio as of December 31, 2025 for shares of Newmark’s Class A common stock, would be exchanged for 819,424
shares.
For
Mr. Rispoli, column (b) represents 35,541exchangeable Newmark Holdings PSUs, and 436 exchangeable Newmark Holdings SPUs held
as of December 31, 2025, which if exchanged at the exchange ratio as of December 31, 2025 for shares of Newmark’s Class A
common stock, would be exchanged for 33,307 shares. Column (b) does not include 34,510 exchangeable PPSUs held by Mr. Rispoli
as of December 31, 2025 because they do not represent a right to acquire shares of Class A common stock. These PPSUs are exchangeable
for cash in connection with the exchange of the related PSUs for shares based upon the applicable determination price of each grant of
PPSUs, which had a weighted-average determination price of $11.26, for an aggregate of $388,718.
For Mr. Alvarado, column (b) represents
7,351.27 exchangeable Newmark Holdings PSUs and 380.34 exchangeable SPUs held as of December 30, 2025, which if exchanged at the exchange
ratio as of December 31, 2025 for shares of Newmark’s Class A common stock, would be exchanged for 7,158 shares. Column (b)
does not include 6,422 exchangeable PPSUs held by Mr. Alvarado as of December 31, 2025 because they do not represent a right to acquire
shares of Class A common stock. These PPSUs are exchangeable for cash in connection with the exchange of the related PSUs for shares
based upon the applicable determination price of each grant of PPSUs, which had a weighted-average determination price of $15.38, for
an aggregate of $98,794.
39
As
of December 31, 2025, the executives held the following non-exchangeable Newmark Holdings PSUs, APSUs, or NPSUs after conversion
into PSUs that were eligible to be granted exchange rights into Newmark Class A common stock: Mr. Gosin: 6,506,539 units
(inclusive of the non-exchangeable units described below in footnote (2)); Mr. Rispoli: 52,538 units; Mr. Merkel: 73,657 units;
Mr. Alvarado 155,209 units; and Mr. Howard Lutnick: 0 units.
As
of December 31, 2025, Messrs. Rispoli and Merkel did not hold any Newmark Holdings NPSUs/NPPSUs that are eligible to be replaced
by non-exchangeable Newmark Holdings PSUs/PPSUs, which in turn would be eligible to be granted exchange rights for shares of Newmark Class A
common stock or cash.
Column (b) also does not include non-exchangeable Newmark Holdings PPSUs held as of December 31, 2025 because they did not
represent a right to acquire our Class A common stock. As of December 31, 2025, the non-exchangeable Newmark Holdings PPSUs
held by the named executive officers were as follows: Mr. Howard Lutnick: 0 units; Mr. Gosin: 0 units; Mr. Rispoli:
52,538 non-exchangeable PPSUs, which had a weighted-average determination price of $11.96, for an aggregate of $628,379; Mr. Merkel:
73,657 non-exchangeable PPSUs, which had a weighted-average determination price of $8.83, for an aggregate of $650,188; and Mr. Alvarado:
65,804 non-exchangeable PPSUs, which had a weighted-average determination price of $9.69, for an aggregate of $627,683.
(2) For Mr. Gosin, column (d) excludes the aggregate of
(i) 1,238,620 non-exchangeable PSUs that Mr. Gosin received in conversion of 1,145,474 NPSUs, as adjusted by the then current
exchange ratio, pursuant to the 2023 Gosin Employment Agreement on December 31, 2025; (ii) the 457,689 non-exchangeable PSUs that Mr. Gosin
received in conversion of 423,729 NPSUs, as adjusted by the then current exchange ratio, pursuant to the 2024 Gosin Employment Agreement
on December 31, 2025; and the 1,271,186 NPSUs remaining from the award of 1,694,915 NPSUs that Mr. Gosin received on August 7,
2024. These PSUs began receiving exchange rights in ratable portions on December 31, 2023, in accordance with the terms and conditions
as set forth in the 2023 Gosin Employment Agreement. See “— Employment Agreements — Gosin Employment
Agreement” below for more information and the schedule of the grant of exchange rights to these units.
(3) Mr. Rispoli’s
unvested 642,837 Newmark RSUs had an aggregate market value of $11,146,794 as of December 31, 2025, based on the closing price of
our Class A common stock of $17.34 on December 31, 2025. See “— Employment Agreements — Rispoli
Employment Agreement” for more information on the vesting schedule of these RSUs .
Mr. Alvarado’s unvested 3,887
Newmark RSUs had an aggregate market value of $67,401 as of December 31, 2025, based on the closing price of our Class A common
stock of $17.34 on December 31, 2025.
40
Option Exercises and Stock Vested
During 2025, Newmark had no outstanding stock options
and no options were exercised by any of the named executive officers. During 2025, certain RSUs held by Mr. Rispoli vested pursuant
to the terms of the Rispoli Employment Agreement, as detailed in the following table:
Option Awards
Stock Awards
Name
Number of shares
acquired on
exercise
(#)
Value realized
on exercise
($)
Number of shares
acquired on
vesting
(#)
Value realized
on vesting
($) (1)
Michael J. Rispoli
—
—
57,150
$ 795,656
(1) Represents
the aggregate fair market value of (i) Mr. Rispoli’s 42,865 shares of Class A common stock that vested on March 15,
2025 pursuant to the terms of the RSUs issued under his employment agreement, calculated based upon the closing price of the Company’s
Class A common stock on March 15, 2025, which was $12.40, and (ii) Mr. Rispoli’s 14,285 shares of Class A
common stock that vested on October 1, 2025 pursuant to the terms of the RSUs issued under his employment agreement, calculated
based upon the closing price of the Company’s Class A common stock on October 1, 2025, which was $18.49. See “— Employment
Agreements — Rispoli Employment Agreement” for more information on the vesting schedule of these RSUs .
Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control
The following table provides information regarding
the estimated amounts payable to the named executive officers listed below if the specified events had occurred on December 31, 2025
under their change in control and other agreements, described below, as in effect on December 31, 2025. Accordingly, the following
disclosure does not reflect changes in circumstances after December 31, 2025. All amounts are determined, where applicable, using
the $17.34 closing market price of our Class A common stock as of December 31, 2025, in accordance with SEC rules, and the exchange
ratio of 0.9264 as of December 31, 2025. All amounts, including estimated vesting of compensation and tax gross-up payments, are
subject to the specific terms and conditions set forth in the applicable change in control or other agreements and applicable law. Terms
used below are as defined in the applicable agreement.
41
The
following table excludes information relating to Mr. Howard Lutnick who previously served as Executive Chairman until February 18, 2025,
when he stepped down following his confirmation by the United States Senate as the 41st Secretary of Commerce. Mr. Howard Lutnick
was not entitled to any payments or benefits in connection with his stepping down and the termination of his employment.
Name
Base
Salary
Bonus
($)
Earned but
Unpaid
Commissions
Lump-
Sum
Payment
Non-
Compete
Payments
($)
Vesting of
Equity
Compensation
($)
Welfare
Benefit
Continuation
($)
Tax Gross-
Up Payment
($)
Total
($)
Barry M. Gosin (1)(2)(3)(4)
Continuation of employment in connection with a Change in Control
106,087,746
106,087,746
Termination of employment due to death prior to a Change of Control
—
1,500,000
—
—
106,087,746
—
—
107,587,746
Termination of employment due to permanent physical disability prior to a Change of Control
—
1,500,000
—
—
84,045,981
—
—
85,545,981
Termination of employment without Cause during the term of the Employment Agreement other than death or
permanent physical disability
1,000,000
3,000,000
—
—
2,000,000
106,087,746
—
—
112,087,746
Termination of Employment without Cause in connection with a Change of Control
—
—
—
12,500,000
2,000,000
106,087,746
76,4888
—
120,664,234
Michael J. Rispoli (5)(6)
Continuation of employment in connection with a Change in Control
12,378,924
12,378,924
Termination of employment without Cause in connection with a Change of Control
—
—
—
1,500,000
—
12,378,924
34,558
—
13,878,924
Stephen M. Merkel (7)(8)
Continuation of employment in connection with a Change in Control
—
1,832,633
1,832,633
Termination of employment due to death prior to a Change of Control
—
—
—
1,832,633
—
1,832,633
Termination of employment without Cause in connection with a Change of Control
500,000
1,300,000
—
1,832,633
145,371
—
3,778,004
Luis A. Alvarado (9)
Termination of employment without Cause
1,538,596
1,538,596
42
(1) Upon a termination of Mr. Gosin due to death or permanent physical disability, (i) any unpaid Cash Bonus amount due with
respect to a completed calendar year shall be paid in full; (ii) any unpaid Cash Bonus amount due with respect to the calendar year
in which the date of termination occurs shall be paid pro-rata for the period of January 1 of such year to the date of termination;
(iii) a prorated number of NPSUs issued as Deferred Comp Bonuses (as defined below) and scheduled to convert into PSUs on the next
applicable Conversion Date will so convert (and any remaining NPSUs subject to the Deferred Comp Bonuses shall be forfeited in the case
of disability); and (iv) Mr. Gosin’s then non-exchangeable units, but excluding any portion of the Deferred Comp Bonuses
in NPSU form in the case of disability, will, as determined by the General Partner of Newmark Holdings and as adjusted by the then-current
exchange ratio, as applicable, be (y) redeemed for cash or stock ratably over the first (1 st ) through third (3 rd )
anniversaries of such termination or (z) exchanged into restricted shares of stock and become transferable ratably over the first
(1 st ) through third (3 rd ) anniversaries of such termination. See “— Employment Agreements — Gosin
Employment Agreement” below.
As
of December 31, 2025, Mr. Gosin held 6,506,558 non-exchangeable units, of which 5,235,372 were not a portion of the Deferred
Comp Bonuses in NPSU form. Based on the closing price of our Class A common stock of $17.34 on December 31, 2025 and the exchange
ratio of 0.9258 as of December 31, 2025 with respect to the distribution earning units (i.e., the exchange ratio is not applicable
to the NPSUs), the value of the monetization of his units would have been $84,045,381.
(2) Upon a termination of Mr. Gosin’s employment without
Cause, Mr. Gosin shall receive (i) any unpaid Cash Bonus amounts on the originally scheduled payment dates; and (ii) Mr. Gosin’s
then non-exchangeable units will, as determined by the General Partner of Newmark Holdings and adjusted by the then-current exchange
ratio, as applicable, be (y) redeemed for cash or stock ratably over the first (1 st ) through third (3 rd ) anniversaries
of such termination or (z) exchanged into restricted shares of stock and become transferable ratably over the first (1 st )
through third (3 rd ) anniversaries of such termination. See “— Employment Agreements — Gosin
Employment Agreement” below.
As
of December 31, 2025, Mr. Gosin held 6,506,558 non-exchangeable units. Based on the closing price of our Class A common
stock of $17.34 on December 31, 2025 and the exchange ratio of 0.9258 as of December 31, 2025 with respect to the distribution
earning units (i.e., the exchange ratio is not applicable to the NPSUs), the value of the monetization of his units would have been $106,087,746.
(3) Upon a Change of Control, Mr. Gosin’s then non-exchangeable
units will, as determined by the General Partner of Newmark Holdings and adjusted by the then-current exchange ratio, as applicable,
be (y) redeemed for cash or stock ratably over the first (1 st ) through third (3 rd ) anniversaries of such termination
or (z) exchanged into restricted shares of stock and become transferable ratably over the first (1 st ) through third (3 rd )
anniversaries of such termination. In the event that, during the three-year period immediately following a Change of Control, Mr. Gosin’s
employment is terminated without Cause, Mr. Gosin would also have the right to receive: (i) a lump sum cash payment of $12,500,000;
and (ii) certain medical benefits. See “— Employment Agreements — Gosin Employment Agreement”
below.
As
of December 31, 2025, Mr. Gosin held 6,506,558 non-exchangeable units. Based on the closing price of our Class A common
stock of $17.34 on December 31, 2025 and the exchange ratio of 0.9258 as of December 31, 2025 with respect to the distribution
earning units (i.e., the exchange ratio is not applicable to the NPSUs), the value of the monetization of his units would have been $106,087,746.
(4) As of December 31, 2025, following a termination of Mr. Gosin’s
employment for any reason, he would be eligible to receive a monthly cash payment equal to $83,333 in exchange for his compliance with
non-compete obligations for 24 months. See “— Employment Agreements — Gosin Employment Agreement”
below for more information, as well information regarding the intention as of the execution of the 2024 Gosin Employment Agreement of
the General Partner of Newmark Holdings regarding compensation that Mr. Gosin may receive upon his permanent retirement from the
real estate brokerage industry.
43
(5) Upon a Change of Control, (i) any PSUs or PPSUs held by
Mr. Rispoli will be redeemed for cash or stock ratably over the first through third anniversaries of such Change of Control, or
exchanged into restricted stock that becomes transferable ratably over the first through third anniversaries of such Change of Control,
in each case as adjusted by the then-current exchange ratio and determined by Newmark Holdings, and (ii) any then-unvested RSUs
held by Mr. Rispoli that would not otherwise vest under their terms by the third anniversary of such Change of Control will vest
into stock or cash ratably over the first through third anniversaries of such Change of Control, provided that Mr. Rispoli remains
employed and in good standing pursuant to the employment agreement. See “— Change of Control Agreements.”
As
of December 31, 2025, Mr. Rispoli held 52,538 non-exchangeable PSUs. Based on the closing price of our Class A common stock
of $17.34 on December 31, 2025 and the exchange ratio of 0.9258 as of December 31, 2025, the value of monetization of his units
would have been $843,412.
As
of December 31, 2025, Mr. Rispoli held 52,538 PPSUs with a determination amount of $388,718.
As
of December 31, 2025, Mr. Rispoli held 642,837 RSUs. Based on the closing price of Class A common stock of $17.34 on December 31,
2025, these 642,837 RSUs had a value of $11,146,794.
(6) Additionally, in the event that, during the three-year period
immediately following a change of control, Mr. Rispoli’s employment is terminated without Cause, Mr. Rispoli will be
entitled to a lump-sum payment of $1,500,000 subject to delivery by Mr. Rispoli to the Company of an irrevocable release of claims
in favor of the Company and its affiliates in customary form. See “— Employment Agreements — Rispoli
Employment Agreement.”
(7) Upon a termination of Mr. Merkel’s employment without Cause; Mr. Merkel shall receive (i) Mr.
Merkel’s annual discretionary bonus (whether in cash, non-cash, or otherwise, based upon their notional value at grant) with respect
to the fiscal year completed immediately before the Change of Control; and (ii) Mr. Merkel’s then non-exchangeable units
will, as determined by the General Partner of Newmark Holdings and adjusted by the then-current exchange ratio, as applicable, be (y) redeemed
for cash or stock ratably over the first (1 st ) through third (3 rd ) anniversaries of such termination or (z) exchanged
into restricted shares of stock and become transferable ratably over the first (1 st ) through third (3 rd ) anniversaries
of such termination; and (iii) Mr. Merkel will receive certain medical benefits. See “— Change of Control Agreements — Merkel
Agreement” below.
As of December 31, 2025, Mr. Merkel held 73,657
non-exchangeable PSUs. Based on the closing price of our Class A common stock of $17.34 on December 31, 2025 and the exchange
ratio of 0.9258 as of December 31, 2025, the value of the monetization of his units would have been $1,182,633.
As of December 31, 2025, Mr. Merkel
held 73,657 PPSUs with a determination amount of $650,188.
(8) Mr. Merkel would also entitled to a tax gross-up
for excess parachute payments, if any, that would be due in respect of the impact a Change in Control would have on certain of his outstanding
partnership units as stated in footnote (7). There is no aggregate tax-gross up payment upon either a termination of employment, or upon
an extension of employment, in connection with a Change in Control due when calculated based upon the equity compensation in footnote
(7), and base salary, bonus, and welfare benefit continuation as of December 31, 2025.
(9) Upon a termination of Mr. Alvarado’s employment without Cause, Mr. Alvarado’s non-exchangeable units granted under
Mr. Alvarado will, as determined by the General Partner of Newmark Holdings and adjusted by the then-current exchange ratio, as applicable,
be (y) redeemed for cash or stock ratably over the first (1 st ) through fourth (4 th ) anniversaries of such termination
or (z) exchanged into restricted shares of stock and become transferable ratably over the first (1 st ) through fourth (4 th )
anniversaries of such termination.
As of December 31, 2025, Mr. Alvarado held
88,731 NPSUs granted under the Alvarado Offer Letter. Based on the closing price of our Class A common stock of $17.34 on December 31,
2025 (i.e., the exchange ratio is not applicable to the NPSUs), the value of the monetization of his units would have been $1,538,596.
44
Change of Control Agreements
Gosin Agreement
On
February 10, 2023, Mr. Gosin entered into an amended and restated employment agreement with Newmark Partners, L.P. (“Newmark
OpCo”) and Newmark Holdings which replaced his prior employment agreement, as amended from time to time, effective as of December 1,
2017, and which includes certain change of control provisions. On August 7, 2024, Mr. Gosin entered into a further amended and
restated employment agreement, which also includes certain change of control provisions. See the heading “— Employment
Agreements — Gosin Employment Agreement” below for more information .
Rispoli Agreement
On September 29, 2022, Mr. Rispoli entered
into an employment agreement with Newmark OpCo and Newmark Holdings which includes certain change of control provisions. See“— Employment
Agreements — Rispoli Employment Agreement” below for more information.
Merkel Agreement
On February 18, 2025, Mr. Merkel entered
into a Change of Control Agreement with the Company (the “Merkel CIC Agreement”). Under the Merkel CIC Agreement, if a Change
of Control (as defined in the Merkel CIC Agreement) of the Company occurs, Mr. Merkel will be entitled to monetization of, and the
Company’s redemption of, his then non-exchangeable PSUs over three years following the Change of Control, provided he continues
providing substantial services to the Company or any affiliate during that time, and subject to the other terms of the Merkel CIC Agreement.
Additionally, in the event he is terminated without Cause (as defined in the Merkel CIC Agreement) within three years following the
Change of Control, he will be paid (i) a lump sum of his then-current annualized salary, plus his annual discretionary bonus with
respect to the fiscal year completed immediately before the Change of Control, (ii) two years of medical benefits, and (iii) continued
monetization of his PSUs over the foregoing schedule notwithstanding his termination of employment.
Employment Agreements
Gosin Employment Agreement
On February 10, 2023, Mr. Gosin entered
into an employment agreement (the “2023 Gosin Employment Agreement”) with Newmark OpCo and Newmark Holdings, which replaced
his prior employment agreement, as amended from time to time, effective as of December 1, 2017. In connection with the 2023 Gosin
Employment Agreement, the Compensation Committee approved (i) for an initial term (the “Initial Term”) through at least
2025, an annual cash bonus of $1,500,000; (ii) an upfront award of four tranches of 1,145,475 NPSUs each (calculated by dividing
$10,000,000 by the Company’s stock price of $8.73 on February 10, 2023) attributable to each year of 2022, 2023, 2024, and
2025 and (iii) the continued ability to receive discretionary bonuses, if any, subject to approval of the Compensation Committee
(the “First NPSUs Deferred Comp Award”).
On August 7, 2024 (the “2024 Gosin Employment
Agreement Effective Date”), Mr. Gosin entered into a Second Amended and Restated Employment Agreement with Newmark OpCo and
Newmark Holdings (the “2024 Gosin Employment Agreement”), which superseded and replaced the Gosin Employment Agreement. In
connection with the execution of the 2024 Gosin Employment Agreement and as consideration for his continued service, in addition to the
awards previously provided for by the 2023 Gosin Employment Agreement, Mr. Gosin was granted (i) a one-time cash retention payment
of $5,000,000, subject to continued employment in good standing through December 31, 2026; (ii) an award of 1,694,915 NPSUs,
effective as of October 1, 2024, calculated by dividing the total NPSU award by the closing stock price on August 7, 2024, of
which $5,000,000 of NPSUs are attributable to calendar year 2025 and $15,000,000 of NPSUs are attributable to calendar year 2026 (the
“Second NPSUs Deferred Comp Award,” and together with the First NPSUs Deferred Comp Award, collectively, the “Deferred
Comp Bonuses”); and (iii) a cash bonus in the gross amount of $1,500,000 with respect to calendar year 2026, payable in calendar
year 2027 at such time as bonuses with respect to calendar year 2026 are generally distributed to other similarly situated employees of
Newmark OpCo in connection with the year-end compensation review process. Mr. Gosin’s annual total contractual compensation
under the 2024 Gosin Employment Agreement would be $17,500,000 for each of calendar years 2024, 2025, and 2026 (comprised of $1,000,000
salary and $16,500,000 in combined NPSUs and cash awards attributed by the Company) and consistent with his total compensation for calendar
year 2023 pursuant to the 2023 Gosin Employment Agreement.
45
Subject to the terms of the 2024 Gosin Employment
Agreement and the grant documents under which the Second NPSUs Deferred Comp Award was awarded, 25% of the Second NPSUs Deferred Comp
Award shall convert into non-exchangeable PSUs on December 31, 2025, and 75% of the Second NPSUs Deferred Comp Award shall convert
into non-exchangeable PSUs on December 31, 2026, in each case as adjusted by the then current exchange ratio, subject to the requirements
that, as of each applicable conversion date (i) the Company (including its affiliates) earns, in the aggregate, at least $10,000,000
in gross revenues in the calendar quarter in which the applicable conversion is to occur, and (ii) except as otherwise provided in
the 2024 Gosin Employment Agreement, Mr. Gosin continues to perform substantial services exclusively for Newmark OpCo or any of its
affiliates, remains a partner in Newmark Holdings, and complies with the terms of the 2024 Gosin Employment Agreement and any of his obligations
to Newmark Holdings, Newmark OpCo or any affiliate. 25% of each of the 2025 and 2026 tranches in non-exchangeable PSUs received upon conversion
of the Second NPSUs Deferred Comp Award will receive exchange rights on December 31 of each year after such conversion, consistent
with the schedule for the grant of exchange rights provided for the NPSUs Mr. Gosin received in connection with the 2023 Gosin Employment
Agreement, which remains unchanged other than that 1,145,476 of Mr. Gosin’s NPSUs previously awarded under the 2023 Gosin Employment
Agreement were adjusted by the exchange ratio and converted into 1,238,620 non-exchangeable PSUs as soon as practicable after the 2024
Gosin Employment Agreement Effective Date, rather than on their previously scheduled conversion date of December 31, 2024. Such PSUs
will continue to receive exchange rights as previously contemplated in the 2023 Gosin Employment Agreement.
In
accordance with the 2023 Gosin Employment Agreement (as maintained by the 2024 Gosin Employment Agreement), Mr. Gosin’s NPSUs
award had the following features: (i) the NPSUs shall convert into non-exchangeable PSUs, provided that, as of each applicable conversion
date: (x) Newmark, inclusive of its affiliates, earns, in the aggregate, at least $10,000,000 in gross revenues in the calendar quarter
in which the applicable award of PSUs is to be converted and (y) Mr. Gosin is still performing substantial services exclusively
for Newmark or an affiliate, has not given notice of termination of his services except for circumstances set forth in the 2024 Gosin
Employment Agreement, and has not breached his obligations under the Partnership Agreement; and (ii) such PSUs as converted from
NPSUs shall become exchangeable in ratable portions as represented in the table below :
First NPSUs Deferred Comp Award
% of NPSUs
Converted to PSUs
NPSU to PSU
Effective
Conversion Date
Distribution-
Earning
Date
Ratable Portion of the
PSU Award Becoming
Exchangeable Per Year
Effective
Exchangeable
Dates
25%
April 1, 2023
April 1, 2023
1/7 th per year through December 31, 2025; 1/4 th of the then-remaining balance per year thereafter
December 31 of 2023 – 2029
25%
December 31, 2023
January 1, 2024
Same as above
December 31 of 2024 – 2029
25%
Within thirty (30) days or as soon as practicable after the 2024 Gosin Employment Agreement Effective Date
January 1, 2025
Same as above
December 31 of 2025 – 2029
25%
December 31, 2025
January 1, 2026
1/4 th per year
December 31 of 2026 – 2029
Second NPSUs Deferred Comp Award
% of NPSUs Converted
to PSUs
NPSU to PSU
Effective
Conversion Date
Distribution-
Earning
Date
Ratable
Portion of the
PSU Award
Becoming
Exchangeable
Per Year
Effective
Exchangeable
Dates
25%
December 31, 2025
January 1, 2026
1/4 th per year
December 31 of 2026 – 2029
75%
December 31, 2026
January 1, 2027
1/4 th per year
December 31 of 2027 – 2030
46
Additionally, the 2024 Gosin Employment Agreement
also provides that, if and only if Mr. Gosin is employed in good standing through December 31, 2026, then (i) 75% of the
aggregate number of PSUs issued in conversion of the Deferred Comp Bonus NPSUs, less the number of PSUs issued in conversion of the Deferred
Comp Bonus NPSUs that became exchangeable or were otherwise monetized during the Initial Term, shall become exchangeable; and (ii) the
remainder of such PSUs issued in conversion of the Deferred Comp Bonus NPSUs, to the extent not already exchangeable, shall become exchangeable,
irrespective of whether Mr. Gosin remains employed following the end of the Initial Term, effective over the first through fourth
anniversaries of the end of the Initial Term, if and only if Mr. Gosin does not breach any of his obligations under this 2024 Gosin
Employment Agreement for the period through the applicable effective exchangeable date. Such acceleration of exchangeability shall be
effectuated proportionately in relation to the dates upon which such non-exchangeable PSUs would otherwise have become exchangeable.
The 2024 Gosin Employment Agreement provides that
Mr. Gosin’s yearly salary will be $1,000,000.
During Mr. Gosin’s term of employment,
Newmark OpCo may terminate the 2024 Gosin Employment Agreement for “Cause,” as defined therein, without further obligation,
or due to Mr. Gosin’s death or disability. If Mr. Gosin is terminated without Cause (other than due to Mr. Gosin’s
death or disability), (i) he shall be entitled to receive, subject to his execution and delivery of a customary release, (x) his
salary through the remainder of the term of employment and (y) any unpaid cash bonus amounts on the originally scheduled payment
dates and (ii) Mr. Gosin’s then non-exchangeable partnership units will, as determined by the General Partner of Newmark
Holdings, be (a) redeemed for cash or stock ratably over the first (1 st ) through third (3 rd ) anniversaries
of such termination; or (b) exchanged into restricted shares of stock and become transferable ratably over first (1 st )
through third (3 rd ) anniversaries of such termination (provided that, with respect to clauses (a) and (b), Mr. Gosin
continues to satisfy the non-compete, non-solicitation and non-disparagement conditions set forth in the 2024 Gosin Employment Agreement
through the applicable transfer date). If Mr. Gosin is terminated due to his death or permanent physical disability, (i) he
shall be entitled to receive, subject to his execution of a customary release, (a) his salary through the date of termination, (b) any
unpaid cash bonus amount due with respect to a completed calendar year paid in full and (c) any unpaid cash bonus amounts due with
respect to the calendar year in which the date of termination occurs, paid pro-rata for the period of January 1 of such year to the
date of termination, (ii) a prorated number of the NPSUs issued as Deferred Comp Bonuses and scheduled to convert into PSUs on the
next conversion date will so convert (and any remaining NPSUs shall be forfeited, in the case of disability), and (iii) Mr. Gosin’s
PSUs (but excluding NPSUs issued as Deferred Comp Bonuses) will, as determined by the General Partner of Newmark Holdings, be (y) redeemed
for cash or stock ratably over the first (1 st ) through third (3 rd ) anniversaries of such termination or (z) exchanged
into restricted shares of stock and become transferable ratably over the first (1 st ) through third (3 rd ) anniversaries
of such termination (provided that, with respect to clauses (y) and (z), in the case of disability, Mr. Gosin continues to satisfy
the non-compete, non-solicitation and non-disparagement conditions set forth in the 2024 Gosin Employment Agreement through the applicable
transfer date).
In the event of a change of control, which will
occur if the Company is, or substantially all of the real estate brokerage and related businesses of the Company are, no longer controlled
by Cantor, Mr. Howard Lutnick, or a person or entity controlled by, controlling or under common control with Cantor, exclusive of
limited ownership changes, the 2024 Gosin Employment Agreement provides that Mr. Gosin’s then non-exchangeable partnership
units will, as determined by the General Partner of Newmark Holdings, be (a) redeemed for cash or stock ratably over the first (1 st )
through third (3 rd ) anniversaries of such change of control or (b) exchanged into restricted shares of stock and become
transferable ratably over the first (1 st ) through third (3 rd ) anniversaries of such change of control or as soon
as practicable thereafter, provided that Mr. Gosin remains employed in good standing through each applicable redemption or vesting
or transfer date. Additionally, in the event that, during the three-year period immediately following a change of control, Mr. Gosin’s
employment is terminated without Cause (as defined in the 2024 Gosin Employment Agreement), subject to Mr. Gosin’s execution
and delivery of a customary release, Mr. Gosin will be entitled to a lump-sum payment of $12,500,000 and certain medical benefits
as described in the 2024 Gosin Employment Agreement, and Mr. Gosin’s then non-exchangeable partnership units will, as determined
by the General Partner of Newmark Holdings, be (y) redeemed for cash or stock ratably over the first (1 st ) through third
(3 rd ) anniversaries of such termination or (z) exchanged into restricted shares of stock and become transferable ratably
over the first (1 st ) through third (3 rd ) anniversaries of such termination (provided that, with respect to clauses
(y) and (z), Mr. Gosin continues to satisfy the non-compete, non-solicitation and non-disparagement conditions set forth in
the 2024 Gosin Employment Agreement through the applicable transfer date).
47
In the event of Mr. Gosin’s permanent
retirement from the Company and the real estate brokerage industry, and only if Mr. Gosin is employed in good standing through the
Initial Term (extended by the 2024 Gosin Employment Agreement to be through December 31, 2026), it is the current intention of the
General Partner of Newmark Holdings that, subject to Mr. Gosin’s execution and delivery of a customary release, (i) Mr. Gosin
will receive his cash bonus for the applicable year, (ii) Mr. Gosin’s then non-exchangeable partnership units held at
the time of retirement (excluding the NPSU award described above) shall, at Mr. Gosin’s election, either be (a) as determined
by the General Partner of Newmark Holdings, redeemed for cash or stock ratably over the first (1 st ) through fourth (4 th )
anniversaries of such retirement or (b) exchanged into restricted shares of stock or deferred cash upon such retirement and become
transferable ratably over the first (1 st ) through fourth (4 th ) anniversaries of such retirement, and (iii) the
NPSU award described above shall be treated as described above; provided that Mr. Gosin continues to be retired and satisfy the non-compete,
non-solicitation and non-disparagement conditions set forth in the applicable documentation through the applicable transfer, redemption
or distribution date.
The 2024 Gosin Employment Agreement provided for
“Permitted Activities” that Mr. Gosin can engage in both during and following his employment, including conditions under
which Mr. Gosin may purchase or invest in real estate, including with an institutional real estate fund, in certain non-competitive
circumstances. Subject to certain exceptions, the 2024 Gosin Employment Agreement provides that during Mr. Gosin’s term of
employment and for a period of two (2) years thereafter, Mr. Gosin may not compete with the Company or any affiliate or solicit
clients or prospective clients of the Company or any affiliate. Subject to Mr. Gosin’s execution and delivery of a customary
release, among other requirements, Mr. Gosin is entitled to receive $83,333.33 per month during the non-compete period (unless Mr. Gosin
breaches the 2024 Gosin Employment Agreement, at which time any such payments will cease). Additionally, the 2024 Gosin Employment Agreement
provides that during Mr. Gosin’s term of employment and for a period of five (5) years thereafter, Mr. Gosin may
not solicit or hire any employees, consultants or independent contractors of the Company or any affiliate.
The 2024 Gosin Employment Agreement restated the
circumstances under which Mr. Gosin may purchase or invest in real estate personally, or through a fund that is not owned or controlled
by any of Newmark’s brokerage competitors, to provide that he may do so and may earn success-based payments, provided that Mr. Gosin
will inform the Company’s Chairman of all material terms of such opportunity and offer the Company or its designee the opportunity
to partner up to 50% with Mr. Gosin on the same terms and conditions as Mr. Gosin.
Rispoli Employment Agreement
On September 29, 2022, Mr. Rispoli entered
into an employment agreement (the “Rispoli Employment Agreement”) with Newmark OpCo and Newmark Holdings. In connection with
the Rispoli Employment Agreement, the Compensation Committee approved the following for Mr. Rispoli: (i) an award of 500,000
Newmark RSUs, divided into tranches of 100,000 RSUs each that vest on a seven-year schedule as follows:
# of RSUs in Award
Ratable Portion of the 100,000
Tranche Vesting Per Year
Vesting Dates
100,000
1/7 th
October 1 of 2023 – 2029
100,000
1/7 th
March 15 of 2024 – 2030
100,000
1/7 th
March 15 of 2025 – 2031
100,000
1/7 th
March 15 of 2026 – 2032
100,000
1/7 th
March 15 of 2027 – 2033
and (ii) an award of 250,000 Newmark RSUs,
divided into tranches of 50,000 RSUs each that vest on a seven-year schedule as follows:
# of RSUs in Award
Ratable Portion of the 50,000
Tranche Vesting Per Year
Vesting Dates
50,000
1/7 th
March 15 of 2024 – 2030
50,000
1/7 th
March 15 of 2025 – 2031
50,000
1/7 th
March 15 of 2026 – 2032
50,000
1/7 th
March 15 of 2027 – 2033
50,000
1/7 th
March 15 of 2028 – 2034
The Rispoli Employment Agreement provides for a
yearly salary of $850,000. Under the Rispoli Employment Agreement, Mr. Rispoli is provided an initial term of employment of five
(5) years, and thereafter the term of employment will be extended automatically for successive one-year periods unless either party
notifies the other party in writing at least ninety (90) days prior to the expiration of the initial term of employment or any renewal
period of such party’s intention not to extend the term of employment.
48
In the event of a change of control, which will
occur if the Company is, or substantially all of the real estate brokerage and related businesses of the Company are, no longer controlled
by Cantor, Mr. Howard Lutnick, or a person or entity controlled by, controlling or under common control with Cantor, exclusive of
limited ownership changes (i) Mr. Rispoli’s then-non-exchangeable Newmark Holdings units will be redeemed for cash or
stock ratably over the first through third anniversaries of such change of control, or exchanged into restricted stock that becomes transferable
ratably over the first through third anniversaries of such change of control, in each case as adjusted by the then-current exchange ratio
and determined by Newmark Holdings, and (ii) Mr. Rispoli’s then-unvested Newmark RSUs that would not otherwise vest under
their terms by the third anniversary of such change of control will vest into stock or cash ratably over the first through third anniversaries
of such change of control or as soon as practicable thereafter, provided that Mr. Rispoli remains employed and in good standing
pursuant to the Rispoli Employment Agreement. Additionally, in the event that, during the three-year period immediately following a change
of control, Mr. Rispoli’s employment is terminated without Cause (as defined in the Rispoli Employment Agreement), Mr. Rispoli
will be entitled to a lump-sum payment of $1,500,000 and certain medical benefits as described in the Rispoli Employment Agreement in
addition to the awards described above, with such additional payments and benefits being subject to delivery by Mr. Rispoli to the
Company of an irrevocable release of claims in favor of the Company and its affiliates in customary form.
The
Rispoli Employment Agreement provides that Mr. Rispoli may not (i) compete with the Company or its affiliates or solicit clients
or prospective clients of the Company or any affiliate for a period of two (2) years after the termination of his employment, or
(ii) solicit or hire employees or certain former employees of the Company or any affiliate to leave their employment of or to discontinue
their services to the Company or any affiliate for a period of three (3) years after the termination of his employment. The Rispoli
Employment Agreement also contains customary confidentiality and non-disparagement provisions .
Alvarado Offer Letter
On April 7, 2025, Mr. Alvarado entered
into an offer letter (the “Alvarado Offer Letter”) with Newmark OpCo. Under the terms of the Alvarado Offer Letter, Mr. Alvarado
receives a base salary of $1,000,000 per year. Additionally, Mr. Alvarado is eligible to receive incentive bonus awards under our
Incentive Plan, and discretionary bonuses, and equity and partnership awards under our Equity Plan and our Participation Plan. In connection
with his appointment, Mr. Alvarado received an award of 88,731 NPSUs, with the number of NPSUs awarded based upon $1,000,000 divided
by $11.27, the closing price of one share of our Class A common stock on April 3, 2025. Such NPSUs shall be eligible for conversion
into non-exchangeable PSUs on April 1, 2027, provided Mr. Alvarado continues to perform substantial services for Newmark or
its affiliates on that date.
Mr. Alvarado’s employment is at-will
and both he and the Company will be required to provide six months’ advance written notice of termination of his employment
(other than in connection with cause, death or disability). He also will be subject to a client non-solicitation restriction for one
year following termination of employment, an employee non-solicitation/no-hire restriction for two years following termination of
employment, and other customary confidentiality and intellectual property restrictions.
Prior
to his appointment as Chief Operating Officer on April 7, 2025, Mr. Alvarado had entered into a bonus award with the Company in
the amount of $690,000 which contained certain repayment obligations to the Company if he ceased performing substantial services for
Newmark or its affiliates or breached his other agreements with Newmark or its affiliates prior to December 31, 2025. In connection
with his appointment as Chief Operating Officer, this award was modified to remove any potential repayment obligations .
49
2025 Principal Executive Officer Pay Ratio
The following information contains the relationship
of the annual total compensation of the median employee of Newmark and its subsidiaries to the annual total compensation of Mr. Gosin,
who serves as our Chief Executive Officer and principal executive officer (“PEO”). Our PEO was previously Mr. Howard Lutnick
until February 18, 2025, when he stepped down following his confirmation by the United States Senate as the 41st Secretary of Commerce.
Following Mr. Howard Lutnick’s departure, Mr. Gosin was appointed PEO.
For 2025, following the change in PEO as described
above, we determined a new median employee in accordance with SEC rules. Our median employee was a Building Engineer in the United States.
We selected December 31, 2025 as the date used
to identify our “median employee” whose annual total compensation was the median of the annual total compensation of all
our applicable employees and brokers (including those persons who are qualified real estate agents within the meaning of Internal Revenue
Code Section 3508), other than our Chief Executive Officer, for 2025. Based on our internal records, our global employee and broker population
as of December 31, 2025 consisted of approximately 8,861 individuals, including full-time, part-time, temporary and seasonal employees,
with approximately 61% of these employees working in the United States and approximately 39% working in various non-U.S. locations consisting
of Australia, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Italy, Korea, Mexico, Netherlands, Panama,
Poland, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom.
To identify the “median employee,”
we aggregated actual base salary earnings or commission draw in 2025, overtime earnings paid in 2025 for employees eligible to earn overtime,
bonus awards earned in 2025 and paid in the first quarter of 2026 and the grant date fair value of any equity awards granted in 2025.
Bonus awards could consist of discretionary bonuses, forgivable loans, cash advance distribution agreements and promissory notes. We
annualized the compensation of any person who began employment during the fiscal year. In addition, for any persons who provide services
to Cantor and its affiliates (other than Newmark and its consolidated subsidiaries), the total compensation of such persons for purposes
of calculating the pay ratio was consistent with the allocations used by the Company for financial accounting purposes in its 2024 consolidated
financial statements. We then converted any compensation paid in foreign currency to U.S. dollars using the published rate for December
31, 2025 on www.oanda.com. The sum of these amounts served as our “consistently applied compensation measure,” which we used
in identifying the median employee. We did not apply a cost of living adjustment to the data.
Once the median employee was identified, the
pay ratio for the annual total compensation of the median employee to the principal executive officer was calculated for the 2025 fiscal
year in accordance with the requirements of Item 402(c)(2)(x) of Regulation S-K and the pay ratio was determined to be as follows:
● the
annual total compensation of the median employee of the Company was $82,853;
● the
annual total compensation of Mr. Gosin, as reported in the Summary Compensation Table, was
$2,668,848; and
● the
ratio of the annual total compensation of Mr. Gosin to the median employee of the Company
was approximately 32:1.
For
2025, the annual total compensation of Mr. Gosin as reported in the Summary Compensation Table excludes the grant date fair values of
the awards previously issued to Mr. Gosin under the 2023 Gosin Employment Agreement and 2024 Gosin Employment Agreement which were each
presented in their totality in their respective grant years in accordance with SEC rules, but were attributed by the Compensation Committee
to Mr. Gosin’s compensation with respect to calendar year 2025 ($10,000,000 attributed to calendar year 2025 from the 2023 Gosin
Employment Agreement Award and $5,000,000 attributed to calendar year 2025 from the 2024 Gosin Employment Agreement Award). Including
the total amounts of these awards attributed by the Compensation Committee to 2025, Mr. Gosin’s total compensation attributed to
2025 would have been $17,668,648, and the ratio of the annual total compensation of Mr. Gosin to the median employee of the Company was
approximately 213:1 See “— Employment Agreements” for more information .
50
Pay Versus Performance
We are required by SEC rules
to disclose information regarding the relationship between “compensation actually paid” to our NEOs, including (i) Mr. Howard
Lutnick, who served as our PEO from 2021 until February 18, 2025, and (ii) Mr. Gosin, who has served as our PEO since February 18, 2025,
following Mr. Howard Lutnick’s departure, and the NEOs listed in the following table other than the PEO (the “non-PEO NEOs”),
and the financial performance of the Company. The following table sets forth additional compensation information for our PEO and non-PEO
NEOs during the periods described below along with total stockholder return (“TSR”), net income, and the “Company Selected
Measure,” which we have selected as Total Revenues, each for fiscal years 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025. The amounts set
forth below under the headings “Compensation Actually Paid to PEO(s)” and “Average Compensation Actually Paid to Non-PEO
NEOs” differ significantly from the Summary Compensation Table calculation of compensation, as well as from the way in which we
and our Compensation Committee view annual compensation decisions, as discussed in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis. It does
not reflect the amount of compensation actually realized or received by our NEOs during the applicable year. Footnote (5) below
sets forth the adjustments from the Total Compensation for the PEOs and Average Total Compensation for the non-PEO NEOs reported in the
Summary Compensation Table to arrive at the values presented for “compensation actually paid” for each of the fiscal years
shown.
Value of Initial Fixed $100
Year Summary Compensation Table Total for PEO (1) Compensation Actually Paid to PEO(s) (1)(5) Average Summary Compensation Table Total for Non-PEO NEOs (2) Average Compensation Actually Paid to Non-PEO NEOs (2)(5) Total Shareholder Return Peer Group Total Shareholder Return (3) Net Income (in thousands) Total Revenues (in thousands) (4)
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) (i)
2025 Barry Gosin $ 2,688,848 $ 29,044,168 $ 2,417,949 $ 4,000,197 $ 149.59 $ 120.21 $ 155,446 $ 3,294,024
Howard Lutnick $ 5,929,612 $ 27,198,958
2024 $ 20,000,000 $ 20,137,500 $ 10,253,221 $ 14,516,085 $ 82.87 $ 79.69 $ 85,491 $ 2,738,502
2023 $ 20,000,000 $ 20,192,500 $ 16,862,912 $ 21,713,811 $ 54.93 $ 34.83 $ 62,375 $ 2,470,368
2022 $ 20,000,000 $ 20,263,064 $ 3,704,691 $ 3,683,250 $ 10.75 $ 12.34 $ 112,545 $ 2,705,527
2021 $ 35,025,000 $ 35,139,752 $ 5,281,796 $ 5,290,923 $ 157.32 $ 70.94 $ 978,134 $ 2,906,443
(1) The PEO was Mr. Howard Lutnick until February 18, 2025,
when he stepped down following his confirmation by the United States Senate as the 41st Secretary of Commerce. Following Mr. Howard Lutnick’s
departure, Mr. Gosin was appointed PEO.
The amount reported for Mr. Howard Lutnick for 2021
includes $20,000,000 paid to Mr. Howard Lutnick in 2021 in connection with the Historical Lutnick Award which was approved by the
Compensation Committee on December 27, 2021 in consideration of his success in managing certain aspects of the Company’s performance
as its PEO and Chairman. The amount reported for Mr. Howard Lutnick for 2022-2024 includes $10,000,000 paid to Mr. Howard
Lutnick for each respective year’s tranche of the Historical Lutnick Award. For further information on the Historical Lutnick Award,
see “Compensation Discussion and Analysis — Historical Lutnick Award.”
Additionally, average compensation actually paid to Mr. Lutnick’s
award of exchange rights and shares of Class A common stock in January and early February before stepping down following his confirmation
by the United States Senate as the 41st Secretary of Commerce. See “Compensation Discussion and Analysis — Transactions with
and Modifications of Awards to Executive Officers.”
51
Average compensation actually paid to Mr. Gosin includes
(i) the $40,000,000 aggregate grant date fair value of Mr. Gosin’s award under the 2023 Gosin Employment Agreement which
was presented in its totality in our Summary Compensation Table for calendar year 2023 in accordance with SEC rules but was attributed
ratably by the Compensation Committee to Mr. Gosin’s compensation with respect to each of calendar years 2022, 2023,
2024 and 2025 and will vest over a schedule spanning calendar years 2023 through 2029, and (ii) the $20,000,000 aggregate grant
date fair value of Mr. Gosin’s award under the 2024 Gosin Employment Agreement which was presented in its totality in our
Summary Compensation Table for calendar year 2024 in accordance with SEC rules but was attributed ratably by the Compensation Committee
to Mr. Gosin’s compensation with respect to each of calendar years 2025 and 2026 ($5,000,000 attributable to calendar
year 2025 and $15,000,000 attributable to calendar year 2026). See “— Employment Agreements” for more information.
(2) The non-PEO NEOs in fiscal years 2021, 2022, 2023, and
2024 consisted of Messrs. Gosin, Rispoli and Merkel and for 2025 consisted of Messrs. Rispoli, Merkel, and Alvarado. Average compensation
actually paid to non-PEO NEOs in the table above includes (i) the $5,650,000 aggregate grant date fair value of Mr. Rispoli’s
award under the Rispoli Employment Agreement which was presented in its totality in our Summary Compensation Table for calendar year
2022 in accordance with SEC rules but was attributed ratably by the Compensation Committee to Mr. Rispoli’s compensation with
respect to each of calendar years 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026, (ii) the $40,000,000 aggregate grant date fair value of
Mr. Gosin’s award under the 2023 Gosin Employment Agreement which was presented in its totality in our Summary Compensation
Table for calendar year 2023 in accordance with SEC rules but was attributed ratably by the Compensation Committee to Mr. Gosin’s
compensation with respect to each of calendar years 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025, and (iii) the $20,000,000 aggregate grant date
fair value of Mr. Gosin’s award under the 2024 Gosin Employment Agreement which was presented in its totality in our Summary
Compensation Table for calendar year 2024 in accordance with SEC rules but was attributed ratably by the Compensation Committee to Mr. Gosin’s
compensation with respect to each of calendar years 2025 and 2026 ($5,000,000 attributable to calendar year 2025 and $15,000,000
attributable to calendar year 2026). See “— Employment Agreements” for more information.
(3) The peer group consists of CBRE Group, Inc., Colliers International
Group, Inc., Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated, Savills plc and Cushman & Wakefield plc. The returns of the peer group companies
have been weighted according to their U.S. dollar stock market capitalization for purposes of arriving at a peer group average.
TSR is calculated as the cumulative total stockholder return, on a gross dividend reinvestment basis, of $100 invested in shares of each
of the Company and the peer group invested on December 31, 2020.
(4) The Company selected Total Revenues to be the most important
financial performance measure that is not otherwise required to be disclosed in the table above used by the Company to link compensation
actually paid to its NEOs for the most recently completed fiscal year to its performance. While Total Revenues was chosen for this table,
our executive compensation programs use a balanced portfolio of measures to drive short and long-term objectives aligned with our strategy
and stockholder interests as further described in our Compensation Discussion and Analysis above.
(5) As noted in the tables below, for each year, “Compensation
Actually Paid to PEO” in column (c) and “Average Compensation Actually Paid to Non-PEO NEOs” in column (e) reflect
the following adjustments from Total Compensation amounts reported in the Summary Compensation Table (all amounts are averages for the
non-PEO NEOs). As described in the footnotes to the Summary Compensation Table, these adjustments do not include Newmark Holdings units
that were the subject of dollar-denominated awards under the Incentive Plan included in column (g) of the Summary Compensation Table
at full notional value and not subsequently reportable as “Equity Awards.” Additionally, in the “Adjustments to Determine
Compensation Actually Paid to PEO” table below, for 2025, adjustments for both Messrs. Howard Lutnick and Gosin are shown. For
prior years in which Mr. Gosin did not serve as PEO, these rows are designated with an asterisk.
52
Adjustments to Determine Compensation
Actually Paid to PEO
2025
2024 2023 2022 2021
Deduction for change in actuarial present value of accumulated benefit under all defined benefit and actuarial pension plans reported in the Summary Compensation Table ● Barry Gosin — * * * *
● Howard Lutnick — — — — —
Increase for aggregate of service cost and prior service cost for all defined benefit and actuarial pension plans reported in the Summary Compensation Table ● Barry Gosin — * * * *
● Howard Lutnick — — — — —
Deduction for amounts reported under the “Equity Awards” column in the Summary Compensation Table ● Barry Gosin — * * * *
● Howard Lutnick $ ( 5,792,686 ) — — — $ ( 5,025,000 )
Deduction for amounts reported under the “Option Awards” column in the Summary Compensation Table ● Barry Gosin — * * * *
● Howard Lutnick — — — — —
Increase/decrease for change in fair value from grant date of stock and option awards granted during year that are outstanding and unvested as of year-end ● Barry Gosin — * * * *
● Howard Lutnick — — — — —
Increase/deduction for change in fair value as of year-end (from prior year-end) of stock and option awards granted in any prior year that were outstanding and unvested as of year-end ● Barry Gosin $ 5,604,632 * * * *
● Howard Lutnick — — — — —
Increase for fair value as of vesting date
of stock and option awards granted
and vested in the same year ● Barry Gosin — * * * *
● Howard Lutnick $ 21,251,846 — — — —
Increase/deduction for change in fair value as of vesting date (from prior year-end) of stock and option awards granted in any prior year for which all vesting conditions were satisfied during year or at year-end ● Barry Gosin $ 19,708,586 * * * *
● Howard Lutnick $ 5,792,686 — — — $ 5,025,000
Deduction for fair value as of prior year-end of stock and option awards granted in any prior year that were forfeited during year ● Barry Gosin — * * * *
● Howard Lutnick — — — — —
Increase for dollar value of any dividends or other earnings paid on stock or option awards in the year prior to the vesting date that are not otherwise included in total compensation for the year ● Barry Gosin $ 1,062,586 * * * *
● Howard Lutnick $ 17,500 — — — —
Total Adjustments ● Barry Gosin $ 26,375,320 * * * *
● Howard Lutnick $ 21,269,346 $ 137,500 $ 192,500 $ 263,064 $ 114,752
53
Adjustments to Determine Average Compensation Actually
Paid to Non-PEO NEOs 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021
Deduction for change in actuarial present value of accumulated benefit under all defined benefit and actuarial pension plans reported in the Summary Compensation Table — — — — —
Increase for aggregate of service cost and prior service cost for all defined benefit and actuarial pension plans reported in the Summary Compensation Table — — — — —
Deduction for amounts reported under the “Equity Awards” column in the Summary Compensation Table $ ( 6,666,667 ) $ ( 13,333,333 ) $ ( 1,883,333 ) —
Deduction for amounts reported under the “Option Awards” column in the Summary Compensation Table — — — —
Increase for fair value of stock and option awards granted during the year that are outstanding and unvested as of year-end — — 16,778,558 $ 1,860,833 —
Increase/deduction for change in fair value as of year-end (from prior year-end) of stock and option awards granted in any prior year that were outstanding and unvested as of year-end $ 923,474 $ 3,102,898 $ 733,258 — —
Increase for fair value as of vesting date of stock and option awards granted and vested in the same year $ 621,851 — $ 645,924 — —
Increase/deduction for change in fair value as of vesting date (from prior year-end) of stock and option awards granted in any prior year for which all vesting conditions were satisfied during the year or at year-end $ 34,744 $ 237,749 $ ( 7,336 ) — —
Deduction for fair value as of prior year-end of stock and option awards granted in any prior year that were forfeited during the year — — — —
Increase for dollar value of any dividends or other earnings paid on stock or option awards in the year prior to the vesting date that are not otherwise included in total compensation for the year $ 2,181 $ 351,596 $ 33,829 $ 1,059 $ 9,127
Total Adjustments $ 1,582,249 $ 4,262,863 $ 4,850,899 $ ( 21,441 ) $ 9,127
54
Analysis of the Information Presented in the Pay Versus Performance
Table
While we utilize several performance measures
to align executive compensation with Company performance, not all of those measures are presented in the Pay Versus Performance table
set forth above. Moreover, in determining the compensation of our executive officers, our Compensation Committee considers a holistic
view of a variety of factors, both qualitative and quantitative, consistent with our periodic overall goals and therefore we do not specifically
align our performance measures with compensation that is actually paid (as computed in accordance with SEC rules) for a particular year.
See “Compensation Discussion and Analysis — Compensation Philosophy” for more information.
In accordance with Item 402(v) of Regulation S-K,
we are providing the following descriptions of the relationships between (1) “compensation actually paid” to our PEO
and average “compensation actually paid” to our non-PEO NEOs and (2) the Company’s performance with respect to
TSR, net income and Total Revenues, our Company Selected Measure. See notes (1) and (2) to the Pay Versus Performance Table above for
descriptions on how “Compensation actually paid to PEO” and “Average compensation actually paid to Non-PEO NEOs”
are calculated for their respective periods.
TSR. The graphs
below show the relationship between (1) “compensation actually paid” to our PEO and the average of “compensation
actually paid” to our non-PEO NEOs and our cumulative TSR and (2) our cumulative TSR and peer group TSR, over the five fiscal years
ended December 31, 2026.
55
56
Net Income. The graph
below shows the relationship between “compensation actually paid” to our PEO and the average of the “compensation actually
paid” to our non-PEO NEOs and net income, as reported in our consolidated financial statements, over the five fiscal years
ended December 31, 2026.
57
Company Selected Measure (CSM). The
graph below shows the relationship between “compensation actually paid” to our PEO and the average of the “compensation
actually paid” to our non-PEO NEOs and our Total Revenues over the five fiscal years ended December 31, 2026.
Performance Measures Tabular List
The
table below lists our most important performance measures, including the Company Selected Measure, used to link “compensation actually
paid” for our NEOs to Company performance for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025. The performance measures included in
this table are not ranked by relative importance .
Performance Measures
Total Revenues
Pre-tax Adjusted Earnings
Origination and Mortgage Broker Market Share
Catalyst Transactions and Hires, Acquisitions, and Strategy Development
Fees from Management Services, Servicing, and Other
Retentive Compensation Considerations
Significant Client Transaction Volumes
58
Compensation of Directors
Directors
who are also our employees or those of our affiliates do not receive additional compensation for serving as directors. For 2025,
Mr. Merkel did not receive compensation for serving as a director of the Company and/or our affiliates.
The cash compensation schedule for our directors
who are not our employees or those of our affiliates, collectively referred to as “non-employee directors,” is as follows:
● an annual cash retainer of $100,000;
● an annual stipend for the chair of our Compensation Committee
of $15,000;
● an annual stipend for the chair of our Corporate Responsibility
Committee of $15,000; and
● an annual stipend for the chair of our Audit Committee of
$25,000.
We also pay each non-employee director $2,000
for each meeting of our Board of Directors and $1,000 for each meeting of a Committee of our Board actually attended, whether in person
or by telephone. Additional fees may be paid for service or special ad hoc committees from time to time. Under our policy, none of our
non-employee directors is to be paid more than $3,000 in the aggregate for attendance at meetings held on the same date. Only one meeting
of our Board and Committees shall occur on each calendar day for which payment shall be provided. Non-employee directors may also
receive additional per diem fees for services as a director at the rate of $1,000 per day, with a limit of $5,000 per matter, for
additional time spent on Board or Committee matters as directed from time to time by our Board. Non-employee directors also are reimbursed
for all out-of-pocket expenses incurred in attending meetings of our Board or its Committees on which they serve. From time to time,
our Board and Committees may receive an additional stipend for service on other special committees or similar service.
In addition to the cash compensation described
above, under our current policy, upon the appointment or initial election of a non-employee director, we grant to such non-employee director
RSUs equal to the value of shares of our Class A common stock that could be purchased for $70,000 at the closing price of our Class A
common stock on the trading date of the appointment or initial election of the non-employee director (rounded down to the next whole
share). These RSUs vest equally on each of the first two anniversaries of the grant date, provided that the non-employee director is
a member of our Board at the opening of business on such dates.
Thereafter,
we annually grant to each non-employee director RSUs equal to the value of shares of our Class A common stock that could be purchased
for $50,000 based on the closing price of our Class A common stock on the date of his or her re-election (rounded down to the next
whole share) in consideration for services provided. These RSUs will vest equally on each of the first two anniversaries of the grant
date, provided that the non-employee director is a member of our Board at the opening of business on such dates .
59
2025 Director Compensation Payments
The table below summarizes the compensation paid
to our non-employee directors for the year ended December 31, 2025.
(a)
Name (1)
(b)
Fees
Earned
or Paid
in Cash
($)
(c)
Stock
Awards
($) (2)
(d)
Option
Awards
($) (3)
(e)
Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
($)
(f)
Change in
Pension
Value and
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
($)
(g)
All Other
Compensation
($)
(h)
Total
($)
Virginia S. Bauer, Director
181,000
50,000
—
—
—
—
231,000
Jay Itzkowitz, Director
166,000
50,000
—
—
—
—
216,000
Kenneth A. McIntyre, Director
206,000
50,000
—
—
—
—
256,000
(1) Messrs. Howard Lutnick, Kyle Lutnick, and Merkel are not included
in this table as during 2025 they received no compensation for their services as directors in 2025 and Messrs. Howard Lutnick and Merkel
received compensation as executive officers of the Company. The compensation received by Messrs. Howard Lutnick and Merkel for 2025 as
employees of our Company are shown in the Summary Compensation Table. As noted herein, Mr. Howard Lutnick stepped down as a director of
our Company effective February 18, 2025, in connection with his confirmation as the U.S. Secretary of Commerce.
(2) Reflects the grant date fair value of RSUs granted on December
30, 2025 to each of Messrs. McIntyre and Itzkowitz and Ms. Bauer. More information with respect to the calculation of these amounts
is included in the notes to our consolidated financial statements included in Part II, Item 8 of the 2025 Form 10-K. As
of December 31, 2025, Mr. McIntyre had 4,534 RSUs outstanding, Ms. Bauer had 4,534 RSUs outstanding and Mr. Itzkowitz
had 4,534 RSUs outstanding.
(3) No options were granted to non-employee directors in 2025. As
of December 31, 205, none of the non-employee directors had any options outstanding.
Policies and Practices Related to the Grant of Certain Equity Awards
Close in Time to the Release of Material Nonpublic Information
The Company does not currently grant new awards
of stock options, stock appreciation rights, or similar option-like instruments. Accordingly, the Company has no specific policy or practice
on the timing of awards of such options in relation to the disclosure of material nonpublic information by the Company. In the event
the Company determines to grant new awards of such options, the Board and the Compensation Committee will evaluate the appropriate steps
to take in relation to the foregoing.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
During
2025, the Compensation Committee consisted of Ms. Bauer and Messrs. McIntyre and Itzkowitz. Ms. Bauer has served as Chair since
April 29, 2021. All the members who served on our Compensation Committee during 2025 were independent directors. No member of the
Compensation Committee had any relationship with the Company during 2025 pursuant to which disclosure would be required under applicable
SEC rules. With the exception of Mr. Howard Lutnick, during 2025, none of our executive officers served as a member of the board
of directors or the compensation committee, or similar body, of a corporation where any of its executive officers served on our Compensation
Committee or on our Board. In 2025, Mr. Howard Lutnick served on the board of directors of BGC but did not serve on BGC’s
compensation committee .
60
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN
BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth certain information, as of April 1,
2026, with respect to the beneficial ownership of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock by: (1) each stockholder,
or group of affiliated stockholders, that owns more than 5% of any class of our outstanding capital stock; (2) each of our current
and former named executive officers; (3) each current director; and (4) the current executive officers and directors as a group.
Unless otherwise indicated in the footnotes, the principal address of each of the stockholders, executive officers and directors identified
below is located at 125 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10017. Shares of our Class B common stock are convertible into
shares of our Class A common stock at any time at the discretion of the holder on a one-for-one basis. Accordingly, a holder of Class B
common stock is deemed to be the beneficial owner of an equal number of shares of our Class A common stock for the purposes of this
table. In addition, certain of the limited partnership interests of Newmark Holdings are exchangeable with us for shares of our Class A
common stock or shares of our Class B common stock at a rate equal to the exchange ratio (which was 0.9270 as of March 31, 2026,
but is subject to adjustment as set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement). The table and footnotes below are based on a
one-to-0.9270 exchange ratio. See “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence — Amended
and Restated Newmark Holdings Limited Partnership Agreement — Exchanges.”
Class B
Common Stock
Class A
Common Stock
Name
Shares
%
Shares
%
5% Beneficial Owners (1) :
Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P.
39,827,559 (2)
99.1 (3)
39,827,559 (4)
20.3 (5)
CF Group Management, Inc. (6)
40,180,885 (7)
100.0 (3)
41,206,497 (8)
20.9 (9)
Brandon G. Lutnick
40,180,885 (10)
100.0 (3)
44,560,035 (11)
22.7 (12)
Vanguard Portfolio Management (1)
—
—
13,895,273
8.9
BlackRock, Inc. (1)
—
—
10,573,671
6.8
Named Executive Officers and Directors (1) :
Named Executive Officers
Barry M. Gosin
—
—
4,228,223 (13)
2.7 (14)
Stephen M. Merkel
—
—
74,035 (15)
*
Michael J. Rispoli
—
—
147,964 (16)
*
Luis A. Alvarado
—
—
31,911 (17)
*
Howard W. Lutnick
—
—
—
Directors
Kyle S. Lutnick
—
—
7,366 (18)
*
Virginia S. Bauer
—
—
56,104 (19)
*
Kenneth A. McIntyre
—
—
36,845 (20)
*
Jay Itzkowitz
—
—
38,754 (21)
*
All current executive officers and directors as a group (8 persons)
—
—
4,621,202
3.0 (22)
* Less than 1%
(1) Based upon information supplied by directors, executive officers and 5% beneficial owners
in filings under Sections 13(d) and 16(a) of the Exchange Act. The address of Vanguard Portfolio Management is
100 Vanguard Blvd., Malvern, Pennsylvania 19355. The address of BlackRock, Inc. is 50 Hudson Yards, New York, New York
10001.
(2) Consists of (a) 20,932,207 shares of our Class B common stock
held directly and (b) 18,895,352 shares of our Class B common stock acquirable upon exchange of 20,383,335 Newmark Holdings
exchangeable limited partnership units held by Cantor.
(3) Percentage based on (a) 21,285,533 shares of our Class B
common stock outstanding as of April 1, 2026 and (b) 18,895,352 shares of our Class B common stock acquirable upon exchange
of 20,383,335 Newmark Holdings exchangeable limited partnership units held by Cantor. Cantor has pledged to Bank of America, N.A., pursuant
to a Put and Pledge Agreement, originally dated as of December 27, 2017 and as most recently amended and restated effective October 5,
2023, 5,000,000 shares of our Class B common stock in connection with a loan program established for certain employees and partners
of Cantor and its affiliates.
61
(4) Consists of (a) 20,932,207 shares of our Class A common stock
acquirable upon conversion of 20,932,207 shares of our Class B common stock held directly by Cantor and (b) 18,895,352 shares
of our Class A common stock acquirable upon exchange of 20,383,335 Newmark Holdings exchangeable limited partnership units held by
Cantor.
(5) Percentage based on (a) 156,062,131 shares of our Class A
common stock outstanding as of April 1, 2026, (b) 20,932,207 shares of our Class A common stock acquirable upon conversion of
20,932,207 shares of our Class B common stock held by Cantor, and (c) 18,895,352 shares of our Class A common stock acquirable
upon exchange of 20,383,335 Newmark Holdings exchangeable limited partnership units held by Cantor.
(6) CFGM is the managing general partner of Cantor.
(7) Consists of (a) 353,326 shares of our Class B common stock
held by CFGM, (b) 20,932,207 shares of our Class B common stock held by Cantor, and (c) 18,895,352 shares of our Class B
common stock acquirable upon exchange of 20,383,335 Newmark Holdings exchangeable limited partnership units held by Cantor.
(8) Consists of (a) 353,326 shares of our Class A common stock
acquirable upon conversion of 353,326 shares of our Class B common stock held by CFGM, (b) 1,025,612 shares of our Class A
common stock held directly by CFGM, (c) 20,932,207 shares of our Class A common stock acquirable upon conversion of 20,932,207
shares of our Class B common stock held by Cantor, and (d) 18,895,352 shares of our Class A common stock acquirable upon
exchange of 20,383,335 Newmark Holdings exchangeable limited partnership units held by Cantor.
(9) Percentage based on (a) 156,062,131 shares of our Class A
common stock outstanding as of April 1, 2026, (b) 21,285,533 shares of our Class A common stock acquirable upon conversion of
21,285,533 shares of our Class B common stock held by Cantor and CFGM, and (c) 18,895,352 shares of our Class A common
stock acquirable upon exchange of 20,383,335 Newmark Holdings exchangeable limited partnership units held by Cantor.
(10) Mr. Brandon G. Lutnick’s holdings consist of: (a) 353,326
shares of our Class B common stock held by CFGM, through Mr. Brandon G. Lutnick’s position as trustee with decision making
control of trusts that hold all of the voting shares of CFGM and his position as Chief Executive Officer of CFGM, (b) 20,932,207
shares of our Class B common stock held by Cantor, through Mr. Brandon G. Lutnick’s control of CFGM and his positions as Chief
Executive Officer and Chairman of Cantor, and (c) 18,895,352 shares of our Class B common stock acquirable upon exchange of
20,383,335 Newmark Holdings exchangeable limited partnership units held by Cantor.
(11) Mr. Brandon G. Lutnick’s holdings consist of:
(a) 3,335 shares of our Class A common stock held directly;
(b) 353,326 shares of our Class A common stock acquirable
upon conversion of 353,326 shares of our Class B common stock held by CFGM;
(c) 20,932,207 shares of our Class A common stock acquirable
upon conversion of 20,932,207 shares of our Class B common stock held by Cantor;
(d) 18,895,352 shares of our Class A common stock acquirable upon
exchange of 20,383,335 Newmark Holdings exchangeable limited partnership units held by Cantor;
(e) 1,362,415 shares of our Class A common stock held by
KBCR Management Partners, LLC (“KBCR”), through Mr. Brandon G. Lutnick’s position as manager of KBCR and as trustee
with decision making control of trusts which hold all of the issued and outstanding equity interests of KBCR;
(f) 1,025,612 shares of our Class A common stock held directly
by CFGM;
(g) 746,955 shares of our Class A common stock held by Tangible
Benefits, LLC (“Tangible Benefits”), through Mr. Brandon G. Lutnick’s position as manager of Tangible Benefits and
as trustee with decision making control of a trust which holds all of the issued and outstanding equity interests of Tangible Benefits;
(h) 907,803 shares of our Class A common stock held by various
trust accounts for the benefit of the descendants of Mr. Howard Lutnick and his immediate family, through Mr. Brandon G. Lutnick’s
position as trustee with decision making control;
(i) 246,114 shares of our Class A common stock held by various
trust accounts for the benefit of members of Mr. Howard Lutnick’s immediate family, through Mr. Brandon G. Lutnick’s position
as trustee with decision making control; and
(j) 99,146 shares of our Class A common stock held by LFA, LLC
(“LFA”), through Mr. Brandon G. Lutnick’s position as manager of LFA.
62
(12) Percentage based on (a) 156,062,131 shares of our Class A
common stock outstanding as of April 1, 2026, (b) 21,285,533 shares of our Class A common stock acquirable upon conversion of
21,285,533 shares of our Class B common stock held by Cantor and CFGM, and (c) 18,895,352 shares of our Class A common
stock acquirable upon exchange of 20,383,335 Newmark Holdings exchangeable limited partnership units held by Cantor.
(13) Mr. Gosin’s holdings consists of (a) 3,899,995 shares
of our Class A common stock held directly and (b) 328,228 shares of our Class A common stock acquirable upon exchange of
354,076 Newmark Holdings exchangeable limited partnership units.
(14) Percentage based on (a) 156,062,131 shares of our Class A
common stock outstanding as of October 31, 2025, and (b) 328,228 shares of our Class A common stock acquirable upon exchange
of 354,076 Newmark Holdings exchangeable limited partnership units held by Mr. Gosin.
(15) Mr. Merkel’s holdings consist of (a) 59,605
shares of our Class A common stock held directly, (b) 2,901 shares of our Class A common stock held in trusts for the
benefit of the Mr. Merkel’s immediate family, of which Mr. Merkel’s spouse is the sole trustee of each trust and
Mr. Merkel has the power to remove and replace such trustee, and (c) 11,529 shares of our Class A common stock held in
Mr. Merkel’s 401(k) Plan account as of April 1, 2026.
(16) Mr. Rispoli’s holdings consists of (a) 118,672 shares
of our Class A common stock held directly and (b) 29,292 shares of our Class A common stock acquirable upon exchange of
31,599 Newmark Holdings exchangeable limited partnership units.
(17) Mr. Alvarado’s holdings consist of (a) 16,448 shares of
our Class A common stock held directly, (b) 10,557 shares of our Class A common stock held pursuant to restricted stock awards for
which Mr. Alvarado has voting power, and (c) 4,906 shares of our Class A common stock acquirable upon exchange of 5,292 Newmark Holdings
exchangeable limited partnership units held by Mr. Alvarado.
(18) Mr. Kyle Lutnick’s holdings consist of (a)
6,827 shares of our Class A common stock held directly and (b) 539 shares of our Class A common stock held in Mr. Kyle
Lutnick’s 401(k) Plan account as of April 1, 2026.
(19) Ms. Bauer’s holdings consist of 56,104 shares of
our Class A common stock held directly.
(20) Mr. McIntyre’s holdings consist of 36,845 shares of our
Class A common stock held directly.
(21) Mr. Itzkowitz’s holdings consist of 38,754 shares
of our Class A common stock held directly.
(22) Percentage based on (a) 156,062,131 shares of our Class A
common stock outstanding as of April 1, 2026, and (b) 362,426 shares of our Class A common stock acquirable upon exchange of 390,967
Newmark Holdings exchangeable limited partnership units held by our executive officers and directors.
63
Equity Compensation Plan Information as of December 31, 2025
Number of securities
to be issued upon
exercise of
outstanding restricted
stock units, options,
warrants and rights
(a)
Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights
(b)
Number of securities
remaining available for
future issuance
under equity
compensation plans
(excluding securities
reflected in column
(a))(c)
Equity Plan (approved by security holders)
9,686,564
$ 9.86
373,903,017
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders
—
—
—
Total
9,686,564
$ 9.86
373,903,017
64
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND
RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
Review, Approval and Ratification of Transactions with Related
Persons
The general policy of the Company and our Audit
Committee is that all material transactions with a related party, including transactions with BGC and Cantor, the relationships between
us and BGC and Cantor and agreements with related parties, as well as all material transactions in which there is an actual, or in some
cases, perceived, conflict of interest, including repurchases of Class A common stock or purchases of Newmark Holdings limited partnership
interests or other equity interests in our subsidiaries, including from Cantor or our executive officers, are subject to prior review
and approval by the Committee and its independent members, which will determine whether such transactions or proposals are fair and reasonable
to the Company and its stockholders. In general, potential related-party transactions will be identified by our management and discussed
with the Committee at their meetings. Detailed proposals, including, where applicable, financial and legal analyses, alternatives and
management recommendations, will be provided to the Committee with respect to each issue under consideration and decisions will be made
by the Committee with respect to the foregoing related-party transactions after opportunity for discussion and review of materials. When
applicable, the Committee will request further information and, from time to time, will request guidance or confirmation from internal
or external counsel or auditors. Our policies and procedures regarding related-party transactions are set forth in our Audit Committee
Charter and Code of Ethics, which are publicly available on our website at www.nmrk.com/corporate-responsibility/corporate-governance
under the heading “Audit Committee Charter,” and under the heading “Code of Business Conduct and Ethics,”
respectively. Related-party transactions with BGC are also reviewed by the BGC board and its audit committee under their own policies.
In December 2017, prior to our Separation
and IPO, all intercompany arrangements and agreements that were previously approved by the audit committee of BGC Partners with respect
to BGC Partners and its subsidiaries and Cantor and its subsidiaries were also approved by our Board of Directors with respect to the
relationships between us and our subsidiaries and Cantor and its subsidiaries following our IPO on the terms and conditions approved
by BGC’s audit committee during such time that our business was owned by BGC Partners. These arrangements include, but are not
limited to, the following: (i) an authorization to provide Cantor real estate and related services, including real estate advice,
brokerage, property or facilities management, valuation and advisory and other services; (ii) an authorization to enter into brokerage
and similar agreements with respect to the provision of ordinary-course brokerage services in circumstances in which such entities customarily
provide brokerage services to third-party customers; (iii) an authorization to enter into agreements with Cantor and/or its affiliates,
to provide services, including finding and reviewing suitable acquisition or partner candidates, structuring transactions and negotiating
and due diligence services in connection with acquisitions and other business strategies in commercial real estate and other businesses
from time to time; and (iv) an arrangement to jointly manage exposure to changes in foreign exchange rates.
The
following is a description of certain relationships and transactions that have existed or that we have entered into with our directors,
executive officers, or stockholders who are known to us to beneficially own more than five percent of our Class A common stock or
Class B common stock, including Cantor, and their immediate family members as well as certain other transactions. The following
summary does not purport to describe all the terms of such agreements or transactions and is qualified in its entirety by reference to
the complete text of these agreements, to the extent filed as exhibits to the 2025 Form 10-K or our other filings with the SEC. We
urge you to read the full text of these agreements .
Transactions with Executive Officers
From time to time, the Compensation Committee
generally approves monetization of previously issued and outstanding units and shares or the acceleration of RSUs or other awards in
order to provide liquidity to the executives in accordance with applicable tax and accounting rules, taking into consideration the retentive
impact of the remaining awards held by the executives. See “Compensation Discussion and Analysis — Transactions
with and Modifications of Awards to Executive Officers” and “Compensation Discussion and Analysis — Former
Standing Policy for Mr. Howard W. Lutnick” for more information.
On February 25, 2026, the Company repurchased
an aggregate of 59,601 shares of its Class A common stock from Stephen M. Merkel, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Legal
Officer. The sale price per share was the closing price per share of a share of the Class A common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select
Market on February 25, 2026. The transaction was approved by the Audit Committee and Compensation Committee of the Company pursuant to
the Company’s stock buyback authorization and is exempt pursuant to Rule 16b-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
65
2025 Howard W. Lutnick Divestiture Events and Lutnick Family
Voting and Transfer Agreement
As previously disclosed, effective
February 18, 2025, in connection with his confirmation as the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Mr. Howard Lutnick, our former Chairman of
the Board and Executive Chairman, stepped down from his positions with the Company, Cantor and CFGM (which is the managing general partner
of Cantor), and Mr. Brandon Lutnick was appointed as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Cantor and Chief Executive Officer of CFGM,
and Mr. Kyle Lutnick was appointed as Executive Vice Chairman of Cantor and President of CFGM. Also in connection with his confirmation,
Mr. Howard Lutnick agreed to divest his interests in the Cantor, CFGM, and the Company, among other entities, to comply with U.S. government
ethics rules.
On May 16, 2025, Mr.
Howard Lutnick agreed to sell to the Company 10,839,674 shares of Newmark Class A common stock beneficially owned by him, including
(i) 7,989,936 shares held directly by Mr. Howard Lutnick, (ii) 2,843,781 shares held in Mr. Howard Lutnick’s
personal asset trust, (iii) 3,384 shares held by the Howard W. Lutnick Family Trust, and (iv) 2,573 shares held
by Mr. Howard Lutnick’s spouse. The price per share for the sale was $11.58, which was equal to the closing price of a share
of Class A common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on May 16, 2025. The closing of the sale of the 10,839,674 shares
held by him, his spouse, and the trusts occurred on May 19, 2025. Additionally, on May 16, 2025, the Company agreed to repurchase
129,859 shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company beneficially owned by Mr. Howard Lutnick
and originating from retirement accounts, including certain shares held by his spouse, closing immediately after the closing of the sale
of the voting shares of CFGM by Mr. Howard Lutnick described below.
On
October 6, 2025, the repurchase of the 129,859 retirement shares closed for a price per share of $11.58, less $0.06 per share for
the after-tax portion of any dividends on such shares of Class A common stock paid to Mr. Howard Lutnick and his spouse,
in each case, between May 16, 2025 and October 6, 2025, as well as the after-tax portion of any declared but unpaid dividends
on such shares of Class A common stock with a record date prior to October 6, 2025 that were payable. Additionally, on October 6,
2025, the Company repurchased 4,400 shares held directly by Mr. Howard Lutnick’s spouse, for a price per share of $11.04,
less $0.048 per share for the after-tax portion of paid and payable dividends to her. Each of the repurchases was made pursuant
to the Company’s existing Share Repurchase Authorization approved by the Board and by the Audit Committee in November 2024, and
the repurchase of these shares pursuant to such existing authorization was expressly approved by the Audit Committee in connection therewith.
On October 6, 2025, Mr.
Howard Lutnick completed his divestiture through the following transactions:
● In
his capacity as trustee of a trust, consummated the sale to certain trusts controlled by Mr. Brandon Lutnick, as trustee with decision
making control, of all of the voting shares of CFGM; and
● In
his capacity as trustee of certain trusts, consummated the sale to certain other trusts controlled by Mr. Brandon Lutnick, as trustee
with decision making control, of certain interests, including those in Tangible Benefits and KBCR, which collectively hold 2.1 million
shares of Newmark Class A common stock.
Voting Power following Closing of Divestment
Transactions
Following the closing of the transactions
above, Mr. Howard Lutnick no longer had voting or dispositive power over any of our securities and Mr. Brandon Lutnick currently
holds voting and dispositive power over the securities divested by Mr. Howard Lutnick and not repurchased by us. As of April 1,
2026, Mr. Brandon Lutnick beneficially owned 4,391,380 shares of our Class A common stock and 21,285,533 shares of our Class B
common stock, collectively representing 58.9% of the total voting power of our outstanding common stock. See “—
Potential Conflicts of Interest and Competition Among Cantor, BGC and Newmark” for further information on voting
power.
Lutnick Family Voting and Transfer Agreement
On May 16, 2025, Brandon G. Lutnick, Kyle S.
Lutnick, Casey J. Lutnick, and Ryan G. Lutnick, each in their capacity as trustees of certain trusts (including the Purchaser Trusts),
and certain other entities entered into a voting and transfer agreement (the “Voting Agreement”) relating to securities of
the Company held by the trusts and such entities (“Voting Agreement Securities”). On October 6, 2025, the governance, voting
and transfer provisions of the Voting Agreement became effective upon the closing of the sale of the voting shares of CFGM described
above.
Pursuant to the trust documentation of the Purchaser
Trusts, each of Brandon G. Lutnick, Kyle S. Lutnick, Casey J. Lutnick and Ryan G. Lutnick is an investment trustee of such trusts, and
Brandon G. Lutnick is the controlling investment trustee, which means that if there is any disagreement among the investment trustees,
the decision of Brandon G. Lutnick will control if he is then acting as an investment trustee. Any such decisions, however, shall be
subject to the terms of the Voting Agreement.
The Voting Agreement provides that, with respect
to the election or removal of directors of the Company, (i) if there is a controlling investment trustee, each of the parties shall vote
(or cause the voting of) the Voting Agreement Securities over which it has the direct or indirect power to vote on such director election,
as directed by the controlling investment trustee (after consultation with each of the Family Branch representatives); and (ii) if there
is not a controlling investment trustee, the parties shall vote (or cause the voting of) the Voting Agreement Securities over which it
has the direct or indirect power to vote on such director election, as directed by a Majority of the Family Branches (as defined below).
66
The Voting Agreement further provides that, with
respect to the following matters for which a vote of securities of the Company is sought, each of the parties to the Voting Agreement
shall vote the Voting Agreement Securities over which it has the direct or indirect power to vote as directed by a Majority of the Family
Branches:
● any merger or consolidation transaction or sale, lease or
exchange of all, or substantially all, of the assets of the Company, or any transaction or series of related transactions pursuant to
which shares of the Company are transferred such that more than 50% of the voting power of the equity securities of the Company are transferred;
● entry by the Company or any of its subsidiaries into any
transaction or series of related transactions with a member of any Family Branch (other than with respect to election or removal of directors
of the Company);
● the authorization or issuance of any equity securities by
the Company (other than pursuant to an incentive compensation plan); and
● the amendment, restatement, modification or supplement of
any organizational document of the Company or its subsidiaries in a manner that would reasonably be expected to impair, interfere with
or delay the exercise of the rights set forth with respect to these bulleted items.
The Voting Agreement also prohibits the transfer
of the Voting Agreement Securities without the consent of a Majority of the Family Branches, subject to certain limited exceptions.
For purposes
of the Voting Agreement:
● “Family
Branch” generally means each of Brandon Lutnick and his collective descendants, Kyle
S. Lutnick and his collective descendants, Casey J. Lutnick and her collective descendants
and Ryan G. Lutnick and his collective descendants;
● “Majority
of the Family Branches” means, with respect to any matter, approval of such matter
by both: (a) if there is a controlling investment trustee, the controlling investment trustee;
and (b) if any Family Branch is entitled to vote in accordance with the Voting Agreement,
a majority vote of the Family Branches entitled to vote in accordance the Voting Agreement
(with the Voting Agreement specifying a different approval standards if there is no controlling
investment trustee and no Family Branch entitled to vote in accordance with the Voting Agreement);
and
● “Controlling
investment trustee” means any individual serving as investment trustee of the Purchaser
Trusts whose decision with respect to investment decisions, under the terms of such trusts,
controls in the event of a disagreement among the investment trustees of such trusts (and
Brandon Lutnick is currently the controlling investment trustee).
Separation, Initial Public Offering, and Spin-Off Separation
and Distribution Agreement
On December 13, 2017, prior to the closing
of the IPO, BGC Partners, BGC Holdings, L.P. (“BGC Holdings”), BGC Partners, L.P. (“BGC U.S. OpCo”), Newmark,
Newmark Holdings, Newmark OpCo and, solely for the provisions listed therein, Cantor and BGC Global Holdings, L.P. (“BGC Global
OpCo”) entered into the Separation and Distribution Agreement which sets forth the agreements among BGC Partners, Cantor, Newmark
and their respective subsidiaries regarding, among other things:
● the principal corporate transactions pursuant to which the
BGC group transferred to the Newmark group the assets and liabilities of the BGC group relating to BGC’s Real Estate Services business
(the “Separation”);
● the proportional distribution in the Separation of interests
in Newmark Holdings to holders of interests in BGC Holdings;
● the IPO and certain pre-IPO contributions of assets by BGC
Partners to Newmark in exchange for additional shares thereof;
● the assumption and repayment of indebtedness by the BGC group
and the Newmark group;
● the Spin-Off, including the termination of certain arrangements
between the BGC group and the Newmark group immediately prior thereto;
● future access to information, records and personnel necessary
or appropriate to comply with regulatory requests or inquiries, for the preparation of financial statements or tax returns, or to conduct
litigation;
67
● indemnities by and among the BGC group, the Newmark group
and Cantor and each of their respective directors, officers, general partners, managers and employees, from and against all liabilities
with respect to liabilities retained or assumed by the BGC group or the Newmark group, as applicable, and/or resulting from breaches
of the agreement; and
● other agreements governing the relationship between BGC,
Newmark and Cantor.
Initial Public Offering
In December 2017, we completed our IPO of
23,000,000 shares of Class A common stock. Prior to the IPO, we were a wholly owned subsidiary of BGC Partners. We received approximately
$295.4 million in aggregate net proceeds from the IPO, all of which we used to partially repay indebtedness under a certain term
loan that we assumed from BGC Partners prior to the closing of our IPO.
New Newmark
To
facilitate tax-free exchanges of the Newmark Holdings exchangeable limited partnership interests, Cantor has a one-time right, exercisable
at any time after the second anniversary of the Spin-Off and otherwise subject to preserving the tax-free treatment of the Spin-Off to
BGC Partners, at Newmark Holdings’ expense to (1) incorporate, or cause the incorporation of, a newly formed, wholly owned
subsidiary of ours (which we refer to as “New Newmark”), (2) incorporate, or cause the incorporation of, a newly formed,
wholly owned subsidiary of New Newmark (which we refer to as “New Newmark Sub”) and (3) cause the merger of New Newmark
Sub with us, with the surviving corporation being a wholly owned subsidiary of New Newmark. In connection with such a merger, our Class A
common stock and Class B common stock will each hold equivalent common stock in New Newmark, with identical rights to the applicable
class of shares held prior to such merger. As a condition to such merger, we will have received an opinion of counsel, reasonably satisfactory
to our Audit Committee, to the effect that such merger will qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of
the Code. Cantor will indemnify us to the extent that we incur any material income taxes as a result of the transactions related to such
merger .
Exchange Agreement
In connection with the Separation on December 13,
2017, we entered into the exchange agreement, which provides BGC Partners, Cantor, CFGM and any other qualified Class B holder entitled
to hold Class B common stock under our Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (our “certificate of incorporation”)
with the right to exchange at any time and from time to time, on a one-to-one basis, shares of our Class A common stock now owned
or subsequently acquired by such persons for shares of our Class B common stock, up to the number of shares of Class B common
stock that are authorized but unissued under our certificate of incorporation. Our Audit Committee and Board of Directors have determined
that the exchange agreement is in the best interests of Newmark and its stockholders because, among other things, it will help ensure
that Cantor retains its exchangeable limited partnership units in Newmark Holdings, which is the same partnership in which Newmark’s
partner employees participate, thus continuing to align the interests of Cantor with those of the partner employees.
The Spin-Off
On November 30, 2018, BGC Partners completed
the Spin-Off to its stockholders of all of the shares of our common stock owned by BGC Partners as of immediately prior to the effective
time of the Spin-Off, with shares of our Class A common stock distributed to the holders of shares of BGC Partners’ Class A
common stock (including directors and executive officers of BGC Partners) of record as of the close of business on November 23,
2018 (the “Spin-Off Record Date”), and shares of our Class B common stock distributed to the holders of shares of BGC
Partners’ Class B common stock (consisting of Cantor and CFGM as holders of record as of the close of business on the Spin-Off
Record Date).
On November 30, 2018, BGC Partners also
caused its subsidiary, BGC Holdings, to distribute pro rata all of the 1,458,931 exchangeable limited partnership units of Newmark Holdings
held by BGC Holdings immediately prior to the effective time of the BGC Holdings distribution to its limited partners entitled to receive
distributions on their BGC Holdings units (including Cantor and executive officers of BGC Partners) who were holders of record of such
units as of the Spin-Off Record Date. The Newmark Holdings units distributed to BGC Holdings partners in the BGC Holdings distribution
are exchangeable for shares of Newmark Class A common stock, and in the case of the 449,917 Newmark Holdings units received by Cantor
also for shares of Newmark Class B common stock, at the then-applicable exchange ratio (subject to adjustment).
Following the Spin-Off and the BGC Holdings distribution,
BGC Partners ceased to be our controlling stockholder, and BGC Partners and its subsidiaries no longer held any shares of our common
stock or other equity interests in us or our subsidiaries. Cantor continues to control Newmark and its subsidiaries following the Spin-Off
and the BGC Holdings distribution.
68
Amended and Restated Newmark Holdings Limited Partnership Agreement
On December 13, 2017, we entered into the
Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Newmark Holdings, which we refer to as the “Newmark Holdings limited partnership
agreement,” and which is described below.
Management
Newmark Holdings is managed by its general partner,
which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Newmark. Through our ownership of the General Partner of Newmark Holdings, we hold the Newmark
Holdings general partnership interest and the Newmark Holdings special voting limited partnership interest, which entitles us to control
Newmark Holdings and to remove and appoint the General Partner of Newmark Holdings.
Under the Newmark Holdings limited partnership
agreement, the Newmark Holdings general partner manages the business and affairs of Newmark Holdings. However, Cantor’s consent
is required for amendments to the Newmark Holdings limited partnership agreement; to decrease distributions to Newmark Holdings’
limited partners to less than 100% of net income received by Newmark Holdings (other than with respect to selected extraordinary items
as described below), to transfer any Newmark OpCo partnership interests beneficially owned by Newmark Holdings and to take any other
actions that may adversely affect Cantor’s exercise of its co-investment rights to acquire Newmark Holdings limited partnership
interests, its right to purchase Newmark Holdings founding partner interests and its right to exchange the Newmark Holdings exchangeable
limited partnership interests. Cantor’s consent is also required in connection with transfers of Newmark Holdings limited partnership
interests by other limited partners and the issuance of additional Newmark Holdings limited partnership interests outside of the Participation
Plan or certain other limited circumstances.
The
Newmark Holdings limited partnership agreement also provides that Newmark Holdings, in its capacity as the general partner of Newmark
OpCo, requires Cantor’s consent to amend the terms of the Newmark OpCo limited partnership agreement (as defined below) or take
any other action that may interfere with Cantor’s exercise of its co-investment rights to acquire Newmark Holdings limited partnership
interests (and the corresponding investment in Newmark OpCo by Newmark Holdings) or its rights to exchange the Newmark Holdings exchangeable
limited partnership interests. Founding/working partners and limited partnership unit holders do not have any voting rights with respect
to their ownership of Newmark Holdings limited partnership interests, other than limited consent rights concerning certain amendments
to the terms of the Newmark Holdings limited partnership agreement .
Classes of Interests in Newmark Holdings
Newmark Holdings has the following outstanding
interests:
● a general partnership interest, which is held indirectly
by us;
● a special voting limited partnership interest, which is held
indirectly by us and which entitles us to remove and appoint the General Partner of Newmark Holdings;
● Newmark Holdings exchangeable limited partnership interests;
● Newmark Holdings founding partner interests, which are limited
partnership interests that were issued in the Separation in respect of BGC Holdings founding partner interests (which were issued to
certain partners in connection with the 2008 separation of BGC Partners from Cantor);
● Newmark Holdings limited partnership interests and units,
including REU and AREU interests and working partner interests (including RPU, ARPU, PSI, PSE, APSI, PSU, APSU, HDU, LPU and NPSU interests
and Preferred Units (as defined below)); and
● Preferred units (“Preferred Units”), which
are working partner units that may be awarded to holders of, or contemporaneous with the grant of, PSUs, PSIs, PSEs, LPUs, REUs, RPUs,
AREUs and NPSUs, which carry the same name as the underlying unit, with the insertion of an additional “P” to designate them
as Preferred Units. Preferred Units cannot be made exchangeable into shares of Class A common stock, and they can only be exchanged
for cash, at the determination price on the date of grant.
Newmark Holdings founding/working partner interests
are divided into a number of different classes of Newmark Holdings units underlying such partner’s Newmark Holdings founding partner
interests and Newmark Holdings working partner interests, respectively. Each class of Newmark Holdings units held by founding/working
partners (other than certain non-participating units) generally entitles the holder to receive a pro rata share of the distributions
of income received by Newmark Holdings. See “— Distributions” below. The terms of each class of limited partnership
interests vary and are described in the Newmark Holdings limited partnership agreement.
69
The General Partner of Newmark Holdings may determine
the total number of authorized Newmark Holdings units.
Any authorized but unissued Newmark Holdings
units may be issued:
● pursuant to the Separation or as otherwise contemplated by
the Separation and Distribution Agreement or the Newmark Holdings limited partnership agreement;
● to Cantor and members of the Cantor group (1) in connection
with a reinvestment in Newmark Holdings or (2) in the event of a termination or bankruptcy of a founding/working partner or limited
partnership unit holder or the redemption of a founding/working partner interest or limited partnership unit pursuant to the Newmark
Holdings limited partnership agreement;
● with respect to Newmark Holdings founding/working partner
interests, to an eligible recipient, which means any limited partner or member of the Cantor group or any affiliate, employee service
provider or partner thereof, in each case as directed by a Newmark Holdings exchangeable limited partner majority in interest (provided
that such person or entity is not primarily engaged in a business that competes with Newmark Holdings or its subsidiaries);
● as otherwise agreed by the general partner and a Newmark
Holdings exchangeable limited partner interest majority in interest;
● pursuant to the Participation Plan;
● to any then-current founding/working partner or limited partnership
unit holder pursuant to the Newmark Holdings limited partnership agreement; or
● to any Newmark Holdings partner in connection with a conversion
of an issued unit and interest into a different class or type of unit and interest.
In the event that Newmark Holdings redeems outstanding
units under certain circumstances, our Audit Committee has authorized management to sell to the members of the Cantor group exchangeable
units equal in number to such redeemed units at a price per exchangeable unit to be determined based on an average daily closing price
of the Class A common stock.
The
Newmark Holdings limited partnership agreement provides that (1) where either current, terminating or terminated partners are permitted
by us to exchange any portion of their founding partner units and Cantor consents to such exchangeability, we will offer to Cantor the
opportunity for Cantor to purchase the same number of new exchangeable limited partnership interests in Newmark Holdings at the price
that Cantor would have paid for the founding partner units had we redeemed them; and (2) the exchangeable limited partnership interests
to be offered to Cantor pursuant to clause (1) above would be subject to, and granted in accordance with, applicable laws, rules
and regulations then in effect .
Exchanges
Each unit of the Newmark Holdings limited partnership interests held
by Cantor is generally exchangeable with us for a number of shares of Class B common stock (or, at Cantor’s option or if there
are no additional authorized but unissued shares of Class B common stock, a number of shares of Class A common stock) equal
to the then-current exchange ratio. The exchange ratio was initially one, but is subject to adjustment as set forth in the Separation
and Distribution Agreement and was 0.9270 as of March 31, 2026.
The Newmark Holdings founding partner interests
will not be exchangeable with us unless (1) Cantor reacquires such interests from Newmark Holdings upon termination or bankruptcy
of the founding partners or redemption of their units (which it has the right to do under certain circumstances), in which case such
interests will be exchangeable with us for Class A common stock or Class B common stock as described above or (2) Cantor
determines that such interests can be exchanged by such founding partners with us for Class A common stock, in which case each such
Newmark Holdings unit will be exchangeable with us for a number of shares of our Class A common stock equal to the then-current
exchange ratio, on terms and conditions to be determined by Cantor. Once a Newmark Holdings founding partner interest becomes exchangeable,
such founding partner interest is automatically exchanged upon a termination or bankruptcy with us for our Class A common stock.
70
In particular, Cantor has provided that as of
December 31, 2025, 134,651 Newmark Holdings founding partner interests will be exchangeable with us for a number of shares of Class A
common stock equal to the then-current exchange ratio, in accordance with the terms of the Newmark Holdings limited partnership agreement.
We provide exchangeability for partnership units
into shares of our Class A common stock in connection with (1) our partnership redemption, compensation and restructuring programs,
(2) other incentive compensation arrangements and (3) business combination transactions.
Working partner interests will not be exchangeable
with us unless otherwise determined by us with the written consent of a Newmark Holdings exchangeable limited partnership interest majority
in interest, currently held by Cantor, in accordance with the terms of the Newmark Holdings limited partnership agreement.
The limited partnership units will only be exchangeable
for Class A common stock in accordance with the terms and conditions of the grant of such units, which terms and conditions will
be determined in our sole discretion, as the owner of the General Partner of Newmark Holdings, with the written consent of the Newmark
Holdings exchangeable limited partnership interest majority in interest, currently held by Cantor, with respect to the grant of any exchange
right, in accordance with the terms of the Newmark Holdings limited partnership agreement.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent
that Newmark Holdings units issued in the Separation (“legacy Newmark Holdings units”) were not exchangeable as of immediately
after the Separation, the determination of whether to grant an exchange right with respect to such legacy Newmark Holdings units will
be made as follows:
● if the legacy Newmark Holdings units are held by an employee
of the BGC group providing services solely to the BGC group, then BGC Group shall make such determination;
● if the legacy Newmark Holdings units are held by an employee
of the Newmark group providing services solely to the Newmark group, then Newmark shall make such determination; and
● if the legacy Newmark Holdings units are held by an employee
of the BGC group, the Newmark group or the Cantor group providing services to both the BGC group and the Newmark group, then BGC Group
shall make such determination to the extent that the grant of the exchange right relates to compensation for services by such employee
to the BGC group, and Newmark shall make such determination to the extent that the grant of the exchange right relates to compensation
for services by such employee to the Newmark group.
Grants of exchangeability may be made at any
time in the discretion of the relevant service recipient, and future grant practices may differ from prior practices, including without
limitation in connection with performance achievement, changes in incentive arrangements, accounting principles, and tax laws (including
deductibility of compensation) and other applicable laws.
Upon our receipt of any Newmark Holdings exchangeable
limited partnership interest, or Newmark Holdings founding partner interest, working partner interest or limited partnership unit that
is exchangeable, pursuant to an exchange, such interest being so exchanged will cease to be outstanding and will be automatically and
fully cancelled, and such interest will automatically be designated as a Newmark Holdings regular limited partnership interest, will
have all rights and obligations of a holder of Newmark Holdings regular limited partnership interests and will cease to be designated
as a Newmark Holdings exchangeable interest, or Newmark Holdings founding partner interest, working partner interest or limited partnership
unit that is exchangeable, and will not be exchangeable.
With each exchange, our direct and indirect interest
in Newmark OpCo will proportionately increase, because immediately following an exchange, Newmark Holdings will redeem the Newmark Holdings
unit so acquired for the Newmark OpCo limited partnership interest underlying such Newmark Holdings unit.
In addition, upon a transfer of a Newmark Holdings
exchangeable limited partnership interest that is not permitted by the Newmark Holdings limited partnership agreement (see “— Transfers
of Interests” below), such interest will cease to be designated as a Newmark Holdings exchangeable limited partnership interest
and will automatically be designated as a regular limited partnership interest.
In the case of an exchange of an exchangeable
limited partnership interest or a founding partner interest (or portion thereof), the aggregate capital account of the Newmark Holdings
unit so exchanged will equal a pro rata portion of the total aggregate capital account of all exchangeable limited partnership units
and founding partner units then outstanding, reflecting the portion of all such exchangeable limited partnership units and founding partner
units then outstanding represented by the unit so exchanged. The aggregate capital account of such exchanging partner in such partner’s
remaining exchangeable limited partnership units and/or founding partner units will be reduced by an equivalent amount. If the aggregate
capital account of such partner is insufficient to permit such a reduction without resulting in a negative capital account, the amount
of such insufficiency will be satisfied by reallocating capital from the capital accounts of the exchangeable limited partners and the
founding partners to the capital account of the unit so exchanged, pro rata based on the number of units underlying the outstanding exchangeable
limited partnership interests and the founding partner interests or based on other factors as determined by a Newmark Holdings exchangeable
limited partnership interest majority in interest, currently held by Cantor.
71
In the case of an exchange of an REU interest
or working partner interest or portion thereof, the aggregate capital account of the Newmark Holdings units so exchanged will equal the
capital account of the REU interest or working partner interest (or portion thereof), as the case may be, represented by such Newmark
Holdings units.
We agreed to reserve, out of our authorized but
unissued Class B common stock and Class A common stock, a sufficient number of shares of Class B common stock and Class A
common stock to effect the exchange of all then-outstanding Newmark Holdings exchangeable limited partnership interests, Newmark Holdings
founding/working partner interests, if exchangeable, and Newmark Holdings limited partnership units, if exchangeable, into shares of
Class B common stock or Class A common stock pursuant to the exchanges and a sufficient number of shares of Class A common
stock to effect the exchange of shares of Class B common stock issued or issuable in respect of exchangeable Newmark Holdings limited
partnership interests (subject, in each case, to the maximum number of shares authorized but unissued under our certificate of incorporation
as then in effect). We have agreed that all shares of Class B common stock and Class A common stock issued in an exchange will
be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and will be free from preemptive rights and free of any encumbrances.
The
Company also provides for exchangeability of certain working partner units without a capital account for other working partner units
with a capital account in connection with compensatory arrangements .
Distributions
The profit and loss of Newmark OpCo is generally
allocated based on the total number of Newmark OpCo units outstanding. The profit and loss of Newmark Holdings is generally allocated
based on the total number of Newmark Holdings units outstanding. The minimum distribution for each RPU interest issued after the IPO
is $0.005 per quarter.
Pursuant to the terms of the Newmark Holdings
limited partnership agreement, distributions by Newmark Holdings to its partners may not be decreased below 100% of net income received
by Newmark Holdings from Newmark OpCo (other than with respect to selected extraordinary items with respect to founding/working partners
or limited partnership unit holders, such as the disposition directly or indirectly of partnership assets outside of the ordinary course
of business) unless we determine otherwise, subject to Cantor’s consent (as the holder of the Newmark Holdings exchangeable limited
partnership interest majority in interest).
In addition, the Newmark Holdings general partner,
with the consent of Cantor, as holder of a majority of the Newmark Holdings exchangeable limited partnership interests, in its sole and
absolute discretion, may direct Newmark Holdings, upon a founding/working partner’s or a limited partnership unit holder’s
death, retirement, withdrawal from Newmark Holdings or other full or partial redemption of Newmark Holdings 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 Newmark Holdings general partner determines is appropriate in light of the goodwill associated with such partner and his, her
or its Newmark Holdings units, such partner’s length of service, responsibilities and contributions to Newmark Holdings and/or
other factors deemed to be relevant by the Newmark Holdings general partner.
In
the discretion of the Newmark Holdings general partner, distributions with respect to selected extraordinary transactions, as described
below, may be withheld from the founding/working partners and the limited partnership unit holders and distributed over time subject
to the satisfaction of conditions set by us, as the owner of the General Partner of Newmark Holdings, such as continued service to us.
These distributions that may be withheld relate to income items from nonrecurring events, including, without limitation, items that would
be considered “extraordinary items” under GAAP and recoveries with respect to claims for expenses, costs and damages (excluding
any recovery that does not result in monetary payments to Newmark Holdings) attributable to extraordinary events affecting Newmark Holdings .
Cantor’s Right to Purchase Exchangeable
Newmark Holding Limited Partnership Interests Upon Redemption or Exchange of Newmark Holdings Founding Partner Interests
There are no Newmark Holdings founding partner
interests outstanding other than from the mathematical carryover from the BGC Holdings founding partner interests (i.e., the Newmark
Holdings founding partner interests distributed in the Separation in respect of the outstanding BGC Holdings founding partner interests).
No holder of Newmark Holdings founding partner interests is currently employed by us.
72
Cantor has a right to purchase from Newmark Holdings
exchangeable limited partnership interests, with the associated exchange rights issued in reliance on the exemption from registration
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), provided by Section 4(a)(2) thereof
for transactions not involving a public offering, in the event that any Newmark Holdings founding partner interests that have not become
exchangeable are redeemed by Newmark Holdings upon termination or bankruptcy of a founding partner or upon mutual consent of the General
Partner of Newmark Holdings and Cantor. Cantor has the right to purchase such Newmark Holdings exchangeable limited partnership interests
at a price equal to the lesser of (1) the amount that Newmark Holdings would be required to pay to redeem and purchase such Newmark
Holdings founding partner interests and (2) the amount equal to (a) the number of units underlying such founding partner interests,
multiplied by (b) the exchange ratio as of the date of such purchase, multiplied by (c) the then-current market price of our
Class A common stock. Cantor may pay such price using cash, publicly traded shares or other property, or a combination of the foregoing.
If Cantor (or the other member of the Cantor group acquiring such limited partnership interests, as the case may be) so purchases such
limited partnership interests at a price equal to clause (2) above, neither Cantor nor any member of the Cantor group nor Newmark
Holdings nor any other person is obligated to pay Newmark Holdings or the holder of such founding partner interests any amount in excess
of the amount set forth in clause (2) above.
In addition, the Newmark Holdings limited partnership
agreement provides that (1) where either current, terminating or terminated partners are permitted by us to exchange any portion
of their founding partner units and Cantor consents to such exchangeability, we will offer to Cantor the opportunity for Cantor to purchase
the same number of new exchangeable limited partnership interests in Newmark Holdings at the price that Cantor would have paid for exchangeable
limited partnership interests in the event we had redeemed the founding partner units; and (2) the exchangeable limited partnership
interests to be offered to Cantor pursuant to clause (1) above would be subject to, and granted in accordance with, applicable laws,
rules and regulations then in effect.
If Cantor acquires any units as a result of the purchase or redemption
by Newmark Holdings of any founding partner interests, Cantor will be entitled to the benefits (including distributions) of the units
it acquires from the date of termination or bankruptcy of the applicable founding partner. In addition, any such units will be exchangeable
by Cantor for a number of shares of our Class B common stock or, at Cantor’s election, shares of our Class A common stock,
in each case, equal to the then-current exchange ratio, on the same basis as the limited partnership interests held by Cantor, and will
be designated as Newmark Holdings exchangeable limited partnership interests when acquired by Cantor. The exchange ratio was initially
one but is subject to adjustment as set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement and was 0.9270 as of March 31, 2026. This may
permit Cantor to receive a larger share of income generated by our business at a less expensive price than through purchasing shares of
our Class A common stock, which is a result of the price payable by Cantor to Newmark.
On February 18, 2025, Cantor exercised exchange
rights with respect to 7,782,387 exchangeable limited partnership interests held by it, at the then-current Exchange Ratio of 0.9279,
for 7,221,277 shares of Newmark Class A common stock, which Newmark issued to Cantor in reliance on the exemption from registration under
the Securities Act provided by Section 4(a)(2) thereof for transactions not involving a public offering, and Cantor then immediately
delivered those 7,221,277 shares of Newmark Class A common stock to certain current and former Cantor partners in satisfaction of all
its remaining distribution rights obligations.
On November 18, 2025, Cantor purchased from Newmark
Holdings an aggregate of (i) 524,108 exchangeable limited partnership interests for aggregate consideration of $1,909,908 as a result
of the redemption of 524,108 Founding Partner interests, and (ii) 71,524 exchangeable limited partnership interests for aggregate consideration
of $302,750 as a result of the exchange of 71,524 Founding Partner interests.
As
of December 31, 2025, there were no founding partner interests in Newmark Holdings remaining which Newmark Holdings had the right to
redeem or exchange and with respect to which Cantor would have the right to purchase an equivalent number of exchangeable limited partnership
interests following such redemption or exchange .
Distribution Rights Shares
As previously disclosed, Cantor was obligated
to distribute shares (“distribution rights shares”) of Class A common stock to certain current and former partners of
Cantor to satisfy certain deferred stock distribution obligations provided to such partners (i) on April 1, 2008, and (ii) on
February 14, 2012 in connection with Cantor’s payment of previous quarterly partnership distributions. Certain Cantor partners
had elected to receive their distributed shares in 2008 and 2012, respectively, and others had elected to defer receipt of their shares
until a future date.
On October 23, 2024, Cantor exercised rights
with respect to 13,861 exchangeable limited partnerships interests held by it, at the then-current exchange ratio of 0.9257, for 12,831
shares of Class A common stock, which Newmark issued to Cantor in reliance on the exemption from registration under the Securities
Act provided by Section 4(a)(2) thereof for transactions not involving a public offering. Cantor immediately delivered the
12,831 shares of Class A common stock to such a former partner in satisfaction of its distribution rights shares obligations to
that partner.
73
On
February 18, 2025, Cantor exercised exchange rights with respect to 7,782,387 exchangeable limited partnership interests held by
it, at the then-current exchange ratio of 0.9279, for 7,221,277 shares of Class A common stock, which Newmark issued to Cantor in
reliance on the exemption from registration under the Securities Act provided by Section 4(a)(2) thereof for transactions not
involving a public offering, and Cantor then immediately delivered those 7,221,277 shares of Class A Common Stock to certain current
and former Cantor partners in satisfaction of all its remaining distribution rights shares obligations to them. After this event, Cantor
had no more distribution rights shares obligations .
Newmark Holdings Working Partner Interests
and Newmark Holdings Limited Partnership Units
Cantor has a right to purchase any Newmark Holdings
working partner interests or Newmark Holdings limited partnership units (in each case that have not become exchangeable), as the case
may be, that are redeemable by Newmark Holdings if Newmark Holdings elects to transfer the right to purchase such interests to a Newmark
Holdings partner rather than redeem such interests itself. Cantor has the right to purchase such interests on the same terms that such
Newmark Holdings partner would have a right to purchase such interests.
Newmark
from time to time may enter into various compensatory arrangements with partners, including founding partners who hold non-exchangeable
founding partner units that Cantor has not elected to make exchangeable into shares of Class A common stock. These arrangements,
which may be entered into prior to or in connection with the termination of such partners, include but are not limited to the grant of
shares or other awards under the Equity Plan, payments of cash or other property, or partnership awards under the Participation Plan
or other partnership adjustments, which arrangements may result in the repayment by such partners of any partnership loans or other amounts
payable to or guaranteed by Cantor earlier than might otherwise be the case, and for which Newmark may incur compensation charges that
it might not otherwise have incurred had such arrangements not been entered into .
Partner Obligations
Each of the founding/working partners and each
of the limited partnership unit holders is subject to certain partner obligations, which we refer to as “partner obligations.”
The partner obligations constitute an undertaking by each of the founding/working partners and each of the limited partnership unit holders
that they have a duty of loyalty to Newmark Holdings and that, during the period from the date on which a person first becomes a partner
through the applicable specified period following the date on which such partner ceases, for any reason, to be a partner, not to, directly
or indirectly (including by or through an affiliate):
● breach a founding/working partner’s or limited partnership
unit holder’s, as the case may be, duty of loyalty to Newmark Holdings, through the two-year period following the date on which
such partner ceases, for any reason, to be a founding/working partner or limited partnership unit holder;
● while a founding/working partner or limited partnership unit
holder and through the six (6)-month anniversary of the termination of such founding/working partner or limited partnership unit holder,
engage in, represent in any way, or be connected with (as partner, director, officer, employee, consultant, or active participant, in
each case, other than on a de minimis basis) any activity, practice or act with a Competing Business if: (1) it involves a Client
or Client Representative and a service that is the same or similar to a service such partner provided for a Protected Affiliate; (2) it
involves (y) a product, product line or type, or service of a Protected Affiliate (including any for which it took substantial steps
to offer prior to the termination of such partner), and (z) a service that is the same or similar to a service the founding/working
partner or limited partnership unit holder provided for a Protected Affiliate within a geographic market covering where the founding/working
partner or limited partnership unit holder and/or the Protected Affiliate provided services or had responsibilities and/or within a 100-mile
radius of any Client, Client Representative, Protected Affiliate, or Partner while a Partner; or (3) the Partner had substantial
confidential information of the Newmark Holdings or a Protected Affiliate and the disclosure of such information to the Competing Business
is likely to be inevitable;
● while a founding/working partner or limited partnership unit
holder and through the six (6)-month anniversary of the termination of such founding/working partner or limited partnership unit holder,
solicit any of the customers of a Protected Affiliate for purposes of engaging in a Competing Business;
● while a founding/working partner or limited partnership unit
holder and through the first (1 st )-year anniversary of the termination of such founding/working partner or limited partnership
unit holder, induce such customers or their employees to reduce their volume of business with, terminate their relationship with, or
otherwise adversely affect their relationship with, a Protected Affiliate;
74
● while a founding/working partner or limited partnership unit
holder and through the second (2 nd )-year anniversary of the termination of such founding/working partner or limited partnership
unit holder, solicit, induce, or influence, or attempt to solicit, induce, or influence, any person who was an employee, member, partner,
or consultant of a Protected Affiliate or an affiliate to terminate his/her/their employment or association with any such Protected Affiliate
or affiliate or hire, employ, engage (including as a consultant or partner), or otherwise enter into a Competing Business with any such
person;
● while a founding/working partner or limited partnership unit
holder and through the fourth (4 th )-year anniversary of the termination of such founding/working partner or limited partnership
unit holder, make or participate in the making of (including through the limited partner’s or any of its affiliates’ respective
agents and representatives) any comments to the media (print, broadcast, electronic or otherwise) that are disparaging regarding Newmark
or the senior executive officers of Newmark or are otherwise contrary to the interests of Newmark as determined by the Newmark Holdings
general partner in its sole and absolute discretion; or
● except as permitted with respect to corporate opportunities
and fiduciary duties in the Newmark Holdings limited partnership agreement (see “— Corporate Opportunity; Fiduciary
Duty” below) take advantage of, or provide another person with the opportunity to take advantage of, a Newmark “corporate
opportunity” (as such term would apply to Newmark Holdings if it were a corporation), including opportunities related to intellectual
property, which for this purpose requires granting Newmark a right of first refusal 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 Newmark Holdings if it were a corporation), that has not been presented to and rejected
by Newmark or that Newmark rejects but reserves for possible further action by Newmark in writing, unless otherwise consented to by the
Newmark Holdings general partner in writing in its sole and absolute discretion, or otherwise take any action to harm, that harms or
that reasonably could be expected to harm, Newmark for a two-year period following the date on which a founding/working partner or a
limited partnership unit holder, as the case may be, ceases, for any reason, to be a founding/working partner or a limited partnership
unit holder, as the case may be, including any breach of its confidentiality obligations.
A founding/working partner or limited partnership
unit holder is considered to have engaged in a “Competitive Activity” if such partner (including by or through his, her or
its affiliates), during the applicable restricted period, engages in one of the following activities, which we collectively refer to
as the “Competitive Activities”:
(1) at any time while a founding/working partner or limited partnership
unit holder and through the second (2 nd )-year anniversary of the termination of such partner, directly or indirectly, or by
action in concert with others, solicits, induces, or influences, or attempts to solicit, induce or influence, any other partner, employee,
member, partner or consultant of Cantor, Newmark or any member of the Cantor group or affiliated entity to terminate its employent or
other business arrangements with Cantor, Newmark or any member of the Cantor group or affiliated entity, or to engage in any Competing
Business or hires, employs, engages (including as a consultant or partner) or otherwise enters into a Competing Business with any such
person;
(2) at any time while a founding/working partner or limited partnership
unit holder and through the second (2 nd )-year anniversary of the termination of such partner, solicits any of the customers
of Cantor, Newmark or any member of the Cantor group or affiliated entity (or any of their employees), induces such customers or their
employees to reduce their volume of business with, terminate their relationship with or otherwise adversely affect their relationship
with, Cantor, Newmark or any member of the Cantor group or affiliated entity; or
(3) at any time while a founding/working partner or limited partnership
unit holder and through the second (2 nd )-year anniversary of the termination of such partner, engages in, represents in any
way, or is connected with (as partner, director, officer, employee, consultant, or active participant, in each case, other than on a
de minimis basis) any activity, practice or act with a Competing Business if: (1) it involves a Client or Client Representative
and a service that is the same or similar to a service the founding/working partner or limited partnership unit holder provided for a
Protected Affiliate; (2) it involves (y) a product, product line or type, or service of a Protected Affiliate (including any
for which it took substantial steps to offer prior to the termination of such founding/working partner or limited partnership unit holder),
and (z) a service that is the same or similar to a service the founding/working partner or limited partnership unit holder provided
for a Protected Affiliate within a geographic market covering where the Partner and/or the Protected Affiliate provided services or had
responsibilities and/or within a 100-mile radius of any Client, Client Representative, Protected Affiliate, or founding/working partner
or limited partnership unit holder while a founding/working partner or limited partnership unit holder; or (3) the founding/working
partner or limited partnership unit holder had substantial confidential information of Cantor, Newmark or any member of the Cantor group
or affiliated entity and the disclosure of such information to the Competing Business is likely to be inevitable.
75
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, and
unless Cantor determines otherwise, none of such partner obligations apply to any founding/working partner or limited partnership unit
holder that is also a Cantor Company. “Cantor Company” means Cantor or any of its affiliates (other than, if applicable,
Newmark and any of our subsidiaries). Such partners are exempt from these partner obligations. Other defined terms used above are as
defined in the LPA Amendment, as defined below.
The determination of whether a founding/working
partner or limited partnership unit holder has breached his or her partner obligations will be made in good faith by the Newmark Holdings
general partner in its sole and absolute discretion, which determination will be final and binding. If a founding/working partner or
a limited partnership unit holder breaches his, her or its partner obligations, then, in addition to any other rights or remedies that
the Newmark Holdings general partner may have, and unless otherwise determined by the Newmark Holdings general partner in its sole and
absolute discretion, Newmark Holdings will redeem all of the units held by such partner for a redemption price equal to their base amount,
and such partner will have no right to receive any further distributions, or payments of cash, stock or property, to which such partner
otherwise might be entitled.
A
founding/working partner or a limited partnership unit holder, as the case may be, will become a bankrupt partner upon (a) making
an assignment for the benefit of creditors, (b) filing a voluntary petition in bankruptcy, (c) the adjudication of such partner
as 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 himself, herself or itself any reorganization, arrangement, composition, readjustment, liquidation,
dissolution or similar relief under any bankruptcy statute, law or regulation, (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, or
(f) the appointment of or 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 founding/working partner. With respect to a corporate founding/working partner,
bankruptcy will also include the occurrence of any of the foregoing events with respect to the beneficial owner of the majority of the
stock of such partner. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no event constitutes a bankruptcy of a founding/working partner or limited partnership
unit holder, as the case may be, unless the Newmark Holdings general partner so determines in its sole and absolute discretion .
Transfers of Interests
The
Newmark Holdings limited partnership agreement contains restrictions on the transfer of interests in Newmark Holdings. In general, a
partner may not transfer or agree or otherwise commit to transfer all or any portion of, or any rights, title and interest in and to,
its interest in Newmark Holdings, except in the circumstances described in the Newmark Holdings limited partnership agreement .
Amendments
The Newmark Holdings limited partnership agreement
cannot be amended except with the approval of each of the general partner and the exchangeable limited partners (by the affirmative vote
of a Newmark Holdings exchangeable limited partnership interest majority in interest) of Newmark Holdings. In addition, the Newmark Holdings
limited partnership agreement cannot be amended to:
● alter the interest of any partner in the amount or timing
of distributions or the allocation of profits, losses or credits, if such alteration would either materially adversely affect the economic
interest of a partner or would materially adversely affect the value of interests, without the consent of the partners holding at least
two-thirds of all units, in the case of an amendment applying in substantially similar manner to all classes of interests, or two-thirds
in interest of the affected class or classes of the partners, in the case of any other amendment; or
● alter the special voting limited partner’s ability
to remove a general partner.
The General Partner of Newmark Holdings may authorize
any amendment to correct any technically incorrect statement or error apparent on the face thereof in order to further the parties’
intent or to correct any formality or error or incorrect statement or defect in the execution of the Newmark Holdings limited partnership
agreement.
76
Corporate Opportunity; Fiduciary Duty
The Newmark Holdings limited partnership agreement
contains similar corporate opportunity provisions to those included in our certificate of incorporation with respect to Newmark, BGC
and/or Cantor and their respective representatives. See “— Potential Conflicts of Interest and Competition with BGC
and Cantor.”
Parity of Interests
The
Newmark Holdings limited partnership agreement provides that it is the non-binding intention of Newmark Holdings and each of the partners
of Newmark Holdings that the aggregate number of Newmark OpCo units held by Newmark Holdings and its subsidiaries (other than Newmark
OpCo and its subsidiaries) at a given time divided by the aggregate number of Newmark Holdings units issued and outstanding at such time
is at all times equal to one, which ratio is referred to herein as the “Newmark Holdings ratio.” It is the non-binding intention
of each of the partners of Newmark Holdings and of Newmark Holdings that there be a parallel issuance or repurchase transaction by Newmark
Holdings in the event of any issuance or repurchase by Newmark OpCo of Newmark OpCo units to or held by Newmark Holdings so that the
Newmark Holdings ratio at all times equals one .
First Amendment to Newmark Holdings Limited Partnership Agreement
On
March 10, 2023, Newmark Holdings entered into an amendment to the Newmark Holdings limited partnership agreement (the “LPA
Amendment”). The LPA Amendment revises certain restrictive covenants pertaining to the “Partner Obligations” and “Competitive
Activity” provisions in the Newmark Holdings limited partnership agreement. Specifically, the LPA Amendment (i) reduces the
length of the post-termination period during which a partner must refrain from soliciting or doing business with customers, soliciting
employees, engaging in a “Competing Business” (as defined therein), or otherwise refraining from harming the partnership;
and (ii) revises the scope of the non-compete provisions under the “Partner Obligations” and “Competitive Activity”
provisions in the Newmark Holdings limited partnership agreement to cover “Competing Businesses” for which a partner performs
the same or similar services as provided to a “Protected Affiliate” (as defined therein) and (a) involving a product,
product line or type, or service of a “Protected Affiliate” within a specific geographic area, (b) involving a “Client”
or a “Client Representative” (each as defined therein) of a Protected Affiliate, or (c) for which the disclosure of
confidential information is likely to be inevitable. The LPA Amendment was approved by the Company’s Board of Directors and Audit
and Compensation Committees .
Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of Newmark
OpCo
On
December 13, 2017, we entered into the Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Newmark OpCo, which we refer to
as the “Newmark OpCo limited partnership agreement,” and which is described below .
Management
Newmark OpCo is managed by its general partner,
which is owned by Newmark Holdings. The Newmark OpCo general partner holds the Newmark OpCo general partnership interest and the Newmark
OpCo special voting limited partnership interest, which entitles the holder thereof to remove and appoint the general partner of Newmark
OpCo and serve as the general partner of Newmark OpCo, which entitles Newmark Holdings (and thereby, Newmark) to control Newmark OpCo,
subject to limited consent rights of Cantor and to the rights of Newmark Holdings as the special voting limited partner. Newmark Holdings
holds its Newmark OpCo general partnership interest through a Delaware limited liability company, Newmark Holdings, LLC.
Cantor’s
“consent rights” means that Newmark Holdings, in its capacity as general partner of Newmark OpCo, is required to obtain Cantor’s
consent to amend the terms of the Newmark OpCo limited partnership agreement or take any other action that may adversely affect Cantor’s
exercise of its co-investment rights to acquire Newmark Holdings limited partnership interests (and the corresponding investment in Newmark
OpCo by Newmark Holdings) or right to exchange Newmark Holdings exchangeable limited partnership interests .
Classes of Interests in Newmark OpCo
Newmark OpCo has the following outstanding interests:
● a general partnership interest, which is held indirectly
by Newmark Holdings;
● limited partnership interests, which are held by Newmark
and Newmark Holdings; and
● a special voting limited partnership interest, which is held
indirectly by Newmark Holdings and which entitles the holder thereof to remove and appoint the general partner of Newmark OpCo.
77
The general partner of Newmark OpCo determines
the aggregate number of authorized units in Newmark OpCo.
Any authorized but unissued units in Newmark
OpCo may be issued:
● to Newmark and/or Newmark Holdings and members of their group,
as the case may be, in connection with an investment in Newmark OpCo;
● to Newmark Holdings or members of its group in connection
with a redemption pursuant to the Newmark Holdings limited partnership agreement;
● as otherwise agreed by each of the general partner and the
limited partners (by affirmative vote of the limited partners holding a majority of the units underlying limited partnership interests
outstanding of Newmark OpCo (except that if Newmark Holdings and its group holds a majority in interest and Cantor and its group holds
a majority of units underlying the Newmark Holdings exchangeable limited partnership interests, then “majority of interest”
means Cantor) (which we refer to as a “Newmark OpCo majority in interest”));
● to Newmark or Newmark Holdings in connection with a grant
of equity by Newmark or Newmark Holdings; and
● to any Newmark OpCo partner in connection with a conversion
of an issued unit and interest into a different class or type of unit and interest.
There
will be no additional classes of partnership interests in Newmark OpCo .
Distributions
The
profit and loss of Newmark OpCo is generally allocated based on the total number of Newmark OpCo units outstanding .
Transfers of Interests
The Newmark OpCo partnership agreement contains
restrictions on the transfer of interests in Newmark OpCo. In general, a partner may not transfer or agree or otherwise commit to transfer
all or any portion of, or any rights, title and interest in and to, its interest in Newmark OpCo, except in the circumstances described
in the Newmark OpCo limited partnership agreement.
Amendments
The Newmark OpCo limited partnership agreement
cannot be amended except with the approval of each of the general partner and the limited partners (by the affirmative vote of a Newmark
OpCo majority in interest) of Newmark OpCo. In addition, the Newmark OpCo limited partnership agreement cannot be amended to:
● alter the interest of any partner in the amount or timing
of distributions or the allocation of profits, losses or credits, if such alteration would either materially adversely affect the economic
interest of a partner or would materially adversely affect the value of interests, without the consent of the partners holding at least
two-thirds of all units, in the case of an amendment applying in a substantially similar manner to all classes of interests, or two-thirds
in interest of the affected class or classes of the partners, in the case of any other amendment; or
● alter the special voting limited partner’s ability
to remove a general partner.
The general partner of Newmark OpCo may authorize
any amendment to correct any technically incorrect statement or error in order to further the parties’ intent or to correct any
formality or error or defect in the execution of the Newmark OpCo limited partnership agreement.
Corporate Opportunity; Fiduciary Duty
The Newmark OpCo limited partnership agreement
contains similar corporate opportunity provisions to those included in our certificate of incorporation with respect to Newmark and/or
Newmark Holdings and their respective representatives. See “— Potential Conflicts of Interest and Competition with BGC
and Cantor.”
78
Parity of Interests
The
Newmark OpCo limited partnership agreement provides that, at the election of Newmark, in connection with a repurchase of our Class A
common stock or similar actions, Newmark OpCo will redeem and repurchase from Newmark a number of units in Newmark OpCo equivalent to
the number of shares of Class A common stock repurchased by Newmark in exchange for cash in the amount of the gross proceeds to
be paid in connection with such stock repurchase .
Adjustment to Exchange Ratio
Each unit of an exchangeable Newmark Holdings
limited partnership interest will be exchangeable with Newmark for a number of shares of Newmark common stock equal to the exchange ratio.
The exchange ratio was initially one, but is subject to adjustment as set forth in the Separation and Distribution Agreement as described
below and was 0.9264 as of December 31, 2025.
For reinvestment, acquisition or other purposes,
Newmark may determine to distribute to its stockholders a smaller percentage than Newmark Holdings distributes to its equity holders
(excluding tax distributions from Newmark Holdings) of cash that it receives from Newmark OpCo. In such circumstances, the Separation
and Distribution Agreement provides that the exchange ratio will be reduced to reflect the amount of additional cash retained by Newmark
as a result of the distribution of such smaller percentage, after the payment of taxes (which we refer to as “Reinvestment Cash”).
The Separation and Distribution Agreement provides
that in the event that there shall be any Reinvestment Cash in any fiscal quarter, the exchange ratio shall be adjusted so that it shall
be equal to (i) the number of fully diluted outstanding shares of Newmark common stock (as defined in the Separation and Distribution
Agreement) as of immediately prior to such adjustment, divided by (ii) the sum of (A) the number of fully diluted outstanding
shares of Newmark common stock as of immediately prior to such adjustment, plus (B) the Adjustment Factor (as described below) for
such fiscal quarter, plus (C) the sum of the aggregate Adjustment Factors for all prior fiscal quarters following the initial public
offering of Newmark Class A common stock, where:
● the Adjustment Factor shall be equal to the Reinvestment
Cash divided by the Newmark Current Market Price (as defined in the Separation and Distribution Agreement) as of the day prior to
the date on which the adjustment to the exchange ratio is made for such fiscal quarter; provided that
● if, in any subsequent fiscal quarter, the exchange ratio
shall be further adjusted and the Newmark Current Market Price as of the day prior to the date on which such further adjustment
is made is greater than the Newmark Current Market Price used in the bullet above, then the Adjustment Factor for such prior fiscal quarter
shall be re-calculated using such greater Newmark Current Market Price.
● Newmark
shall determine the particular date in which any adjustment to the exchange ratio in respect of a particular fiscal quarter shall occur,
taking into account the precise timing of any distributions by Newmark Holdings and Newmark in respect of such fiscal quarter .
Use of Reinvestment Cash
We receive significant tax benefits from the
partnership structure of Newmark OpCo and Newmark Holdings. Specifically, in connection with an exchange of an exchangeable Newmark Holdings
limited partnership interest with Newmark for shares of Newmark common stock, Newmark OpCo receives a tax deduction. We, in turn, benefit
from the majority of this tax deduction as a result of our ownership interest in Newmark OpCo. In a typical Umbrella Partnership-C corporation
structure, we would normally receive a much smaller portion of these tax benefits.
In
light of these tax benefits and the fact that the exchange ratio is adjusted downward if there is any Reinvestment Cash, and in order
to induce the holder of a majority of the Newmark exchangeable limited partnership interest to consent to the partnership structure,
we have agreed in the Separation and Distribution Agreement that, to the extent that there is any Reinvestment Cash, we will contribute
such cash to Newmark OpCo as an additional capital contribution with respect to our existing limited partnership interest in Newmark
OpCo, unless we and the holder of a majority of the Newmark exchangeable limited partnership interests agree otherwise .
Reinvestments in Newmark OpCo by Newmark; Co-Investment Rights;
Distributions to Holders of Our Common Stock and to Newmark Holdings Limited Partners
In order to maintain our economic interest in
Newmark OpCo, the Separation and Distribution Agreement provides that any net proceeds received by us from any subsequent issuances of
our common stock (other than upon exchange of Newmark Holdings exchangeable limited partnership interests) will be, unless otherwise
determined by our Board of Directors, contributed to Newmark OpCo in exchange for Newmark OpCo limited partnership interests consisting
of a number of Newmark OpCo units that will equal the number of shares of our common stock issued divided by the exchange ratio as of
immediately prior to the issuance of such shares.
79
In addition, we may elect to purchase from Newmark
OpCo a number of Newmark OpCo units through cash or non-cash consideration. The investment price will be based on the then-applicable
market price for shares of our Class A common stock. In the future, from time to time, we also may use cash on hand and funds received
from distributions, loans or other payments from Newmark OpCo to purchase shares of common stock or Newmark Holdings exchangeable limited
partnership interests.
In the event that we acquire any additional Newmark
OpCo limited partnership interests from Newmark OpCo, Cantor would have the right to cause Newmark Holdings to acquire additional Newmark
OpCo limited partnership interests from Newmark OpCo up to the number of Newmark OpCo units that would preserve Cantor’s relative
indirect economic percentage interest in Newmark OpCo compared to our and BGC’s aggregate interests immediately prior to the acquisition
of such additional Newmark OpCo units by us or BGC, and Cantor would acquire an equivalent number of additional Newmark Holdings limited
partnership interests to reflect such relative indirect interest. The purchase price per Newmark OpCo unit for any such Newmark OpCo
limited partnership interests issued indirectly to Cantor pursuant to its co-investment rights will be equal to the price paid by us
per Newmark OpCo unit. Any such Newmark Holdings limited partnership interests issued to Cantor will be designated as exchangeable limited
partnership interests.
Cantor will have 10 days after the related
issuance of Newmark OpCo limited partnership interests to elect such reinvestment and will have to close such election no later than
120 days following such election.
In addition, the Participation Plan provides
for issuances, in the discretion of our Compensation Committee or its designee, of Newmark Holdings limited partnership interests to
current or prospective working partners and executive officers of Newmark. Any net proceeds received by Newmark Holdings for such issuances
generally will be contributed to Newmark OpCo in exchange for Newmark OpCo limited partnership interests consisting of a number of Newmark
OpCo units equal to the number of Newmark Holdings limited partnership interests being issued so that the cost of such compensation award,
if any, is borne pro rata by all holders of the Newmark OpCo units, including by us. Any Newmark Holdings limited partnership interests
acquired by the working partners, including any such interests acquired at preferential or historical prices that are less than the prevailing
fair market value of our Class A common stock, will be designated as Newmark Holdings working partner interests and will generally
receive distributions from Newmark OpCo on an equal basis with all other limited partnership interests.
Newmark
Holdings will not have the right to acquire limited partnership interests in Newmark OpCo other than in connection with an investment
by Cantor as described above or in connection with issuances of Newmark Holdings interests to the working partners and executive officers
under the Participation Plan .
Subsequent Amendments to Newmark OpCo Limited Partnership Agreement
The
Newmark OpCo limited partnership agreement was amended, effective as of December 13, 2017, on March 14, 2018 to adjust certain
allocations to certain partnership-owned entities. On June 19, 2018 and September 26, 2018, Newmark OpCo amended and restated
its limited partnership agreement in connection with certain concluded transactions .
Administrative Services Agreement
On December 13, 2017, we entered into an
administrative services agreement with Cantor which is described below.
The administrative services agreement had an
initial term of three years, starting on the date of the Separation. Thereafter, the administrative services agreement renews automatically
for successive one-year terms, unless any party provides written notice to the other parties of its desire to terminate the agreement
at least 120 days before the end of any such year ending during the initial or extended term, in which event the administrative
services agreement will end with respect to the terminating party on the last day of such term. In addition, any particular service
provided under the administrative services agreement may be cancelled by the receiving party, with at least 90 days’ prior
written notice to the providing party, with no effect on the other services. The terminating party will be charged a termination fee
equal to the costs incurred by the party providing services as a result of such termination, including any severance or cancellation
fees.
Cantor is entitled to continued use of hardware
and equipment it used prior to the date of the administrative services agreement on the terms and conditions provided, even in the event
we terminate the administrative services agreement, although there is no requirement to repair or replace such hardware or equipment.
80
During the term of the administrative services
agreement, the parties will provide administrative and technical support services to each other, including:
● administration and benefits services;
● employee benefits, human resources and payroll services;
● financial and operations services;
● internal auditing services;
● legal related services;
● risk and credit services;
● accounting and general tax services;
● office space;
● personnel, hardware and equipment services;
● communication and data facilities;
● facilities management services;
● promotional, sales and marketing services;
● procuring of insurance coverage; and
● any miscellaneous services to which the parties reasonably
agree.
The administrative services agreement includes
provisions for allowing a provider or affiliate to arrange for a third-party to provide for the services.
In consideration for the services provided, the
providing party generally charges the other party an amount (including any applicable taxes) equal to (1) the direct cost that the
providing party incurs in performing those services, including third-party charges incurred in providing services, plus (2) a reasonable
allocation of other costs determined in a consistent and fair manner so as to cover the providing party’s appropriate costs or
in such other manner as the parties agree. For the year ended December 31, 2024, allocated expenses were $26.4 million for
these services. For the year ended December 31, 2025, allocated expenses were $33.3 million for these services. These allocated charges
may from time to time include compensation charges related to services provided in the ordinary course of business by a number of individuals
who are corporate executives or other management of Cantor or their staff, including Mr. Kyle Lutnick, a member of our Board of
Directors and Executive Vice Chairman of Cantor, or Mr. Brandon Lutnick, the brother of Mr. Kyle Lutnick and the Chief Executive
Officer of Cantor. These charges are not segregated by nor identify the specific services provided by such individuals. For the year
ended December 31, 2025, the allocated compensation charges for services related to individuals in this group was approximately
$2.05 million.
The
administrative services agreement provides that the services recipient generally indemnifies the services provider for liabilities that
it incurs arising from the provision of services other than liabilities arising from fraud or willful misconduct of the service provider .
Tax Matters Agreement
On December 13, 2017, BGC Partners, BGC
Holdings, BGC U.S. OpCo, Newmark, Newmark Holdings and Newmark OpCo entered into a tax matters agreement in connection with the
Separation that governs the parties’ respective rights, responsibilities and obligations after the Separation with respect to taxes
(including taxes arising in the ordinary course of business and taxes, if any, incurred as a result of any failure of the Spin-Off and
certain related transactions to qualify as tax-free for U.S. federal income tax purposes), tax attributes and tax benefits, the
preparation and filing of tax returns, the control of audits and other tax proceedings, tax elections, assistance and cooperation in
respect of tax matters, procedures and restrictions relating to the Spin-Off, if any, and certain other tax matters.
81
In
addition, the tax matters agreement imposes certain restrictions on Newmark and its subsidiaries (including restrictions on share issuances,
business combinations, sales of assets and similar transactions) that will be designed to preserve the tax-free status of the Spin-Off
and certain related transactions. The tax matters agreement provides special rules to allocate tax liabilities in the event the Spin-Off,
together with certain related transactions, is not tax-free, as well as any tax liabilities incurred in connection with the Separation.
In general, under the tax matters agreement, each party is expected to be responsible for any taxes imposed on BGC Partners or Newmark
that arise from the failure of the Spin-Off, together with certain related transactions, to qualify as a transaction that is generally
tax-free, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, under Sections 355 and 368(a)(1)(D) and certain other relevant provisions of
the Code, to the extent that the failure to so qualify is attributable to actions, events or transactions relating to such party’s
respective stock, assets or business, or a breach of the relevant representations or covenants made by that party in the tax matters
agreement .
Tax Receivable Agreement
On December 13, 2017, Cantor and Newmark
entered into a tax receivable agreement which is described below.
Certain interests in Newmark Holdings may be
exchanged in the future for a number of shares of Newmark Class A common stock or shares of Newmark Class B common stock equal
to the then-applicable exchange ratio. Certain of these exchanges could result in increases to our share of the tax basis of the tangible
and intangible assets of Newmark OpCo that otherwise would not have been available, although the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”)
may challenge all or part of that tax basis increase, and a court could sustain such a challenge by the IRS. These increases in
tax basis, if sustained, may reduce the amount of tax that we would otherwise be required to pay in the future.
Our tax receivable agreement with Cantor also
provides for the payment by us to Cantor of 85% of the amount of cash savings, if any, in U.S. federal, state and local income tax
or franchise tax that we actually realize as a result of these increases in tax basis and of certain other tax benefits related to its
entering into the tax receivable agreement, including tax benefits attributable to payments under the tax receivable agreement. It is
expected that we will benefit from the remaining 15% of cash savings, if any, in income tax that we realize. Pursuant to the tax receivable
agreement, we will determine, after consultation with Cantor, the extent to which we are permitted to claim any such tax benefits, and
such tax benefits will be taken into account in computing any cash savings so long as our accountants agree that it is at least more
likely than not that such tax benefit is available.
Pursuant to the tax receivable agreement, 20%
of each payment that would otherwise be made by us will be deposited into an escrow account until the expiration of the statute of limitations
for the tax year to which the payment relates. If the IRS successfully challenges the availability of any tax benefit and determines
that a tax benefit is not available, we will be entitled to receive reimbursements from Cantor for amounts we previously paid under the
tax receivable agreement and Cantor will indemnify us and hold us harmless with respect to any interest or penalties and any other losses
in respect of the disallowance of any deductions which gave rise to the payment under the tax receivable agreement (together with reasonable
attorneys’ and accountants’ fees incurred in connection with any related tax contest, but the indemnity for such reasonable
attorneys’ and accountants’ fees shall only apply to the extent Cantor is permitted to control such contest). Any such reimbursement
or indemnification payment will be satisfied first from the escrow account (to the extent funded in respect of such payments under the
tax receivable agreement).
For purposes of the tax receivable agreement,
cash savings in income and franchise tax will be computed by comparing our actual income and franchise tax liability to the amount of
such taxes that we would have been required to pay had there been no depreciation or amortization deductions available to us that were
attributable to an increase in tax basis (or any imputed interest) as a result of an exchange. The tax receivable agreement will continue
until all such tax benefits have been utilized or have expired, unless we (with the approval by a majority of our independent directors)
exercise our right to terminate the tax receivable agreement for an amount based on an agreed value of payments remaining to be made
under the agreement, provided that if we and Cantor cannot agree upon a value, the agreement will remain in full force and effect. The
actual amount and timing of any payment under the tax receivable agreement will vary depending on a number of factors, including the
nature of the interests exchanged, the timing of exchanges, the extent to which such exchanges are taxable and the amount and timing
of our income.
Any amendment to the tax receivable agreement
will be subject to approval by a majority of our independent directors.
The
transactions described under “— Cantor’s Right to Purchase Exchangeable Newmark Holdings Limited Partnership Interests
Upon Redemption or Exchange of Newmark Holdings Founding Partner Interests — Distribution Rights Shares,” above,
are expected to result in an increase in our share of the tax basis of the tangible and intangible assets of Newmark OpCo and thereby
reduce the amount of tax that we would otherwise be required to pay in the future. As discussed above, the tax receivable agreement provides
for the payment by us to Cantor of 85% of the amount of cash savings, if any, in the U.S. federal, state and local income tax that
we actually realize as a result of the transactions. As of December 31, 2025, there was a $19.5 million tax receivable balance included
in other assets and a $17.5 million liability to Cantor included in other long-term liabilities on our unaudited condensed consolidated
balance sheets .
82
Registration Rights Agreement
In connection with the Separation, on December 13,
2017, we entered into a registration rights agreement with BGC Partners and Cantor which provided Cantor, BGC Partners and their respective
affiliates (prior to the Spin-Off) and Cantor and its affiliates (after the Spin-Off) registration rights with respect to shares of our
Class A common stock, including shares issued or to be issued upon exchange of the Newmark Holdings exchangeable limited partnership
interests held by Cantor, shares of our Class A common stock issued or issuable in respect of or in exchange for any shares of our
Class B common stock and any other shares of our Class A common stock that may be acquired by Cantor or its affiliates (the
“Registration Rights Agreement”). We refer to these shares as “registrable securities,” and we refer to the holders
of these registrable securities as “holders.”
The Registration Rights Agreement provides that
each holder is entitled to unlimited piggyback registration rights with respect to its registrable securities, meaning that each holder
can include its registrable securities in registration statements filed by us, including registration effected by us for security holders
other than holders, subject to certain limitations. The Registration Rights Agreement also grants Cantor unlimited demand registration
rights requiring that we register registrable securities held by Cantor and take all actions reasonably necessary or desirable to expedite
or facilitate the disposition of registrable securities. Our obligation to effect demand registration rights will not be relieved to
the extent we effect piggyback registration rights.
We will pay the costs incident to our compliance
with the Registration Rights Agreement but the holders will pay for any underwriting discounts or commissions or transfer taxes associated
with all such registrations.
We
have agreed to indemnify the holders (and their directors, officers, agents and each other person who controls a holder under Section 15
of the Securities Act) registering shares pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement against certain losses, expenses and liabilities
under the Securities Act, common law or otherwise. Holders will similarly indemnify us but such indemnification will be limited to an
amount equal to the net proceeds received by such holder under the sale of registrable securities giving rise to the indemnification
obligation .
Derivative Suits
On August 5, 2022, Robert
Garfield filed a complaint in the Delaware Court of Chancery, captioned Robert Garfield v. Howard Lutnick, et al. (Case No. 2022-0687)
(the “Garfield action”), against the members of the Board and Mr. Lutnick in his capacity as Chairman of the Board and controlling
stockholder. This derivative complaint alleges that in connection with the December 2021 bonus award, payable over a three-year period,
granted to Mr. Lutnick: (i) the Board breached its fiduciary duty, (ii) neither the award nor the approval process employed by the Compensation
Committee were entirely fair to the Company and its stockholders, and (iii) the members of the Compensation Committee did not exercise
independent judgment. The complaint alleges that Mr. Lutnick breached his fiduciary duty as Chairman and controlling shareholder by forcing
the Company to grant the award and by accepting it. The complaint seeks rescission of the award and other compensation, as well as damages
and other relief.
On October 7, 2022, Cardinal
Capital Management, LLC filed a complaint in the Delaware Court of Chancery, captioned Cardinal Capital Management, LLC v. Howard Lutnick,
et al. (Case No. 2022-0909-SG) (the “Cardinal action”), against Mr. Lutnick, the members of the Compensation Committee in
2021, who were Virginia S. Bauer, Kenneth A. McIntyre and Michael Snow as members of the Compensation Committee, and Barry Gosin, Michael
Rispoli and Stephen Merkel, as Newmark’s executive officers. The derivative complaint alleges that in connection with the Company’s
June 2021 partnership units exchange for Mr. Lutnick and Officers (as such term is defined in the Cardinal action) and the December 2021
bonus award, payable over a three-year period, granted to Mr. Lutnick: (i) the Compensation Committee and Officers breached their fiduciary
duties and wasted corporate assets; and (ii) Mr. Lutnick and the Officers were unjustly enriched. The complaint also alleges that Mr.
Lutnick breached his fiduciary duty as Chairman and controlling shareholder, and wasted corporate assets, by forcing the Company to grant
the award and by accepting it. The complaint seeks recoupment of the partnership units exchange and the bonus award, as well as damages
and other relief.
On December 13, 2022, the
Delaware Court of Chancery entered an order consolidating the Garfield and Cardinal actions into a single, consolidated action (Consolidated
C.A. No. 2022-0687, hereinafter the “Consolidated Shareholder Action”) deemed to have commenced on August 5, 2022, when the
Garfield action was filed. On January 10, 2023, the plaintiffs filed a consolidated amended complaint, whose claims, as well as requested
relief, mirror the claims and relief sought in the Cardinal action in all material respects. The Company’s position is that the
partnership units exchange was appropriate and in the best interests of the Company, and that the bonus award was properly approved by
the Compensation Committee comprised of independent directors (which did not include Mr. Howard Lutnick) after careful consideration
of his contributions to the Company, including the Company’s superior financial results, and following an extensive process that
included advice from independent legal counsel and an independent compensation consultant.
83
On December 21, 2024, the
parties to the Consolidated Shareholder Action agreed to settle the matter for a cash payment of $50 million to Newmark less any fees
awarded to the plaintiffs’ counsel by the Court following a hearing, to be paid by Newmark’s directors’ and officers’
insurance carriers, within 15 business days after entry of judgment. The settlement, which required the Court of Chancery’s approval,
is intended to fully settle and release, with prejudice, any and all actual or potential claims between the parties to the settlement
that arise out of or otherwise relate to the claims asserted in the Consolidated Shareholder Action. The settlement is not evidence of
the validity or invalidity of any claims or defenses in this action or any other actions or proceedings, or of any wrongdoing by any
of the defendants, or of any damages or injury to Newmark or the plaintiffs. The defendants in this action have denied, and continue
to deny, all allegations of wrongdoing, fault, liability or damage with respect to all claims asserted or that could be asserted in the
Consolidated Shareholder Action.
The Court of Chancery approved the proposed
settlement and dismissed the case after a hearing held on August 13, 2025. The Company received $50.0 million from insurers and
paid $7.7 million of plaintiff’s counsel legal fees.
Other Legal Proceedings
On March 9, 2023, a purported class action complaint
was filed against Cantor, BGC Holdings, and Newmark Holdings in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware (Civil Action No.
1:23-cv-00265). The collective action, which was filed by seven former limited partners on their own behalf and on behalf of other similarly
situated limited partners, alleges a claim for breach of contract against all defendants on the basis that the defendants failed to make
payments due under the relevant partnership agreements. Specifically, the plaintiffs allege that the non-compete and economic forfeiture
provisions upon which the defendants relied to deny payment are unenforceable under Delaware law. The plaintiffs allege a second claim
against Cantor and BGC Holdings for antitrust violations under the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890, as amended, on the basis that the Cantor
and BGC Holdings partnership agreements constitute unreasonable restraints of trade. In that regard, the plaintiffs allege that the non-compete
and economic forfeiture provisions of the Cantor and BGC Holdings partnership agreements, as well as restrictive covenants included in
partner separation agreements, cause anticompetitive effects in the labor market, insulate Cantor and BGC Holdings from competition,
and limit innovation. The plaintiffs seek a determination that the case may be maintained as a class action, an injunction prohibiting
the allegedly anticompetitive conduct, and monetary damages of at least $5,000,000. The defendants filed a motion to dismiss and in response,
on May 31, 2023, the plaintiffs filed an Amended Class Action Complaint alleging similar allegations as a basis for claims for breach
of contract and violation of the Sherman Act. The defendants moved to dismiss the Amended Complaint. On February 23, 2024, the plaintiffs
filed a Second Amended Complaint, repleading claims for violation of federal antitrust laws and challenging economic forfeiture and non-compete
obligations as violative of federal competition law. On December 2, 2024, the District Court granted the defendants’ motion to
dismiss the Second Amended Complaint. On December 16, 2024, the plaintiffs filed a notice of appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for
the Third Circuit. The appeal was fully briefed in early 2025 and the Third Circuit held oral argument on September 17, 2025. On December
15, 2025, the Third Circuit affirmed the District Court’s judgment dismissing the case.
Potential Conflicts of Interest and Competition Among Cantor,
BGC and Newmark
General
We are controlled by Cantor
and CFGM, which are controlled indirectly by Mr. Brandon Lutnick, Cantor’s Chief Executive Officer and Chairman and CFGM’s
Chief Executive Officer. As of April 1, 2026, Mr. Brandon Lutnick beneficially
owned 4,391,380 shares of our Class A common stock and 21,285,533 shares of our Class B common stock, collectively representing 58.9%
of the total voting power of our outstanding common stock. As of April 1, 2026, Cantor and CFGM also owned 20,383,335 exchangeable
limited partnership units of Newmark Holdings. If Cantor and CFGM were to exchange such units into shares of our Class B common stock,
Mr. Brandon Lutnick, through his control of Cantor, would have approximately 73.5% of our total voting power as of April 1, 2026 (60.6%
if Cantor were to exchange such units into shares of our Class A common stock).
There is overlap in our Board and management
with Cantor’s and BGC’s boards of directors and management, including (i) Mr. Merkel, who serves as both our Executive
Vice President and Chief Legal Officer as well as Chairman of the Board and as Cantor’s Executive Vice Chairman, Executive Managing
Director, and General Counsel as well as BGC’s Chairman of the Board, Executive Vice President and General Counsel, and (ii) Mr. Kyle
Lutnick, who is a member of our Board and also serves as Cantor’s Executive Vice Chairman and President of CFGM.
84
Each
share of Newmark Class B common stock is generally entitled to the same rights as a share of Newmark Class A common stock,
except that, on matters submitted to a vote of our stockholders, each share of Newmark Class B common stock is entitled to 10 votes.
The Newmark Class B common stock generally votes together with the Newmark Class A common stock on all matters submitted to
a vote of our stockholders. Cantor and CFGM and Mr. Brandon Lutnick, indirectly through his control of Cantor and CFGM, are each
able to exercise control over our management and affairs and all matters requiring stockholder approval, including the election of our
directors and determinations with respect to acquisitions and dispositions, as well as material expansions or contractions of our business,
entry into new lines of business and borrowings and issuances of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock or other securities.
This control is subject to the approval of our Audit Committee on those matters requiring such approval. Cantor’s voting power
may also have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of control of us. We expect to retain our dual class structure, and there
are no circumstances under which the holders of Class B common stock would be required to convert their shares of Class B common stock
into shares of Class A common stock.
Cantor’s, CFGM’s
and/or Mr. Brandon Lutnick’s ability to exercise control or influence over us could create or appear to create potential conflicts
of interest. Conflicts of interest or the appearance thereof may arise between us and Mr. Brandon Lutnick and Cantor and CFGM and/or
other members of the Lutnick family, including Mr. Kyle Lutnick, one of our board members, in a number of areas relating to our past
and ongoing relationships, including:
● potential
acquisitions and dispositions of businesses, mergers, joint ventures, investments or similar
transactions;
● the
issuance, acquisition or disposition of securities by us;
● the
election of new or additional directors to our Board and/or causing the appointment of executive
officers or other members of the management team, any of which could be members of the Lutnick
family;
● the
payment of dividends by us (if any), distribution of profits by Newmark OpCo and/or Newmark
Holdings and repurchases of shares of our Class A common stock or purchases of Newmark Holdings
limited partnership interests or other equity interests in our subsidiaries, including from
Cantor or our executive officers, other employees, partners and others;
● any
loans to or from us or Cantor, or any financings or credit arrangements that relate to or
depend on our relationship with Cantor or its relationship with us;
● clients
of ours who may also be clients of Cantor or BGC, and any preferential terms or terms perceived
as being preferential that may be extended to such clients by Cantor, BGC, or us;
● investment
banking services or advisory services provided by Cantor, CF&Co and its affiliates, and
any customary fees and commissions associated with such services;
● market
making or underwriting provided by Cantor, CF&Co and its affiliates for our notes once
the appropriate registration statement is filed with the SEC;
● intellectual
property matters;
● business
combinations involving us;
● business
operations or business opportunities of ours and Cantor’s that would compete with the
other party’s business opportunities,;
● overlapping
clients;
● the
nature, quality and pricing of administrative services and transition services to be provided
to or by Cantor or its affiliates;
● any
positions by members of the Lutnick family with us, including as directors or officers, and
our affiliates, BGC Group and/or Cantor and their ownership of any such equity or the equity
of any of Cantor’s other affiliates; and
● any
transactions between us or any of our affiliates and the U.S. government or related entities
or any actual or perceived conflicts of interests related thereto.
Further, potential allegations
of conflicts or reputational impacts could occur, which may have an adverse effect on our business. In addition to Cantor’s control
of us, members of the Lutnick family have been or currently are members of our Board, employed by and/or involved in the management of
our and our affiliates’ businesses, and may in the future be appointed to our Board or our management team. Further, Mr. Howard
Lutnick’s government role and high profile may subject him to additional conflicts and ethics rules, regulatory or media scrutiny
and reputational risk including resulting from allegations, whether or not true. The items noted above could periodically divert management
attention and could impact our reputation, business, operating results and financial condition.
85
We
also expect Cantor to manage its ownership of BGC and us so that no company will be deemed to be an investment company under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”), including by maintaining its voting power in us
above a majority absent an applicable exemption from the Investment Company Act. This may result in conflicts with us, including those
relating to acquisitions or offerings by us involving issuances of shares of our Class A common stock, or securities convertible
or exchangeable into shares of Class A common stock, that would dilute Cantor’s voting power in us.
Potential Conflicts Related to Cantor
As noted above, Cantor is able to exercise control
over our management and affairs and all matters requiring stockholder approval, including the election of our directors and determinations
with respect to acquisitions and dispositions, as well as material expansions or contractions of our business, entry into new lines of
business and borrowings and issuances of our Class A and Class B common stock or other securities. Cantor’s voting power
may also have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of control of us.
In addition, Cantor has from time to time in
the past and may in the future consider possible strategic realignments of its own businesses and/or of the relationships that exist
between and among Cantor and its other affiliates and us. Any related-party transaction or arrangement between Cantor and its other affiliates
and us is subject to the prior approval by our Audit Committee, but generally does not require the separate approval of our stockholders,
and if such stockholder approval is required, Cantor may retain sufficient voting power to provide any such requisite approval without
the affirmative consent of our other stockholders. There is no assurance that such consolidation or restructuring would not result in
a material expense or disruption to our business.
Cantor has existing real estate-related businesses
and may, from time to time, sponsor special purpose acquisition companies (“SPACs”) or invest in other ventures which have
a real estate focus. While these businesses do not currently compete with Newmark, it is possible that, in the future, real estate-related
opportunities in which Newmark would be interested may also be pursued by Cantor and/or Cantor may conduct activities in any real estate-related
business or asset-backed securities-related business or any extensions thereof and ancillary activities thereto. For example, Cantor’s
commercial lending business has historically offered conduit loans to the multifamily market. While conduit loans have certain key differences
versus multifamily agency loans, such as those offered by our capital markets business, there can be no assurance that Cantor’s
lending businesses will not seek to offer multifamily loans to our existing and potential multifamily customer base.
Moreover, the service of officers or partners
of Cantor as our officers and directors, and those persons’ ownership interests in and payments from Cantor and its affiliates,
SPACs and similar investments or other entities, could create conflicts of interest when we and those directors or officers are faced
with decisions that could have different implications for us and them.
We
also have entered into agreements that provide certain rights to the holder of a majority of the Newmark Holdings exchangeable limited
partnership interest, which is currently Cantor. For example, the Separation and Distribution Agreement provides that dividends for a
year to our common stockholders that are 25% or more of our post-tax Adjusted Earnings per fully diluted share for such year shall require
the consent of the holder of a majority of the Newmark Holdings exchangeable limited partnership interests. In addition, the Separation
and Distribution Agreement requires Newmark to contribute any Reinvestment Cash, as an additional capital contribution with respect to
its existing limited partnership interest in Newmark OpCo, unless Newmark and the holder of a majority of the Newmark Holdings exchangeable
limited partnership interests agree otherwise. It is possible that Cantor, as the holder of a majority of the Newmark Holdings exchangeable
limited partnership interest, will not agree to a higher dividend percentage or a different use of Reinvestment Cash, even if doing so
might be more advantageous to the Newmark stockholders .
Potential Conflicts Related to BGC and Cantor
For purposes of the below:
● “BGC Group Company” means BGC Group or any of
its affiliates (other than us and our subsidiaries);
● “Cantor Company” means Cantor or any of its affiliates
(other than us and our subsidiaries);
● “representatives” means, with respect to any
person, the directors, officers, employees, general partners or managing member of such person; and
● “corporate opportunity” means any business opportunity
that we are financially able to undertake, that is, from its nature, in our lines of business, is of practical advantage to us and is
one in which we have an interest or a reasonable expectancy, and in which, by embracing the opportunities, the self-interest of a BGC
Group Company or a Cantor Company or any of their respective representatives, as the case may be, will be brought into conflict with
our self-interest.
Our agreements and other arrangements with BGC
and Cantor, including the Separation and Distribution Agreement, may be amended upon agreement of the parties to those agreements and
approval of our Audit Committee. We may not be able to resolve any potential conflicts, and, even if we do, the resolution may be less
favorable to us than if we were dealing with an unaffiliated party.
86
In order to address potential conflicts of interest
between or among BGC, Cantor and their respective representatives and us, our certificate of incorporation contains provisions regulating
and defining the conduct of our affairs as they may involve BGC and/or Cantor and their respective representatives, and our powers, rights,
duties and liabilities and those of our representatives in connection therewith. Our certificate of incorporation provides that, to the
greatest extent permitted by law, no Cantor Company or BGC Group Company, or any of the representatives, of a Cantor Company or BGC Group
Company will, in its capacity as our stockholder or affiliate, owe or be liable for breach of any fiduciary duty to us or any of our
stockholders. In addition, to the greatest extent permitted by law, none of any Cantor Company, BGC Group Company or any of their respective
representatives will owe any duty to refrain from engaging in the same or similar activities or lines of business as us or our representatives
or doing business with any of our or our representatives’ clients or customers. If any Cantor Company, BGC Group Company or any
of their respective representatives acquires knowledge of a potential transaction or matter that may be a corporate opportunity (as defined
in our certificate of incorporation) for any such person, on the one hand, and us or any of our representatives, on the other hand, such
person will have no duty to communicate or offer such corporate opportunity to us or any of our representatives, and will not be liable
to us, any of our stockholders or any of our representatives for breach of any fiduciary duty by reason of the fact that they pursue
or acquire such corporate opportunity for themselves, direct such corporate opportunity to another person or do not present such corporate
opportunity to us or any of our representatives, subject to the requirement described in the following sentence. If a third-party presents
a corporate opportunity to a person who is both our representative and a representative of a BGC Group Company and/or a Cantor Company,
expressly and solely in such person’s capacity as our representative, and such person acts in good faith in a manner consistent
with the policy that such corporate opportunity belongs to us, then such person will be deemed to have fully satisfied and fulfilled
any fiduciary duty that such person has to us as our representative with respect to such corporate opportunity, provided that any BGC
Group Company, any Cantor Company or any of their respective representatives may pursue such corporate opportunity if we decide not to
pursue such corporate opportunity.
No contract, agreement, arrangement or transaction
between any BGC Group Company, any Cantor Company or any of their respective representatives, on the one hand, and us or any of our representatives,
on the other hand, will be void or voidable solely because any BGC Group Company, any Cantor Company or any of their respective representatives
has a direct or indirect interest in such contract, agreement, arrangement or transaction, and any BGC Group Company, any Cantor Company
or any of their respective representatives (i) shall have fully satisfied and fulfilled its duties and obligations to us and our
stockholders with respect thereto; and (ii) shall not be liable to us or our stockholders for any breach of any duty or obligation
by reason of the entering into, performance or consummation of any such contract, agreement, arrangement or transaction, if:
● such contract, agreement, arrangement or transaction is approved
by our Board of Directors or any committee thereof by the affirmative vote of a majority of the disinterested directors, even if the
disinterested directors constitute less than a quorum;
● such contract, agreement, arrangement or transaction is approved
by our stockholders by the affirmative vote of a majority of the voting power of all of our outstanding shares of capital stock entitled
to vote thereon, excluding from such calculation shares of capital stock that are beneficially owned (as such term is defined in Rule 16a-1(a)(2) promulgated
by the SEC under the Exchange Act) by a BGC Group Company or a Cantor Company; or
● such contract, agreement, arrangement or transaction, judged
according to the circumstances at the time of the commitment, is fair to us.
While the satisfaction of the foregoing conditions
shall be sufficient to show that any BGC Group Company, any Cantor Company or any of their respective representatives (i) shall
have fully satisfied and fulfilled its duties and obligations to us and our stockholders with respect thereto; and (ii) shall not
be liable to us or our stockholders for any breach of any duty or obligation by reason of the entering into, performance or consummation
of any such contract, agreement, arrangement or transaction, none of the foregoing conditions shall be required to be satisfied for such
showing.
Our
directors who are also directors or officers of any BGC Group Company, any Cantor Company or any of their respective representatives
may be counted in determining the presence of a quorum at a meeting of our Board of Directors or of a committee that authorizes such
contract, agreement, arrangement or transaction. Shares of our common stock owned by any BGC Group Company, any Cantor Company or any
of their respective representatives may be counted in determining the presence of a quorum at a meeting of stockholders called to authorize
such contract, agreement, arrangement or transaction. Our directors who are also directors or officers of any BGC Group Company, any
Cantor Company or any of their respective representatives shall not owe or be liable for breach of any fiduciary duty to us or any of
our stockholders for any action taken by any BGC Group Company, any Cantor Company or their respective representatives, in their capacity
as our stockholder or affiliate .
87
Transactions by Cantor with Newmark in Equity Securities
Our Board of Directors has determined that Cantor
is a “deputized” director of the Company for purposes of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act with respect to transactions
in our securities from time to time. Rule 16b-3 exempts from the short-swing profits liability provisions of Section 16(b) of
the Exchange Act certain transactions in an issuer’s securities between the issuer or its majority-owned subsidiaries and
its officers and directors in certain situations, including if, among other things, the transaction is approved in advance by the issuer’s
board of directors or a disinterested committee of the issuer’s board of directors. The Rule 16b-3 exemption extends to any
such transactions by an entity beneficially owning more than 10% of a class of an issuer’s equity securities if the entity is a
“deputized” director because it has a representative on the issuer’s board of directors. Our Board’s intent in
determining that Cantor is a “deputized” director is that acquisitions or dispositions by Cantor of shares of our common
stock or interests in our common stock from or to us or its majority-owned subsidiaries will be eligible for the Rule 16b-3 exemption
from the short-swing profits liability provisions of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act.
Transactions with Cantor Commercial Real Estate Company, L.P. (“CCRE”)
Newmark
services loans for CCRE on a “fee for service” basis, generally prior to a loan’s sale or securitization, and for which
no mortgage servicing rights are recognized. Newmark recognized servicing revenues (excluding interest and placement fees) from servicing
rights purchased from CCRE on a “fee for service” basis of $1.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2025, which
was included as part of “Management services, servicing fees and other” in the consolidated statements of operations included
in Part II, Item 8 of the 2025 Form 10-K .
CF Secured Borrowing Facility
On August 2,
2021, Newmark OpCo, entered into a Master Repurchase Agreement (the “Repurchase Agreement”) with CF Secured, LLC (“CF
Secured”), an affiliate of Cantor, pursuant to which Newmark may seek, from time-to-time, to execute short-term secured financing
transactions. Repurchase agreements effect equity financing. The Company, under the Repurchase Agreement, may seek to sell securities
owned by the Company to CF Secured and agrees to repurchase those securities on a date certain at a repurchase price generally equal
to the original purchase price plus interest. The Repurchase Agreement is subject to ongoing compliance with various covenants and contains
customary events of default. If an event of default occurs, the repurchase date for each transaction under the Repurchase Agreement may
be accelerated to the date of default. For events of default relating to insolvency and receivership, the repurchase date for each transaction
under the Repurchase Agreement is automatically accelerated to the date of default. The Repurchase Agreement is on market terms and rates,
and was approved by our Audit Committee.
Intercompany Credit Agreement with Cantor
On November 30, 2018, Newmark entered into
an unsecured credit agreement with Cantor (the “Cantor Credit Agreement”). The Cantor Credit Agreement provides for each
party to issue loans to the other party at the lender’s discretion. Pursuant to the Cantor Credit Agreement, the parties and their
respective subsidiaries (with respect to Cantor, other than BGC) may borrow up to an aggregate principal amount of $250.0 million
from each other from time to time at an interest rate which is the higher of Cantor’s or Newmark’s short-term borrowing rate
then in effect, plus 1.0%.
On December 20, 2023, Newmark entered into
a first amendment to the Cantor Credit Agreement (the “First Cantor Credit Agreement Amendment”). Pursuant to the First Cantor
Credit Agreement Amendment, Cantor agreed to make certain loans to Newmark from time to time in an aggregate outstanding principal amount
of up to $150.0 million under the Cantor Credit Agreement (the “Newmark Revolving Loans”). The Newmark Revolving Loans
have substantially the same terms as other loans under the Cantor Credit Agreement, except that until April 15, 2024, the Newmark
Revolving Loans would bear interest at a rate equal to 25 basis points less than the interest rate borne by the revolving loans made
pursuant to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of March 10, 2022 by and among Newmark, as borrower, certain subsidiaries
of Newmark, as guarantors, Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent and the lenders from time to time party thereto, most recently
amended and restated on April 26, 2024 (as it may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the
“Credit Facility”). Unlike other loans made under the Cantor Credit Agreement, Cantor may demand repayment of the Newmark
Revolving Loans prior to the final maturity date of the Cantor Credit Agreement upon three business days’ prior written
notice. Also on December 20, 2023, Newmark drew $130.0 million of Newmark Revolving Loans, and used the proceeds to repay the
$130.0 million balance then outstanding under the Credit Facility. On January 12, 2024, the outstanding balance under the Cantor
Credit Agreement was repaid with the proceeds of the offering of the 7.500% Senior Notes, as defined below. While the Newmark Revolving
Loans were outstanding, we paid $0.5 million of interest to Cantor. As of December 31, 2025, there were no borrowings outstanding
under the Cantor Credit Agreement.
7.500% Senior Notes
On January 12, 2024, the Company issued
$600.0 million aggregate principal amount of its 7.500% Senior Notes due 2029 (the “7.500% Senior Notes”). The 7.500%
Senior Notes are general unsecured obligations of the Company. The 7.500% Senior Notes bear interest at a rate of 7.500% per year, payable
in cash on January 12 and July 12 of each year, commencing July 12, 2024. The 7.500% Senior Notes will mature on January 12,
2029. In connection with this issuance of 7.500% Senior Notes, the Company recorded approximately $0.5 million in underwriting fees
payable to CF&Co. The Company used the net proceeds from the issuance of the notes to, among other things, repay all $130.0 million
then-outstanding under the Cantor Credit Agreement.
88
Cantor purchased $125.0 million aggregate
principal amount of 7.500% Senior Notes, which purchase was approved by the Audit Committee, and thus far has received $4,687,500 in
interest payments on the 7.500% Senior Notes that it holds. On August 8, 2024, the Company filed a registration statement on Form S-3
pursuant to which Cantor, or its successors, assigns, and direct and indirect transferees, may resell their 7.500% Senior Notes from
time to time. The Company will not receive any of the proceeds from the resale of the 7.500% Senior Notes, and the selling securityholders
will pay any underwriting discounts and commissions, brokerage commissions, and transfer taxes, if any, applicable to the notes sold
by them. Cantor still holds such notes as of the date of this Proxy Statement.
Also
on August 8, 2024, the Company filed a registration statement on Form S-3 pursuant to which CF&Co and other affiliates
of the Company may make offers and sales of the 7.500% Senior Notes in connection with ongoing market-making transactions which may occur
from time to time. Such market-making transactions in these securities may occur in the open market or may be privately negotiated at
prevailing market prices at the time of resale or at related or negotiated prices. Neither CF&Co, nor any of our other affiliates,
has any obligation to make a market in our securities, and CF&Co or any such other affiliate may discontinue market-making activities
at any time without notice. The Company does not receive any proceeds from market-making activities in the 7.500% Senior Notes by CF&Co
or any other affiliates .
Financial Advisor Agreement
In November 2018, the Audit Committee authorized
Newmark to enter into an engagement agreement with CF&Co and its affiliates to act as financial advisor in connection with one or
more third-party business combination transactions as requested by Newmark on behalf of its affiliates from time to time on specified
terms, conditions and fees.
Government Sponsored Enterprise (“GSE”) Loan and Related
Party Limits
In February 2019, the Audit Committee authorized
Newmark and its subsidiaries to originate and service GSE loans to Cantor and its affiliates (other than BGC) and service loans originated
by Cantor and its affiliates (other than BGC) on prices, rates and terms no less favorable to Newmark and its subsidiaries than those
charged by third parties. The authorization is subject to certain terms and conditions, including but not limited to: (i) a maximum
amount up to $100.0 million per loan, (ii) a $250.0 million limit on loans that have not yet been acquired or sold to
a GSE at any given time, and (iii) a separate $250.0 million limit on originated Fannie Mae loans outstanding to Cantor at
any given time.
Services Agreement with CFE Dubai
In May 2020, the Audit Committee authorized
Newmark & Co. to enter into an agreement with Cantor Fitzgerald Europe (DIFC Branch) (“CFE Dubai”) pursuant to which
CFE Dubai will employ and support an individual who is a resident of Dubai in order to enhance Newmark’s capital markets platform,
in exchange for a fee. CFE Dubai and Newmark & Co. negotiated a Services Agreement memorializing the arrangement between the
parties (the “Services Agreement”). The Services Agreement provides that Newmark & Co. will reimburse CFE Dubai
for the individual’s fully allocated costs, plus a mark-up of seven percent (7%). In addition, the Audit Committee authorized the
Company and its subsidiaries to enter into similar arrangements in respect of any jurisdiction, in the future, with Cantor and its subsidiaries,
provided that the applicable agreements contain customary terms for arrangements of this type and that the mark-up charged by the party
employing one or more individuals for the benefit of the other is between 3% and 7.5%, depending on the level of support required for
the employed individual(s). During the year ended December 31, 2025, there were no fees paid under these agreements.
Services Agreement with Cantor Fitzgerald Europe for the Provision
of Real Estate Investment Banking Services
On February 21, 2024, the Audit Committee
authorized Newmark Holdings Limited (“NHL”), a subsidiary of Newmark, to enter into an agreement with Cantor Fitzgerald Europe
(“CFE”) pursuant to which CFE will employ and support an individual to enhance Newmark’s capital markets platform by
providing real estate investment banking services for the benefit of Newmark’s clients. Under this agreement, NHL will reimburse
CFE for the individual’s fully allocated costs, plus a mark-up of seven percent (7%) and CFE will be entitled to ten percent (10%)
of revenues generated by such individual on behalf of Newmark. In addition, the Audit Committee authorized NHL to include additional
individuals to perform such services on substantially the same terms; provided that, in any case, the mark-up charged for such additional
individuals is between 3.0% and 7.5%, depending on the level of support required for such individuals. Newmark did not make any payments
pursuant to this agreement for the year ended December 31, 2025.
89
Sublease to Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P.
In June 2024, Cantor entered into a sublease
effective as of February 14, 2024. The deal was a twelve year sublease of approximately 6,200 of rentable square feet in San Francisco,
California. The sublease was provided at a rate of $36,000 per month. During the year ended December 31, 2025, Newmark received
$0.4 million from Cantor.
Transactions Related to Ordinary Course Real Estate Services
On November 4, 2020, our Audit Committee
authorized entities in which executive officers have a non-controlling interest to engage Newmark to provide ordinary course real estate
services to them as long as Newmark’s fees are consistent with the fees that Newmark ordinarily charges for these services.
Knotel Assets
As part of the acquisition of Knotel, Inc. on March 24,
2021, we assigned the rights to acquire certain Knotel, Inc. assets to a subsidiary of Cantor, on the terms that if the subsidiary monetized
the sale of these assets, we would receive 10% of the proceeds of the sale after the subsidiary recoups its investment in the assets.
Employment Matters
Kyle Lutnick
On February 18, 2025, the Board appointed
Mr. Kyle Lutnick to serve as a member of the Board, effective February 18, 2025, for a term to expire at the earlier of the
2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company, or until his successor is duly elected and qualified.
On June 28, 2021, Newmark hired Mr. Kyle
Lutnick as a full-time employee, providing for salary, bonus, reimbursement of ordinary course expenses and travel, and a potential profit
participation consistent with other entrepreneurial arrangements in the event of certain liquidity events related to businesses developed
by him.
For
2024, total compensation under the arrangement was approximately $817,000. As of February 2025, he was no longer employed by the
Company or its subsidiaries. His compensation for the period he was employed by the Company in 2025 was approximately $26,000 .
Joseph Alvarado and Robert Alvarado
Our
Chief Operating Officer Mr. Alvarado’s two sons, Joseph Alvarado and Robert Alvarado, are employed by a subsidiary of Newmark.
In 2025, Mr. Joseph Alvarado’s total compensation was approximately $860,000 and Mr. Robert Alvarado’s total compensation
was approximately $230,000 .
Service Transactions with Executive Officers
From
time to time, the Company has provided brokerage services to entities in which Mr. Gosin holds an ownership interest, and from time
to time the Company has engaged entities in which Mr. Gosin holds an ownership interest for secretarial and janitorial services.
These relationships are generally reviewed against third-party rates for similar services and are entered into on an arms-length basis,
and Mr. Gosin does not direct the engagement of these entities .
90
Fountain House Charitable Donation
On September 16, 2025, the Board and Audit
Committee approved a charitable donation of $2 million from a subsidiary of the Company to Fountain House, a national mental health
nonprofit organization. Mr. Gosin serves on the Board of Directors of Fountain House.
Debt Repurchase Program
On June 16, 2020, our Board of Directors
and Audit Committee authorized a debt repurchase program for the repurchase by us of up to $50.0 million of our 6.125% Senior Notes
due 2023 that were then outstanding and any future debt securities issued by us thereafter (collectively, “Company debt securities”).
Repurchases of Company debt securities, if any, are expected to reduce future cash interest payments, as well as future amounts due at
maturity or upon redemption.
Under the authorization, we may make repurchases
of Company debt securities for cash from time to time in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions upon such terms and
at such prices as management may determine. Additionally, we are authorized to make any such repurchases of Company debt securities through
CF&Co (or
Text extracted from the filing as submitted to EDGAR. Formatting, tables and exhibits are simplified for reading; the original document is authoritative for anything you rely on.