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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. 2)

 

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PRELIMINARY COPY, SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED APRIL 22, 2013

Gleacher & Company, Inc.
1290 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10104

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NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
To Be Held May 23, 2013

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        NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the 2013 annual meeting of the stockholders (the "Annual Meeting") of Gleacher & Company, Inc. (the "Company") will be held at the offices of the Company, located at 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10104, at 9:00 a.m., local time, on May 23, 2013, for the following purposes:

        (1)   to elect nine individuals to the Board of Directors for a term of one year;

        (2)   to consider and act upon a proposal to amend the Company's Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to effect a reverse stock split;

        (3)   to consider and act upon a proposal to amend, if and when the reverse stock split is approved and effected, the Company's Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to proportionally decrease the number of authorized shares of our common stock;

        (4)   to approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of our named executive officers as described herein;

        (5)   to ratify the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2013; and

        (6)   to consider and act upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof.

        We ask that you give these matters your careful attention.

        The Gleacher & Company, Inc. Board of Directors unanimously recommends that the stockholders vote: "FOR" the proposal to amend the Company's Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to effect a reverse stock split; "FOR" the proposal to amend, if and when the reverse stock split is effected, the Company's Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to proportionally decrease the number of authorized shares of our common stock; "FOR" the approval, on an advisory basis, of the compensation of our named executive officers as described herein; and "FOR" the ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2013.

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        Your participation in the Annual Meeting, in person or by proxy, is important. For the election of directors, the nine nominees receiving the greatest number of votes cast shall be elected. For Proposal 2 or 3 to be approved, it must receive votes constituting a majority of the shares of common stock outstanding and entitled to vote thereon. For Proposal 4 or 5 to be approved, it must receive "FOR" votes constituting a majority of the votes cast at the Annual Meeting with respect to shares entitled to vote thereon. Proposals 4 and 5 are submitted to our stockholders on an advisory basis only. The outcome of voting on these proposals will be considered by our Board of Directors but will not be binding on the Company.

        Holders of common stock of record as of the close of business on April 17, 2013 are entitled to receive notice of and vote at the Annual Meeting. A list of such stockholders may be examined at the Annual Meeting.

        Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials:    The Company's Proxy Statement and the WHITE Proxy Card relating to the Annual Meeting and the Company's 2013 Annual Report, and any amendments to the foregoing materials that are required to be furnished to stockholders, are available for you to review online at www.gleacher.com under the heading "Investor Relations — Annual Report and Proxy Statement."

        The Company expects that you may receive a [Color] proxy card from MatlinPatterson FA Acquisition LLC and a green proxy card from Clinton Relational Opportunity Master Fund, L.P. The MatlinPatterson FA Acquisition LLC card is expected to request a vote for eight nominees for election to the Board of Directors, and the Clinton Relational Opportunity Master Fund, L.P. card is expected to request a vote for nine nominees for election to the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors makes no recommendation as to persons nominated by either of these stockholders and is not soliciting proxy authority to vote for the election of directors. You may change your vote at any time by delivering another proxy card. Only the latest dated proxy card you vote will be counted.

        Please note that by voting the WHITE proxy card you will not have cast a vote in the election of directors.

        If you hold your shares through a broker or other nominee (that is, in "street name"), you cannot vote your shares directly but must instead instruct your broker or other nominee to vote your shares. If you do not give your broker or other nominee voting instructions, your shares will be voted only if your broker or other nominee is allowed to exercise voting discretion with respect to your shares. Under New York Stock Exchange rules, your broker or other nominee is permitted to exercise voting discretion only with respect to "routine" matters. There are no "routine" matters to be acted upon at our Annual Meeting. Accordingly, if your shares are held in street name and you do not submit voting instructions to your broker or other nominee, your shares will not be counted in determining the proposal to effect a reverse stock spit, the proposal to proportionally reduce the number of authorized shares of common stock, the advisory vote to approve executive compensation or the proposal to ratify the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. We encourage you to provide voting instructions to your brokers or other nominees if you hold your shares in street name so that your voice is heard in these important matters.

        We hope that you are planning to attend the Annual Meeting personally, and we look forward to seeing you there. Whether or not you are able to attend in person, it is important that your shares be represented at the Annual Meeting. For that reason we ask that you promptly sign, date, and mail the enclosed WHITE proxy card in the return envelope provided. Please note that by voting the WHITE proxy card you will not have cast a vote in the election of directors. You may change your vote at any time by delivering another proxy card. Only the latest dated proxy card you vote will be counted. In addition to using the traditional proxy card, you can also vote over the internet or by telephone. Please refer to your proxy materials or the

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information forwarded by your bank, broker or other holder of record for detailed information. Stockholders of record who attend the Annual Meeting may revoke any proxy previously given and vote in person.

New York, New York
[    •    ], 2013

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PRELIMINARY COPY, SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED APRIL 22, 2013

Gleacher & Company, Inc.
1290 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10104

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ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

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Annual Meeting of Stockholders
May 23, 2013

        This Proxy Statement is being furnished to the stockholders of Gleacher & Company, Inc. (the "Company") in connection with the solicitation by the board of directors (the "Board" or "Board of Directors") of proxies for use at the 2013 annual meeting of stockholders (the "Annual Meeting") to be held at the Company's offices, located at 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10104 at 9:00 a.m., local time, on May 23, 2013, and any postponements or adjournments thereof. The mailing address of the Company's principal offices is 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10104. The telephone number at that address is 212-273-7100. As used in this Proxy Statement, the terms "we," "our," and "us" refer to the Company and its subsidiaries.

        At the Annual Meeting, you will be asked to vote on the following matters:

        (1)   to elect nine individuals to the Board of Directors for a term of one year;

        (2)   to consider and act upon a proposal to amend the Company's Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to effect a reverse stock split;

        (3)   to consider and act upon a proposal to amend, if and when the reverse stock split is approved and effected, the Company's Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to proportionally decrease the number of authorized shares of our common stock;

        (4)   to approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of our named executive officers as described herein;

        (5)   to ratify the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2013; and

        (6)   to consider and act upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof.

Proxy Solicitation

        This Proxy Statement and the enclosed form of proxy are expected to be mailed on or about [    •    ], 2013. In addition to these mailed proxy materials, our directors, officers and other employees may also solicit proxies in person, by telephone or by other means of communication. The Company will also request brokerage firms, nominees, custodians and fiduciaries to forward proxy materials to the beneficial owners of shares held of record by such persons.

        The distribution and solicitation of proxy materials will also be supplemented through the services of Georgeson Inc., a proxy solicitation firm we have engaged for this purpose.

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Voting by Proxy, Internet or Telephone

        Stockholders who cannot attend the Annual Meeting in person can be represented by proxy. To vote by proxy, stockholders may complete the WHITE proxy card in the form enclosed and mail it in the envelope provided. Stockholders can also vote over the internet or by using a toll-free telephone number.

        Any stockholder giving a proxy may revoke it at any time before it is exercised by giving notice of revocation to the Company's Corporate Secretary, by executing a later-dated proxy, by voting over the internet or by telephone or, for stockholders of record, by attending and voting in person at the Annual Meeting. The execution of a proxy will not affect a stockholder's right to attend the Annual Meeting in person, but attendance at the Annual Meeting will not, by itself, revoke a proxy. Proxies properly completed and received prior to the Annual Meeting and not revoked will be voted at the Annual Meeting.

Voting, Record Date and Quorum

        Proxies solicited hereby will be voted as specified or, if no direction is indicated on a returned WHITE proxy card, will be voted: "FOR" the proposal to amend the Company's Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to effect a reverse stock split; "FOR" the proposal to, if and when the reverse stock split is effected, proportionally decrease the number of authorized shares of our common stock; "FOR" the approval, on an advisory basis, of the compensation of our named executive officers as described herein; and "FOR" the ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2013.

        If you hold your shares through a broker or other nominee (that is, in "street name"), you cannot vote your shares directly but must instruct your broker or other nominee to vote your shares. If you do not give your broker or other nominee voting instructions, applicable rules prohibit the broker or other nominee from voting your shares. Thus, if you do not give your broker or nominee specific instructions, your shares will not be voted on any matters.

        As to any other matter or business which may be brought before the Annual Meeting, including any adjournment(s) or postponement(s), a vote may be cast pursuant to the WHITE proxy solicited hereby in accordance with the judgment of the person or persons exercising the proxy. As of the date hereof, the Board does not know of any such other matter or business.

        Please note that by voting the WHITE proxy card you will not have cast a vote in the election of directors.

        We set forth below the votes required to approve each of the proposals to be submitted to our stockholders at the Annual Meeting.

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For the election of directors, so long as more than nine individuals are nominated, the nine nominees to receive the most "FOR" votes (among votes properly cast in person or by proxy) will be elected. Only votes "FOR" or "AGAINST" will affect the outcome. Should nine or fewer individuals be nominated, a nominee must receive more "FOR" votes than "AGAINST" votes to be elected.



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For Proposal 2 or 3 to be approved, it must receive "FOR" votes constituting a majority of the shares of common stock outstanding and entitled to vote thereon.

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For Proposals 4 or 5 to be approved, it must receive "FOR" votes constituting a majority of the votes cast.

        Proposals 4 and 5 are submitted to our stockholders on an advisory basis only. The outcome of voting on these proposals will be considered by our Board of Directors but will not be binding on the Company.

        The Board has fixed the close of business on April 17, 2013 as the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. As of that date, 122,980,847 shares of common stock were outstanding. Each stockholder will be entitled to cast one vote, in person or by proxy, for each share of common stock held. Except for the common stock, the Company does not have any outstanding shares of any series or class of voting securities. The presence, in person or by proxy, of the holders of at least a majority of the shares of common stock entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting is necessary to constitute a quorum at the Annual Meeting. As a result, 61,490,424 shares must be represented by stockholders present at the meeting or by proxy to have a quorum. Abstentions and broker non-votes (as explained elsewhere) will be counted in determining whether a quorum has been reached.

        The Gleacher & Company, Inc. Board of Directors unanimously recommends that the stockholders vote: "FOR" the proposal to amend the Company's Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to effect a reverse stock split; "FOR" the proposal to, if and when the reverse stock split is approved and effected, amend the Company's Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to proportionally decrease the number of authorized shares of our common stock; "FOR" the approval, on an advisory basis, of the compensation of our named executive officers as described herein; and "FOR" the ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2013.

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DISCUSSION OF PROPOSALS

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AGENDA ITEM 1

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

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        Our Board of Directors consists of nine seats, currently with one vacancy. Two of the Company's stockholders, MatlinPatterson FA Acquisition LLC ("MatlinPatterson") and Clinton Relational Opportunity Master Fund, L.P. ("Clinton Group", and together with MatlinPatterson, the "Contesting Stockholders"), have informed the Board that they intend to nominate eight and nine individuals, respectively, for election to the Board of Directors. The Board expects one or both of the Contesting Stockholders to raise the election of directors as a matter to be voted on at the Annual Meeting. The Board makes no recommendation as to the persons nominated by either of the Contesting Stockholders and is not soliciting proxy authority to vote for the election of directors. Because only four of our current directors are expected to be nominated for reelection at the Annual Meeting (as further described below), the Board of Directors will be largely reconstituted following the Annual Meeting.

Background about Contesting Stockholders

Introduction

        By letter dated February 23, 2013, four of our independent directors informed us that they did not intend to stand for re-election at the Annual Meeting. The reason for their decision, as stated in their letter, was that partners of MatlinPatterson had advised them that this major stockholder opposed their re-election, and that together with information regarding the likely voting of another significant stockholder, and the intended nomination by MatlinPatterson of an alternative slate of directors, it would be a virtual certainty that these four directors would not be elected. MatlinPatterson has informed the Board that it intends to nominate a slate of eight individuals. Since then, Clinton Group has informed the Board that it intends to nominate a slate of nine individuals. Under these circumstances, the Company determined that it is not in the stockholders' best interest to propose a slate of director nominees to compete against the slate proposed by MatlinPatterson or Clinton Group and expend the financial resources necessary to contest either stockholder's slate.

MatlinPatterson FA Acquisition LLC

        On February 23, 2013, the Company received a submission by MatlinPatterson, a significant holder of the Company's common stock, of a slate of eight nominees, including current directors Marshall Cohen, Mark R. Patterson and Christopher R. Pechock, for election to the Company's Board of Directors at the Annual Meeting.

Clinton Relational Opportunity Master Fund, L.P.

        On March 20, 2013, the Company received a letter from Clinton Group, a stockholder of the Company, requesting that the Company reopen the period during which stockholders of the Company may submit proposals for nominations to the Board. The Company's bylaws required that stockholders provide advance notice of their intention to nominate directors to the Board by February 23, 2013. In light of recent developments that had occurred since that date, together with principles of corporate governance, the Board agreed to suspend the advance notice bylaw provision deadline for the purpose of allowing proposals for director nominations, effective at that time, as described herein. The Company agreed to accept proposals for nominations to the Board, made in a manner otherwise consistent with the Company's

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bylaws, from any stockholder of the Company until 5:00 p.m. EDT on April 8, 2013. On April 8, 2013, the Company received a submission by Clinton Group of a slate of individuals, including Thomas J. Hughes, the Company's Chief Executive Officer and a current director, for election to the Company's Board of Directors at the Annual Meeting. If elected, these nominees together would constitute the entirety of the Board.

Voting

        So long as more than nine individuals are nominated, directors will be elected by a plurality of the votes present at the meeting or by proxy and entitled to vote at the meeting. The nine nominees receiving the most "FOR" votes (among votes properly cast in person or by proxy) will be elected. Should nine or fewer than nine individuals be nominated, a nominee must receive more "FOR" votes than "AGAINST" votes to be elected. Only the latest dated proxy card you vote will be counted. The Board makes no recommendation as to the persons nominated by either of the Contesting Stockholders and is not soliciting proxy authority to vote for the election of directors.

        Please note that by voting the WHITE proxy card you will be not have cast a vote in the election of directors.

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

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        The information set forth below is required by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Because this information is largely historical, describing corporate governance and board practices adopted and followed by those persons who have been directors over the past several years, and because after the Annual Meeting our Board of Directors will be largely reconstituted, this information may not be representative of the corporate governance and board practices of the incoming board. You should keep this in mind when you consider the information below.

Introduction

        Ultimate responsibility for management of the Company's business and affairs rests with the Board of Directors. Our by-laws call for nine directors. Currently, we have eight directors and one vacancy. We are not proposing to fill this vacancy prior to the Annual Meeting. We expect that this vacancy will be filled as a result of the election of directors at the Annual Meeting.

        Each director serves for a term of one year. The Board has three standing committees, the Audit Committee, the Executive Compensation Committee and the Committee on Directors and Corporate Governance (the "Directors Committee"), and delegated specific governance responsibilities to them. In addition, in June 2012, the Board established an ad hoc special committee of the Board (the "Special Committee"). The Board charged the Special Committee with reviewing and evaluating the terms and conditions, and determining the advisability of, certain strategic alternatives with respect to the Company, and, if appropriate, negotiating any such strategic alternatives and recommending to the full Board any action to be taken by the Board and the Company with respect thereto. The Board of Directors held 23 meetings during the Company's fiscal year ended December 31, 2012. The committees of the Board each held the number of meetings noted in the table below under the heading "Committees of the Board of Directors." During 2012, each incumbent director attended in excess of 85% of the aggregate number of meetings of the Board and eight meetings of the committees on which he serves. Directors are encouraged to attend each annual meeting of stockholders, and all of our directors attended last year's meeting either in person or via teleconference.

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Voting

        Each nominee for director in an uncontested election (that is, where there have been nominated only that number of individuals as there are director positions to be filled), will be elected if the votes cast "FOR" that nominee exceed the votes cast "AGAINST" that nominee. Our Corporate Governance Guidelines provide that an incumbent nominee who receives fewer votes "FOR" than "AGAINST" in an uncontested election is expected to promptly tender his or her resignation. The Committee on Directors and Corporate Governance will recommend, and our Board will ultimately determine, whether or not to accept the tendered resignation. The Board has discretion to determine whether to accept or reject any such resignation. We will publicly disclose the Board's decision within 90 days following the election.

        In the event of a contested director election (that is, where there are more nominees than there are director positions to be filled, which is expected to be the case at the Annual Meeting), a plurality standard will apply, meaning that the nine nominees receiving the greatest number of votes shall be elected.

        So long as more than nine individuals are nominated for election to the Board of Directors at the Annual Meeting, a plurality voting standard will apply. Should nine or fewer individuals be nominated, a nominee will need to receive more "FOR" votes than "AGAINST" votes to be elected.

Board Leadership Structure

        The Board seeks to achieve a leadership structure that most efficiently addresses the purpose and mission of the Company and facilitates the oversight of management's implementation of the Company's plans. The Board strives for a structure that:

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facilitates the organized flow of information among directors as well as between the Board and management;



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encourages active participation by all directors, including the voicing of diverse opinions on important Company subjects;



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allows decisive decision-making and implementation; and



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enables unambiguous directions to management to carry out Board decisions.

        The Company currently operates under a separate Chairman and Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") structure, although no director is currently designated as "Chairman."

        Our Corporate Governance Guidelines provide that if the Chairman of the Board is an employee of the Company, the Board shall have a lead independent director, who will be elected by a majority of the independent directors of the Board. The lead independent director shall have the responsibilities designated by the independent directors. These currently include:

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chairing executive session meetings of the independent directors;



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leading the Board's processes for selecting and evaluating the Chief Executive Officer;



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presiding at all meetings of the Board at which the Chairperson of the Board is not present;



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serving as a liaison between the Chairman and the independent director; and



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approving meeting agendas and schedules and information sent to the Board.

        The Company does not have a fixed policy with respect to the separation of the roles of Chairman of the Board and CEO. In the past, the Company has operated under both the combined and separated Chairman/CEO structure. The Board believes that the optimal leadership structure in that regard will depend on the business needs of the Company at the time as well as the then-makeup of the Board of Directors. As a result, the Board believes that the Company's leadership structure is likely to evolve with

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the Company, and the Board intends to reassess and may modify the Company's leadership structure from time to time.

        As stated above, none of our directors are currently designated as "Chairman."

Succession Planning

        The Board recognizes the importance of effective executive leadership to the Company's success. Toward that end, the Board at least annually reviews and discusses executive capabilities and succession planning, principally with respect to the Company's Chief Executive Officer. The Board also plays a significant role in consulting with the CEO concerning succession planning for other executive positions. The process includes consideration of organizational and operational needs, competitive challenges, leadership/management potential and development, and emergency situations.

Director Independence

        Two of our directors, Messrs. Patterson and Pechock, are affiliated with MatlinPatterson. As of February 28, 2013, MatlinPatterson controlled 28.9% of our common stock and was our largest stockholder.

        The Board of Directors elected at the Annual Meeting will need to make determinations with respect to the "independence" of its members for purposes of applicable law and the rules of The NASDAQ Stock Market.

Committees of the Board of Directors

        As described above, the Board of Directors currently has three standing committees: the Audit Committee, the Executive Compensation Committee and the Directors Committee, each of which operates under a written charter that has been approved by the Board. These charters, as well as our Corporate Governance Guidelines, are posted on our website at www.gleacher.com under the heading "Investor Relations — Corporate Governance." Each of our committees in 2012 was comprised entirely of "independent directors" as defined in the NASDAQ listing standards, and each director was independent within the meaning of Rule 10A-3 of the rules promulgated by the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and the Company's Corporate Governance Guidelines. In addition, the Board determined that all Audit Committee members in 2012 were financially literate in accordance with the NASDAQ listing standards. Messrs. Rohde and Yingling were each qualified as an audit committee financial expert within the meaning of Item 401(h) of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act.

        Set forth below is certain information with respect to our board committees. These committees will be reconstituted after the Annual Meeting by the incoming Board of Directors. The Board of Directors elected at the Annual Meeting will need to make determinations with respect to the "independence" of its members for purposes of applicable law and the rules of The NASDAQ Stock Market.

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Board Oversight of Risk Management

        Management is responsible for the day-to-day management of risk, while the Board, as a whole and through its committees, has responsibility for the oversight of risk management.

        The Audit Committee has been designated to take primary responsibility at the board level for overseeing risk management and is responsible for overseeing the Company's management of market, credit, liquidity and other financial and operational risks (including risks arising from employee compensation policies). In this capacity, the Audit Committee defines and prioritizes risks and evaluates the adequacy of the Company's policies and procedures designed to respond to and mitigate risks. The Audit Committee also oversees risk management in the areas of financial reporting, internal controls and compliance with legal and regulatory requirements and discusses policies with respect to risk assessment and risk management. In this role, the Audit Committee receives reports from senior management and our Internal Audit, Compliance and Legal departments on a periodic basis. The Audit Committee receives these reports and reports to the full Board.

        In addition, the Board, as a whole and through its committees, considers the risks within its areas of responsibilities. For example, the full Board is involved in any strategic, operational and reputational risks and exposures; major litigation and regulatory exposures and other matters that may present material risk to the Company's operations, plans, prospects or reputation, acquisitions and divestitures and senior management succession planning. The Directors Committee assesses risks and exposures related to corporate governance, director succession planning, board organization, membership and structure. The Executive Compensation Committee is also involved in assessing the risks associated with executive compensation programs and arrangements, including our incentive plans and compensation practices and policies generally.

        Please see the discussion under the heading "Compensation Discussion and Analysis — Risk Assessment in Compensation Programs" below for more information.

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Stock Ownership Guidelines

        We believe that our ("NEOs") and directors should accumulate and hold a significant financial stake in the Company to ensure that their interests are aligned with those of our stockholders. To that end, in April 2012, the Board adopted stock ownership guidelines that define ownership expectations for our NEOs and directors.

Officers

        Pursuant to the guidelines, covered officers have a target ownership level, set forth in the chart below. The guidelines apply to all NEOs.

        Prior to attaining the target ownership level, covered officers are expected to retain 50% of the "profit shares" attributable to the exercise of options or vesting and settlement of restricted shares or RSUs. "Profit shares" are the shares remaining after withholding to cover taxes and, in the case of options, the exercise price. There is no time frame to reach the guidelines. Rather, covered officers are expected to accumulate ownership through the share retention requirement described above.

        Shares counting towards ownership include those directly owned, those held in trust for direct family members, and those held in company-sponsored defined contribution plans (e.g., 401(k), deferred comp arrangements). Unvested restricted shares and RSUs and unexercised options are excluded.

        Each year on January 1, the number of target shares is determined using the current salary and stock price. This number is communicated to the covered officers as their "target." If an officer's target is met at any time, the officer has no further retention requirement unless the officer sells any of the shares that were required to meet the target or is promoted into a higher ownership tier. This encourages officers to attain the target as quickly as possible, and to hold the shares perpetually while employed once the target is attained.

        The required levels are as follows:

Directors

        The guidelines for directors are the same as for the covered officers. The multiple is 5x the baseline annual cash Board retainer.

Code of Business Conduct and Ethics

        We have a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (the "Code") applicable to our employees and members of the Board. The Code is available on our website at www.gleacher.com. We intend to satisfy the disclosure requirements regarding any amendments or waivers to the Code by filing Current Reports on Form 8-K with the SEC.

Stockholder Communication with Directors

        Stockholders may send communications to one or more members of the Board of Directors by writing to such director(s) or to the whole Board of Directors at the following address: Gleacher & Company, Inc., 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10104, Attn: Corporate Secretary. Any such communications will be promptly distributed by the Corporate Secretary to such individual director(s) or to all directors if addressed to the whole Board of Directors.

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DIRECTOR COMPENSATION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2012

        The Company has historically compensated non-employee directors of the Company (a "Non-Employee Director") as follows:

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annual retainer (all Non-Employee Directors): $50,000 each;



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annual retainer (Audit and Executive Compensation Committee Chairs): $25,000 each;



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annual retainer (Audit Committee members except Chair): $15,000 each; and



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annual discretionary equity grant (all Non-Employee Directors): $50,000 each.

In addition, the Chairs of the Board's Special Committee each received $25,000 retainer fees and each member of the Special Committee receives $1,500 per meeting attended.

        In order to promote equity ownership by our directors, we have historically offered them the opportunity to take their compensation in equity awards, as follows:

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Non-Employee Directors may elect to receive their annual retainers in cash, stock options or restricted stock; and



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annual equity grants may, at each director's election, be made in stock options or restricted stock.

        Each of our directors receiving compensation elected to receive equity grants for some or all of their 2012 compensation. In addition, our directors are subject to stock ownership guidelines that encourage each director to accumulate direct ownership equal to at least 500% of the baseline annual cash Board retainer. The Directors Committee periodically assesses compensation levels for directors and may make changes to elements of the director compensation program in the future. These guidelines are discussed in detail under the heading "Board of Directors and Corporate Governance — Stock Ownership Guidelines."

        The following table sets forth, for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012, certain information regarding the compensation awarded to each Non-Employee Director in 2012. Messrs. Patterson and Pechock, affiliates of MatlinPatterson, one of our principal stockholders, do not receive compensation for their services as directors. This information is provided as required by the Securities and Exchange Commission. These persons have NOT been nominated by the Board of Directors for election to the Board of Directors at the Annual Meeting.

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        The Directors Committee periodically assesses compensation levels for directors and may make changes to elements of the director compensation program in the future.

        Messrs. Hughes and Gleacher each served as a director of the Company in 2012. Compensation information with respect to Messrs. Hughes and Gleacher is discussed below under the heading "Compensation of Executive Officers."

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PROPOSAL 2

AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION TO EFFECT A REVERSE STOCK SPLIT

General

        Our Board has declared advisable and approved, and is hereby soliciting stockholder approval of, an amendment to our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to effect a reverse stock split at a ratio of between one-for-ten and one-for-twenty, in the form set forth in Appendix B to this Proxy Statement (the "Reverse Stock Split Amendment"). A vote for Proposal 2 will constitute approval of the Reverse Stock Split Amendment, which provides for the combination of any whole number of shares of common stock between and including ten and twenty into one share of common stock, and will grant our Board the authority to select which ratio within that range to implement. If the stockholders approve this proposal, our Board will have the authority, but not the obligation, in its sole discretion, and without further action on the part of the stockholders, to select the reverse stock split ratio within the approved range and effect the reverse stock split by filing the Reverse Stock Split Amendment with the Delaware Secretary of State at any time after the approval of the Reverse Stock Split Amendment and prior to the close of business on September 30, 2013. If the reverse stock split is implemented, the number of authorized shares will be decreased in the same ratio as the reverse stock split, subject to stockholder approval. (See Proposal 3)

        The Reverse Stock Split Amendment would have no effect on the par value of a share of common stock. Except for any changes as a result of the treatment of fractional shares, each stockholder will hold the same percentage of common stock outstanding immediately after the reverse stock split as such stockholder held immediately prior to the reverse stock split.

        We believe that stockholder approval of a permissible reverse stock split ratio range (rather than an exact ratio) provides us with maximum flexibility to achieve the purposes of the reverse stock split. If the stockholders vote to approve Proposal 2, the reverse stock split will be effected, if at all, only upon a determination by our Board that the reverse stock split is in our and the stockholders' best interests at that time. In connection with any determination to effect the reverse stock split, our Board will set the time for such a split and select a specific ratio within the range. These determinations will be made by our Board and will be based on a number of factors, including market conditions, existing and expected trading prices for our common stock and the continued listing requirements of The NASDAQ Global Market. Our Board reserves the right to elect not to proceed with, and to abandon, the reverse stock split if it determines, in its sole discretion, that this proposal is no longer in our and our stockholders' best interests. The reverse stock split, if authorized pursuant to this resolution and if deemed by the Board to be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders, will be effected, if at all, at a time that is not later than September 30, 2013. See "— NASDAQ Requirements for Continued Listing" below.

NASDAQ Requirements for Continued Listing

        On June 19, 2012, we received a letter from the listing qualifications department staff of The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC ("NASDAQ") notifying the Company that for the last 30 consecutive business days the bid price of the Company's common stock had closed below the $1.00 minimum closing bid price per share required by the continued listing requirements set forth in NASDAQ Listing Rule 5450(a)(1) (the "Rule"). Per the letter received from NASDAQ on June 19, 2012, and in accordance with Listing Rule 5810(c)(3)(A), the Company had 180 calendar days, or until December 17, 2012, to regain compliance with the Rule. On December 18, 2012, the Company received a delisting letter from NASDAQ notifying the Company that it had not regained compliance with the Rule during the 180-day period and that the Company's common stock was therefore subject to delisting from The NASDAQ Global Market.

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        The Company requested a hearing before the NASDAQ hearings panel (the "Panel") to appeal the decision, which request stayed the delisting of the Company's common stock pending a determination by the Panel following the hearing. At the hearing, held on February 21, 2013, the Company presented to the Panel its plan to regain compliance. This plan included effecting a reverse stock split of the Company's common stock. The Panel determined to allow the Company to remain listed on the NASDAQ Global Market until June 17, 2013. Our Board believes that effecting a reverse stock split will be an effective means of regaining compliance with the Rule. However, there can be no assurance that the reverse stock split will successfully allow the Company to regain compliance with the Rule. Our Board may also exercise its discretion not to implement a reverse stock split.

        If we cannot regain compliance with the Rule through the reverse stock split or otherwise before June 17, 2013, we may be delisted. In addition, if our common stock were to be delisted from The NASDAQ Global Market and our trading price remained below $5.00 per share, trading in our common stock also might become subject to the requirements of certain rules promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (the "Exchange Act") which require broker-dealers to disclose additional information in connection with any trade involving a stock defined as a "penny stock." The delisting of our common stock could adversely affect the trading activity, liquidity and price of our common stock, decrease analyst coverage and investor demand and information available concerning trading prices and volume of our common stock and make it more difficult for investors to buy or sell shares of our common stock.

        In light of the factors described above, the Board has authorized the submission of the proposal to amend the Company's Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to effect a reverse stock split as a potential means of increasing the per share trading price of our stock and regaining compliance with the Rule.

Certain Risk Factors Associated with the Reverse Stock Split

•

We cannot assure you that the reverse stock split, if completed, will result in the intended benefit described above.



•

There can be no assurance that the market price per share of our common stock after a reverse stock split will increase in proportion to the reduction in the number of shares of our common stock outstanding before the reverse stock split. The market price of our common stock will also be based on performance and other factors unrelated to the number of shares outstanding. Accordingly, the total market capitalization of our common stock after the reverse stock split may be lower than the total market capitalization before the reverse stock split.



•

If the reverse stock split is effected and the market price of our common stock declines, the percentage decline may be greater than would occur in the absence of a reverse stock split.



•

The liquidity of our common stock could be adversely affected by the reduced number of shares that would be outstanding after the reverse stock split.

Impact of the Proposed Reverse Stock Split if Implemented

        If approved and implemented, the reverse stock split will take effect simultaneously and in the same ratio for all outstanding shares of our common stock. The reverse stock split will affect all holders of our common stock uniformly and will not affect any stockholder's percentage ownership interest in us, except to the extent that the reverse stock split would result in any holder of our common stock receiving cash in lieu of fractional shares. As described below, holders of our common stock otherwise entitled to fractional shares as a result of the reverse stock split will receive a cash payment in lieu of such fractional shares. These cash payments will reduce the number of post-reverse stock split holders of our common stock to the extent there are stockholders who would otherwise receive less than one share of common stock after

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the reverse stock split. In addition, the reverse stock split will not affect any stockholder's proportionate voting power (subject to the treatment of fractional shares). The reverse stock split will have no effect on the par value of the common stock.

        The principal effects of the reverse stock split will be that:

•

depending on the ratio for the reverse stock split selected by our Board, each ten or twenty shares of our common stock (or whole number of shares within that range) owned by a stockholder will be combined into one share of common stock;



•

based upon the reverse stock split ratio selected by our Board, proportionate adjustments will be made to the per-share exercise price and the number of shares issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options, as well as to the number of shares that would be owned upon vesting of restricted stock awards and restricted stock units, which will result in approximately the same aggregate price that would have been required to be paid upon exercise of such options, as well as the same number of shares that would have been owned upon vesting of such restricted stock awards or units, immediately preceding the reverse stock split; and



•

the aggregate number of shares issuable pursuant to stock options, restricted stock units or other awards made under each of our existing incentive compensation plans will be reduced proportionately based upon the reverse stock split ratio selected by our Board.

        In addition, if approved and implemented, the reverse stock split may result in some stockholders owning "odd lots" of less than 100 shares of common stock. Odd lot shares may be more difficult to sell, and brokerage commissions and other costs of transactions in odd lots are generally somewhat higher than the costs of transactions in "round lots" of even multiples of 100 shares. Our Board believes, however, that these potential effects are substantially outweighed by the benefits of the reverse stock split. In conjunction with the reverse stock split, the number of our authorized shares of common stock will be decreased in the same ratio as the reverse stock split.

Effective Date

        The proposed reverse stock split of our common stock will become effective on the date of filing the Reverse Stock Split Amendment with the office of the Delaware Secretary of State (the "Effective Date"). Except as explained below with respect to fractional shares, on such date, shares of common stock issued and outstanding immediately prior thereto will be combined, automatically and without any action on the part of the stockholders, into one share of our common stock in accordance with the reverse stock split ratio determined by our Board.

        After the Effective Date, our common stock will have a new CUSIP number, the number used to identify our equity securities, and stock certificates with the former identification numbers will need to be exchanged for stock certificates with the new numbers by following the procedures described below.

        Immediately following the Effective Date, we will continue to be subject to periodic reporting and other requirements of the Exchange Act. Our common stock will continue to be reported on The NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol "GLCH", although The NASDAQ Global Market will add the letter "D" to the end of the trading symbol for a period of 20 trading days after the Effective Date to indicate that the reverse stock split has occurred. See "— NASDAQ Requirements for Continued Listing" above.

Board Discretion to Implement the Reverse Stock Split

        If the reverse stock split is approved by our stockholders, it will be effected, if at all, only upon a determination by our Board that a reverse stock split (at a ratio determined by our Board as described above) is in our and our stockholders' best interests. The Board's determination as to whether the reverse

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stock split will be effected and, if so, at what ratio, will be based upon several factors, including market conditions, existing and expected trading prices for our common stock and the continued listing requirements of The NASDAQ Global Market.

Fractional Shares

        Stockholders will not receive fractional shares in connection with the reverse stock split. In lieu of issuing fractional shares, we will pay each holder of common stock who would otherwise have been entitled to a fraction of a share a cash payment in an amount determined by multiplying (i) the number of shares of our common stock that would otherwise have been exchanged by such stockholder for the fractional share interest by (ii) the average closing sale price of shares of common stock for the ten trading days immediately prior to the Effective Date or, if no such sale takes place on such days, the average of the closing bid and ask prices for such days, in each case as officially reported by The NASDAQ Global Market. No transaction costs will be assessed. However, the payments will be subject to certain taxes as discussed below. In addition, stockholders will not be entitled to receive interest for the period of time between the Effective Date and the date a stockholder receives payment for the cashed-out shares. The payment amount will be paid to the stockholder in the form of a check in accordance with the procedures outlined below.

        After the reverse stock split, a stockholder will have no further interest in us with respect to their cashed-out shares. A person otherwise entitled to a fractional interest will not have any voting, dividend or other rights except to receive payment as described above.

        If a stockholder does not hold sufficient shares of our common stock to receive at least one share in the reverse stock split and wants to continue to hold our common stock after the reverse stock split, a stockholder may do so by taking either of the following actions far enough in advance so that it is completed by the Effective Date:

1)

purchase a sufficient number of shares of our common stock so that the stockholder holds at least an amount of shares of common stock in the stockholder's account prior to the reverse stock split that would entitle the stockholder to receive at least one share of our common stock on a post-reverse stock split basis; or



2)

if applicable, consolidate the stockholder's accounts so that the stockholder holds at least an amount of shares of common stock in one account prior to the reverse stock split that would entitle the stockholder to receive at least one share of common stock on a post-reverse stock split basis. Shares held in registered form (that is, by the stockholder in the stockholder's name in our stock records maintained by our transfer agent) and shares held in "street name" (that is, shares held by a stockholder through a bank, broker or other nominee), for the same investor will be considered held in separate accounts and will not be aggregated when effecting the reverse stock split.

Effect on Beneficial Holders of Common Stock

        Upon the reverse stock split, we intend to treat shares held by stockholders in "street name" (i.e., through a bank, broker or other nominee) in the same manner as registered stockholders whose shares are registered in their names. Banks, brokers or other nominees will be instructed to effect the reverse stock split for their beneficial holders holding our common stock. However, these banks, brokers or other nominees may have different procedures than registered stockholders for processing the reverse stock split and making payment for fractional shares. If a stockholder holds shares of our common stock with a bank, broker or other nominee and has any questions in this regard, stockholders are encouraged to contact their bank, broker or other nominee.

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Effect on Registered Book-Entry Holders of Common Stock

        Certain of our registered holders of common stock may hold some or all of their shares electronically in book-entry form with our transfer agent. These stockholders do not have stock certificates evidencing their ownership of our common stock. They are, however, provided with a statement reflecting the number of shares registered in their accounts.

        If a stockholder holds registered shares in book-entry form with our transfer agent, the stockholder will be required to complete and return to our transfer agent a letter of transmittal in order to be credited with post-reverse stock split shares or to receive cash payment in lieu of any fractional share interest. A form of letter of transmittal will be furnished to each such stockholder by our transfer agent, American Stock Transfer & Trust, LLC, after the Effective Date. If a stockholder is entitled to a payment in lieu of any fractional share interest, a check will be mailed to the stockholder's registered address as soon as practicable after receipt of the letter of transmittal by our transfer agent. By signing and returning the letter of transmittal, stockholders will warrant that they owned the shares of common stock to which the letter of transmittal relates.

Effect on Certificated Shares

        Stockholders holding shares of our common stock in certificate form will be sent a letter of transmittal by our transfer agent as soon as practicable after the Effective Date. The letter of transmittal will contain instructions on how a stockholder should surrender his or her certificate(s) representing shares of our common stock (the "Old Certificates,") to our transfer agent in exchange for certificates representing the appropriate number of whole shares of post-reverse stock split common stock (the "New Certificates"). No New Certificates will be issued to a stockholder until such stockholder has surrendered all Old Certificates, together with a properly completed and executed letter of transmittal, to our transfer agent. No stockholder will be required to pay a transfer or other fee to exchange his, her or its certificates.

        Stockholders will then receive a New Certificate(s) representing the number of whole shares of common stock to which they are entitled as a result of the reverse stock split. Until surrendered, we will deem outstanding Old Certificates held by stockholders to be cancelled and to represent only the number of whole shares of post-reverse stock split common stock to which these stockholders are entitled.

        Any Old Certificates submitted for exchange, whether because of a sale, transfer or other disposition of stock, will automatically be exchanged for New Certificates.

        If an Old Certificate has a restrictive legend on the back of the Old Certificate(s), the New Certificate will be issued with the same restrictive legends that are on the back of the Old Certificate(s).

        If a stockholder is entitled to a payment in lieu of any fractional share interest, such payment will be made as described above under "Fractional Shares."

        STOCKHOLDERS SHOULD NOT DESTROY ANY STOCK CERTIFICATE(S) AND SHOULD NOT SUBMIT ANY STOCK CERTIFICATE(S) UNTIL REQUESTED TO DO SO.

Accounting Matters

        The reverse stock split will not affect the par value of a share of our common stock. As a result, as of the Effective Date, the stated capital attributable to common stock on our balance sheet will be reduced proportionately based on the reverse stock split ratio (including a retroactive adjustment of prior periods), and the additional paid-in capital account will be credited with the amount by which the stated capital is reduced. Reported per-share net income or loss will be higher because there will be fewer shares of common stock outstanding.

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No Appraisal Rights

        Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, our stockholders are not entitled to appraisal rights with respect to the reverse stock split, and we will not independently provide stockholders with any such right.

Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Reverse Stock Split

        The following discussion summarizes certain U.S. federal income tax consequences of the reverse stock split that may be relevant to holders of our common stock that hold such stock as a "capital asset" as defined in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). This summary is based upon the provisions of the Code, Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder, administrative rulings and judicial decisions as of the date hereof, all of which may change, possibly with retroactive effect, resulting in U.S. federal income tax consequences that may differ from those discussed below. The tax consequences set forth below are not intended to constitute a complete discussion of all tax consequences relating to the reverse stock split. This summary is of a general nature only and is not intended to be, and should not be construed to be, legal or tax advice to any particular stockholder.

        This discussion does not address all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be relevant to such holders in light of their particular circumstances or to holders that may be subject to special tax rules, including, without limitation: (i) holders subject to the alternative minimum tax; (ii) banks, insurance companies, or other financial institutions; (iii) tax-exempt organizations; (iv) dealers in securities or commodities; (v) regulated investment companies or real estate investment trusts; (vi) partnerships or other flow-through entities for U.S. federal income tax purposes and their partners or members; (vii) traders in securities that elect to use a mark-to-market method of accounting for their securities holdings; (viii) holders whose "functional currency" is not the U.S. dollar; (ix) persons holding our common stock as a position in a hedging transaction, "straddle," "conversion transaction" or other risk reduction transaction; (x) persons who acquire shares of our common stock in connection with employment or other performance of services; or (xi) U.S. expatriates. This summary also does not address the tax consequences arising under the laws of any foreign, state or local jurisdiction and U.S. federal tax consequences other than U.S. federal income taxation. In addition, this discussion does not address the U.S. federal income tax consequences to a beneficial holder of our common stock who, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, is a non-resident alien individual, a foreign corporation, a foreign partnership or a foreign estate or trust.

        We have not sought, and will not seek, an opinion of counsel or a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS") regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the reverse stock split, and there can be no assurances the IRS will not challenge the statements and conclusions set forth below or that a court would not sustain any challenge.

        DUE TO THE INDIVIDUAL NATURE OF TAX CONSEQUENCES, STOCKHOLDERS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS AS TO THE SPECIFIC TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE REVERSE STOCK SPLIT TO THEM, INCLUDING THE EFFECTS OF APPLICABLE FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, FOREIGN AND OTHER TAX LAWS.

        PURSUANT TO U.S. TREASURY DEPARTMENT CIRCULAR 230, WE ARE INFORMING YOU THAT (A) THIS DISCUSSION IS NOT INTENDED TO BE USED, WAS NOT WRITTEN TO BE USED, AND CANNOT BE USED, BY ANY TAXPAYER FOR THE PURPOSE OF AVOIDING PENALTIES UNDER THE U.S. FEDERAL TAX LAWS THAT MAY BE IMPOSED ON THE TAXPAYER, (B) THIS DISCUSSION WAS WRITTEN IN CONNECTION WITH OUR SOLICITATION OF PROXIES, AND (C) EACH TAXPAYER SHOULD SEEK ADVICE BASED ON HIS, HER OR ITS PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES FROM AN INDEPENDENT TAX ADVISOR.

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        The reverse stock split should constitute a "recapitalization" for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As a result, a holder generally should not recognize gain or loss upon the reverse stock split, except with respect to cash received in lieu of a fractional share of our common stock, as discussed below. A holder's aggregate tax basis in the shares of our common stock received pursuant to the reverse stock split should equal the aggregate tax basis in the common stock surrendered (excluding any portion of such basis that is allocated to any fractional shares of our common stock). The holder's holding period for the post-reverse stock split shares should include the period during which the holder held the shares of common stock surrendered in the reverse stock split. Treasury regulations promulgated under the Code provide detailed rules for allocating the tax basis and holding period of the shares of our common stock surrendered to the shares of our common stock received pursuant to the reverse stock split. Holders of shares of our common stock acquired on different dates and at different prices should consult their tax advisors regarding the allocation of the tax basis and holding period of such shares.

        In general, holders who receive cash in lieu of a fractional share of our common stock as a result of the reverse stock split will recognize taxable gain or loss based on the difference between the amount of cash received by such holder and the adjusted tax basis in the shares of our common stock surrendered that is allocated to such fractional shares of our common stock. The gain or loss will generally constitute a capital gain or loss and will constitute long-term capital gain or loss if the holder's holding period is greater than one year as of the Effective Date.

        Information returns may be required to be filed with the IRS with respect to the receipt of cash in lieu of a fractional share of our common stock pursuant to the reverse stock split. In addition, holders may be subject to a backup withholding tax (currently 28%) on the payment of such cash if they do not provide their taxpayer identification numbers in the manner required or otherwise fail to comply with applicable backup withholding tax rules. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules may be refunded or allowed as a credit against the holder's federal income tax liability, if any, provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.

Required Approval

        The affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of common stock outstanding and entitled to vote thereon is required for the approval of the Reverse Stock Split Amendment. The Board recommends that the Company's stockholders vote "FOR" the amendment to the Company's Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to effect a reverse stock split.

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PROPOSAL 3

AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION TO PROPORTIONALLY DECREASE THE NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED SHARES OF COMMON STOCK

General

        The Board of Directors has approved a proposed amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company that would reduce the number of shares of common stock the Company is authorized to issue in the same ratio as the reverse stock split, provided that Proposal 2 above is approved by the stockholders and the Reverse Stock Split Amendment is implemented (the "Proportional Decrease in Authorized Shares Amendment"). The Proportional Decrease in Authorized Shares Amendment is included in Appendix B to this proxy statement.

        Approval of the Proportional Decrease in Authorized Shares Amendment is conditioned on the approval of the Reverse Stock Split Amendment. If the Reverse Stock Split Amendment is not approved, then the Proportional Decrease in Authorized Shares Amendment will automatically be deemed to not have been approved, regardless of the number of shares actually voted "FOR" that proposal. In the event that stockholders approve the Reverse Stock Split Amendment but do not approve the Proportional Decrease in Authorized Shares Amendment, the Board will retain the discretion to implement the Reverse Stock Split Amendment.

        If the Reverse Stock Split Amendment is approved by our stockholders and implemented by the Board, and the Proportional Decrease in Authorized Shares Amendment is approved by our stockholders, the decrease would become effective upon the filing of the amendment to our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, or at the later time set forth in the amendment, but in any event simultaneous with the effectiveness of the reverse stock split. The exact timing of the amendment will be determined by the Board based on its evaluation as to when such action will be the most advantageous to our Company and our stockholders.

Reasons for Proposed Amendment

        Under Delaware law, the implementation of a reverse stock split does not require a decrease in the total number of authorized shares of common stock. The Board of Directors, however, considered carefully whether such a decrease would be in the best interests of the stockholders, evaluating such factors as the Company's reasonably foreseeable future needs for authorized shares, the desire to reduce the potential for substantial dilution to stockholders and the requirements of certain entities that make recommendations to stockholders regarding how to vote on proposals submitted by the Company. The Board of Directors determined that if the Reverse Stock Split Amendment is approved and implemented, a decrease in the number of authorized shares in the same ratio as the reverse stock split would be warranted.

Required Approval

        The affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of common stock outstanding and entitled to vote thereon is required for the approval of the Proportional Decrease in Authorized Shares Amendment. The Board recommends that the Company's stockholders vote "FOR" the amendment to the Company's Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to proportionally decrease the number of authorized shares of our common stock.

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PROPOSAL 4

ADVISORY VOTE TO APPROVE EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

        In accordance with Section 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Company provides its stockholders with the opportunity to cast an advisory vote to approve the compensation for the Company's named executive officers (commonly known as the "say-on-pay" vote). Following the 2012 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, and consistent with the results of the advisory vote on the matter taken by our stockholders at that meeting, the Board adopted a policy providing that the say-on-pay vote would be submitted to stockholders on an annual basis. Accordingly, we ask our stockholders to vote, on an advisory basis, on the following resolution:

        RESOLVED, that the compensation paid to the Company's named executive officers, as disclosed pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K, including the "Compensation Discussion and Analysis," compensation tables and narrative discussion and any related material contained in this Proxy Statement, is hereby APPROVED.

        Our stockholders are urged to read the "Compensation Discussion and Analysis" section of this Proxy Statement, which discusses our compensation practices and methodologies.

        Because this vote is only advisory in nature, it will not be binding on us. Our Board will consider the results of this stockholder vote in determining future compensation programs for our named executive officers. However, these programs may not change even if stockholders vote against this proposal.

        The Board unanimously recommends that you vote "FOR" advisory approval of the resolution set forth above.

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PROPOSAL 5

RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT
OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

Introduction

        The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors has selected PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2013. We are submitting this appointment for stockholder ratification at the Annual Meeting.

        A representative of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP is expected to be present at the Annual Meeting, will have the opportunity to make a statement if he or she desires to do so and will be available to respond to appropriate questions from stockholders.

        Our organizational documents do not require stockholder ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm. We are doing so because we believe it is a matter of good corporate practice. If our stockholders do not ratify the appointment, the Audit Committee will reconsider whether or not to retain PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, but still may retain them. Even if the appointment is ratified, the Audit Committee, in its discretion, may change the appointment at any time during the year if it determines that such a change would be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. The Audit Committee, or a designated member thereof, has pre-approved each audit and non-audit service rendered by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to the Company.

        The Board unanimously recommends that the Company's stockholders vote "FOR" the ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2013.

Principal Accounting Firm Fees

        The following table shows information about fees billed to the Company by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP for the periods indicated:

Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures

        All audit and non-audit services performed for the Company by the Company's independent registered public accounting firm are pre-approved by the Audit Committee. When considering whether to grant an approval, the Audit Committee considers the nature, scope and fees of the service to be provided to the Company as well as the principles and guidance established by the SEC and Public Company Accounting Oversight Board with respect to auditor independence, including the fact that an auditor

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cannot (1) function in the role of management; (2) audit his or her own work; or (3) serve in an advocacy role for the Company. In so doing, the Audit Committee is permitted to delegate pre-approval authority to one or more of its members, and has delegated such authority to the Audit Committee Chairman. Any pre-approval decisions that are made by the Audit Committee Chairman pursuant to such delegation are discussed at the Audit Committee's next scheduled meeting. The Audit Committee has not delegated to management its responsibilities to pre-approve services performed by the independent registered public accounting firm.

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AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT*

        The Audit Committee of the Company is composed of three independent directors and operates under a written charter adopted by the Board. The Board annually reviews the NASDAQ listing standards definition of independence and has determined that each member of the Committee meets that standard, and each member is independent within the meaning of Rule 10A-3 of the rules promulgated by the SEC under the Exchange Act and the Company's Corporate Governance Guidelines.

        The Audit Committee's responsibility is one of oversight as set forth in its charter. It is not the duty of the Audit Committee to prepare the Company's financial statements, to plan or conduct audits, or to determine that the Company's financial statements are complete and accurate and are in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The Company's management is responsible for preparing the Company's financial statements and for maintaining internal control over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures to ensure the financial statements are complete and accurate and are in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The independent registered public accounting firm is responsible for auditing the financial statements and expressing an opinion as to whether those audited financial statements fairly present the financial position, results of operations, and cash flows of the Company in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.

        During 2012, the Committee met at least quarterly with the Company's Controller and management. In addition, the Committee meets with the Company's independent registered public accounting firm on a quarterly basis or more frequently, as requested by the independent registered public accounting firm or the Committee. In 2012, the Committee met privately with the independent registered public accounting firm, as well as with management on at least a quarterly basis. The Committee also reviewed its charter and undertook a self-assessment and reported the results of that assessment to the Board.

        In 2012, the Committee met during the year with the Director of the Company's Internal Audit Department and the Director of the Company's Compliance Department for reports on the status of certain internal controls. On at least an annual basis, the Committee met privately with each of the Director of Internal Audit and the Director of the Compliance Department.

        Management represented to the Committee that the Company's consolidated financial statements for fiscal year 2012 were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, and the Committee has reviewed and discussed the consolidated financial statements with management and its independent registered public accounting firm. The Committee has also discussed with the independent auditors the matters required to be discussed by Public Company Accounting Oversight Board Auditing Standard No. 380, Communication with Audit Committees. Based on these discussions and reviews, the Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited consolidated financial statements be included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 for filing with the SEC.

        During fiscal 2012, the Audit Committee performed all of its duties and responsibilities under the Audit Committee Charter. In addition, the Audit Committee has determined that the provision of the non-audit services described under the heading "Proposal 5 — Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm — Principal Accounting Firm Fees" above is compatible with maintaining PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP's independence.

        Pursuant to the Committee charter, the Committee is directly responsible for the appointment of the Company's independent registered public accounting firm who shall report directly to the Committee. The Committee appointed the Company's current independent registered public accounting firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, as the independent registered public accounting firm to conduct the audit for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013 and recommended to the Board that the Board ratify this action. The Company's independent registered public accounting firm has provided to the Committee a written disclosure required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight

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Board regarding the independent registered public accounting firm's communications with the audit committee concerning independence, and the Committee discussed with the independent registered public accounting firm that firm's independence.

AUDIT COMMITTEE
Robert S. Yingling (Chair)
Marshall Cohen
Bruce C. Rohde

        The Board has determined that all Audit Committee members are financially literate in accordance with the NASDAQ listing standards. Messrs. Yingling and Rohde are each qualified as an audit committee financial expert within the meaning of Item 401(h) of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act, and the Board has determined that they have accounting and related financial management expertise within the meaning of the NASDAQ listing standards.

        *      The material in this report is not "solicitation material," is not deemed filed with the SEC, and is not incorporated by reference in any filing of the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, whether made before or after the date hereof and irrespective of any general incorporation language in any filing.

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COMPENSATION OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

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EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

        The following table sets forth certain information with respect to our current executive officers:

        In addition to our current executive officers named above, Eric J. Gleacher served in an executive capacity and as our Chairman of the Board during 2012 until January 28, 2013.

        THOMAS HUGHES was appointed to be our Chief Executive Officer as of May 2, 2011 and was elected to our Board at the 2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. From October 2010 to April 2011, Mr. Hughes served as a Special Advisor to Board of Directors of LNR Property LLC, a diversified commercial real estate finance company, and from July 2007 to October 2010, Mr. Hughes served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of LNR Property LLC. From November 2005 to March 2006, he served as the President and Chief Operating Officer of Clinton Group, Inc., a New York-based hedge fund. From 2001 to 2005, he served as Chief Executive Officer of Deutsche Asset Management and was a member of the Deutsche Bank Group Executive Committee. Prior to joining Deutsche Bank, Mr. Hughes held a number of senior positions with Merrill Lynch. He began his career at Merrill Lynch in 1984 as a mortgage backed securities trader and was named Head of MBS Trading in 1987, where he rebuilt and expanded the mortgage department. During his tenure at Merrill Lynch, Mr. Hughes also became the global head of equity derivatives and convertible bond trading and in 1999 became the head of a newly created unit, Global Securities Financing. Mr. Hughes is also a Co-Founder of Fieldpoint Private Bank & Trust. Mr. Hughes has served as a member of the board for organizations and corporations including Soleil Corporation, the International Monetary Fund and Hospital for Special Surgery, and continues as a board member of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and The United States Merchant Marine Academy. Mr. Hughes graduated from The United States Merchant Marine Academy, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering.

        JOHN GRIFF was appointed Chief Operating Officer ("COO") of the Company in July 2011. Before joining the company, Mr. Griff most recently served, from 2008 to 2010, as Strategic Advisor to the Chief Executive Officer of LNR Property Corporation, a diversified commercial real estate finance company, where he advised the Chief Executive Officer and management team on asset management strategy and acquisition opportunities. He also sub-advised the LNR European commercial real estate fund. Prior to his role with LNR Property Corporation, Mr. Griff served as President of Putnam Lovell NBF, a boutique investment bank focused on the financial services sector, where he was the head of the National Bank of Canada's (NBF) U.S. operations from 2003 until 2007. In this role, Mr. Griff was responsible for all business divisions, including Investment Banking, Equities, Equity Derivatives, Fixed Income, Merchant Banking and Treasury, and Mr. Griff also served on the NBF Executive Committee. From 1997 to 2002, Mr. Griff was with HSBC Securities (USA) Inc., the U.S. based investment banking subsidiary of HSBC, where he ultimately served as Chief Executive Officer and had the responsibility for overseeing U.S. based operations, including Equities, Fixed Income, Investment Banking and Support Divisions. Mr. Griff also served as co-head of HSBC's Global Fixed Income group. During his tenure as Chief Executive Officer and co-head of the Global Fixed Income group, Mr. Griff also served as a member of the Executive Committee. Before joining HSBC Securities (USA), from 1993 to 1997, Mr. Griff was a senior executive at

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NationsBanc Capital Markets, Inc. where he ultimately served as Vice Chairman, and, from 1986 to 1993, he served as a Managing Director at Lehman Brothers and at Merrill Lynch. Mr. Griff graduated from Fordham University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in finance and marketing. He has previously served as the President of the Investment Association of New York.

        PATRICIA ARCIERO-CRAIG joined the Company in 1997. She has been General Counsel and Secretary of the Company and Gleacher Securities since 2007. From 2003 to 2007, Ms. Arciero-Craig served as Deputy General Counsel of Gleacher & Company and, prior to 2003, she served as Associate General Counsel. Prior to joining Gleacher & Company in 1997, she was an attorney with the law firm of Harris Beach PLLC, where she practiced in the fields of commercial litigation, bankruptcy and restructuring. Ms. Arciero-Craig received a J.D. (cum laude) from Albany Law School of Union University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Fairfield University. Ms. Arciero-Craig is a member of the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association and the Society of Corporate Secretaries and Governance Professionals.

        BRYAN EDMISTON joined the Company's broker-dealer subsidiary, Gleacher & Company Securities, Inc. in December 2009 as a Managing Director responsible for Accounting Policy and SEC Reporting. In July 2010, he also assumed the role of Controller of this subsidiary. On July 28, 2011, the Board of Directors of the Company appointed Mr. Edmiston Controller of the Company, such appointment effective as of August 15, 2011. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Edmiston was a Senior Manager within the Banking & Capital Markets Assurance practice at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, where he worked from 1997 to 2009, servicing a number of clients in the financial services industry. Mr. Edmiston graduated from Pace University, earning a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and is a registered C.P.A. in the states of New York and New Jersey.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT*

        The Executive Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis required by the Exchange Act with management and, based on the Executive Compensation Committee's review and discussions with management, the Executive Compensation Committee recommended to the Board that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this Proxy Statement.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE

Robert A. Gerard (Chair)
Marshall Cohen
Bruce C. Rohde

        *      The material in this report is not "solicitation material," is not deemed filed with the SEC, and is not incorporated by reference in any filing of the Company under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, whether made before or after the date hereof and irrespective of any general incorporation language in any filing.

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COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

        This Compensation Discussion and Analysis describes our compensation policies and decisions, generally and specifically with respect to 2012, as they relate to (1) Mr. Hughes, who served as our CEO during fiscal year 2012, (2) Mr. Edmiston, who served as our principal financial officer ("PFO") during fiscal year 2012, and (3) Messrs. Griff and Gleacher and Ms. Arciero-Craig, our only other executive officers serving as such as of December 31, 2012 (collectively referred to as our "named executive officers" or "NEOs").

Executive Summary

        General.    Compensation decisions for our NEOs are made by our Executive Compensation Committee. NEO compensation consists principally of a base salary paid in cash and incentive compensation paid either in cash, equity grants or a combination of both. Incentive compensation typically represents a larger compensation opportunity for our NEOs than salary compensation. As a general matter, the Executive Compensation Committee does not establish formulas for incentive compensation but rather retains full discretion in the amount and type of incentive compensation awarded. In making these decisions, the Executive Compensation Committee applies a pay-for-performance philosophy that considers the performance of the individual executive, the performance of the Company and the other factors listed below. Incentive compensation decisions are typically made in February (following the end of the applicable fiscal year), so that the Executive Compensation Committee has the benefit of the Company's full-year performance when making incentive compensation decisions.

        The Executive Compensation Committee's decisions regarding executive compensation in 2012 were significantly affected by the following factors and circumstances:

•

In 2011, we adopted a new strategic plan designed to maximize long-term revenue growth opportunity and reduce our overall expense structure. A critical component of this plan was to redesign our compensation programs and practices. In implementing this redesign, Messrs. Hughes and Griff made targeted leadership changes in our principal business units. In our MBS & Rates segment, this leadership transition was accompanied by significant employee turnover, with headcount falling by approximately half, disrupting operations and resulting in a decline in net revenue. As a result of the efforts of Messrs. Hughes and Griff, we recruited replacement sales and trading personnel, substantially rebuilding the division with quality and experienced human resources.



•

In response to a variety of factors, in mid-2012 we appointed a Special Committee of our Board of Directors and commenced a review of strategic alternatives, to include possible actions such as partnering with one or more equity investors, strategic acquisitions and divestitures, and a business combination involving the Company. In supporting the activities of the Special Committee, our NEOs devoted a significant portion of time and resources engaging with third parties regarding possible business combinations, gathering relevant operating and financial information about the Company and third parties, performing financial analyses of a variety of proposals, meeting internally and with the Special Committee's advisors to discuss various alternatives and meeting to discuss the financial and legal aspects of various transaction scenarios. In August 2012, these activities, which had previously been confidential, were subject to press leaks. Our NEOs effectively managed communications with customers, employees, the media and others regarding press reports about the Company and speculation regarding its business and financial situation and its future prospects.



•

Due in part to the factors cited above, we recorded disappointing financial results for 2012. Net revenues decreased by 22% compared to our 2011 results, and the Company posted a $77.7 million loss. In line with our financial results, our stock price decreased from $1.74 per share at the beginning of the year to $0.70 per share at year-end.

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        In making its decisions regarding year-end incentive compensation, the Executive Compensation Committee carefully considered not only the absolute financial performance of the Company but also the challenging conditions faced by the NEOs, who had, in the opinion of the Executive Compensation Committee, performed ably. The Executive Compensation Committee ultimately determined to make year-end incentive awards to recognize the performance and efforts of the NEOs, but, because of the erosion in stockholder value that occurred throughout the year, the awards were positioned significantly below compensation levels among our peers. These awards were intended to acknowledge the individual performance of each of our NEOs, while at the same time reflecting the overall poor performance of the Company, in terms of stockholder value, during 2012. The Executive Compensation Committee was also mindful that year-end awards constitute the bulk of our NEOs compensation and believed that some modest amount of year-end compensation was necessary to retain and motivate our NEOs in an environment where competition for qualified executives is intense.

        Year-end Incentive Awards.    Mr. Hughes's year-end incentive compensation in respect of 2012 increased to $750,000 compared to $250,000 for 2011. With respect to 2011, his first year as our Chief Executive Officer, to reinforce his commitment to substantial reductions in compensation expense, Mr. Hughes requested that he not be granted year-end compensation beyond the cash amount contemplated by his employment agreement. The increase in Mr. Hughes' year-end incentive award resulted principally from the conservative nature of his year-end reward with respect to 2011 and his leadership and recruiting successes in 2012. Mr. Griff's year-end compensation decreased from $1.3 million for 2011 to $600,000 for 2012. Year-end incentive compensation awarded to Ms. Arciero-Craig decreased from $825,000 with respect to 2011 to $650,000 for 2012. The decrease in Mr. Griff's and Ms. Arciero-Craig's year-end awards related to the decrease in stockholder value and short-term operating performance, and the Company's drive to reduce overall compensation expense, as opposed to their individual performance during the year. Mr. Edmiston's year-end award increased slightly from $475,000 for 2011 to $500,000 in respect of 2012 to reflect additional responsibilities that he assumed in 2012. Each of these awards also reflected the balancing of interests described above.

        Year-end incentive compensation awarded to our NEOs (and to our employees generally) in respect of 2012 was paid in cash. In making the determination to pay incentive compensation in cash, the Executive Compensation Committee considered a variety of factors, particularly our depressed stock price and the fact that delivery in shares at the current depressed price would result in significant stockholder dilution. Additionally, because the NEOs already owned or had direct interest in a substantial amount of Company stock, the Executive Compensation Committee considered existing equity ownership interests sufficient to create strong alignment between the NEOs and stockholders generally. See the discussion under the heading "— Decisions with Respect to 2012 NEO Compensation" for additional information.

        Senior Management Compensation and Retention Plan.    Given the determination in mid-2012 to conduct a strategic review that could result in a business combination or other event causing the termination of employment with the Company of one or more of our NEOs, the Executive Compensation Committee approved, and the Company adopted, the Gleacher & Company Senior Management Compensation and Retention Plan and entered into agreements ("Retention Agreements") with each of our NEOs providing for cash payments and accelerated vesting of equity awards in the event of a termination of employment within a specified period of time before or after the occurrence of specified certain extraordinary corporate transactions. See "Narrative Disclosure and Employment Agreements — Gleacher & Company Senior Management Compensation and Retention Plan" and "Potential Payment Upon Termination or Change in Control."

        Other.    On January 28, 2013, Mr. Gleacher resigned as a director and executive officer of the Company. With Mr. Gleacher's departure, no executive officer has a tax gross-up provision. For more information, see "Compensation of Executive Officers — Narrative Disclosure and Employment Agreements."

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Responsibility for Compensation Decisions

        The Executive Compensation Committee is responsible for discharging the responsibilities of our Board relating to compensation and, in particular, for implementing and reviewing executive compensation plans, policies and programs, as described more fully in "Agenda Item 1 — Election of Directors — Board of Directors and Corporate Governance — Committees of the Board of Directors."

        The Executive Compensation Committee's approach to executive compensation includes the following three principal elements:

        The Executive Compensation Committee also reviews and supervises, in coordination with management, the overall compensation policies for the Company.

Compensation Philosophy and Objectives

        In general, our NEO compensation practices are predicated on a pay-for-performance philosophy. This policy is intended to:

•

align compensation with the performance of both our NEOs and the Company;



•

provide our NEOs with financial incentives to promote the favorable performance of the Company over the long term;



•

align the compensation of our NEOs with changes in stockholder value;



•

allow us to attract and retain talented senior professionals in a competitive business; and



•

maximize the financial efficiency of our compensation from tax, accounting, cash flow and stockholder dilution perspectives.

        As a result, the Executive Compensation Committee has generally not adopted strict formulas for NEO compensation and instead relies primarily on a discretionary approach in which it sets executive compensation levels on a case-by-case, year-by-year basis. This approach is consistent with that employed by most other firms in the financial services industry and generally is thought to be most effective in attracting and retaining qualified senior executives. This practice is designed to provide the Executive Compensation Committee with flexibility to vary compensation from year to year to reflect the performance of each NEO and the performance of the Company.

Review and Process

        In determining the compensation of each NEO, the Executive Compensation Committee considers many factors, including, but not limited to:

•

the individual roles and responsibilities of each NEO;



•

the degree to which the Company achieved its operational, strategic and financial goals for the year;



•

how each NEO contributed to the Company's overall performance;

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•

changes in stockholder value during the year;



•

employment agreements and any other relevant contractual obligations;



•

compensation paid to each NEO in prior years;



•

the pay practices of the Company's competitors; and



•

prevailing macro-economic conditions.

        The factors considered by the Executive Compensation Committee, and the relative importance attached to each, is subject to change from year to year based on the judgment of the Executive Compensation Committee.

Board's Consideration of Advisory Vote

        At our 2012 Annual Meeting, we held a stockholder advisory vote to approve the compensation of our NEOs, commonly referred to as a "say-on-pay" vote. At this meeting, our stockholders approved the compensation of our NEOs, with approximately 76% of stockholder votes cast in favor of our say-on-pay resolution. The Executive Compensation Committee viewed this vote as supportive of the Company's existing policies and made no significant changes to the basic compensation philosophy and approach to compensating our NEOs.

Compensation Elements

        NEO compensation has historically consisted of the following principal elements:

        The Executive Compensation Committee has historically awarded incentive compensation annually, determining the amount and nature of the award for each NEO shortly after year-end to reflect performance for the most recently completed year. Incentive awards are occasionally made at other times, to address specific circumstances, such as new hires, promotions, retention concerns and other specific

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corporate objectives. Incentive compensation awards made on the annual cycle are usually, but not always, comprised of a combination of cash bonuses and long-term equity incentive awards.

        The elements of our executive compensation, the proportion of one element relative to others and similar matters are within the discretion of the Executive Compensation Committee and may change from year to year, based principally on the judgment of the Executive Compensation Committee regarding how best to incentivize our NEOs in the prevailing business environment.

        Historically, incentive compensation has represented a large portion of total compensation paid to our NEOs in order to ensure that the majority of compensation is variable and tied to performance. This practice is designed to provide the Executive Compensation Committee flexibility to vary compensation from year to year to reflect each NEO's and the Company's performance. In addition, a large portion of incentive compensation is typically, but not always, paid in the form of long-term equity incentive awards that vest over time. This practice is designed to support our objectives of retaining top talent, creating alignment between changes in stockholder value and pay realized by executives and encouraging a long-term focus. The proportion of incentive compensation that is paid in equity to that paid in cash is not fixed, but rather is determined by the Executive Compensation Committee at the time of grant to reflect the consideration of such factors as the size of the total award and each NEO's stock ownership level.

        In 2012, the Executive Compensation Committee made incentive awards in cash. In making this determination, the Executive Compensation Committee considered a variety of factors, particularly our depressed stock price and the fact that delivery in shares at the depressed stock price would result in significant stockholder dilution.

        The amount and mix (cash to equity) of NEO compensation is also affected by any applicable employment agreements or other contractual obligations. As with most companies in our industry, employment agreements are intended to attract and retain qualified executives who may have other employment opportunities that appear more attractive absent these contracts. Employment agreement terms can vary substantially from one to another. The principles underlying our employment agreements are intended to incentivize management performance and compensate them on a performance-based basis. See the discussion under the heading "Narrative Disclosure and Employment Agreements" for more information regarding our employment agreements.

Board Policy on Recoupment of Bonuses Upon Restatement Due to Fraud or Misconduct

        In the event of a material negative accounting restatement due to material noncompliance by the Company with financial reporting requirements, the Board or a committee of the Board will review the circumstances that caused the restatement and consider issues of accountability among the Company's executive officers. If the Board determines that fraud or intentional misconduct by one or more of the Company's executive officers caused the error or errors that resulted in the need for the Company to restate its financial statements, the Board may require reimbursement of certain incentive compensation earned by such executive officer or officers with respect to the period covered by the restatement.

Anti-Hedging Policy

        Our policies regarding trading in our common stock prohibit employees and directors from hedging or otherwise disposing of the economic risk of ownership of our stock other than through a true sale. In addition, employees are prohibited from short-term trading in personal accounts and as a result, they are required to hold purchased stock positions in our common stock for a minimum of 14 days, subject to certain exceptions.

Role of Independent Compensation Consultant

        General.    The Executive Compensation Committee has historically engaged an independent consultant to advise it on compensation matters. In recent years, including 2012, the Executive Compensation Committee engaged FW Cook & Co. to serve as its independent compensation consultant.

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During 2012, FW Cook & Co. assisted the Company in performing a compensation program risk assessment, advised us on the preparation of our 2012 proxy statement compensation disclosures, advised with respect to the design and implementation of our Senior Management Compensation and Retention Plan, helped to develop our stock ownership guidelines, and addressed ongoing compensation issues for the Executive Compensation Committee as they arose. Representatives of FW Cook & Co. attend meetings of the Executive Compensation Committee as requested by the Executive Compensation Committee chair, are available to the Executive Compensation Committee chair and other members on a regular basis and will meet with management when directed to do so by the Executive Compensation Committee.

        FW Cook & Co. has no other financial relationships with the Company and works with management only at the request of the Executive Compensation Committee to obtain data and other information necessary for advising and supporting the Executive Compensation Committee.

        2012 Peer Group Analysis.    To provide competitive context to the Executive Compensation Committee in its deliberations on year-end incentive awards to Messrs. Hughes and Griff, FW Cook & Co. analyzed executive compensation levels and incentive program structures and design within a peer group of similarly sized, publicly traded investment banking and brokerage firms. FW Cook & Co. determined the membership of the peer group with input from the Executive Compensation Committee and management. The peer group consisted of the following companies:

        The peer group we used to benchmark the elements of executive pay was made up of U.S. companies in the financial services industry whose revenues and market capitalizations most closely resemble those of the Company and which represent our principal source of competition for executive talent in our industry.

        FW Cook & Co.'s analysis examined the structure of incentive compensation programs as well as a history of compensation for named executive officers in positions comparable to those of Messrs. Hughes and Griff in each of the peer companies.

        The Executive Compensation Committee used the peer group data provided by FW Cook & Co. to gain an understanding of market practices at the time with regard to the design and magnitude of executive compensation. The Executive Compensation Committee considered this information among other factors in determining 2012 compensation levels for Messrs. Hughes and Griff, but not as the sole factor, nor did it target a specific percentile positioning versus the Company's peers for compensation awarded to these two NEOs. In making compensation decisions, the Executive Compensation Committee considered FW Cook & Co.'s analysis together with the other factors discussed in this Compensation Discussion & Analysis.

        In determining compensation awards for Ms. Arciero-Craig and Mr. Edmiston, the Executive Compensation Committee considered, among other factors, similar data furnished by FW Cook & Co. in prior years as well as the compensation that had been paid to them in past years.

Decisions with Respect to 2012 NEO Compensation

        In setting 2012 NEO compensation, the Executive Compensation Committee considered the various factors described below.

        Base Salary.    The 2012 base salaries of Messrs. Hughes ($750,000), Griff ($350,000) and Gleacher ($350,000) were each prescribed by the terms of their respective employment agreements with the

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Company, which were entered into in 2011. The 2012 base salaries of Ms. Arciero-Craig ($250,000) and Mr. Edmiston ($200,000) had been determined previously by the Executive Compensation Committee.

        2012 Annual Incentive Award Determinations.    Set forth below is a description of the annual incentive awards made to each NEO with respect to their performance in 2012 and an explanation of the principal factors considered by the Executive Compensation Committee in making these awards. Other than the Section 162(m) threshold goal described under the heading "Section 162(m)" below, the Executive Compensation Committee did not condition 2012 annual incentive awards to our NEOs on the achievement of specific corporate objectives, but rather considered the function, responsibilities and contributions of each of our NEOs and exercised discretion in assessing both the contribution potential of each of our NEOs and the extent to which that potential was achieved. For each of our NEOs, the Executive Compensation Committee did not establish a specific weighting for each factor, but rather considered all of the factors together.

        The annual incentive awards made to our NEOs with respect to 2012 took the form of cash, in each case paid in February 2013. In accordance with SEC reporting rules, the cash component of annual incentive awards are reflected in the Summary Compensation Table for the year in which the services were provided. Equity awards (if any) are reported in the Summary Compensation Table in the year in which the award is made. Consequently, in the Summary Compensation Table below, 2012 compensation includes cash bonuses for 2012 paid in February 2013 and equity awards for 2011 made in February 2012. Compensation for other years are similarly reported.

        In making annual decisions with regard to salary changes and incentive compensation awards, our CEO typically considers individual NEO performance and provides a recommendation to the Executive Compensation Committee for each NEO other than himself. With respect to 2012, Mr. Hughes made recommendations with respect to the compensation of Messrs. Griff and Edmiston and Ms. Arciero-Craig. While the CEO does not make a recommendation with respect to his own compensation, our CEO has historically engaged in a self-evaluation and presented a summary of accomplishments to the Executive Compensation Committee. The Executive Compensation Committee considers this information, along with the other information described above, in making decisions regarding the compensation of the CEO and the other NEOs.

        In making its decisions regarding year-end incentive compensation, the Executive Compensation Committee carefully considered not only the absolute financial performance of the Company but also the challenging conditions faced by the NEOs, who had, in the opinion of the Executive Compensation Committee, performed ably. The Executive Compensation Committee ultimately determined to make year-end incentive awards to recognize the performance and efforts of the NEOs, but, because of the erosion in stockholder value that occurred throughout the year, the awards were positioned significantly below compensation levels among our peers. These awards were intended to acknowledge the individual performance of each of our NEOs, while at the same time reflecting the overall poor performance of the Company, in terms of stockholder value, during 2012. The Executive Compensation Committee was also mindful that year-end awards constitute the bulk of our NEOs compensation and believed that some modest amount of year-end compensation was necessary to retain and motivate our NEOs in an environment where competition for qualified executives is intense.

        2012 Annual Incentive Awards — Mr. Hughes.    The Executive Compensation Committee considered the following factors in deliberations regarding Mr. Hughes' 2012 annual incentive compensation:

•

Mr. Hughes' key role in managing the Company's business operations and implementing its long-term strategic plan, including, in particular, making significant changes in compensation plans and recruiting new business leaders;



•

Mr. Hughes' role in facilitating the Company's review of strategic alternatives;



•

the Company's overall financial performance;



•

the performance of the Company's stock price during the year;

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•

Mr. Hughes' management of the other NEOs;



•

Mr. Hughes' overall performance over the year;



•

Mr. Hughes' base salary;



•

the conservative nature of Mr. Hughes prior-year award; and



•

Mr. Hughes' total cash compensation and long-term equity compensation relative to the historical compensation paid to the chief executive officers of our peer companies and general industry practices among comparably sized companies.

        Mr. Hughes was granted a cash bonus of $750,000. This bonus reflected Mr. Hughes's performance in 2012 and resulted in total direct compensation for 2012, including his salary of $750,000, of $1.5 million. This was below the peer group 25^th percentile rate of approximately $2.02 million as most recently determined by FW Cook & Co. In 2011, his first year as CEO, to reinforce his commitment to substantial reductions in compensation expense, Mr. Hughes requested that the Committee limit his year-end compensation to $250,000.

        2012 Annual Incentive Awards — Mr. Griff.    The Executive Compensation Committee considered the following factors in setting Mr. Griff's 2012 annual incentive compensation:

•

Mr. Griff's contributions in managing the overall roll-out of the Company's long-term strategic plan;



•

Mr. Griff's management of the stabilization and ultimately sale of the Company's ClearPoint Funding subsidiary;



•

Mr. Griff's assistance in the Company's review of strategic alternatives;



•

the Company's overall financial performance;



•

the performance of the Company's stock price during the year;



•

Mr. Griff's contributions to the Company's control environment;



•

Mr. Griff's overall performance over the year;



•

Mr. Griff's total compensation relative to the historical compensation paid to the chief operating officers and second highest paid executives of our peer companies and general industry practices among comparably-sized companies; and



•

the recommendation of Mr. Hughes.

        Based on the same philosophy that drove the compensation decisions for Mr. Hughes, the Executive Compensation Committee awarded to Mr. Griff a cash bonus of $600,000.

        2012 Annual Incentive Awards — Ms. Arciero-Craig.    The Executive Compensation Committee considered the following factors in setting Ms. Arciero-Craig's 2012 annual incentive compensation:

•

Ms. Arciero-Craig's management of the legal and compliance aspects of the Company's review of strategic alternatives, including overseeing the activities of the Company's several outside counsel, managing the relationship and communications with counsel to the Special Committee and advising on structure and negotiating agreements relating to proposals of various transactions with third parties;



•

Ms. Arciero-Craig's efforts in advising the Board on a wide variety of corporate governance and other matters;



•

Ms. Arciero-Craig's management of the legal and compliance aspects of the liquidity issues faced by ClearPoint Funding in the early part of 2012 and the ultimately successful efforts to sell ClearPoint in the latter part of 2012;

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•

Ms. Arciero-Craig's overall performance over the year, including managing the Company's legal, compliance and internal audit departments through a period of substantial Company activity in an environment of increasing regulatory scrutiny;



•

the recommendation of Mr. Hughes; and



•

Ms. Arciero-Craig's total cash compensation and long-term equity compensation relative to the historical compensation paid to the general counsels of our peer companies and general industry practices among comparably sized companies.

        Based on these considerations, the Executive Compensation Committee awarded Ms. Arciero-Craig a 2012 annual incentive award of $650,000 in cash.

        2012 Annual Incentive Awards — Mr. Edmiston.    The Executive Compensation Committee considered the following factors in setting Mr. Edmiston's 2012 annual incentive compensation:

•

Mr. Edmiston's role in the financial planning and execution of the Company's review of strategic alternatives, including compiling various financial models and other information for review by and discussion with various third parties and analysis of the valuation and other financial aspects of a variety of transactional proposals considered by the Company;



•

Mr. Edmiston's contributions in the management of the liquidity issues experienced by the Company's ClearPoint Funding subsidiary and analysis of various proposals for selling or otherwise exiting the mortgage origination operations conducted by subsidiary ClearPoint;



•

Mr. Edmiston's supervision of the Company's financial reporting, both for the parent as well as the Company's broker-deal subsidiaries;



•

the overall additional responsibilities assumed by Mr. Edmiston in 2012;



•

Mr. Edmiston's efforts to continuously improve the Company's control environment;



•

Mr. Edmiston's overall performance over the year;



•

the recommendation of Mr. Hughes; and



•

Mr. Edmiston's total compensation relative to the historical compensation paid to the principal financial officers of our peer companies and general industry practices among comparably sized companies.

        Based on these considerations, the Executive Compensation Committee awarded Mr. Edmiston a 2012 annual incentive award of $500,000 in cash.

        2012 Annual Incentive Awards — Mr. Gleacher.    Mr. Gleacher did not receive any year-end incentive compensation with respect to 2012.

        Relative 2012 Compensation between NEOs.    As in prior years, there were considerable differences in the compensation paid to our NEOs in 2012. The reasons for these differences are described below.

        Mr. Hughes received compensation in respect of his services to the Company in 2012 that significantly exceeded the compensation paid to our three other NEOs. In his capacity as CEO, Mr. Hughes shouldered the ultimate responsibility for managing the Company through several significant corporate challenges and maintaining management and operational stability. He was also responsible for directing and overseeing the performance of our other NEOs and recruiting new business leaders. Our other NEOs provided critical support for Mr. Hughes' efforts and share in the credit for his accomplishments. Mr. Griff was chiefly tasked with assisting Mr. Hughes in the development of corporate strategies and then in testing the feasibility and implementing those strategies ultimately adopted. Ms. Arciero-Craig played a key role throughout the year by continuing to manage the legal aspects of our strategic redirection, review of strategic alternatives, stabilization and sale of ClearPoint and addressing and advising on a wide variety of corporate governance issue while also supervising the day-to-day legal, compliance and internal audit functions. Mr. Edmiston received compensation that was less than that paid to Ms. Arciero-Craig due

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largely to the fact that his responsibilities are inherently more limited in the breadth of Company functions for which he is accountable.

        While these considerations impacted the 2012 compensation of our NEOs, the Executive Compensation Committee has substantial discretion in setting compensation for 2013 and beyond and may place greater weight on different criteria in the future.

Section 162(m)

        Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code generally permits a tax deduction to public corporations for compensation over $1 million awarded in any fiscal year to a corporation's chief executive officer and certain other highly compensated executive officers only if the compensation qualifies as being performance-based under Section 162(m). We endeavor to structure our compensation policies to qualify as performance-based under Section 162(m) whenever it is reasonably possible to do so while meeting our compensation objectives. To ensure that annual incentive awards for 2012 would be considered performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) (and therefore tax-deductible to the Company), the Executive Compensation Committee established a threshold performance goal for each NEO under the 2007 Incentive Compensation Plan (the "ICP") and conditioned payment of annual incentive awards on achievement of the performance criterion for 2012. Compensation for Mr. Edmiston is not subject to Section 162(m), but was determined in the same way. As a pre-requisite to paying 2012 annual incentive awards to our NEOs, the Company had to achieve net revenues for the year ended December 31, 2012 in excess of $150 million.

        The Board and the Executive Compensation Committee reserve the authority to award nondeductible compensation to executive officers in appropriate circumstances. In addition, it is possible that some compensation paid pursuant to certain equity awards that have already been granted may be nondeductible as a result of Section 162(m).

Risk Assessment in Compensation Programs

        With the assistance of FW Cook & Co., the Executive Compensation Committee's independent compensation consultant, the Company has assessed its broad-based and executive compensation programs to determine if these programs' provisions and operations create undesired or unintentional risk of a material nature. Our risk assessment included two work streams — one focused on reviewing areas of enterprise risk and the other focused on identifying compensation design risk. Our enterprise risk analysis examined the types and magnitudes of risks the business areas present to the Company. Our compensation design risk analysis examined the potential risks in the design of our performance-based compensation arrangements. With respect to each performance-based compensation plan, we identified and assessed the risk profile of the plan. Finally, we evaluated on a combined basis the results of the enterprise and compensation risk assessments, on a business-by-business basis. As a result of our analysis, we believe that our compensation policies and practices do not create inappropriate or unintended material risk to the Company as a whole, and that, consequently, our compensation policies and practices do not create risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company.

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SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

        The following table sets forth certain information regarding compensation of the Company's NEOs.

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GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS DURING FISCAL YEAR 2012

        The following table sets forth information regarding grants of compensation awards made to the Company's Named Executive Officers during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012.

NARRATIVE DISCLOSURE AND EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS

        The Company has employment agreements and letter agreements with Messrs. Hughes and Griff (our CEO and COO, respectively), each of which is discussed below. Ms. Arciero-Craig, our General Counsel, and Mr. Edmiston, our Controller, do not have employment agreements with us, but Ms. Arciero-Craig has entered into a non-compete and non-solicit agreement with us. The Company terminated its employment agreements with Mr. Gleacher as of January 28, 2012.

        Hughes Employment Letter Agreement.    In April 2011, the Company entered into an employment letter agreement (the "Hughes Letter Agreement") providing for Mr. Hughes to serve as the Company's CEO. The Hughes Letter Agreement has a three-year term, starting on May 2, 2011. The Company also agreed to nominate Mr. Hughes to our Board of Directors while he is employed as CEO during his employment term.

        During the term, the Company is required to pay Mr. Hughes an annual base salary of $750,000, and he is eligible for an annual incentive bonus to be determined by the Executive Compensation Committee, based on achievement of performance goals set by the Committee and the terms of the Company's incentive plan. Any annual bonus awarded will be payable in a combination of cash and equity awards, with up to $250,000 of any such bonus to be paid in cash and the balance to be satisfied through the grant of equity awards in respect of the Company's common stock. During the term, Mr. Hughes is entitled to employee and fringe benefits on the same basis as provided to our other senior executives from time to time.

        As an inducement to commence employment with the Company, the Company granted to Mr. Hughes the following equity awards:

(1)

stock options to purchase 3,000,000 shares of our common stock, with a per share exercise price equal to $1.85, the fair market value of a share of our common stock on the date of grant, vesting

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in three equal installments on each of the first three anniversaries of the date of grant subject to his continued employment (except as described below) and having a six-year term; and

(2)

restricted stock units with respect to 1,000,000 shares of our common stock, vesting in three equal installments on each of the first three anniversaries of the date of grant subject to his continued employment (except as described below) and settling when and as they vest.

        The unvested portion of the stock option awards and the restricted stock unit award will vest in full upon Mr. Hughes' termination of employment due to his death or "Disability," a resignation by him for "Good Reason" or a termination by the Company without "Cause" during the two-year period following a "Change in Control" of the Company.

        If, prior to a Change in Control, Mr. Hughes' employment is terminated by the Company other than for Cause, death or Disability or he resigns for Good Reason, he will be entitled to continue to receive his base salary for one year following his termination. If, during the two-year period following a Change in Control, Mr. Hughes' employment is terminated by the Company other than for Cause, death or Disability or he resigns for Good Reason, he will be entitled to receive an amount equal to 1.5 times the sum of his base salary and the amount equal to 125% of his base salary, payable in equal installments over the one-year period following his termination. Mr. Hughes' right to receive termination benefits are subject to his signing a release of claims in our favor and continued compliance with the restrictive covenants contained in the Hughes Letter Agreement. To fully understand Mr. Hughes' rights under these provisions of his agreement, refer to the definitions of "Change in Control," "Cause," "Disability" and "Good Reason." These definitions are set forth below.

        Pursuant to the Hughes Letter Agreement, "Change in Control" means the first to occur of the following events:

        1.     The acquisition, after the effective date of the Hughes Letter Agreement, by an individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 50% or more of either (A) the shares of Company Common Stock (the "Common Stock"), or (B) the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the "Voting Securities"); provided, however, that the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control: (i) any acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) who, on the effective date of the Hughes Letter Agreement, beneficially owned 10% or more of the Common Stock, (ii) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (iii) any acquisition by any underwriter in connection with any firm commitment underwriting of securities to be issued by the Company, or (iv) any acquisition by any corporation (or other entity) if, immediately following such acquisition, more than 50% of the then outstanding shares of common stock of such corporation (or other entity) and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such corporation (or other entity) entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, is beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who, immediately prior to such acquisition, were the beneficial owners of the Common Stock and the Voting Securities in substantially the same proportions, respectively, as their ownership, immediately prior to such acquisition, of the Common Stock and Voting Securities; or

        2.     Individuals who, as of the effective date of the Hughes Letter Agreement, constitute the Board (the "Incumbent Board") cease thereafter for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the effective date of the Hughes Letter Agreement whose election, or nomination for election by the Company's stockholders, was approved by at least a majority of the directors then serving and comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as

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a result of either an actual or threatened election contest (as such terms are used in Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act) or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents; or

        3.     Consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (a "Corporate Transaction"), other than a Corporate Transaction with respect to which all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners, immediately prior to such Corporate Transaction, of the Common Stock and Voting Securities beneficially own, directly or indirectly, immediately after such Corporate Transaction, more than 50% of the then outstanding common stock and voting securities (entitled to vote generally in the election of directors) of the corporation (or other entity) resulting from Corporate Transaction in substantially the same proportions as their respective ownership, immediately prior to such Corporate Transaction, of the Common Stock and the Voting Securities; or

        4.     Approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

        Pursuant to the Hughes Letter Agreement, "Cause" is generally defined as (i) the executive's conviction of, or plea of guilty or "no contest" to, any felony; (ii) the executive's conviction of, or plea of guilty or "no contest" to, a violation of criminal law involving the Company and its business; (iii) the executive's commission of an act of fraud or theft, or material dishonesty in connection with the performance of his duties to the Company and its Affiliates; or (iv) the executive's willful refusal or gross neglect to perform the duties reasonably assigned to him and consistent with his position with the Company and its Affiliates or otherwise to comply with the material terms of any agreement between the Company or any of its Affiliates. "Good Reason" is generally defined as (i) a material reduction in the executive's Base Salary; (ii) the assignment to the executive of duties or responsibilities that represent a material diminution from the duties or responsibilities associated with the position of Chief Executive Officer; or (iii) the relocation of the executive's primary place of employment to a location 50 or more miles from the Company's headquarters.

        Under the Hughes Letter Agreement, Mr. Hughes is subject to confidentiality obligations and, for one year after any termination of his employment with the Company, non-competition, customer non-solicitation and employee non-solicitation and no hire obligations.

        For additional information on Mr. Hughes' Letter Agreement, please see the discussion under the heading "Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control."

        Griff Employment Letter Agreement.    Concurrently with his appointment as COO, the Company entered into an employment letter agreement (the "Griff Letter Agreement") with Mr. Griff, which became effective on July 18, 2011. Pursuant to the Griff Letter Agreement, the Company is required to pay Mr. Griff an annual base salary of $350,000. In addition, Mr. Griff will be eligible for an annual incentive bonus to be determined by the Executive Compensation Committee, not to be less than $350,000 with respect to the 2011 fiscal year, subject to the achievement of applicable performance goals and certain other requirements set forth in the Griff Letter Agreement. These conditions were met and this bonus was paid.

        As an inducement to commence employment with the Company, the Company also awarded Mr. Griff stock options to purchase up to 1,000,000 shares of Company common stock with a six-year term and a per share exercise price equal to $1.46, the closing price of the Company's common stock on the date of grant. The awards vest in three equal installments on each of the first three anniversaries of the grant date, subject to Mr. Griff's continued employment with the Company (except as otherwise provided in the award agreement in connection with certain terminations of employment).

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        Under the Griff Letter Agreement, Mr. Griff is subject to confidentiality obligations and, for one year after any termination of his employment with the Company, non-competition, customer non-solicitation and employee non-solicitation and no hire obligations.

        Mr. Griff's stock option agreement provides that the unvested portion of Mr. Griff's stock option award will become vested and exercisable upon his termination of employment due to his death or disability, a resignation by him for "Good Reason" or, subject to his execution of a release and separation agreement, a termination by the Company without "Cause" during the two-year period following a "Change in Control" of the Company. "Change in Control," "Good Reason" and "Cause" have specific meanings defined in Mr. Griff's stock option agreement.

        Under Mr. Griff's stock option agreement, "Cause" has substantively the same definition as under clauses (i) through (iv) of the Hughes Employment Agreement, the definition of which is set forth above, and "Good Reason" is defined as, without Employee's prior written consent: (i) a material reduction in the employee's base salary; (ii) the assignment to employee of duties or responsibilities that represent a material diminution from the duties or responsibilities associated with the position of Chief Operating Officer; or (iii) the relocation of employee's primary place of employment to a location 50 or more miles from the Company's headquarters.

        For additional information regarding Mr. Griff's Employment Letter Agreement and his stock option agreement, please see the discussion under the heading "Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control."

        Arciero-Craig Non-Compete and Non-Solicit Agreement.    On September 21, 2007, Ms. Arciero-Craig entered into a non-compete and non-solicit agreement. For further information regarding this agreement see the discussion under the heading "Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control."

        Gleacher & Company Senior Management Compensation and Retention Plan.    On August 17, 2012, the Executive Compensation Committee approved, and the Company adopted, the Gleacher & Company Senior Management Compensation and Retention Plan (the "Retention Plan"). To be eligible to participate in the Retention Plan, an employee must be an officer of the Company or hold another key position and be designated by the Executive Compensation Committee as eligible to participate. To participate in the Retention Plan, a designated employee must execute a participation agreement in the form specified by the Retention Plan. To fully understand the rights of participants in the Retention Plan, refer to the definitions of "Qualifying Termination," "in Connection with a Change in Control," "Change in Control," "Cause," "Disability" and "Good Reason." These definitions are included in the description that follows.

        A participating employee who experiences a "Qualifying Termination" is entitled to the benefits described below. A Qualifying Termination, in general, is deemed to have occurred if the participant's employment with the Company is terminated "in Connection with a Change in Control" and terminates:

•

involuntarily by the Company for any reason other than for "Cause," "Disability" or death; or



•

by the participant for "Good Reason."

        Under the Retention Plan, "Cause" generally means a participant's: (1) conviction of, or plea of guilty or "no contest" to, any felony; (2) conviction of, or plea of guilty or "no contest" to, a violation of criminal law involving the Company and its business; (3) commission of an act of fraud or theft, or material dishonesty in connection with the performance of the participant's duties to the Company and its Affiliates; or (4) willful refusal or gross neglect to perform the duties reasonably assigned to the participant and consistent with the participant's position with the Company and its Affiliates or otherwise to comply with the material terms of any agreement with the Company or any of its Affiliates. "Good Reason" is generally defined as (i) a material diminution in the participant's base compensation, (ii) a material diminution in the participant's authorities, duties or responsibilities with the Company, (iii) a material diminution in the authorities, duties, or responsibilities of the supervisor to whom the participant is

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required to report (or, if, immediately before the Change in Control, the participant reports directly to the Board of Directors, a requirement that the participant be required to report to a corporate officer or employee instead of reporting directly to the board of directors or similar governing body of any successor entity), (iv) the imposition of any requirement that the participant's principal office be based anywhere other than within 50 miles of where the participant's principal office was located on the date the participant became eligible to participate in the Retention Plan or (v) a material breach by the Company of the terms of the Retention Plan or any other agreement under which the participant provides services to the Company.

        In addition, a participants employment is considered under the Retention Plan to have been terminated "in Connection with a Change in Control" if the participant's termination occurs during the thirty-month period that begins six months before the Change in Control and ends twenty-four months after the Change in Control. If the participant's employment terminates before a Change in Control and such termination subsequently becomes a Qualifying Termination because a Change in Control occurs during the six-month period immediately following the participant's termination of employment, the participant will be deemed to have experienced the Qualifying Termination on the date of the Change in Control.

        "Change in Control" means the first to occur of the following events:

        1.     The acquisition, after the effective date of the Retention Plan, by an individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 50% or more of either (A) the shares of Company Common Stock (the "Common Stock"), or (B) the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the "Voting Securities"); provided, however, that the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control: (i) any acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) who, on the Effective Date, beneficially owned 10% or more of the Common Stock, (ii) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (iii) any acquisition by any underwriter in connection with any firm commitment underwriting of securities to be issued by the Company, or (iv) any acquisition by any corporation (or other entity) if, immediately following such acquisition, more than 50% of the then outstanding shares of common stock of such corporation (or other entity) and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such corporation (or other entity) entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, is beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who, immediately prior to such acquisition, were the beneficial owners of the Common Stock and the Voting Securities in substantially the same proportions, respectively, as their ownership, immediately prior to such acquisition, of the Common Stock and Voting Securities; or

        2.     Individuals who, as of the effective date of the Retention Plan, constitute the Board (the "Incumbent Board") cease thereafter for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the Effective Date whose election, or nomination for election by the Company's stockholders, was approved by at least a majority of the directors then serving and comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of either an actual or threatened election contest (as such terms are used in Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act) or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents; or

        3.     Consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (a "Corporate Transaction"), other than a Corporate Transaction with respect to which all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners, immediately prior to such Corporate Transaction, of the Common Stock

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and Voting Securities beneficially own, directly or indirectly, immediately after such Corporate Transaction, more than 50% of the then outstanding common stock and voting securities (entitled to vote generally in the election of directors) of the corporation (or other entity) resulting from Corporate Transaction in substantially the same proportions as their respective ownership, immediately prior to such Corporate Transaction, of the Common Stock and the Voting Securities; or

        4.     Approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

        In the event of a Qualifying Termination, a participating employee is entitled to the following benefits:

•

such cash severance benefit, if any, as may be set forth in the applicable participation agreement;



•

vesting in full of, and lapsing of any restrictions with respect to, all stock options, restricted shares, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock units and other equity-based awards outstanding at the time of the Qualifying Termination; and



•

continuation of medical benefits for a period of, in general, 18 months.

        To be entitled to benefits under the Retention Plan, a participating employee must comply with all of the requirements of the Retention Plan, including by executing (and not revoking) a release and acknowledgement in the form prescribed by the Retention Plan and by complying with the following restrictive covenants for such period of time (the "Restricted Period") as may be specified in the participant's participation agreement:

•

non-competition;



•

non-solicitation of Company customers; and



•

non-solicitation/non-hiring of Company employees.

        Participating employees have other continuing obligations to the Company under the participation agreements, including obligations relating to the return to the Company of proprietary rights and information and the non-disclosure and non-use of the Company's confidential information.

        In connection with the adoption of the Plan, the Executive Compensation Committee approved and the Company entered into participation agreements under the Retention Plan with each of Messrs. Hughes, Griff and Edmiston and Ms. Arciero-Craig.

        Assuming a Qualifying Termination and satisfaction of the other applicable conditions under the Retention Plan and the relevant participation agreements, these officers would be entitled to cash severance benefits payable under their respective participation agreements as follows: Mr. Hughes, $2.5 million, subject to adjustment as specified in his participation agreement; Mr. Griff, $2.0 million; Ms. Arciero-Craig, $2.0 million; and Mr. Edmiston, $1 million. Messrs. Hughes and Griff would each be subject to a Restricted Period of twelve months. Ms. Arciero-Craig and Mr. Edmiston would be subject to a Restricted Period of six months with respect to the non-competition covenant and twelve months with respect to the customer and employee non-solicitation covenants and the non-hiring covenant.

        In addition to the cash severance payments listed above, each of Messrs. Hughes, Griff and Edmiston and Ms. Arciero-Craig would be entitled to full vesting/lapsing of restrictions with respect to all outstanding equity awards and continued medical benefits under the Company's medical insurance plans, in each case as described above and in the Retention Plan and their respective participation agreements.

        For further information regarding the participation agreements of each of Messrs. Hughes, Griff and Edmiston and Ms. Arciero-Craig under the Retention Plan, see the discussions under the heading "Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control."

        Gleacher Employment Agreements.    In connection with the Gleacher transaction, pursuant to which we acquired Gleacher Partners, Inc. in June 2009 (the "Gleacher Transaction") the Company, Gleacher

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Securities, Gleacher Partners LLC ("Gleacher Partners") and Mr. Gleacher entered into an employment agreement that became effective on June 5, 2009 (the "Gleacher Employment Agreement").

        The Gleacher Employment Agreement provided that Mr. Gleacher would be employed for a three-year term commencing on June 5, 2009, automatically extended for one additional year upon the third anniversary of the effective date without any affirmative action, unless either party to the agreement provided at least six months' advance written notice to the other party that the employment period would not be extended. Mr. Gleacher's employment agreement also provided that during the term, when he is up for election, the Board would nominate him for election as a member of the Board and he would serve as Chairman of the Board. Under his employment agreement, Mr. Gleacher was entitled to receive an annual base salary of $350,000 and to participate in the Company's Investment Banking Division's annual investment banking bonus pool. Mr. Gleacher was also entitled to receive employee benefits on such basis as is comparable to those provided to other senior employees of the Company, automobile transportation-related benefits for business purposes that are no less favorable than those provided to him prior to the Gleacher Transaction and reimbursement for all reasonable expenses incurred by him on the same basis as applied to him prior to the Gleacher Transaction. Mr. Gleacher was also entitled to tax gross-up payments for any excise taxes he might incur as a result of payments made to him in connection with a change in control. In April 2012, the Board of Directors resolved that tax gross-up payments would no longer be a part of compensation for executive officers upon a change in control. In connection with the Gleacher Employment Agreement, the Company and Mr. Gleacher entered into a non-competition and non-solicitation agreement containing provisions regarding confidentiality, non-solicitation and other restrictive covenants.

        In October 2010, the Company and Mr. Gleacher entered into a letter agreement, pursuant to which Mr. Gleacher resigned as CEO and continued as Chairman of the Company. This letter agreement provided that in connection with these changes and subject to the achievement of the pre-established Company performance goal approved by the Executive Compensation Committee, Mr. Gleacher was entitled to receive a cash bonus award of $3.875 million. This payment was made in full in February 2011.

        Mr. Gleacher resigned as a director and executive officer of the Company on January 28, 2013. In connection with Mr. Gleacher's resignation, the Company and Mr. Gleacher entered into a letter agreement (the "Gleacher Letter Agreement"), which superseded Mr. Gleacher's employment agreement with the Company. Under the Gleacher Letter Agreement, Mr. Gleacher agreed to continue to provide services to the Company and certain of its affiliates in connection with a pending investment banking transaction. In return for the continued services, Mr. Gleacher was entitled to receive a contingent payment and be reimbursed for a portion of the cost of healthcare benefits for himself and his dependents through December 31, 2013. The contingent payment was subject to and conditional upon, among other things, the consummation of the investment banking transaction and the Company's receipt of its financial advisory fee. The contingent payment will be paid in May 2013 in an amount of approximately $3.5 million, subject to Mr. Gleacher's material compliance with the non-solicitation covenant in the Gleacher Letter Agreement described below and Mr. Gleacher's execution and delivery, and the effectiveness of, a release of claims in favor of the Company.

        Mr. Gleacher also agreed that, for one year following the effective date of the agreement, he will not solicit any clients that were investment banking clients of the Company on the effective date and further that he would not solicit or hire anyone who was an employee of the Company within 180 days of the hire or solicitation. Mr. Gleacher's transition described above will not affect the Company's ability to continue to use the Gleacher name in accordance with the trademark agreement entered into by the Company and Mr. Gleacher in 2009. For further information regarding Mr. Gleacher's employment and letter agreements see the discussion under the heading "Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control."

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OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT END OF FISCAL YEAR 2012

        The following table sets forth information regarding outstanding equity awards held by the Named Executive Officers as of December 31, 2012.

OPTION EXERCISES AND STOCK VESTED DURING FISCAL YEAR 2012

        The following table sets forth information regarding equity awards held by our NEOs exercised, vested or settled during fiscal year 2012.

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POTENTIAL PAYMENTS UPON TERMINATION OR CHANGE IN CONTROL

        As part of our executive compensation program, we have entered into agreements with our NEOs that provide for cash payments and other benefits upon termination of employment with us or a change in control of the Company. Whether, what type, and how significant the benefit is depends generally on the circumstances surrounding the triggering event and whether those circumstances satisfy specified conditions. The anticipated election of the intended nominees of either MatlinPatterson FA Acquisition LLC or Clinton Relational Opportunity Master Fund, L.P. would constitute a Change in Control within the meaning of Gleacher's named executive officers' compensation arrangements. However, no payments under any such arrangements would be triggered with respect to any named executive officer unless in connection with such election such named executive officer experiences a termination under the circumstances described above under "Narrative Disclosure and Employment Agreements."

        The following tables set forth the estimated values of benefits payable to our NEOs upon termination of employment under the circumstances indicated in the table. For the purposes of the table below, we have assumed that the triggering event occurred on December 31, 2012, except for Mr. Gleacher, where we used data from his actual date of resignation as a director and executive officer of the Company on January 28, 2013. Calculations involving the market price of our common stock were based on the closing price of our common stock on December 31, 2012, which was $0.75 per share. We calculated the cash-out value for restricted stock or restricted stock units on the basis of the closing price of our common stock on December 31, 2012, which was the last trading day in our fiscal year. For employee stock options, we calculated the cash-out value as the option's intrinsic value (equal to the excess of the closing price of our common stock on December 31, 2012 over the exercise price, multiplied by the number of shares covered by the option). Options with a zero or negative intrinsic value were assigned a zero value.

Mr. Hughes

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        Hughes Employment Letter Agreement, Incentive Award Agreements and Retention Plan Participation Agreement.    The Hughes Letter Agreement provides that upon termination of employment, Mr. Hughes will be entitled to certain payments or benefits, the amount of which depends upon the circumstances of termination. If prior to a Change in Control, (1) Mr. Hughes' employment is terminated by the Company other than for Cause, death or disability or (2) Mr. Hughes resigns from employment with the Company for Good Reason, subject to his execution and delivery and non-revocation of a release of claims against the Company and his continued compliance with the restrictive covenants set forth in the Hughes Letter Agreement, Mr. Hughes will be entitled to continue to receive payment of his annual base salary for twelve months following the date of his termination of employment in accordance with the Company's normal payroll practices. If, during the two-year period following a Change in Control either (a) Mr. Hughes' employment is terminated by the Company other than for Cause, death or disability or (b) Mr. Hughes resigns from employment with the Company for Good Reason, subject to his execution and delivery and non-revocation of a release of claims against the Company and his continued compliance with the restrictive covenants set forth in the Hughes Letter Agreement, Mr. Hughes will be entitled to receive cash payments equal to 1.5 times the sum of (i) his annual base salary and (ii) 125% of his annual base salary, with such amount to be paid in equal installments over the twelve-month period ending on the first anniversary of the date of his termination of employment in accordance with the Company's normal payroll practices.

        For additional information on the terms of the Hughes Letter Agreement including the meaning of the various defined terms used above, please see the section titled "Narrative Disclosure and Employment Agreements — Mr. Hughes' Employment Letter Agreement" above.

        Pursuant to Mr. Hughes' stock option agreements, any unvested portion of the stock option awards will vest in full upon Mr. Hughes' termination of employment due to his death, or, subject to his execution of a release and separation agreement, a resignation by him for Good Reason, disability or a termination by the Company without Cause during the two-year period following a Change in Control of the Company. In the event of Mr. Hughes' resignation without "Good Reason" or termination by the Company without Cause prior to a Change in Control, the portion of unvested options outstanding at the time of termination will be forfeited, and the portion of vested options will remain exercisable for a length of time as proscribed in the stock option agreement.

        Under Mr. Hughes' restricted stock units agreement, any unvested restricted stock units will vest in full and settled upon Mr. Hughes' termination of employment due to his death, or, subject to his execution of a release and separation agreement, a resignation by him for "Good Reason," disability or a termination by the Company without "Cause" during the two-year period following a "Change in Control" of the Company. In the event of Mr. Hughes' termination under any other circumstance, all unvested restricted stock units as of the date of termination will be forfeited. "Change in Control," "Good Reason" and "Cause" in Mr. Hughes' stock option and restricted stock units agreement have the same definitions as the Hughes Letter Agreement.

        Pursuant to Mr. Hughes' participation agreement under the Retention Plan, assuming a Qualifying Termination and satisfaction of the other applicable conditions, Mr. Hughes would be entitled to a cash severance payment of $2.5 million, subject to certain adjustments, full vesting/lapsing of restrictions with respect to all outstanding equity awards and continued medical benefits under the Company's medical insurance plans for 18 months. Mr. Hughes would be subject to a 12-month Restricted Period.

        For additional information on the terms of the Retention Plan, please see the section titled "Narrative Disclosure and Employment Agreements — Gleacher & Company Senior Management Compensation and Retention Plan" above.

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Mr. Griff

        Griff Stock Option Agreement and Retention Plan Participation Agreement.    Mr. Griff's stock option agreement provides that the unvested portion of Mr. Griff's stock option award will vest in full upon his termination of employment due to his death or "Disability," a resignation by him for "Good Reason" or a termination by the Company without "Cause" during the two-year period following a "Change in Control" of the Company. "Change in Control," "Good Reason" and "Cause" have specific meanings defined in Mr. Griff's stock option agreement. For additional information, please see the discussion under the heading "Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control."

        For additional information on the terms of Mr. Griff's stock option agreement, please see the section titled "Narrative Disclosure and Employment Agreements — Mr. Griff's Employment Letter Agreement" above.

        Pursuant to Mr. Griff's participation agreement under the Retention Plan, assuming a Qualifying Termination and satisfaction of the other applicable conditions, Mr. Griff would be entitled to a cash severance payment of $2 million, full vesting/lapsing of restrictions with respect to all outstanding equity

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awards and continued medical benefits under the Company's medical insurance plans for 18 months. Mr. Griff would be subject to a 12-month Restricted Period.

        For additional information on the terms of the Retention Plan, please see the section titled "Narrative Disclosure and Employment Agreements — Gleacher & Company Senior Management Compensation and Retention Plan" above.

Ms. Arciero-Craig

Arciero-Craig Retention Plan Participation Agreement.

        Pursuant to Ms. Arciero-Craig's participation agreement under the Retention Plan, assuming a Qualifying Termination and satisfaction of the other applicable conditions, Ms. Arciero-Craig would be entitled to a cash severance payment of $2 million, full vesting/lapsing of restrictions with respect to all outstanding equity awards and continued medical benefits under the Company's medical insurance plans for 18 months. Ms. Arciero-Craig would be subject to a 12-month Restricted Period with respect to the customer and employee non-solicitation covenant and the non-hiring covenant, and a 6-month Restricted Period with respect to the non-competition covenant.

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        For additional information on the terms of the Retention Plan, please see the section titled "Narrative Disclosure and Employment Agreements — Gleacher & Company Senior Management Compensation and Retention Plan" above.

Mr. Edmiston

        Edmiston Retention Plan Participation Agreement.    Pursuant to Mr. Edmiston's participation agreement under the Retention Plan, assuming a Qualifying Termination and satisfaction of the other applicable conditions, Mr. Edmiston would be entitled to a cash severance payment of $1 million, full vesting/lapsing of restrictions with respect to all outstanding equity awards and continued medical benefits under the Company's medical insurance plans for 18 months. Mr. Edmiston would be subject to a 12-month Restricted Period with respect to the customer and employee non-solicitation covenant and the non-hiring covenant, and a 6-month Restricted Period with respect to the non-competition covenant.

        For additional information on the terms of the Retention Plan, please see the section titled "Narrative Disclosure and Employment Agreements — Gleacher & Company Senior Management Compensation and Retention Plan" above.

Mr. Gleacher

        On January 28, 2013, Mr. Gleacher stepped down as a director and executive officer of the Company and the Company and Mr. Gleacher entered into the Gleacher Letter Agreement, which superseded Mr. Gleacher's prior employment agreement with the Company. For more information regarding all

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payments, contingent or otherwise, and other benefits Mr. Gleacher is eligible to receive under the Gleacher Letter Agreement, see "Compensation of Executive Officers — Narrative Disclosure and Employment Agreements."

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE LACK OF INTERLOCKS AND
INSIDER PARTICIPATION

        The Company has an Executive Compensation Committee responsible for approving the compensation of the Company's executive officers. During the 2012 fiscal year, Messrs. Gerard, Cohen and Rohde served on the Executive Compensation Committee. None of our executive officers served as (1) a member of the compensation committee (or other committee of the board of directors performing equivalent functions or, in the absence of any such committee, the entire board of directors) of another entity, one of whose executive officers served on our Executive Compensation Committee, (2) a director of another entity, one of whose executive officers served on our Executive Compensation Committee or (3) a member of the compensation committee (or other committee of the board of directors performing equivalent functions or, in the absence of any such committee, the entire board of directors) of another entity, one of whose executive officers served as one of our directors. No member of our Executive Compensation Committee has ever been our employee. The issuance of options to members of our Executive Compensation Committee is discussed herein under the heading "Director Compensation."

INFORMATION ABOUT STOCK OWNERSHIP AND EQUITY COMPENSATION PLANS

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SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

        Based on the Company's review of reports filed by directors, executive officers and 10% stockholders of the Company on Forms 3, 4 and 5 pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, the Company believes that all such reports were filed on a timely basis during fiscal year 2012.

EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION

        The following table provides information as of December 31, 2012 with respect to shares of common stock of the Company that may be issued under the Company's existing equity compensation plans.

Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans

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STOCK OWNERSHIP OF PRINCIPAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

        The following table sets forth information concerning the beneficial ownership of common stock of the Company as of February 28, 2013, by:

•

each person known by us to beneficially own more than 5% of our common stock,



•

each of our directors and nominees for the Board of Directors,



•

each of our Named Executive Officers, and



•

all of our directors and current executive officers as a group.

        Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC and generally includes voting or investment power with respect to securities. In computing the number of shares beneficially owned by a person and the percentage ownership of that person, shares of common stock that could be issued upon the exercise of outstanding options and warrants held by that person that are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of February 28, 2013 are considered outstanding. These shares, however, are not considered outstanding as of February 28, 2013 when computing the percentage ownership of each other person. Percentage of ownership is based on 123,242,192 shares of our common stock outstanding on February 28, 2013.

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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Related Party Transactions Policy

        Under the Company's Related Party Transactions Policy (the "Policy"), no Related Party shall engage in a Related Party Transaction (in each case, as such terms are defined below) unless the Company's Audit Committee shall have previously determined, in its good faith judgment, that such transaction is in, or is not inconsistent with, the best interests of the Company. If any members of the Audit Committee shall have a direct or indirect interest in such related party transaction, then such transaction may be effected only after receiving the approval of a majority of the independent members of the Company's Board of Directors having no interest in such transaction, based on such directors' good faith judgment that such transaction is in, or not inconsistent with, the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. Under the Policy, "Related Parties" include:

        (1)   any director or director nominee of the Company,

        (2)   any executive officer (as defined in Rule 3b-7 of the rules promulgated by the SEC under the Exchange Act) of the Company,

        (3)   any employee who is the head or in charge of a Company's subsidiary business unit,

        (4)   any stockholder that, together with its affiliates, owns in excess of ten percent of any class of outstanding voting capital stock of the Company,

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        (5)   any person who is an immediate family member or spouse of an executive officer or director of the Company, or

        (6)   any entity that is owned or controlled by someone listed in paragraph (1), (2), (3), (4) or (5) above, or an entity in which someone listed in paragraph (1), (2), (3), (4) or (5) above has a substantial ownership interest or control of such entity.

        A "Related Party Transaction" is a transaction, arrangement or relationship (or any series of similar transactions, arrangements or relationships) in which the Company or any of its controlled subsidiaries is or will be a participant and in which any Related Party has or will have a direct or indirect interest, other than:

•

transactions available to all employees of the Company generally,



•

transactions involving less than $75,000 when aggregated with all similar transactions, or



•

transactions whereby the Related Party renders services to the Company in his or her capacity as an officer or director of the Company and is compensated for such services pursuant to approval of the Company's Board of Directors or an appropriate committee thereof.

        The Audit Committee may provide advance and standing approvals for types or classes of Related Party Transactions, subject to such conditions or qualifications as it may determine. Any such approval may be withdrawn at any time, but such withdrawal shall not affect the authorized status of prior Related Party Transactions affected under the standing approval prior to its withdrawal.

        Each of the referenced transactions below that require approval or ratification by the Audit Committee pursuant to the Policy has been so approved or ratified.

Related Party Transactions

        Services Rendered to MatlinPatterson.    From time to time, Gleacher Securities provides brokerage services to MatlinPatterson, one of our principal stockholders, or its affiliated entities, which services are provided by Gleacher Securities in the ordinary course of its business. In 2012, MatlinPatterson paid $15,746 to Gleacher Securities for such services.

        From time to time, Gleacher Securities has provided investment banking services to MatlinPatterson or its affiliated entities, which services are provided by Gleacher Securities in the ordinary course of its business. In 2012, Gleacher Securities did not receive any fees for such services.

        Gleacher Matters.    In connection with the Gleacher Transaction, Mr. Gleacher became our Chairman and a senior member of our Investment Banking Division and entered into an employment agreement with us. Mr. Gleacher's employment arrangements and the compensation paid to him for 2012 are described under the heading "Compensation of Executive Officers." In addition, we entered into a registration rights agreement in which we agreed to register, subject to a variety of terms and conditions, the future offer and sale of our shares of common stock issued to Mr. Gleacher in the transaction. We also entered into a Trade Name and Trademark Agreement, pursuant to which we obtained the right to use the "Gleacher" name in specified areas at no additional cost. Also at the closing, our Chairman's son-in-law, Mr. Kenneth Ryan, became an employee of our Investment Banking Division, with a three-year employment agreement. Mr. Ryan resigned from the Company in August 2011. In connection with his resignation, the Company agreed to change the timing of a $1.5 million payment otherwise due to Mr. Ryan under the Gleacher Transaction acquisition agreements so that it would be paid on the same schedule as if he had remained an employee of the Company, rather than on a deferred basis, as provided in the agreements. In return, Mr. Ryan agreed to accept a payment that would be discounted to reflect the accelerated pay schedule. This payment, in the amount of $1,270,787, was made to Mr. Ryan in June 2012.

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        Other Matters.    Mr. Liam Griff, the son of our COO, became an employee of the Company on June 1, 2012, with an annual salary of $140,000. In 2012, he was paid a pro-rated salary of $81,667. In addition, Mr. Griff received a bonus of $140,000 in respect of his employment in 2012.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

        This report contains "forward-looking statements." These statements are not historical facts but instead represent the Company's belief regarding future events, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of the Company's control. The Company's forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including the conditions of the securities markets, generally, and acceptance of the Company's services within those markets and other risks and factors identified from time to time in the Company's filings with the SEC. It is possible that the Company's actual results and financial condition may differ, possibly materially, from the anticipated results and financial condition indicated in its forward-looking statements. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update any of its forward-looking statements.

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OTHER MATTERS

        At the date of this Proxy Statement, the Company has no knowledge of any business other than that described above that will be presented at the Annual Meeting. If any other business should come before the Annual Meeting, it is intended that the persons named in the enclosed proxy will have discretionary authority to vote the shares that they represent.

        PLEASE NOTE THAT UPON WRITTEN REQUEST, THE COMPANY WILL PROVIDE TO EACH STOCKHOLDER, WITHOUT CHARGE, A COPY OF ITS ANNUAL REPORT TO THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON FORM 10-K FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2012. REQUESTS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO GLEACHER & COMPANY, INC., 1290 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS, NEW YORK, NY 10104, ATTN: CORPORATE SECRETARY.

        You are urged to sign and to return your Proxy and promptly in the enclosed return envelope to make certain your shares will be voted at the Annual Meeting.

New York, New York
[    •    ], 2013

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APPENDIX A

INFORMATION CONCERNING PARTICIPANTS

IN THE COMPANY'S SOLICITATION OF PROXIES

        The following tables ("Directors" and "Officers and Employees") set forth the name, principal business address and the present principal occupation or employment, and the name, principal business and address of any corporation or other organization in which their employment is carried on, of the Company's directors, officers and employees who, under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, are considered to be "participants" in the Company's solicitation of proxies from stockholders in connection with the Annual Meeting.

Directors

        The principal occupations of the Company's directors who are considered "participants" in the Company's solicitation and the name and business address of the organization of employment of the Company's directors are as follows:

Officers and Employees

        The principal occupations of the Company's executive officers and employees who are considered "participants" in the Company's solicitation of proxies are set forth below. The principal occupation refers

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to such person's position with the Company, and the business address for each person is 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10104.

Information Regarding Ownership of the Company's Securities by Participants

        The shares of the Company's common stock beneficially owned or held of record as of February 28, 2013 by the persons listed above under "Directors" and "Officers and Employees," are set forth in the section entitled "Stock Ownership of Principal Owners and Management" of the Proxy Statement.

Information Regarding Transactions in the Company's Securities by Participants

        The following table sets forth all transactions that may be deemed purchases and sales of shares of the Company's common stock by the individuals who are considered "participants" between April 15, 2011 and April 15, 2013. Except as described in the Proxy Statement, shares of the Company's common stock owned of record by each participant are also beneficially owned by such participant. Unless otherwise indicated, all transactions were in the public market or pursuant to the Company's equity compensation plans and none of the purchase price or market value of those shares is represented by funds borrowed or otherwise obtained for the purpose of acquiring or holding such securities.

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Miscellaneous Information Regarding Participants

        Except as described in this Appendix A or the Proxy Statement, none of the participants (i) beneficially owns (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934), directly or indirectly, any shares or other securities of the Company, (ii) has purchased or sold any of such securities within the past two years or (iii) is, or within the past year was, a party to any contract, arrangement or understanding with any person with respect to any such securities. Except as disclosed in this Appendix A or the Proxy Statement, none of the participants' associates beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, any of the Company's securities. Other than as disclosed in this Appendix A or the Proxy Statement, neither the Company nor any of the participants has any substantial interests, direct or indirect, by security holding or otherwise, in any matter to be acted upon at the Annual Meeting or is or has been within the past year a party to any contract, arrangement or understanding with any person with respect to any of the Company's securities, including, but not limited to, joint ventures, loan or option agreements, puts or calls, guarantees against loss or guarantees of profit, division of losses or profits or the giving or withholding of proxies. Except as described in the Proxy Statement, none of us, the participants or any of their associates has had or will have a direct or indirect material interest in any transaction or series of transactions since the beginning of the Company's last fiscal year or any currently proposed transactions, or series of similar transactions, to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries was or is to be a party in which the amount involved exceeds $120,000.

        Other than as set forth in this Appendix A or the Proxy Statement, none of us, any of the participants or any of their associates has any arrangements or understandings with any person with respect to any future employment by us or the Company's affiliates or with respect to any future transactions to which the Company or any of the Company's affiliates will or may be a party.

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APPENDIX B

Form of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation

CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT
OF THE
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
GLEACHER & COMPANY, INC.

        Gleacher & Company, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Corporation"), pursuant to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the "DGCL"), DOES HEREBY CERTIFY as follows:

        FIRST:    That at a meeting of the Board of Directors of Gleacher & Company, Inc., resolutions were duly adopted setting forth a proposed amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation of said corporation, declaring said amendment to be advisable and calling a meeting of the stockholders of said corporation for consideration thereof. The resolution setting forth the proposed amendment is as follows:

        RESOLVED, that the Certificate of Incorporation of this corporation be amended by changing Article 4.1 thereof so that, as amended, said Article shall be and read as follows:

"4.1 Authorized Shares

        The aggregate number of shares which the Corporation shall have the authority to issue is [    •    ] shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, and 1,500,000 shares of Preferred Stock, par value $1.00 per share. The designations, relative rights, preferences and limitations of the shares of each class are as follows.

        Immediately upon the filing of this Certificate of Amendment with the Department of State of the State of Delaware, each [    •    ] issued shares of Common Stock shall thereby and thereupon automatically be combined into one validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable share of Common Stock (the "Reverse Stock Split"). Stockholders shall not receive fractional shares in connection with the Reverse Stock Split, but in lieu thereof a stockholder shall be entitled to receive a cash payment determined by multiplying (i) the number of shares of our common stock that would otherwise have been exchanged by such stockholder for the fractional share interest by (ii) the average closing sale price of the Common Stock for the ten trading days immediately prior to the effective date of the Reverse Stock Split or, if no such sale takes place on such days, the average of the closing bid and ask prices for such days, in each case as officially reported by The Nasdaq Global Market. In addition, stockholders shall not be entitled to receive interest for the period of time between the effective date of the Reverse Stock Split and the date a stockholder receives payment for the cashed-out shares. Following the Reverse Stock Split:

(A)

the [    •    ] currently issued shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, shall be combined into [    •    ] shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, at the rate set forth above, and



(B)

the [    •    ] unissued shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, shall be changed into [    •    ] unissued shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share."

        SECOND:    That thereafter, pursuant to resolution of its Board of Directors, a special meeting of the stockholders of said corporation was duly called and held upon notice in accordance with Section 222 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware at which meeting the necessary number of shares as required by statute were voted in favor of the amendment.

        THIRD:    That said amendment was duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Section 242 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

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        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, said corporation has caused this certificate to be signed this                        day of                                    , 2013.

Name:

Title:

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