Exhibit 10.10
                                                                   -------------









                              AMENDED AND RESTATED
                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT



                                 by and between


                           MAXCOR FINANCIAL GROUP INC.




                                       and



                                 Roger E. Schwed



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                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                -----------------

SECTION                                                                     PAGE
-------                                                                     ----

1.       Employment...........................................................1

2.       Term.................................................................1

3.       Position and Duties; Place of Performance............................1

4.       Compensation and Related Matters.....................................2
         (a)   Base Salary....................................................2
         (b)   Guaranteed Bonus...............................................2
         (c)   Other Bonuses..................................................2
         (d)   Proration......................................................2
         (e)   Expenses.......................................................2
         (f)   Other Benefits.................................................3
         (g)   Life Insurance.................................................3
         (h)   Vacation.......................................................3
         (i)   Services Furnished.............................................3

5.       Offices..............................................................3

6.       Termination..........................................................3
         (a)   Death..........................................................4
         (b)   Disability.....................................................4
         (c)   Cause..........................................................4
         (d)   Good Reason....................................................4
         (e)   Change in Control..............................................6
         (f)   Unilateral.....................................................7

7.       Termination Procedure................................................7
         (a)   Notice of Termination..........................................7
         (b)   Date of Termination............................................7
         (c)   Compensation During Dispute....................................8

8.       Compensation upon Termination or During Disability...................8
         (a)   Disability; Death..............................................8
         (b)   By Company without Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason...8
         (c)   By Company for Cause or by the Executive Other than for
               Good Reason....................................................9
         (d)   Compensation Plans.............................................9
         (e)   Payment Limitation.............................................9

9.       Mitigation..........................................................11

10.      Confidential Information; Noncompetition Requirement................11
         (a)   Confidential Information......................................11

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         (b)   Noncompetition Requirement....................................11
         (c)   Salary and Bonus Continuation.................................12
         (d)   Injunctive Relief.............................................12

11.      Indemnification; Legal Fees.........................................12

12.      Successors; Binding Agreement.......................................13
         (a)   Company's Successors..........................................13
         (b)   Executive's Successors........................................13

13.      Notice..............................................................13

14.      Miscellaneous.......................................................14

15.      Validity............................................................14

16.      Counterparts........................................................14

17.      Entire Agreement....................................................15


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                    AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT


         AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT, dated as of October 1, 2002
(this "AGREEMENT") by and between Roger E. Schwed (the "EXECUTIVE"), and Maxcor
Financial Group Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "COMPANY"), amending and
restating the employment agreement between the parties hereto, dated as of
August 14, 1998 (the "1998 AGREEMENT").

         WHEREAS, the Company currently employs the Executive and the Executive
currently furnishes services to the Company on the terms and conditions set
forth in the 1998 Agreement; and

         WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive mutually desire to extend the
term of the Executive's employment with the Company beyond that provided for in
the 1998 Agreement and to make certain other changes in the terms and conditions
set forth in the 1998 Agreement;

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
agreements set forth below, the parties hereby agree to amend and restate the
1998 Agreement as follows:

         1.    EMPLOYMENT. The Company hereby agrees to continue to employ the
Executive, which period of continuous employment began on October 1, 1996, and
the Executive hereby accepts such continued employment, on the terms and
conditions hereinafter set forth.

         2.    TERM. The period of employment of the Executive by the Company
pursuant to this Agreement (the "EMPLOYMENT PERIOd") shall commence on the date
first written above (the "COMMENCEMENT DATE"), and shall continue in effect
through October 1, 2006, unless further extended as provided in this Section 2
or sooner terminated as provided in Section 6. Commencing on October 1, 2005,
and on each successive anniversary thereafter, the contract term of the
Executive's employment shall be automatically extended for one (1) additional
year unless, on or prior to such date or anniversary, the Company shall have
delivered to the Executive or the Executive shall have delivered to the Company
written notice that the term of the Executive's employment hereunder will not be
extended (the initial term, as it may be so extended, the "CONTRACT TERM");
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that, if a Change in Control shall have occurred during the
original or extended term of this Agreement, the Contract Term shall continue in
effect for at least twenty-four (24) months subsequent to the month in which
such Change in Control occurs.

         3.    POSITION AND DUTIES; PLACE OF PERFORMANCE. During the Employment
Period, the Executive shall serve as Executive Vice President, General Counsel,
and Secretary of the Company. The Executive shall have the full responsibilities
and authority attendant to such position and report directly to the Chairman,
President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. The Executive's
responsibilities and authority shall include such responsibilities and authority
as may from time to time be assigned to the

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Executive by the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company,
provided that such responsibilities and authority are consistent with the
Executive's position with the Company. During the Employment Period, the
Executive shall also serve as Executive Vice President, General Counsel and
Secretary of various of the Company's subsidiaries, including, but not limited
to, Euro Brokers Investment Corporation and Euro Brokers Inc. (collectively, the
"SUBSIDIARIES"). During the Employment Period, the Executive agrees to devote
substantially all of his working time and efforts to the performance of his
duties for the Company and the Subsidiaries. In connection with the Executive's
employment by the Company, the Executive shall be based at the Company's
principal executive offices in Manhattan, New York, except for reasonably
required travel on the Company's business.

         4.    Compensation and Related Matters.
               --------------------------------

               (a)    BASE SALARY. As compensation for the performance by the
Executive of his obligations hereunder, during the Employment Period, the
Company shall pay the Executive a base salary at the rate of $250,000 per annum
("BASE SALARY"). Base Salary shall be paid in approximately equal installments
in accordance with the Company's customary payroll practices. Base Salary may be
increased from time to time in accordance with the normal business practices of
the Company and, if so increased, shall not thereafter during the Employment
Period be decreased.

               (b)    GUARANTEED BONUS. During the Employment Period, the
Company shall pay the Executive a guaranteed minimum bonus at the rate of
$100,000 per annum ("MINIMUM BONUS"). Minimum Bonus shall be paid in
approximately equal semi-annual installments. Minimum Bonus may be increased
from time to time in accordance with the normal business practices of the
Company.

               (c)    OTHER BONUSES. During the Employment Period, the Executive
shall be eligible to receive, in addition to the Minimum Bonus, such semi-annual
bonuses as may be awarded to him as the Board of Directors (the "BOARD") of the
Company or the Compensation Committee of the Board shall determine, or if an
incentive plan is adopted by the Company or a subsidiary thereof, in accordance
with the terms of such plan.

               (d)    PRORATION. The Executive shall be entitled to pro rata
payments under Section 4(b) above, and to be considered for pro rata payments
under Section 4(c) above, in each case to the extent that the period of his
service to the Company at the regular time for the determination for such
payments is less than the full period over which the determination of such
payments is normally measured.

               (e)    EXPENSES. The Company shall promptly reimburse the
Executive for all reasonable business expenses incurred during the Employment
Period by the Executive in performing services hereunder, including all expenses
of travel and living expenses while traveling on business or at the request of
and in the service of the Company, provided that such expenses are incurred and
accounted for in accordance with the policies and procedures established by the
Company.

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               (f)    OTHER BENEFITS. The Executive shall be entitled to
participate in all of the employee benefit plans and arrangements currently
maintained by the Company or a subsidiary thereof, in accordance with the terms
of such plans and arrangements, and shall be entitled to participate in or
receive benefits under any employee benefit plan or arrangement made available
by the Company or a subsidiary thereof in the future to its executives and key
management employees (including without limitation each incentive plan, pension
and retirement plan and arrangement, supplemental pension and retirement plan
and arrangement, stock option plan, life insurance and health-and-accident plan
and arrangement, medical insurance plan, disability plan, survivor income plan,
relocation plan and vacation plan), subject to and on a basis consistent with
the terms, conditions and overall administration of such plans and arrangements.
Nothing paid to the Executive under any plan or arrangement presently in effect
or made available in the future (including subsection (g) of this Section 4)
shall be deemed to be in lieu of the salary or bonus payable to the Executive
pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) of this Section 4.

               (g)    LIFE INSURANCE. During the Employment Period, the Company
shall obtain and maintain a term life insurance policy on and for the benefit of
the Executive, including paying all premiums for the policy that come due within
the Employment Period. The policy shall have a death benefit amount of not less
than $2 million payable to the beneficiary or beneficiaries designated by the
Executive. The policy shall be in addition to any coverage the Executive has
under any group life insurance plan maintained by the Company or a subsidiary
thereof.

               (h)    VACATION. The Executive shall be entitled to 25 vacation
days in each calendar year; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that vacation not taken shall not
accrue from year-to-year or be compensated for at the end of the Employment
Period. The Executive shall also be entitled to all paid holidays given by the
Company to its executives.

               (i)    SERVICES FURNISHED. During the Employment Period, the
Company shall furnish the Executive with office space, stenographic assistance
and such other facilities and services as shall be suitable to the Executive's
position and adequate for the performance of his duties as set forth in Section
3 hereof.

         5.    OFFICES. Subject to Section 3 hereof, the Executive agrees to
serve without additional compensation, if elected or appointed thereto, as a
director of the Company or any subsidiaries of the Company and as a member of
any committees of the board of directors of any such corporations, and in one or
more executive positions of any of the Company's subsidiaries, provided that the
Executive is indemnified for serving in any and all such capacities on a basis
no less favorable than is currently provided to any other director of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any such executive position, as the case
may be.

         6.    TERMINATION. The Executive's employment hereunder (and the
Employment Period) may be terminated without any breach of this Agreement only
under the circumstances set forth in the following subsections (a), (b), (c),
(d) and (f).

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               (a)    DEATH. The Executive's employment hereunder (and the
Employment Period) shall terminate upon his death.

               (b)    DISABILITY. If, as a result of the Executive's incapacity
due to physical or mental illness, the Executive shall have been absent from the
full-time performance of his duties hereunder for the entire period of six
consecutive months, and within thirty (30) days after written Notice of
Termination (as defined in Section 7 hereof) is given shall not have returned to
the performance of his duties hereunder on a full-time basis, the Company may
terminate the Executive's employment hereunder (and the Employment Period) for
"DISABILITY."

               (c)    CAUSE. The Company may terminate the Executive's
employment hereunder (and the Employment Period) for Cause. For purposes of this
Agreement, the Company shall have "CAUSE" to terminate the Executive's
employment hereunder upon the occurrence of any of the following events:

                      (i)    the conviction of the Executive for the commission
         of a felony; or

                      (ii)   the willful and continuing failure by the Executive
         to substantially perform his duties hereunder (other than such failure
         resulting from the Executive's incapacity due to physical or mental
         illness or subsequent to the issuance of a Notice of Termination by the
         Executive for Good Reason) after demand for substantial performance is
         delivered by the Company in writing that specifically identifies the
         manner in which the Company believes the Executive has not
         substantially performed his duties; or

                      (iii)  the willful misconduct by the Executive (including,
         but not limited to, breach by the Executive of the provisions of
         Section 10 hereof) that is demonstrably and materially injurious to the
         Company or its subsidiaries, whether monetarily or otherwise.

For purposes of this Section 6(c), no act or failure to act on the Executive's
part shall be considered "WILLFUL" unless done or failed to be done by the
Executive in bad faith and without reasonable belief that the Executive's action
or omission was in the best interest of the Company.

              (d)     GOOD REASON. The Executive may terminate his employment
hereunder (and the Employment Period) during the Contract Term hereunder for
"GOOD REASON" after the occurrence, without the written consent of the
Executive, of an event constituting a material breach of this Agreement by the
Company that has not been fully cured within ten (10) days after written notice
thereof has been given by the Executive to the Company, provided that, without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, on and after a Change in Control, any
one of the following events shall be deemed a material breach of this Agreement:

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                      (i)    the assignment to the Executive of any duties
         inconsistent with the Executive's status as a senior executive officer
         of the Company or a substantial adverse alteration in the nature of the
         Executive's responsibilities from those in effect immediately prior to
         the Change in Control, including, without limitation, if the Executive
         was, immediately prior to the Change in Control, an executive officer
         of a public company, the Executive ceasing to be an executive officer
         of a public company, or being required to report to anyone other than
         the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer;

                      (ii)   a reduction by the Company in the Executive's Base
         Salary as in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control;

                      (iii)  the relocation of the Executive's principal place
         of employment to a location outside of Manhattan, New York;

                      (iv)   the failure by the Company to pay to the Executive
         any portion of the Executive's current compensation or to pay to the
         Executive any portion of an installment of deferred compensation under
         any deferred compensation program of the Company within fifteen (15)
         days of the date such compensation is due;

                      (v)    the failure by the Company to provide the Executive
         with compensation plans which, in the aggregate, provide the Executive
         with substantially comparable compensation opportunities to those
         compensation opportunities for which the Executive was eligible
         immediately prior to the Change in Control;

                      (vi)   the failure by the Company to continue to provide
         the Executive with benefits substantially similar to those enjoyed by
         the Executive under any of the Company's pension, life insurance,
         medical, health and accident, or disability plans in which the
         Executive was participating at the time of the Change in Control, the
         taking of any action by the Company which would directly or indirectly
         materially reduce any of such benefits or deprive the Executive of any
         material perquisite or other fringe benefit, or secretarial service and
         office space at the level, enjoyed by the Executive at the time of the
         Change in Control, or the failure by the Company to provide the
         Executive with the number of paid vacation days to which the Executive
         is entitled under this Agreement;

                      (vii)  any purported termination of the Executive's
         employment which is not effected pursuant to a Notice of Termination
         satisfying the requirements of Section 7(a) or that does not comply
         with Section 6(c), if applicable (and for purposes of this Agreement,
         no such purported termination shall be effective); or

                      (viii) the failure of a successor to the Company to
         expressly assume and agree to perform this Agreement pursuant to
         Section 12(a) hereof.

The Executive's right to terminate his employment hereunder for Good Reason
shall not be affected by his incapacity due to physical or mental illness. The
Executive's continued employment shall not constitute consent to, or a waiver of
rights with respect to, any act or failure to act constituting Good Reason
hereunder.

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               (e)    CHANGE IN CONTROL. A "CHANGE IN CONTROL" shall be deemed
to have occurred if the event set forth in any one of the following paragraphs
shall have occurred:

                      (i)    any Person is or becomes the "Beneficial Owner" (as
         defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly,
         of securities of the Company (not including in the securities
         Beneficially Owned by such Person any securities acquired directly from
         the Company) representing 50% or more of the Company's then outstanding
         securities, excluding any Person who becomes such a Beneficial Owner in
         connection with a transaction described in clause (A) or (C) of
         paragraph (iii) below; or

                      (ii)   the following individuals cease for any reason to
         constitute a majority of the number of directors then serving:
         individuals who, on the Commencement Date, constitute the Board and any
         new director (other than a director whose initial assumption of office
         is in connection with an actual or threatened election contest,
         including but not limited to a consent solicitation, relating to the
         election of directors of the Company) whose appointment or election by
         the Board or nomination for election by the Company's stockholders was
         approved or recommended by a vote of at least two-thirds of the
         directors then still in office who either were directors on the
         Commencement Date or whose appointment, election or nomination for
         election was previously so approved or recommended; or

                      (iii)  there is consummated a merger or consolidation of
         the Company or any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company with
         any other corporation other than (A) a merger or consolidation which
         would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding
         immediately prior to such merger or consolidation continuing to
         represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into
         voting securities of the surviving entity or any parent thereof) at
         least 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the
         Company or such surviving entity or any parent thereof outstanding
         immediately after such merger or consolidation, or (B) a merger or
         consolidation effected to implement a re-capitalization of the Company
         (or similar transaction) in which no Person is or becomes the
         Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company
         (not including in the securities Beneficially Owned by such Person any
         securities acquired directly from the Company) representing 50% or more
         of the combined voting power of the Company's then outstanding
         securities, or (C) a merger or consolidation which would result in any
         individual, entity or group which includes, is affiliated with or is
         wholly or partly controlled by the individual who, as of the
         Commencement Date, is the Chief Executive Officer of the Company (the
         "CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER") being the Beneficial Owner of at least 50%
         of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Company,
         the entity surviving such merger of consolidation or any parent thereof
         outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation; or

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                      (iv)   the stockholders of the Company approve a plan of
         complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company or there is
         consummated an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of
         all or substantially all of the Company's assets, other than a sale or
         disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company's
         assets to an entity at least 50% of the combined voting power of the
         voting securities of which are owned by Persons in substantially the
         same proportions as their ownership of the Company immediately prior to
         such sale.

         For purposes of this Section 6(e) and Section 8(e) hereof, "PERSON"
shall have the meaning given in Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as modified and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) thereof, except that
such term shall not include (i) the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (ii) a
trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of
the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, (iii) an underwriter
temporarily holding securities pursuant to an offering of such securities, (iv)
a corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company
in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company
or (v) any individual, entity or group which includes, is affiliated with or is
wholly or party controlled by the Chief Executive Officer.

               (f)    UNILATERAL. The Executive may unilaterally terminate his
employment hereunder (and the Employment Period) during the Contract Term other
than for Good Reason, and without the Company's consent, upon not less than 60
days' written notice to the Company.

         7.    Termination Procedure.
               ---------------------

               (a)    NOTICE OF TERMINATION. Any termination of the Executive's
employment by the Company or by the Executive (other than termination pursuant
to Section 6(a) hereof) shall be communicated by written Notice of Termination
to the other party hereto in accordance with Section 13. For purposes of this
Agreement, a "NOTICE OF TERMINATION" shall mean a notice which shall indicate
the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon and shall set
forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a
basis for termination of the Executive's employment under the provision so
indicated.

               (b)    DATE OF TERMINATION. "Date of Termination" shall mean (i)
if the Executive's employment is terminated by his death, the date of his death,
(ii) if the Executive's employment is terminated for Disability pursuant to
Section 6(b), thirty (30) days after Notice of Termination (provided that the
Executive shall not have returned to the performance of his duties on a
full-time basis during such thirty (30) day period), (iii) if the Executive's
employment is terminated for Cause pursuant to Section 6(c), the date specified
in the Notice of Termination, which shall not be earlier than the date of the
Notice of Termination, and (iv) if the Executive's employment is terminated for
any other reason, the date on which a Notice of Termination is given or any
later date (within 60 days) set forth in such Notice of Termination; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that if a purported termination occurs on or after a Change in Control
and during the Contract Term and either party notifies the other party that a

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dispute exists concerning the termination, the Date of Termination shall be the
date on which the dispute is finally determined, either by mutual written
agreement of the parties, by a binding and final arbitration award or by a final
judgment, order or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction (the time for
appeal therefrom having expired and no appeal having been perfected); PROVIDED
FURTHER, HOWEVER, that the Date of Termination shall be extended by a notice of
dispute given by the Executive only if such notice is given in good faith and
the Executive pursues the resolution of such dispute with reasonable diligence.

               (c)    COMPENSATION DURING DISPUTE. If a purported termination
occurs on or after a Change in Control and during the Contract Term, and such
termination is disputed in accordance with subsection (b) of this Section 7, the
Company shall continue to pay the Executive the full compensation in effect when
the notice giving rise to the dispute was given (including, but not limited to,
salary and Minimum Bonus) and continue the Executive as a participant in all
compensation, benefit and insurance plans in which the Executive was
participating when the notice giving rise to the dispute was given, until the
Date of Termination, determined in accordance with subsection (b) of this
Section 7. Amounts paid under this Section 7(c) are in addition to all other
amounts due under this Agreement and shall not be offset against or reduce any
other amounts due under this Agreement.

         8.    Compensation upon Termination or During Disability.
               --------------------------------------------------

               (a)    DISABILITY; DEATH. During any period that the Executive
fails to perform his duties hereunder as a result of incapacity due to physical
or mental illness ("DISABILITY PERIOD"), the Executive shall continue to receive
his full Base Salary and Minimum Bonus at the rate in effect at the beginning of
such period and continue as a participant in all compensation and employee
benefit plans in which the Executive was participating pursuant to Sections 4(f)
and 4(g) until his employment is terminated pursuant to Section 6(b) and shall
continue to receive such Base Salary and Minimum Bonus for a period of six
months thereafter. Subsequent to the six-month period following termination of
the Executive's employment pursuant to Section 6(b), or in the event the
Executive's employment is terminated by reason of his death, the Company shall
have no further obligations to the Executive under this Agreement and the
Executive's benefits shall be determined under the Company's retirement,
insurance and other compensation programs then in effect in accordance with the
terms of such programs.

               (b)    BY COMPANY WITHOUT CAUSE OR BY THE EXECUTIVE FOR GOOD
REASON. If during the Contract Term the Executive's employment is terminated by
the Company other than for Cause or Disability or by the Executive for Good
Reason, then --

                      (i)    in addition to any amounts due the Executive
         pursuant to Sections 4(a), 4(b) or 4(c) hereof, the Company shall
         continue to pay to the Executive (or his legal representatives or
         estate) his Base Salary and Minimum Bonus (at the rate in effect
         immediately prior to the occurrence of the circumstance giving rise to
         the Notice of Termination) for the remainder of the Contract Term or,
         if greater, for one year; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if such termination
         occurs on or after a Change in Control, then the Company shall, within
         five (5) days following the Date of Termination, pay to the Executive,

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         in an undiscounted cash lump sum, an amount equal to two (2) times the
         sum of Base Salary (at the rate in effect immediately prior to the
         occurrence of the circumstance giving rise to the Notice of
         Termination) and the highest bonus (inclusive of the Minimum Bonus, and
         annualized if paid for less than a full year) awarded in respect of any
         bonus period falling entirely within the twenty-four month period
         preceding the Change in Control or the Date of Termination, whichever
         resulting bonus is greater, provided that, solely for purposes of this
         Section 8(b)(i), such annualized bonus (inclusive of the Minimum Bonus)
         shall not be less than $250,000; and

                      (ii)   the Company or a subsidiary thereof shall maintain
         in full force and effect, for the continued benefit of the Executive
         and his dependents for the remainder of the Contract Term or, if
         greater, for one year or, if such termination occurs on or after a
         Change in Control, for the greater of two years or the Contract Term,
         all medical, dental and life insurance benefit plans and programs in
         which the Executive was entitled to participate immediately prior to
         the Date of Termination, provided that the Executive's continued
         participation is possible under the general terms and provisions of
         such plans and programs. In the event that the Executive's
         participation in any such plan or program is barred, the Company shall
         arrange to provide the Executive and his dependents with benefits
         substantially similar to those which the Executive and his dependents
         would otherwise have been entitled to receive under such plans and
         programs from which their continued participation is barred; and

                      (iii)  the Executive shall be deemed to continue as an
         employee of the Company during the remainder of the Contract Term for
         purposes of the exercise and/or vesting of outstanding stock and stock
         option awards and cash incentive awards.

               (c)    BY COMPANY FOR CAUSE OR BY THE EXECUTIVE OTHER THAN FOR
GOOD REASON. If the Executive's employment shall be terminated by the Company
for Cause or by the Executive other than for Good Reason, then the Company shall
pay the Executive his Base Salary and Minimum Bonus (at the rate in effect at
the time Notice of Termination is given) through the Date of Termination, and
the Company shall have no additional obligations to the Executive under this
Agreement except as set forth in subsection (d) of this Section 8.

               (d)    COMPENSATION PLANS. Following any termination of the
Executive's employment, the Company shall pay the Executive all unpaid amounts,
if any, to which the Executive is entitled as of the Date of Termination under
any compensation plan or program of the Company, at the time such payments are
due.

               (e)    Payment Limitation.
                      ------------------

                      (i)    Notwithstanding any other provisions of this
         Agreement, in the event that any payment or benefit received or to be
         received by the Executive in connection with a Change in Control or the
         termination of the Executive's employment (whether pursuant to the


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         terms of this Agreement (the "SEVERANCE PAYMENTS") or any other plan,
         arrangement or agreement with the Company, any Person whose actions
         result in a Change in Control or any Person affiliated with the Company
         or such Person) (all such payments and benefits, including the
         Severance Payments, being hereinafter called "TOTAL PAYMENTS") would be
         subject (in whole or part), to the excise tax (the "EXCISE TAX")
         imposed under section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
         amended (the "CODE"), then, after taking into account any reduction in
         the Total Payments provided by reason of section 280G of the Code in
         such other plan, arrangement or agreement, the cash Severance Payments
         shall first be reduced, and the noncash Severance Payments shall
         thereafter be reduced, to the extent necessary so that no portion of
         the Total Payments is subject to the Excise Tax but only if (A) the net
         amount of such Total Payments, as so reduced (and after subtracting the
         net amount of federal, state and local income and employment taxes on
         such reduced Total Payments) is greater than or equal to (B) the net
         amount of such Total Payments without such reduction (but after
         subtracting the net amount of federal, state and local income and
         employment taxes on such Total Payments and the amount of Excise Tax to
         which the Executive would be subject in respect of such unreduced Total
         Payments); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Executive may elect to have the
         noncash Severance Payments reduced (or eliminated) prior to any
         reduction of the cash Severance Payments.

                      (ii)   For purposes of determining whether and the extent
         to which the Total Payments will be subject to the Excise Tax, (a) no
         portion of the Total Payments the receipt or enjoyment of which the
         Executive shall have waived at such time and in such manner as not to
         constitute a "payment" within the meaning of section 280G(b) of the
         Code shall be taken into account, (b) no portion of the Total Payments
         shall be taken into account which, in the opinion of tax counsel ("TAX
         COUNSEL") reasonably acceptable to the Executive and selected by the
         accounting firm (the "AUDITOR") which was, immediately prior to the
         Change in Control, the Company's independent auditor, does not
         constitute a "parachute payment" within the meaning of section
         280G(b)(2) of the Code (including by reason of section 280G(b)(4)(A) of
         the Code) and, in calculating the Excise Tax, no portion of such Total
         Payments shall be taken into account which, in the opinion of Tax
         Counsel, constitutes reasonable compensation for services actually
         rendered, within the meaning of section 280G(b)(4)(B) of the Code, in
         excess of the Base Amount (as defined in section 280G(b)(3) of the Code
         and the regulations promulgated thereunder) allocable to such
         reasonable compensation, and (c) the value of any non-cash benefit or
         any deferred payment or benefit included in the Total Payments shall be
         determined by the Auditor in accordance with the principles of sections
         280G(d)(3) and (4) of the Code.

                      (iii)  At the time that payments are made under this
         Agreement, the Company shall provide the Executive with a written
         statement setting forth the manner in which such payments were
         calculated and the basis for such calculations including, without
         limitation, any opinions or other advice the Company has received from
         Tax Counsel, the Auditor or other advisors or consultants (and any such
         opinions or advice which are in writing shall be attached to the
         statement). If the Executive objects to the Company's calculations, the
         Company shall pay to the Executive such portion of the Severance
         Payments (up to 100% thereof) as the Executive determines is necessary
         to result in the proper application of subsection (i) of this Section
         8(e).

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<PAGE>

         9.    MITIGATION. The Executive shall not be required to mitigate the
amount of any payment provided for the Executive by seeking other employment or
otherwise, nor, except as is hereinafter specifically provided in this Section
9, shall the amount of any payment or benefit provided for the Executive
hereunder be reduced by any compensation earned by the Executive as the result
of employment by another employer, by retirement benefits, by offset against any
amount claimed to be owed by the Executive to the Company or otherwise. If the
Executive's employment is terminated prior to a Change in Control, then to the
extent that the Executive, during the relevant period described in Section
8(b)(i) hereof, shall receive from a subsequent employer base salary and/or any
bonus similar to the Minimum Bonus, the payments to be provided under the
provisions of said Section shall be correspondingly reduced. To the extent that
the Executive, during the relevant period described in Section 8(b)(ii) hereof,
shall receive from a subsequent employer benefits similar to those to be
provided under Section 8(b)(ii), the benefits to be provided under the
provisions of said Section shall be correspondingly reduced.

         10.   Confidential Information; Noncompetition Requirement.
               ----------------------------------------------------

               (a)    CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. The Executive shall hold in a
fiduciary capacity for the benefit of the Company all trade secrets and
confidential information relating to the Company and its businesses, which shall
have been obtained by the Executive during the Executive's employment by the
Company and which shall not have been or now or hereafter have become public
knowledge (other than by acts by the Executive or representatives of the
Executive in violation of this Agreement). The Executive shall not, without the
prior written consent of the Company or as may otherwise be required by law or
legal process, communicate or divulge any such trade secrets or information to
anyone other than the Company and those designated by the Company. Any
termination of the Executive's employment or of this Agreement shall have no
effect on the continuing operation of this Section 10(a).

               (b)    NONCOMPETITION REQUIREMENT. During (1) any period that the
Executive is performing services hereunder, (2) a period of six (6) months
following a termination of the Executive's employment by the Company for Cause
or by the Executive other than for Good Reason (if the Company so requests,
notifies and pays the Executive as provided in Section 10(c) below), (3) on or
after a Change in Control, a period of six (6) months following a termination of
the Executive's employment by the Executive for Good Reason, and (4) with
respect to clauses (i) and (ii) of this Section 10(b), any period with respect
to which the Executive is entitled to payment pursuant to Section 8(b)(i) or, if
shorter, a period of one year, the Executive agrees that, without the prior
written consent of the Company, he shall not, directly or indirectly, with or
without pay, either as an employee, employer, consultant, agent, principal,
partner, stockholder, corporate officer, director, manager, investor, lender,
advisor, owner, associate or in any other individual or representative capacity,
(i) solicit, entice, encourage or otherwise attempt to procure or service by

                                       11
<PAGE>

telephone or otherwise accounts from any customers (determined as of the Date of
Termination) of the Company or a subsidiary thereof for a business that is
directly competitive (a "COMPETITIVE BUSINESS") with the business in which the
Company is then engaged, (ii) solicit, entice or encourage any employee
(determined as of the Date of Termination) of the Company or a subsidiary
thereof to terminate such employee's employment in order to work in a
Competitive Business, or (iii) upon the written request of the Company, directly
engage or participate in any Competitive Business unless such Competitive
Business is located more than seventy-five (75) miles from the site, as of the
Date of Termination, of the Company's executive offices in New York; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that (x) trading by the Executive for his own benefit or in proprietary
accounts shall not constitute a Competitive Business and (y) the Executive may
engage or participate in a business which has a Competitive Business as a
component or portion thereof if engaging or participating in such Competitive
Business does not constitute a substantial part of the Executive's duties.

               (c)    SALARY AND BONUS CONTINUATION. Following a termination of
the Executive's employment by the Company for Cause or by the Executive other
than for Good Reason, the Company may elect, by written notice given to the
Executive within 7 days of such notice of termination, to require the Executive
to perform the covenant provided in subsection (b)(iii) of this Section 10
during the six-month period following the effectiveness of such termination. As
additional consideration for the Executive's performance of such covenant during
such period, but only for so long as the Executive shall continue to perform
such covenant, the Company shall pay the Executive for each month during such
six-month period an amount equal to one-twelfth (1/12th) of the Executive's Base
Salary and Minimum Bonus. It is agreed and understood that such payment
constitutes full and fair consideration to the Executive for observance of such
covenant.

               (d)    INJUNCTIVE RELIEF. In the event of a breach or threatened
breach of subsections (a), (b) or (c) of this Section 10, the Executive agrees
that the Company shall be entitled to injunctive relief in a court of
appropriate jurisdiction to remedy any such breach or threatened breach, the
Executive acknowledging that damages would be inadequate and insufficient.

         11.   INDEMNIFICATION; LEGAL FEES. The Company shall indemnify the
Executive to the full extent permitted by law for all expenses, costs,
liabilities and legal fees which the Executive may incur in the discharge of his
duties hereunder. The Company shall also (a) if the Date of Termination occurs
prior to a Change in Control, reimburse the Executive for any reasonable legal
fees and expenses incurred by the Executive in contesting or disputing any
termination of the Executive's employment hereunder or in seeking to obtain or
enforce any right or benefit provided by this Agreement, but only if the
Executive shall substantially prevail with respect to the preponderance of the
matters at issue and (b) if the Date of Termination occurs following a Change in
Control, pay as incurred all legal fees and expenses incurred by the Executive
in disputing in good faith any issue hereunder relating to the termination of
his employment, in seeking in good faith to obtain or enforce any right or
benefit provided by this Agreement or in connection with any tax audit or
proceeding to the extent attributable to the application of section 4999 of the
Code to any payment or benefit provided hereunder. The payments under clause (a)
above shall be made within five (5) days after the Executive's request for

                                       12
<PAGE>

payment accompanied with such evidence of his having prevailed (as described in
the preceding sentence) and such evidence of the fees and expenses incurred as
the Company may reasonably require; the payments under clause (b) shall be made
within five (5) business days after delivery of the Executive's written request
for payments accompanied with such evidence of fees and expenses incurred as the
Company reasonably may require. Any termination of the Executive's employment or
of this Agreement shall have no effect on the continuing operation of this
Section 11.

         12.   Successors; Binding Agreement.
               -----------------------------

               (a)    COMPANY'S SUCCESSORS. The Company will require any
successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or
otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the
Company to expressly assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same
manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it
if no such succession had taken place. Failure of the Company to obtain such
assumption and agreement prior to the effectiveness of any such succession shall
be a breach of this Agreement and shall entitle the Executive to compensation
from the Company in the same amount and on the same terms as he would be
entitled to hereunder if the Company had terminated his employment other than
for Cause, except that for purposes of implementing the foregoing, the date on
which any such succession becomes effective shall be deemed the Date of
Termination. As used in this Agreement, "COMPANY" shall mean the Company as
herein before defined and any successor to its business and/or assets as
aforesaid which executes and delivers the agreement provided for in this Section
12 or which otherwise becomes bound by all the terms and provisions of this
Agreement by operation of law.

               (b)    EXECUTIVE'S SUCCESSORS. This Agreement and all rights of
the Executive hereunder shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the
Executive's personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators,
successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees. If the Executive should
die while any amounts would still be payable to him hereunder if he had
continued to live, all such amounts unless otherwise provided herein shall be
paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to the Executive's devisee,
legatee, or other designee or, if there be no such designee, to the Executive's
estate.

         13.   NOTICE. For the purposes of this Agreement, notices, demands and
all other communications provided for in this Agreement shall be in writing and
shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered or (unless otherwise
specified) mailed by United States certified or registered mail, return receipt
requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:

         If to the Executive:

         Roger E. Schwed
         225 West 106th Street, Apt. 11A
         New York, New York 10025

         With a copy to the Executive at the offices of the Company; and

                                       13
<PAGE>

         If to the Company:

         (until February 28, 2003):
         Maxcor Financial Group Inc.
         One New York Plaza, 16th Floor
         New York, New York 10292
         Attn: Chairman

         (from and after March 1, 2003):
         Maxcor Financial Group Inc.
         One Seaport Plaza, 19th Floor
         New York, New York 10038
         Attn: Chairman

or to such other address as any party may have furnished to the others in
writing in accordance herewith, except that notices of change of address shall
be effective only upon receipt.

         14.   MISCELLANEOUS. No provisions of this Agreement may be modified,
waived or discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to
in writing signed by the Executive and an authorized officer of the Company
(other than the Executive). No waiver by either party hereto at any time of any
breach by the other party hereto of, or compliance with, any condition or
provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed
a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any
prior or subsequent time. No agreements or representations, oral or otherwise,
express or implied, with respect to the subject matter hereof have been made by
either party which are not set forth expressly in this Agreement. This Agreement
shall be binding on all successors to the Company. The validity, interpretation,
construction and performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of
the State of New York without regard to its conflicts of law principles. All
references to sections of the Exchange Act or the Code shall be deemed also to
refer to any successor provisions to such sections. Any payments provided for
hereunder shall be paid net of any applicable withholding required under
federal, state or local law. The obligations of the Company and the Executive
under this Section 14 and Sections 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 hereof shall survive
the expiration of the term of or the termination of this Agreement. The
compensation and benefits payable to the Executive under this Agreement shall be
in lieu of any other severance benefits to which the Executive may otherwise be
entitled upon his termination of employment under any severance plan, program,
policy or arrangement of the Company.

         15.   VALIDITY. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or
provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of
any other provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and
effect.

         16.   COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which
together will constitute one and the same instrument.

                                       14
<PAGE>

         17.   ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement
of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein and
supersedes all prior agreements, promises, covenants, arrangements,
communications, representations or warranties, whether oral or written, by any
officer, employee or representative of any party hereto; and any prior agreement
of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein,
including, but not limited to, the 1998 Agreement, is hereby terminated and
cancelled.



                                       15
<PAGE>


         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement on the
date first above written.


                                       MAXCOR FINANCIAL GROUP INC.



                                       By: /s/ GILBERT D. SCHARF
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           Name:   Gilbert D. Scharf
                                           Title:  Chief Executive Officer



                                           /s/ ROGER E. SCHWED
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           Roger E. Schwed ("Executive")


                                       16