UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO
SECTIONS 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

FORM 10-K

(Mark One)

[X]  ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005.

OR

[ ]  TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                    to                .

Commission file number 001-32147

GREENHILL & CO., INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)


Delaware 51-0500737
(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation or Organization)
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
300 Park Avenue
New York, New York
10022
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (ZIP Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (212) 389-1500

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:


Title of each class Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $.01 per share New York Stock Exchange

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes [X]     No [ ]

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Act. Yes [ ]     No [X]

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes [X]     No [ ]

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of Registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. [ ]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of ‘‘accelerated filer and large accelerated filer’’ in Rule 12b-2 of the Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer [ ]                Accelerated filer [X]                Non-accelerated filer [ ]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes [ ]     No [X]

The aggregate market value of the common stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant, computed by reference to the closing price as of the last business day of the Registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter, June 30, 2005, was approximately $779.7 million. The Registrant has no non-voting stock.

As of February 24, 2006, 29,128,566 shares of the Registrant’s common stock were outstanding.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the Registrant’s definitive proxy statement to be delivered to stockholders in connection with the 2006 annual meeting of stockholders to be held on April 19, 2006 are incorporated by reference in response to Part III of this Report.




TABLE OF CONTENTS


    Page
PART I.   1  
Item 1. Business   1  
Item 1A. Risk Factors   5  
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments   13  
Item 2. Properties   13  
Item 3. Legal Proceedings   14  
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders   14  
PART II   17  
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities   17  
Item 6. Selected Financial Data   19  
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations   21  
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk   35  
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data   35  
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure   35  
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures   35  
Item 9B. Other Information   35  
PART III   36  
Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant   36  
Item 11. Executive Compensation   36  
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters   36  
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions   36  
Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services   36  
PART IV   F-1  
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules   F-1  
Signatures   S-1  
Financial Statement Schedules   S-3  
Exhibits   E-1  

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PART I

When we use the terms ‘‘Greenhill’’, ‘‘we’’, ‘‘us’’, ‘‘our’’, ‘‘the company’’, and ‘‘the firm’’, we mean Greenhill & Co., Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its consolidated subsidiaries (formerly Greenhill & Co. Holdings, LLC and subsidiaries). Our principal subsidiaries are Greenhill & Co., LLC, a registered broker-dealer regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission which provides investment banking services in North America; Greenhill & Co. International LLP, a limited liability partnership which provides investment banking services in Europe and is regulated by the United Kingdom Financial Services Authority; and Greenhill Capital Partners, LLC, a registered investment advisor regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission, through which we conduct our merchant banking business.

Item 1.    Business

Overview

Greenhill is an independent investment banking firm that (i) provides financial advice on significant mergers, acquisitions, restructurings and similar corporate finance matters and (ii) manages merchant banking funds and commits capital to those funds. We act for clients located throughout the world from offices in New York, London, Frankfurt and Dallas.

We were established in 1996 by Robert F. Greenhill, the former President of Morgan Stanley and former Chairman and Chief Executive of Smith Barney. Since its founding, Greenhill has grown steadily, recruiting a number of managing directors from major investment banks (as well as senior professionals from other institutions), with a range of geographic, industry or transaction specialities and different sets of corporate management and other relationships. As part of this expansion, we opened a London office in 1998, raised our first merchant banking fund in 2000, opened a Frankfurt office later in 2000 and began offering financial restructuring advice in 2001. On May 11, 2004, we converted from a limited liability company to a corporation, and completed an initial public offering of our common stock. We opened our Dallas office in April 2005 and completed the closing of our second merchant banking fund in June 2005. As of December 31, 2005, we had 30 managing directors and senior advisors globally.

Principal Sources of Revenue

Our principal sources of revenue are financial advisory and merchant banking fund management.


  For the Year Ended December 31,
  2005 2004 2003 2002 2001
  (in millions)
Financial Advisory $ 142.1   $ 130.9   $ 121.3   $ 107.4   $ 95.3  
Merchant Banking Fund Management & Other(1)   79.1     21.0     5.4     5.2     4.7  
Total Revenue $ 221.2   $ 151.9   $ 126.7   $ 112.6   $ 100.0  
(1) Merchant Banking Fund Management & Other includes interest income of $2.9 million, $0.8 million, $0.4 million, $0.3 million and $0.8 million in 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively.

Financial Advisory

We provide a broad range of advice to global clients in relation to domestic and cross-border mergers, acquisitions, restructurings and similar corporate finance matters and are generally involved at each stage of these transactions, from initial structuring to final execution. Our focus is on providing high-quality advice to senior executive management and boards of directors of prominent large and mid-cap companies in transactions that typically are of the highest strategic and financial importance to those companies. We advise clients on strategic matters, including acquisitions, divestitures, defensive tactics, special committee assignments and other important corporate events. We provide

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advice on valuation, tactics, industry dynamics, structuring alternatives, timing and pricing of transactions, and financing alternatives. Where requested to do so, we may provide an opinion regarding the fairness of a transaction. In our restructuring practice, we advise debtors, creditors and companies experiencing financial distress as well as potential acquirors of distressed companies and assets. We provide advice on valuation, restructuring alternatives, capital structures, and sales or recapitalizations. We also assist those clients who seek court-assisted reorganizations by developing and seeking approval for plans of reorganization as well as the implementation of such plans. In providing financial advisory services, we draw on the extensive experience, corporate relationships and industry expertise of our managing directors and senior advisors.

Financial advisory revenues accounted for 64% and 86% of our revenues in 2005 and 2004, respectively. Non-U.S. clients are a significant part of our business, generating 56% and 46% of our advisory revenues in 2005 and 2004, respectively. We generate revenues from our financial advisory services by charging our clients fees consisting principally of fees paid upon the successful conclusion of a transaction, fees paid upon the announcement of a transaction, fees paid upon the commencement of an engagement and, in connection principally with restructuring assignments, monthly retainer fees.

Merchant Banking Fund Management

Our merchant banking fund management activities currently consist primarily of management of and investment in Greenhill’s merchant banking funds, Greenhill Capital Partners I (or ‘‘GCP I’’) and Greenhill Capital Partners II (or ‘‘GCP II’’, and collectively ‘‘Greenhill Capital Partners’’ or ‘‘GCP’’), a family of merchant banking funds that invest in portfolio companies. Merchant banking funds are private investment funds raised from contributions by qualified institutional investors and financially sophisticated individuals. The funds make substantial, sometimes controlling, investments, generally in non-public companies and typically with a view toward divesting within 3 to 5 years. We pursue merchant banking fund management activities in addition to our financial advisory activities because we believe such activities can generate attractive returns on the firm’s capital, and because we can further leverage our managing directors’ industry knowledge and corporate relationships to pursue these investment activities. We believe we can pursue merchant banking opportunities without creating conflicts with our advisory clients by typically focusing on significantly smaller companies than those with respect to which we seek to provide financial advice. Our merchant banking funds typically make controlling or influential minority investments of $10 million to $75 million in companies with valuations that are between $50 million and $500 million at the time of investment. Our funds have invested a substantial portion of their capital in the energy, financial services and telecommunications industries. We expect to expand our merchant banking fund management activities over time.

Merchant banking revenues accounted for 36% and 14% of our revenues in 2005 and 2004, respectively. We generate merchant banking revenue from (i) management fees paid by the funds, (ii) gains (or losses) on our investments in the merchant banking funds, and (iii) profit overrides. We charge management fees to all non-affiliated investors in each of our funds and all employees in our second fund. We may also earn gains (or losses) from our capital investment in our merchant banking funds depending upon the performance of the funds. Our investments in our merchant banking funds generate realized and unrealized investment gains (or losses) based on our allocable share of earnings generated by the funds. As the general partner of our merchant banking funds we make investment decisions for the funds and are entitled to receive an override on the profits of the funds.

We began our merchant banking activities in 2000 with the establishment of GCP I which had total committed capital of $423 million. In 2005 we expanded our merchant banking activities with the closing of our second merchant banking fund, GCP II, which had total committed capital of $875 million. The firm has committed approximately 10%, or $88.5 million, to GCP II and our managing directors and other employees have committed an additional $136 million to that fund.

Employees

Our managing directors and senior advisors have an average of 24 years of relevant experience, and many of them are able to use this experience to advise on mergers and acquisitions, restructuring

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transactions and merchant banking investments, depending on the situation. Our other professionals come from leading investment banking and educational institutions. We spend significant amounts of time training and mentoring our junior professionals. We generally provide our junior professionals with exposure to mergers and acquisitions, restructurings and merchant banking fund management to varying degrees, which provides us with the flexibility to allocate resources depending on the economic environment, and provides our bankers consistent transactional experience and a wide variety of experiences to assist in the development of business and financial judgment.

As of December 31, 2005, Greenhill employed a total of 151 people (including our managing directors and senior advisors), of which 61 were based in our London or Frankfurt offices. We strive to maintain a work environment that fosters professionalism, excellence, diversity, and cooperation among our employees worldwide. We utilize a comprehensive evaluation process at the end of each year to measure performance, determine compensation and provide guidance on opportunities for improved performance.

Competition

We operate in a highly competitive environment where there are no long-term contracted sources of revenue. Each revenue-generating engagement is separately awarded and negotiated. Our list of clients, and our list of clients with whom there is an active revenue-generating engagement, changes continually. To develop new client relationships, and to develop new engagements from historic client relationships, we maintain a business dialogue with a large number of clients and potential clients, as well as with their financial and legal advisors, on an ongoing basis. We have gained a significant number of new clients each year through our business development initiatives, through recruiting additional senior investment banking professionals who bring with them client relationships and through referrals from members of boards of directors, attorneys and other parties with whom we have relationships. At the same time, we lose clients each year as a result of the sale or merger of a client, a change in a client’s senior management, competition from other investment banks and other causes.

The financial services industry is intensely competitive, and we expect it to remain so. Our competitors are other investment banking firms, merchant banks and financial advisory firms. We compete with some of our competitors globally and with some others on a regional, product or niche basis. We compete on the basis of a number of factors, including transaction execution skills, our range of products and services, innovation, reputation and price.

In recent years there has been substantial consolidation and convergence among companies in the financial services industry. In particular, a number of large commercial banks, insurance companies and other broad-based financial services firms have established or acquired broker-dealers or have merged with other financial institutions. Many of these firms have the ability to offer a wider range of products, from loans, deposit-taking and insurance to brokerage, asset management and investment banking services, which may enhance their competitive position. They also have the ability to support investment banking and securities products with commercial banking, insurance and other financial services revenues in an effort to gain market share, which could result in pricing pressure in our businesses. This trend toward consolidation and convergence has significantly increased the capital base and geographic reach of our competitors.

We believe our primary competitors in securing mergers and acquisitions and restructuring advisory engagements are Citigroup Inc., Credit Suisse Holdings (USA), Inc., Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., JPMorgan Chase & Co., Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc., Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc., Morgan Stanley, UBS A.G. and other bulge bracket firms as well as investment banking firms such as Blackstone Group, Houlihan Lokey Howard & Zukin and Lazard Ltd.

In our merchant banking business, we face competition both in the pursuit of outside investors for our merchant banking funds and to acquire investments in attractive portfolio companies. The activity of identifying, completing and realizing attractive private equity investments of the types our merchant banking funds have made and expect to make is competitive and involves a high degree of uncertainty. We may be competing with other investors, including other merchant banking funds, and corporate buyers for the investments that we make.

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Competition is also intense for the attraction and retention of qualified employees. Our ability to continue to compete effectively in our businesses will depend upon our ability to attract new employees and retain and motivate our existing employees.

Regulation

Our business, as well as the financial services industry generally, is subject to extensive regulation in the United States and elsewhere. As a matter of public policy, regulatory bodies in the United States and the rest of the world are charged with safeguarding the integrity of the securities and other financial markets and with protecting the interests of customers participating in those markets, not with protecting the interests of our shareholders or creditors. In the United States, the Securities and Exchange Commission (‘‘SEC’’) is the federal agency responsible for the administration of the federal securities laws. Greenhill & Co., LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Greenhill through which we conduct our U.S. financial advisory business, is registered as a broker-dealer with the SEC and the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., (the ‘‘NASD’’), and in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Greenhill & Co., LLC is subject to regulation and oversight by the SEC. In addition, the NASD, a self-regulatory organization that is subject to oversight by the SEC, adopts and enforces rules governing the conduct, and examines the activities, of its member firms, including Greenhill & Co., LLC. State securities regulators also have regulatory or oversight authority over Greenhill & Co., LLC. Similarly, Greenhill & Co. International LLP, our controlled affiliated partnership with offices in the United Kingdom and Germany, through which we conduct our international financial advisory business, is also subject to regulation by the United Kingdom’s Financial Services Authority. Our business may also be subject to regulation by non-U.S. governmental and regulatory bodies and self-regulatory authorities in other countries where Greenhill operates.

Broker-dealers are subject to regulations that cover all aspects of the securities business, including sales methods, trade practices among broker-dealers, use and safekeeping of customers’ funds and securities, capital structure, record-keeping, the financing of customers’ purchases and the conduct and qualifications of directors, officers and employees. Additional legislation, changes in rules promulgated by self-regulatory organizations or changes in the interpretation or enforcement of existing laws and rules, either in the United States or elsewhere, may directly affect the mode of operation and profitability of Greenhill.

The U.S. and non-U.S. government agencies and self-regulatory organizations, as well as state securities commissions in the United States, are empowered to conduct administrative proceedings that can result in censure, fine, the issuance of cease-and-desist orders or the suspension or expulsion of a broker-dealer or its directors, officers or employees.

In addition, Greenhill Capital Partners, LLC is a registered investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. As such, Greenhill Capital Partners, LLC is subject to regulation and periodic examinations by the SEC.

In 2003, we and several of our managing directors were investigated by the NASD, for failure to comply with certain continuing education requirements imposed on all registered broker-dealers and their licensed financial professionals. This investigation was resolved in January 2004 when we and two managing directors were censured and separately paid fines to the NASD of between $3,000 and $30,000. All of our managing directors are now in compliance with the NASD’s applicable continuing education requirements.

Where You Can Find Additional Information

Greenhill & Co., Inc. files current, annual and quarterly reports, proxy statements and other information required by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the ‘‘Exchange Act’’), with the SEC. You may read and copy any document the company files at the SEC’s public reference room located at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, U.S.A. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference room. The company’s SEC filings are also available to the public from the SEC’s internet site at http://www.sec.gov. Copies of these reports, proxy statements and other information can also be inspected at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005, U.S.A.

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Our public internet site is http://www.greenhill-co.com. We will make available free of charge through our internet site, via a link to the SEC’s internet site at http://www.sec.gov, our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, proxy statements and Forms 3, 4 and 5 filed on behalf of directors and executive officers and any amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to the Exchange Act as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC. Also posted on our website in the ‘‘Corporate Governance’’ section, and available in print upon request of any stockholder to the Investor Relations Department, are charters for the company’s Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, our Corporate Governance Guidelines and Code of Business Conduct and Ethics governing our directors, officers and employees. You will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader software installed on your computer to view these documents, which are in PDF format.

Item 1A.  Risk Factors

Our ability to retain our managing directors is critical to the success of our business

The success of our business depends upon the personal reputation, judgment, business generation capabilities and project execution skills of our 30 managing directors and senior advisors at December 31, 2005, particularly the members of our Management Committee (which consists of Robert F. Greenhill, Scott L. Bok, Simon A. Borrows, Robert H. Niehaus, Timothy M. George, James R. C. Lupton and Colin T. Roy). Founded in 1996, our business has a limited operating history and, as a result, our managing directors’ personal reputations and relationships with our clients are a critical element in obtaining and maintaining client engagements, and forming and investing merchant banking funds. Accordingly, the retention of our managing directors is particularly crucial to our future success. The departure or other loss of Mr. Greenhill, our founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, or the departure or other loss of any other member of our Management Committee or any other managing director, each of whom manages substantial client relationships and possesses substantial experience and expertise, could materially adversely affect our ability to secure and successfully complete engagements and conduct our merchant banking business, which would materially adversely affect our results of operations.

In addition, if any of our managing directors were to join an existing competitor or form a competing company, some of our clients could choose to use the services of that competitor instead of our services. There is no guarantee that the compensation arrangements, non-competition agreements and lock-up agreements we have entered into with our managing directors are sufficiently broad or effective to prevent our managing directors from resigning to join our competitors or that the non-competition agreements would be upheld if we were to seek to enforce our rights under these agreements.

A significant portion of our revenues are derived from advisory fees

We have historically earned a significant portion of our revenues from advisory fees paid to us by our clients, in large part upon the successful completion of the client’s transaction or restructuring. Financial advisory revenues represented 64% and 86% of our total revenues in 2005 and 2004, respectively. Unlike diversified investment banks, we only have one other significant alternative source of revenue, but lack such other sources of revenue as securities trading or underwriting. We expect that our reliance on advisory fees will continue for the foreseeable future and a decline in our advisory engagements or the market for advisory services generally would have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

Our merger and acquisition and restructuring advisory engagements are singular in nature and do not provide for subsequent engagements

Our clients generally retain us on a non-exclusive, short-term, engagement-by-engagement basis in connection with specific merger or acquisition transactions or restructuring projects, rather than

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under exclusive long-term contracts. As these transactions are singular in nature and our engagements are not likely to recur, we must seek out new engagements when our current engagements are successfully completed or are terminated. As a result, high activity levels in any period are not necessarily indicative of continued high levels of activity in the next-succeeding or any other period. In addition, when an engagement is terminated, whether due to the cancellation of a transaction due to market reasons or otherwise, we may earn limited or no fees and may not be able to recoup the costs that we incurred prior to that termination.

A high percentage of our financial advisory revenues are derived from a few clients and the termination of any one advisory engagement could reduce our revenues and harm our operating results

Each year, we advise a limited number of clients. Our top ten clients accounted for 39% and 53% of our total revenues in 2005 and 2004, respectively. Our single largest clients accounted for 9% and 10% of our total revenues in 2005 and 2004, respectively. While the composition of the group comprising our largest clients varies significantly from year to year, we expect that our advisory engagements will continue to be limited to a relatively small number of clients and that an even smaller number of those clients will account for a high percentage of revenues in any particular year. As a result, the adverse impact on our results of operation of one lost mandate or the failure of one transaction or restructuring on which we are advising to be completed can be significant.

A high percentage of our merchant banking revenues is derived from the gains on a small number of investments; these gains may not recur and may not be replaced by other gains; our investments may lose money

We have a limited number of investments in our merchant banking portfolio. The fair market value of these investments may appreciate (or depreciate) at different rates based on a variety of factors. The gain from one investment accounted for more than 10% of total revenues recognized by the firm in 2005. In 2004, no investment accounted for more than 10% of the total revenues recognized by the firm. This gain was significantly impacted by market factors, specific industry conditions and other factors beyond our control, and we cannot assure you that we will benefit from a similar gain from this or any other investment in any other period. The lack of such gains (and any losses which may be attributable to the investments in our merchant banking portfolio) may adversely affect our stock price.

There will not be a consistent pattern in our financial results from quarter to quarter, which may result in increased volatility of our stock price

We can experience significant variations in revenues and profits during the year. These variations can generally be attributed to the fact that our revenues are usually earned in large amounts throughout the year upon the successful completion of a transaction or restructuring, the timing of which is uncertain and is not subject to our control. Moreover, our ability to realize gains from our merchant banking portfolio may vary significantly from period to period and depends on a number of factors beyond our control, including most notably market and general economic conditions.

Compared to our larger, more diversified competitors in the financial services industry, we generally experience even greater variations in our revenues and profits. This is due to our dependence on a relatively small number of transactions for most of our revenues, with the result that our earnings can be significantly affected if any particular transaction is not completed successfully, and to the fact that we lack other, more stable sources of revenue in material amounts, such as brokerage and asset management fees, which could moderate some of the volatility in advisory revenues. In addition, our merchant banking investments are adjusted for accounting purposes to fair value at the end of each quarter. The value of our investment may increase or decrease significantly depending upon market factors that are beyond our control. As a result, it may be difficult for us to achieve steady earnings growth on a quarterly basis, which could adversely affect our stock price.

In addition, in many cases we are not paid for advisory engagements that do not result in the successful consummation of a transaction or restructuring. As a result, our business is highly

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dependent on market conditions and the decisions and actions of our clients and interested third parties. For example, a client could delay or terminate an acquisition transaction because of a failure to agree upon final terms with the counterparty, failure to obtain necessary regulatory consents or board or shareholder approvals, failure to secure necessary financing, adverse market conditions or because the target’s business is experiencing unexpected financial problems. Anticipated bidders for assets of a client during a restructuring transaction may not materialize or our client may not be able to restructure its operations or indebtedness due to a failure to reach agreement with its principal creditors. In these circumstances, in many cases we do not receive any advisory fees, other than the reimbursement of certain out-of-pocket expenses. The failure of the parties to complete a transaction on which we are advising, and the consequent loss of revenue to us, could lead to large adverse movements in our stock price.

Difficult market conditions could adversely affect our business in many ways

Adverse market or economic conditions would likely affect the number and size of transactions on which we provide mergers and acquisitions advice and therefore adversely affect our financial advisory fees. As our operations in the United States and the United Kingdom have historically provided most of our revenues and earnings, our revenues and profitability are particularly affected by economic conditions in these countries.

Adverse market or economic conditions as well as a slowdown of activity in the sectors in which the portfolio companies of our merchant banking funds operate could have an adverse effect on the earnings of those portfolio companies, and therefore, our earnings. In addition, in the event of a market downturn, our merchant banking funds may find fewer opportunities to exit and realize value from their investments.

If the number of debt defaults, bankruptcies or other factors affecting demand for our restructuring advisory services continues to decline, our revenues and profitability could suffer

During the period when mergers and acquisitions activity decline and debt defaults increase, we increasingly rely on the provision of restructuring and bankruptcy advisory services as a source of new business. We provide various restructuring and restructuring-related advice to companies in financial distress or their creditors or other stakeholders. A number of factors affect demand for these advisory services, including general economic conditions and the availability and cost of debt and equity financing.

The requirement of Section 327 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code requiring that one be a ‘‘disinterested person’’ to be employed in a restructuring has recently been modified. The ‘‘disinterested person’’ definition of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, as previously in effect, disqualified certain of our competitors. The change to the ‘‘disinterested person’’ definition causing a person not to be disqualified by means of its status as an underwriter of securities could allow for more financial services firms to compete for restructuring engagements as well as with respect to the recruitment and retention of professionals. If our competitors succeed in being retained in new restructuring engagements, our financial restructuring practice, and thereby our results of operations, could be materially adversely affected.

If demand for our restructuring services decreases, we could suffer a decline in revenues, which could lower our overall profitability.

We are continuing to expand our merchant banking fund management business, which will entail increased levels of investments in high-risk, illiquid assets

We continue to expand our merchant banking fund management business by establishing a new merchant banking fund in 2005 and may expand our merchant banking business further. Our revenues from this business are primarily derived from management fees calculated as a percentage of committed capital and/or assets under management, investment gains and profit overrides, which are earned if investments are profitable over a specified threshold. Our ability to form new merchant banking funds is subject to a number of uncertainties, including adverse market or economic conditions, competition from other fund managers, and the ability to negotiate terms with major investors.

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In 2005, we committed $88.5 million to our new merchant banking fund, GCP II. The kinds of investments made by these funds are generally in relatively high-risk, illiquid assets. Contributing capital to these funds is risky and we may lose some or all of the principal amount of our investments.

Given the nature of the investments contemplated by Greenhill Capital Partners, there is a significant risk that Greenhill Capital Partners will be unable to realize its investment objectives by sale or other disposition at attractive prices or will otherwise be unable to complete any exit strategy. In particular, these risks could arise from changes in the financial condition or prospects of the portfolio company in which the investment is made, changes in national or international economic conditions or changes in laws, regulations, fiscal policies or political conditions of countries in which investments are made.

Greenhill Capital Partners will typically invest in securities of a class that are not publicly-traded. In many cases Greenhill Capital Partners may be prohibited by contract or by applicable securities laws from selling such securities for a period of time or otherwise be restricted from disposing of such securities. Greenhill Capital Partners will generally not be able to sell these securities publicly unless their sale is registered under applicable securities laws, or unless an exemption from such registration requirements is available. In particular, Greenhill Capital Partners’ ability to dispose of investments is heavily dependent on the initial public offering market, which fluctuates in terms of both volume of transactions as well as the types of companies which are able to access the market. Furthermore, the types of investments made may require a substantial length of time to liquidate.

In addition, the investments in these funds are adjusted for accounting purposes to fair value at the end of each quarter and our allocable share of these gains or losses will affect our revenue even though such market fluctuations may have no cash impact, which could increase the volatility of our quarterly earnings. It takes a substantial period of time to identify attractive merchant banking opportunities, to raise all the funds needed to make an investment and then to realize the cash value of our investment through resale. Even if a merchant banking investment proves to be profitable, it may be several years or longer before any profits can be realized in cash.

We value our merchant banking portfolio each quarter using a fair value methodology, which could result in gains or losses to the firm; losses could affect our stock price adversely

The firm makes principal investments in Greenhill Capital Partners. As of December 31, 2005, the value of the firm’s principal investment in Greenhill Capital Partners and other investments was $104.1 million. The value of our investment is determined on a quarterly basis by the general partner of the funds based on the fair value of such investments. The fair value is determined based on a number of factors including the length of time for which the investment has been held, the trading price of the shares (in the case of publicly traded securities), restrictions on transfer and other recognized valuation methodologies. Significant changes in the public equity markets may have a material effect on the fair value of our principal investments and therefore on our results of operations. The values at which the principal investments are carried on our books may increase or decrease depending on a number of factors beyond our control and may vary significantly from period to period. In addition, because of the inherent uncertainty of valuations, the estimated fair values of non-public securities may differ significantly from the values that would have been used had a ready market for the securities existed. As a result, our stock price could be adversely affected by losses in the value of these investments.

We face strong competition from far larger firms in part due to a trend toward consolidation

The investment banking industry is intensely competitive and we expect it to remain so. We compete on the basis of a number of factors, including the quality of our advice and service, innovation, reputation and price. We believe we may experience pricing pressures in our areas of operation in the future as some of our competitors seek to obtain market share by reducing prices. We are a relatively small investment bank, with 151 employees (including managing directors and senior advisors) on December 31, 2005 and total revenues of approximately $221.2 million in 2005. Most of our competitors in the investment banking industry have a far greater range of products and

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services, greater financial and marketing resources, larger customer bases, greater name recognition, more managing directors to serve their clients’ needs, greater global reach and more established relationships with their customers than we have. These larger and better capitalized competitors may be better able to respond to changes in the investment banking market, to compete for skilled professionals, to finance acquisitions, to fund internal growth and to compete for market share generally.

The scale of our competitors has increased in recent years as a result of substantial consolidation among companies in the investment banking industry. In addition, a number of large commercial banks, insurance companies and other broad-based financial services firms have established or acquired financial advisory practices and broker-dealers or have merged with other financial institutions. These firms have the ability to offer a wide range of products, from loans, deposit-taking and insurance to brokerage, asset management and investment banking services, which may enhance their competitive position. They also have the ability to support investment banking with commercial banking, insurance and other financial services revenues in an effort to gain market share, which could result in pricing pressure in our businesses. In particular, the ability to provide financing as well as advisory services has become an important advantage for some of our larger competitors, and because we are unable to provide such financing we may be unable to compete for advisory clients in a significant part of the advisory market.

Strategic investments or acquisitions and joint ventures may result in additional risks and uncertainties in our business.

We intend to grow our core business through both internal expansion and through strategic investments, acquisitions or joint ventures. To the extent we make strategic investments or acquisitions or enter into joint ventures, we face numerous risks and uncertainties combining or integrating the relevant businesses and systems, including the need to combine accounting and data processing systems and management controls. In the case of joint ventures, we are subject to additional risks and uncertainties in that we may be dependent upon, and subject to liability, losses or reputational damage relating to systems, controls and personnel that are not under our control. In addition, conflicts or disagreements between us and our joint venture partners may negatively impact our business.

To the extent that we pursue business opportunities outside the United States, we will be subject to political, economic, legal, operational and other risks that are inherent in operating in a foreign country, including risks of possible nationalization, expropriation, price controls, capital controls, exchange controls and other restrictive governmental actions, as well as the outbreak of hostilities. In many countries, the laws and regulations applicable to the financial services industries are uncertain and evolving, and it may be difficult for us to determine the exact requirements of local laws in every market. Our inability to remain in compliance with local laws in a particular foreign market could have a significant and negative effect not only on our businesses in that market but also on our reputation generally. We are also subject to the enhanced risk that transactions we structure might not be legally enforceable in the relevant jurisdictions.

Greenhill is controlled by its managing directors whose interests may differ from those of our public shareholders

Our managing directors and their affiliated entities collectively own approximately 65% of the total shares of common stock outstanding at December 31, 2005. Robert F. Greenhill and members of his family beneficially own approximately 21% of our common stock and the other members of our Management Committee own approximately 33% of our common stock outstanding at December 31, 2005.

As a result of these shareholdings, the members of our Management Committee currently are able to exercise significant influence over the election of our entire board of directors, the management and policies of Greenhill and the outcome of any corporate transaction or other matter submitted to the shareholders for approval, including mergers, consolidations and the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of Greenhill. Our managing directors currently are able to prevent or cause a change in control of Greenhill.

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Employee misconduct could harm Greenhill and is difficult to detect and deter

There have been a number of highly publicized cases involving fraud or other misconduct by employees in the financial services industry in recent years and we run the risk that employee misconduct could occur at our company. For example, misconduct by employees could involve the improper use or disclosure of confidential information, which could result in regulatory sanctions and serious reputational or financial harm. Our advisory business often requires that we deal with client confidences of the greatest significance to our clients, improper use of which may have a material adverse impact on our clients. Any breach of our clients’ confidences as a result of employee misconduct may impair our ability to attract and retain advisory clients. It is not always possible to deter employee misconduct and the precautions we take to detect and prevent this activity may not be effective in all cases.

We may face damage to our professional reputation and legal liability to our clients and affected third parties if our services are not regarded as satisfactory

As an investment banking firm, we depend to a large extent on our relationships with our clients and our reputation for integrity and high-caliber professional services to attract and retain clients. As a result, if a client is not satisfied with our services, it may be more damaging in our business than in other businesses. Moreover, our role as advisor to our clients on important mergers and acquisitions or restructuring transactions involves complex analysis and the exercise of professional judgment, including rendering ‘‘fairness opinions’’ in connection with mergers and other transactions. Our activities may subject us to the risk of significant legal liabilities to our clients and aggrieved third parties, including shareholders of our clients who could bring securities class actions against us. In recent years, the volume of claims and amount of damages claimed in litigation and regulatory proceedings against financial intermediaries have been increasing. These risks often may be difficult to assess or quantify and their existence and magnitude often remain unknown for substantial periods of time. Our engagements typically include broad indemnities from our clients and provisions to limit our exposure to legal claims relating to our services, but these provisions may not protect us or may not be enforceable in all cases. As a result, we may incur significant legal expenses in defending against litigation. Substantial legal liability or significant regulatory action against us could have material adverse financial effects or cause significant reputational harm to us, which could seriously harm our business prospects.

We are subject to extensive regulation in the financial services industry

We, as a participant in the financial services industry, are subject to extensive regulation in the United States and elsewhere. In the United States, our broker-dealer subsidiary, Greenhill & Co., LLC, is subject to the net capital requirements of the SEC. Any failure to comply with these requirements could impair our ability to do business. We also face the risk of significant intervention by regulatory authorities in all jurisdictions in which we conduct our business. Among other things, we could be fined, prohibited from engaging in some of our business activities or subject to limitations or conditions on our business activities. In addition, as a result of recent highly publicized financial scandals, the regulatory environment in which we operate may be subject to further regulation. New laws or regulations or changes in the enforcement of existing laws or regulations applicable to our clients may also adversely affect our business.

Legal restrictions on our clients may reduce the demand for our services

New laws or regulations or changes in enforcement of existing laws or regulations applicable to our clients may also adversely affect our businesses. For example, changes in antitrust enforcement could affect the level of mergers and acquisitions activity and changes in regulation could restrict the activities of our clients and their need for the types of advisory services that we provide to them.

Fees earned in connection with advisory assignments in the bankruptcy context may be subject to challenge and reduction

In our advisory business we from time to time advise debtors or creditors of companies which are involved in bankruptcy proceedings in the United States Bankruptcy Courts. Under the applicable

10




rules of those courts, our fees are subject to approval by the court and other interested parties have the ability to challenge the payment of those fees. Fees earned and reflected in our revenues may from time to time be subject to successful challenges, which could result in a reduction of revenues and affect our stock price adversely.

Our share price may decline due to the large number of shares eligible for future sale

Sales of substantial amounts of common stock by our managing directors and other employees, or the possibility of such sales, may adversely affect the price of the common stock and impede our ability to raise capital through the issuance of equity securities.

As of December 31, 2005, there were 29,229,528 shares of common stock outstanding, which is net of 1,650,496 shares of common stock held in treasury. As of December 31, 2005, 10,061,359 shares of common stock are freely transferable without restriction or further registration under the Securities Act of 1933. Subject to certain exceptions, the remaining 19,168,169 shares of common stock may not be sold until May 11, 2009, except in one or more underwritten public offerings approved by our underwritten offering committee which consists of Robert F. Greenhill (who chairs the committee), Scott L. Bok and Simon A. Borrows. Approval of an underwritten offering by the committee will require approval of either the chair of the committee or the joint approval of the other two members of the committee. Accordingly, Robert Greenhill alone, or Scott Bok and Simon Borrows together, may permit a sale of shares of our common stock that could adversely affect the market price of our common stock. After May 11, 2009, there will be no remaining contractual restrictions on resale on the shares issued to our managing directors at the time of the initial public offering. In addition, 7,110,535 of such shares of common stock held by Robert F. Greenhill through his affiliated entities, Lord James Blyth and Harvey R. Miller will be eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144 after May 11, 2006 and will not be subject to such contractual restrictions after that date.

A significant portion of the compensation of our managing directors is paid in restricted stock units and the shares we expect to issue on the vesting of those restricted stock units could result in a significant increase in the number of shares of common stock outstanding

At the time of and since our initial public offering we have awarded our directors, managing directors and other employees restricted stock units. At December 31, 2005, 1,023,709 restricted stock units were outstanding. A significant portion of the compensation of our managing directors has been paid in restricted stock units. Each restricted stock unit represents the holder’s right to receive one share of our common stock or a cash payment equal to the fair value thereof, at our election, following the applicable vesting date. Awards of restricted stock units to our managing directors and other employees generally vest either ratably over a five year period beginning on the first anniversary of the grant date or do not vest until the fifth anniversary of their grant date, when they vest in full. Shares will be issued in respect of restricted stock units only under the circumstances specified in the applicable award agreements and the equity incentive plan, and may be forfeited in certain cases. As of December 31, 2005, 130,024 shares of common stock have been issued from the vesting of restricted stock units. Assuming all of the conditions to vesting are fulfilled, shares in respect of the 1,023,709 restricted stock units that are outstanding as of December 31, 2005 would be issued as follows: 151,367 shares in 2006, 144,748 shares in 2007, 140,659 shares in 2008, 151,775 shares in 2009 and 435,160 shares in 2010. While we have historically been able to repurchase in the open market and through privately negotiated transactions a significant number of our shares of common stock, if we were to cease to or were unable to repurchase shares of common stock, the number of shares outstanding would increase over time, diluting the ownership of our existing stockholders.

The market price of our common stock may decline

The price of the common stock may fluctuate widely, depending upon many factors, including the perceived prospects of Greenhill and the financial services industry in general, differences between our actual financial and operating results and those expected by investors, the performance of our merchant banking portfolio, changes in general economic or market conditions and broad market fluctuations. Declines in the price of our stock may adversely affect our ability to recruit and retain key employees, including our managing directors.

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The historical and unaudited pro forma consolidated financial information in this Form 10-K may not permit you to predict our costs of operations

The historical consolidated financial information in this Form 10-K relating to periods before May 11, 2004 does not reflect the added costs that we have incurred since that date as a public company or the changes that have occurred in our capital structure and operations as a result of our initial public offering. Because we operated through partnerships and limited liability companies prior to our transition to corporate form, at the time of our initial public offering in May 2004, we paid little or no taxes on profits and paid limited salaries to our managing directors. In preparing our unaudited pro forma consolidated financial information for 2004 and years prior, we deducted and charged to earnings estimated income taxes based on an estimated tax rate, which may be different from our actual tax rate in the future, and estimated salaries, payroll taxes and benefits for our managing directors. The estimates we used in our unaudited pro forma consolidated financial information may not be similar to our actual experience as a public corporation. For more information on our historical financial statements and unaudited pro forma consolidated financial information, see ‘‘Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Information’’ and our historical consolidated financial statements and their notes included elsewhere in this Form 10-K.

We may be required to make substantial payments under certain indemnification agreements

In connection with our initial public offering and conversion to corporate form in May 2004, we entered into agreements that provide for the indemnification of our managing directors, directors, officers and certain other persons authorized to act on our behalf against certain liabilities of our managing directors relating to the time they were members or partners of Greenhill & Co. Holdings, LLC or its affiliates, and certain tax liabilities of our members that may arise in respect of periods prior to the offering when we were a limited liability company. We may be required to make substantial payments under these indemnification agreements, which could adversely affect our financial condition.

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

We have made statements under the captions ‘‘Business’’, ‘‘Risk Factors’’, and ‘‘Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations’’ and in other sections of this Form 10-K that are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify these statements by forward-looking words such as ‘‘may’’, ‘‘might’’, ‘‘will’’, ‘‘should’’, ‘‘expect’’, ‘‘plan’’, ‘‘anticipate’’, ‘‘believe’’, ‘‘estimate’’, ‘‘predict’’, ‘‘potential’’ or ‘‘continue’’, the negative of these terms and other comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements, which are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions about us, may include projections of our future financial performance, based on our growth strategies and anticipated trends in our business. These statements are only predictions based on our current expectations and projections about future events. There are important factors that could cause our actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results, level of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. In particular, you should consider the numerous risks outlined under ‘‘Risk Factors’’.

These risks are not exhaustive. Other sections of this Form 10-K may include additional factors which could adversely impact our business and financial performance. Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risk factors emerge from time to time and it is not possible for our management to predict all risk factors, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements.

Although we believe the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, level of activity, performance or achievements. Moreover, neither we nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of any of these forward-looking statements. You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. We are under no duty to update any of these forward-looking statements after the date of this filing to conform our prior statements to actual results or revised expectations.

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Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the following:

•  the statements about (i) our expectation that our total compensation and benefits, including that payable to our managing directors, will not exceed 50% of total revenues in ‘‘Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Compensation and Benefits’’ and ‘‘Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — Pro Forma Financial Information’’ and (ii) our expectation to make certain principal investments and our expectation of revenues from a profit override and from gains on investments of our capital beginning in 2004 in ‘‘Business — Principal Sources of Revenue — Merchant Banking Fund Management’’ and ‘‘Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Liquidity and Capital Resources’’;
•  the statement about our expectation of benefits from a sustained increase in M&A volume in ‘‘Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Business Environment’’;
•  the statement about our expectation of a decline in financial distressed-driven business in ‘‘Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Financial Advisory Revenues’’;
•  the statement about our expectations that we will expand our merchant banking management business in ‘‘Overview — Merchant Banking Fund Management’’;
•  the statement about new managing directors add incrementally to our revenue and income growth potential in ‘‘Management’s Discussion Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Overview’’;
•  the statements about our expectations that the management fees and profit overrides we earn in our merchant banking management business will or could increase in ‘‘Management’s Discussion Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Merchant Banking Fund Management’’;
•  the statement about our expectation that operating costs will increase as we grow our business in ‘‘Management’s Discussion Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Non-Compensation Costs’’: and
•  the discussion of our ability to meet liquidity needs without maintaining significant cash balances in ‘‘Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Liquidity and Capital Resources’’.

Item 1B.    Unresolved Staff Comments

There are no unresolved written comments that were received from the SEC staff 180 days or more before the end of the year relating to our periodic or current reports under the Securities Act of 1934.

Item 2.    Properties

We occupy four offices, all of which are leased. Our headquarters are located at 300 Park Avenue, New York, New York, and comprise approximately 70,000 square feet of leased space, pursuant to lease agreements expiring in 2010 (with options to renew for five years). In London, we lease approximately 8,000 square feet of office space at 56-58 Conduit Street pursuant to a lease agreement expiring in 2013, which we expect will terminate in 2006. In January 2006, we leased approximately 19,000 square feet of office space (of which 6,000 square feet is sublet) at Lansdowne House Berkeley Square in London, pursuant to lease agreements expiring in 2013. We expect to relocate our London office in summer 2006. Our Frankfurt office is located at Neue Mainzer Strasse 52 and consists of approximately 6,000 square feet of leased space, pursuant to a lease agreement expiring in 2009. Our Dallas office is located at 300 Crescent Court and consists of approximately 6,000 square feet, pursuant to a lease agreement expiring in 2013.

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Item 3.    Legal Proceedings

In February 2003, the firm was retained to perform services on behalf of Loral Space & Communications, Inc. (‘‘Loral’’). Loral subsequently sought protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code (‘‘Chapter 11’’). The fees paid by Loral to Greenhill were approved periodically, on an interim basis, by the court in which Loral's Chapter 11 cases were pending. Loral's plan of reorganization was confirmed in late 2005. In early 2006, representatives of certain Loral securityholders objected to Greenhill's fees. These objections are currently pending in the Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York; Greenhill intends to contest them vigorously. However, if the objections are sustained by the bankruptcy court, Greenhill may be required to repay a portion of its fees.

The firm is from time to time involved in other legal proceedings incidental to the ordinary course of its business. We do not believe the Loral matter or any other such proceedings will have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.

Item 4.    Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

There were no matters submitted to a vote of security holders during the fourth quarter of our fiscal year ended December 31, 2005.

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

Our executive officers are Robert F. Greenhill (Chairman and Chief Executive Officer), Scott L. Bok (U.S. President), Simon A. Borrows (Non-U.S. President), Robert H. Niehaus (Chairman, Greenhill Capital Partners), John D. Liu (Chief Financial Officer), Harold J. Rodriguez (Managing Director – Finance, Regulation & Operations, Chief Compliance Officer and Treasurer), and Ulrika Ekman (General Counsel and Secretary). Set forth below is a brief biography of each executive officer.

Robert F. Greenhill, 69, our founder, has served as our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer since the time of our founding in 1996. Mr. Greenhill has been a member of our Management Committee since its formation in January 2004. In addition, Mr. Greenhill has been a director of Greenhill & Co., Inc. since its incorporation in March 2004. Prior to founding and becoming Chairman of Greenhill, Mr. Greenhill was chairman and chief executive officer of Smith Barney Inc. and a member of the board of directors of the predecessor to the present Travelers Corporation (the parent of Smith Barney) from June 1993 to January 1996. From January 1991 to June 1993, Mr. Greenhill was president of, and from January 1989 to January 1991, Mr. Greenhill was a vice chairman of, Morgan Stanley Group, Inc. Mr. Greenhill joined Morgan Stanley in 1962 and became a partner in 1970. In 1972, Mr. Greenhill directed Morgan Stanley's newly-formed mergers and acquisitions department. In 1980, Mr. Greenhill was named director of Morgan Stanley's investment banking division, with responsibility for domestic and international corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, merchant banking, capital markets services and real estate. Also in 1980, Mr. Greenhill became a member of Morgan Stanley's management committee. Mr. Greenhill is also a member of the Investment Committee of Greenhill Capital Partners.

Scott L. Bok, 46, has served as our U.S. President since January 2004 and as a member of our Management Committee since its formation in January 2004. In addition, Mr. Bok has been a director of Greenhill & Co., Inc. since its incorporation in March 2004. From 2001 until the formation of our Management Committee, Mr. Bok participated on the two-person administrative committee responsible for managing Greenhill's operations. Mr. Bok has also served as a Senior Member of Greenhill Capital Partners since its formation. Mr. Bok joined Greenhill as a managing director in February 1997. Before joining Greenhill, Mr. Bok was a managing director in the mergers, acquisitions and restructuring department of Morgan Stanley & Co., where he worked from 1986 to 1997, based in New York and London. From 1984 to 1986, Mr. Bok practiced mergers and acquisitions and securities law in New York with Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz. Mr. Bok is a member of the board of directors of Heartland Payment Systems, Inc., Republic Group Companies, Inc. and various private companies. Mr. Bok is also a member of the Investment Committee of Greenhill Capital Partners.

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Simon A. Borrows, 47, has served as our Non-U.S. President since January 2004 and as a member of our Management Committee since its formation in January 2004. In addition, Mr. Borrows has been a director of Greenhill & Co., Inc. since its incorporation in March 2004. From 2001 until the formation of our Management Committee, Mr. Borrows participated on the two-person administrative committee responsible for managing Greenhill's operations. Mr. Borrows joined Greenhill as a managing director in June 1998. Prior to joining Greenhill, Mr. Borrows was the managing director of Baring Brothers International Limited (the corporate finance division of ING Barings), a position Mr. Borrows had held since 1995. Mr. Borrows was a director of Baring Brothers from 1989 to 1998. Prior to joining Baring Brothers in 1988, Mr. Borrows worked in the corporate finance department of Morgan Grenfell. Mr. Borrows is also a member of the Investment Committee of Greenhill Capital Partners.

Robert H. Niehaus, 50, has served as the Chairman of Greenhill Capital Partners since June 2000. Mr. Niehaus has been a member of our Management Committee since its formation in January 2004. Mr. Niehaus joined Greenhill in January 2000 as a managing director to begin the formation of Greenhill Capital Partners. Prior to joining Greenhill, Mr. Niehaus spent 17 years at Morgan Stanley & Co., where he was a managing director in the merchant banking department from 1990 to 1999. Mr. Niehaus was vice chairman and a director of the Morgan Stanley Leveraged Equity Fund II, L.P., a $2.2 billion private equity investment fund, from 1992 to 1999, and was vice chairman and a director of Morgan Stanley Capital Partners III, L.P., a $1.8 billion private equity investment fund, from 1994 to 1999. Mr. Niehaus was also the chief operating officer of Morgan Stanley's merchant banking department from 1996 to 1998. Mr. Niehaus is a director of American Italian Pasta Company, Global Signal Inc., Heartland Payment Systems, Inc., Exco Holdings, Inc. and various private companies.

John D. Liu, 37, became Chief Financial Officer and a managing director of Greenhill in January 2004. Mr. Liu joined Greenhill in May 1996 as an Associate. Mr. Liu was promoted to Vice President in January 2000 and to Principal in January 2002. Prior to joining Greenhill, Mr. Liu was an associate at Wolfensohn & Co., a mergers & acquisitions firm, from 1995 to 1996. Mr. Liu was an analyst in investment banking at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette from 1990 to 1992.

Harold J. Rodriguez, Jr., 50, has served as our Managing Director – Finance, Regulation and Operations and as our Chief Compliance Officer and Treasurer since January 2004. From November 2000 through December 2003, Mr. Rodriguez was Chief Financial Officer of Greenhill. Mr. Rodriguez has been with Greenhill since June 2000. Prior to joining Greenhill, Mr. Rodriguez was Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer of MVL Group, Inc. from January 2000 to May 2000. Prior to that, Mr. Rodriguez was Vice President – Finance and Controller of Silgan Holdings, Inc., a major consumer packaging goods manufacturer, from 1987 to 2000. From 1978 to 1987, Mr. Rodriguez worked with Ernst & Young, where he was a senior manager specializing in taxation.

Ulrika Ekman, 43, has served as our General Counsel and Secretary since May 2004. Prior to joining Greenhill, Ms. Ekman was a partner in the mergers and acquisitions group of the corporate department of Davis Polk & Wardwell, where she practiced law since 1990.

Our Board of Directors has seven members, three of whom are employees (Robert F. Greenhill, Scott L. Bok and Simon A. Borrows) and four of whom are independent, John C. Danforth, Steven F. Goldstone, Stephen L. Key and Isabel V. Sawhill. A brief biography of Ms. Sawhill and Messrs. Danforth, Goldstone and Key is set forth below.

John C. Danforth, 69, has served on our Board of Directors since February of 2005. He served as the United States Representative to the United Nations between July of 2004 and January of 2005 and, except during his service at the United Nations, has been a Partner in the law firm of Bryan Cave LLP since 1995. He served in the United States Senate from 1976 to 1995. Senator Danforth is a Director of Cerner Corporation. He is ordained to the clergy of the Episcopal Church.

Steven F. Goldstone, 60, has served on our Board of Directors since July of 2004. He currently manages Silver Spring Group, a private investment firm. From 1995 until his retirement in 2000, Mr. Goldstone was chairman and chief executive officer of RJR Nabisco, Inc. (which was subsequently

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named Nabisco Group Holdings following the reorganization of RJR Nabisco, Inc.). Prior to joining RJR Nabisco, Inc., Mr. Goldstone was a partner at Davis Polk & Wardwell, a law firm in New York City. He is also a director of American Standards Companies, ConAgra Foods, Inc., Retail DNA, Inc. and New Castle Hotels, chairman of Ridgefield Senior Center Foundation, chairman of the Roundabout Theatre Company (New York City) and a member of the College Board of Overseers at the University of Pennsylvania.

Stephen L. Key, 62, has served on our Board of Directors since May 2004. Since 2003, Mr. Key has been the sole proprietor of Key Consulting, LLC. Since 2001, he has served as the Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer of J.D. Watkins Enterprises, Inc. and as a member of its Advisory Board of Directors. From 2001 to March 2004, Mr. Key was a member of the Board of Directors of Aurora Foods, Inc., during which time he served as the chairman of the Board's Audit and Compliance Committee and served on the Board's Independent Committee. From 1995 to 2001, Mr. Key was the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Textron Inc., and from 1992 to 1995, Mr. Key was the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of ConAgra, Inc. From 1968 to 1992, Mr. Key worked at Ernst & Young, serving in various capacities, including as the Managing Partner of Ernst & Young's New York Office from 1988 to 1992. Mr. Key is a Certified Public Accountant in the State of New York. Mr. Key is also a member of the Board of Directors and Audit Committee Chairman of 1-800-Contacts, Inc. and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Rhode Island School of Design.

Isabel V. Sawhill, 67, has served on our Board of Directors since July of 2004. Since 2003, Dr. Sawhill has been Vice President and Director of Economic Studies at the Brookings Institution and prior to that had been a senior fellow at Brookings since 1997. From 1995 until 1997 she was a Senior Fellow at the Urban Institute. From 1993 until 1995, she served as the Associate Director at the Office of Management and Budget. Ms. Sawhill is a member of the Board of Directors of a number of non-profit organizations.

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PART II

Item 5.    Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

The principal market on which our common stock (ticker: GHL) is traded is the New York Stock Exchange. The following tables set forth, for the fiscal quarters indicated, the high and low sales prices per share of our common stock, as reported in the consolidated transaction reporting system, and the quarterly dividends declared since our initial public offering.


  Fiscal 2005
  Sales Price Dividends per
share of
common stock
  High Low
First quarter $ 39.20   $ 26.80   $ 0.10  
Second quarter   41.19     30.44     0.10  
Third quarter   44.76     37.59     0.12  
Fourth quarter   58.78     39.42     0.12  

  Fiscal 2004
  Sales Price Dividends per
share of
common stock
  High Low
Second quarter (since May 6, 2004) $ 22.30   $ 18.40   $  
Third quarter   24.60     19.52     0.08  
Fourth quarter   30.35     22.30     0.08  

As of February 24, 2006, there were approximately 31 holders of record of the firm’s common stock.

On February 24, 2006, the last reported sales price for the firm’s common stock on the New York Stock Exchange was $66.28 per share.

The following table provides information as of December 31, 2005 regarding securities issued under our equity compensation plans that were in effect during fiscal 2005.


  Plan Category Number of
Securities to be
Issued Upon
Exercise of
Outstanding
Options,
Warrants
and Rights
Weighted-Average
Exercise
Price of
Outstanding
Options,
Warrants
and Rights
Number of Securities
Remaining Available for
Future Issuance Under
Equity Compensation
Plans (Excluding
Securities Reflected in
the Second Column)
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders None            
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders Equity Incentive Plan(1)   1,023,709     (2)    18,846,267  
Total     1,023,709           18,846,267  
(1) Our Equity Incentive Plan was established prior to our initial public offering in May 2004 and, as a result, did not require approval by security holders.
(2) The restricted stock units awarded under our Equity Incentive Plan were granted at no cost to the persons receiving them and do not have an exercise price.

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Share Repurchases in the Fourth Quarter of 2005


Period Total Number of
Shares Purchased
Average Price
Paid Per Share
Total Number of
Shares Purchased as
Part of Publicly
Announced Plans
or Programs
Approximate Dollar
Value of Shares
that May Yet Be
Purchased under the
Plans or Programs(3)
October 1 – October 31   61,300   $ 48.2500     61,300   $ 15,062,494  
November 1 – November 30   195,066   $ 50.2584     195,066   $ 5,258,785  
December 1 – December 31   274,772 (4)  $ 49.0722     79,550   $ 911,212  
(3) These shares were purchased pursuant to the authorization granted by our Board of Directors to purchase up to $25,000,000 in shares of our common stock, as announced on July 21, 2005. Our Board of Directors subsequently, on January 25, 2006, granted a new authorization to purchase up to $40,000,000 of shares of our common stock.
(4) Includes 195,222 shares the firm agreed to repurchase at a price of $46.80 per share from a former employee. That purchase was completed in early 2006.

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Item 6.    Selected Financial Data


  As of or for the Year Ended December 31,
  2005 2004 2003 2002 2001
  (in thousands, except per share and number of employee data)
Statement of Income Data:                              
Total Revenues $ 221,152   $ 151,853   $ 126,679   $ 112,608   $ 99,964  
% Change from Prior Year   46   20   12   13   (10 %) 
Actual Compensation &
Benefit Expense
  102,441     61,447     27,094     19,476     46,428  
Non-Compensation Expense   28,711     26,898     18,924     17,319     18,739  
Income Before Tax and
Minority Interest(a)(b)
  90,000     63,508     80,661     75,813     34,797  
Net Income   55,532     38,316     45,400     57,817     34,984  
Diluted Earnings Per Share   1.81     1.33     n/a     n/a     n/a  
Balance Sheet Data:                              
Total Assets $ 234,941   $ 177,016   $ 60,638   $ 63,794   $ 90,327  
Total Liabilities   116,996     49,273     18,209     14,363     38,230  
Minority Interest   3,230     504     10,172     7,758      
Stockholders’ and Members’ Equity   114,715     127,239     32,257     41,673     52,097  
Dividends Declared Per Share   0.44     0.16     n/a     n/a     n/a  
Pro Forma Data (unaudited)(a)                              
Pro Forma Income Before Tax and Minority Interest(b) $ 90,000   $ 57,275   $ 50,749   $ 44,615   $ 36,241  
Pro Forma Net Income(c)(d)   55,532     34,327     29,435     25,877     21,020  
% Change from Prior Year                              
Pro Forma Diluted Earnings Per Share   1.81     1.19     1.18     1.04     0.84  
Pro Forma Diluted Average Common Shares Outstanding(e)   30,672     28,789     25,000     25,000     25,000  
Selected Data and Ratios (unaudited)                              
Income Before Tax and Minority Interest as a Percentage of Revenues   41   42   64   67   35
Revenues per Employee(f)   1,591     1,298     1,201     1,155     1,212  
Employees(g):                              
United States   90     76     63     64     52  
Europe   61     51     44     40     39  
Total Employees   151     127     107     104     91  
(a) Prior to the initial public offering the firm was a limited liability company and its earnings did not fully reflect the compensation expense the firm pays its managing directors or taxes that it pays as a public corporation. Additionally, a portion of the firm’s earnings attributable to its European operations was recorded as minority interest. The firm believes that the pro forma results, which increase compensation expense and tax expense to amounts it expects it would have paid as a corporation and eliminate the minority interest, more accurately depict its results as a public company. During the year ended December 31, 2005, the firm operated as a public company for the entire period, and the pro forma amounts presented above reflect actual results for that period. The amounts for the year ended December 31, 2004 include the pro forma results of operations as if the firm operated as a public company during the period January 1, 2004 to the date of its public offering combined with the actual results of operations for the period after the public offering. The amounts for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 reflect pro forma results of operations as if the initial public offering had occurred as of January 1 of that year.
(b) Because the firm had been a limited liability company prior to the initial public offering, payments for services rendered by its managing directors generally had been accounted for as

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distributions of members’ capital rather than as compensation expense. As a corporation, the firm includes all payments for services rendered by managing directors in compensation and benefits expense.
Compensation and benefits expense, reflecting the firm’s conversion to corporate form, consists of cash compensation and non-cash compensation related to the restricted stock units awarded to employees at the time of the firm’s initial public offering consummated on May 11, 2004, as well as any additional restricted stock units awarded in the future. It is the firm’s policy that total compensation and benefits, including that payable to the managing directors, will not exceed 50% of total revenues each year (although the company retains the ability to change this policy in the future). Adjustments to increase compensation expense for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003, 2002 and 2001 of $6.2 million, $29.9 million, $31.2 million and ($1.4) million, respectively, have been made to record total compensation and benefits expense at 45% of total revenues, consistent with the percentage of compensation paid in 2004 for the period after the initial public offering.
(c) For the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003, 2002 and 2001, historical income before tax has been increased by $6.5 million, $32.2 million, $17.6 million and $0 million, respectively, to reflect the elimination on a pro forma basis of minority interests held by the European managing directors in Greenhill & Co. International LLP.
(d) As a limited liability company, the firm was generally not subject to income taxes except in foreign and local jurisdictions. The pro forma provision for income taxes for the year ended December 31, 2004 includes an adjustment of $4.2 million for assumed federal, foreign, state and local income taxes as if the company were a C Corporation for the period January 1, 2004 to the date of the public offering at an assumed effective rate of 42% combined with the actual tax provision for the period after the public offering. For the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001, adjustments of $18.3 million, $18.4 million and $15.4 million, respectively were made to adjust the firm’s effective tax rate to 42%, reflecting assumed federal, foreign, state and local income taxes as if it were a corporation on January 1 of each respective year.
(e) For 2004 the actual and pro forma numbers of common shares outstanding give effect to (i) 25,000,000 shares issued in connection with the reorganization of the firm in conjunction with the initial public offering as if it occurred on January 1, 2004, (ii) the weighted average of the 5,750,000 shares and the common stock equivalents issued in conjunction with and subsequent to the initial public offering and (iii) the 9,346 shares of treasury stock purchased by the firm. For 2003, 2002 and 2001 the pro forma number of common shares outstanding gives effect to the shares issued in connection with the reorganization of the firm as if it occurred on January 1 of that year.
(f) Total revenues divided by average number of employees (including managing directors and senior advisors) in each period.
(g) Includes our managing directors and senior advisors.

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Reconciliation of Unaudited Pro Forma Data to Historical Financial Information

The following table reconciles unaudited Pro Forma Income Before Tax and Minority Interest to Income Before Tax and Minority Interest, for 2005, actual results are presented:


  For the Year Ended December 31,
  2005 2004 2003 2002 2001
  (in thousands)
Income Before Tax and Minority Interest $ 90,000   $ 63,508   $ 80,661   $ 75,813   $ 34,797  
Add back (deduct):                              
Historical Compensation and Benefits       61,447     27,094     19,476     46,428  
Pro Forma Compensation and Benefits       (67,680   (57,006   (50,674   (44,984
Pro Forma Income Before Tax and
Minority Interest
$ 90,000   $ 57,275   $ 50,749   $ 44,615   $ 36,241  

The following table reconciles unaudited Pro Forma Net Income to Net Income, for 2005, actual results are presented:


  For the Year Ended December 31,
  2005 2004 2003 2002 2001
  (in thousands)
Net Income $ 55,532   $ 38,316   $ 45,400   $ 57,817   $ 34,984  
Add back (deduct):                              
Historical Compensation and Benefits       61,447     27,094     19,476     46,428  
Pro Forma Compensation and Benefits       (67,680   (57,006   (50,674   (44,984
Minority Interest       6,487     32,223     17,649      
Historical Taxes       18,705     3,038     347     (187
Pro Forma Taxes       (22,948   (21,314   (18,738   (15,221
Pro Forma Net Income $ 55,532   $ 34,327   $ 29,435   $ 25,877   $ 21,020  

Item 7.    Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Overview

Greenhill is an independent investment banking firm that (i) provides financial advice on significant mergers, acquisitions, restructurings and similar corporate finance matters and (ii) manages merchant banking funds and commits capital to those funds. We act for clients located throughout the world from offices in New York, London, Frankfurt and Dallas. Our activities constitute a single business segment with two principal sources of revenue:

•  Financial Advisory, which includes advice on mergers, acquisitions, restructurings and similar corporate finance matters; and
•  Merchant Banking Fund Management, which currently consists primarily of management of Greenhill’s private equity funds, Greenhill Capital Partners or GCP, and principal investments by Greenhill in those funds.

Historically, the majority of our revenues sources from our Financial Advisory business and we expect it to remain so for the near to medium term. The main driver of the Financial Advisory business is overall mergers and acquisitions, or M&A, and restructuring volume, particularly in the industry sectors and geographic markets in which we focus. In addition, new managing director hires add incrementally to our revenue and income growth potential. Our Merchant Banking Fund Management revenues increased substantially in 2005, primarily because of increased investments in merchant banking funds and increased participation in profit overrides derived from GCP investments made beginning in 2004.

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Business Environment

Economic and global financial market conditions can materially affect our financial performance. See ‘‘Risk Factors.’’ Net income and revenues in any period may not be indicative of full-year results or the results of any other period and may vary significantly from year to year and quarter to quarter.

Financial Advisory revenues were $142.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2005 compared to $130.9 million in the year ended December 31, 2004, which represents an increase of 9%. At the same time, worldwide completed merger and acquisition, or M&A, volume increased by 36%, from $1,612 billion in 2004 to $2,186 billion1 in 2005, and aggregate advisory revenue reported by four leading investment banks that publicly disclose their advisory fee revenue increased by 19% from $4.2 billion in 2004 to $5.0 billion2 in 2005. From a longer term perspective, our 2005 Financial Advisory revenues were 33% higher than in 2000, while the aggregate advisory revenue reported by those four leading firms was 27% lower than in 2000.

Although we may benefit from any sustained increase in M&A volume, we have been and will continue to be constrained by the relatively small size of our firm and we may not grow as rapidly as our principal competitors. In addition, some of the benefits we expect to experience in connection with the recent increase in M&A volume will be partially offset by the current decline in restructuring activity.

Merchant Banking and Other revenues were $79.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2005 compared to $21.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2004, which represents an increase of 277%. Merchant banking revenues principally consisted of realized and unrealized gains on investments in GCP, merchant banking profit overrides and management fees. While the amount of management fees earned from our existing merchant banking funds are principally a function of the amount of capital invested (in the case of GCP I) or committed (in the case of GCP II), those portions of merchant banking revenues consisting of gains and profit overrides may vary considerably depending on economic conditions. During 2005, GCP’s principal portfolio companies generated record earnings and profits, as well as revenue growth and margin improvement. In addition, several GCP portfolio companies benefited from favorable conditions in the financing markets. GCP’s energy investments also benefited from strong commodity prices. However, adverse changes in general economic conditions, commodity prices, credit and public equity markets could impact negatively the amount of merchant banking revenue realized by the firm.

Results of Operations

The following tables set forth data relating to Greenhill’s sources of revenue:

Revenue by Source


  For the Year Ended December 31,
  2005 2004 2003 2002 2001
  (in millions)
Financial Advisory $ 142.1   $ 130.9   $ 121.3   $ 107.4   $ 95.3  
Merchant Banking Fund Management & Other   79.1     21.0     5.4     5.2     4.7  
Total Revenue $ 221.2   $ 151.9   $ 126.7   $ 112.6   $ 100.0  

Financial Advisory Revenues

Financial Advisory Revenue by Client Location


  For the Year Ended December 31,
  2005 2004 2003 2002 2001
United States   44   54   48   61   41
Europe   55   43   44   31   53
Latin America & Other   1   3   8   8   6
1 Source: Thomson Financial as of January 19, 2006.
2 Data for three of the four investment banks reflect November fiscal year ends.

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Financial Advisory Revenue by Industry


  For the Year Ended December 31,
  2005 2004 2003 2002 2001
Communications & Media   21   29   24   26   21
Consumer Goods & Retail   8   25   26   15   34
Financial Services   12   17   15   13   11
Technology   2   1   7   7   11
Energy & Utilities   6   10   9   6   1
Lodging & Leisure   1   4   1   3   5
General Industrial & Other   50   14   18   30   17

We operate in a highly competitive environment where there are no long-term contracted sources of revenue, and each revenue-generating engagement, which typically relates to only one potential transaction, is separately awarded and negotiated. Our list of clients, and our list of clients with whom there is a currently active revenue-generating engagement, changes continually. We gain new clients each year through our business development initiatives, by recruiting additional senior investment banking professionals who bring with them client relationships and through referrals from directors, attorneys and other parties with whom we have relationships. At the same time, we lose clients each year as a result of the sale or merger of a client, a change in a client’s senior management, competition from other investment banks and other causes.

We earn a majority of our Financial Advisory revenue from completion fees that are dependent on the successful completion of a merger, acquisition, restructuring or similar transaction. A transaction can fail to be completed for many reasons, including failure to agree upon final terms with the counterparty, failure to secure necessary board or shareholder approvals, failure to secure necessary financing and failure to achieve necessary regulatory approvals. In certain client engagements, often those involving financially distressed companies, we earn a significant portion of our revenue in the form of retainers and similar fees that are contractually agreed upon with each client for each assignment but are not necessarily linked to the end result.

We do not allocate our Financial Advisory revenue by type of advice rendered (M&A, restructuring or other) because of the complexity of the assignments for which we earn revenue. For example, a restructuring assignment can involve, and in some cases end successfully in, a sale of all or part of the financially distressed client. Likewise, an acquisition assignment can relate to a financially distressed target involved in or considering a restructuring. Finally, an M&A assignment can be received from a relationship that derives from a prior restructuring assignment, and vice versa.

2005 versus 2004.    Financial Advisory revenues were $142.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2005 compared to $130.9 million in the year ended December 31, 2004, which represents an increase of 9%. The increase reflected the benefit of an increase in M&A market volume and our continued business development efforts, offset by the impact of a decline in the volume of financial-distress related business.

Prominent advisory assignments in 2005 include:

•  the sale of Aggregate Industries, plc to Holcim S.A.;
•  the pending merger of Archipelago Holdings, Inc. with the New York Stock Exchange;
•  the sale of MCI, Inc. to Verizon Communications, Inc.;
•  T&F Informa plc’s acquisition of IIR Holdings Limited;
•  the acquisition of CP Ships Limited by TUI AG; and
•  the pending merger of Whirlpool Corporation with Maytag Corporation.

We earned advisory revenue from 55 different clients in 2005, compared to 47 in 2004; 37 of those clients had not produced any 2004 revenue. We earned $1 million or more from 33 of those clients in 2005, compared to 25 in 2004. The ten largest fee-paying clients in 2005 constituted 39% of our total

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revenue, and only one of those clients had in any prior year been among our ten largest fee-paying clients. We had no clients that constituted 10% or more of total revenue in 2005, and one client at approximately 10% of total revenues in 2004. Our revenues in 2004 attributable to this client related to an engagement that was singular in nature, like all of our other advisory engagements.

2004 versus 2003.    We earned advisory revenue from 47 different clients in 2004, compared to 39 in 2003; 32 of those clients had not produced any 2003 revenue. We earned $1 million or more from 25 of those clients in 2004, compared to 31 in 2003. The ten largest fee-paying clients in 2004 constituted 53% of our total revenue, and only one of those clients had in any prior year been among our ten largest fee-paying clients. We had one client that constituted approximately 10% of total revenue in 2004. Our revenues in 2004 attributable to this client related to an engagement that was singular in nature, like all of our other advisory engagements.

At the same time, worldwide M&A volume for all corporations increased by 40%, from $1,151 billion3 in 2003 to $1,612 billion in 2004, and aggregate advisory revenues reported by four leading investment banks that publicly disclose their advisory fee revenue increased by 50%, from $2.8 billion in 2003 to $4.2 billion in 20044 ..

Prominent advisory assignments in 2004 include:

•  the sale of certain assets by Akzo Nobel N.V.;
•  the acquisition of the propane operations of Star Gas Partners, L.P. by Inergy, L.P.;
•  the sale by Ingersoll-Rand Company Ltd., of its Dresser-Rand business unit to First Reserve;
•  the sale of Schwab Soundview Capital Markets to UBS;
•  the sale of Warner-Chilcott to Waren Acquisition Ltd., which is a private equity buyout group led by JP Morgan Chase and CS First Boston; and
•  the sale of WH Smith’s publishing business, Hodder Headline, to Hachette Livre S.A.

Merchant Banking Fund Management and Other Revenues

Our merchant banking fund management activities currently consist primarily of the management of and our investment in Greenhill’s merchant banking funds, GCP I and GCP II. The following table sets forth additional information relating to our merchant banking and interest income:


  For the Year Ended December 31,
  2005 2004 2003 2002 2001
  (in millions)
Management fees $ 11.4   $ 4.5   $ 5.0   $ 4.7   $ 4.7  
Net realized and unrealized gains on investments in
merchant banking
  32.0     11.3         0.2     (0.8
Merchant banking profit overrides   32.3     4.1              
Other unrealized investment income   0.5     0.3              
Interest income   2.9     0.8     0.4     0.3     0.8  
Merchant banking fund management and other revenue $ 79.1   $ 21.0   $ 5.4   $ 5.2   $ 4.7  

We began our merchant banking activities with the formation of our first fund, GCP I, in 2000 which had committed capital of $423 million. At the outset of that fund our managing directors committed capital to the fund and were awarded substantially all of the rights to receive overrides on profits that might be earned by the general partner of the fund. For the period 2000 through 2003 our activities consisted principally of our management of the GCP I. In 2003 we began to invest directly in GCP I by purchasing limited partnership interests. In early 2004 our investment increased as a result of the assignment to us of a portion of the future commitments of our managing directors. In 2004 we

3 Source: Thomson Financial as of January 19, 2006.
4 Data for three of the four investment banks reflect November fiscal year ends.

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also increased our economic share of the profit override of the fund to 50% for all investments made on or after January 1, 2004 (100% of the profit override is reflected in our revenues in accordance with our consolidation policy). The remaining 50% share of the profit overrides was retained by our employees and is reflected in compensation expense. In aggregate we committed $30.3 million to GCP I with a majority of our capital deployed for investments made subsequent to January 1, 2004.

In March 2005 we expanded our merchant banking activities with the closing of our second fund, GCP II. We committed approximately $88.5 million to GCP II, or approximately 10% of the committed capital of $875 million, and our employees committed an additional $136 million to GCP II. We are entitled to receive 50% of the profit overrides for all investments made by GCP II (100% of the profit override, if any, is reflected in our revenues in accordance with our consolidation policy). Our employees are entitled to receive the remaining 50% of the profit overrides. See below for more information regarding our consolidation of the profit overrides.

We generate merchant banking revenue from (i) management fees paid by the funds, (ii) gains (or losses) on our investments in the merchant banking funds, and (iii) profit overrides.

We charge management fees in GCP I to all outside investors who are not employed or affiliated with us. In GCP II we charge fees to all investors except the firm. Management fees are charged based upon a percentage of committed capital (generally 1.5%) during the 5 year commitment period and as a percentage of invested capital (generally 1%) after the termination of the commitment period. As a result of the increase in committed capital to our funds following the closing of GCP II our management fees increased substantially in 2005. To the extent we establish other funds we expect our management fee earnings to increase, notwithstanding the reduction in the fee percentage after the commitment period of each fund has been terminated. Our management fees also include portions of other transactions fees which may be paid directly to us by portfolio companies of the merchant banking funds. We earned annual fees from GCP I of approximately $4.5 million during the commitment period and for 2006 expect to earn approximately $1.5 million in management fees from GCP I. The amount of management fees earned from GCP I is dependent on the amount of invested capital and will decline over the remaining life of the fund as investments are liquidated (a process which we expect will end by 2010). We currently earn annual fees from GCP II of approximately $12.0 million, and we expect to earn such amount through 2009 (or such earlier time as the commitment period terminates) and a lesser amount thereafter.

Depending upon the performance of our funds, we will record investment income or losses based upon our allocable share of invested capital in our funds. Since we began investing in our funds in 2003 we have recognized realized and unrealized investment earnings from such funds. Prior to 2003 we realized investment earnings from our interest in Barrow Street Capital, LLC, a limited liability company that manages real estate merchant banking funds. One of the managing principals of Barrow Street Capital, LLC is Robert F. Greenhill, Jr., son of Robert Greenhill, Chairman and Chief Executive of Greenhill. The investment in Barrow Street Capital, LLC was sold to the managing principals of Barrow Street Capital, LLC in March 2004 for book value.

Investment gains from the merchant banking activities are comprised of investment income, realized and unrealized gains from the firm’s investment in GCP, and the consolidated earnings of the general partner in which we have a majority economic interest, offset by allocated expenses of the funds. That portion of the earnings of the general partner which is held by employees of the firm is recorded as minority interest.

We recognize revenue on investments in merchant banking funds based on our allocable share of realized and unrealized gains (or losses) reported by such funds on a quarterly basis. We record our investments at estimated fair value. Investments in privately held companies are initially carried at cost as an approximation of fair value and generally adjusted after being held by the fund for one year to the estimated fair value as determined by the general partner of the fund after giving consideration to the cost of the security, the pricing of other sales of securities by the portfolio company, the price of securities of other companies comparable to the portfolio company, purchase multiples paid in other comparable third-party transactions, the original purchase price multiple, market conditions, liquidity, operating results and other financial data. Discounts are generally applied

25




to the funds’ privately held investments to reflect the lack of liquidity and other transfer restrictions. Investments in publicly traded securities are valued using quoted market prices discounted for any legal or contractual restrictions on sale. Because of the inherent uncertainty of valuations as well as the discounts applied, the estimated fair values of investment in privately held companies may differ significantly from the values that would have been used had a ready market for the securities existed. The values at which our investments are carried on our books are adjusted to fair value at the end of each quarter and the volatility in general economic conditions, stock markets and commodity prices may result in significant changes in the fair value of the investments. Significant changes in the fair value of our investments may have a material effect, positive or negative, on our revenues and thus the results of operations.

As the general partner of our merchant banking funds, we make investment decisions for the funds and are entitled to receive from the funds an override of the profits of the funds. In aggregate, we and our employees are entitled to a profit override percentage of 20% of the profits earned by unaffiliated investors in GCP I and generally for all investors except the firm in GCP II. We are deemed to have the majority of the economic interest in the managing general partner of GCP I and the general partner of GCP II in accordance with FASB Interpretation No. 46 (‘‘FIN 46-R’’), ‘‘Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities’’, (effective for investments made beginning early 2004). Under FIN 46-R we include as consolidated revenue all realized and unrealized profit overrides earned by the general partner of GCP. From an economic perspective, profit overrides in respect of such investments are allocated 50% to the firm and 50% to employees of the firm. The economic share of the profit overrides allocated to the employees of the firm is recorded as compensation expense. For investments made prior to 2004, we did not have a majority of the economic interest and only that portion of the profit override allocable directly to us, which ranges from 1.0% - 2.2%, is included in our consolidated revenue.

Because we include in our revenues all of the profit overrides earned from investments made on or after January 1, 2004, we expect that as the investments mature and depending upon market conditions, that the amount of our profit overrides could increase. The amount of profit overrides we recognize as revenue will depend upon the underlying fair value of the portfolio company and is subject to the volatility referred to above.

2005 versus 2004.    In the year ended December 31, 2005, the firm earned $79.1 million in Merchant Banking Fund Management & Other Revenue compared to $21.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2004, an increase of 277%. These increases are primarily due to higher asset management fees resulting from greater assets under management, higher dividend income and distributions of earnings from portfolio companies, higher realized and unrealized principal investment gains in the GCP portfolio, an increase in the recognized amounts of profit overrides associated with gains in the GCP portfolio and an increase in interest income. GCP gains and losses relating to investments made in 2004 or later have a larger impact on firm revenue because of the firm’s increased investment in, and increased participation in profit overrides relating to, GCP starting in early 2004. The firm had one investment that contributed more than 10% to total revenues in 2005 and none in 2004.Included in Merchant Banking Fund Management & Other Revenue for the year ended December 31, 2005 is $1.8 million related to the portion of the interests in the general partners of GCP which are held directly by employees of the firm, which is also deducted as minority interest.

2004 versus 2003.    For the year ended December 31, 2004, the firm earned $21.0 million in Merchant Banking Fund Management & Other Revenue compared to $5.4 million in the year ended December 31, 2003, an increase of 289%. In 2004, these revenues were principally comprised of asset management fees earned from Greenhill Capital Partners of $4.5 million, unrealized investment gains and profit overrides earned on investments made in Greenhill Capital Partners of $11.3 million and $4.1 million, respectively, other unrealized investment income of $0.3 million and interest income of $0.8 million. In comparison, in 2003, the Merchant Banking Fund Management & Other Revenue revenues were principally comprised of asset management fees of $5.0 million and interest income of $0.4 million. The principal driver of growth in Merchant Banking Fund Management & Other Revenue revenues in 2004 were unrealized investment gains and profit overrides on investments made in Greenhill Capital Partners.

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Operating Expenses

Our Total Operating Expenses for the year ended December 31, 2005 were $131.2 million, which compares to Pro Forma Total Operating Expenses of $94.6 million for 2004. The increase of $36.6 million, or 39%, relates primarily to compensation expense which is paid as a percentage of revenue and is described in more detail below. The pre-tax income margin for the year ended December 31, 2005 was 40% compared to 38% for 2004 on a pro forma basis.

We classify operating expenses as compensation and benefits expense and non-compensation expenses. Management does not separately evaluate operating expenses by financial advisory and merchant banking activities.

The principal component of our operating expenses is compensation and benefits expense. Because we were a limited liability company prior to our initial public offering in May 2004, payments for services rendered by our managing directors prior to our initial public offering were generally accounted for as distributions of members’ capital or minority interest expense rather than as compensation expense. As a result, our pre-initial public offering compensation and benefits expense did not reflect a large portion of payments for services rendered by our managing directors and therefore understates our operating costs as a public company. As a corporation, we now include all payments for services rendered by our managing directors in compensation and benefits expense.

Operating expenses apart from compensation have been modest in proportion to revenues, as a result of the relatively small number of staff and related costs (including travel, office space, communications, information services, depreciation and professional services) that Greenhill bears. A portion of certain costs are reimbursed by clients under the terms of client engagements. In addition, Barrow Street Capital reimburses us for certain occupancy related costs, health care premiums and other costs incurred by us.

The following table sets forth information relating to our actual and pro forma operating expenses, which are reported net of reimbursements of certain expenses by our clients and merchant banking portfolio companies:


  Year Ended December 31,
  2005 2004 2003
  (in millions, except employee data)
Number of Employees at Year End   151     127     107  
Actual Compensation and Benefits Expense $ 102.4   $ 61.4   $ 27.1  
% of Revenues   46   40   21
Pro Forma Compensation and Benefits Expense(a)   102.4     67.7     57.0  
% of Revenues   46   45   45
Non-Compensation Expense:                  
Other Operating Expenses   26.3     23.4     15.5  
Depreciation and Amortization   2.5     3.5     3.4  
Total Non-Compensation Expense   28.8     26.9     18.9  
% of Revenues   13   18   15
Total Actual Operating Expense   131.2     88.3     46.0  
% of Revenues   59   58   36
Total Pro Forma Operating Expense(a)   131.2     94.6     75.9  
% of Revenues   59   62   60
Minority Interest in Net Income of Affiliate   1.8     6.5     32.2  
Total Actual Income Before Tax   88.2     57.0     48.4  
Actual Pre-tax Income Margin   40   38   38
Total Pro Forma Income Before Tax(a)   88.2     57.3     50.7  
Pro Forma Pre-tax Income Margin(a)   40   38   40
(a) Amounts for the year ended December 31, 2005 reflect actual expenses for the entire period. Amounts for the year ended December 31, 2004 reflect actual expenses for the period subsequent to our initial public offering in May 2004 and pro forma expenses for the period prior to our initial public offering. Amounts for the year ended December 31, 2003 reflect pro forma expenses. See Note 16 of the Consolidated Financial Statements for information on the pro forma adjustments.

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Compensation and Benefits

The principal component of our operating expenses is compensation and benefits expense. It is our policy that our total compensation and benefits, including that payable to our managing directors and senior advisors, will not exceed 50% of total revenues each year (although we retain the ability to change this policy in the future). Because we were a limited liability company prior to our initial public offering, payments for services rendered by our managing directors generally were accounted for as distributions of members’ capital or minority interest expense rather than as compensation expense. As a result, our pre-initial public offering compensation and benefits expense did not reflect a large portion of payments for services rendered by our managing directors and understates the expected operating costs to be incurred as a public company. As a corporation, we include all payments for services rendered by our managing directors in compensation and benefits expense. One factor in determining the compensation expense ratio in 2005 and 2004 was the accounting impact of the introduction into our compensation packages of equity-related compensation in the form of restricted stock units.

As a public company, the compensation we pay to our employees consists of base salary and benefits, cash bonus awards and the award of restricted stock units. Base salary and benefits are paid ratably throughout the year. Cash bonuses, which are accrued each period, are discretionary and dependent upon on number of factors, including the performance of the firm. Discretionary cash bonus payments are paid annually in February following year end. Awards of restricted stock units are also discretionary and amortized to compensation expense (based upon the value of the award at the time of grant) during the service period over which the award vests, which is generally five years. As we expense these awards, the restricted stock units recognized are recorded within stockholders’ equity. In January 2006, our employees were granted 427,873 restricted stock units in conjunction with the 2005 compensation.

2005 versus 2004.    Our Total Compensation and Benefits expense for the year ended December 31, 2005 was $102.4 million, which reflects a 46% compensation ratio for the year. This compares against $67.7 million of Pro Forma Total Compensation and Benefits expense, which reflects a 45% compensation ratio for the year ended December 31, 2004. This represents an increase of 51% in Total Compensation and Benefits Expense, and is principally related to the increase in revenues for the year and the increase in the compensation ratio resulting from the amortization charge for awards of restricted stock units. As restricted stock unit awards vest over future years, it is expected that the compensation ratio will gradually increase.

Our actual compensation and benefits expense for the year ended December 31, 2004 was $61.4 million.

2004 versus 2003.    Our Pro Forma Total Compensation and Benefits expense for the year ended December 31, 2004 was $67.7 million, which reflects a 45% compensation ratio for the year. This compares against $57.0 million of Pro Forma Total Compensation and Benefits expense, which reflects a 45% compensation ratio for the year ended December 31, 2003. This represents an increase of 19% in Total Compensation and Benefits expense, and is related to the increase in revenues for the period.

Our actual compensation and benefits expense for the years ended December 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003 was $61.4 million and $27.1 million, respectively.

Non-Compensation Expense

Our non-compensation expense includes the costs for occupancy and rental, communications, information services, professional fees, recruiting, travel and entertainment, insurance, depreciation and other operating expenses. Reimbursable client expenses are netted against non-compensation expenses.

As a public company, our costs for such items as insurance and professional fees, principally accounting and legal advice have increased. We also expect that our non-compensation costs will increase as we grow our business and make strategic investments. For 2006, our occupancy expenses and depreciation expenses will increase for new office space in New York, London and Dallas.

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2005 versus 2004.    For the year ended December 31, 2005, our non-compensation expenses were $28.8 million, which compared to $26.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2004, representing an increase of 7%. The increase is related principally to a third-party fee related to the fundraising for Greenhill Capital Partners II ($1.0 million), greater travel ($0.5 million) and information services ($0.6 million) as a result of additional personnel and business development activity, increase in occupancy costs ($0.9 million), the net write-off of uncollectible accounts ($1.0 million) and increases in professional fees primarily associated with operating as a public company ($1.0 million), offset in part by lower depreciation expense ($1.0 million) primarily due to full depreciation of the airplane in 2004 and the absence of a one-time transaction-specific consultancy expense reflected in 2004 expenses ($2.6 million).

Non-compensation expense as a percentage of revenue in the year ended December 31, 2005 was 13%. This compares to 18% for the year ended December 31, 2004. The decrease in these expenses as a percentage of revenue in 2005 as compared to 2004 reflects a small increase in actual non-compensation costs spread over greater revenue.

2004 versus 2003.    For the year ended December 31, 2004, our non-compensation expenses were $26.9 million, which compared to $18.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2003, representing an increase of 42%. The increase in these expenses as a percentage of revenue was principally related to the expansion of our office space ($1.3 million), increases in recruiting efforts ($0.8 million), the costs of being a public company ($1.2 million), an increase in net travel expense ($0.9 million) and a transaction-specific consultancy expense ($2.6 million) in conjunction with a client engagement. In addition, non-U.S. operating costs increased approximately $0.7 million due to the decline in the relative value of the U.S. dollar compared to the comparable period in 2003.

Non-compensation expense as a percentage of revenue in the year ended December 31, 2004 was 18%. This compares to 15% for the year ended December 31, 2003. The increase in these expenses as a percentage of revenue in the year ended December 31, 2004 primarily related to an increase in the aforementioned costs.

The firm’s non-compensation expense as a percentage of revenue can vary as a result of a variety of factors, including fluctuation in quarterly revenue amounts, the amount of recruiting and business development activity, the amount of reimbursement of engagement-related expenses by clients, currency movements and other factors. Accordingly, the non-compensation expense as a percentage of revenue in any particular quarter may not be indicative of the non-compensation expense as a percentage of revenue in future periods.

Provision for Income Taxes

As a result of the completion of our initial public offering in May 2004, we are subject to federal, foreign and state corporate income taxes. Prior to our initial public offering, Greenhill was a limited liability company and was generally not subject to U.S. federal or state income taxes and its U.K. controlled affiliate Greenhill & Co. International LLP, as a limited liability partnership, was generally not subject to U.K. income taxes. However, Greenhill was subject to local taxes on its U.S. earnings. In addition, certain of Greenhill’s non-U.S. subsidiaries have been subject to income taxes in their local jurisdictions.

2005 versus 2004.    For the year ended December 31, 2005, our Provision for Taxes was $32.6 million, at an effective tax rate of 37%. For the year ended December 31, 2004, the Pro Forma Provision for Taxes of $22.9 million reflected an assumed tax rate of 40%. The Pro Forma Provision for Taxes for the year ended December 31, 2004 includes assumed federal, foreign, state and local income taxes as if we were a C Corporation for the period January 1, 2004 to the date of the public offering at an assumed effective rate of 42% combined with the actual tax provision for the period after the public offering. The decrease in the effective tax rate in 2005 as compared to 2004 reflects the benefit of a higher proportion of investment income and U.K.-based advisory income, which generally are taxed at lower rates than U.S.-based advisory income.

Our actual effective tax rate for 2004 was 33% (reflecting our status as a C corporation for the period between our public offering and December 31, 2004). Actual tax expense for the year ended December 31, 2004 was $18.7 million.

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2004 versus 2003.    For the year ended December 31, 2004, our Pro Forma Provision for Taxes was $22.9 million, or a rate of 40%. The Pro Forma Provision for Taxes for the year ended December 31, 2004 includes assumed federal, foreign, state and local income taxes as if we were a C Corporation for the period January 1, 2004 to the date of the public offering at an assumed effective rate of 42% combined with the actual tax provision for the period after the public offering. For the year ended December 31, 2003, the Pro Forma Provision for Taxes of $21.3 million reflected an assumed tax rate of 42%. The decrease in the pro forma effective tax rate in 2004 resulted principally from an increase in investment earnings, which are taxed at lower rates. Our actual effective tax rate for 2004 was 33% (reflecting our status as a C corporation for the period between our public offering and December 31, 2004). Actual tax expense for the year ended December 31, 2004 and 2003 was $18.7 million and $3.0 million, respectively.

The effective tax rate can fluctuate as a result of variations in the relative amounts of advisory and merchant banking income earned in the tax jurisdictions in which the firm operates and invests. Accordingly, the effective tax rate in any particular period may not be indicative of the effective tax rate in future periods.

Geographic Data

For a summary of the total revenues, income before minority interest and tax, net income and total assets of Greenhill by geographic region, see Note 14 to the consolidated financial statements.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our liquidity position is monitored by our Management Committee, which generally meets monthly. The Management Committee monitors cash, other significant working capital assets and liabilities, debt, principal investment commitments and other matters relating to liquidity requirements. As cash accumulates it is invested in short term liquid investments.

We generate cash from both our operating activities in the form of advisory fees and our merchant banking investments in the form of distributions of investment proceeds and profit overrides. We use our cash primarily for operating purposes, compensation of our employees, payment of income taxes, investments in merchant banking funds, payment of dividends, repurchase of shares of our stock and leasehold improvements.

Our cash balances generally accumulate from our operating activities during the year. In general, we collect our accounts receivable within 60 days except for certain restructuring transactions where collections may take longer due to court-ordered holdbacks. Our liabilities typically consist of accounts payable, which are generally paid monthly, accrued compensation, which includes accrued bonuses that are paid in the first quarter of the following year to the large majority of our employees, and taxes payable. In the first quarter of 2006, cash bonuses of $41.7 million relating to 2005 compensation were paid to our employees. In addition, we expect to pay approximately $14.7 million in early 2006 related to income taxes owed for the year ended December 31, 2005.

A large portion of our liabilities are associated with unrealized earnings (i.e., recorded on our books but for which cash proceeds have not yet been received) from our merchant banking investments. At December 31, 2005 approximately $17.7 million of our bonus accrual related to profit overrides for unrealized gains of GCP and $23.6 million related to deferred tax liabilities that are deferred until the gains from the GCP investments are realized. These amounts may increase or decrease depending on the change in the fair value of the GCP funds and are payable, subject to claw back, at the time the funds realize cash proceeds.

Since our initial public offering we have used a portion of our cash reserves to repurchase shares of our common stock and make investments in our merchant banking funds. Our commitments to our merchant banking funds may require us to fund capital calls on short notice. On the other hand, distributions from our merchant banking funds are generally made shortly after proceeds are received by the funds. We are unable to predict the timing or magnitude of share repurchase opportunities, capital call requirements or distribution of investment proceeds.

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Our merchant banking funds typically invest in privately held companies. The ability of our merchant banking funds to sell or dispose of the securities they own depends on a number of factors beyond the control of the funds, including general economic and sector conditions, stock market conditions, the availability of financing to potential buyers of such securities, among others. As a result we consider our investments illiquid for the short term.

Because it is not tax efficient, our foreign earnings are generally not available to fund our U.S. working capital needs, including share purchases, dividend payments or merchant banking investments. However, in December 2005 we elected to repatriate $14.0 million of foreign earnings under a domestic reinvestment plan pursuant to Section 965 of the Internal Revenue Code. These funds were repatriated to take advantage of a one-time tax reduction that was available under the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004.

To increase our financial flexibility, on January 31, 2006, we obtained from a U.S. commercial bank an unsecured $20.0 million revolving loan facility to provide for working capital needs, facilitate the funding of merchant banking investments and other general corporate purposes.  Interest on borrowings is based on LIBOR plus 1.85%.  The revolving bank loan facility matures on August 1, 2007. 

As of December 31, 2005, we had total commitments (not reflected on our balance sheet) relating to future principal investments in GCP and other merchant banking activities of $83.4 million (excluding $1.4 million repaid to the Company related to interim financings and expenses which may be recalled). These commitments are expected to be drawn on from time to time and be substantially invested over a period of up to five years from the relevant commitment dates. See Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Contractual Obligations.

During 2005, the firm repurchased 606,472 shares of its common stock in open market purchases at an average price of $45.05 per share. In August 2005, the firm purchased 800,000 of our common shares at a price of $26.22 per share from a former employee pursuant to a previously announced agreement. In addition, in December 2005, we agreed to repurchase 244,028 shares of our common stock from a former employee at a discount to market price.  We completed these repurchases early in 2006.

In January 2006, the Board of Directors of Greenhill & Co., Inc. authorized the repurchase an additional $40.0 million of common stock in open market transactions.

We believe that the cash generated from operations and funds available from the revolving bank loan facility will be sufficient to meet our expected operating needs, commitments to our merchant banking activities, build-out costs of new office space, tax obligations, share repurchases and common dividends. In the event that our needs for liquidity should increase as we expand our business, we may consider a range of financing alternatives to meet any such needs.

Cash Flows

2005.    Cash and cash equivalents increased by $22.4 million in 2005. We generated $61.3 million from operating activities, including $14.4 million from net income after giving effect to the non-cash items and by a net increase in working capital of $46.9 million (principally from the accrual of compensation expense, accounts payable and accrued expenses and taxes payable). We generated $37.2 million from investing activities, including $52.4 million from the net sale of securities and $14.3 million from distributions from our merchant banking investments, partially offset by $27.7 million in new investments in merchant banking funds. We used $71.7 million for financing activities, including $13.7 million for the payment of dividends and $58.8 million for the repurchase of our common stock.

2004.    Cash increased $34.2 million in 2004. Cash of $42.9 million was provided by operating activities, including $31.4 million from net income after giving effect to non-cash items and a net change in working capital of $21.2 million (principally from an increase in accrued compensation payable) offset by the payout of the prior year’s minority interest in the net assets of our U.K. affiliate of $9.7 million. We used cash generated from operations principally to fund distributions to members

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of earnings prior to the initial public offering of $31.2 million, dividend payments of $4.9 million, and $4.4 million in purchases of property and equipment, primarily for the build-out of additional office space in New York. Proceeds from our initial public offering of $89.3 million were used to fund an investment of $11.6 million in Greenhill Capital Partners, net of a distribution received from Greenhill Capital Partners of $7.9 million, repay net borrowings under the credit facility of $1.5 million, repurchase $0.2 million of our common stock, invest $52.4 million in highly-rated short-term auction rate securities and invest the remaining increase in cash in highly-rated short-term debt securities.

2003.    Cash increased to $26.6 million in 2003. Cash of $69.2 million was provided by operating activities, including $45.4 million from net income, $14.1 million from a decrease in accounts receivables and $2.4 million from an increase in minority interest in the net assets of our U.K. affiliate. Cash of $7.2 million was used for investing activities, primarily for the purchase from outside investors of a portion of Greenhill Capital Partners’ limited partner interest and technology-related expenditures. Financing activities used $54.2 million of cash, reflecting distributions to members offset by a small increase in short-term borrowings.

Contractual Obligations

The following table sets forth information relating to our contractual obligations as of December 31, 2005:


  Payment Due by Period
Contractual Obligations Total Less than
1 year
1-3 years 3-5 years More than
5 years
  (in thousands)
Operating Lease Obligations $ 27,995   $ 6,013   $ 11,382   $ 8,812   $ 1,788  
Merchant Banking Commitments(a)   83,375     21,477     30,949     30,949      
Total $ 111,370   $ 27,490   $ 42,331   $ 39,761   $ 1,788  
(a) We may be required to substantially fund our merchant banking commitments at any time through 2010, depending on the timing and level of investments by Greenhill Capital Partners, although we do not expect these commitments to be drawn in full. Since the merchant banking commitments can be drawn at any time over the life of the commitment period, the amounts above are shown as if spread ratably over the life of the primary commitment period. Excludes $1.4 million repaid to the Company related to interim financings and expenses which may be recalled.

In addition, in December 2005, we agreed to repurchase 244,028 shares of our common stock from a former employee.  We completed these repurchases early in 2006 at a total cost of $11.5 million.

In 2005, a subsidiary of GCP I entered into a credit agreement with Morgan Stanley Mortgage Capital, Inc., as administrative agent, and pursuant to which they have borrowed $70 million, secured by 8,383,234 shares of Global Signal Inc. common stock owned by it. Under the terms of a separate recourse agreement, the lenders will have recourse to Greenhill Capital Partners, LLC in the event of fraud or intentional or grossly negligent misrepresentations by the borrower or the institution of insolvency proceedings by or against the borrower, Greenhill Capital Partners LLC or the general partners of GCP I. Proceeds from the loans were used to fund distributions to GCP I’s limited partners, which include executive officers of Greenhill and the firm. The credit agreement matures in August 2006.

On January 31, 2006, the firm obtained from a U.S. commercial bank an unsecured $20.0 million revolving loan facility to provide for working capital needs, facilitate the funding of short-term investments and other general corporate purposes. Interest on borrowings is based on one month LIBOR plus 1.875%. The revolving bank loan facility matures on August 1, 2007, but may be extended by a written agreement of lender and borrower.

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Market Risk

We limit our investments to (1) short-term cash investments, which we believe do not face any material interest rate risk, equity price risk or other market risk and (2) principal investments in Greenhill Capital Partners and other merchant banking funds.

We have invested our cash in short duration, highly rates fixed income investments including highly rated short-term debt securities and money market funds. Changes in interest rates and other economic and market conditions could affect these investments adversely; however, we do not believe that any such changes will have a material effect on our results of operations. Our short-term cash investments are primarily denominated in US dollars, UK sterling and Euros, and we face modest foreign currency risk in our cash balances held in non-US dollar denominated accounts. To the extent that the cash balances in local currency exceed our short term obligations, we may hedge our foreign currency exposure.

With regard to our principal investments (including our portion of any profit overrides earned on such investments), we face exposure to changes in the estimated fair value of the companies in which our merchant banking funds invest, which historically has been volatile. Significant changes in the public equity markets may have a material effect on our results of operations. We have analyzed our potential exposure to general equity market risk by performing sensitivity analyses on our principal investments. Significant volatility in the general equity markets would impact our operations primarily because of changes in the fair value of our merchant banking investments that are publicly traded securities or are privately held securities owned for more than one year. Our analysis showed that if we assume that at December 31, 2005, the market prices of all public securities, and therefore, the general equity market, were 10% lower, the impact on our operations would be a decrease in revenues of $9.3 million. We do not believe there would be any other material impact. We meet on a quarterly basis to determine the fair value of the investments held in our merchant banking portfolio and to discuss the risks associated with those investments. The Investment Committee manages the risks associated with the merchant banking portfolio by closely monitoring and managing the types of investments made as well as the monetization and realization of existing investments.

In addition, the reported amounts of our revenues may be affected by movements in the rate of exchange between the euro and pound sterling (in which 32% of our revenues for the year ended December 31, 2005 were denominated) and the dollar, in which our financial statements are denominated. We do not currently hedge against movements in these exchange rates. We analyzed our potential exposure to a decline in exchange rates by performing a sensitivity analysis on our net income. We do not believe we face any material risk in this respect.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The consolidated financial statements included in this report are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, which require management to make estimates and assumptions regarding future events that affect the amounts reported in our financial statements and their footnotes, including investment valuations, compensation accruals and other matters. Management believes that the estimates used in preparing its consolidated financial statements are reasonable and prudent. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates. We believe that the following discussion addresses Greenhill’s most critical accounting policies, which are those that are most important to the presentation of our financial condition and results of operations and require management’s most difficult, subjective and complex judgments.

Basis of Financial Information

The firm’s consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, which require management to make estimates and assumptions regarding future events that affect the amounts reported in our financial statements and related footnotes, including investment valuations, compensation accruals and other matters. We believe that the estimates used in preparing our consolidated financial statements are reasonable and prudent. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.

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The consolidated financial statements of the firm include all consolidated accounts and Greenhill & Co., Inc. (formerly Holdings) and all other entities in which we have a controlling interest, including Greenhill & Co. International LLP, after eliminations of all significant inter-company accounts and transactions. We adopted the revised Financial Accounting Standards Board (‘‘FASB’’) Interpretation No. 46 (‘‘FIN 46-R’’), ‘‘Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities’’, in the first quarter of 2004. FIN 46-R defines variable interests and specifies the circumstances under which the consolidation of entities will be required. The adoption of FIN 46-R did not have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations. In accordance with FIN 46-R the firm consolidates the general partner of our merchant banking funds in which we have a majority of the economic interest. The firm does not consolidate the merchant banking funds since the firm, through its general partner and limited partner interests, does not have a majority of the economic interest in such funds and under EITF No. 04-5, ‘‘Accounting for an Investment in a Limited Partnership When the Investor Is the Sole General Partner and the Limited Partners Have Certain Rights,’’ is subject to removal by a simple majority of unaffiliated third-party investors.

Revenue Recognition

Financial Advisory Fees

We recognize advisory fee revenue when the services related to the underlying transactions are completed in accordance with the terms of the respective engagement letters. Retainer fees are generally recognized as advisory fee income over the period the services are rendered.

Our clients reimburse certain out-of-pocket expenses incurred by us in the conduct of advisory engagements. Expenses are reported net of such client reimbursements.

Merchant Banking Fund Management Revenues

Merchant Banking Fund Management revenue consists of (i) management fees on our merchant banking activities, (ii) gains (or losses) on investments in our merchant banking funds and other principal investment activities and (iii) merchant banking profit overrides.

Fund management fees are recognized over the period of related service.

We recognize revenue on investments in merchant banking funds based on our allocable share of realized and unrealized gains (or losses) reported by such funds on a quarterly basis. Investments held by merchant banking funds are recorded at estimated fair value. Investments in privately held companies are initially carried at cost as an approximation of fair value and generally adjusted after being held by the fund for one year to the estimated fair value as determined by the general partner of the fund after giving consideration to the cost of the security, the pricing of other sales of securities by the portfolio company, the price of securities of other companies comparable to the portfolio company, purchase multiples paid in other comparable third-party transactions, the original purchase price multiple, market conditions, liquidity, operating results and other financial data. Discounts are generally applied to the funds’ privately held investments to reflect the lack of liquidity and other transfer restrictions. Investments in publicly traded securities are valued using quoted market prices discounted for any legal or contractual restrictions on sale. Because of the inherent uncertainty of valuations as well as the discounts applied, the estimated fair values of investment in privately held companies may differ significantly from the values that would have been used had a ready market for the securities existed. The values at which our investments are carried on our books are adjusted to fair value at the end of each quarter and the volatility in general economic conditions, stock markets and commodity prices may result in significant changes in the fair value of the investments.

We recognize merchant banking profit overrides when certain financial returns are achieved over the life of the fund. Profit overrides are calculated as a percentage of the profits over a specified threshold earned by such funds on investments managed on behalf of unaffiliated investors of GCP I and all principally investors except the firm of GCP II and are subject to clawback. Future losses in the value of the fund’s investments may require amounts previously recognized as profit overrides to be reversed to the fund in future periods. Accordingly, merchant banking profit overrides are recognized as revenue only after material contingencies have been resolved.

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Restricted Stock Units

In accordance with the fair value method prescribed by FASB Statement No. 123(R), ‘‘Share-Based Payment’’, which is a revision of FASB Statement No. 123, ‘‘Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation’’, restricted stock units with future service requirements are recorded as compensation expense and generally is amortized over a five-year service period following the date of grant. Compensation expense is determined at the date of grant. As the firm expenses the awards, the restricted stock units recognized are recorded within stockholders’ equity. The firm records dividend equivalents in stockholders’ equity on outstanding restricted stock units that are expected to vest. The firm adopted Statement 123(R) as of January 1, 2005, and it did not have a material effect on the accounting for restricted stock units in its consolidated financial statements.

Provision for Taxes

After the initial public offering, the firm accounts for taxes in accordance with FASB Statement No. 109, ‘‘Accounting for Income Taxes’’, which requires the recognition of tax benefits or expenses on the temporary differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of its assets and liabilities.

Prior to the initial public offering, the firm was primarily subject to local unincorporated business tax on business conducted in New York City, and income tax on current income realized by certain foreign subsidiaries. After the initial public offering, the company is subject to U.S. federal, foreign, state and local taxes as a C corporation at the applicable tax rates.

Item 7A.    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

We do not believe we face any material interest rate risk, foreign currency exchange risk, equity price risk or other market risk. See ‘‘Item 7. Market Risk’’ above for a discussion of market risks.

Item 8.    Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

The financial statements required by this item are listed in Item 15, ‘‘Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules’’.

Item 9.    Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

None.

Item 9A.    Controls and Procedures

Based upon their evaluation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-15 as of the end of the year covered by this 2005 Form 10-K, the firm’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that such controls and procedures are effective. There were no significant changes in the firm’s internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect such internal controls subsequent to the date of their evaluation.

Management’s report on the firm’s internal controls over financial reports (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act), and the related report of our independent public accounting firm, are included on pages F-2 – F-4 of this report.

In addition, on June 15, 2005 our Chief Executive Officer certified to the New York Stock Exchange (‘‘NYSE’’) that he was not aware of any violation by the firm of the NYSE’s corporate governance listing standards. We have field as an exhibit to this Form 10-K the certifications of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002).

Item 9B.    Other Information

None.

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PART III

Item 10.    Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant

Information regarding members of the Board of Directors will be presented in Greenhill’s definitive proxy statement for its 2006 annual meeting of stockholders, which will be held on April 19, 2006, and is incorporated herein by reference. Information regarding our executive officers is included in Part I of this Form 10-K under the caption ‘‘Executive Officers.’’

Item 11.    Executive Compensation

Information regarding executive compensation will be presented in Greenhill’s definitive proxy statement for its 2006 annual meeting of stockholders, which will be held on April 19, 2006, and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 12.    Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

Information regarding security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management and related stockholder matters will be presented in Greenhill’s definitive proxy statement for its 2006 annual meeting of stockholders, which will be held on April 19, 2006, and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 13.    Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

Information regarding certain relationships and related party transactions will be presented in Greenhill’s definitive proxy statement for its 2006 annual meeting of stockholders, which will be held on April 19, 2006, and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 14.    Principal Accountant Fees and Services

Information regarding principal accountant fees and services will be presented in Greenhill’s definitive proxy statement for its 2006 annual meeting of stockholders, which will be held on April 19, 2006, and is incorporated herein by reference.

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PART IV

Item 15.    Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

(a)

1.    Financial Statements

INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Consolidated Financial Statements of Greenhill & Co. Inc. and Subsidiaries


Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting F-2
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm F-3
Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition F-5
Consolidated Statements of Income F-6
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Members’ Equity and Stockholders’ Equity F-7
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows F-8
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements F-9

F-1




Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Management of Greenhill & Co., Inc. and subsidiaries (the ‘‘Company’’), is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. The Company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed under the supervision of the Company’s principal executive and principal financial officers to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of the Company’s financial statements for external reporting purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America.

As of December 31, 2005, management conducted an assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on the framework established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Based upon this assessment, management has determined that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2005 was effective.

The Company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the Company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

The Company’s independent auditors have issued their auditors’ report appearing on page F-4 on management’s assessment of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

F-2




Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The  Board of Directors and Shareholders of
Greenhill & Co., Inc.

We have audited the accompanying consolidated statements of financial condition of Greenhill & Co., Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2005 and 2004, and the related consolidated statements of income, changes in members’ equity and stockholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2005. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Greenhill & Co., Inc. and subsidiaries at December 31, 2005 and 2004, and the consolidated results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2005, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the effectiveness of Greenhill & Co., Inc.'s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2005, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated February 10, 2006 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

New York, New York
February 10, 2006

F-3




Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The  Board of Directors and Shareholders of
Greenhill & Co., Inc.

We have audited management’s assessment, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting, that Greenhill & Co., Inc. maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2005, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (the COSO criteria). Greenhill & Co., Inc.’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on management’s assessment and an opinion on the effectiveness of the company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, evaluating management’s assessment, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

In our opinion, management’s assessment that Greenhill & Co., Inc. maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2005, is fairly stated, in all material respects, based on the COSO criteria. Also, in our opinion, Greenhill & Co., Inc. maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2005, based on the COSO criteria.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated statements of financial condition as of December 31, 2005 and 2004, and the related consolidated statements of income, changes in members’ equity and stockholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2005 of Greenhill & Co., Inc. and our report dated February 10, 2006, expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

New York, New York
February 10, 2006

F-4




Greenhill & Co., Inc. and Subsidiaries
(formerly Greenhill & Co. Holdings, LLC and Subsidiaries)
Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition
As of December 31,


  2005 2004
Assets            
Cash and cash equivalents $ 83,240,865   $ 60,806,951  
Securities       52,416,670  
Financial advisory fees receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $1.1 million and $0.8 million at December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively   27,336,205     25,185,937  
Other receivables   933,468     1,062,926  
Property and equipment, net   8,638,632     9,290,877  
Investments   104,135,337     25,881,674  
Due from affiliates   260,537     135,163  
Other assets   10,396,077     2,235,905  
Total assets $ 234,941,121   $ 177,016,103  
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity            
Compensation payable $ 61,219,698   $ 31,788,116  
Accounts payable and accrued expenses   15,984,768     6,594,997  
Taxes payable   38,346,740     9,444,666  
Due to affiliates   1,445,044     1,445,044  
Total liabilities   116,996,250     49,272,823  
Minority interest in net assets of affiliate   3,229,537     504,177  
Common stock, par value $0.01 per share, 100,000,000 shares authorized, 30,880,024 and 30,750,000 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively   308,800     307,500  
Restricted stock units   8,931,618     3,396,714  
Additional paid-in capital   109,961,120     106,743,051  
Retained earnings   57,595,530     15,781,529  
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income   (3,025,186   1,222,235  
Treasury stock, at cost, par value $0.01 per share; 1,650,496 and 9,346 shares as of December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively   (59,056,548   (211,926
Stockholders’ equity   114,715,334     127,239,103  
Total liabilities, minority interest and stockholders’ equity $ 234,941,121   $ 177,016,103  

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

F-5




Greenhill & Co., Inc. and Subsidiaries
(formerly Greenhill & Co. Holdings, LLC and Subsidiaries)
Consolidated Statements of Income
Years Ended December 31,


  2005 2004 2003
Revenues