UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
_____________________________________________________________________________________
FORM 10-K
(Mark One)
þ
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016.
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
(ZIP Code)
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
 
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   þ     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   þ
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   þ     No   ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes   þ     No   ¨
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§ 229.405 of this chapter) 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.   þ
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer ¨
Accelerated filer þ
Non-accelerated filer  ¨
Smaller reporting company  ¨
 
 
(Do not check if a smaller
 reporting company)
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes   ¨     No   ý
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, 2016 , was approximately $416 million . The registrant has no non-voting stock.
As of February 15, 2017 , there were 29,574,680 shares of the registrant’s common stock outstanding.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
No documents are incorporated by reference in this Report. Information required to be disclosed in Part III of this Report is included herein. Such information also will be set forth in the Registrant’s definitive proxy statement to be delivered to stockholders in connection with the 2017 annual meeting of stockholders to be held on July 26, 2017.
 




TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
 
Page
Item 1.
Item 1A.
Item 1B.
Item 2.
Item 3.
Item 4.
 
 
 
 
Item 5.
Item 6.
Item 7.
Item 7A.
Item 8.
Item 9.
Item 9A.
Item 9B.
 
 
 
Item 10.
Item 11.
Item 12.
Item 13.
Item 14.
 
 
 
Item 15.


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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. Our principal advisory subsidiaries are Greenhill & Co., LLC, a registered broker-dealer regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission which provides investment banking and capital advisory services in North America; Greenhill & Co. International LLP and Greenhill & Co. Europe LLP, which provide investment banking and capital advisory services in Europe and are regulated by the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority; Greenhill & Co. Australia Pty Limited, which provides investment banking and capital advisory services in Australia and is regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission; and Greenhill Cogent, LP, a registered broker-dealer regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission which provides capital advisory services in North America.

Item 1.  Business
Overview
Greenhill is a leading independent investment bank that provides financial and strategic advice on significant domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, restructurings, financings, capital raising and other transactions to a diverse client base, including corporations, partnerships, institutions and governments globally. We serve as a trusted advisor to our clients throughout the world on a collaborative, globally integrated basis from our offices in the United States, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
At Greenhill, we are singularly focused on providing conflict-free advice to clients on a wide variety of complex financial matters, using our global resources to provide a combination of transaction experience, industry sector expertise and knowledge of relevant regional markets. We work seamlessly across offices and markets to provide the highest caliber advice and services to our clients.
Greenhill was established in 1996 by Robert F. Greenhill, the former President of Morgan Stanley and former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Smith Barney. Since our founding, Greenhill has grown through recruiting talented managing directors and other senior professionals, by acquiring complementary advisory businesses and by training, developing and promoting professionals internally. We have expanded beyond merger and acquisition advisory services to include financing, restructuring, and capital advisory services, and we have expanded the breadth of our sector expertise to cover substantially all major industries. Since the opening of our original office in New York, we have expanded globally to 14 offices across five continents.
As of December 31, 2016 , we had 356 employees globally, including 71 managing directors and 14  senior advisors.
Advisory Services
Greenhill is a unique global investment banking firm, not only in relation to the large integrated, or "bulge bracket", institutions which engage in commercial lending, underwriting, research, sales and trading and other businesses, but also in relation to other so called "independent" investment banks, many of which engage in investment management, research and capital markets businesses, all of which can create conflicts with clients' interests. Greenhill's singular focus on advisory services differentiates us from other investment banks, and enables us to offer best-in-class service to each of our clients.

Advising clients is our only business. We do not engage in investing, trading, lending, underwriting, research or investment management businesses. Our clients' interests are our sole priority.

We provide unbiased, conflict free advice. We have no products or additional services to cross-sell and, thus, no inherent conflicts of interest. We also have no lending, prime brokerage or other relationships with activist investors.

We maintain the highest levels of confidentiality . Our advisory only business model and minimal conflicts enable us to maintain greater client confidentiality.

Senior level attention is fundamental to our model . Our managing directors, who are seasoned professionals with both transaction expertise and sector and regional knowledge, are actively engaged in our client mandates from origination through execution and closing.

We offer a collaborative approach to global client service. Our professionals around the globe work together on a fully integrated, one firm-one team approach to advance the interests of our clients.
We provide comprehensive financial advisory services primarily in connection with mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, restructurings, financings, capital raising and other transactions. We also provide advice in connection with defense preparedness,

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activist response strategies and other mission critical situations. For all of our advisory services, we draw on the extensive experience, senior relationships and industry expertise of our managing directors and senior advisors.
Mergers and Acquisitions. On merger and acquisition engagements, we provide a broad range of advice to global clients in relation to domestic and cross-border mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, spin-offs and other strategic transactions, through all stages of a transaction's life cycle, from initial structuring and negotiation to final execution. Our focus is on providing high-quality, unbiased advice to senior executive management teams, boards of directors and special committees of prominent large and mid-cap companies and to key decision makers at governments and at large institutions on transactions that typically are of the highest strategic and financial importance to our clients. We have specialists in nearly every significant industry sector who work closely with our transaction and regional specialists to provide the highest quality advice and transaction execution. In addition to merger and acquisition transactions, we advise clients on a full range of critical strategic matters, including activist response, defensive tactics, special committee projects, licensing deals and joint ventures. We provide advice on valuation, negotiation tactics, industry dynamics, structuring alternatives, timing and pricing of transactions, as well as financing alternatives. In appropriate situations, we also provide fairness opinions with regard to merger and acquisition transactions.
Financing Advisory and Restructuring . Our financing advisory and restructuring practice encompasses a wide range of advisory services. In debt restructurings, we advise debtors, creditors, governments, pension funds and other stakeholders in companies experiencing financial distress, as well as potential acquirers of distressed companies and assets. We provide advice on valuation, restructuring alternatives, capital structures, financing alternatives, and sales or recapitalizations, and assist clients in identifying and capitalizing on potential incremental sources of value. 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 addition to debt restructurings, we advise on a variety of other financing matters, including debt issuances, equity financings, exchange offers and spin-off transactions. We also provide advice on initial public offerings (IPOs) and other equity capital market transactions in which clients value independent advice from a knowledgeable advisor who does not stand to earn substantial underwriting or placement fees.
Capital Advisory . In our capital advisory business, we assist general partners and sponsors in raising capital for new private funds and provide related advisory services to those entities globally. Our capital advisory group provides clients with comprehensive global marketing efforts to a diverse investor base of pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, endowments and other institutional investors worldwide and is one of the leading advisors to real estate funds globally. As a result of the acquisition of Cogent Partners, LP ("Cogent"), which we acquired on April 1, 2015 and have integrated into our capital advisory business, we also are one of the leading global financial advisors to pension funds, endowments and other institutional investors on the secondary market for the sale of alternative assets. We advise such institutions on secondary sales of interests in private equity and similar funds, as well as providing advice to alternative asset fund sponsors for restructuring, financing, liquidity options, valuation and related services.
Revenues
Our total revenues in 2016 were $335.5 million as compared to $261.6 million in 2015 . Our revenues are principally derived from advisory services on mergers and acquisitions (or M&A), financings and restructurings and are primarily driven by total deal volume and the size of individual transactions. While fees payable upon the successful conclusion of a transaction generally represent the largest portion of our advisory fees, we also earn other corporate advisory fees, including on-going retainer fees, substantially all of which relate to non-success based strategic advisory and financing advisory and restructuring assignments, and fees payable upon the commencement of an engagement or upon the achievement of certain milestones, such as the announcement of a transaction or the rendering of a fairness opinion. Additionally, our global capital advisory group provides capital raising advisory services in the primary market for real estate funds, where revenues are driven primarily by the amount of capital raised, and in the secondary market for alternative assets, where revenue is determined based upon a fixed percentage of the transaction value.
We also generate a small portion of our revenues from interest income and gains (or losses) in merchant banking fund investments, which we substantially liquidated in prior years. Revenue recognized on investments in merchant banking funds is based on our allocable share of realized and unrealized gains (or losses) reported by such funds on a quarterly basis. At December 31, 2016, our remaining investments consisted of a small group of diverse investments held in merchant banking funds, which in aggregate had an estimated fair value of $1.7 million .
Employees
As an independent investment bank focused solely on advisory services, our people are our primary asset. Our managing directors and senior advisors average approximately 25 years of relevant experience, which they leverage to provide the highest quality advice on a collaborative, globally integrated basis across our full range of services. Our managing directors and senior advisors are supported by a strong team of more junior professionals and we spend a significant amount of time training and

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mentoring our junior professionals. We seek to provide our junior professionals with broad exposure to a variety of assignments involving mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, restructurings, financings, capital raisings and other transactions. This approach provides us with the flexibility to allocate resources depending on the transaction environment and provides our bankers with a wide variety of experiences to assist in the development of their business and financial judgment.
As of December 31, 2016 , Greenhill employed a total of 356  people (including our managing directors and senior advisors), of which 195 were located in our offices in North America, 91 were based in our European offices, and 70 in the rest of the world. The vast majority of our accounting, operational and administrative employees are located in the United States. We strive to maintain a work environment that fosters collegiality, teamwork, professionalism, excellence, diversity, and collaboration 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 continued development.
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 with whom there is an active engagement changes continually. To develop new client relationships, and to develop new engagements from historic client relationships, we maintain, on an ongoing basis, business dialogues with a large number of clients and potential clients. 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 expertise in certain industry sectors or geographies 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 team, 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 global and regional integrated banking firms, mid-sized full service financial firms, other independent financial services firms and specialized financial advisory firms. We compete with some of our competitors globally and with others on a regional, product, industry or niche basis. We compete on the basis of a number of factors, including the quality of our advice and service, our range of products and services, strength of relationships, innovation, reputation and price.
The global and regional integrated banking firms offer a wider range of products, from loans, deposit-taking and insurance to brokerage, hedging, foreign exchange, asset management and corporate finance and securities underwriting services, which may enhance their competitive position. They also have the ability to support their investment banking operations with commercial banking, insurance and other financial services revenues in an effort to gain market share, which could result in pricing pressure in our business. In addition to our larger and mid-sized full service competitors, we compete with a number of independent investment banks, which offer independent advisory services on a model similar to ours. A few of the independent banks with whom we compete are larger and have greater general and industry specific coverage resources. Further, over the past several years, there has been an increase in the number of newly formed independent advisory firms. Since independent advisory firms require minimal capital to operate, there are few obstacles to starting new firms.
We believe our primary competitors in securing mergers and acquisitions and financing advisory engagements are large, diversified financial institutions including Bank of America Corporation, Barclays Bank PLC, Citigroup Inc., Credit Suisse Group AG, Deutsche Bank AG, Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., JPMorgan Chase & Co., Morgan Stanley, and UBS AG, as well as other publicly listed investment banking firms such as Evercore Partners Inc., Jefferies Group, Inc., Lazard Ltd., Moelis & Co. and PJT Partners, and certain closely held boutique firms. Advisory services in restructuring and bankruptcy situations tend to be highly specialized, and we believe our primary competitors to be Evercore Partners, Inc., Houlihan Lokey, Inc., Lazard Ltd., Moelis & Co., PJT Partners Inc., Rothschild Group and many closely held boutique firms. We believe our primary competitors in our capital advisory business are Credit Suisse Group AG, Evercore Partners, Inc., Lazard Ltd., Park Hill Group LLC (part of PJT Partners Inc.), UBS AG and many closely held boutique firms.
Competition can be intense for the hiring and retention of qualified employees. Our ability to continue to compete effectively in our business will depend upon our ability to attract new employees and retain and motivate our existing employees.
For a discussion of risks related to the highly competitive environment in which we operate, see "Item 1A. Risk Factors" in this annual report.
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 parties participating in those markets.

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Certain of our operations are subject to compliance with laws and regulations of U.S. federal and state governments, non-U.S. governments, their respective agencies and/or various self-regulatory organizations or exchanges, and any failure to comply with these regulations could expose us to liability and/or damage our reputation. Our businesses have operated for many years within a legal framework that requires us to monitor and comply with a broad range of legal and regulatory developments that affect our activities. However, 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 our mode of operation and profitability.
North America
In the United States, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) is the federal agency responsible for the administration of the federal securities laws and the protection of investors who invest in Greenhill. Both Greenhill & Co., LLC ("G&Co LLC") and Greenhill Cogent, LP ("GC LP"), wholly-owned subsidiaries of Greenhill through which we conduct our U.S. advisory business, are registered as broker-dealers with the SEC, are members of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”), and are subject to regulation and oversight by the SEC. In addition, FINRA, 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 G&Co LLC and GC LP. State and local securities regulators also have regulatory or oversight authority over G&Co LLC and GC LP.
Broker-dealers are subject to regulations that cover all aspects of the securities business. Our business model is exclusively focused on providing strategic advice to clients and we do not hold customer funds or securities, or carry on research, securities trading, lending or underwriting activities. While this means that certain broker-dealer regulations, such as those pertaining to the use and safekeeping of customers' funds and securities and the financing of customers' purchases, may not be applicable to us, we remain subject to other applicable broker-dealer regulations, including regulatory capital levels, record keeping and reporting requirements, and the conduct and qualifications of officers and employees. In particular, as a registered broker-dealer and member of a self-regulatory organization, G&Co LLC and GC, LP, are subject to the SEC's uniform net capital rule, Rule 15c3-1. Rule 15c3-1 specifies the minimum level of net capital a broker-dealer must maintain and also requires that a significant portion of a broker-dealer's assets be retained in liquid financial instruments relative to the amount of its liabilities. The SEC and various self-regulatory organizations impose rules that require notification when net capital falls below certain predefined criteria, limit the ratio of subordinated debt to equity in the regulatory capital composition of a broker-dealer and constrain the ability of a broker-dealer to expand its business under certain circumstances. Additionally, the SEC's uniform net capital rule imposes certain requirements that may have the effect of prohibiting a broker-dealer from distributing or withdrawing capital and requiring prior notice to the SEC for certain withdrawals of capital.
Our capital advisory business also is affected by various state and local regulations that restrict or prohibit the use of placement agents in connection with investments by public pension funds, including regulations in California, Illinois, New York State and New York City. Similar measures are being considered or have been implemented in other jurisdictions.
In addition, Greenhill Capital Partners, LLC, our wholly owned subsidiary, which operated as and will continue to operate as general partner of Greenhill Capital Partners II ("GCP II"), one of our former merchant banking funds, is a registered investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. As such, it is subject to regulation and periodic examinations by the SEC. Such regulations relate to, among other things, fiduciary duties to clients, maintaining an effective compliance program, solicitation agreements, conflicts of interest, recordkeeping and reporting requirements, disclosure requirements, limitations on agency cross and principal transactions between an adviser and advisory clients and general anti-fraud prohibitions.
Europe
Greenhill & Co. International LLP and Greenhill & Co. Europe LLP, our wholly owned affiliated partnerships with offices in the United Kingdom and Germany, respectively, through which we conduct the majority of our European advisory business, are authorized and regulated by the United Kingdom's Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”). Greenhill & Co. Europe LLP is also subject to regulation by the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority in Germany (“BaFin”). The current UK regulatory regime is based upon the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (the “FSMA”), together with secondary legislation and other rules made under the FSMA. These rules govern all aspects of our advisory business in the United Kingdom, including carrying on regulated activities, record keeping, approval standards for individuals, anti-money laundering and periodic reporting.
Both Greenhill & Co. International LLP and Greenhill & Co. Europe LLP have obtained the appropriate European financial services passport rights to provide cross-border services into a number of other members of the European Economic Area (“EEA”). This “passport” derives from the pan-European regime established by the EU Markets in Financial Instruments Directive, which regulates the provision of financial services and activities throughout the EEA. We continue to monitor developments regarding the U.K.’s proposed departure from the European Union and its potential impact on the structure of our European operations, including in relation to the continued access to the European Single Market and associated passport regime.

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Greenhill & Co. Sweden AB, our wholly owned Swedish subsidiary with an office in Stockholm, provides financial advice to clients in Sweden and the wider Nordic region, and is subject to regulation by the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority.
Australia
Greenhill & Co. Australia Pty Limited ("Greenhill Australia"), our wholly owned Australian subsidiary, is licensed and subject to regulation by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (“ASIC”) and must also comply with applicable provisions of the Corporations Act 2001 and other Australian legal and regulatory requirements, including capital adequacy rules, customer protection rules, and compliance with other applicable trading and investment banking regulations.
Asia
Greenhill & Co. Japan Ltd., a wholly owned Japanese subsidiary with an office in Tokyo, is registered with the Kanto Local Finance Bureau of the Ministry of Finance in Japan and is subject to regulation by the Financial Services Agency and the Securities and Exchange Surveillance Commission in Japan, and must comply with applicable provisions of the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act and other applicable Japanese legal and regulatory requirements, including customer protection rules and compliance with other applicable trading and investment banking regulations.
Greenhill & Co. Asia Limited, a wholly owned Hong Kong subsidiary, is licensed under the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Ordinance with the Securities and Futures Commission (“SFC”) and is regulated by the SFC. The compliance requirements of the SFC include, among other things, net capital, stockholders' equity and periodic reporting requirements, and also the registration and training of certain employees and responsible officers.
General
Our business may also be subject to regulation by other governmental and regulatory bodies and self-regulatory authorities in other countries where Greenhill operates or conducts business.
Federal anti-money-laundering laws make it a criminal offense to own or operate a money transmitting business without the appropriate state licenses, which we maintain, and registration with the U.S. Department of Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). In addition, the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001 and the Treasury Department's implementing federal regulations require us, as a "financial institution," to establish and maintain an anti-money-laundering program.
In connection with its administration and enforcement of economic and trade sanctions based on U.S. foreign policy and national security goals, the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control, or OFAC, publishes a list of individuals and companies owned or controlled by, or acting for or on behalf of, targeted countries. It also lists individuals, groups and entities, such as terrorists and narcotics traffickers, designated under programs that are not country-specific. Collectively, such individuals and companies are called "Specially Designated Nationals," or SDNs. Assets of SDNs are blocked, and we are generally prohibited from dealing with them. In addition, OFAC administers a number of comprehensive sanctions and embargoes that target certain countries, governments and geographic regions. Similar restrictions have been issued in the U.K. by HM Treasury. We are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions involving any country, region or government that is subject to such comprehensive sanctions.
We also are subject to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which prohibits offering, promising, giving, or authorizing others to give anything of value, either directly or indirectly, to a non-U.S. government official in order to influence official action or otherwise gain an unfair business advantage, such as to obtain or retain business. We are also subject to applicable anti-corruption laws in the United States and in the other jurisdictions in which we operate, such as the U.K. Bribery Act. We have implemented policies, procedures, and internal controls that are designed to comply with such laws, rules, and regulations.
For a discussion of risk related to the regulation that we are subject to, see "Item 1A. Risk Factors" in this annual report.
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 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549, U.S.A. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference room. Our 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., located at 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005, U.S.A.
Our public internet site is http://www.greenhill.com. We 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

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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 our Investor Relations Department, are the charters for our Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee, our Corporate Governance Guidelines, Related Party Transaction Policy and Code of Business Conduct & Ethics governing our directors, officers and employees. You may need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader software installed on your computer to view these documents, which are in PDF format. The information on our website is not, and shall not be deemed to be, a part hereof or incorporated into this or any of our other filings with the SEC.

Item 1A.  Risk Factors
Our ability to retain our managing directors and other professionals is critical to the success of our business
The success of our business depends upon the personal reputation, judgment, integrity, business generation capabilities and project execution skills of our managing directors and senior advisors, particularly our senior managing directors. Our managing directors’ personal reputations and relationships with our clients are a critical element in obtaining and maintaining client engagements. Accordingly, the retention of our managing directors, who are not obligated to remain employed with us, is particularly crucial to our future success. Managing directors have left Greenhill in the past and others may do so in the future, and we cannot predict the impact that the departure of any managing director will have on our business. The departure or other loss of our senior managing directors, in particular Robert F. Greenhill, our founder and Chairman and Scott L. Bok, our Chief Executive Officer, could materially adversely affect our ability to secure and successfully complete engagements, which could 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 or some of our managing directors or other professionals could choose to follow the departing managing director in joining an existing competitor or forming a competing company. Although we have entered into non-competition agreements with our managing directors, the restriction period in many of the agreements does not exceed three to six months, and there is no guarantee that these agreements 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.
Principally all of our revenues are derived from advisory fees, which results in volatility in our revenues and profits
We are entirely focused on the financial advisory business and we earn principally all of our revenues from advisory fees paid to us by each of our clients, in large part upon the successful completion of the client's transaction, the timing of which is outside of our control. Unlike diversified investment banks, which generate revenues from commercial lending, securities trading and underwriting, or other advisory firms, which have asset management and other businesses, our generation of revenues from sources other than advisory fees is minimal. As a result, a decline in our advisory engagements, the number and scale of successfully completed client transactions or the market for advisory services generally would have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
Our engagements are singular in nature and do not provide for subsequent engagements, which could cause our revenues to fluctuate materially from period to period
We operate in a highly-competitive environment where our clients generally retain us on a non-exclusive, short-term, engagement-by-engagement basis in connection with specific transactions or projects, rather than under long-term contracts covering potential additional future services. As these transactions and projects are singular in nature and subject to intense competition, 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 period or any future period. In addition, we generally derive most of our engagement revenues at key transaction milestones, such as announcement or closing, and the timing of these milestones is outside our control. Extended regulatory and other delays in the closing of announced transactions can create increased volatility in our revenues from period to period since the largest portion of our fees is paid upon closing. Further, 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, failure to achieve necessary regulatory approvals and adverse market conditions. In cases where an engagement is terminated prior to the successful completion of a transaction or project, whether due to market reasons or otherwise, we may earn limited or no fees and may not be able to recoup the costs we incurred prior to the termination.


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A high percentage of our advisory revenues is derived from a small number of 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 client engagements accounted for 40% of our total revenues in 2016 and 32% in 2015 . There was no single client in 2016 or 2015 that represented greater than 10% of our revenues. We earned $1 million or more from 71 clients in 2016 , compared to 64 in 2015 , of which 24% of the clients were new to the Firm in 2016 and 30% in 2015 . 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, compared to some of our larger competitors, 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 from lost engagements or the non-completion of transactions on which we are advising can be significant.
We generate a substantial portion of our revenues from our services in connection with mergers and acquisitions and in the event of a decline in merger and acquisition activity it is unlikely we could offset lower revenues with revenues from other services
The large majority of our bankers are focused on covering clients in the context of providing merger and acquisition advisory services and those activities generate a substantial portion of our revenues. In the event of a decline in merger and acquisition activity we may seek to generate greater business from our financing advisory and restructuring and/or capital advisory services. However, it is unlikely that we will be able to offset lower revenues from our merger and acquisition activities with revenues generated from either financing advisory and restructuring or capital advisory assignments. Both our financing advisory and restructuring business, which provides financing, restructuring and bankruptcy advice to companies in financial distress or their creditors or other stakeholders, and our capital advisory business, which assists in capital raisings for new private funds and advises on secondary transactions for alternative assets, are smaller than our mergers and acquisitions advisory business and we expect that they will remain that way for the foreseeable future.
If the number of debt defaults, bankruptcies or other factors affecting demand for our restructuring services is at a low level, our financial advisory and restructuring business could suffer
We provide various financing advisory and restructuring and related advice to companies in financial distress or to their creditors or other stakeholders. A number of factors affect demand for these advisory services, including general economic conditions, the availability and cost of debt and equity financing, governmental policy and changes to laws, rules and regulations, including those that protect creditors. In addition, providing restructuring advisory services entails the risk that the transaction will be unsuccessful, takes considerable time and can be subject to a bankruptcy court's discretionary power to disallow or discount our fees. If the number of debt defaults, bankruptcies or other factors affecting demand for our restructuring advisory services is at a low level, our financing advisory and restructuring business would be adversely affected.
Our capital advisory business is dependent on the availability of capital for deployment in primary and secondary alternative asset classes for clients we serve
In our capital advisory business, we provide primary fund placement services, principally for real estate funds, and we advise institutional investors on the sale of alternative assets funds in secondary transactions. Our ability to find suitable engagements and earn fees in this business depends on the availability of private and public capital for investments in illiquid assets such as private equity and real estate funds. Our ability to assist fund managers and sponsors in raising capital from investors or to assist investors in selling their interests in secondary transactions depends on a number of factors, including many that are outside our control, such as the general economic environment, changes in the weight investors give to alternative asset investments as part of their overall investment portfolio among asset classes, and market liquidity and volatility. To the extent private and public capital focused on primary or secondary investment in alternative investment opportunities for our clients is limited, the results of our capital advisory business may be adversely affected.
Our business may be adversely affected by difficult market conditions and a decline in transaction activity
Adverse market or economic conditions would likely affect the number, size and timing of transactions on which we provide advice and therefore adversely affect our advisory fees. Furthermore, rapid increases in equity valuations and market volatility can negatively impact merger and acquisition activity. Our clients engaging in mergers and acquisitions often rely on access to the credit and/or equity markets to finance their transactions. The uncertainty of available credit and the volatility of equity markets can adversely affect the size, volume, timing and ability of our clients to successfully complete merger and acquisition transactions and adversely affect our advisory business. Furthermore, market volatility also affects our clients’ ability and willingness to engage in stock-for-stock transactions.

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While we operate in North America, Europe, Australia, Asia and South America, our operations in the United States and Europe have historically provided most of our revenues and earnings. Consequently, our revenues and profitability are particularly affected by market conditions in these locations.
We face strong competition from far larger firms and other independent firms, which could adversely affect our market share of the advisory business
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, our range of products and services, strength of relationships, innovation, reputation and price. We may experience pricing pressures in the future if some of our competitors seek to obtain market share by reducing prices. We are a relatively small investment bank, with 356  employees (including managing directors and senior advisors) as of December 31, 2016 and total revenues of $335.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 . Most of our competitors in the investment banking industry have a far greater range of products and services, greater financial and marketing resources, larger customer bases, greater name recognition, more managing directors to serve clients' needs, greater global reach and broader relationships with current and potential clients 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.
Our integrated investment banking competitors and other large commercial banks, insurance companies and other broad-based financial services firms that have established or acquired financial advisory practices and broker-dealers or have merged with other financial institutions have the ability to offer a wide range of products, from loans, deposit-taking and insurance to brokerage, hedging, foreign exchange, asset management and investment banking services, which may enhance their competitive position. Their ability to support investment banking with commercial banking, insurance and other financial services revenues in an effort to gain market share 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.
In addition to our larger competitors, a number of independent investment banks offer independent advisory services and some of these firms are larger and have greater general and industry specific coverage resources and larger financing advisory and restructuring groups than we do. Furthermore, a number of such independent firms are publicly traded and may have greater financial resources than us. Additionally, over the past several years, there has been an increase in the number of newly formed independent advisory firms, some of which provide industry specific advice. Since independent advisory firms require minimal capital to operate, there are few obstacles to forming a new firm. As these independent firms seek to gain market share, our share of the advisory business could diminish and there could be pricing pressure, which would adversely affect our revenues and earnings.
Our future growth is dependent on both our ability to identify, attract and hire additional managing directors and other professionals and our ability to identify, acquire and successfully integrate complementary advisory businesses
The future growth of our business is dependent upon our ability both to recruit new personnel, develop our existing and new personnel and to expand through strategic investments or acquisitions. To successfully increase our headcount we must identify, attract and hire professionals, or teams of professionals, to join our firm, who not only will be able to function as a trusted advisor to our clients without the support of a large suite of products but also will be able to fit into our collegial culture. The recruitment, development and training of professionals require large commitments of time and resources. It may take a substantial amount of time to determine whether new professionals will be effective and, during that time, we may incur significant expenses on compensation, integration and business development activities. Furthermore, there can be no certainty that our personnel will develop the skills necessary to advise our client base or that we will be able to retain the high achieving personnel.
In the event we grow by strategic investment or acquisition, we face numerous risks and uncertainties similar to those of hiring and developing internally our individual professionals. We also face the challenge of integrating a large number of personnel into our global organization and ensuring a good cultural fit. Management and other existing personnel will spend considerable time and resources working to integrate the acquired business, which may distract them from other business operations.
If we are unable to successfully attract, hire and train new and existing professionals or make strategic investments and integrate the personnel into our business and retain them, our financial results could suffer.
Strategic investments and acquisitions, or foreign expansion, may result in additional risks and uncertainties in our business
When we make strategic investments or acquisitions, such as our acquisitions of Caliburn Partnership Pty Limited (now Greenhill Australia) and Cogent, in additional to the risks associated with the integration and retention of personnel, we face numerous risks

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and uncertainties combining or integrating the relevant businesses and systems, including accounting and data processing systems and management controls.
To the extent that we pursue business opportunities outside the United States, such as our expansion into Asia or Brazil, we will be subject to political, economic, legal, operational, regulatory and other risks that are inherent in operating in a foreign country, including risks of possible nationalization, expropriation, price controls, capital controls, exchange controls, inflation controls, licensing requirements 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 and costly 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.
If we expand to new geographic locations, we will incur additional compensation, occupancy, integration, legal and business development costs. Additionally, it may take significant time for us to determine whether new managing directors will be profitable or effective, during which time we may incur significant expenses and expend significant time and resources on compensation, integration and business development. Accordingly, the additional costs and expenses of an expansion may be reflected in our financial results before any offsetting revenues are generated. Depending upon the extent of our expansion, and whether it is done by recruiting new managing directors, strategic investment or acquisition, the incremental costs of our expansion may be funded from cash from operations or other financing alternatives. There can be no assurance that we will be able to generate or obtain sufficient capital on acceptable terms to fund our expansion needs which would limit our future growth and could adversely affect our share price.
Sustaining growth will also require us to commit additional management, operational, and financial resources to this growth and to maintain appropriate operational and financial systems to adequately support expansion. There can be no assurance that we will be able to manage our expanding operations effectively or that we will be able to maintain or accelerate our growth, and any failure to do so could adversely affect our ability to generate revenues and control our expenses.
The inherent volatility in our financial results from quarter to quarter, translates into volatility in our stock price
Our revenue and profits are highly volatile. We can experience significant variations in revenues and earnings during each quarterly period. 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, the timing of which is uncertain and is not subject to our control.
Compared to our larger, more diversified competitors in the financial services industry, we generally experience even greater variations in our quarterly revenues and profits. This is due to our dependence on a relatively small number of transactions for a large percentage of our revenues in each quarterly reporting period, with the result that our earnings can be significantly affected by the size and number of transactions closed in any particular quarter.
Furthermore, since substantially all of our revenues are generated from advisory fees, we lack other more stable sources of revenue such as brokerage and asset management fees, which could moderate some of the volatility in advisory revenues. As a result, it may be difficult for us to achieve consistent results and steady earnings growth on a quarterly basis, which could adversely affect our stock price.
Our advisory fee revenues are subject to risks and uncertainties beyond our control
In many cases, we are not paid for advisory engagements that do not result in the successful consummation of a transaction or restructuring or closing of a fund. As a result, our business is highly dependent on market conditions and the decisions and actions of our clients and interested third parties. For example, in our mergers and acquisitions business, a client could delay or terminate a 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, or adverse market conditions. In our restructuring business, anticipated bidders for assets of a client in financial distress 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 our capital advisory business, our clients may not raise sufficient capital to start a new fund or may not be able to sell their fund interests in secondary transactions because anticipated investors may decline to invest in such a fund due to lack of liquidity, change in strategic direction of the investor, or other factors. In these circumstances, we may receive limited or no advisory fees, despite having committed substantial time and resources to an engagement. 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 revenues and earnings.

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Our inability to generate sufficient cash in the future to service our indebtedness or other contractual obligations, or a significant deterioration in the credit markets or the failure of one or more commercial banking institutions, could adversely affect our liquidity
Our ability to make scheduled payments on or to refinance any current or future debt obligations and other contractual obligations depends on our financial condition and operating performance. We cannot provide assurance that we will maintain a level of cash flows from operating activities sufficient to permit us to pay the principal of, and interest on, any indebtedness or fund other contractual obligations.
As of December 31, 2016 , we had cash and cash equivalents of $98.3 million . We have invested these assets in instruments which we believe are highly liquid, and monitor developments relating to the liquidity of these investments on a regular basis. In the event of a significant deterioration of the credit markets or the failure of one or more commercial banking institutions, there can be no assurance that we will be able to liquidate these assets or access our cash. Our inability to access our cash investments could have a material adverse effect on our liquidity and result in our inability to meet our obligations timely, which could have a material adverse effect on the value of our stock.
We have a $70.0 million revolving loan facility with a U.S. commercial bank which currently expires on April 30, 2017 , that we expect to renew prior to its current maturity for an additional twelve month period. At December 31, 2016 , we had $64.1 million drawn down from this facility. We utilize the revolving loan facility to supplement our domestic operating cash flow and to provide primarily for our cash needs such as term debt repayments, dividend payments, share repurchases, income tax payments and other working capital needs. Historically, we have rolled over the maturity date of our revolving loan facility annually. Our inability to extend the maturity date of the loan or renew the facility on acceptable terms with the existing lender could require us to repay all or a portion of the loan balance outstanding at maturity. There is no assurance that our revolving credit facility will continue to be renewed with the current lender and, if not, that we would be able to obtain a new credit facility of a similar size and on similar terms from a different lender.
In addition, we financed the cash portion of the purchase price of Cogent with two term loan facilities, each with a principal amount of $22.5 million , and together in the aggregate $45.0 million . Although we have repaid in full the first of such facilities which had a maturity date of April 30, 2016, the other facility, of which $16.9 million was outstanding at December 31, 2016, has a maturity date of April 30, 2018, and requires semi-annual installments of $5.625 million, with the next installment due on April 30, 2017. There can be no assurance that we will maintain a level of cash flow from operating activities sufficient to make principal payments on the term loan in accordance with the amortization schedule.
Further, in connection with our purchase of Cogent, we agreed to pay to the selling unitholders additional consideration of $18.9 million in cash and issue 334,048 shares of our common stock if a revenue target is achieved by our secondary capital advisory business during either of the two-year periods ending March 31, 2017 or March 31, 2019 (the "Earnout"). If the revenue target is achieved we may fund the cash payment through additional borrowings from our revolving bank loan facility and/or additional bank term borrowing. There can be no assurance that we will be able to fund such obligation through bank borrowings or service such borrowings if incurred.
In order to repay the outstanding balance of our revolving credit facility and principal payments due on the term loan facility, we could be required to repatriate funds to the U.S., which could require us to pay incremental U.S. tax, or issue debt or equity securities in the public or private markets, in each case on terms which may not be favorable to us. Our inability to repay or refinance the loan facilities when due could have a material adverse effect on our liquidity and result in our inability to meet our obligations, which could have a material adverse effect on our stock price.
Our employees own a significant portion of our common stock and their interests may differ from those of our public shareholders
Our employees and their affiliated entities collectively owned approximately 12% of the total shares of common stock outstanding as of February 15, 2017 . Assuming the restricted stock units issued to our employees were fully vested as of February 15, 2017 , our employees and their affiliates would have owned approximately 24% of the outstanding shares of our common stock.
As a result of these shareholdings, our employees currently are able to exercise significant influence over the election of our 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, the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of Greenhill, and the declaration and payment of dividends.
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.

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There are no restrictions on the sale of the shares held by our employees, other than prohibitions on sales during “black-out” periods imposed by us between earnings releases and certain stock ownership guidelines applicable to our named executive officers.
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
As part of annual bonus and incentive compensation, we award restricted stock units to managing directors and other employees. We also award restricted stock units as a long-term incentive to new hires at the time they join Greenhill. At February 15, 2017 , 4,676,448 , restricted stock units were outstanding, including 973,946 restricted stock units granted to employees in January 2017 as part of the long-term incentive award component of our annual compensation package. 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 senior employees generally vest over a four to five-year period, with the first vesting on the first anniversary of the grant date, or do not vest until the third or fifth anniversary of their grant date, when they vest in full, subject to continued employment on the vesting date. Awards of restricted stock to our more junior professionals generally vest ratably over a three to four year period. 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. Vesting of restricted stock units will be accelerated and immediately vested upon a participant’s death, disability or retirement, as defined in the relevant agreements. Assuming all of the conditions to vesting are fulfilled, shares in respect of the restricted stock units that were outstanding as of February 15, 2017 are scheduled to be issued as follows: 117,712 additional shares in 2017 , 1,353,160 shares in 2018 , 1,248,370 shares in 2019 , 1,339,392 shares in 2020 , 593,401 shares in 2021 , and 24,413 shares in 2022 .
In January 2016, we also awarded 115,473 performance restricted stock units to our Chief Executive Officer. The performance restricted stock units will vest based upon Greenhill’s level of achievement of three equally weighted performance metrics measured over a three-year performance period running from January 1, 2016 through December 31, 2018. Subject to the level of achievement of each of the performance metrics, the number of shares issuable at the end of the performance period could be zero to 288,683. Vesting of the performance restricted stock units will be accelerated in the case of death, disability, or retirement after at least one year of service.
We may be unable to mitigate the dilutive effect of equity awards through share repurchases
Upon delivery of restricted stock units at the time they vest, over the past five years we have repurchased on average approximately 40% annually of the awards for the payment of income tax withholding due upon settlement of the awards. Although we historically have repurchased in the open market a significant number of shares of our common stock, there have been years such as 2015 when we did not repurchase any shares in the open market. Our ability to repurchase shares in the future will be dependent upon our available cash flow and anticipated cash needs, capital requirements, liquidity, debt service obligations, dividend payments and other relevant factors. If we were to cease or were unable to repurchase shares of common stock, or choose to allocate available capital to the repayment of borrowings, payment of dividends or other corporate purposes, the number of shares outstanding would increase over time, diluting the ownership of our existing stockholders.
Employee misconduct could harm Greenhill and is difficult to detect and deter
There have been a number of highly publicized cases involving fraud, insider trading or other misconduct by employees in the financial services industry in recent years, and we run the risk that employee misconduct could occur at Greenhill. For example, misconduct by employees could involve the improper use or disclosure of confidential information, which could result in regulatory sanctions and material fines, or insider trading, which could lead to criminal charges. Our advisory business often requires that we deal with highly confidential information of great significance to our clients, the improper use of which may have a material adverse impact on our 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. Any breach of our clients’ confidences as a result of employee misconduct may harm our reputation and impair our ability to attract and retain advisory clients, which could adversely affect our business.
In recent years, the U.S. Department of Justice and the SEC have also devoted greater resources to the enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. In addition, the United Kingdom has significantly expanded the reach of its anti-bribery laws. While we have developed and implemented policies and procedures designed to ensure strict compliance with anti-bribery and other laws, such policies and procedures may not be effective in all instances to prevent violations. Any determination that we have violated these laws or other applicable anti-corruption laws could subject us to, among other things, civil and criminal penalties, material fines, profit disgorgement, injunction on future conduct, securities litigation and reputational damage, any one of which could adversely affect our business prospects, financial position or the market value of our common stock.


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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 or if conflicts of interests should arise
As an independent 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. Further, because we provide our services primarily in connection with significant or complex transactions, disputes or other matters that usually involve confidential and sensitive information or are adversarial, and because our work is the product of myriad judgments of our financial professionals and other staff operating under significant time and other pressures, we may not always perform to the standards expected by our clients. In addition, we may face reputational damage from, among other things, litigation against us, our failure to protect confidential information and/or breaches of our cybersecurity protections or other inappropriate disclosure of confidential information, including inadvertent disclosures.
In addition, our clients are often concerned about conflicts of interest that may arise in the course of engagements. While we have adopted various policies, controls and procedures to reduce the risks associated with the execution of transactions, the rendering of fairness opinions and potential conflicts of interest, these policies may not be adhered to by our employees or be effective in reducing these risks. Failure to adhere to these policies and procedures may result in regulatory sanctions or client litigation. We are unable to estimate the amount of monetary damages which could be assessed or reputational harm that could occur as a result of regulatory sanction or client litigation.
As a financial advisor on significant transactions, we face substantial litigation risk
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 actions against us. In recent years, the volume of claims and amount of damages claimed in litigation and regulatory proceedings against financial advisors has been increasing, including claims for aiding and abetting client misconduct. Moreover, judicial scrutiny and criticism of investment banker performance and activities has increased, creating risk that our services in a litigated transaction could be criticized by the court. 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. These indemnities also are dependent on our client's capacity to pay the amounts claimed. 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 depend to a large extent on our business relationships and our reputation for integrity and high-caliber professional services to attract and retain clients. As a result, allegations of improper conduct by private litigants or regulators, whether the ultimate outcome is favorable or unfavorable to us, as well as negative publicity and press speculation about us, whether or not valid, may harm our reputation, which may be more damaging to our business than to other types of businesses.
We are subject to extensive regulation in the financial services industry, which creates risk of non-compliance that could adversely affect our business and reputation
As a participant in the financial services industry, we are subject to extensive regulation in the United States, Europe, Australia and Asia. In addition, as we expand our international operations by opening new offices outside the United States or by carrying out transactions or private placement activities internationally, we are increasingly subject to new regulatory requirements. Regulatory and self-regulatory agencies as well as securities commissions in various jurisdictions in which we do business are empowered to conduct periodic examinations and administrative proceedings that can result in censure, fine, issuance of “cease and desist” orders or suspension of personnel or other sanctions, including revocation of our license or registration or the registration of any of our regulated subsidiaries. In addition, as a result of recent highly publicized scandals in the financial services industry, scrutiny by regulators of financial services firms has increased significantly. Even if a sanction imposed against us or our personnel is small in monetary amount, the adverse publicity arising from the imposition of sanctions against us by regulators could harm our reputation and cause us to lose existing clients or fail to gain new clients.
Change in applicable law and regulatory schemes could adversely affect our business
From time to time, the United States and other national governments in the countries in which we operate and related regulatory authorities, as well as local governments, may adopt new rules which affect our business. Many of the requirements imposed by our regulators are designed to ensure the integrity of the financial markets and to protect customers and other third parties who deal with us and are not designed to protect our stockholders. Consequently, these regulations may serve to limit our activities,

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including through net capital, customer protection and market conduct requirements. The results of the recent United States presidential and congressional elections and certain upcoming elections outside of the U.S. could also create legal and regulatory uncertainty. There can be no assurance that regulations will not be imposed which may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operation.
In addition, several states and municipalities in the United States, such as California, Illinois, New York State and New York City, have adopted “pay-to-play” and placement agent rules which, in addition to imposing registration and reporting requirements, limit our ability to charge fees in connection with certain of our capital advisory engagements or restrict or prohibit the use of placement agents in connection with investments by public pension funds. These types of measures could materially and adversely impact the fees we earn from our capital advisory engagements.
In addition, the current U.S. President and his Administration, and some members of the current U.S. Congress, have signaled a willingness to revise, renegotiate, or terminate various multilateral trade agreements under which U.S. companies currently exchange products and services around the world. It is not known what specific measures might be proposed or how they would be implemented and enforced. There can be no assurance that pending or future legislation or executive action in the U.S. that could significantly increase costs with respect to our foreign operations and, consequently, adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations, will not be enacted.
Compliance with any new laws or regulations could also make compliance more difficult and expensive, affect the manner in which we conduct our business and adversely affect our profitability.
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.
The cost of compliance with international employment, labor, benefits and tax regulations may adversely affect our business and hamper our ability to expand internationally
Since we operate our business both in the United States and internationally, we are subject to many distinct employment, labor, benefits and tax laws in each state and country in which we operate, including regulations affecting our employment practices and our relations with our employees and service providers. If the existing regulations under which we operate are modified or interpreted differently or new regulations are issued and we are unable to comply with these regulations or interpretations, our business could be adversely affected or the cost of compliance may make it difficult to expand into new international markets. Additionally, our competitiveness in international markets may be adversely affected by regulations requiring, among other things, the awarding of contracts to local contractors, the employment of local citizens, the purchase of services from local businesses, or requiring local ownership.
A change in relevant income tax laws, regulations, or treaties or an adverse interpretation of these items by tax authorities could result in an audit adjustment or revaluation of our deferred tax assets that may cause our effective tax rate and tax liability to be higher than what is currently presented in the Consolidated Financial Statements

O ur effective tax rate and tax liability is based on the application of current income tax laws, regulations, and treaties.  These laws, regulations, and treaties are complex, and the manner in which they apply to our facts and circumstances is sometimes open to interpretation.  Management believes its application of current laws, regulations, and treaties to be correct and sustainable upon examination by the tax authorities.  However, the tax authorities could challenge our interpretation resulting in an additional tax liability or adjustment to our income tax provision that could increase our effective tax rate.  In addition, tax laws, regulations, or treaties enacted in the future may cause us to revalue our deferred tax assets and have a material change to our effective tax rate.

The recently elected U.S. President and members of administration are publicly considering potential tax reform, including the possibility of replacing large parts of the existing federal income tax code. Although we monitor these developments, it is very difficult to assess to what extent these changes may be implemented in the U.S. and other jurisdictions in which we conduct our business. Depending on the nature of any reforms it is possible that certain changes in tax laws and related regulations and practices could have a material adverse effect on our business operations, effective tax rate and financial position and results of operations.



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Uncertainty regarding Brexit and the outcome of future arrangements between the European Union and the United Kingdom may adversely affect our business
We have a presence in certain European Union countries, including the U.K. On June 23, 2016, the U.K. voted in favor of a referendum to leave the European Union, commonly referred to as "Brexit". The nature of the arrangements that are yet to be determined between the U.K. and the European Union are difficult to predict. Uncertainty regarding the outcome of such arrangements may continue for a significant period of time and could adversely affect European and worldwide economic and market conditions, contribute to instability in global financial and foreign exchange markets, and introduce significant legal uncertainty and potentially divergent national laws and regulations. Conditions arising from Brexit could adversely affect our U.K. business and operations, including by reducing the volume or size of mergers, acquisitions, divestitures and other strategic corporate transactions on which we seek to advise. An exit by the U.K. from the European Union could also cause our U.K. entities to lose their European Union financial services passport license, which allows them to operate, on a cross-border and off-shore basis, into all European Union countries without obtaining regulatory approval outside of the U.K., which would increase our legal, compliance and operational costs.
The value of our goodwill may decline in the future, which could adversely affect our financial results
A significant decline in our expected future cash flows, a significant adverse change in the business climate, or slower growth rates, any or all of which could be materially affected by many of the risk factors discussed herein, may require that we take charges in the future related to the impairment of goodwill. Future regulatory actions also could have a material impact on assessments of goodwill for impairment. If we were to conclude that a future write-down of our goodwill and other intangible assets is necessary, we would record the appropriate charge which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and market value of our common stock.
Our failure to prevent a cyber-security attack may disrupt our businesses, harm our reputation, result in losses or limit our growth
Our clients typically provide us with sensitive and confidential information. We rely heavily on our technological and communications infrastructure to securely process, transmit and store such information among our locations around the world and with our professional staff, clients, alliance partners and vendors. If any of our technology systems do not operate properly or are disabled, we could suffer financial loss, a disruption of our businesses, regulatory intervention or reputational damage. Our information systems and technology may not continue to be able to accommodate our growth, and the cost of maintaining such systems may increase from its current level. Such a failure to accommodate growth, or an increase in costs related to such information systems, could have a material adverse effect on us.
We may also encounter cyber-attacks on our critical data and we may not be able to anticipate or prevent all such attacks. We may incur increasing costs in an effort to minimize these risks and could be held liable for any security breach or loss. While we have policies and procedures designed to prevent or limit the effect of the possible failure, interruption or security breach of our information and communication systems, there can be no assurance that any such failure, interruption or security breach will not occur or, if they do occur, that they will be adequately addressed. The occurrence of any failure, interruption or security breach of our information or communication systems could damage our reputation, result in a loss of business, subject us to additional regulatory scrutiny, or expose us to civil litigation and possible financial liability.
We depend on our headquarters in New York City, where a large number of our personnel are located, for the continued operation of our business. A disaster or a disruption in the infrastructure that supports our businesses, including catastrophic events such as hurricanes or other larger scale catastrophes, a disruption involving electronic communications or other services used by us or third parties with whom we conduct business, or directly affecting our headquarters, could have a material adverse impact on our ability to continue to operate our business without interruption. The incidence and severity of catastrophes and other disasters are inherently unpredictable. Our disaster recovery programs may not be sufficient to mitigate the harm that may result from such a disaster or disruption. Although we carry insurance to mitigate its exposure to certain catastrophic events, our insurance and other safeguards might only partially reimburse us for our losses, if at all.
Fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates could adversely affect our results of operations
Because our financial statements are denominated in U.S. dollars and we receive a portion of our revenue in other currencies, predominantly in British pounds, euros, and Australian dollars, we are exposed to fluctuations in foreign currencies. In addition, we pay compensation to our non-U.S. employees and certain of our other expenses in such currencies. We have not entered into any transactions to hedge our exposure to these foreign exchange fluctuations through the use of derivative instruments or otherwise. An appreciation or depreciation of any of these currencies relative to the U.S. dollar could result in an adverse or beneficial impact to our financial results.

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The market price of our common stock is volatile and may decline
The price of our 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, changes in general economic or market conditions and broad market fluctuations. Since a significant portion of the compensation of our managing directors and certain other employees is paid in restricted stock units and our employees rely upon the ability of share sales to generate additional cash flow, a decline in the price of our stock may adversely affect our ability to retain key employees, including our managing directors. Similarly, our ability to recruit managing directors and other professionals may be adversely affected by a decline in the price of our stock.
We could change our existing dividend policy in the future, which could adversely affect our stock price
We began paying quarterly cash dividends to holders of record of our common stock in June 2004. Since 2007, we have paid quarterly cash dividends of $0.45 per share of our common stock to holders of record. We intend to continue to pay quarterly dividends subject to capital availability, cash flows and periodic determinations that cash dividends are in the best interest of our stockholders. Future declaration and payment of dividends on our common stock is at the discretion of our Board of Directors and depend upon, among other things, general financial conditions, capital requirements and surplus, cash flows, debt service obligations, our recent and expected future operations and earnings, contractual restrictions and other factors as the Board of Directors may deem relevant. For example, in the event that there is deterioration in our financial performance and/or our liquidity position, a downturn in global economic conditions or disruptions in the credit markets and our ability to obtain financing, our Board of Directors could decide to reduce or even suspend dividend payments in the future. We cannot provide assurance that we will continue to declare dividends at all or in any particular amounts. A reduction or suspension in our dividend payments could have a negative effect on our stock price.
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 Annual Report on 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”, “outlook”, “potential”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “intend”, “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 current views and projections of our operations and future financial performance, 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 in the foregoing paragraphs of this “Risk Factors” section.
These risks are not exhaustive. Other sections of this Annual Report on Form 10-K may include additional factors which could adversely affect 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 give assurances that those expectations will be achieved, nor can we 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 or review any of these forward-looking statements after the date of this filing to conform our prior statements to actual results or revised expectations whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

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 Exchange Act.







17






Item 2.  Properties
Our principal offices, all of which are leased, are as follows:
Location
Owned/Leased
 
Lease Expiration
 
Approximate Square
Footage as of
December 31, 2016
300 Park Avenue
Leased
 
2020
 
105,000 square feet
New York, New York
( Global Headquarters)
 
 
 
 
 
Lansdowne House
Leased
 
2018
 
19,000 square feet
57 Berkeley Square, London
 
 
 
 
 
Neue Mainzer Strasse 52-58
Leased
 
2023
 
7,000 square feet
Frankfurt
 
 
 
 
 
Av. Brigadeiro Faria Lima, 2277
Leased
 
2018
 
5,000 square feet
São Paulo
 
 
 
 
 
79 Wellington Street West
Leased
 
2019
 
5,000 square feet
Toronto
 
 
 
 
 
Marunouchi Building
Leased
 
2021
 
4,000 square feet
Tokyo
 
 
 
 
 
Governor Phillip Tower
Leased
 
2025
 
11,000 square feet
1 Farrer Place, Sydney
 
 
 
 
 
2101 Cedar Springs Rd
Leased
 
2018
 
15,000 square feet
Dallas, Texas
 
 
 
 
 

Most of the lease arrangements listed above provide for renewal options beyond the date of expiration.
We also have six additional offices with approximately 33,000 of aggregate square footage with terms expiring through 2021.
In addition, we have consolidated the Cogent personnel located in New York and London into our office space and we have subleased approximately 7,000 of aggregate square footage in those locations. The sublease arrangements extend through the terms of the existing leases, which both terminate in 2019.

Item 3.  Legal Proceedings
We are from time to time involved in legal proceedings incidental to the ordinary course of our business. We do not believe any such proceedings will have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.

Item 4.  Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.

18




EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
Our executive officers are Scott L. Bok (Chief Executive Officer), Kevin M. Costantino (President), David A. Wyles (President) and Harold J. Rodriguez, Jr. (Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Compliance Officer and Treasurer). Set forth below is a brief biography of each executive officer.
Scott L. Bok, 57, has served as Chief Executive Officer since April 2010, served as Co-Chief Executive Officer between October 2007 and April 2010, and served as our U.S. President between January 2004 and October 2007. He has also served 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. 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 also served as a member of the Board of Directors of Iridium Communications Inc., from 2009 to 2013.
Kevin M. Costantino, 40, has served as President since 2015, and also is a member of our Management Committee. Prior to his appointment as President, Mr. Costantino served as Co-Head of our Australian business. Mr. Costantino joined Greenhill's New York office in 2005, to which he relocated in July 2015 after a second stay in our Sydney office. He also spent time in our Chicago office following its 2009 opening, and was involved in our expansion to Brazil two years ago. Before joining Greenhill, Mr. Costantino was a mergers and acquisitions lawyer with Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz in New York.
David A. Wyles, 48, has served as President since 2015, and also is a member of our Management Committee. Prior to his appointment as President, Mr. Wyles served as Co-Head of our European business. Mr. Wyles joined Greenhill 19 years ago as part of the original team from Baring Brothers that founded our London office, and was involved in the opening of our Frankfurt office two years later. He is one of the leading M&A advisors in the UK market, and has also led numerous major transaction assignments in Continental Europe and globally, including most of our assignments involving China.
Harold J. Rodriguez, Jr., 61, has served as our Chief Financial Officer since August 2016, as our Chief Operating Officer since January 2012, as Chief Administrative Officer from March 2008 until January 2012 and was Managing Director — Finance, Regulation and Operations from January 2004 to March 2008. Mr. Rodriguez also serves as our Chief Compliance Officer and Treasurer and is a member of our Management Committee. Mr. Rodriguez is the Chief Financial Officer of Greenhill’s operating subsidiaries and from November 2000 through December 2003 was Chief Financial Officer of Greenhill. Mr. Rodriguez has served as the Chief Financial Officer of Greenhill Capital Partners LLC since he joined Greenhill in June 2000. Prior to joining Greenhill, 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 at Ernst & Young, where he was a senior manager specializing in taxation.
Our Board of Directors has six members, two of whom are employees (Robert F. Greenhill and Scott L. Bok) and four of whom are independent (Robert T. Blakely, Steven F. Goldstone, Stephen L. Key and Karen P. Robards). In January 2016, our Board of Directors amended our Corporate Governance Guidelines to provide for a “Lead Independent Director” and appointed Mr. Goldstone to this role. A brief biography of each of Messrs. Greenhill, Blakely, Goldstone and Key and Ms. Robards is set forth below.
Robert F. Greenhill, 80, our founder, has served as our Chairman since the time of our founding in 1996 and served as our Chief Executive Officer between 1996 and October 2007. 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.
Robert T. Blakely, 75, has served on our Board of Directors since April 2009. Since 2008, Mr. Blakely has served as the President of Performance Enhancement Group, a position he previously held from 2002 to 2003. From February 2006 to January 2008, Mr. Blakely served as Executive Vice President of Fannie Mae and from February 2006 to August 2007 as its Chief Financial Officer. From 2003 to 2006, Mr. Blakely served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of MCI. From 1999 to 2002 he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Lyondell Chemical. From 1981 to 1999 he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Tenneco, Inc. From 1971 to 1981, Mr. Blakely was with Morgan Stanley. Mr. Blakely is a member of the Board of Directors of Westlake Chemical Corporation, Natural Resource Partners L.P. and Ally

19




Financial Inc. (formerly GMAC, Inc.). Mr. Blakely completed a five year term on December 31, 2011 as Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Financial Accounting Federation, the oversight body for the Financial Accounting Standards Board.
Steven F. Goldstone, 71, has served on our Board of Directors since July 2004 and has also served as our Lead Independent Director since January 2016. 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 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 the non-executive Chairman of ConAgra Foods, Inc. Mr. Goldstone served as a member of the Board of Directors of Trane, Inc. (f/k/a American Standard Companies, Inc.) from 2002 until 2008 and as a member of the Board of Directors of Merck & Co. from 2008 until 2012. Mr. Goldstone has also served as a member of the Board of Directors of The Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. since March 2016.
Stephen L. Key, 73, has served on our Board of Directors since May 2004. Since 2003, Mr. Key has been the sole proprietor of Key Consulting, LLC. 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 served as a member of the Board of Directors of Fairway Group Holdings Corp. from 2012 to 2016 and as Chairman of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of Fairway Group Holdings Corp. from 2013 to 2016. Mr. Key has also served as a member of the Board of Directors of Sitel, Inc. from 2007 until 2008, as a member of the Board of Directors of Forward Industries, Inc. from 2010 until 2012, and as a member of the Board of Directors of 1-800-Contacts, Inc. from 2005 to 2012.
Karen P. Robards, 66, has served on our Board of Directors since April 2013. Since 1987, Ms. Robards has been a principal of Robards & Company, LLC, a consulting and private investment firm. From 1976 to 1987, Ms. Robards was an investment banker at Morgan Stanley where she served as head of its healthcare investment banking activities. Ms. Robards currently serves as Vice Chair of the Board and Chair of the Audit Committee of BlackRock Closed-End Funds. Ms. Robards is also a member of the Board of Directors of AtriCure, Inc., a medical device company, where she has served since 2000. From 1996 to 2005, Ms. Robards served as a director of Enable Medical Corporation, a developer and manufacturer of surgical instruments, which was acquired by AtriCure, Inc. in 2005. From 2007 to 2010, Ms. Robards also served as a director of Care Investment Trust, a publicly held real estate investment trust focusing on investment opportunities in the healthcare industry.
  


20




PART II

Item 5.  Market for Registrant’s Common Stockholders' Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
The New York Stock Exchange is the principal market on which our common stock (ticker: GHL) is traded. 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.
 
 
Fiscal 2016
 
Sales Price
 
Dividends per
share of
common stock
 
High
 
Low
 
First quarter
$
28.61

 
$
20.61

 
$
0.45

Second quarter
22.06

 
15.93

 
0.45

Third quarter
23.59

 
16.00

 
0.45

Fourth quarter
29.05

 
22.41

 
0.45


 
Fiscal 2015
 
Sales Price
 
Dividends per
share of
common stock
 
High
 
Low
 
First quarter
$
43.79

 
$
34.40

 
$
0.45

Second quarter
43.08

 
38.31

 
0.45

Third quarter
41.64

 
28.22

 
0.45

Fourth quarter
29.10

 
24.88

 
0.45


As of February 15, 2017 , there were 7 holders of record of our common stock. The majority of our shares are held in street name by diversified financial broker dealers which are not counted as “record” holders.
On February 15, 2017 , the last reported sales price for our common stock on the New York Stock Exchange was $30.35 per share.


21




The following performance graph and related information shall not be deemed “soliciting material” or to be “filed” with the Securities and Exchange Commission, nor shall such information be incorporated by reference into any future filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or Securities Exchange Act of 1934, each as amended, except to the extent we specifically incorporate it by reference into such filing. Our stock price performance shown in the graph below is not indicative of future stock price performance.
COMPARES 5-YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN AMONG GREENHILL & CO.,
INC., S&P 500 INDEX AND S&P FINANCIAL INDEX

GHL-1231201_CHARTX33629A04.JPG
ASSUMES $100 INVESTED ON DECEMBER 31, 2011
ASSUMES DIVIDEND REINVESTED
FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2016

22




Share Repurchases in the Fourth Quarter of 2016

Period
Total Number of Shares Repurchased

         (1)
 
Average Price Paid Per Share
 
Total Number of
Shares Purchased as
Part of Publicly
Announced Plans or
Programs

(1)

 
Approximate Dollar Value of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased under the Plans or Programs

  (2) (3)
October 1 – October 31
 
$

 
 
$
62,335,357

November 1 – November 30
264,562
 
28.35

 
264,562
 
54,833,958

December 1 – December 31
 

 
 
54,833,958

Total
264,562
 
 
 
264,562
 
$
54,833,958


_____________________________________________
(1)
Excludes 379 shares we are deemed to have repurchased in the fourth quarter of 2016 at an average price of $23.70 per share, or $0.01 million , from employees in conjunction with the payment of tax liabilities in respect of stock delivered to employees in settlement of restricted stock units.
(2)
Shares which may be repurchased under the plan authorized by the Board of Directors on January 27, 2016 for the repurchase of up to $75,000,000 of our common stock during 2016. Effective January 26, 2017, the Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $75,000,000 of our common stock during the period January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2017.
(3)
The value of shares repurchased during the year ended December 31, 2016 excludes 319,573 shares we are deemed to have repurchased at an average price of $25.10 per share, or $8.0 million , from employees in conjunction with the payment of tax liabilities in respect of stock delivered to employees in settlement of restricted stock units.


23




Item 6.  Selected Financial Data
 
 
As of or for the Year Ended December 31,
 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
 
(in millions, except per share and number of employees data)
Statement of Income Data:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Advisory revenues
$
334.8

 
$
260.3

 
$
280.5

 
$
287.0

 
$
291.5

Investment revenues
0.7

 
1.3

 
(5.2
)
 
0.2

 
(6.4
)
Total revenues
335.5

 
261.6

 
275.3

 
287.2

 
285.1

% change from prior year
28
%
 
(5
)%
 
(4
)%
 
1
%
 
3
%
Employee compensation and benefits expense
182.5

 
147.2

 
147.6

 
155.7

 
151.8

Non-compensation expenses
65.1

 
71.1

 
60.2

 
60.3

 
62.8

Income before taxes
87.9

 
43.3

 
67.5

 
71.2

 
70.5

Provision for taxes
27.1

 
17.7

 
24.1

 
24.5

 
28.4

Net income allocated to common stockholders
60.8

 
25.6

 
43.4

 
46.7

 
42.1

Diluted average shares outstanding
32,074,232

 
31,200,378

 
30,357,691

 
30,160,669

 
30,561,682

Diluted earnings per share
1.89

 
0.82

 
1.43

 
1.55

 
1.38

Balance Sheet Data:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total assets
$
456.7

 
$
423.1

 
$
337.0

 
$
352.4

 
$
385.6

Total liabilities
165.5

 
139.8

 
81.4

 
$
75.7

 
83.5

Stockholders’ equity
291.2

 
283.4

 
255.5

 
$
276.7

 
302.2

Dividends declared per share
1.80

 
1.80

 
1.80

 
1.80

 
1.80

Selected Data and Ratios (unaudited)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income before taxes as a percentage of revenues
26
%
 
17%

 
25
 %
 
25
%
 
25%

Revenues per employee (a)
$
950

 
$
799

 
$
882

 
$
893

 
$
891

Employees at year-end (b)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
North America
195

 
192

 
154

 
173

 
179

Europe
91

 
88

 
84

 
86

 
90

Rest of World
70

 
70

 
67

 
60

 
55

Total employees
356

 
350

 
305

 
319

 
324


 
(a)
Total revenues divided by average number of employees (including managing directors and senior advisors) in each year (in thousands).
(b)
Includes our managing directors and senior advisors.



24




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

Overview     
Greenhill is a leading independent investment bank that provides financial and strategic advice on significant domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, restructurings, financings, capital raising and other transactions to a diverse client base, including corporations, partnerships, institutions and governments globally. We serve as a trusted advisor to our clients throughout the world from our offices in the United States, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
Our revenues are principally derived from advisory services on mergers and acquisitions (or M&A), financings and restructurings and are primarily driven by total deal volume and the size of individual transactions. While fees payable upon the successful conclusion of a transaction generally represent the largest portion of our advisory fees, we also earn other corporate advisory fees, including on-going retainer fees, substantially all of which relate to non-success based strategic advisory and financing advisory and restructuring assignments, and fees payable upon the commencement of an engagement or upon the achievement of certain milestones, such as the announcement of a transaction or the rendering of a fairness opinion. Additionally, our global capital advisory group provides capital raising advisory services in the primary market for real estate funds, where revenues are driven primarily by the amount of capital raised, and in the secondary market for alternative assets, where revenue is determined based upon a fixed percentage of the transaction value.
Greenhill was established in 1996 by Robert F. Greenhill, the former President of Morgan Stanley and former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Smith Barney. Since our founding, Greenhill has grown by recruiting talented managing directors and other senior professionals, by acquiring complementary advisory businesses and by training, developing and promoting professionals internally. We have expanded beyond merger and acquisition advisory services to include financing, restructuring and capital advisory services, and we have expanded the breadth of our sector expertise to cover substantially all major industries. Since the opening of our original office in New York, we have expanded globally to 14 offices across five continents.
Over our 21 years as an independent investment banking firm, we have sought to opportunistically recruit new managing directors with a range of industry and transaction specialties, as well as high-level corporate and other relationships, from major investment banks, independent financial advisory firms and other institutions. We also have sought to expand our geographic reach both through recruiting managing directors in new locations and through strategic acquisitions, such as our 2006 acquisition of Beaufort Partners Limited (now Greenhill Canada) in Canada and our 2010 acquisition of Caliburn Partnership Pty Limited (now Greenhill Australia) in Australia. Additionally, we expanded the breadth of our advisory services through the recruitment of a team of managing directors focused on real estate capital advisory services, through the hiring of managing directors to focus on financing and restructuring advisory services, and through our acquisition in 2015 of Cogent, which provides advisory services related to the secondary fund placement market. Through our recruiting and acquisition activity, we have significantly increased our geographic reach by adding offices in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, Japan, Australia, Sweden, Hong Kong and Brazil. During 2016, we recruited six M&A focused managing directors who have joined our teams in New York, London, Houston and Toronto and have expanded our coverage in the Canadian and Latin American markets and the business services, chemical and energy sectors. We intend to continue our efforts to recruit new managing directors with industry sector experience and/or geographic reach who can help expand our advisory capabilities. We had 73 client facing managing directors as of January 1, 2017, including six client facing bankers promoted to managing director at the beginning of the year.     
At December 31, 2016 , we employed 356 people. 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 continued development.

Business Environment and Outlook
Economic and global financial market conditions can materially affect our financial performance. In addition, revenues and net income 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. See “Risk Factors.”
Our total revenues were $335.5 million in the year ended December 31, 2016 compared to $261.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2015 , an increase of 28% . The increase resulted from a greater number of completed merger and acquisition transactions with fees which were generally larger in scale than the prior year, offset in part by a decrease in other corporate advisory fees. At the same time, the number of worldwide completed M&A transactions in 2016 decreased by 1% as compared to 2015 , while the volume of completed transactions (reflecting the sum of all transaction sizes) decreased by 2% . For 2016 , the

25




number of announced transactions globally remained consistent with 2015 , while the volume of announced transactions decreased by 16% in the same period. (1)  
In 2016 , we advised on transactions for the first time for such leading companies around the world as Boehringer Ingelheim, Derma Sciences, Inc., Digital Realty Trust, Inc., Etrion Corporation, Fairway Group Holdings Corp., First Republic Bank, GoDaddy Inc., Greencore Group plc, Heartland Payment Systems, Inc., IVE Group, Lane Industries Incorporated, MANN + HUMMEL GmbH, Patties Foods Ltd, OctoPar Participacoes S.A., Rofin-Sinar Technologies, Inc., U.S. Bancorp and Whistler Blackcomb Holdings Inc. We also advised on new transactions for historic clients in all major markets including Alcoa Inc., A.O. Smith Corporation, Ball Corporation, Commonwealth of Australia Department of Finance, Cypress Semiconductor Corporation, Emerson Electric Co., Gannett Co., Inc., Inchcape PLC, Ladbrokes plc, Lonmin plc, QLT, Inc., SUPERVALU Inc., TEGNA Inc., Telecity Group plc, Tesco PLC, and Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries Ltd.
By geographic region in 2016 , North America, where we generated in excess of 57% of our revenues, remained our largest contributor. In Europe, where we derived 30% of our revenues in 2016, our revenues in absolute dollars nearly doubled from 2015 despite a decline in transaction activity in that region prompted in part by the Brexit vote. In the rest of the world, in absolute dollars, our revenues declined slightly.
By industry in 2016 , large revenue increases over 2015 in consumer & retail, energy & utilities, financial services, healthcare, real estate and the technology, communications & media sector were offset in part by a decline in revenues generated from our activities in the general industrial sector (the category in which we include miscellaneous sectors).

Looking ahead, M&A transaction dialogues continue to be strong in our two largest markets, the U.S. and U.K., but it is too early to predict the level of transaction activity or resulting revenue for the year. In our smaller markets (Australia, Japan and South America), we expect better M&A revenue than we achieved last year, in part due to their modest revenue contributions in 2016. We likewise expect financing and restructuring advisory activity to generate increased revenue in 2017. Assuming reasonably stable markets, we also expect to generate more revenue in both the primary and secondary capital advisory businesses. For this year and the near future, our largest potential source of revenue growth is most likely Europe, due to the fact that we have a strong brand and presence there and in 2016 the number of transactions $500 million or greater in size fell to a level 54% below its 2007 peak. We expect that we would experience an increase in revenues from Europe in the event that the M&A market in Europe is restored to its historical size, which historically had been comparable to the size of the U.S. M&A market. Separately, with respect to this year and beyond, we also believe the regulatory and tax changes proposed by the new administration in the U.S. should add further momentum to transaction activity in the U.S. and perhaps elsewhere around the world if economic growth accelerates as many commentators currently expect.
During the past three years our compensation and benefits expense, which we measure as a percentage of revenues, has ranged from 54% to 56% of revenues. Our non-compensation costs, which are best measured in absolute dollars, over the same period have averaged approximately $65.0 million, and we expect them to remain in that range for 2017 if not impacted by costs of expansion, the charge or benefit related to the remeasurement of the contingent cash liability related to the Earnout, foreign currency movements or other non-recurring expenses. Our pre-tax margin was 26% for 2016 and has ranged from 25% to 26% over four of the past five years, except for 2015 when it was 17% .
Historically, our strong profit margin and operating cash flow has allowed us to maintain an attractive dividend policy while also allowing us to repurchase a significant number of shares of our common stock. Our annual dividend payout has been $1.80 per common share since 2008. In 2016, we repurchased 1.2 million shares of our common stock and common stock equivalent at an average price of $23.28 for a total purchase cost of $28.2 million . In aggregate during 2016, we returned $89.8 million to our shareholders in the form of dividends and share repurchases and since our IPO we have paid nearly $1.2 billion in dividends and share repurchases. Our Board has authorized up to $75.0 million of share repurchases in 2017. Our ability to pay dividends and make share repurchases is subject to a number of factors described under "Risk Factors" in this Form 10-K. See "Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations -- Liquidity and Capital Resources".
We generally experience significant variations in revenues during each quarterly period. These variations can generally be attributed to the fact that a majority of our revenues is usually earned in large amounts throughout the year upon the successful completion of transactions, the timing of which is uncertain and are not subject to our control. As a result, our quarterly results vary and our results in one period may not be indicative of our results in any future period.

(1)
Excludes transactions less than $100,000 and withdrawn/canceled deals. Source: Thomson Financial as of February 15, 2017 .


26





Results of Operations
The following tables set forth data relating to the Firm’s sources of revenues:
Historical Revenues by Source

 
For the Years Ended December 31,
 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
 
(in millions)
Advisory revenues
$
334.8

 
$
260.3

 
$
280.5

 
$
287.0

 
$
291.5

Investment revenues (losses)
0.7

 
1.3

 
(5.2
)
 
0.2

 
(6.4
)
Total revenues
$
335.5

 
$
261.6

 
$
275.3

 
$
287.2

 
$
285.1


Advisory Revenues
Historical Advisory Revenues by Client Location

 
For the Years Ended December 31,
 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
North America
57
%
 
58
%
 
59
%
 
52
%
 
60
%
Europe
30
%
 
23
%
 
30
%
 
33
%
 
22
%
Rest of World
13
%
 
19
%
 
11
%
 
15
%
 
18
%

Historical Advisory Revenues by Industry

 
For the Year Ended December 31,
 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
 
2012
Consumer Goods & Retail
10
%
 
4
%
 
16
%
 
14
%
 
8
%
Energy & Utilities
6
%
 
5
%
 
7
%
 
7
%
 
11
%
Financial Services
7
%
 
6
%
 
11
%
 
13
%
 
7
%
General Industrial & Other
24
%
 
39
%
 
25
%
 
20
%
 
31
%
Healthcare
16
%
 
12
%
 
15
%
 
16
%
 
9
%
Real Estate, Lodging & Leisure
6
%
 
4
%
 
2
%
 
4
%
 
5
%
Technology, Communications & Media
16
%
 
9
%
 
13
%
 
15
%
 
20
%
Capital Advisory (Fund Placement)
15
%
 
21
%
 
11
%
 
11
%
 
9
%

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 with whom there are active engagements changes continually. To develop new client relationships, and to develop new engagements from historic client relationships, we maintain, on an ongoing basis, active business dialogues with a large number of clients and potential clients. We gain new clients each year through our business development initiatives, through recruiting additional senior investment banking professionals who bring with them client relationships and expertise in certain industry sectors or geographies 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 team, turnover of our senior banking professionals, competition from other investment banks and other causes.
Our revenues are principally derived from advisory services on mergers and acquisitions (or M&A), financings and restructurings and are primarily driven by total deal volume and the size of individual transactions. A majority of our advisory revenue is contingent upon the closing of a merger, acquisition, financing, restructuring, capital fund transaction or other advisory transaction. While fees payable upon the successful conclusion of a transaction generally represent the largest portion of our fees, we also earn other corporate advisory fees, including on-going retainer fees, substantially all of which relate to non-success based strategic advisory and financing advisory and restructuring assignments, and fees payable upon the commencement of an

27




engagement or upon the achievement of certain milestones, such as the announcement of a transaction or the rendering of a fairness opinion. Additionally, our global capital advisory group provides capital raising advisory services in the primary market for real estate funds, where revenues are driven primarily by the amount of capital raised by the fund at each interim closing and at the final closing for the amount of capital committed since the last interim closing, and in the secondary market for alternative assets, where revenue is determined based upon a fixed percentage of the transaction value at the closing of each transaction.
We do not allocate our advisory revenue by type of advice rendered (M&A, financing advisory and restructuring, strategic advisory, or other) because of the complexity of the assignments for which we earn revenue and because a single transaction can encompass multiple types of advice. For example, a restructuring assignment can involve, and in some cases end successfully in, a sale of all or part of the financially distressed company. Likewise, an acquisition assignment can relate to a financially distressed target involved in or considering a restructuring, and an M&A assignment can develop from a relationship that we had on a prior restructuring assignment, and vice versa. We do, however, separately allocate capital advisory revenue.
2016 versus 2015 .   Advisory revenues were $334.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 compared to $260.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 , an increase of 29% . The increase in our 2016 advisory revenues, as compared to 2015 , resulted from a greater number of completed merger and acquisition transactions with fees which were generally larger in scale than the prior year, offset in part by a decrease in other corporate advisory fees.
Prominent advisory assignments completed in 2016 include:

the acquisition by Ball Corporation of Rexam plc;

the representation of Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH on a global collaboration with AbbVie Inc.;

the sale of Heartland Payment Systems, Inc. to Global Payments Inc.;

the acquisition by MANN+HUMMEL GmbH of the global filtration operations of Affinia Group Holding, Inc.;

the sale of ROFIN-SINAR Technologies, Inc. to Coherent, Inc.;

the representation of SUPERVALU INC. on the sale of its Save-A-Lot business to an affiliate of Onex Corporation;

the sale of Telecity Group plc to Equinix, Inc.;

the acquisition by Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries Ltd. of Allergan plc's generics business;

the representation of Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries Ltd. on the divestment of the U.S. rights to seventy-nine generic products to eleven different counterparties;

the representation of Texas Competitive Electric Holdings and its subsidiaries at the direction of its independent director in connection with its and Energy Future Holdings' Chapter 11 proceedings; and

the sale of Whistler Blackcomb Holdings Inc. to Vail Resorts, Inc.

During 2016 , our global capital advisory group advised real estate fund general partners on five final closings of primary capital commitments from institutional investors in such funds, and advised institutional investors on 83 closings of sales of limited partnership interests in secondary market transactions. Capital advisory fees for 2016 decreased to $51.2 million , a slight decrease of $3.8 million , or 7% , compared to $55.0 million for 2015 , which principally resulted from a slowdown in transaction activity as a result of market volatility throughout the year, offset by an additional three months of revenue from our secondary placement business, which was acquired April 1, 2015. For 2016 , we generated 15% of our advisory revenues from capital advisory fees.
We earned advisory revenues from 212 different clients in 2016 and 197 different clients in 2015 . Of this group of clients, 47% were new to us in 2016 . We earned fees of $1 million or more from 71 clients in 2016 , up 11% compared to 64 clients in 2015 . The ten largest fee-paying clients contributed 40% of our total revenues in 2016 and 32% in 2015 . There was no single client in 2016 or 2015 that represented greater than 10% of our revenues.
2015 versus 2014 .   Advisory revenues were $260.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 compared to $280.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 , a decrease of 7% . The decrease in our 2015 advisory revenues, as compared to 2014 ,

28




resulted from a decrease in transaction completion fees due to fewer large transaction closings, offset in part by greater capital advisory fees due to the acquisition of Cogent and an increase in transaction announcement and opinion fees.
Prominent advisory assignments completed in 2015 include:

the acquisition by Alcoa Inc. of RTI International Metals, Inc.;

the acquisition by Anixter International Inc. of HD Supply's Power Solutions business;

the sale of Azelis Group to funds advised by Apax Partners;

the acquisition by Cerner Corporation of Siemens AG's health information technology business unit, Siemens Health Services;

the spin-off by Gannett Co., Inc. of its Publishing business and resulting creation of two separate media companies;

the sale by GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare of a portfolio of OTC brands to Perrigo Company plc;

the representation of Henderson Equity Partners ("HEP") in connection with the initial public offering of John Laing plc, a company wholly owned by funds managed by HEP;

the representation of Lonmin Plc on its c.$777 million recapitalization;

the spin-off by Masco Corporation of its Installation Services business; and

the sale by Scholastic Corporation of its Educational Technology and Services business to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company.
During 2015 , our global capital advisory group advised real estate fund general partners on six final closings of primary capital commitments from institutional investors in such funds. In addition, the secondary advisory team advised institutional investors on 60 closings of sales of limited partnership interests in secondary market transactions. Capital advisory fees for 2015 increased to $55.0 million , an increase of $23.6 million , or 75% , compared to $31.4 million for 2014 , which principally resulted from additional revenues generated as a result of the acquisition of Cogent. For 2015 , we generated 21% of our advisory revenues from capital advisory fees.
We earned advisory revenues from 197 different clients in 2015 and 135 different clients in 2014 , with the increase resulting from our acquisition of Cogent and the resulting increase in institutional investor clients selling limited partnership interests in the secondary market. Of this group of clients, 44% (excluding historical Cogent clients) were new to us in 2015. We earned fees of $1 million or more from 64 clients in 2015 compared to 63 clients in 2014. The ten largest fee-paying clients contributed 32% of our total revenues in 2015 and 43% in 2014, and two of the top ten largest fee-paying clients in 2015 had in a prior year been among our ten largest fee-paying clients. There was no single client in 2015 or 2014 that represented greater than 10% of our revenues.
Investment Revenues
We also generate a small portion of our revenues from interest income and gains (or losses) in merchant banking fund investments, which we substantially liquidated in prior years. Revenue recognized on investments in merchant banking funds is based on our allocable share of realized and unrealized gains (or losses) reported by such funds on a quarterly basis.
At December 31, 2016, our remaining investments in merchant banking funds consisted of a small group of diverse investments held, which in aggregate had an estimated fair value of $1.7 million . The remaining merchant banking fund investments are expected to be liquidated as the relevant managers seek to realize value from each underlying investment. We have no remaining commitments to make principal investments, and we do not intend to make any going forward.




29




The following table sets forth information relating to our investment revenues:
 
For the Years Ended December 31,
 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
 
(In millions)
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) in investments in merchant banking funds
$
(0.2
)
 
$
0.2

 
$
(6.4
)
Interest income
0.9

 
1.1

 
1.2

Total investment revenues (losses)
$
0.7

 
$
1.3

 
$
(5.2
)
2016 versus 2015 .   For the year ended December 31, 2016 , we recorded investment revenues of $0.7 million compared to $1.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 . The investment revenues for both 2016 and 2015 primarily consisted of interest income.
2015 versus 2014 .  For the year ended December 31, 2015 , we recorded investment revenues of $1.3 million compared to an investment loss of $5.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2014 . The investment revenues for 2015 primarily resulted from interest income. The investment loss for 2014 principally resulted from the sale at a loss of portfolio company investments in our merchant banking fund investments.

Operating Expenses
We classify operating expenses as employee compensation and benefits expense and non-compensation expenses. Operating expenses include travel, office space, communications, information services, depreciation, professional services and interest expense. A portion of certain costs are reimbursed by clients under the terms of client engagements.

For the year ended December 31, 2016 , total operating expenses were $247.6 million compared to $218.3 million in 2015 . The increase of $29.3 million , or 13% , resulted principally from an increase in our compensation and benefits expenses, offset in part by a decrease in non-compensation expenses, as described in more detail below. Our pre-tax income margin was 26% for 2016 , which was slightly above the pre-tax margin for each of 2014 and 2013 of 25%, as compared to 17% for 2015 .

For the year ended December 31, 2015 , total operating expenses were $218.3 million compared to $207.8 million in 2014 . The increase of $10.5 million , or 5% , related to an increase in our non-compensation and benefits expenses, primarily as a result of the acquisition of Cogent, as described in more detail below. Our pre-tax income margin was 17% for 2015 as compared to 25% for 2014 .

The following table sets forth information relating to our operating expenses, which are reported net of reimbursements of certain expenses by our clients:
 
For the Years Ended
December 31,
 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
 
(in millions, except employee data)
Number of employees at year end
356

 
350

 
305

Employee compensation and benefits expenses
$
182.5

 
$
147.2

 
$
147.6

% of revenues
54
%
 
56
%
 
54
%
Non-compensation expenses
65.2

 
71.1

 
60.2

% of revenues
19
%
 
27
%
 
22
%
Total operating expenses
247.6

 
218.3

 
207.8

% of revenues
74
%
 
83
%
 
75
%
Total income before taxes
87.9

 
43.3

 
67.5

Pre-tax income margin
26
%
 
17
%
 
25
%
Compensation and Benefits Expenses
The largest component of our operating expenses is employee compensation and benefits expenses, which we determine annually based on a percentage of revenues. The actual percentage of revenue is determined by management in consultation with the Compensation Committee at each year-end and based on such factors as the relative level of revenues, anticipated compensation requirements to retain and reward our employees, the cost to recruit and exit employees, the charge for amortization of restricted

30




stock awards and related forfeitures and other relevant factors. The ratio of compensation and benefits expense to revenues was 54% in 2016 , which was consistent with our compensation ratio in 2014 and 2013, as compared to 56% in 2015 .
Our compensation and benefits expenses principally consist of (i) base salary and benefits, (ii) amortization of long-term incentive compensation awards of restricted stock units and deferred cash compensation and (iii) annual incentive compensation payable as cash bonus awards. Base salary and benefits are paid ratably throughout the year. Awards of restricted stock units and deferred cash compensation are discretionary and are amortized into compensation expense (based upon the fair value of the award at the time of grant) during the service period over which the award vests, which is generally four to five years for the majority of the awards. As we expense the restricted stock awards, the restricted stock units recognized are recorded within stockholders’ equity. Annual cash bonuses, which are accrued each quarter, are discretionary and dependent upon a number of factors, including our financial performance, and are generally paid in February in respect of the preceding year.
The sum of base salaries and benefits and the amortization of long-term incentive compensation awards, which we refer to as our fixed compensation cost, has ranged annually from approximately $115.0 million to $130.0 million during the three-year period ended December 31, 2016. We estimate that our fixed compensation cost for 2017 will fall within this range. This estimate is based upon our headcount and salary levels as of the beginning of 2017. The decisions we make throughout the year relating to hiring, retaining and exiting employees may increase or decrease our full year fixed compensation cost. Our fixed compensation cost may vary from year to year based on such factors as headcount, changes in charges for the amortization of restricted stock units and other related matters.
The aggregate amount of discretionary bonus payments generally represents the excess amount of the total compensation amount over the amount of base salary and benefits and amortization of long-term incentive compensation award. Annual cash bonus amounts of $58.5 million, $23.0 million and $34.0 million were paid and/or accrued in 2016 , 2015 and 2014 , respectively.
Our ratio of compensation to revenues has ranged from 53% to 56% over the past several years and, it is our goal to maintain a ratio over time at the lower end of this range, which will be dependent upon our revenue generation, changes in headcount and other factors. We will balance this goal with our objective of retaining our core personnel and compensating them competitively in order to maintain our strong franchise, and continuing to expand our industry expertise and geographic reach.
2016 versus 2015 .   For the year ended December 31, 2016 , our employee compensation and benefits expenses were $182.5 million as compared to $147.2 million for the same period in the prior year. During 2016 and 2015, we incurred similar amounts of base compensation and amortization of long-term incentive compensation and the increase of $35.3 million , or 24% , in our employee compensation and benefits expenses resulted from our higher annual revenues and was principally attributable to an increase in incentive compensation, a portion of which was paid prior to year end. The ratio of compensation to revenues decreased to 54% in 2016 , as compared to 56% in 2015 as a result of the increase in revenues during the year, which enabled us to return to the ratio of compensation paid in 2014 and 2013, while also increasing the aggregate amount of compensation paid to our employees.
2015 versus 2014 .  For the year ended December 31, 2015 , our employee compensation and benefits expenses remained relatively constant at $147.2 million as compared to $147.6 million for the same period in the prior year. The ratio of compensation and benefits expenses to revenues increased to 56% in 2015 from 54% in 2014 as a result of the spreading of a comparable amount of compensation and benefits expense over lower revenues in 2015.
Our compensation expense is generally based upon revenues and can fluctuate materially in any particular year depending upon the changes in headcount, amount of revenues recognized, as well as other factors. Accordingly, the amount of compensation expense recognized in any particular year may not be indicative of compensation expense in future years.

Non-Compensation Expenses
Our non-compensation expenses include the costs for occupancy and equipment rental, communications, information services, professional fees, recruiting, travel and entertainment, insurance, depreciation and amortization, interest expense and other operating expenses. Reimbursed client expenses are netted against non-compensation expenses.
Our non-compensation expenses are generally relatively fixed year to year with increases generally dependent mostly on our geographic expansion to new locations, strategic business expansion, general inflation-related increases in rent and other costs we incur and, to a much lesser extent, on an increase in headcount within our existing locations. Principally as a result of our acquisition of Cogent, in 2015 our non-compensation costs increased by about $11.0 million from the prior year. In 2016, our non-compensation costs decreased approximately $6.0 million from 2015, in part, as result of the absence of non-recurring acquisition costs, the elimination of certain redundant lease costs, the benefit of foreign currency gains and other operating efficiencies.


31




In connection with our purchase of Cogent, we agreed to pay additional consideration of $18.9 million in cash and issue 334,048 shares of our common stock if a revenue target of $80.0 million is achieved in our secondary capital advisory business during either of the two-year periods ending March 31, 2017 or March 31, 2019, which we refer to as the Earnout. The fair value of the contingent cash consideration was valued on the date of our purchase at $13.1 million and is remeasured quarterly based on a probability weighted present value discount that the revenue target may be achieved. Based on our remeasurement of the likelihood of achieving the revenue target we incurred charges of $0.5 million and $1.5 million during the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2016, respectively. With one quarter remaining in the first two-year period, revenue of $10.9 million, which is a slightly higher level than the average for the past seven quarters, is required in the first calendar quarter of the year (historically a lower revenue quarter than average) to meet the target. We are not currently able to determine with certainty whether or not the revenue target for the period ending March 31, 2017 will be achieved. If the target is not achieved we will most likely incur a small benefit in the first quarter of 2017 on the measurement of the present value of the probability that the revenue target may be achieved during the second two-year period ending March 31, 2019, and if the Earnout is achieved we will incur a charge to non-compensation expense of $3.8 million pursuant to the same calculation. If the revenue target is not achieved during the first two-year period we will evaluate the likelihood that the Earnout may be achieved at each quarterly period during the second two-year period ending March 31, 2019 and if the likelihood increases during the period we will record as expense the change in the estimated fair value of the contingent cash consideration until it reaches its face value of $18.9 million. Contrarily, if during a reporting period the likelihood that the Earnout may be achieved decreases we will record as income the decrease in the estimated fair value of the contingent consideration until it reaches zero.
2016 versus 2015 .  For the year ended December 31, 2016 , our non-compensation expenses of $65.2 million decreased $5.9 million , or 8% , from $71.1 million in 2015 . The decrease in non-compensation expenses principally resulted from lower occupancy costs related to lower cost levels outside of the U.S. and the sublease of redundant Cogent space, the benefit of foreign currency gains versus foreign currency losses in the prior year, lower professional fees principally due to the absence of transaction costs incurred with the acquisition of Cogent, partially offset by a full year of operating and borrowing costs related to the acquisition of Cogent and an increase in the charge for the change in the estimated fair value of the contingent cash consideration for the Earnout. Interest expense, included within non-compensation expenses, was $3.2 million for 2016 and $2.5 million for 2015 .
Non-compensation expenses as a percentage of revenues for 2016 were 19% compared to 27% for 2015 . The decrease in non-compensation expenses as a percentage of revenues resulted from the spreading of lower non-compensation costs over significantly higher revenues in 2016 as compared to 2015 .
2015 versus 2014 .   For the year ended December 31, 2015 , our non-compensation expenses of $71.1 million increased $10.9 million , or 18%, from $60.2 million in 2014 . The increase in non-compensation expenses principally resulted from costs related to the acquisition and operation of our secondary capital advisory business, which we acquired on April 1, 2015, and foreign currency losses, which were not expected to recur, related to the funding of our Brazilian business. With respect to the Cogent related costs, transaction expenses are non-recurring in nature, and we expect that certain other costs related to the Cogent acquisition will decline over future periods as we consolidate certain operations, amortize intangible assets and repay our borrowings, offset in part by potential charges related to the amortization of the contingent portion of the obligation related to the Earnout. Interest expense, included within non-compensation expenses, was $2.5 million for 2015 and $1.2 million for 2014. The increase in interest expense largely related to the financing of the Cogent acquisition.
Non-compensation expenses as a percentage of revenues for 2015 were 27% compared to 22% for 2014 . The increase in non-compensation expenses as a percentage of revenues resulted from the spreading of higher costs over lower revenues in 2015 as compared to 2014 .
Our non-compensation expenses as a percentage of revenues can vary as a result of a variety of factors including fluctuation in annual revenue amounts, changes in headcount, the amount of recruiting and business development activity, the amount of office space expansion, the amount of reimbursement of engagement-related expenses by clients, costs associated with acquisitions, the amount of our borrowings, interest rate and currency movements and other factors. Accordingly, the non-compensation expenses as a percentage of revenues in any particular year may not be indicative of the non-compensation expenses as a percentage of revenues in future years.

Provision for Income Taxes
We are subject to federal, foreign and state and local corporate income taxes in the United States. In addition, our non-U.S. subsidiaries are subject to income taxes in their local jurisdictions.

Beginning in the first quarter of 2017, we (and all publicly traded companies that issue restricted stock awards) will be subject to a new accounting requirement which will require us to record in our provision for income taxes at the time of vesting of restricted stock awards a charge or benefit for the tax effect of the difference between the grant price value and market price value of the

32




awards. In prior years the tax effect of this difference was recorded as a charge or benefit to stockholders equity. Based on the market price on the date of the vesting of our annual awards, which represent a substantial amount of our awards vesting during the year, the average grant price of the awards vesting in 2017 exceeded the market price of our shares. As a result we expect we will incur an increase in tax expense of approximately $2.2 million in the first quarter of 2017. Because we are not able to predict our future share price we are not able estimate the impact that this change will have on our provision for income taxes or net income in subsequent future periods.
2016 versus 2015 .  For the year ended December 31, 2016 , the provision for taxes was $27.1 million , which reflected an effective tax rate of 31% . This compared to a provision for taxes for the year ended December 31, 2015 of $17.7 million , which reflected an effective tax rate of 41% . The increase in the provision for income taxes of $9.4 million in the year ended December 31, 2016 , as compared to 2015 , resulted from substantially higher pre-tax income, partially offset by a lower effective tax rate, which resulted from the generation of a greater proportion of earnings in foreign jurisdictions with lower tax rates.
2015 versus 2014 For the year ended December 31, 2015 , the provision for taxes was $17.7 million , which reflected an effective tax rate of 41% . This compared to a provision for taxes for the year ended December 31, 2014 of $24.1 million , which reflected an effective tax rate of 36% . The decrease in the provision for income taxes of $6.4 million in the year ended December 31, 2015 , as compared to 2014 , resulted from a decrease in pre-tax income, offset by an increase in the effective tax rate. The increase in the effective tax rate principally resulted from the generation of greater U.S. source earnings, which are taxed at a higher rate than foreign source earnings, and certain non-deductible foreign losses.
The effective tax rate can fluctuate as a result of variations in the relative amounts of income earned and the tax rate imposed in the tax jurisdictions in which we operate. Accordingly, the effective tax rate in any particular year may not be indicative of the effective tax rate in future years.

Net Income and Earnings Per Share
2016 versus 2015 .   For the year ended December 31, 2016 , net income allocated to common stockholders was $60.8 million , or $1.89 per diluted share, as compared to net income allocated to common stockholders of $25.6 million , or $0.82 per diluted share, in 2015 . The increase in net income allocated to common stockholders of $35.2 million principally resulted from the impact on net income of higher revenues and lower non-compensation expenses offset, in part, by higher compensation expense as discussed above.
During 2016 , our fully diluted average shares outstanding increased by 0.9 million to 32.1 million from 31.2 million in 2015 . The increase in our fully diluted average shares outstanding principally related to the recognition of 1.1 million restricted stock unit awards, net of shares deemed repurchased by us for the settlement of employee tax liabilities arising upon the vesting of the awards, and the full-year impact of the shares issued in April 2015 in conjunction with the acquisition of Cogent partially offset by the weighted average impact of open market repurchases of 0.9 million shares.
The average shares outstanding at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, does not include an additional 0.3 million shares of common stock, which will be issued to the selling unitholders of Cogent, if the Earnout is achieved as discussed above. At December 31, 2016 and 2015 , our shares outstanding plus restricted stock units vested for accounting purposes (i.e. not weighted for the timing of purchases during the year) were 31.8 million and 31.6 million, respectively. See "Note 11 Equity" and "Note 12 Earnings Per Share” to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
2015 versus 2014 .   For the year ended December 31, 2015 , net income allocated to common stockholders was $25.6 million , or $0.82 per diluted share, as compared to net income allocated to common stockholders of $43.4 million , or $1.43 per diluted share, in 2014 . The decrease in net income allocated to common stockholders of $17.8 million principally resulted from the impact on net income of lower revenues and higher non-compensation expenses in 2015 as compared to 2014 .
During 2015 , our fully diluted average shares outstanding increased by 0.8 million to 31.2 million from 30.4 million in 2014 . The increase in our fully diluted average shares outstanding principally related to the recognition of 0.6 million restricted stock unit awards, net of shares deemed repurchased by us for the settlement of employee tax liabilities arising upon the vesting of the awards, and the weighted average impact of the 0.8 million shares issued in April 2015 in conjunction with the acquisition of Cogent. At December 31, 2015 and 2014 , our shares outstanding plus restricted stock units vested for accounting purposes (i.e. not weighted for the timing of purchases during the year) were 31.6 million and 30.1 million, respectively.

Geographic Data
For a summary of the total revenues, income before taxes and total assets by geographic region, see “Note 18 — Business Information” to the Consolidated Financial Statements.


33




Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our liquidity position, which consists of cash, other significant working capital assets and liabilities, debt and other matters relating to liquidity requirements and current market conditions, is monitored by management on a regular basis. At December 31, 2016 , we had cash and cash equivalents of $98.3 million , of which $61.4 million was held outside the U.S. We retain our cash in financial institutions with high credit ratings and/or invest in short-term investments which are expected to provide liquidity.
We generate substantially all of our cash from advisory fees. We use our cash primarily for recurring operating expenses and the payment of dividends and non-recurring disbursements such as the repayment of debt obligations, the repurchase of shares of our common stock and the funding of leasehold improvements for the build out of office space. Our recurring monthly operating disbursements principally consist of base compensation expense, occupancy, travel and entertainment, and other operating expenses. Our recurring quarterly and annual disbursements consist of annual and long-term cash bonus payments, tax payments, dividend payments, debt repayments, and repurchases of our common stock from our employees in conjunction with the payment of tax liabilities incurred on vesting of restricted stock units. These amounts vary depending upon our profitability and other factors.
Because a portion of the compensation we pay to our employees is distributed in annual cash bonus awards (usually in February of each year), our net cash balance is typically at its lowest level during the first quarter of each year and generally accumulates from our operating activities throughout the remainder of the year. In general, we collect our accounts receivable within 60 days, except for fees generated through our primary capital advisory engagements, which are generally paid in installments over a period of three years, and certain restructuring transactions, where collections may take longer due to court-ordered holdbacks. At December 31, 2016 , we had advisory fees receivable of $68.1 million , including long-term receivables related to our primary capital advisory engagements of $26.1 million .
Our current liabilities primarily consist of accounts payable, which are generally paid monthly, accrued compensation, which includes accrued cash bonuses that are generally paid in the first quarter of the following year to the large majority of our employees, and current taxes payable. In February 2017, we expect to pay cash bonuses and accrued benefits of approximately $26.2 million relating to 2016 compensation to our employees. In addition, we expect to pay approximately $18.0 million in 2017 related to income taxes owed principally in the U.S. and the U.K. for the year ended December 31, 2016 .
To provide for working capital needs and other general corporate purposes in the U.S, we have a $70.0 million revolving bank loan facility, which matures on April 30, 2017 . Historically, we have been able to extend the maturity date of the revolving bank loan facility for a new one year period shortly before maturity of the exiting loan facility. We expect to renew the revolving bank loan facility for an additional twelve month period through April 2018 and in subsequent future periods although our ability to do so in the future is not certain. The revolving bank loan facility bears interest at the higher of the Prime Rate (3.75% at December 31, 2016) or 3.5% . At December 31, 2016 , we had $64.1 million outstanding under the revolving bank loan facility.
In addition, to fund the cash portion of the consideration paid for our acquisition of Cogent in April 2015, we borrowed $45.0 million from our bank lender through two bank term loan facilities, each in an original principal amount of $22.5 million . One term loan was paid in full prior to its maturity on April 30, 2016 and the other loan facility is payable in four equal semi-annual installments beginning on October 31, 2016 , with a final maturity on April 30, 2018. The first installment of $5.6 million due in October 2016 was paid in August 2016. The bank term loan facilities may be prepaid without penalty but amounts prepaid may not be reborrowed. The interest rate applicable to the bank term loan facility maturing in April 2018 is equal to the Prime Rate plus one and one-quarter percent (1.25%) per annum and will be reduced to the Prime Rate plus three-quarters of one percent ( 0.75% ) per annum when the amount outstanding on such bank term loan facility is $7.5 million or less. The interest rate applicable to the currently outstanding bank term loan facilities can never be less than four percent (4.00%) per annum. As of December 31, 2016, we had $16.9 million outstanding related to the term loan facility with three equal semi-annual installments remaining due on April 30, 2017, October 31, 2017 and April 30, 2018.
Both the revolving bank loan facility and the bank term loan facility are secured by any cash distributed in respect of the Company’s investment in the U.S. based merchant banking fund, cash distributions from G&Co and GCI, and advisory fees receivable of G&Co. In addition, the incurrence of additional indebtedness requires the prior approval of our lender. Further, the Company is required to comply with certain financial and liquidity covenants on a quarterly basis. At December 31, 2016 , we were compliant with all loan covenants and we expect to continue to be compliant with all loan covenants in future periods.
As additional contingent consideration for the purchase of Cogent, we agreed to pay to the selling unitholders $18.9 million in cash and issue 334,048 shares of our common stock in the future if the Earnout is achieved. The cash payment and the issuance of common shares will be made if our secondary capital advisory business achieves a revenue target of $80.0 million during either the two-year period ending March 31, 2017 or the two-year period ending March 31, 2019. If the revenue target is achieved, the contingent consideration will be paid promptly after the period in which it is earned. If the revenue target is achieved during both Earnout periods, only one payment will be made at the end of the first Earnout period. If the revenue target is not achieved during

34




either of the two-year Earnout periods, a payment will not be made. In the event the Earnout is achieved we expect the cash payment will be funded through either cash generated from operations, additional borrowings from the revolving bank loan facility, additional bank term borrowing, and/or cash repatriated from abroad. See "Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Operating Results — Non-Compensation Expenses".
Historically, we have generated significant earnings outside of the U.S. and we have repatriated a substantial portion of foreign earnings in excess of local working capital requirements and other forecast needs to the U.S. To the extent we repatriate additional foreign earnings under current U.S. tax law we will be subject to incremental U.S. tax on amounts repatriated for the difference between the U.S. tax rate of 35% and the lower rate of tax paid in the foreign jurisdictions. Due to this potential incremental tax burden, it is our intention to retain our foreign earnings offshore indefinitely to reinvest in our non-U.S operations. If we were to repatriate all non-U.S. subsidiary earnings as of December 31, 2016 , it would result in approximately $9.1 million of additional U.S. federal tax based on tax rates in effect at the beginning of 2017.
In April 2016, we increased our U.S. revolving loan facility by $20.0 million to $70.0 million and may consider further increasing our borrowing in the future in order to provide adequate financial flexibility in the U.S. without accessing our foreign cash holdings. Over the past few years we have generated a substantial portion of our foreign earnings in the U.K, which is currently subject to tax at a rate of 20% , and scheduled to decline to 19% in 2017 and to 17% in 2020. If the U.S. tax law were to change and corporate federal rates were reduced to a level in the range of 15% to 25%, as have been proposed by U.S. lawmakers, we would not only likely benefit from higher earnings and cash flow as a result, but also we could repatriate cash from overseas to the U.S. with little or no tax increase in order to reduce debt and/or increase returns of capital to shareholders.
Annually, our Board of Directors authorizes a specific dollar amount, which may be used during that calendar year, for the repurchase of our common stock. Any unused portion of the amount authorized is not available for carryover to a future year. For the year ended December 31, 2016 , our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $75.0 million of our common stock. In 2016, we repurchased 891,017 shares of our common stock in open market purchases at an average price of $22.63 . Additionally, during the year ended December 31, 2016 , we were deemed to have repurchased 319,573 shares of our common stock at an average price of $25.10 per share (for a total cost of $8.0 million ) in conjunction with the payment of tax liabilities in respect of stock delivered to our employees in settlement of restricted stock units. In aggregate, in 2016, we repurchased 1,210,590 shares of our common stock and common stock equivalents at an average price of $23.28 per share, for a total purchase cost of $28.2 million .
In January 2017 , our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $75.0 million of our common stock during the year ended December 31, 2017 . In February 2017 , we were deemed to have repurchased 423,556 shares of our common stock at an average price of $29.55 per share (for a total cost of $12.5 million ) in conjunction with the payment of tax liabilities in respect of stock delivered to our employees in settlement of restricted stock units that vested. While we expect to fund future repurchases of our common stock (if any) with operating cash flow, we are unable to predict the timing or magnitude of our share repurchases. Any future repurchases of our common stock will be dependent upon our cash flow generation and take into account the payment of dividends, repayment of the remaining bank term loan facility, of which at least $11.3 million is scheduled to be repaid in 2017, potential obligations under the Earnout and other relevant factors, including the impact on our cash flow of any changes in U.S. tax law.
Under the terms of our stock equity plan, we generally repurchase from our employees that portion of restricted stock unit awards used to fund income tax withholding due at the time the restricted stock unit awards vest. Based upon the number of restricted stock unit grants outstanding at February 15, 2017 , we estimate repurchases of our common stock from our employees in conjunction with the cash settlement of tax liabilities incurred on vesting of restricted stock units of approximately $59.6 million (as calculated based upon the closing share price as of February 15, 2017 of $30.35 per share and assuming a withholding tax rate of 42% consistent with our recent experience) over the next five years, of which an additional $1.5 million will be payable in 2017 , $17.2 million will be payable in 2018 , $15.9 million will be payable in 2019 , $17.1 million will be payable in 2020 , $7.6 million will be payable in 2021 , and $0.3 million will be payable in 2022 . We will realize a corporate income tax deduction concurrently with the cash settlement payments.
As part of its long-term incentive award program, we also grant deferred cash retention awards to certain eligible employees. The deferred awards, which generally vest over a three to five year service period, provide the employee with the right to receive future cash compensation payments, which are non-interest bearing. Based upon the value of the deferred cash awards outstanding at February 15, 2017 , we estimate payments of $36.5 million over the next five years, of which $4.8 million remains payable in 2017 , $11.4 million will be payable in 2018 , $6.9 million will be payable in 2019 , $9.1 million will be payable in 2020 , and $4.2 million will be payable in 2021 . We will realize a corporate income tax deduction at the time of payment.

Since 2004, we have paid quarterly dividends to our shareholders and dividend equivalent payments to our employees who hold restricted stock units. Our quarterly dividend has been $0.45 per share since 2007. For the years ended December 31, 2016

35




and 2015 , we made dividend distributions of $61.6 million and $58.9 million , respectively, or $1.80 per common share and outstanding restricted stock unit. We intend to continue to pay quarterly dividends, subject to capital availability and periodic determinations that cash dividends are in the best interest of our stockholders. Future declaration and payment of dividends on our common stock is at the discretion of our Board of Directors and depends upon, among other things, our future operations and earnings, capital requirements and surplus, general financial condition, obligations under our bank loan facility, potential obligations under the Earnout, contractual restrictions and other factors as our Board of Directors may deem relevant.
While we believe that the cash generated from operations and borrowings from the revolving bank loan facility will be sufficient to meet our expected operating needs, tax obligations, bank term loan repayments, common dividend payments, share repurchases, potential obligation under the Earnout and build-out costs of new office space, we may adjust our variable expenses and other disbursements, if necessary, to meet our liquidity needs. There is no assurance that our current lender will continue to renew our revolving bank loan facility annually on comparable terms, and at the current borrowing amount or at all, and if it is not renewed that we would be able to obtain a new credit facility from a different lender. In that case, we could be required to promptly repatriate foreign earnings, issue additional securities, reduce operating costs or take a combination of these actions, in each case on terms which may not be favorable to us. In the event that we are not able to meet our liquidity needs, we may consider a range of financing alternatives to meet any such needs.
Cash Flows
2016 Cash and cash equivalents increased by $28.4 million from December 31, 2015 , including a decrease of $7.8 million resulting from the effect of the translation of foreign currency amounts into U.S. dollars at the year-end foreign currency conversion rates. We generated $124.2 million from operating activities, which consisted of $104.1 million from net income after giving effect to the non-cash items and a net decrease in working capital of $20.1 million (principally due to an increase in bonuses payable). We used $0.8 million for investing activities, principally as a result of $1.7 million for leasehold improvements and other capital expenditures, offset in part by distributions from merchant banking fund investments of $0.9 million . We used $87.3 million in financing activities, including $16.9 million for the repayment of the bank term loan facilities, $61.6 million for the payment of dividends, $20.2 million for open market repurchases of our common stock, $8.0 million for the repurchase of our common stock from employees in conjunction with the payment of tax liabilities in settlement of restricted stock units, and $4.9 million of tax costs related to the delivery of restricted stock units at a vesting price lower than the grant price, offset in part by the net borrowings of $24.3 million on our revolving bank loan facility.
2015 Cash and cash equivalents increased by $19.0 million from December 31, 2014 , including a decrease of $1.4 million resulting from the effect of the translation of foreign currency amounts into U.S. dollars at the year-end foreign currency conversion rates. We generated $92.8 million from operating activities, which consisted of $70.3 million from net income after giving effect to the non-cash items and a net decrease in working capital of $22.4 million (principally due to a decrease in advisory fees receivable and an increase in income taxes payable). We used $33.5 million for investing activities, principally as a result of the cash payment of $45.3 million for the acquisition of Cogent, including transaction costs, and $2.2 million for leasehold improvements and other capital expenditures, offset in part by the recording of the contingent Earnout at an estimated fair value of $13.6 million and by distributions from merchant banking fund investments of $0.8 million . We used $38.8 million in financing activities, including $58.9 million for the payment of dividends, $11.9 million for the repurchase of our common stock from employees in conjunction with the payment of tax liabilities in settlement of restricted stock units, and $5.9 million of tax costs related to the delivery of restricted stock units at a vesting price lower than the grant price, offset in part by the net borrowing of $33.8 million of bank term loan facilities ( $45.0 million of bank term loans to finance the acquisition of Cogent, net of a repayment of $11.3 million ), and net borrowings of $4.2 million on our revolving bank loan facility.
2014 . Cash and cash equivalents increased by $8.3 million from December 31, 2013, including a decrease of $2.6 million resulting from the effect of the translation of foreign currency amounts into U.S. dollars at the year-end foreign currency conversion rates. We generated $103.3 million from operating activities, which consisted of $96.6 million from net income after giving effect to the non-cash items and a net decrease in working capital of $6.7 million (primarily due to an increase in annual bonuses payable). We used $1.8 million for investing activities, including $2.4 million for leasehold improvements and other capital expenditures, offset in part by distributions from other merchant banking funds of $0.6 million . We used $90.6 million in financing activities, including $56.3 million for the payment of dividends, $15.4 million for open market repurchases of our common stock and $20.7 million for the repurchase of our common stock from employees in conjunction with the payment of tax liabilities in settlement of restricted stock units and $2.9 million of tax costs related to the delivery of restricted stock units at a vesting price lower than the grant price, partially offset by net borrowings on our revolving bank loan facility of $4.8 million .




36




Contractual Obligations
The following table sets forth information relating to our contractual obligations as of December 31, 2016 :
 
 
 
Payment Due by Period
Contractual Obligations
 
Total
 
Less than
1  year
 
Years 2-3
 
Years 4-5
 
More than
5  years
 
 
(in millions)
Operating lease obligations
 
$
58.2

 
$
14.8

 
$
25.0

 
$
11.8

 
$
6.6

Bank revolving loan facility
 
64.1

 
64.1

 

 

 

Bank term loan facility
 
16.9

 
$
11.3

 
$
5.6

 
$

 
$

Total
(a) (b)
$
139.2

 
$
90.2

 
$
30.6

 
$
11.8

 
$
6.6


_____________________________________________

(a)
As additional contingent consideration for the purchase of Cogent, we agreed to pay $18.9 million in cash in the future if the Earnout is achieved. The payment will be made if our secondary capital advisory business achieves a revenue target of $80.0 million during either the two-year period ending March 31, 2017 or the two-year period ending March 31, 2019. If the revenue target is achieved, the contingent consideration will be paid promptly after the period in which it is earned. If the revenue target is achieved during both Earnout periods, only one payment will be made at the end of the first Earnout period. If the revenue target is not achieved during either of the two-year Earnout periods, a payment will not be made. See "Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Operating Results — Non-Compensation Expenses".

(b)
Total contractual obligations are recorded at their gross amount and have not been reduced by approximately $1.9 million in minimum sublease rentals due during the period 2017 to 2019 under sublease obligations related to space formerly occupied by Cogent personnel in New York and London.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We do not invest in any off-balance sheet vehicles that provide financing, liquidity, market risk or credit risk support, or engage in any leasing or hedging activities that expose us to any liability that is not reflected in our Consolidated Financial Statements.

Market Risk
Our investments are principally limited to short-term cash investments, which we believe do not face any material interest rate risk, equity price risk or other market risk. We maintain our cash and cash equivalents with financial institutions with high credit ratings. Although these deposits are generally not insured, management believes we are not exposed to significant credit risk due to the financial position of the depository institutions in which those deposits are held.
We monitor the quality of our investments on a regular basis and may choose to diversify such investments to mitigate perceived market risk. Our cash and cash equivalents are denominated in U.S. dollars, Australian dollars, Canadian dollars, pound sterling, euros, yen, Swedish krona and Brazilian real, and we face foreign currency risk in our cash balances held in accounts outside the United States due to potential currency movements and the associated foreign currency translation accounting requirements. We currently do not hedge our foreign currency exposure, but we may do so if we expect we will need to fund U.S. dollar obligations with foreign currency.
In addition, the reported amounts of our advisory revenues may be affected by movements in the rate of exchange in the major markets in which we operate between the Australian dollar, Canadian dollar, pound sterling, euro, yen, krona and real (in which collectively 37% of our revenues for the year ended December 31, 2016 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 in those jurisdictions in which we generated a significant portion of our foreign earnings, which included the United Kingdom, Europe, and Australia. During the year ended December 31, 2016 , as compared to 2015 , the value of the U.S. dollar strengthened relative to the pound sterling and remained relatively constant with the Australian dollar and euro. In aggregate, although there was a negative impact on our revenues in 2016 as compared to 2015 as a result of movements in the foreign currency exchange rates, we did not deem the impact significant due to the timing of receipts and the mix of currencies we received, including the negotiation for the payment of certain foreign transaction fees in U.S. dollars. Further, because our operating costs in foreign jurisdictions are denominated in local

37




currency we are effectively internally hedged against the impact in the movements of foreign currency relative to the U.S. dollar. While our earnings are subject to volatility from changes in foreign currency rates, we do not believe we face any material risk in this respect.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Management's discussion and analysis of its results of operation and financial condition is based on our Consolidated Financial Statements that have been prepared in accordance with GAAP in the United States, which requires management to make estimates and assumptions regarding future events that affect the amounts reported in the Consolidated Financial Statements. Management employs judgment in making these estimates in consideration of historical experience, currently available information and various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ from our estimates and assumptions, and any such differences could be material to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Descriptions of our critical accounting policies and estimates, which we believe 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, are set forth below in "Part IV — Item 15 — Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 2 — Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” and are incorporated by reference herein.

Item 7A.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk are set forth above in “Item 7 — Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation — Market Risk”.

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 Firm’s disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-15 as of the end of the year covered by this Annual Report on 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 changes in our internal controls over financial reporting that occurred during the most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Management’s report on the Firm’s internal control over financial reporting (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 through F-4 of this report.
In addition, on August 5, 2016 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 filed 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 Exchange Act (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, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
Information regarding our Board of Directors and executive officers is included in Part I of this Annual Report on Form 10-K under the caption “Executive Officers and Directors.” Additional information regarding members of the Board of Directors and Greenhill’s Corporate Governance are set forth below.

INFORMATION REGARDING THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The Board of Directors conducts its business through meetings of the Board and the following standing committees: Audit, Compensation, and Nominating and Governance. Each of the standing committees has adopted and operates under a written charter. Our Corporate Governance Guidelines also provide for a Lead Independent Director. All of our corporate governance documents, including our written committee charters, our Corporate Governance Guidelines, our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and our Related Person Transaction Policy, are available on our website at www.greenhill.com. The written charters, the Guidelines, the Code and the Related Person Transaction Policy are also available in print to any stockholder who requests them.

Meetings of the Independent Directors
In addition to the committees of the Board of Directors described below, our non-employee directors meet regularly in executive sessions in which our employee directors (Messrs. Greenhill and Bok) and other members of management do not participate. The Lead Independent Director serves as the presiding director of these executive sessions.

Committees of the Board

Audit Committee
Members:
Stephen L. Key (Chairman)
Robert T. Blakely
Karen P. Robards
The Audit Committee is a separate committee established in accordance with Rule 10A-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The Board of Directors has determined that all members of the Audit Committee are “independent” as that term is defined in the applicable New York Stock Exchange listing standards and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and that all members are financially literate as required by the applicable New York Stock Exchange listing standards. The Board of Directors also has determined that Mr. Key is an “audit committee financial expert” as defined by applicable regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Mr. Blakely currently serves on the audit committees of four public companies, including Greenhill, but is stepping down from the Audit Committee effective as of March 1, 2017. The Board of Directors has appointed Mr. Goldstone to replace Mr. Blakely on the Audit Committee effective as of such date. Our Board of Directors had discussed with Mr. Blakely the time and effort required to be devoted by Mr. Blakely to his service on these committees and had affirmatively determined that such services do not impair Mr. Blakely’s ability to serve as an effective member of Greenhill’s Audit Committee. Furthermore, the Board of Directors has determined that Mr. Goldstone is “independent” as that term is defined in the applicable New York Stock Exchange listing standards and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and is financially literate as required by the applicable New York Stock Exchange listing standards.
The Audit Committee’s purpose is to oversee the independent auditor’s qualifications, independence and performance, the integrity of our financial statements, the performance of our internal audit function and independent auditors and compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. The Audit Committee has sole authority to retain and terminate the independent auditors and is directly responsible for the compensation and oversight of the work of the independent auditors. The Audit Committee reviews and discusses with management and the independent auditors the annual audited and quarterly financial statements, reviews the integrity of the financial reporting processes, both internal and external, and prepares the Audit Committee Report included in the proxy statement in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Audit Committee met five times during 2016. In addition, the SEC Subcommittee of the Audit Committee, which is responsible for reviewing periodic reports of Greenhill filed with the SEC, met three times during 2016. Mr. Key is the sole member of the SEC Subcommittee, although other Audit Committee members participate in SEC Subcommittee meetings from time to time.

39




Compensation Committee
Members:
Steven F. Goldstone (Chairman)
Robert T. Blakely
Stephen L. Key
The Compensation Committee, comprised entirely of independent, non-employee directors, is responsible for establishing and administering our policies involving the compensation of our executive officers. No employee of Greenhill serves on the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee members have no interlocking relationships as defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The Board of Directors has determined that all members of the Compensation Committee are “independent” as that term is defined in applicable New York Stock Exchange listing standards. The Compensation Committee oversees our compensation and benefits policies generally, evaluates senior executive performance, oversees and sets compensation for our senior executives and reviews management’s succession plan. The Compensation Committee evaluates our compensation philosophy, goals and objectives generally, and it approves corporate goals related to the compensation of our senior executives (including the Chief Executive Officer), approves compensation and compensatory arrangements applicable to our other executive officers based on our compensation goals and objectives. See “Executive Compensation—Compensation Discussion and Analysis” for more information on the Compensation Committee’s role in determining compensation. In addition, the Compensation Committee is responsible for reviewing and recommending the establishment of broad-based incentive compensation, equity-based, retirement or other material employee benefit plans, and for discharging any duties under the terms of our equity incentive plan. The Compensation Committee met three times during 2016.
Nominating and Governance Committee
Members:
Robert T. Blakely (Chairman)
Steven F. Goldstone
Stephen L. Key
Karen P. Robards
The Board of Directors has determined that all members of the Nominating and Governance Committee are “independent” as that term is defined in applicable New York Stock Exchange listing standards. The Nominating and Governance Committee identifies and recommends individuals qualified to become members of the Board of Directors and recommends to the Board sound corporate governance principles and practices for Greenhill. In particular, the Committee assesses the independence of all Board members, identifies and evaluates candidates for nomination as directors, recommends the slate of director nominees for election at the annual meeting of stockholders and to fill vacancies between annual meetings, recommends qualified members of the Board for membership on committees, oversees the director orientation and continuing education programs, reviews the Board’s committee structure, reviews and assesses the adequacy of our Corporate Governance Guidelines, evaluates the annual evaluation process for the Board and Board committees and is charged with overseeing our Related Person Transaction Policy. The Nominating and Governance Committee met two times during 2016.

Meeting Attendance
Our Corporate Governance Guidelines provide that our directors are expected to attend meetings of the Board and of the committees on which they serve. We do not have a policy requiring directors to attend our annual meeting of stockholders. The Board met seven times during 2016. Five of our directors attended the annual meeting of stockholders in 2016, and all of our directors attended at least 75% of the Board and committee meetings on which the directors served.

Procedures for Contacting the Board of Directors
The Board has established a process for stockholders and other interested parties to send written communications to the Board, the independent directors, or to individual directors. Such communications may be made anonymously. Such communications should be sent by U.S. mail to the Board of Directors, c/o Greenhill, 300 Park Avenue, New York, New York, 10022 (attention: Secretary). The communications will be collected by the Secretary and delivered, in the form received and if so addressed, to a specified director, the independent directors, the Lead Independent Director or the Audit Committee or its Chairman. Items that are unrelated to a director’s duties and responsibilities as a Board member may be excluded by the Secretary, including solicitations and advertisements, junk mail and resumes.


40




Procedures for Selecting and Nominating Director Candidates
In evaluating the appropriate characteristics of candidates for service as a director, the Nominating and Governance Committee takes into account many factors. At a minimum, director candidates must demonstrate high standards of ethics, integrity and professionalism, independence, sound judgment, community leadership and meaningful experience in business, law or finance or other appropriate endeavor. In addition, the candidates must be committed to representing the long-term interests of our stockholders. In addition to these minimum qualifications, the Committee also considers other factors it deems appropriate based on the current needs of the Board, including specific business and financial expertise currently desired on the Board, experience as a director of a public company and diversity. The Committee does not have any formal diversity policy. With these factors and characteristics in mind, the Committee will generally begin its search by discussing potential candidates with existing members of the Board and management. The Committee will also reassess the qualifications of a director, including the director’s past contributions to the Board and the director’s attendance and contributions at Board and committee meetings, prior to recommending a director for reelection to another term.
Our Board of Directors has adopted procedures by which stockholders may recommend nominees to the Board. The Nominating and Governance Committee will consider any director candidate recommended by stockholders in accordance with the procedures set out in our bylaws and applicable law on the same basis as it considers other director candidates. Stockholders may also submit a letter and relevant information about the candidate to the Secretary at Greenhill & Co., Inc., 300 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10022.

Board Leadership Structure and Role in Risk Oversight
The Chairman of our Board of Directors, Robert F. Greenhill, is the founder of Greenhill and has previously served as its Chief Executive Officer. In 2007, Mr. Greenhill relinquished the position as Chief Executive Officer. At that time, the Board of Directors determined that it was in the best interests of our stockholders for Mr. Greenhill to continue to serve as Chairman of the Board, given the depth of his experience with our firm and our industry. In January 2016, our Board of Directors amended our Corporate Governance Guidelines to provide for a “Lead Independent Director” and appointed Steven F. Goldstone to this role. The Lead Independent Director's responsibilities include:
(1)
Chair any meeting of the Board at which the Chairman is not present, including executive sessions of non-management or independent directors;

(2)
Have the authority to call meetings of the non-management or independent directors;

(3)
Meet with any director who is not adequately performing his or her duties as a member of the Board or any committee;

(4)
Facilitate communications between other members of the Board and the Chairman of the Board and/or the Chief Executive Officer by serving as the principal liaison; however, each director is free to communicate directly with the Chairman of the Board and with the Chief Executive Officer;

(5)
Monitor, with the assistance of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and General Counsel, communications from stockholders and other interested parties, report on such communications to the other directors as he or she considers appropriate, and be available, when appropriate, for consultation and direct communication with stockholders;

(6)
Work with the Chairman of the Board and the CEO in the preparation of the agenda for each Board meeting and approve the agendas to be sent to the Board; and be available to review information to be sent to the Board when appropriate;

(7)
Work with the Chairman of the Board in determining the need for special meetings of the Board, and approve the number and frequency of Board meetings and meeting schedules, assuring there is sufficient time for discussion of all agenda items; and

(8)
Otherwise consult with the Chairman of the Board and/or the Chief Executive Officer on matters relating to corporate governance and Board performance.
Our Board of Directors, under the guidance of the Nominating and Governance Committee, reviews the structure of our Board of Directors and its committees each year as a part of its annual self-evaluation process, and in that context considers, among other things, issues of structure and leadership, including whether the offices of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer should be combined or separate, whether the Company should have a “Lead Independent Director” in the event that the Chairman of the Board is not an independent director, and whether the Board’s leadership structure is appropriate given the characteristics

41




or circumstances of the Company. The Board of Directors is satisfied that its current structure and processes are well suited for the Company, given its simple business model, employee stock ownership and size.
The Board of Directors has delegated risk management and oversight to the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee receives regular reports on risk matters, including financial, legal and regulatory risks, at its quarterly meetings. The Audit Committee also receives an annual report on legal, regulatory and compliance matters from the Greenhill Global Compliance Committee. The Audit Committee oversees the Company’s periodic risk assessments and risk-based internal audits. In addition, the Audit Committee meets regularly with the Chief Compliance Officer, principal accounting officer and General Counsel of Greenhill as well as its external and internal auditors, to discuss issues related to risk management. The Audit Committee, in turn, reports any material risk issues which may arise to the full Board of Directors. The Board of Directors' administration of risk oversight has no impact on its leadership structure.

Code of Business Conduct and Ethics
We have adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics applicable to all of our directors and employees, including our principal executive officers, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer, controller and other employees performing similar functions. A copy of this Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is available on our website at www.greenhill.com.
We intend to post on our website any amendment to, or waiver from, a provision of our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that applies to our principal executive officers, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer, controller and other persons performing similar functions within four business days following the date of such amendment or waiver.


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Item 11.  Executive Compensation
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
This Compensation Discussion and Analysis, or CD&A, describes our compensation objectives and programs for our “named executive officers” or “NEOs.” The CD&A also describes the specific decisions, and the process supporting those decisions, which were made in respect to 2016 for the NEOs.
For 2016, our NEOs were:

Scott L. Bok, Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”);

Kevin M. Costantino, President;

David A. Wyles, President; and

Harold J. Rodriguez, Jr., Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer.
In addition, Christopher T. Grubb and Patricia Moran were NEOs for a portion of 2016. Mr. Grubb stepped down as Chief Financial Officer and ceased to be an executive officer effective as of August 7, 2016. He is currently serving as a Managing Director with a primary focus on restructuring advisory work. Ms. Moran resigned as Chief Legal Officer and Secretary and ceased to be an executive officer effective as of October 24, 2016. Ms. Moran is currently employed as a Senior Advisor through April 30, 2017.


CD&A Table of Contents
To assist in finding important information, we call your attention to the following sections of our CD&A:
 
Page

Executive Summary
Greenhill’s Business and Strategy . Greenhill is a leading independent investment bank that provides financial and strategic advice on significant domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, restructurings, financings, capital raising and other transactions to a diverse client base, including corporations, partnerships, institutions and governments globally. We serve as a trusted advisor to our clients throughout the world on a collaborative, globally integrated basis from our offices in the United States, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
Greenhill is a unique global investment banking firm, not only in relation to the large integrated, or "bulge bracket", institutions which engage in commercial lending, underwriting, research, sales and trading and other businesses, but also in relation to other so called "independent" investment banks, many of which engage in investment management, research and capital markets businesses, all of which can create conflicts with clients' interests. Our business strategy is to (i) operate as a pure advisory firm, which minimizes conflicts and emphasizes our focus on client service, (ii) operate globally, with a presence in all major markets, (iii) emphasize larger transactions, which enhances fee opportunities, (iv) continue to expand our business organically and through strategic acquisitions and (v) maintain our conservative policies of no net debt and GAAP profitability.
2016 Performance Highlights . Our 2016 financial results reflected a strong operational year in all respects. Our consistent goal over time has been to provide our stockholders with prudent growth, robust profitability and strong return of capital, and we accomplished all three of those objectives in 2016 despite volatile markets, reduced M&A activity globally, a strong dollar that diminished the value of advisory fees earned in other currencies, and the outcome of the Brexit referendum.


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Total annual revenues of $335.5 million in 2016, the second highest in the Firm's history

29% increase in annual advisory revenues from 2015 to 2016, the best reported by any of our peers or larger integrated banks, despite a decline in industry-wide advisory revenues

26% pre-tax profit margin in 2016, and we have achieved a pre-tax profit margin of 25% or better in seven of the past ten years, which is a higher margin than most of our peers have achieved in even a single year

Diluted earnings per share of $1.89 in 2016, more than double $0.82 in prior year

Strong cash flow, which translated into a strong return of capital to stockholders, including the repurchase of 1.2 million shares or share equivalents in addition to paying our substantial dividend; our share count has only increased approximately 4% since our IPO in 2004, despite significant issuances for acquisitions and compensation

Maintained a dividend with the highest yield among our peers

6 Managing Directors recruited, adding to our capabilities in Canada, Latin America, the United Kingdom and the energy and chemicals sectors in the United States, plus 10 internal promotions to Managing Director of "homegrown" talent
A2016REVENUECHARTA01.JPG

Executive Pay Program Updates and 2016 Say on Pay Vote . At our 2016 Annual Stockholders Meeting, approximately 68% of votes cast supported Greenhill’s executive compensation program. This included the support of 18 of our 25 largest stockholders (excluding management), and reflected an improvement versus the prior year.
Over the past two years, our Compensation Committee, working with management, has undertaken a review of our executive compensation programs. This effort included discussions with institutional stockholders and their corporate governance groups specifically regarding executive compensation, analysis of market practices at peer companies, and retention by the Compensation Committee of an independent compensation consultant. The objective of the investor outreach was to understand the factors our stockholders consider to be most important when evaluating our executive compensation program. We learned that stockholders were not seeking major changes to our executive compensation program, but rather that they had some ideas to refine and improve the program, often specific to CEO pay. Major stockholders were not prescriptive about plan design. Instead, they were more interested to see that the results and outcomes delivered by the plans were appropriately aligned with Firm-wide and individual performance.









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We took action in response to investor feedback:


Feedback We Received
 
Action Taken by Compensation Committee (2015-16)
 
Performance versus pre-established financial targets should be considered when determining CEO bonus.
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During the first quarter of 2016, the Compensation Committee set Firm-wide 2016 revenue and pre-tax margin goals and committed to consider performance versus these goals when determining the CEO bonus for 2016.
A portion of CEO compensation should be more closely linked to multi-year Firm-wide results.
CHECKMARK.JPG
Awarded performance-based restricted stock units (“PRSUs”) to our CEO in January 2016, with payout contingent on Firm-wide performance related pre-defined three-year goals. To be transparent regarding the rigor of these new, multi-year Firm-wide goals (revenue, pre-tax margin, and total stockholder return), they are disclosed below, on a prospective basis.
 
There should be increased independence in Board leadership.
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Appointed Steven Goldstone, one of our independent outside directors, as our Lead Independent Director and amended our corporate governance guidelines to account for this new Board structure.
 
Provide more “user-friendly” compensation disclosure.
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Substantially redesigned our CD&A, including the addition of an executive summary, increased detail regarding stockholder outreach, and disclosure of multi-year goals for revenue, pre-tax margin, and total stockholder return.
 

















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Key Compensation Practices . Key executive compensation practices are summarized below. We believe these practices promote alignment with the interests of our stockholders.

What We Do

CHECKMARK.JPG
We focus on variable versus fixed compensation. 100% of CEO variable compensation is equity-based and no perquisites are provided.
 
CHECKMARK.JPG
We seek to offset the impact of equity compensation awards by repurchasing shares of our common stock and maintaining a flat, or near flat, share count.
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Beginning in 2016, granted PRSUs as part of CEO’s compensation, with prospective disclosure of multi- year, Firm-wide performance goals.
 
CHECKMARK.JPG
Review and consider stockholder feedback in structuring executive compensation.
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Beginning with the 2016 performance year, considered pre-set Firm-wide financial goals when determining CEO bonus.
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Prudently exercise discretion to be responsive to the cyclical nature of our business and advance our goal of operating as a meritocracy.
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Retain an independent compensation consultant to assist the Compensation Committee.
 
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Apply double-trigger vesting for equity awards under a change in control scenario.
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Broad ability of Compensation Committee to clawback deferred retention compensation, which is the largest component of NEO compensation.
 
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Design incentive compensation plans that allow us to maximize tax deductibility.
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Apply multi-year vesting requirements to equity awards, generally 3-5 years.
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Maintain stock ownership guidelines for all NEOs; CEO requirement is10x salary.
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Anti-hedging policy.
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Anti-pledging policy.

What We Don’t Do
 
 
 
 
      XMARK.JPG
No guaranteed bonus arrangements.
 
      XMARK.JPG
No perquisites.
 
 
 
 
 
      XMARK.JPG
No tax gross-ups.
 
      XMARK.JPG
No severance agreements.
 
 
 
 
 
      XMARK.JPG
No single trigger vesting on change in control.
 
      XMARK.JPG
No pension benefits.
 
 
 
 
 
      XMARK.JPG
No hedging or pledging permitted.
 
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No repricing of underwater stock options without stockholder approval.
 




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Process For Reviewing Executive Performance and Determining Executive Compensation
Compensation Philosophy . Our compensation program is designed to attract, retain and motivate our professionals, reward the achievement of business results through the delivery of competitive pay and align the aggregate compensation of our employees through incentive programs with both individual and company performance.
The principles behind our approach to compensation include:

Principles of Compensation Policy
Alignment
Align interests between all our senior professionals (including our named executive officers) and our stockholders
Simplicity
Our senior professionals and our stockholders can readily calculate the costs and benefits of the compensation we provide
Meritocracy  (within the Firm)
Our compensation methodology is seen by our senior professionals as fair and, as a result, those professionals can work together effectively in teams to better advise clients
Effectiveness
Can attract and retain talent in a highly competitive industry

Compensation Track Record . Using GAAP figures, our ratio of compensation to revenues has ranged from 53% to 56% over the past several years and it is our goal to maintain a ratio over time at the lower end of this range, which will be dependent upon our revenue generation, changes in headcount and other factors.  We will balance this goal with our objective of retaining our core personnel and compensating them competitively in order to maintain our strong franchise, and continuing to expand our industry expertise and geographic reach.
Compensation Process . The Compensation Committee, which consists entirely of independent outside directors, has the overall responsibility for evaluating and approving our executive officer base salaries, annual and long-term incentive compensation, and other compensation plans, policies and programs. The Compensation Committee maintains a dialogue with our management and its independent consultant regarding compensation, industry practices and the contributions of individual executives, all of which are taken into account in determining compensation. Scott Bok, our Chief Executive Officer, after consulting with other key executives, makes recommendations to the Compensation Committee regarding both the form and amount of base salary and annual and long-term incentive compensation for each named executive officer and other senior professionals each year. In preparation for making such recommendations, our management reviews information regarding compensation levels at our peers, as described below. In making awards to any individual, the Compensation Committee does not consider his or her gains, or failure to achieve gains, on prior stock-based awards.
Incentive compensation awards are generally granted once at the beginning of each calendar year in respect of performance for the preceding year; on a limited basis, additional awards may be provided at other times of the year for recognition or to support retention. The purpose of incentive compensation awards is to reward our professionals for their contribution to our business in the preceding year and to encourage the long-term retention of our valued professionals.
For the 2016 performance year, as described below, 100% of incentive compensation for our CEO was awarded in the form of RSUs which cliff vest following three years. Incentive compensation for our other Named Executive Officers, as described below, was awarded 29% to 45% in the form of cash bonuses paid in February 2017 and 55% to 71% in the form of deferred compensation.  Deferred compensation consisted of 60% RSUs and cash, both of which vest annually over four years. The RSU awards, granted based on an assessment of 2016 performance, further align our Named Executive Officers with our stockholders and also support retention. The deferred cash awards, granted based on an assessment of 2016 performance, support retention and also a predictable cash flow for our non-CEO Named Executive Officers following the required service period.
In making its final determinations, our Compensation Committee initially evaluates the Firm’s financial results and strategic development, as measured by revenue growth, pre-tax profit margin, and return of capital to stockholders, and implications of its decisions on total compensation expense as a percent of total revenue in any given year (i.e., the compensation ratio).

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ITEM11WHEEL.JPG
In approving compensation decisions with respect to 2016, our Compensation Committee considered a variety of factors, including the following: (i) the Firm’s advisory revenues increased 29% versus the prior year, the best reported by any of our peers, despite a decline in industry-wide advisory revenues; (ii) the Firm’s pre-tax profit margin of 26%, which was our best in several years, and in seven of the past ten years we have had a pre-tax margin of 25% or higher, which is a higher margin on a GAAP basis than most of our peers have achieved in even a single year; (iii) the Firm again achieved its long-term objective of maintaining a strong dividend; and (iv) the Firm’s share price performance over the course of the calendar year. The Compensation Committee also took note, with respect to those named executive officers who are actively involved in advising clients and generating revenue (our Chief Executive Officer and our Presidents) of their individual contributions to building client relationships, winning assignments, executing transactions and generating revenue for the Firm.
With respect to our Chief Executive Officer, in particular, the Compensation Committee determined his 2016 compensation on the merits of his performance both as an executive in relation to the Firm’s overall results and as an investment banker. During the first quarter of 2016, the Compensation Committee set Firm-wide revenue and pre-tax margin targets for the 2016 performance year, and committed to consider results against these pre-established targets when determining Mr. Bok’s bonus for 2016 performance. The revenue target was $299.3 million (compared to 2015 Firm-wide revenue of $260.3 million) and the pre-tax profit margin target was 25% (compared to 2015 Firm-wide pre-tax margin of 17%). As described above under 2016 Performance Highlights, the Firm had 2016 revenues and pre-tax margin of $335.5 million and 26%, respectively. The Compensation Committee noted that pre-established 2016 financial performance goals were exceeded. The Compensation Committee also noted that, with respect to his management responsibilities, Mr. Bok played an instrumental role in driving the Firm's increased revenues and managing the Firm’s cost structure such that it again achieved a leading profit margin among our peers and maintained its strong dividend. In addition, the Compensation Committee noted that Mr. Bok has continued to maintain strong and productive relationships with the Firm’s regional and industry sector leaders around the world, as well as with stockholders, investment analysts, the press and other relevant constituencies. With respect to his client responsibilities, the Compensation Committee noted that Mr. Bok had initiated and led the Firm’s efforts on some of its most important announced transactions for clients in 2016, and that he played an active role in assisting many of our senior professionals around the world in advancing their client relationships, winning assignments and executing transactions. In addition to the foregoing factors regarding Mr. Bok’s individual performance as a professional advising Firm clients and his role as CEO in managing the Firm, in determining Mr. Bok’s compensation, the Compensation Committee considered the Firm’s performance in 2016 and over time, and the need to retain Mr. Bok’s services as Chief Executive Officer of the Firm. In light of the Firm’s overall performance in 2016, the Compensation Committee determined that an overall increase in Mr. Bok’s compensation for 2016 compared to 2015 would be appropriate, based on both Firm-wide and individual performance.
Independent Consultant . The Compensation Committee has the authority to retain and terminate a compensation consultant, and to approve the consultant’s fees and all other terms of its engagement. During 2016, the Compensation Committee continued to directly retain Compensation Advisory Partners LLC (“CAP”) as its independent compensation consultant. CAP assisted the

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Compensation Committee by preparing analyses and making recommendations to inform the Compensation Committee’s decisions, in particular related to CEO compensation. The Compensation Committee assessed the independence of CAP pursuant to SEC and NYSE rules, and concluded that no conflict of interest exists that would prevent CAP from providing independent advice to the Compensation Committee. CAP met with the Compensation Committee, and with the Committee Chair, outside the presence of management and will perform no other services for the Firm without the consent of the Chair of the Compensation Committee.

2016 Total Direct Compensation
CEO Compensation . Mr. Bok's salary was fixed at the time of our IPO in 2004 and has not increased since that time. Mr. Bok's bonus compensation has been in the form of RSUs, with no cash bonuses paid, for more than five years. Providing Mr. Bok's bonus in equity rather than cash directly aligned nearly all of his compensation with the interests of our stockholders.
The following table shows the base salary and incentive compensation awarded to our CEO for the 2016, 2015 and 2014 fiscal years, considering annual performance outcomes, in the manner it was considered by the Compensation Committee. This table shows incentive compensation in the performance year to which it relates and, accordingly, among other things, differs from (and does not replace) that contained in the Summary Compensation Table.
Year
Salary
Cash Bonus
Deferred RSUs 1
Total Annual Pay
Change vs. 2015
Change vs. 2014
2016
$600,000
$0
$3,400,000
$4,000,000
60%
23%
2015
$600,000
$0
$1,900,000
$2,500,000
n/a
-23%
2014
$600,000
$0
$2,650,000
$3,250,000
n/a
n/a
1 Inclusive of $1,000 in a matching contribution to Mr. Bok’s 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan.
In addition, our Compensation Committee, in consultation with CAP, introduced performance-based restricted stock awards, or PRSUs, as part of our CEO’s long-term incentive compensation beginning in 2016, considering 2015 performance, as disclosed and discussed in our 2016 Compensation Discussion and Analysis. Compensation actually realized by our CEO from this PRSU award will not be known until the 2018 fiscal year is complete, as payout, if any, is linked to multi-year (2016 to 2018), Firm-wide, revenue, pre-tax profit and total stockholder return (“TSR”) goals. The PRSU award is fully at-risk based on performance outcomes over the three-year performance period; i.e., if the achievement of any of the multi-year performance metrics is below the respective threshold three-year goal, the payout factor for such performance metric will be 0%. Please see "CEO PRSU Award" below for additional details on Mr. Bok's prospective PRSU award.
Compensation of Other Named Executive Officers . With respect to the compensation of our other named executive officers, as set forth below, Mr. Bok’s recommendations to the Compensation Committee focused on the relative importance of the roles played by such officers and their overall contributions to the Firm, including, where relevant, their roles in developing client relationships, executing client engagements and generating revenue and, in all cases, the complexity and difficulty of the leadership and administrative roles played by such officer, as well as the importance of retaining such officer.
Mr. Costantino. In recommending annual incentive compensation for Mr. Costantino, Mr. Bok considered Mr. Costantino’s role as a senior banker developing key client relationships, executing client engagements and generating revenue, while also playing a senior management and leadership role within the Firm. As President, Mr. Costantino plays a central role in managing key client relationships, in monitoring business activity across the Firm, in managing Firm personnel, in recruiting new talent to the Firm and in pursuing new strategic opportunities for the Firm. The Compensation Committee approved $600,000 of base compensation and the following incentive compensation for Mr. Costantino for his performance in 2016: a cash award of $399,000 that is payable in February 2017, and deferred compensation awards valued at $1,000,000, consisting of an RSU award valued at $600,000 that will vest over four years and a deferred cash award of $400,000 that vests under the same terms as the RSU award, which total deferred compensation awards constituted approximately 70% of Mr. Costantino’s total incentive compensation for 2016.
Mr. Wyles . In recommending annual incentive compensation for Mr. Wyles, Mr. Bok considered Mr. Wyles’ role as a senior banker developing key client relationships, executing client engagements and generating revenue, while also playing a senior management and leadership role within the Firm. As President, Mr. Wyles plays a central role in managing key client relationships, in monitoring business activity across the Firm, in managing Firm personnel, in recruiting new talent to the Firm and in pursuing new strategic opportunities for the Firm. The Compensation Committee approved $535,541 of base compensation and the following incentive compensation for Mr. Wyles for his performance in 2016: a cash award of $1,945,678, consisting of $900,000 that was paid in August 2016 and $1,045,678 that is payable in February 2017, and deferred compensation awards valued at $2,500,000, consisting of an RSU award valued at $1,500,000 that will vest over four years and a deferred cash award of $1,000,000 that vests under the same terms as the RSU award, which total deferred compensation awards constituted approximately 56% of Mr. Wyles’ total incentive compensation for 2016.

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Mr. Rodriguez . In recommending annual incentive compensation for Mr. Rodriguez, Mr. Bok considered the various roles that Mr. Rodriguez performs for the Firm, including as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Compliance Officer, and, effective August 7, 2016, as Chief Financial Officer. Among other things, he considered Mr. Rodriguez’s responsibility for corporate finance and accounting at the Firm, managing the Firm’s expenses apart from compensation, ongoing management and oversight of the operating risks of the business, and establishing and implementing uniform internal policies within the Firm. The Compensation Committee approved $600,000 of base compensation and the following incentive compensation for Mr. Rodriguez for his performance in 2016: a cash award of $524,000 that is payable in February 2017, and deferred compensation awards valued at $1,125,000, consisting of an RSU award valued at $675,000 that will vest over four years and a deferred cash award of $450,000 that vests under the same terms as the RSU award, which total deferred compensation awards constituted approximately 68% of Mr. Rodriguez’s total incentive compensation for 2016.
Mr. Grubb . In recommending annual incentive compensation for Mr. Grubb, Mr. Bok considered Mr. Grubb’s roles as the Firm’s Chief Financial Officer, as the Firm’s primary spokesman with stockholders and prospective investors, and as a senior banker within the Firm’s corporate advisory business, with a focus on restructuring advisory work. In particular, he considered Mr. Grubb’s role in developing key client relationships, executing client engagements and generating revenue, alongside his management and administrative responsibilities. The Compensation Committee approved $600,000 of base compensation and the following incentive compensation for Mr. Grubb for his performance in 2016: a cash award of $749,000 that is payable in February 2017, and deferred compensation awards valued at $900,000, consisting of an RSU award valued at $540,000 that will vest over four years and a deferred cash award of $360,000 that vests under the same terms as the RSU award, which total deferred compensation awards constituted approximately 55% of Mr. Grubb’s total incentive compensation for 2016.
Ms. Moran . In connection with Ms. Moran's move to a Senior Advisor role, the Firm entered into an agreement with Ms. Moran under which it will pay Ms. Moran (i) her current base salary through April 30, 2017, (ii) a cash bonus in relation to the 2016 calendar year of $1.0 million, payable on or before February 28, 2017, and (iii) a separation cash payment of $1.25 million on or about April 30, 2017. Payments associated with the agreement are included in the Summary Compensation Table below.
Changes in our Executive Officer Team in 2016.
Effective as of August 7, 2016, Harold J. Rodriguez, Jr. was appointed as our new Chief Financial Officer and Christopher T. Grubb stepped down after four years of serving in that role in order to return to a full-time focus on client advisory activities, with a primary focus on restructuring advisory work.
Effective as of October 24, 2016, Patricia Moran resigned as our Chief Legal Officer and Secretary. Ms. Moran has agreed to continue with the Firm in a Senior Advisor role through April 30, 2017, in order to assist in the transition of her responsibilities.

Peer Groups - Relative Performance and Pay Levels/Practices
Competition for Talent . We operate in a highly competitive industry, where individual investment bankers can have a significant impact on both near- and long-term revenue and on their employer’s reputation. Our competitors for talent, as well as for clients, fall largely into four categories: large global banks, large regional banks, publicly listed independent investment banking firms and closely held boutique firms.
Relative Performance . When reviewing relative performance, we generally reference other public, independent investment banks: Lazard, Evercore Partners, Moelis & Co. and, commencing in 2015, PJT Partners and Houlihan Lokey.
Relative Pay Levels/Practices . Over the past two years, the Compensation Committee, working with management, developed a group of peer companies which it believes provides a meaningful gauge of current pay practices and levels, as well as overall compensation trends: Lazard, Evercore Partners, Moelis & Co., PJT Partners, Houlihan Lokey, Stifel Financial Corp., and Cowen Group. For purposes of 2016 compensation, the Committee reviewed an analysis prepared by CAP regarding CEO compensation levels for 2015 (the most recent year for which comprehensive data for our peers was available), and indicative trends for 2016 year-end compensation decisions, for comparable positions at these firms. In the CAP analysis, the compensation of our CEO was found to be below 25 th percentile, which aligned with the relative size of our firm on a revenue basis. We considered the level of compensation paid by the firms in the peer group in connection with our 2016 compensation decisions; however, the Compensation Committee did not target compensation at a particular level relative to the peer group. This information was one of several data points considered. To the extent investors use a peer group for the Firm to benchmark pay levels or pay practices, we believe this is a reasonable group of companies, considering size and business model.

CEO PRSU Award
Our Compensation Committee, in consultation with CAP, introduced performance-based restricted stock awards, or PRSUs, as part of our CEO’s long-term incentive compensation beginning in 2016, considering 2015 performance. In designing the PRSU

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award, the Compensation Committee targeted performance goals that would both advance our business objectives and be responsive to stockholder feedback. The PRSUs tie compensation outcomes for our CEO from 2016 to 2018 to multi-year revenue, pre-tax profit and total stockholder return (“TSR”) goals, each equally weighted, as specifically described below. We believe these three-year goals are rigorous.
2016-2018
Performance Period
Average Annual Revenue as
a Multiple of 2015
Pre-Tax Margin
Total Stockholder Return (CAGR)
Threshold Goal
(Payout Factor = 50%)
1.1x
22.0%
10.0%
Target Goal
(Payout Factor = 100%)
1.15x
25.0%
15.0%
Upside Goal
(Payout Factor = 200%)
1.2x
26.0%
20.0%
Maximum Goal
(Payout Factor = 250%)
1.25x
28.0%
25.0%
Any compensation ultimately earned for this award will be based on performance during 2016, 2017 and 2018. In measuring the achievement against the goals for each performance metric and calculating the related payout factors, achievement will be linearly interpolated between the percentages set forth in the table above based on actual results as determined and certified by the Compensation Committee. If the achievement of a performance metric is below the threshold goal, the payout factor for such performance metric will be 0%. The maximum payout under the award is 250% the target number of stock units, plus the cumulative dividends paid on the underlying shares during the performance period.
We selected these three performance metrics based upon the importance placed on these metrics by our stockholders, and the importance our business and industry places on top line revenues and pre-tax margin. In addition, we believe there is balance among these measures, i.e., a top line metric (revenue/growth), a bottom line metric (profitability), and a market return metric (TSR). In setting these performance goals, the Compensation Committee considered stockholder communications, as well as input from both the CEO and CAP. The goals were tested against retrospective results, and reviewed against our prospective business objectives and industry expectations.

Other Compensation Program and Governance Features
No Guarantees . We historically have had a “no guarantees” policy (with exceptions only for the initial period of employment of newly recruited named executive officers and other senior professionals) and no contractual entitlement to severance. To provide further flexibility with respect to employment and compensation matters, we historically have maintained a flexible termination practice with no contractual rights to continued employment (other than for a brief notice period) and no contractual right to severance upon termination.
Clawbacks . The Compensation Committee, in cases where it reasonably determines to be appropriate (not only in cases of narrowly defined actions by the named executive officer or employee that would constitute “cause” for termination), has discretion to cancel all unvested deferred compensation awards upon termination of a named executive officer or employee. Because a significant portion of compensation to named executive officers and other senior professionals is in the form of deferred compensation awards, the Compensation Committee effectively has the ability to terminate unvested deferred compensation awards and thereby clawback a significant portion of all compensation awarded to an individual in the prior five years.
Executive Stock Ownership Guidelines . In order to further support the alignment of interests between our named executive officers and our stockholders, in 2014 we adopted stock ownership guidelines for our named executive officers. The guidelines require that executives attain a specified level of ownership of the Firm’s securities equal in value to a multiple of base salary within the later of five years of the executive’s appointment to their role or the applicability of these guidelines:
CEO - 10x base salary

Other Named Executive Officers - 3x base salary
The Compensation Committee reviews the ownership level for covered executives each year, using a twelve month average stock price. As of the measurement of ownership for 2016, all NEOs were in compliance with the guidelines. Scott Bok, our Chief Executive Officer, holds Firm common stock and RSUs with a value that significantly exceeds his requirement. “Securities,” for purposes of the stock ownership guidelines, includes shares of common stock or other securities of the Firm, RSUs, stock options or other stock-linked equity awards, held directly or indirectly, whether vested or unvested.

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Anti-Hedging and Anti-Pledging Policies . Our executive officers and directors are prohibited from hedging or otherwise disposing of the economic risk of ownership of any of our securities owned by them through short sales, option transactions or other derivative instruments, and may not purchase any of our securities on margin, borrow against any account in which our securities are held or otherwise pledge any company securities as collateral.
Tax Deductibility of Compensation . Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code limits deductions for non-performance-based annual compensation in excess of $1.0 million paid to certain executive officers. Our policy is to generally maximize the tax deductibility of compensation payments to our executive officers. We may, however, authorize payments to executive officers that may not be fully deductible if we believe that such payments are in our stockholders’ interests.
Accounting Implications . We account for stock-based compensation in accordance with the requirements of FASB Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 718. In designing our compensation and benefit programs, we review and consider the accounting implications of our decisions, including the accounting treatment of amounts awarded or paid to our executives.
Risk Related to Compensation Policies . Our Firm-wide year-end discretionary compensation program is designed to reflect the performance of the Firm and the performance of the individual employee, and we believe its design discourages excessive risk taking. For example, paying a significant portion of our year-end compensation in the form of deferred compensation awards, including, with respect to our CEO, PRSUs, all with multi-year vesting periods, encourages each of our senior professionals to be sensitive to long-term risk outcomes, as the value of their awards increase or decrease with the price of our common stock. Our named executive officers are prohibited from hedging or pledging their stock and are subject to stock ownership requirements. We believe these criteria will provide our employees additional incentives to prudently manage the range of risks inherent in our business. Based on this, we do not believe that our compensation policies and practices create risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Firm.

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT
The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of Greenhill has reviewed and discussed with management the Compensation Discussion and Analysis as required by Item 402(b) of Regulation S-K. Based on such review and discussions, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this annual report on Form 10-K and in the proxy statement.
Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of Greenhill & Co., Inc.
Steven F. Goldstone, Chairman
Stephen L. Key
Robert T. Blakely


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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION TABLES
2016 Summary Compensation Table (1)  
Name
 
Year
 
Salary
 
Bonus
 
Stock Awards (2)
 
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation
 
All Other Compen-sation
 
Total
Scott L. Bok
 
2016
 
$600,000
 

$—

 
$3,946,721
(16)

$—

 
$581,187
(19)
$
5,127,908

  Chief Executive Officer
 
2015
 
600,000

 

 
2,649,000

 

 
498,358

(19)
3,747,358

 
 
2014
 
600,000

 

 
2,499,000

 

 
497,732

(19)
3,596,732

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Kevin M. Costantino (3)
 
2016
 
600,000

 
399,000

(7
)
1,099,000

 

 
145,601

(20)
2,243,601

   President
 
2015
 
500,000

 
100,000

(8
)
620,000

 

 
69,589

(20)
1,289,589

 
 
2014
 
464,913

 

 
824,000

 
175,915

(17
)
48,183

(20)
1,513,011

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
David A. Wyles (4)
 
2016
 
535,541

 
1,945,678

(9
)
1,902,857

 

 
381,184

(21)
4,765,260

   President
 
2015
 
577,735

 
358,017

(10
)
2,800,000

 

 
303,761

(21)
4,039,513

 
 
2014
 
619,162

 

 
2,476,097

 

 
206,263

(21)
3,301,522

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Harold J. Rodriguez, Jr.
 
2016
 
600,000

 
524,000

(11
)
1,049,000

 

 
245,611

(22)
2,418,611

  Chief Financial Officer
 
2015
 
600,000

 

 
1,049,000

 

 
179,823

(22)
1,828,823

 
 
2014
 
600,000

 

 
999,000

 

 
130,454

(22)
1,729,454

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Christopher T. Grubb (5)
 
2016
 
600,000

 
749,000

(12
)
1,099,000

 

 
139,942

(23)
2,587,942

  Former Chief Financial Officer
 
2015
 
500,000

 

 
600,000

 

 
62,555

(23)
1,162,555

 
 
2014
 
500,000

 

 
764,000

 
99,000

(18
)
40,829

(23)
1,403,829

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Patricia Moran (6)
 
2016
 
600,000

 
1,000,000

(13
)

 

 
98,929

(24)
1,698,929

  Former Chief Legal Officer and Secretary
 
2015
 
600,000

 
199,500

(14
)
460,000

 

 
40,672

(24)
1,300,172

 
 
2014
 
429,615

 
259,385

(15
)
500,000

 

 
10,137

(24)
1,199,137

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

(1)
Our named executive officers for 2016 are Messrs. Bok, Costantino, Wyles, Rodriguez and Grubb and Ms. Moran. Mr. Grubb stepped down as Chief Financial Officer and ceased to be an executive officer effective as of August 7, 2016. He is currently a Managing Director with a primary focus on restructuring advisory work. Ms. Moran resigned as Chief Legal Officer and Secretary and ceased to be an executive officer effective as of October 24, 2016. Ms. Moran has agreed to continue with the Firm in a Senior Advisor role through April 30, 2017, in order to assist in the transition of her responsibilities.
(2)
These amounts reflect the aggregate grant date fair value determined in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718 of awards made pursuant to our Equity Incentive Plan in the referenced fiscal year. See footnotes 2 (Summary of Significant Accounting Policies) and 14 (Deferred Compensation—Restricted Stock Units) to our financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2016 included in our Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, on January 26, 2017, the named executive officers and Christopher T. Grubb were granted additional awards of RSUs under our Equity Incentive Plan in respect of 2016 performance as follows: Mr. Bok, 119,054 RSUs; Mr. Costantino, 21,016 RSUs; Mr. Wyles, 52,539 RSUs; Mr. Rodriguez, 23,643 RSUs; and Mr. Grubb, 18,914 RSUs. Mr. Bok’s awards will vest fully on January 1, 2020. With respect to the other named executive officers, their awards will vest over four years as follows: 20% will vest on January 1, 2018, 20% will vest on January 1, 2019, 30% will vest on January 1, 2020 and 30% will vest on January 1, 2021.
(3)
Mr. Costantino was appointed President effective as of July 23, 2015.
(4)
Mr. Wyles was appointed President effective as of July 23, 2015.
(5)
Under SEC rules, Greenhill's 2016 named executive officers include Mr. Grubb, notwithstanding that effective as of August 7, 2016, Mr. Grubb stepped down as Chief Financial Officer and therefore is no longer an executive officer of Greenhill. Mr. Grubb is currently a Managing Director with a primary focus on restructuring advisory work.
(6)
Under SEC rules, Greenhill's 2016 named executive officers include Ms. Moran, notwithstanding that effective as of October 24, 2016, she resigned as Chief Legal Officer and Secretary and therefore is no longer an executive officer of Greenhill. Ms. Moran has agreed to continue with the Firm in a Senior Advisor role through April 30, 2017, in order to assist in the transition of her responsibilities.

53




(7)
This amount reflects the cash bonus awarded to Mr. Costantino in 2017 in respect of 2016 performance.
(8)
This amount reflects the cash bonus awarded to Mr. Costantino in 2015 in respect of 2015 performance.
(9)
This amount reflects the cash bonuses of $900,000 awarded to Mr. Wyles in 2016 and $1,045,678 awarded to Mr. Wyles in 2017, respectively, in respect of 2016 performance.
(10)
This amount reflects the cash bonus awarded to Mr. Wyles in 2015 in respect of 2015 performance.
(11)
This amount reflects the cash bonus awarded to Mr. Rodriguez in 2017 in respect of 2016 performance.
(12)
This amount reflects the cash bonus awarded to Mr. Grubb in 2017 in respect of 2016 performance.
(13)
This amount reflects the cash bonus awarded to Ms. Moran in respect of 2016 performance, pursuant to the terms of her agreement with Greenhill.
(14)
This amount reflects the cash bonus awarded to Ms. Moran in respect of 2015 performance, pursuant to the terms of her offer letter.
(15)
This amount reflects the cash bonus awarded to Ms. Moran in respect of 2014 performance, pursuant to the terms of her offer letter.
(16)
On January 27, 2016, Mr. Bok was granted 115,473 Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units (“PRSUs”) in respect of 2015 performance. See "Compensation Discussion and Analysis" above for more information regarding the PRSUs. The PRSUs have a grant date valuation of $21.65 per share and three equally weighted performance targets over a three year period (2016-2018) with a maximum grant of 288,683 shares or $6,250,000 plus the cumulative dividends paid on the underlying shares. One of the performance targets relates to a compounded total shareholder return and thus, contains a market condition under the definitions of Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 718 which requires a grant date fair value ($9.90) to be determined for financial reporting purposes.
(17)
This amount reflects the cash bonus awarded to Mr. Costantino in 2015 in respect of 2014 performance.
(18)
This amount reflects the cash bonus awarded to Mr. Grubb in 2015 in respect of 2014 performance.
(19) Consists of $580,187, $497,358 and $496,732 in dividend equivalent payments made in respect of unvested RSUs (“Dividend Equivalent Payments”) in each of 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and $1,000 in a matching contribution to Mr. Bok’s 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan in each of those three years.
(20)
Consists of $144,601, $68,589 and $47,183 in Dividend Equivalent Payments in each of 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and $1,000 in a matching contribution to Mr. Costantino’s 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan in each of those three years.
(21)
Consists of $362,403, $284,353 and $183,442 in Dividend Equivalent Payments in each of 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and $18,781, $19,408 and $22,821 in employer contributions to Mr. Wyles' UK Pension Plan in each of 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
(22)
Consists of $244,611, $178,823 and $129,454 in Dividend Equivalent Payments in each of 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and $1,000 in a matching contribution to Mr. Rodriguez’s 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan in each of those three years.
(23)
Consists of $138,942, $61,555 and $39,829 in Dividend Equivalent Payments in each of 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and $1,000 in a matching contribution to Mr. Grubb’s 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan in each of those three years.
(24)
Consists of $97,929, $39,672 and $9,137 in Dividend Equivalent Payments in each of 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and $1,000 in a matching contribution to Ms. Moran’s 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan in each of those three years.






54





2016 Grants of Plan-Based Awards
 
Name
 
Grant Date
 
Estimated Future Payouts Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards (Target) (1)
 
 
All Other Stock Awards; Number of Shares of Stock or Units (2) 
 
Grant Date Fair Value of Stock Awards (3)
 
Scott L. Bok
 
January 27, 2016
 
See Note 1
 
115,473

(A)
$2,500,000
Scott L. Bok
 
January 27, 2016
 
See Note 1
 
87,714

(B)
1,899,000

Kevin M. Costantino
 
January 27, 2016
 
See Note 1
 
13,857

(C)
300,000

Kevin M. Costantino
 
January 27, 2016
 
See Note 1
 
36,905

(D)
799,000

David A. Wyles
 
January 27, 2016
 
See Note 1
 
87,892

(D)
1,902,857

Harold J. Rodriguez, Jr.
 
January 27, 2016
 
See Note 1
 
13,857

(C)
300,000

Harold J. Rodriguez, Jr.
 
January 27, 2016
 
See Note 1
 
34,596

(D)
749,000

Christopher T. Grubb
 
January 27, 2016
 
See Note 1
 
13,857

(C)
300,000

Christopher T. Grubb
 
January 27, 2016
 
See Note 1
 
36,905

(D)
799,000

Patricia Moran
 
January 27, 2016
 
See Note 1
 
36,975

(D)
800,500


(1)
As described in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” above, the named executive officers are eligible for an annual incentive compensation award in the form of a cash payment. As described in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis”, the actual amounts paid to our named executive officers are determined by our Compensation Committee once the available annual incentive compensation award pool is known and are subject to a percentage cap on each named executive officer’s potential annual incentive compensation award which is established by the Compensation Committee at the beginning of each performance period.

(2)
These restricted stock units were granted as a part of our long-term incentive compensation program in respect of 2015 compensation. Those awards marked (A) represent the target amount of Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units ("PRSUs") granted on January 27, 2016. See "Compensation Discussion and Analysis" above for more information regarding the PRSUs. Those awards marked (B) were Restricted Stock Units ("RSUs") granted on January 27, 2016 and will vest 100% on January 1, 2019. Those awards marked (C) were RSUs granted on January 27, 2016 and will vest 100% on January 1, 2021. Those awards marked (D) were RSUs granted on January 27, 2016 and vested as to 20% of the original award on January 1, 2017, and the remainder will vest ratably on January 1 of each of 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021. The units comprising the RSU awards are subject to payment within 75 days following each such vesting date. Each RSU unit represents a right to receive one share of Common Stock or an amount equal to the market value of the Common Stock underlying the vested award on the applicable vesting date. Payment may be made in cash, shares of Common Stock or a combination thereof. See footnote 2 of the 2016 Summary Compensation Table for information on the restricted stock units granted in 2017 as part of our long-term incentive compensation program in respect of 2016 performance to the named executive officers.

(3)
These amounts reflect the grant date fair value based on a price per share of $21.65, as determined in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718.







55




Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End 2016
Name
 
 
Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested (1)
 
 
Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested (2)
 
Scott L. Bok
 
288,683

(A)
$7,996,519
 
 
60,725

(C)
1,682,083

 
 
49,269

(E)
1,364,751

 
 
50,312

(G)
1,393,642

 
 
74,306

(I)
2,058,276

 
 
87,714

(K)
2,429,678

 
 
611,009

 
16,924,949

Kevin M. Costantino
 
841

(B)
23,296

 
 
2,448

(D)
67,810

 
 
6,330

(F)
175,341

 
 
6,040

(G)
167,308

 
 
13,913

(H)
385,390

 
 
36,905

(J)
1,022,269

 
 
13,857

(L)
383,839

 
 
80,334

 
2,225,253

David A. Wyles
 
5,229

(B)
144,843

 
 
5,488

(C)
152,018

 
 
7,598

(D)
210,465

 
 
29,911

(F)
828,535

 
 
53,296

(H)
1,476,299

 
 
11,921

(I)
330,212

 
 
87,892

(J)
2,434,608

 
 
201,335

 
5,576,980

Harold J. Rodriguez, Jr.
 
20,926

(C)
579,650

 
 
16,978

(E)
470,291

 
 
20,113

(G)
557,130

 
 
29,425

(I)
815,073

 
 
34,596

(J)
958,309

 
 
13,857

(L)
383,839

 
 
135,895

 
3,764,292

Christopher T. Grubb
 
696

(B)
19,279

 
 
1,428

(D)
39,556

 
 
6,813

(F)
188,720

 
 
4,027

(G)
111,548

 
 
13,464

(H)
372,953

 
 
36,905

(J)
1,022,269

 
 
13,857

(L)
383,839

 
 
77,190

 
2,138,163

Patricia Moran
 
6,092

(M)
168,748

 
 
10,323

(H)
285,947

 
 
36,975

(J)
1,024,208

 
 
53,390

 
1,478,903



56




(1)
The units referred to in this column are restricted stock units granted pursuant to our Equity Incentive Plan. No other types of equity awards are outstanding. Amounts are shown as of December 31, 2016. Those awards marked (A) represent the maximum amount of Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units ("PRSUs") that could be granted to Scott L. Bok should certain performance targets be met. See "Compensation Discussion and Analysis" above for more information regarding the PRSUs. Those awards marked (B) are Restricted Stock Units ("RSUs") subject to five-year pro rata vesting and became fully vested on January 1, 2017; those awards marked (C) are RSUs subject to five-year cliff vesting and vested in full on January 1, 2017; those awards marked (D) are RSUs subject to five-year pro rata vesting and were vested as to 60% of the original award as of December 31, 2016 with the remainder vesting ratably on January 1 of each of 2017 and 2018; those awards marked (E) are RSUs subject to five-year cliff vesting and will vest in full on January 1, 2018; those awards marked (F) are RSUs subject to five-year pro rata vesting and were vested as to 40% of the original award as of December 31, 2016 with the remainder vesting ratably on January 1 of each of 2017, 2018 and 2019; those awards marked (G) are RSUs subject to five-year cliff vesting and will vest in full on January 1, 2019; those awards marked (H) are RSUs subject to five-year pro rata vesting and were vested as to 20% of the original award as of December 31, 2016 with the remainder vesting ratably on January 1 of each of 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020; those awards marked (I) are RSUs subject to five-year cliff vesting and will vest in full on January 1, 2020; those awards marked (J) are RSUs subject to five-year pro rata vesting and will vest ratably on January 1 of each of 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021; those awards marked (K) are RSUs subject to three-year cliff vesting that will vest in full on January 1, 2019; those awards marked (L) are RSUs subject to five-year cliff vesting that will vest in full on January 1, 2021; and those awards marked (M) are RSUs subject to five-year pro rata vesting and were vested as to 40% of the original award as of December 31, 2016 with the remainder vesting ratably on June 30 of each of 2017, 2018 and 2019. The units comprising the RSU awards are subject to payment within 75 days following each such vesting date. Each RSU unit represents a right to receive one share of Common Stock or an amount equal to the market value of the Common Stock underlying the vested award on the applicable vesting date. Payment may be made in cash, shares of Common Stock or a combination thereof. Pursuant to her agreement with Greenhill, Ms. Moran agreed to forfeit her rights to all awards to the extent they remain unvested as of April 30, 2017.

(2)
The market value has been calculated by multiplying the number of shares underlying the award by the closing price of our common stock on December 30, 2016, $27.70. For the purposes of this calculation, we have assumed that all conditions to the vesting of these awards will be fulfilled.
Stock Vested as of Fiscal Year End 2016

Name
 
Number of Shares Acquired on Vesting
 
Value Realized Upon Vesting (1)
Scott L. Bok
 
41,698

 
$1,057,878
Kevin M. Costantino
 
8,533

 
216,482

David A. Wyles
 
44,531

 
1,129,751

Harold J. Rodriguez, Jr.
 
11,904

 
302,004

Christopher T. Grubb
 
7,769

 
197,100

Patricia Moran
 
4,610

 
105,507


(1)
Value realized upon vesting calculated by multiplying the number of shares acquired upon vesting at the closing market price of the shares on each vesting date.

Potential Payments upon Termination or a Change of Control
None of our named executive officers or other employees have any severance agreements or arrangements (including pursuant to the employment agreements described below). However, our Equity Incentive Plan provides that upon the (i) death, (ii) disability, (iii) retirement or (iv) termination of employment without cause (as determined by our Compensation Committee) within two years following a change of control or six months prior to a change of control if the Compensation Committee reasonably believes such termination was at the behest of an acquiring entity, any restricted stock unit previously granted will immediately become fully vested (which we refer to as the acceleration provision). The acceleration provision applies to the restricted stock units held by all of our employees. Had the acceleration provision been triggered on December 31, 2016, the value of shares of our common stock to be delivered on that date to our named executive officers would have been as follows (calculated using the closing price of our common stock on December 30, 2016 of $27.70): Mr. Bok, $17,098,159 (inclusive of the maximum amount of PRSUs that could be granted to Mr. Bok should certain performance targets be met and the cumulative dividends over the reward period through such date); Mr. Costantino, $2,225,253; Mr. Wyles, $5,576,980; Mr. Rodriguez, $3,764,292; Mr. Grubb, $2,138,163; and Ms. Moran, $1,478,903.

57





Employment Agreements
The employment agreements of Messrs. Bok and Rodriguez provide that they will be paid an annual base salary of $600,000, subject to annual review by the Compensation Committee, and that they may be awarded a bonus in an amount to be determined in the sole discretion of the Compensation Committee. These employment agreements are terminable by either party on 90 days’ prior written notice, with no contractual rights to severance. Mr. Costantino, Mr. Grubb, Ms. Moran and Mr. Wyles are not party to an employment agreement with us. All of our named executive officers are subject to limitations on their ability to compete with us during the term of their employment and for a three month period thereafter; they are also prohibited from soliciting certain of our employees for a period of six months following the termination of their employment.

Item 12.  Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
Our executive officers and directors are encouraged to own Greenhill common stock, par value $0.01 per share, to further align management’s and stockholders’ interests. In addition, we have adopted stock ownership guidelines applicable to our named executive officers. See “Item 11. Executive Compensation—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Other Compensation Program and Governance Features” above for a description of these guidelines.
The following table shows how many shares of our common stock were beneficially owned as of February 15, 2017, by each of our directors and executive officers named in the 2016 Summary Compensation Table in this proxy statement, and by all of our directors and executive officers as a group. To the best of our knowledge, based on filings made under Section 13(d) and Section 13(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Filings”), except as noted below, no stockholder beneficially owned more than five percent of our common stock as of February 15, 2017. The percentage has been calculated on the basis of 29,574,680 shares of common stock outstanding as of February 15, 2017 (excluding treasury stock).
The address for each listed stockholder (other than as indicated in the notes) is: c/o Greenhill & Co., Inc., 300 Park Avenue, 23rd Floor, New York, New York 10022. To our knowledge, except as indicated in the footnotes to this table, pursuant to applicable community property laws or as indicated in the Filings made by institutional stockholders, the persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of common stock beneficially owned by them.
 
 
 
Shares Beneficially Owned  
 
Name of Beneficial Owner
 
 
  Number    
 
 
  Percent     
 
Directors and Named Executive Officers:
 
 
 
 
Robert F. Greenhill (1)
 
1,506,749

 
5.1
%
Scott L. Bok (2)
 
772,486

 
2.6
%
Kevin M. Costantino
 
15,039

 
*

David A. Wyles
 

 
*

Harold J. Rodriguez, Jr. (3)
 
93,998

 
*

Christopher T. Grubb
 

 
*

Patricia Moran
 
9,510

 
*

Robert T. Blakely
 
6,956

 
*

Steven F. Goldstone
 
26,429

 
*

Stephen L. Key
 
16,913

 
*

Karen P. Robards
 
9,331

 
*

All Directors and Executive Officers as a group (11 persons)
 
2,457,411

 
8.3
%
5% Stockholders:
 
 

 
 

BlackRock, Inc. (4)
 
3,442,908

 
11.6
%
The Vanguard Group (5)
 
2,294,757

 
7.8
%

      
 *
Less than 1% of the outstanding shares of common stock.
(1)
Mr. Greenhill’s beneficial ownership is calculated by attributing to him all shares of our common stock owned by him and by two entities controlled by him. The first entity is Greenhill Family Limited Partnership, a Delaware limited partnership, which owns 989,524 of our shares. The second entity is Riversville Aircraft Corporation II, a Delaware corporation, which owns 239,680 of our shares. Mr. Greenhill expressly disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares of common stock held by other members of his family in Greenhill Family Limited Partnership.

58




(2)
Includes 320,552 shares held by a grantor retained annuity trust for the benefit of Mr. Bok and his two children. Also includes 25,000 shares held by Bok Family Partners L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, of which Mr. Bok is the general partner. Mr. Bok disclaims beneficial ownership of securities owned by Bok Family Partners L.P. except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein. Also includes 288,783 shares held by the Bok Family Foundation. Mr. Bok expressly disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by the Bok Family Foundation.
(3)
Includes 93,998 shares held by Jacquelyn F. Rodriguez, the wife of Harold J. Rodriguez, Jr.
(4)
Address: 55 East 52 nd Street, New York, NY 10022.
(5)
Address: 100 Vanguard Blvd., Malvern, PA 19355.
Our executive officers and directors are not permitted to hedge or otherwise dispose of the economic risk of ownership of these shares or any other shares owned by them through short sales, option transactions or use of derivative instruments. See “Item 11. Executive Compensation—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Other Compensation Program and Governance Features” above.
Messrs. Greenhill, Bok, Costantino, Grubb, Rodriguez and Wyles and Ms. Moran are employees of Greenhill. As of February 15, 2017, they beneficially own approximately 8% of our outstanding common stock in the aggregate. In addition, as of February 15, 2017, other employees of Greenhill beneficially own approximately 4% of our outstanding common stock in the aggregate.
The following table provides information as of December 31, 2016 regarding securities issued under our equity compensation plans that were in effect during fiscal 2016 .
 
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
Equity Incentive Plan  (1)
 
2,359,839

(2) (3)
$

(4)
7,619,085

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders
None
 

  

  

Total
 
 
2,359,839

  
$

  
7,619,085


_____________________________________________
(1)
Our Equity Incentive Plan, as amended and restated, and effective March 9, 2015 (the "Equity Incentive Plan"), was approved by our security holders in April 2015. See “Note 14 — Deferred Compensation—Restricted Stock Units” of the Consolidated Financial Statements for a description of our Equity Incentive Plan.
(2)
Includes awards granted after March 9, 2015 under the terms of the Equity Incentive Plan, which had not been previously authorized, less units canceled, forfeited or that failed to vest, or that for any other reason were not paid or delivered.  Excludes 2,261,992 shares underlying awards granted under the terms of the Equity Incentive Plan as in effect prior to March 9, 2015 that remain outstanding as of December 31, 2016. Includes the target amount of PRSUs that could be granted to Mr. Bok should certain performance targets be met.
(3)
Excludes 973,946 restricted stock units granted to employees subsequent to December 31, 2016 as part of our long term incentive awards issued as part of our annual compensation awards under the Equity Incentive Plan.
(4)
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.

Item 13.  Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
We recognize that transactions between us and any of our directors or executives can present potential or actual conflicts of interest or create the appearance that our decisions are based on considerations other than what is in the best interests of the firm and our stockholders. We also recognize that at times, such transactions may actually be in the best interests of the Company.  


59




Related Person Transaction Policy
We have adopted a written related person transaction policy, which is administered by the Nominating and Governance Committee. This policy applies to any transaction or series of related transactions or any material amendment to any such transaction involving a related person and the Company or any subsidiary of the Company. For the purposes of the policy, “related persons” consist of executive officers, directors, director nominees, any stockholder beneficially owning more than 5% of the Company’s common stock, and immediate family members of any such persons. Under the policy, the transaction will be referred to the General Counsel, the Chief Executive Officer and/or the Nominating and Governance Committee for review depending on the identity of the “related person.” Such reviewer will review, approve or ratify the transaction, taking into account all relevant facts and circumstances, including without limitation the commercial reasonableness, the benefit and perceived benefit or lack thereof, to the Company, the availability and/or opportunity costs of alternate transactions, the materiality and character of the related person’s direct or indirect interest, and the actual or apparent conflict of interest of the related person. No reviewer may participate in any review, approval or ratification of any related person transaction in which such reviewer or any of his or her immediate family members is the related person. All determinations by the Chief Executive Officer or the General Counsel under the policy will be reported to the Committee at its next regularly scheduled meeting or earlier if appropriate.

Related Transactions Involving Our Directors and Executive Officers
Other Compensation
Robert F. Greenhill, founder, Chairman, director and employee of the Company, actively participates in various client revenue generating engagements as well as overall activities of the Firm. Consistent with our practice for compensating our senior professionals, Mr. Greenhill was compensated in 2016 on a pay-for-performance basis based on his relative contribution to the Company. In 2016, Mr. Greenhill received a total of $3,045,828 in compensation, including a base salary of $600,000, $1,899,000 in restricted stock units awarded in 2016 (calculated by multiplying the number of shares underlying the award by the closing price of our common stock on the trading date prior to the grant date of the award) as well as Dividend Equivalent Payments and expenses of a car and driver. The cost of Mr. Greenhill's car and driver was $182,314 in 2016 (comprised principally of compensation expense in respect of Mr. Greenhill’s driver, who is our employee). In addition, Mr. Greenhill uses an aircraft owned by us for personal travel; Mr. Greenhill reimburses us for the costs associated with his personal use of the aircraft. See “Use of Corporate Aircraft” below. These perquisites are provided only to Mr. Greenhill, in recognition of his role as founder of our Firm.
Similar to our arrangements with certain senior professionals, we have an employment agreement with Mr. Greenhill that provides that he will be paid an annual base salary of $600,000, subject to annual review by the Compensation Committee, and that he may be awarded a bonus in an amount to be determined in the sole discretion of the Compensation Committee. Mr. Greenhill is also entitled to participate in all of our employee benefit plans, including, without limitation, our group health, dental and life insurance plans, 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan and Equity Incentive Plan. The employment agreement may be terminated by either party on 90 days’ notice. Under the agreement, Mr. Greenhill is subject to limitations on his ability to compete with us during the term of his employment and for a three-month period thereafter. He is also prohibited from soliciting certain of our employees for a period of six months following the termination of his employment. In addition, he is subject to obligations of confidentiality and is required to protect and use confidential information in accordance with the restrictions placed by us on its use and disclosure.
Use of Corporate Aircraft
Through our wholly-owned subsidiary Greenhill Aviation Co., LLC, we own and operate an airplane that is used by our employees for transportation on business travel and by Robert F. Greenhill and his family for transportation on business and personal travel. We bear all costs of operating the aircraft, including the cost of maintaining air and ground crews. We have an aircraft expense policy in place that sets forth guidelines for personal and business use of the airplane. Mr. Greenhill reimburses the Company for the actual out-of-pocket costs associated with the operation of the Company’s aircraft in connection with the personal use thereof by Mr. Greenhill. In 2016, Mr. Greenhill reimbursed us $300,095 for such costs incurred in 2016. No other employees used the aircraft for personal travel in 2016.
In addition, employees of Greenhill from time to time use airplanes personally owned by Mr. Greenhill for business travel. In those instances, Mr. Greenhill invoices us for the travel expense on terms we believe are comparable to those we could secure from an independent third party. During 2016, we paid $9,771 to an entity controlled by Mr. Greenhill on account of such expenses.
Use of Hangar Space
Riversville Aircraft Corporation, an entity controlled by Robert F. Greenhill, uses and reimburses us for a portion of the hangar space we lease at the Westchester County Airport. In 2016, Riversville Aircraft Corporation paid us $73,200 in rent and related costs. Riversville Aircraft Corporation reimburses us for its use of a portion of the hangar space on terms we believe are comparable to those we could secure from an independent third party.

60





Relationship with Merchant Banking Funds
Greenhill has an indirect interest in a merchant banking fund, which we refer to as Greenhill Capital Partners II (or Fund II), which consists of several related fund vehicles that generally invest in parallel on a pro rata basis (we refer to those funds collectively as the “Funds”). The managing general partners of Fund II are controlled by Greenhill, and Scott L. Bok, our Chief Executive Officer, remains a member of the Investment Committee of Fund II.

Director Independence
Under applicable New York Stock Exchange listing standards, a majority of the Board of Directors must be independent, and no director qualifies as “independent” unless the Board of Directors affirmatively determines that the director has no material relationship with Greenhill. In connection with this independence determination, the Board considered transactions and relationships between each director or any member of his or her immediate family and Greenhill and its subsidiaries and affiliates, including those reported under “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions” below. The Board also examined transactions and relationships between directors or their affiliates and members of Greenhill’s senior management or their affiliates. The purpose of this review was to determine whether any such relationships or transactions were inconsistent with a determination that the director is independent.
The Board determined that none of Messrs. Blakely, Goldstone or Key or Ms. Robards:
had any material relationship with Greenhill (other than as directors)

had any material relationship, either directly or as a partner, stockholder or officer, of another organization that has a relationship with Greenhill

is an employee or has an immediate family member who is or has in the last three years been an executive officer of Greenhill

receives, or has an immediate family member who receives, more than $120,000 in direct compensation from Greenhill (other than director and committee fees)

is affiliated with or employed by, or has an immediate family member who is or has been within the past three years a partner of or employee of, the Greenhill audit team or a present or former internal or external auditor of Greenhill

is employed or has an immediate family member who is employed as an executive officer of another company where any of Greenhill’s present executives serve on the compensation committee

is an executive officer of a company that makes payment to or receives payments from Greenhill for property or services in an amount which, in any single fiscal year, exceeds the greater of $1 million or 2% of such other company’s consolidated gross revenues

is an executive officer of any charitable organization to which Greenhill has contributed an amount in any single fiscal year in excess of $1 million or 2% of the consolidated gross revenues of such charitable organization.
As a result of this review, the Board affirmatively determined that each of our non-employee directors (Robert T. Blakely, Steven F. Goldstone, Stephen L. Key and Karen P. Robards) is “independent” as that term is defined in the applicable New York Stock Exchange listing standards. Messrs. Greenhill and Bok cannot be considered independent directors because of their employment at Greenhill.
In addition, we amended our Corporate Governance Guidelines in January 2016 to provide for a Lead Independent Director. Steven F. Goldstone has served as our Lead Independent Director since such date.

61





Item 14.  Principal Accounting Fees and Services
AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT AND PAYMENT OF FEES TO AUDITORS
Audit Committee Report
The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors is responsible for assisting the Board in overseeing the integrity of the financial statements of Greenhill, compliance by Greenhill with legal and regulatory requirements, and the independence and performance of Greenhill’s internal and external auditors.
The Consolidated Financial Statements of Greenhill, Inc. for the year ended December 31, 2016, were audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors for Greenhill.
As part of its activities, the Committee has:
1.
Reviewed and discussed with management and the independent auditors the audited financial statements of Greenhill;
2.
Discussed with the independent auditors the matters required to be communicated under Statement on Auditing Standards No. 16 , Communications with Audit Committees (SAS 16) , as amended and as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board in Rule 3200T;
3.
Received from the independent auditors written disclosures regarding the auditors’ independence required by PCAOB Ethics and Independence Rule 3526, Communications with Audit Committees Concerning Independence; and
4.
Discussed with the independent auditors, the independent auditors’ independence.
Management is responsible for Greenhill’s system of internal controls and the financial reporting process. Ernst & Young LLP is responsible for performing an independent audit of the Consolidated Financial Statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) and issuing a report thereon. Our Committee’s responsibility is to monitor and oversee these processes. Based on the foregoing review and discussions and a review of the report of Ernst & Young LLP with respect to the Consolidated Financial Statements, and relying thereon, we have recommended to Greenhill’s Board of Directors the inclusion of the audited Consolidated Financial Statements in Greenhill’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of Greenhill
Stephen L. Key, Chairman
Robert T. Blakely
Karen P. Robards

Auditor Fees
Ernst & Young LLP served as our principal auditors for 2016. The following table presents fees for professional audit services for the audit of our annual Consolidated Financial Statements for fiscal years 2015 and 2016 as well as fees for the review of our interim Consolidated Financial Statements for each quarter in fiscal years 2015 and 2016 and for all other services performed for fiscal years 2015 and 2016 by Ernst & Young LLP.

 
 
2015
 
2016
Audit Fees
 
$
1,292,094

 
$
1,328,902

Audit-Related Fees
 

 

Tax Fees
 

 

All Other Fees
 
58,185

 
27,233

"Audit fees" includes statutory audits of our operating subsidiaries in multiple international jurisdictions. “Audit-related fees” are fees for assurance and related services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of the financial statements and internal control over financial reporting. “Tax fees” are fees for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning, and “all other fees” are fees for any services not included in the other categories.


62




Auditor Services Pre-Approval Policy
The Audit Committee has adopted an auditor services pre-approval policy applicable to services performed for us by our independent auditors. In accordance with this policy, the Committee’s practice is to approve annually all audit services and, on a case-by-case basis, recurring permissible non-audit services to be provided by the independent auditors during the fiscal year. The Audit Committee reviews each non-audit service to be provided and assesses the impact of the service on the auditor’s independence. In addition, the Audit Committee may pre-approve other non-audit services during the year on a case-by-case basis, and delegate authority to grant such pre-approvals during the year to the chairperson of the Audit Committee, so long as the chairperson informs the Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting.


63




PART IV

Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
 
(a) Financial Statements
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Consolidated Financial Statements of Greenhill & Co., Inc. and Subsidiaries



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, 2016 , 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 (2013 framework) (COSO). Based upon this assessment, management has determined that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016 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 registered public accounting firm has issued their auditors’ report appearing on page F-4 which expresses an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness 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. and Subsidiaries
We have audited the accompanying consolidated statements of financial condition of Greenhill & Co., Inc. and Subsidiaries (the "Company") as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 , and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, changes in stockholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2016 . These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated 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 consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of the Company at December 31, 2016 and 2015 , and the consolidated results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2016 , 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 Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016 , based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework), and our report dated February 28, 2017 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
New York, New York
February 28, 2017

F-3




Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Board of Directors and Shareholders of
Greenhill & Co., Inc. and Subsidiaries

We have audited Greenhill & Co., Inc. and Subsidiaries internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016 , based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) (the COSO criteria). Greenhill & Co., Inc. and Subsidiaries management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on 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, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, 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, Greenhill & Co., Inc. and Subsidiaries maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016 , 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, 2016 and 2015 , and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, changes in stockholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2016 of Greenhill & Co., Inc. and Subsidiaries and our report dated February 28, 2017 , expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP                                    
New York, New York
February 28, 2017


F-4




Greenhill & Co., Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition
As of December 31,
(in thousands except share and per share data)

 
2016
 
2015
Assets
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents ($4.3 million and $4.7 million restricted from use at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively)
$
98,313

 
$
69,962

Advisory fees receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $0.0 million and $0.3 million at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively
68,140

 
64,430

Other receivables
2,830

 
5,470

Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $59.0 and $58.5 million at December 31, 2016 and 2015
8,764

 
9,783

Goodwill
208,186

 
209,024

Deferred tax asset, net
62,108

 
56,072

Other assets
8,341

 
8,403

Total assets
$
456,682

 
$
423,144

Liabilities and Equity
 
 
 
Compensation payable
$
37,527

 
$
22,133

Accounts payable and accrued expenses
9,297

 
9,858

Current income taxes payable
18,968

 
19,020

Bank revolving loan payable
64,070

 
39,800

Bank term loans payable
16,875

 
33,750

Contingent obligation due selling unitholders of Cogent
15,095

 
13,647

Deferred tax liability
3,667

 
1,580

Total liabilities
165,499

 
139,788

Common stock, par value $0.01 per share; 100,000,000 shares authorized, 41,377,614 and 40,511,209 shares issued as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively; 28,981,189 and 29,325,374 shares outstanding as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively
414

 
405

Restricted stock units
85,907

 
84,969

Additional paid-in capital
734,728

 
697,607

Exchangeable shares of subsidiary; 257,156 shares issued as of December 31, 2016 and 2015; 32,804 shares outstanding as of December 31, 2016 and 2015
1,958

 
1,958

Retained earnings
111,798

 
109,860

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
(32,398
)
 
(28,405
)
Treasury stock, at cost, par value $0.01 per share; 12,396,425 and 11,185,835 shares as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively
(611,224
)
 
(583,038
)
Stockholders’ equity
291,183

 
283,356

Total liabilities and equity
$
456,682

 
$
423,144


See accompanying notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.


F-5




Greenhill & Co., Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Income
Years Ended December 31,
(in thousands except share and per share data)

 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
Revenues
 
 
 
 
 
Advisory revenues
$
334,787

 
$
260,281

 
$
280,452

Investment revenues (losses)
732

 
1,279

 
(5,218
)
Total revenues
335,519

 
261,560

 
275,234

Expenses
 
 
 
 
 
Employee compensation and benefits
182,478

 
147,200

 
147,552

Occupancy and equipment rental
19,553

 
21,271

 
18,983

Depreciation and amortization
3,243

 
3,433

 
3,228

Information services
8,920

 
8,975

 
8,625

Professional fees
6,851

 
7,856

 
5,651

Travel related expenses
11,912

 
12,580

 
11,386

Interest expense
3,227

 
2,478

 
1,238

Other operating expenses
11,454

 
14,472

 
11,101

Total expenses
247,638

 
218,265

 
207,764

Income before taxes
87,881

 
43,295

 
67,470

Provision for taxes
27,119

 
17,697

 
24,082

Net income allocated to common stockholders
$
60,762

 
$
25,598

 
$
43,388

Average shares outstanding:
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
32,042,594

 
31,197,288

 
30,354,227

Diluted
32,074,232

 
31,200,378

 
30,357,691

Earnings per share:
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
$
1.90

 
$
0.82

 
$
1.43

Diluted
$
1.89

 
$
0.82

 
$
1.43

Dividends declared and paid per share
$
1.80

 
$
1.80

 
$
1.80


See accompanying notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.


F-6




Greenhill & Co., Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
Years Ended December 31,
(in thousands)

 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
Consolidated net income
$
60,762

 
$
25,598

 
$
43,388

Currency translation adjustment, net of tax
(3,993
)
 
(10,436
)
 
(8,608
)
Comprehensive income allocated to common stockholders
$
56,769

 
$
15,162

 
$
34,780


See accompanying notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.


F-7




Greenhill & Co., Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity
Years Ended December 31,
(in thousands)

 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
Common stock, par value $0.01 per share
 
 
 
 
 
Common stock, beginning of the year
$
405

 
$
389

 
$
379

Common stock issued
9

 
16

 
10

Common stock, end of the year
414

 
405

 
389

Contingent convertible preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share
 
 
 
 
 
Contingent convertible preferred stock, beginning of the year

 
14,446

 
14,446

Contingent convertible preferred stock canceled or converted

 
(14,446
)
 

Contingent convertible preferred stock, end of the year

 

 
14,446

Restricted stock units
 
 
 
 
 
Restricted stock units, beginning of the year
84,969

 
90,107

 
117,258

Restricted stock units recognized, net of forfeitures
45,880

 
47,071

 
39,990

Restricted stock units delivered
(44,942
)
 
(52,209
)
 
(67,141
)
Restricted stock units, end of the year
85,907

 
84,969

 
90,107

Additional paid-in capital
 
 
 
 
 
Additional paid-in capital, beginning of the year
697,607

 
596,463

 
534,533

Common stock issued and contingently issued common stock
44,789

 
94,554

 
66,591

Contingent convertible preferred stock canceled

 
14,446

 

Tax benefit (expense) from the delivery of restricted stock units
(7,668
)
 
(7,856
)
 
(4,661
)
Additional paid-in capital, end of the year
734,728

 
697,607

 
596,463

Exchangeable shares of subsidiary
 
 
 
 
 
Exchangeable shares of subsidiary, beginning of the year
1,958

 
1,958

 
1,958

Exchangeable shares of subsidiary delivered

 

 

Exchangeable shares of subsidiary, end of the year
1,958

 
1,958

 
1,958

Retained earnings
 
 
 
 
 
Retained earnings, beginning of the year
109,860

 
141,290

 
152,412

Dividends
(61,609
)
 
(58,940
)
 
(56,283
)
Tax benefit from payment of restricted stock unit dividends
2,785

 
1,912

 
1,773

Net income allocated to common stockholders
60,762

 
25,598

 
43,388

Retained earnings, end of the year
111,798

 
109,860

 
141,290

Accumulated other comprehensive income
 
 
 
 
 
Accumulated other comprehensive income, beginning of the year
(28,405
)
 
(17,969
)
 
(9,361
)
Currency translation adjustment, net of tax
(3,993
)
 
(10,436
)
 
(8,608
)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), end of the year
(32,398
)
 
(28,405
)
 
(17,969
)
Treasury stock, at cost, par value $0.01 per share
 
 
 
 
 
Treasury stock, beginning of the year
(583,038
)
 
(571,136
)
 
(534,957
)
Repurchased
(28,186
)
 
(11,902
)
 
(36,179
)
Treasury stock, end of the year
(611,224
)
 
(583,038
)
 
(571,136
)
Total stockholders’ equity
$
291,183

 
$
283,356

 
$
255,548


See accompanying notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.


F-8




Greenhill & Co., Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Years Ended December 31,
(in thousands)

 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
Operating activities:
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated net income
$
60,762

 
$
25,598

 
$
43,388

Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
 
 
Non-cash items included in consolidated net income:
 
 
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization
3,243

 
3,433

 
3,228

Net investment (gains) losses
255

 
(234
)
 
6,399

Restricted stock units recognized
45,880

 
47,071

 
39,990

Deferred taxes
(7,457
)
 
(6,058
)
 
3,633

Losses on fair value of contingent obligation
1,448

 
503

 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
Advisory fees receivable
(3,710
)
 
17,341

 
3,465

Other receivables and assets
1,509

 
(1,779
)
 
(4,099
)
Deferred tax asset, net
7,668

 
7,882

 
4,727

Compensation payable
15,394

 
(4,271
)
 
12,554

Accounts payable and accrued expenses
(706
)
 
(5,747
)
 
(4,658
)
Current income taxes payable
(52
)
 
9,012

 
(5,338
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
124,234

 
92,751

 
103,289

Investing activities:
 
 
 
 
 
Distributions from investments, net
937

 
832

 
630

Purchases of property and equipment
(1,737
)
 
(2,242
)
 
(2,439
)
Contingent obligation due selling unitholders of Cogent

 
13,144

 

Cogent acquisition

 
(45,265
)
 

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
(800
)
 
(33,531
)
 
(1,809
)
Financing activities:
 
 
 
 
 
Proceeds from revolving bank loan
105,999

 
80,000

 
72,176

Repayment of revolving bank loan
(81,729
)
 
(75,800
)
 
(67,425
)
Proceeds from bank term loans

 
45,000

 

Repayment of bank term loans
(16,875
)
 
(11,250
)
 

Dividends paid
(61,609
)
 
(58,940
)
 
(56,283
)
Purchase of treasury stock
(28,186
)
 
(11,902
)
 
(36,179
)
Net tax benefit (cost) from the delivery of restricted stock units and payment of dividend equivalents
(4,883
)
 
(5,944
)
 
(2,888
)
Net cash used in financing activities
(87,283
)
 
(38,836
)
 
(90,599
)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
(7,800
)
 
(1,362
)
 
(2,620
)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
28,351

 
19,022

 
8,261

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year
69,962

 
50,940

 
42,679

Cash and cash equivalents, end of year
$
98,313

 
$
69,962

 
$
50,940

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
 
 
 
 
 
Cash paid for interest
$
2,944

 
$
2,427

 
$
1,116

Cash paid for taxes, net of refunds
$
28,979

 
$
14,445

 
$
26,079


See accompanying notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

F-9




Greenhill & Co., Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note 1 — Organization
Greenhill & Co., Inc. and subsidiaries (the "Company" or "Greenhill") is a leading independent investment bank that provides financial and strategic advice on significant domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, financings, capital raisings and other strategic transactions to a diverse client base, including corporations, partnerships, institutions and governments globally. We act for clients located throughout the world from our global offices in the United States, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
The Company's wholly-owned subsidiaries provide advisory services in various jurisdictions. Our most significant operating entities include: Greenhill & Co., LLC (“G&Co”), Greenhill & Co. International LLP (“GCI”), Greenhill & Co. Europe LLP ("GCE"), Greenhill & Co. Australia Pty Limited (“Greenhill Australia”) and Greenhill Cogent, LP ("GC LP").
G&Co is engaged in investment banking activities principally in the United States. G&Co is registered as a broker-dealer with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”), and is licensed in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. GCI and GCE are engaged in investment banking activities in the United Kingdom and Europe, respectively, and are subject to regulation by the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”). Greenhill Australia engages in investment banking activities in Australia and New Zealand and is licensed and subject to regulation by the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (“ASIC”). GC LP is engaged in capital advisory services to institutional investors principally in the United States and is registered as a broker-dealer with the SEC and FINRA. See "Note 3 — Acquisition".
The Company also operates in other locations throughout the world which are subject to regulation by other governmental and regulatory bodies and self-regulatory authorities.

Note 2 — Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Financial Information
These Consolidated Financial Statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (U.S. GAAP), which require management to make estimates and assumptions regarding future events that affect the amounts reported in our financial statements and these 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. Certain reclassifications have been made to prior year information to conform to current year presentation.
The Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company include all consolidated accounts of Greenhill & Co., Inc. and all other entities in which the Company has a controlling interest after eliminations of all significant inter-company accounts and transactions.
Revenue Recognition
Advisory Revenues

It is the Company's accounting policy to recognize revenue when (i) there is persuasive evidence of an arrangement with a client, (ii) the agreed-upon services have been completed and delivered to the client or the transaction or events noted in the engagement letter are determined to be substantially complete, (iii) fees are fixed and determinable, and (iv) collection is reasonably assured.

The Company recognizes advisory fee revenues for mergers and acquisitions or financing advisory and restructuring engagements when the services related to the underlying transactions are completed in accordance with the terms of the engagement letter and all other requirements for revenue recognition are satisfied.

The Company recognizes capital advisory fees from primary capital raising transactions at the time of the client's acceptance of capital or capital commitments to a fund in accordance with the terms of the engagement letter. Generally, fee revenue is determined based upon a fixed percentage of capital committed to the fund. For multiple closings, revenue is recognized at each interim closing based on the amount of capital committed at each closing at the fixed fee percentage. At the final closing, revenue is recognized at the fixed percentage for the amount of capital committed since the last interim closing.


F-10




The Company recognizes capital advisory fees from secondary market transactions at the time the sale or transfer of the capital interest is completed in accordance with the terms of the engagement letter. Generally, fee revenue is determined based upon a fixed percentage of the transaction value.

While the majority of the Company's fee revenue is earned at the conclusion of a transaction or closing of a fund, on-going retainer fees, substantially all of which relate to non-success based strategic advisory and financing advisory and restructuring assignments, are also earned and recognized as advisory fee revenue over the period in which the related service is rendered.

The Company’s clients reimburse certain expenses incurred by the Company in the conduct of advisory engagements. Expenses are reported net of such client reimbursements. Client reimbursements totaled $6.5 million , $5.4 million and $4.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2016 , 2015 , and 2014 , respectively.
Investment Revenues
Investment revenues consist of gains (or losses) on the Company's investments in certain merchant banking funds and interest income. The Company recognizes revenue on its investments in merchant banking funds based on its allocable share of realized and unrealized gains (or losses) reported by such funds.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company’s cash and cash equivalents consist of (i) cash held on deposit with financial institutions, (ii) cash equivalents and (iii) restricted cash. The Company maintains its cash and cash equivalents with financial institutions with high credit ratings. The Company considers all highly liquid investments with a maturity date of three months or less, when purchased, to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents primarily consist of money market funds and overnight deposits.
Management believes that the Company is not exposed to significant credit risk due to the financial position of the depository institutions in which those deposits are held. See " Note 4 — Cash and Cash Equivalents ".
Advisory Fees Receivables
Receivables are stated net of an allowance for doubtful accounts. The estimate for the allowance for doubtful accounts is derived by the Company by utilizing past client transaction history and an assessment of the client’s creditworthiness. The Company recorded bad debt expense of $0.4 million , $0.3 million and $0.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2016 , 2015 and 2014 , respectively.
Included in the advisory fees receivable balances at December 31, 2016 and 2015 were $26.1 million and $32.4 million of long term receivables related to primary capital advisory engagements, which are generally paid in installments over a period of three years . Included as a component of investment revenues is interest income related to primary capital advisory engagements of $0.8 million , $0.9 million and $0.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2016 , 2015 and 2014 , respectively.
Credit risk related to advisory fees receivable is disbursed across a large number of clients located in various geographic areas. The Company controls credit risk through credit approvals and monitoring procedures but does not require collateral to support accounts receivable.
Goodwill
Goodwill is the cost in excess of the fair value of identifiable net assets at acquisition date. The Company tests its goodwill for impairment at least annually. An impairment loss is triggered if the estimated fair value of an operating unit is less than estimated net book value. Such loss is calculated as the difference between the estimated fair value of goodwill and its carrying value.
Goodwill is translated at the rate of exchange prevailing at the end of the periods presented in accordance with the accounting guidance for foreign currency translation. Any translation gain or loss is included in the foreign currency translation adjustment, which is included as a component of other comprehensive income in the consolidated statements of changes in stockholders' equity.
Other Assets
Included in other assets are the Company's investments in merchant banking funds, which are recorded under the equity method of accounting based upon the Company's proportionate share of the estimated fair value of the underlying merchant banking fund's net assets. The value of merchant banking fund investments is determined by management of the fund after giving consideration to the cost of the security, quoted market prices, 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-

F-11




party transactions, the original purchase price multiple, market conditions, liquidity, operating results and other qualitative and quantitative factors. The fund may apply discounts to reflect the lack of liquidity and other transfer restrictions.
Compensation Payable
Included in compensation payable are discretionary compensation awards comprised of annual cash bonuses and long-term incentive compensation, consisting of deferred cash retention awards, which are non-interest bearing, and generally amortized over a three to five year service period after the date of grant. See "Note 14 — Deferred Compensation".
Restricted Stock Units
The Company accounts for its share-based compensation payments by recording the fair value of restricted stock units granted to employees as compensation expense. The restricted stock units are generally amortized over a four to five -year service period following the date of grant. Compensation expense is determined based upon the fair market value of the Company’s common stock at the date of grant. As the Company expenses the awards, the restricted stock units recognized are recorded within stockholders' equity. The restricted stock units are reclassified into common stock and additional paid-in capital upon vesting. The Company records as treasury stock the repurchase of stock delivered to its employees in settlement of tax liabilities incurred upon the vesting of restricted stock units. The Company records dividend equivalent payments on outstanding restricted stock units as a dividend payment and a charge to stockholders' equity.
Earnings per Share
The Company calculates basic earnings per share (“EPS”) by dividing net income allocated to common stockholders by the sum of (i) the weighted average number of shares outstanding for the period and (ii) the weighted average number of shares deemed issuable due to the vesting of restricted stock units for accounting purposes. See " Note 11 — Equity ".
The Company calculates diluted EPS by dividing net income allocated to common stockholders by the sum of (i) basic shares per above and (ii) the dilutive effect of the common stock deliverable pursuant to restricted stock units for which future service is required. Under the treasury method, the number of shares issuable upon the vesting of restricted stock units included in the calculation of diluted EPS is the excess, if any, of the number of shares expected to be issued, less the number of shares that could be purchased by the Company with the proceeds to be received upon settlement at the average market closing price during the reporting period.
Provision for Taxes
The Company accounts for taxes in accordance with the accounting guidance 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.
The Company follows the guidance for income taxes in recognizing, measuring, presenting and disclosing in its financial statements uncertain tax positions taken or expected to be taken on its income tax returns. Income tax expense is based on pre-tax accounting income, including adjustments made for the recognition or derecognition related to uncertain tax positions. The recognition or derecognition of income tax expense related to uncertain tax positions is determined under the guidance, and the Company's policy is to treat interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions as part of pre-tax income.
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in earnings in the period of change. Management applies the “more-likely-than-not criteria” when determining tax benefits.
Foreign Currency Translation
Assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies have been translated at rates of exchange prevailing at the end of the periods presented in accordance with the accounting guidance for foreign currency translation. Income and expenses transacted in foreign currency have been translated at average monthly exchange rates during the period. Translation gains and losses are included in the foreign currency translation adjustment, which is included as a component of other comprehensive income (loss) in the consolidated statement of changes in stockholders' equity. Foreign currency transaction gains and losses are included in the consolidated statements of income.


F-12




Financial Instruments and Fair Value
The Company accounts for financial instruments measured at fair value in accordance with accounting guidance for fair value measurements and disclosures which establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy under the pronouncement are described below:
Basis of Fair Value Measurement
Level 1 – Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities;
Level 2 – Quoted prices in markets that are not active or financial instruments for which all significant inputs are observable, either directly or indirectly; and
Level 3 – Prices or valuations that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable.
A financial instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement. In determining the appropriate levels, the Company performs an analysis of the assets and liabilities that are subject to these disclosures. At each reporting period, all assets and liabilities for which the fair value measurement is based on significant unobservable inputs or instruments which trade infrequently and therefore have little or no price transparency are classified as Level 3. Transfers between levels are recognized as of the end of the period in which they occur. See "Note 8 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments".
Fair Value of Other Financial Instruments

The Company believes that the carrying values of all other financial instruments presented in the consolidated statements of financial condition approximate their fair value generally due to their short-term nature and generally negligible credit risk. These fair value measurements would be categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment is stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the life of the assets. Amortization of leasehold improvements is computed using the straight-line method over the lesser of the life of the asset or the remaining term of the lease. Estimated useful lives of the Company’s fixed assets are generally as follows:
Aircraft – 7  years
Equipment – 5  years
Furniture and fixtures – 7  years
Leasehold improvements – the lesser of 10  years or the remaining lease term
Business Information
The Company's activities as an investment banking firm constitute a single business segment, with substantially all revenues generated from advisory services, which includes engagements relating to mergers and acquisitions, financing advisory and restructuring, and capital advisory services. The Company earns less than 1% of its revenues from interest income and investment gains (losses) on investments.
Accounting Developments
In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting ("ASU 2016-09"). ASU 2016-09 amends the guidance in former ASC Topic 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation. The standard is effective for public entities for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and the Company will adopt these amendments effective on January 1, 2017. The impact of ASU No. 2016-09 will result in an increase or decrease to the provision for income taxes for the net tax (cost) from the delivery of restricted stock units, which under the current standard is recorded as an adjustment to retained earnings, and could be material to the results of operations and the classifications of cash flows in future periods depending upon, among other things, the level of earnings and stock price of the Company.

F-13




In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases ("ASU 2016-02"). ASU 2016-02 amends the guidance in former ASC 840, Leases. Management is currently evaluating the impact of the future adoption of ASU 2016-02 on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements. The standard is effective for public entities for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018 and the Company will adopt these amendments effective on January 1, 2019.

In May 2014, the FASB issued guidance codified in ASC 606, Revenue Recognition - Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which amends the guidance in former ASC 605, Revenue Recognition. The new guidance was effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016.  In August 2015, the FASB issued guidance which defers the effective date of its new recognition standard by one year.  The standard would be effective for public entities for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017.

The Company has been evaluating the impact of the future adoption of ASC 606 on our 2016 Consolidated Financial Statements and expects to adopt the retrospective transition method which requires applying the new standard to prior comparative periods when reporting under the new standard becomes effective.  The Company has determined that the new revenue recognition guidance will have an immaterial effect on the Company’s 2016 Consolidated Financial Statements.

Note 3 — Acquisition
On April 1, 2015, the Company acquired 100% ownership of Cogent Partners, LP and its affiliates ("Cogent") (now known as our secondary capital advisory business), a global financial advisor to pension funds, endowments and other institutional investors on the secondary market for alternative assets, (the "Acquisition"). As consideration for the Acquisition the Company exchanged a combination of (i) $44.0 million in cash and 779,454 shares of Greenhill common stock paid at closing and (ii) $18.9 million in cash and 334,048 shares of Greenhill common stock payable in the future if certain agreed revenue targets are achieved (the "Earnout"). The cash component of the consideration paid at closing was funded by two bank term loan facilities, each in an original principal sum of $22.5 million , and together in aggregate $45.0 million . See "Note 10 — Bank Loan Facilities".

The cash payment and the issuance of common shares related to the Earnout will be made if secondary capital advisory revenues of $80.0 million or more are earned during either the two year period ending on the second anniversary of the closing or the two year period ending on the fourth anniversary of the closing. If the revenue target is achieved, the contingent consideration will be paid promptly after the second or fourth anniversary date of the closing, as applicable. If the revenue target is not achieved during either of the two year Earnout periods, a payment will not be made. The fair value of the contingent issuance of common shares was valued on the date of the acquisition at $11.9 million and has been recorded as a component of stockholders' equity in the consolidated statements of financial condition. The fair value of the contingent cash consideration was valued on the date of the acquisition at $13.1 million and will be remeasured quarterly based on a probability weighted present value discount that the revenue target may be achieved. For the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, the fair value of the contingent consideration increased by $1.5 million and $0.5 million , respectively, or on a cumulative basis by $2.0 million from the value on the date of the acquisition, based on changes in the estimated probability of achievement and present value of the remaining term. Based on the revenue generated by the secondary capital advisory business from April 1, 2015 through December 31, 2016, the Company is not currently able to determine with certainty whether or not the revenue target for the period ending March 31, 2017 will be achieved. If the target is not achieved the value of the contingent cash consideration will be measured in future periods based on the present value of the probability that the revenue target may be achieved during the second two year period ending March 31, 2019. If the Earnout is achieved the Company will incur a charge to expense to adjust the value of the contingent cash consideration to its face value. See "Note 8 — Fair Value of Financial Instruments" and "Note 11 — Equity".
The Acquisition has been accounted for using the purchase method of accounting and the results of operations for the acquired secondary capital advisory business have been included in the consolidated statements of income from the date of acquisition. The Company incurred $1.2 million of transaction costs related to the Acquisition, which have been included as a component of professional fees in the consolidated statement of income for the year ended December 31, 2015.








F-14




An allocation of the total purchase price of approximately $100.0 million has been made to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their fair values as of April 1, 2015, the date of the acquisition, as follows (in thousands):
 
 
Allocation of assets acquired and liabilities assumed:
 
Assets:
 
Current assets
$
13,970

Property and equipment
599

Other assets
651

Identifiable intangible assets
1,300

Goodwill
93,116

     Total assets
109,636

Liabilities:
 

Current liabilities
9,640

     Total liabilities
9,640

Net assets
$
99,996

The excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net assets acquired of $93.1 million has been recorded as goodwill. Goodwill includes the in-place workforce, which allows the Company to continue serving its existing client base, begin marketing to potential clients and avoid significant costs reproducing the workforce.
The fair value of the intangible assets acquired, which consist of Cogent's backlog of client assignments that existed at the time of the closing, customer relationships, and trade name, is based, in part, on a valuation using an income approach, market approach or cost approach and has been included in other assets on the consolidated statements of financial condition. The fair value ascribed to the identifiable intangible assets will be amortized on a straight-line basis over the remaining useful life of each asset over periods ranging between one to three years . For each of the years ended December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 , the Company recorded amortization expense of $0.5 million in respect of these assets.
In addition, under the terms of the purchase, the sellers were entitled to receive a post-closing distribution for the amount of net working capital, as defined, as of March 31, 2015, in excess of $5.0 million . The amount distributable to the sellers was $7.9 million and was paid in 2015. Further, the total purchase included at the date of acquisition an escrow amount of $8.9 million , of which $8.4 million was paid to the sellers and $0.5 million was returned to the Company in 2016.
The Acquisition was treated as an asset purchase for tax purposes. Similar to the purchase accounting method used for book purposes, the excess of the purchase price paid over the fair value of the net assets acquired was recorded as goodwill for tax purposes. The amount of goodwill recorded for tax purposes was determined based on the consideration paid at closing and is being amortized for tax purposes ratably over a fifteen years year period. If the Earnout is achieved, the additional consideration paid will also be treated as goodwill for tax purposes and will be amortized ratably over the remainder of the fifteen years period. For book purposes, the tax benefit from the amortization of goodwill is being recorded as an indefinite-lived deferred tax liability as it is realized.
Consistent with the Company's normal personnel recruiting policies, and in order to provide long term incentives for retention and continued strong performance, the Company also granted restricted stock units and other deferred compensation awards to a number of Cogent employees, subject to continued employment. The awards will generally vest on the third or fifth anniversary of the closing. The awards have not been recorded as a component of the purchase price and will be expensed over the service period during which they are earned.
Set forth below are the Company's summary unaudited pro forma results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014 . The unaudited pro forma results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2015 include the historical results of the Company and give effect to the Acquisition as if it had occurred on January 1, 2015. These pro forma results include the actual results of Cogent from January 1, 2015 through March 31, 2015. For the period April 1, 2015 through December 31, 2015, the results of the acquired secondary capital advisory business were included in the consolidated results of the Company.
The unaudited results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2014 include the historical results of the Company and give effect to the Acquisition as if it had occurred on January 1, 2014. These pro forma amounts include Cogent's actual results for the year ended December 31, 2014. See "Note 11 — Equity" and "Note 12 — Earnings per Share".
The unaudited pro forma results of operations do not purport to represent what the Company's results of operations would actually have been had the Acquisition occurred on January 1, 2015 or January 1, 2014, as the case may be, or to project the

F-15




Company's results of operations for any future period. Actual future results may vary considerably based on a variety of factors beyond the Company's control.
 
 
For the Years Ended December 31,
 
 
2015
2014
 
 
(in millions, except per share amounts) (unaudited)
 
 
(pro forma)
(pro forma)
Revenues
 
$
272.0

$
321.2

Income before taxes
 
45.2

79.0

Net income allocated to common stockholders
 
26.8

50.8

Diluted earnings per share
 
$
0.84

$
1.63


The pro forma results include (i) compensation and benefits expense based upon a ratio of compensation to total revenues of 54% , which was the actual compensation ratio used by the Company in the pro forma periods presented, (ii) the amortization of identifiable intangible assets of Cogent, (iii) the estimated interest expense related to the bank term loan borrowings used to fund the Acquisition, (iv) the elimination of non-recurring revenue and expense items of Cogent which were directly attributable to the Acquisition, and (v) the estimated income tax expense related to Cogent's historical earnings, which as a result of the Acquisition, is subject to income tax at the effective tax rate of the Company.
 
Note 4 — Cash and Cash Equivalents

The carrying values of the Company's cash and cash equivalents are as follows:
 
As of December 31,
 
2016
 
2015
 
(in thousands)
Cash
$
85,047

 
$
59,270

Cash equivalents
9,013

 
5,946

Restricted cash - deferred compensation plan

 
117

Restricted cash - letters of credit
4,253

 
4,629

Total cash and cash equivalents
$
98,313

 
$
69,962


The carrying value of the Company's cash equivalents approximates fair value. Cash restricted for the payout of Greenhill Australia's deferred compensation plan was distributed over a 7  year period, which ended in March 2016. A deferred compensation liability relating to the plan of $0.1 million as of December 31, 2015 , has been recorded on the consolidated statements of financial condition as a component of compensation payable.

Letters of credit were secured by cash held on deposit. See " Note 15 — Commitments and Contingencies ".

















F-16




Note 5 — Property and Equipment
Property and equipment consist of the following:

 
As of December 31,
 
2016
 
2015
 
(in thousands)
Aircraft
$
19,160

 
$
19,063

Equipment
19,788

 
20,044

Furniture and fixtures
7,201

 
7,248

Leasehold improvements
21,612

 
21,945

 
67,761

 
68,300

Less accumulated depreciation and amortization
(58,997
)
 
(58,517
)
Total property and equipment, net
$
8,764

 
$
9,783


Note 6 — Goodwill
Goodwill consists of the following:
 
As of December 31,
 
2016
 
2015
 
(in thousands)
Balance, January 1
$
209,024

 
$
130,976

Cogent acquisition

 
93,116

Foreign currency translation adjustments
(838
)
 
(15,068
)
Balance, December 31
$
208,186

 
$
209,024


The Company performs a goodwill impairment test annually or more frequently if circumstances indicate that impairment may have occurred. The Company has reviewed its goodwill for potential impairment and determined that the fair value of goodwill exceeded the carrying value. Accordingly, no goodwill impairment loss has been recognized for the years ended December 31, 2016 , 2015 or 2014 .

Note 7 — Other Assets
At December 31, 2016 , the Company had an investment in a previously sponsored merchant banking funds, Greenhill Capital Partners II (“GCP II”), and an interest in Barrow Street III, a real estate investment fund. At December 31, 2015 , the Company had investments in certain previously sponsored merchant banking funds: Greenhill Capital Partners I and GCP II, and an interest in Barrow Street III. At December 31, 2016 and 2015, the Company had no remaining unfunded commitments.
Other assets consist of the following:
 
As of December 31,
 
2016
 
2015
 
(in thousands)
Prepaid expenses
$
4,295

 
$
3,076

Investments in merchant banking funds
1,689

 
2,881

Rent deposits
1,517

 
1,471

Other tangible assets
540

 
200

Intangible assets
300

 
775

Total other assets
$
8,341

 
$
8,403




F-17



Investment revenues
The Company’s generates investment revenues from its investments in merchant banking funds and interest income as follows:
 
For the Years Ended December 31,
 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
 
(in thousands)
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments in merchant banking funds
$
(210
)
 
$
236

 
$
(6,372
)
Interest income
942

 
1,043

 
1,154

Total investment revenues (losses)
$
732

 
$
1,279

 
$
(5,218
)

Note 8 — Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on their lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. There were no Level 1 or Level 2 assets or liabilities measured in the fair value hierarchy during the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 . There were also no Level 3 assets measured at fair value during the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015.
The following table sets forth the measurement at fair value on a recurring basis of the contingent cash consideration due the selling unitholders of Cogent related to the Earnout. The liability arose as a result of the Acquisition and is categorized as a Level 3 liability. See "Note 3 — Acquisition".

Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis as of December 31, 2016
 
Quoted Prices in
Active  Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)
 
Significant Other
Observable  Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant
Unobservable  Inputs
(Level 3)
 
Balance as of December 31, 2016
 
(in thousands)
Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Contingent obligation due selling unitholders of Cogent
$

 
$

 
$
15,095

 
$
15,095

Total
$

 
$

 
$
15,095

 
$
15,095


Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis as of December 31, 2015
 
Quoted Prices in
Active  Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)
 
Significant Other
Observable  Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant
Unobservable  Inputs
(Level 3)
 
Balance as of December 31, 2015
 
(in thousands)
Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Contingent obligation due selling unitholders of Cogent
$

 
$

 
$
13,647

 
$
13,647

Total
$

 
$

 
$
13,647

 
$
13,647















F-18



Changes in Level 3 liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis for the year ended December 31, 2016 are as follows:

 
Opening Balance as of January 1, 2016
 
Total realized and unrealized gains (losses) included in Net Income
 
Unrealized gains (losses) included in Other Comprehensive Income
 
Purchases
 
Issues
 
Sales
 
Settlements
 
Closing Balance as of December 31, 2016
 
Unrealized gains (losses) for Level 3 liabilities outstanding at December 31, 2016
 
(in thousands)
 
 
Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Contingent obligation due selling unitholders of Cogent
$
13,647

 
$
(1,448
)
 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
15,095

 
$
(1,448
)
Total
$
13,647

 
$
(1,448
)
 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
15,095

 
$
(1,448
)

Changes in Level 3 liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis for the year ended December 31, 2015 are as follows:

 
Opening Balance as of January 1, 2015
 
Total realized and unrealized gains (losses) included in Net Income
 
Unrealized gains (losses) included in Other Comprehensive Income
 
Purchases
 
Issues
 
Sales
 
Settlements
 
Closing Balance as of December 31, 2015
 
Unrealized gains (losses) for Level 3 liabilities outstanding at December 31, 2015
 
(in thousands)
 
 
Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Contingent obligation due selling unitholders of Cogent
$

 
$
(503
)
 
$

 
$

 
$
13,144

 
$

 
$

 
$
13,647

 
$
(503
)
Total
$

 
$
(503
)
 
$

 
$

 
$
13,144

 
$

 
$

 
$
13,647

 
$
(503
)

Realized and unrealized gains (losses) are reported as a component of other operating expenses in the consolidated statements of income.

The following tables presents quantitative information about the significant unobservable inputs utilized by the Company in the fair value measure of Level 3 liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis, as of December 31, 2016 :
 
Fair Value as of December 31, 2016
 
Valuation Technique(s)
 
Unobservable  Input(s)
 
Range (Weighted Average)
 
(in thousands)
Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Contingent obligation due selling unitholders of Cogent
$
15,095

 
Present value of expected payments
 
Discount rate
 
13
%
 
 
 
 
 
Forecast revenue
(a)

 

    





F-19



The following tables presents quantitative information about the significant unobservable inputs utilized by the Company in the fair value measure of Level 3 liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis, as of December 31, 2015:

 
Fair Value as of December 31, 2015
 
Valuation Technique(s)
 
Unobservable  Input(s)
 
Range (Weighted Average)
 
(in thousands)
Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Contingent obligation due selling unitholders of Cogent
$
13,647

 
Present value of expected payments
 
Discount rate
 
12
%
 
 
 
 
 
Forecast revenue
(a)

 

_____________________________________________
(a) The Company's estimate of contingent consideration as of December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 was principally based on the acquired business' (i) actual revenue generation from April 1, 2015 through each respective year end and projected revenue generation for the remaining period through March 31, 2017 and (ii) projected revenue generation from April 1, 2017 through March 31, 2019.

Valuation Processes - Level 3 Measurements - The Company utilizes a valuation technique based on a present value method applied to the probability of achieving a range of potential revenue outcomes. The valuation was conducted by the Company. The Company updates unobservable inputs each reporting period and has a formal process in place to review changes in fair value.

Sensitivity Analysis - Level 3 Measurements - The significant unobservable inputs used in determining fair value are the discount rate and forecast revenue information. Significant increases (decreases) in the discount rate would have resulted in a lower (higher) fair value measurement. Significant increases (decreases) in the forecast revenue information would result in a higher (lower) fair value measurement. For all significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of the Level 3 liabilities, a change in one of the inputs would not necessarily result in a directionally similar change in the other.

Note 9 — Related Parties
At December 31, 2016 and 2015 , the Company had no amounts payable to related parties.
The Company subleases airplane and office space to a firm owned by the Chairman of the Company. The Company recognized rent reimbursements of $0.07 million , $0.07 million and $0.08 million , respectively, for the years ended December 31, 2016 , 2015 and 2014 , which are included as a reduction of occupancy and equipment rental on the consolidated statements of income. During 2016 , 2015 and 2014 , the Company paid $0.01 million , $0.04 million and $0.02 million , respectively, for the use of an aircraft owned by an executive of the Company.

Note 10 — Bank Loan Facilities
At December 31, 2016 , the Company had a $70.0 million revolving bank loan facility ( $50.0 million at December 31, 2015) with a U.S. banking institution to provide for working capital needs and for other general corporate purposes. The revolving loan facility has historically been renewed annually. The maturity date of the facility is April 30, 2017 . Interest on the borrowings is based on the higher of 3.5% or the U.S. Prime Rate ( 3.75% at December 31, 2016) and is payable monthly. The weighted average daily borrowings outstanding under the revolving loan facility were approximately $54.1 million and $35.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 , respectively. The weighted average interest rate was 3.5% for the year ended December 31, 2016 , and 3.3% for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 , respectively.
In connection with the acquisition of Cogent in April 2015, the Company borrowed $45.0 million , which was comprised of two bank term loan facilities (the "Term Loan Facilities"), each in an original principal amount of $22.5 million . One Term Loan Facility was payable in full on April 30, 2016 (the " One Year Facility") and bore interest at the Prime Rate plus three-quarters of one percent ( 0.75% ) per annum. The One Year Facility was repaid in two equal installments, one in June 2015 and the other in April 2016. The other Term Loan Facility matures on April 30, 2018 (the " Three Year Facility"), is payable in four equal semi-annual installments beginning on October 31, 2016 and bears interest at the Prime Rate plus one and one-quarter percent ( 1.25% ) per annum, which interest rate shall be reduced to the Prime Rate plus three-quarters of one percent ( 0.75% ) per annum when the amount outstanding on the Three Year Facility is $7.5 million or less. The first installment of $5.6 million was repaid in 2016 and at December 31, 2016, the outstanding principal balance of the Three Year Facility was $16.9 million . Future installments in equal

F-20




principal amounts on the Three Year Facility are due on April 30, 2017, October 31, 2017 and the final installment is due on April 30, 2018. There are no prepayment penalties for the early repayment of either Term Loan Facility. Principal amounts repaid on the Term Loan Facilities cannot be reborrowed. The interest rate applicable to the Term Loan Facilities shall never be less than four percent ( 4.00% ) per annum. The weighted average interest rate related to the Term Loan Facilities was 4.7% and 4.3% for the year ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 , respectively.
The revolving and term loan facilities are provided by a U.S. banking institution and are secured by any cash distributed in respect of the Company’s investment in the U.S. based merchant banking funds, cash distributions from G&Co and GCI, and advisory fees receivable from G&Co. In addition, the bank loan facilities have a prohibition on the incurrence of additional indebtedness without the prior approval of the lenders and the Company is required to comply with certain financial and liquidity covenants. At December 31, 2016 , the Company was compliant with all loan covenants.

Note 11 — Equity
Dividends declared per common share were $1.80 for each of the years ended December 31, 2016 , 2015 and 2014 and are paid on outstanding common shares. In addition, dividend equivalent amounts are paid on outstanding restricted stock units and amounted to $8.5 million , $6.5 million and $5.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2016 , 2015 and 2014 , respectively, and are included in dividends paid on the consolidated statements of cash flows. In the event a restricted stock unit holder’s employment is terminated, a portion of the dividend equivalent amount is required to be paid back (a "clawback") to the Company and is netted against the dividend equivalent amounts. See “ Note 14 — Deferred Compensation - Restricted Stock Units”.
In connection with the acquisition of Cogent, the Company issued 779,454 shares of common stock on the acquisition date, April 1, 2015. In addition, the Company will issue 334,048 shares of common stock shortly after the second or fourth anniversary of the Acquisition, as the case may be, if the revenue target related to the Earnout is achieved. If the revenue target related to the Earnout is not achieved the common shares will not be issued. The fair value of the contingent issuance of common shares was valued on the date of the acquisition at $11.9 million and has been recorded as additional paid in capital in the consolidated statements of financial condition. A portion of the value will be transferred to common stock if the Earnout is achieved. See "Note 3 — Acquisition" and " Note 12 — Earnings per Share ".     
During 2016 , 852,218 restricted stock units vested and were issued as common stock of which the Company is deemed to have repurchased 319,573 shares at an average price of $25.10 per share in conjunction with the payment of tax liabilities in respect of stock delivered to its employees in settlement of restricted stock units. In addition, during 2016 the Company repurchased in open market transactions 891,017 shares of its common stock at an average price of $22.63 .
During 2015 , 826,673 restricted stock units vested and were issued as common stock of which the Company is deemed to have repurchased 341,235  shares at an average price of $34.88 per share in conjunction with the payment of tax liabilities in respect of stock delivered to its employees in settlement of restricted stock units.
As part of the consideration for the acquisition of Greenhill Australia in 2010, the Company issued 439,951 shares of contingent convertible preferred stock ("Performance Stock"), which was convertible to the same number of shares of the Company’s common stock in 2015 if a revenue target was achieved. The revenue target was not achieved and the Performance Stock, which had a fair value of $14.4 million at the acquisition date, were canceled and the value was transferred to additional paid in capital.


















F-21




Note 12 — Earnings per Share
The computations of basic and diluted EPS are set forth below:

 
For the Years Ended
December 31,
 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
 
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
Numerator for basic and diluted EPS — net income allocated to common stockholders
$
60,762

 
$
25,598

 
$
43,388

Denominator for basic EPS — weighted average number of shares
32,043

 
31,197

 
30,354

Add — dilutive effect of:
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average number of incremental shares issuable from restricted stock units
31

 
3

 
4

Denominator for diluted EPS — weighted average number of shares and dilutive potential shares
32,074

 
31,200

 
30,358

Earnings per share:
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
$
1.90

 
$
0.82

 
$
1.43

Diluted
$
1.89

 
$
0.82

 
$
1.43

The weighted number of shares and dilutive potential shares do not include 334,048 shares of common stock, which will be issued to the selling unitholders of Cogent, in April 2017 or April 2019, as the case may be, if the revenue target related to the Earnout is achieved. At the time a revenue target is achieved such shares will be included in the Company’s share count. If the revenue target is not achieved, the shares of common stock will not be issued. See “Note 3 — Acquisition” and "Note 11 — Equity".

Note 13 — Retirement Plan
In the U.S., the Company sponsor qualified defined contribution plans (the “Retirement Plans”) covering all eligible employees of G&Co and GC LP The Retirement Plans provide for both employee contributions in accordance with Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code, and employer discretionary profit sharing contributions, subject to statutory limits. The Company incurred costs of $0.6 million , $0.3 million and $0.2 million for contributions to the Retirement Plans for the years ended December 31, 2016 , 2015 and 2014 , respectively. There was $0.5 million and $0.2 million related to contributions due to the Retirement Plans included in compensation payable at December 31, 2016 and 2015 , respectively.
GCI also operates a defined contribution pension fund for its employees. The assets of the pension fund are held separately in an independently administered fund. For the years ended December 31, 2016 , 2015 and 2014 , GCI incurred costs for the funding of pension contributions of approximately $0.4 million , $0.5 million and $0.6 million , respectively. At December 31, 2016 and 2015 , there were no amounts related to contributions due to the defined contribution pension fund included in compensation payable.
Greenhill Australia is required by Australian law to contribute compulsory superannuation on employees' gross earnings, generally at a rate of 9% , subject to an annual limit per employee. Superannuation is a defined contribution plan in which retirement benefits are determined by the contribution accumulated over the working life plus investment earnings within the fund less expenses. Greenhill Australia incurred costs for the funding of pension contributions of approximately $0.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 and $0.5 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 , respectively. At December 31, 2016 and 2015 , there were no amounts related to superannuation contributions due to the defined contribution plan included in compensation payable.

Note 14 — Deferred Compensation
Restricted Stock Units
The Company has adopted an equity incentive plan to motivate its employees and allow them to participate in the ownership of its stock. Under the Company’s plan, restricted stock units, which represent a right to a future payment equal to one share of common stock, may be awarded to employees, directors and certain other non-employees as selected by the Compensation Committee. Awards granted under the plan generally vest ratably over a period of up to five years beginning on the first anniversary of the grant date or in full on the third or fifth anniversary of the grant date. To the extent the restricted stock units are outstanding at the time a dividend is paid on the common stock, a dividend equivalent amount is paid to the holders of the restricted stock

F-22




units. In the event that the holder’s employment is terminated under circumstances in which units awarded under the plan are forfeited any dividend equivalent payments related to such forfeiture, which are unvested for accounting purposes, are required to be repaid to the Company.
The activity related to the restricted stock units is set forth below:

 
Restricted Stock Units Outstanding
 
2016
 
2015
 
Units
 
Grant Date
Weighted
Average Fair
Value
 
Units
 
Grant Date
Weighted
Average Fair
Value
Outstanding, January 1,
3,723,129

 
$
45.88

 
3,065,363

 
$
56.04

Granted
2,407,173

(1)  
21.61

 
1,772,439

 
36.45

Delivered
(871,226
)
 
52.27

 
(843,032
)
 
62.07

Forfeited
(414,120
)
 
37.66

 
(271,641
)
 
48.69

Outstanding, December 31,
4,844,956

 
$
33.38

 
3,723,129

 
$
45.88


_____________________________________________
(1)
Excludes 973,946 stock units granted to employees subsequent to December 31, 2016 as part of the long-term incentive awards program.
For the years ended December 31, 2016 , 2015 and 2014 , the Company recognized compensation expense from the amortization of restricted stock units, net of forfeitures, of $45.8 million , $46.5 million and $39.6 million , respectively.
The weighted-average grant date fair value for restricted stock units granted during the years ended December 31, 2016 , 2015 and 2014 was $21.61 , $36.45 and $49.76 , respectively. As of December 31, 2016 , unrecognized restricted stock units compensation expense was approximately $64.3 million , with such unrecognized compensation expense expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of approximately 1.7  years.
The Company issues restricted stock units to employees under the equity incentive plan, primarily in connection with its annual bonus awards and compensation agreements for new hires. In certain jurisdictions, the Company may settle share-based payment awards in cash in lieu of shares of common stock to obtain tax deductibility. In these circumstances, the awards are settled in the cash equivalent value of the Company's shares of common stock based upon their value at settlement date. These cash settled share-based awards are remeasured at fair value at each reporting period.
The Company awarded 115,473 performance-based restricted stock awards ("PRSU"), as part of long-term incentive compensation in 2016. The PRSU award targeted performance from 2016 to 2018 to multi-year revenue, pre-tax profit and total stockholder return (“TSR”) goals, each equally weighted. If the achievement of a performance metric is below the threshold goal, the payout factor for such performance metric will be 0% . The maximum payout under the award is 288,683 units and the cumulative dividends over the reward period. The performance relative to revenue and pre-tax profit is measured quarterly and the probability weighted likelihood of achievement is recorded based on the grant day price. The TSR component is measured quarterly and the probability weighted likelihood of achievement is recorded based on the fair value at the date of grant.
Deferred Cash Compensation
As part of its long-term incentive award program, the Company grants deferred cash retention awards to certain eligible employees. The deferred awards, which generally vest over a three to five year service period or in full on the third or fifth anniversary of the grant date, provide the employee with the right to receive future cash compensation payments, which are non-interest bearing. Deferred compensation payable of $7.0 million and $3.5 million as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively and is included in compensation payable in the consolidated statements of financial condition. As of December 31, 2016 , total unrecognized compensation cost related to deferred cash compensation prior to the consideration of forfeitures, was approximately $13.3 million and is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.09 years .
For the years ended December 31, 2016 , 2015 and 2014 , the Company recognized compensation expense from the amortization of deferred compensation, net of forfeitures, of $4.8 million , $2.6 million and $2.8 million , respectively.





F-23




Note 15 — Commitments and Contingencies
The Company has entered into certain leases for office space under non-cancellable operating lease agreements that expire on various dates through 2025.
As of December 31, 2016 , the approximate aggregate minimum future rental payments required were as follows (in thousands):

2017
$
14,753

2018
13,379

2019
11,577

2020
9,681

2021
2,180

Thereafter
6,627

Total (1)
$
58,197



_____________________________________________
(1)
Minimum future rental payments are recorded at their gross amounts and have not been reduced by sublease rentals of $0.7 million for each year from 2017 to 2018 and $0.5 million in 2019 for approximately 7,000  of aggregate square footage for former Cogent office space in New York and London. The subleases extend through the terms of the existing leases, which both terminate in 2019.
The Company has also entered into various operating leases for office equipment.
Rent expense for leased office space, net of sublease reimbursements, for the years ended December 31, 2016 , 2015 and 2014 was approximately $14.3 million , $16.0 million and $14.6 million , respectively.
Diversified financial institutions issued five letters of credit on behalf of the Company to secure office space leases, which totaled $4.3 million and $4.6 million at December 31, 2016 and 2015 , respectively. These letters of credit were secured by cash held on deposit. At December 31, 2016 and 2015 , no amounts had been drawn under any of the letters of credit. See " Note 4 — Cash and Cash Equivalents ".
In addition, the Company has a contingent cash obligation of $18.9 million due the selling unit holders of Cogent if the Earnout is achieved. See "Note 3 -- Acquisition" and "Note 8 — Fair Value of Financial Instruments".
The Company is from time to time involved in legal proceedings incidental to the ordinary course of its business. The Company does not believe any such proceedings will have a material adverse effect on its results of operations.

Note 16 — Income Taxes
The Company is subject to U.S. federal, foreign, state and local corporate income taxes.
The components of the provision for income taxes reflected on the consolidated statements of income are set forth below:
 
For the Years Ended December 31,
 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
 
(in thousands)
Current taxes:
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. federal
$
19,392

 
$
15,995

 
$
12,256

State and local
1,939

 
3,624

 
2,415

Foreign
13,245

 
4,136

 
5,778

Total current tax expense
34,576

 
23,755

 
20,449

Deferred taxes:
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. federal
(4,530
)
 
(2,252
)
 
1,454

State and local
(321
)
 
(759
)
 
493

Foreign
(2,606
)
 
(3,047
)
 
1,686

Total deferred tax (benefit) expense
(7,457
)
 
(6,058
)
 
3,633

Total tax expense
$
27,119

 
$
17,697

 
$
24,082


F-24





The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with ASC 740, which requires an asset and liability approach for financial accounting and reporting for income taxes. Deferred taxes are provided for the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. These deferred taxes are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when such differences are expected to reverse. Further, the Company intends to indefinitely reinvest its non-U.S. subsidiary earnings outside of the United States, and deferred taxes have not been provided on the cumulative undistributed earnings of its foreign subsidiaries. If the Company were to repatriate all non-U.S. subsidiary earnings as of December 31, 2016 , it would result in approximately $9.1 million of additional U.S. federal tax.
Significant components of the Company's net deferred tax assets and liabilities are set forth below:

 
As of December 31,
 
2016
 
2015
 
(in thousands)
Deferred tax assets:
 
 
 
Compensation and benefits
$
32,021

 
$
30,680

Depreciation and amortization
2,483

 
2,637

Cumulative translation adjustment
20,361

 
17,503

Operating loss carryforwards
4,944

 
3,906

Capital loss carryforwards
1,938

 
2,426

Foreign tax credit carryforwards

 
312

Other financial accruals
2,299

 
1,346

Valuation allowances
(1,938
)
 
(2,738
)
Total deferred tax assets
62,108

 
56,072

Deferred tax liabilities:
 
 
 
Unrealized gain on investments
659

 
242

Other financial accruals
3,008

 
1,338

Total deferred tax liabilities
3,667

 
1,580

Net deferred tax asset
$
58,441

 
$
54,492


Based on the Company's historical taxable income and its expectation for taxable income in the future, management expects that its largest deferred tax asset, which relates principally to compensation expense deducted for book purposes but not yet deducted for tax purposes, will be realized as offsets to future taxable income.

The Company’s deferred taxes for operating loss carryforwards relate to losses incurred in foreign jurisdictions. In 2016, certain foreign jurisdictions partially or wholly utilized their operating loss carryforwards while other jurisdictions increased or created new operating loss carryforwards. However, all foreign jurisdictions with operating loss carryforwards were profitable in prior years or were profitable in the current year. When assessing the need for a valuation allowance, management evaluates each foreign jurisdiction separately and considers items such as estimated future taxable income, cost bases, and other various factors. Based on all available information, the Company has determined that it is more likely than not that it will realize the benefit of these operating loss carryforwards in future periods; therefore, a valuation allowance has not been established for these deferred tax assets. At December 31, 2016 , the Company had foreign operating loss carryforwards, which in aggregate totaled $16.1 million , and may be carried forward for nine years and longer.

Due to the Company’s operating loss carryforward position, tax benefits related to share-based payments generally booked through equity accounts may not be recorded until such time as the benefit is realized as a reduction in the Company’s actual taxes paid. As of December 31, 2016 , the current taxes payable would have been decreased by $0.8 million if the Company had been able to realize these benefits in its filed tax returns.

Under ASC 740, valuation allowances are established against deferred tax assets when management determines it is more likely than not that all or some portion of a deferred tax asset will not be realized. The Company has a valuation allowance against a deferred tax asset related to a capital loss carryforward in the United Kingdom. This capital loss was realized from the sale of an investment in the United Kingdom and can be carried forward indefinitely but can only be utilized against capital gain in the

F-25




same jurisdiction. Since the Company has nominal remaining investments in the United Kingdom and considers it more likely than not that the Company will not generate a capital gain in the United Kingdom, the Company has established a full valuation allowance against this related deferred tax asset. As of December 31, 2016, the amount of the deferred tax asset and corresponding valuation allowance for the capital loss carryforward in the United Kingdom was $1.9 million . This amount is less than the prior year due to movement in the foreign currency exchange rate.
Any gain or loss resulting from the translation of deferred taxes for foreign affiliates has been included in the foreign currency translation adjustment incorporated as a component of other comprehensive income, net of tax, in the consolidated statements of changes in stockholders' equity. Income taxes receivable of $1.4 million and $3.6 million as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, were included in other receivables in the consolidated statements of financial condition.

The Company is subject to the income tax laws of the United States, its states and municipalities, and those of the foreign jurisdictions in which the Company operates. These laws are complex, and the manner which they apply to the taxpayer's facts is sometimes open to interpretation. Management must make judgments in assessing the likelihood that a tax position will be sustained upon examination by the taxing authorities based on the technical merits of the tax position. In the normal course of business, the Company may be under audit in one or more of its jurisdictions in an open tax year for that particular jurisdiction. As of December 31, 2016 , the Company does not expect any material changes in its tax provision related to any current or future audits.

The Company recognizes tax positions in the financial statements only when it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained on examination by the relevant taxing authority based on the technical merits of the position. A position that meets this standard is measured at the largest amount of benefit that will more likely than not be realized on settlement. A liability is established for differences between positions taken in a tax return and amounts recognized in the financial statements. The Company performed an analysis of its tax positions as of December 31, 2016 , and determined that there was no requirement to accrue any material additional liabilities. Also, when present as part of the tax provision calculation, interest and penalties have been reported as interest expense and other operating expenses in the consolidated statements of income.
A reconciliation of the statutory U.S. federal income tax rate of 35.0% to the Company’s effective income tax rate is set forth below:
 
For the Years Ended December 31,
 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
U.S. statutory tax rate
35.0
 %
 
35.0
%
 
35.0
 %
Increase related to state and local taxes, net of U.S. income tax benefit
1.3

 
4.7

 
3.3

Benefits and taxes related to foreign operations
(6.2
)
 
0.7

 
(3.3
)
Other
0.8

 
0.5

 
0.7

Effective income tax rate
30.9
 %
 
40.9
%
 
35.7
 %

Note 17 — Regulatory
Certain subsidiaries of the Company are subject to various regulatory requirements in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia and certain other jurisdictions, which specify, among other requirements, minimum net capital requirements for registered broker-dealers.
G&Co is subject to the SEC’s Uniform Net Capital requirements under Rule 15c3-1 (the “Rule”), which specifies, among other requirements, minimum net capital requirements for registered broker-dealers. The Rule requires G&Co to maintain a minimum net capital of the greater of $5,000 or 1/15 of aggregate indebtedness, as defined in the Rule. As of December 31, 2016 and 2015 , G&Co’s net capital was $7.3 million and $18.5 million , respectively, which exceeded its requirement by $5.9 million and $18.1 million , respectively. G&Co’s aggregate indebtedness to net capital ratio was 2.80 to 1 and 0.36 to 1 at December 31, 2016 and 2015 , respectively. Certain distributions and other capital withdrawals of G&Co are subject to certain notifications and restrictive provisions of the Rule.
GC LP is also subject to the Rule. GCI, GCE and the European affiliate of GC LP are subject to capital requirements of the FCA. Greenhill Australia is subject to capital requirements of the ASIC. We are also subject to certain capital regulatory requirements in other jurisdictions. As of December 31, 2016 and 2015 , GCI, GCE, GC LP, Greenhill Australia, and our other regulated operations were in compliance with local capital adequacy requirements.





F-26




Note 18 — Business Information
The Company's activities as an investment banking firm constitute a single business segment, with substantially all revenues generated from advisory services, which includes engagements relating to mergers and acquisitions, financing advisory and restructuring, and capital advisory services. The Company generally generates less than 1% of its revenues from investment revenues, consisting of interest income and gains and losses on its remaining principal investments in merchant banking funds.
The Company principally earns its revenues from advisory fees upon the successful completion of the client’s transaction or restructuring, or fund closing. Advisory revenues represented approximately 100% , 100% and 102% of the Company’s total revenues for the years ended December 31, 2016 , 2015 and 2014 , respectively. In 2016 and 2015 , there were no advisory clients that accounted for more than 10% of total revenues.
Since the financial markets are global in nature, the Company generally manages its business based on the operating results of the enterprise taken as whole, not by geographic region. For reporting purposes, the geographic regions are the North America, Europe, and the rest of the world, which are the locations where the Company retains substantially all of its employees.
The following table presents information about the Company by geographic region, after elimination of all significant inter-company accounts and transactions:
 
As of or for the Years Ended
December 31,
 
2016
 
2015
 
2014
 
(in thousands)
Total revenues
 
 
 
 
 
North America
$
206,673

 
$
172,582

 
$
160,631

Europe
110,229

 
63,875

 
83,369

Rest of World
18,617

 
25,103

 
31,234

Total
$
335,519

 
$
261,560

 
$
275,234

Income (loss) before taxes
 
 
 
 
 
North America
$
48,927

 
$
40,895

 
$
36,745

Europe
52,650

 
9,577

 
24,891

Rest of World
(13,696
)
 
(7,177
)
 
5,834

Total
$
87,881

 
$
43,295

 
$
67,470

Total assets
 
 
 
 
 
North America
$
266,975

 
$
261,077

 
$
165,204

Europe
64,467

 
38,409

 
33,460

Rest of World
125,240

 
123,658

 
138,292

Total
$
456,682

 
$
423,144

 
$
336,956


The Company's revenues are based on the country where the services were derived. For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, the Company generated 59% , 66% , and 58% , respectively, of its total revenues from the United States and 27% , 20% and 25% respectively, of its total revenues from the United Kingdom. No other country had revenues which individually represented more than 10% of the Company's total revenues during the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectfully.
Included in the Company's total assets it had long-lived assets, excluding deferred tax assets and intangible assets, located in the United States of $ 34.8 million and $ 43.0 million at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. No other country had long- lived assets, which individually represented more than 10% of the Company's total long-lived assets at December 31, 2016 and 2015.

Note 19 — Subsequent Events
The Company evaluates subsequent events through the date on which the financial statements are issued.
On January 26, 2017 , the Board of Directors of the Company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.45 per share. The dividend will be payable on March 22, 2017 to the common stockholders of record on March 8, 2017 .


F-27




Supplemental Financial Information Quarterly Results (unaudited)
The following represents the Company’s unaudited quarterly results for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 . These quarterly results were prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and reflect all adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the results.

 
For the Three Months Ended
 
March 31,
2016
 
June 30,
2016
 
Sept. 30,
2016
 
Dec. 31,
2016
 
(in millions, except per share data)
Total revenues
$
66.9

 
$
90.5

 
$
76.6

 
$
101.6

Total expenses
60.4

 
60.6

 
57.4

 
69.2

Income before taxes
6.5

 
29.9

 
19.2

 
32.4

Provision for taxes
2.1

 
10.2

 
6.1

 
8.7

Net income allocated to common stockholders
$
4.4

 
$
19.7

 
$
13.1

 
$
23.7

Earnings per share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
$
0.14

 
$
0.62

 
$
0.41

 
$
0.74

Diluted
$
0.14

 
$
0.62

 
$
0.41

 
$
0.74

Dividends declared per share
$
0.45

 
$
0.45

 
$
0.45

 
$
0.45


 
For the Three Months Ended
 
March 31,
2015
 
June 30,
2015
 
Sept. 30,
2015
 
Dec. 31,
2015
 
(in millions, except per share data)
Total revenues
$
61.9

 
$
73.3

 
$
50.6

 
$
75.7

Total expenses
49.7

 
57.6

 
49.5

 
61.5

Income before taxes
12.2

 
15.7

 
1.1

 
14.2

Provision for taxes
4.6

 
6.4

 
0.5

 
6.3

Net income allocated to common stockholders
$
7.6

 
$
9.3

 
$
0.6

 
$
7.9

Earnings per share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
$
0.25

 
$
0.30

 
$
0.02

 
$
0.25

Diluted
$
0.25

 
$
0.30

 
$
0.02

 
$
0.25

Dividends declared per share
$
0.45

 
$
0.45

 
$
0.45

 
$
0.45



F-28




(b) Exhibits
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
Number
 
Description
2.1
 
Purchase Agreement, dated as of June 10, 2011, by and among JPMorgan U.S. Pooled Corporate Finance Institutional Investors IV LLC, JPMorgan U.S. Corporate Finance Institutional Offshore Investors IV L.P., J.P. Morgan Secondary Private Equity Investors LLC, 522 Fifth Avenue Fund, L.P., Constellation Energy Group, Inc. Master Trust, Constellation Energy Nuclear Group, LLC Master Trust, GCP Pooled Block 1, LLC, GCP Offshore Block 1, LLC, GCP Offshore Block 2, LLC, GCP Offshore Block 3, LLC and GCP Offshore Block 4, LLC, Greenhill Capital Partners, LLC (the “Seller”), GCP Managing Partner II, L.P. and Greenhill & Co., Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 16, 2011).
2.2
 
Unit Purchase Agreement dated as of February 9, 2015 by and among Cogent Partners, LP, CP Cogent Securities LP, Cogent Partners Europe LLP, Greenhill & Co., Inc., and the Sellers and Seller Representative Named therein (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 7, 2015).
2.3
 
Amendment No. 1 to Unit Purchase Agreement dated as of March 31, 2015 by and among Cogent Partners, LP, CP Cogent Securities LP, Cogent Partners Europe LLP, Greenhill & Co., Inc. and the Seller Representative as defined in the Unit Purchase Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.2 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 7, 2015).
3.1
 
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 27, 2007).
3.2
 
Amended and Restated By-Laws (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 24, 2015).
3.3
 
Certificate of Designations, Preferences and Rights of Series A-1 Contingent Convertible Preferred Stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 1, 2010).
3.4
 
Certificate of Designations, Preferences and Rights of Series A-2 Contingent Convertible Preferred Stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 1, 2010).
4.1
 
Form of Common Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s registration statement on Form S-1/A (No. 333-113526) filed on April 30, 2004).
10.1
 
Form of Indemnification Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Registrant’s registration statement on Form S-1/A (No. 333-113526) filed on April 30, 2004).
10.2
 
Sublease Agreement dated January 1, 2004 between Greenhill Aviation Co., LLC and Riversville Aircraft Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.14 to the Registrant’s registration statement on Form S-1/A (No. 333-113526) filed on April 30, 2004).
10.3
 
Form of Senior Advisor Employment and Non-Competition Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.29 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2005).
10.4
 
Loan Agreement dated as of January 31, 2006 by and between First Republic Bank and Greenhill & Co., Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.31 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005).
10.5
 
Amended and Restated Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit A to the Registrant’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed on March 13, 2015).
10.6
 
Form of Greenhill & Co. Equity Incentive Plan Restricted Stock Award Notification (MDs) — Five Year Ratable Vesting (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.45 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2009).
10.7
 
Form of Greenhill & Co. Equity Incentive Plan Restricted Stock Award Notification (MDs) — Five Year Cliff Vesting (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.46 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2009).
10.8
 
Form of Greenhill & Co. Equity Incentive Plan Restricted Stock Award Notification (non-MDs) — Five Year Ratable Vesting (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.47 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2009).
10.9
 
Lease between 300 Park Avenue, Inc. and Greenhill & Co., Inc. dated June 17, 2009 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Registrant’s report on Form 8-K filed on June 22, 2009).
10.10
 
Share Sale Agreement dated March 16, 2010 among Greenhill & Co., Inc., Caergwrle Investments Pty Ltd, Mordant Investments Pty Ltd, Baliac Pty Ltd, Peter Hunt, Simon Mordant and Ron Malek (incorporated by reference as Exhibit 2.1 to Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 1, 2010).
10.11
 
Form of Security Agreement (LLC Distribution) by and between Greenhill & Co., Inc. and First Republic Bank. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.53 to Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2010)

E-1




10.12
 
Reaffirmation of Third-Party Security Agreement, dated as of July 15, 2011, between First Republic Bank and Greenhill Capital Partners, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2011).
10.13
 
Employment, Non-Competition and Pledge Agreement dated as of May 11, 2004 among Robert F. Greenhill, Greenhill Family Partnership and Greenhill & Co., Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.59 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012)
10.14
 
Employment, Non-Competition and Pledge Agreement dated as of May 11, 2004 between Scott L. Bok and Greenhill & Co., Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.60 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012)
10.15
 
Employment, Non-Competition and Pledge Agreement dated as of May 11, 2004 between Harold J. Rodriguez, Jr. and Greenhill & Co., Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.61 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012)
10.16
 
Renewal and Modification Agreement, dated as of May 1, 2013, between First Republic Bank and Greenhill & Co., Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2013).
10.17
 
Modification Agreement, dated as of September 27, 2013, between First Republic Bank and Greenhill & Co., Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2013).
10.18
 
Renewal and Modification Agreement, dated as of April 23, 2014, between First Republic Bank and Greenhill & Co., Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2014).
10.19
 
Loan Agreement (Term Loan) dated as of April 1, 2015 by and between Greenhill & Co., Inc. and First Republic Bank (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 7, 2015).
10.20
 
Security Agreement (LLC Distributions) dated as of April 1, 2015 by and between Greenhill & Co., Inc. and First Republic Bank (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 7, 2015).
10.21
 
Renewal and Modification Agreement dated as of April 1, 2015 by and between Greenhill & Co., Inc. and First Republic Bank (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 7, 2015).
10.22
 
Form of Greenhill & Co. Equity Incentive Plan Performance-Based Restricted Stock Unit Award Notification –
Three Year Performance Period (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 29, 2016).
10.23
 
Form of Greenhill & Co. Equity Incentive Plan Restricted Stock Unit Award Notification – Three Year Cliff
Vesting (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 29, 2016).
10.24
 
Third-Party Security Agreement (Receivables), dated as of November 9, 2015, between Greenhill & Co., LLC and First Republic Bank (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.24 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015).
10.25*
 
Form of Greenhill & Co. Equity Incentive Plan Restricted Stock Unit Award Notification (MDs) – Four Year 20%, 20%, 30% and 30% Vesting.
10.26*
 
Letter Agreement between Greenhill & Co., Inc. and Patricia Moran, dated as of October 24, 2016.
21.1*
 
List of Subsidiaries of the Registrant.
23.1*
 
Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.
31.1**
 
Certification of Chief Executive 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.
31.2**
 
Certification of 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.
32.1**
 
Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2**
 
Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
101**
 
Interactive data files pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T.

_____________________________________________
*
Filed herewith.
**
This information is furnished and not filed herewith for purposes of Sections 11 and 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 18 of the Exchange Act

E-2




SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Dated: February 28, 2017
 
GREENHILL & CO., INC.
 
 
 
By:
/s/ SCOTT L. BOK
 
 
Scott L. Bok
 
 
Chief Executive Officer


II-1





Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, this Report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
 
Signature
  
Capacity
  
Date
/s/ R OBERT  F. G REENHILL
  
 
  
 
Robert F. Greenhill
 
Chairman and Director
 
February 28, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ S COTT  L. B OK
  
 
  
 
Scott L. Bok
 
Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer)
 
February 28, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ H AROLD  J. R ODRIGUEZ , J R .
  
 
  
 
Harold J. Rodriguez, Jr.
 
Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)
 
February 28, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ R OBERT  T. B LAKELY
  
 
  
 
Robert T. Blakely
 
Director
 
February 28, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ S TEVEN  F. G OLDSTONE
  
 
  
 
Steven F. Goldstone
 
Director
 
February 28, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ S TEPHEN  L. K EY
  
 
  
 
Stephen L. Key
 
Director
 
February 28, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ K AREN  P. R OBARDS
  
 
  
 
Karen P. Robards
 
Director
 
February 28, 2017
 

II-2





GREENHILL & CO., INC. EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARD NOTIFICATION


Greenhill & Co., Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), hereby grants to the “ Participant ” this Award of Restricted Stock Units (“ RSUs ”) pursuant to the Greenhill & Co., Inc., Equity Incentive Plan (the “ Plan ”) upon the following terms and conditions:

Name of Participant :
 
 
 
Grant Date :
 
 
 
Number of RSUs :
 



1.
This Award is subject to all terms and conditions of this Notification and the Plan. The terms of the Plan are hereby incorporated by reference. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Plan. The term “ Notification ” means this Notification.

2.
Each RSU represents a right to a future payment equal to the Fair Market Value of one Share at the time of such payment. Such payment may, at the Committee’s election be in cash or Shares or a combination thereof.

3.
To the extent dividends are paid on Shares while the RSUs remain outstanding, you shall be entitled to receive at the time such dividends are paid (subject to your continued employment as of the relevant dividend payment date), cash payments in amount equivalent to cash dividends on Shares with respect to the number of Shares covered by the RSUs. If you incur a termination of employment prior to the payment of Shares underlying your vested RSUs but subsequent to the applicable RSUs vesting date, as set forth in Paragraph 4 below, you shall be entitled to receive with respect to such Shares underlying your vested RSUs cash payments in amount equivalent to cash dividends on Shares regardless of whether you continue to be employed as of the relevant dividend payment date. If you incur a termination of employment under circumstances in which, pursuant to the provisions of the Plan and this Award, Shares underlying this Award are forfeited, any dividend equivalent cash payments made pursuant to this paragraph with respect to the Unvested Dividend Portion, as hereinafter defined, of the forfeited Shares shall be required to be repaid to the Company by you promptly following your termination of employment. The “Unvested Dividend Portion” of the forfeited Shares shall be one minus the portion of the Award that has been recognized as an expense in the Company’s financial statements.

4.
Subject to your continued employment as of the relevant vesting date (unless otherwise provided under the terms and conditions of the Plan or this Notification), in accordance with Paragraph 2 above





you shall be entitled to receive (and the Company shall deliver to you) within 75 days following the relevant vesting date, the number of Shares underlying the RSUs (or a cash payment therefore) as of the dates set forth below in accordance with the following schedule:

Vesting Dates =
20%, 20%, 30% and 30% of the Shares underlying the RSUs on January 26th of each of the first, second, third and fourth calendar years following the grant date.

5.
Notwithstanding Section 11(a) of the Plan, if the Participant terminates employment for reason of Retirement, any unvested RSUs hereunder as of the date of such termination shall automatically be forfeited and cancelled by the Company; provided, however , if rather than terminating employment for reason of Retirement, the Participant offers to convert to Senior Advisor status on the terms substantially of the Senior Advisor and Non-Competition Agreement, which will be provided upon request, this Award will continue to vest in accordance with the schedule set forth in paragraph 4 above subject to the terms of the Plan, this Notification and the Senior Advisor and Non-Competition Agreement the terms of which shall be incorporated herein by reference.

6.
In accordance with Section 15(a) of the Plan, the Committee may in its sole discretion withhold from the payment to you hereunder a sufficient amount (in cash or Shares) to provide for the payment of any taxes required to be withheld by federal, state or local law with respect to income resulting from such payment.

7.
An RSU does not represent an equity interest in the Company, and carries no voting rights. You will not have any rights of a shareholder with respect to the RSUs until the Shares have been delivered to you.

8.
Notices hereunder and under the Plan, if to the Company, shall be delivered to the Plan Administrator (as so designated by the Company) or mailed to the Company’s principal office, Greenhill & Co., Inc., 300 Park Avenue, New York, New York, 10022, attention of the Plan Administrator, or, if to you, shall be delivered to you or mailed to your address as the same appears on the records of the Company.

9.
All decisions and interpretations made by the Board of Directors or the Committee with regard to any question arising hereunder or under the Plan shall be binding and conclusive on all persons. In the event of any inconsistency between the terms hereof and the provisions of this Notification and the Plan, this Notification shall govern.

10.
By accepting this Award, you acknowledge receipt of a copy of the Plan, and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions set forth in this Notification and the Plan, as in effect from time to time.

11.
By accepting this Award, you further acknowledge that the federal securities laws and/or the Company’s policies regarding trading in its securities may limit or restrict your right to buy or sell Shares, including, without limitation, sales of Shares acquired in connection with your RSUs. You agree to comply with such federal securities law requirements and Company policies, as such laws and policies are amended from time to time.

12.
This Notification shall be governed by the laws of the state of New York without giving effect to its choice of law provisions.






GREENHILL & CO., INC.
By:
/s/ Harold J. Rodriguez, Jr.
Name:
Harold J. Rodriguez, Jr.
Title:
Treasurer

If you would like to designate a beneficiary to exercise your rights under this Notification in the event of your death, please complete your designation in the space provided below, as well as please sign and print your name and date in the space provided below, and return this Notification to the attention of Harold J. Rodriguez, Jr.

Beneficiary: ______________________          _________________________________
Participant name (print):

Date: ____________________________








Greenhill & Co., LLC
300 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10022
(212) 389-1500
(212) 389-1700 Fax
Greenhill


October 24, 2016

Ms. Patricia Moran

Dear Pat,
This letter agreement (the “ Letter Agreement ”) will confirm the terms of the termination of your employment with Greenhill & Co., Inc. (“Greenhill”) (Greenhill and its affiliates, all their direct and indirect subsidiaries, and all their successors, past, current or future shareholders, directors, Managing Directors, Directors, officers, and employees, and anyone else connected with them is “ us ”, “ we ” or the “ Company ”). For purposes of this Letter Agreement, “ you ” shall include your heirs, executors, administrators, attorneys, representatives, successors and assigns.
1.
You have elected to resign your position of Chief Legal Officer, Secretary and Managing Director of Greenhill effective as of October 24, 2016. You agree to resign from any director or officer roles you hold with any Greenhill affiliate and to sign any documents necessary to effectuate same. You and we have agreed that you will continue to be employed as a Senior Advisor at your current base compensation rate until April 30, 2017 (or, upon written notice by you to the Company, such earlier date as you propose) (the “ Separation Date ”), when your employment with the Company will cease. You agree that, until the Separation Date, you will no longer have any day to day responsibilities; however, you will continue to reasonably assist in transitioning your responsibilities to such other Greenhill employees as appropriate. Notwithstanding the foregoing, you will vacate your office by October 31, 2016, and the Company will pack and ship to you with reasonable care your artwork, rug and other personal items in your office. We will continue to provide you access to your Greenhill e-mail account (including, without limitation, through your mobile device(s)) and your voicemail until the Separation Date. In addition, you will be permitted access to your computer for the purpose of making copies of any personal files stored therein and your electronic address book. You acknowledge that, until the Separation Date, you will continue to comply with Company policies (including its insider trading policy).

2.
Effective on the Separation Date, except as set forth herein, you will not be entitled to any further salary or other compensation from the Company and you will cease to be a participant in any of the Company’s benefit plans. If you are currently covered under the Company’s medical insurance plan, you will be receiving additional information from the Company concerning your ability to elect coverage continuation and the associated cost pursuant to the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (“ COBRA ”). You shall have 60 days from the Separation Date to make that election. If you are a participant in the Company’s





401(k) plan, you will be informed by the Company of the details relating to your benefits thereunder.

3.
Subject to your compliance with the terms of this Letter Agreement, the Company will provide you with a discretionary performance bonus in a lump sum cash payment of $1,000,000 less any required deductions, payable at the time that performance bonuses for 2016 are normally paid to employees of the Company (which is expected to be on or before February 28, 2017).

4.
In addition to the foregoing, within twenty-one (21) days of the Separation Date, you agree to execute and deliver to the Company a waiver and release of claims (the “Release”) in the form attached as Exhibit A hereto, provided that the Company has made all payments and provided all benefits or other consideration set forth in this Letter Agreement. As consideration for your execution of the Release and this Letter Agreement, the Company will provide you a final cash separation payment of $1,250,000, less any required deductions payable within fifteen (15) days of the Effective Date of the Release.

5.
You acknowledge and agree that the payments and benefits described in Paragraphs 1, 2, 3 and 4 above exceed the payments and benefits you are otherwise entitled to receive under the terms of any existing contract. You also acknowledge and agree that your entitlement to the payments and benefits described above are contingent upon your signing and returning of this Letter Agreement on or before the date stated below and the Letter Agreement becoming effective in accordance with Paragraph 22 below. Failure to sign and return this Letter Agreement will cause this offer to expire and you understand and agree that you will not be entitled to the benefits described herein.

6.
You acknowledge that, other than the payments and benefits described in this Letter Agreement, you are not due and will not receive: (i) any additional salary, compensation, benefits and/or other remuneration; (ii) any additional performance bonus in cash or restricted stock units for fiscal years 2015, 2016, 2017 or any subsequent year; or (iii) any additional severance.

7.
Consistent with the terms of the awards granted under our Equity Incentive Plan, you shall receive your awards scheduled to vest in January 2017 (7,395 RSUs) and February 9, 2017 (2,581 RSUs) and all other unvested restricted stock unit awards previously granted to you will be forfeited by you and cancelled by the Company as of the Separation Date. You also shall be entitled to receive dividend equivalent payments on unvested RSUs in respect of all dividends paid by the Company having a record date on or prior to the Separation Date. Further, pursuant to our Equity Incentive Plan any dividend equivalent cash payments made with respect to the Unvested Dividend Portion of any forfeited shares are required to be repaid to the Company by you promptly following your termination of employment. Notwithstanding the terms of the Equity Incentive Plan, the Company agrees that it will not reclaim any of the dividend equivalent cash payments (estimated by the Company to be approximately $60,000), which would otherwise be due from you as a result of the forfeited awards at the Separation Date.

8.
You will not disclose, or use for your benefit or the benefit of any other person or entity, any information you obtained in connection with your employment, which is confidential or proprietary to the Company; the Company acknowledges that material already in the public domain is not confidential or proprietary. Confidential or proprietary information includes,





without limitation, the Company’s client and investor lists; its trade secrets; any confidential information about or provided by any client or prospective or former client of the Company; information concerning the Company’s or any client’s or customer’s business or financial affairs, including its financial books and records, commitments, procedures, plans and prospects, financial products developed by it, its securities positions, trading strategies, and current or prospective transactions or business, employee compensation, any “inside information,” and any other information that has been developed by or for the benefit of the Company, regardless of how such information is kept whether in hard copy or electronic form. You acknowledge that, notwithstanding the termination of your employment with the Company, you have ongoing confidentiality duties under the New York Rules of Professional Conduct with respect to information you learned during or relating to your representation of the Company, and you agree to abide by those obligations.

In addition, except as disclosed by the Company in its public filings or disclosures, you will not disclose the terms of this Letter Agreement other than to your immediate family, spouse, domestic partner, attorney, financial advisor, accountant or other professional advisor, provided all such individuals are informed of this Section and agree to be bound by it, or as necessary to enforce your rights under this Letter Agreement. However, nothing set forth in this Paragraph 8 shall be interpreted to prohibit or restrict you from, without prior notice to the Company, initiating communications directly with or responding to any inquiry from or providing testimony before the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, and other self-regulatory organization, any other federal or state regulatory authority, or investigatory organization, about this Letter Agreement or its underlying facts and circumstances or any actual or potential violations of laws or regulations or from otherwise making disclosures protected under whistleblower provisions of federal law or regulation or from disclosing information in confidence to an attorney for the purpose of obtaining legal advice.     

9.
You acknowledge that, on or before the Separation Date, you will either return, destroy or delete any written or electronic materials, electronic messages or other media, records and documents made by you or coming into your possession during the course of your employment with the Company which contain or refer to any such proprietary or confidential information. In addition, you have delivered to the Company any other Company property in your possession or control, including without limitation, any computer or other equipment provided to you. Nothing in this Section shall prevent you from retaining and utilizing materials already in the public domain, copies of benefits plans and programs in which you retain an interest, desk calendars, or personal office furnishings or such other records and documents as may be approved by the Company.

10.
You agree that you will not defame, criticize or disparage the Company, its current Managing Directors, or its products and services in any medium, and you agree not to make any public statements that are defamatory, critical or disparaging regarding the Company’s business, products or actions, including actions relating to your employment, either orally or in writing (including the posting of any such statement on any website, blog or social media site) without limitation in time. Notwithstanding this obligation, nothing herein will prevent you from making statements as may be required by law or subpoena, however you agree to provide prior notice to the Company consistent with Paragraph 14 below and you shall make such communication only to the extent required by law. For the purposes of this Paragraph, the





“Company” shall mean Greenhill & Co., Inc., its subsidiaries, and the members of its Management Committee and its Board of Directors.
The Company agrees that it will not defame, criticize or disparage you in any medium or to any person (either within or outside the Company) without limitation in time, except as may be required by law or subpoena and in any such case only after giving prior written notice to you of at least two business days and only to the extent required by law.
You agree to direct all requests for references to Greenhill’s Human Resources Manager. If so contacted, he/she will provide your dates of employment and position held, and state that Company policy prohibits providing any other information. You agree to direct any additional requests for references to Scott Bok. If so contacted, Mr. Bok will provide a favorable reference.
We will mutually agree on the form and substance of all written public or internal Company disclosures or other formal written communications regarding your separation.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing set forth in this Paragraph 10 shall be interpreted to prohibit or restrict you or the Company from, without prior notice to the other, initiating communications directly with or responding to any inquiry from or providing testimony before the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, and other self-regulatory organization, any other federal or state regulatory authority, or investigatory organization, about this Letter Agreement or its underlying facts and circumstances or any actual or potential violations of laws or regulations or from otherwise making disclosures protected under whistleblower provisions of federal law or regulation or from disclosing information in confidence to an attorney for the purpose of obtaining legal advice.
11.
Without waiver of any other remedies available in law or equity, in the event that the Company determines you have materially breached any of the provisions of Paragraphs 8 through 10 of this Letter Agreement, we will immediately cease the payments provided above. You acknowledge and agree that, in the event of such a breach by you, the Company shall be entitled to appropriate injunctive relief, and other remedies available at law.

12.
In exchange for the payments and benefits set forth above, you release and waive all claims, causes of action or the like that you had, now have or may in the future have against the Company, as defined in ¶10 above, as of the date of your execution of this Letter Agreement whether now known or unknown, in respect to all matters relating to your employment with the Company, separation from employment with the Company, or treatment of you by the Company while in the Company’s employ, including all claims related to severance, notice of termination, the payment of salary and/or incentive performance bonus, commissions or any other compensation (whether pursuant to any employment agreement, compensation, equity, or profit participation plan of whatever kind or description, except as provided in this Letter Agreement, or otherwise), and all claims arising under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 as amended by the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act of 1990, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as amended by the Civil Rights Act of 1991, the Equal Pay Act of 1963, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 as amended, the New York State Human Rights Law, the New York Labor Law, the New York City Human Rights Law, federal or state whistleblower laws





to the maximum extent permitted by law, or any other federal, state or local statute or ordinance, and you further release and waive any other claim or cause of action recognized in law or equity which you had or now have against the Company arising out of conduct, acts or omissions of the Company occurring as of immediately prior to your execution of the Letter Agreement. Should you institute any cause of action or arbitration with regard to your employment, treatment by the Company during your employment, termination of employment, compensation or incentive performance bonus or any other claim or cause of action against the Company recognized in law or equity arising out of conduct, acts or omissions of the Company occurring as of immediately prior to your execution of this Letter Agreement, in any federal, state or local judicial forum or in an arbitration under any industry regulatory entity or should this release and waiver be unenforceable as a result of any action by you, the Company shall be entitled to cease making any payments and providing any benefits due hereunder and to recover from you the full value of any payments provided to you under Paragraph 4 of this Letter Agreement. By executing this Letter Agreement, you agree that this release shall discharge the Company to the maximum extent permitted by law.
In exchange for the above release, the Company, as defined in ¶10 above, releases and waives all claims, causes of action or the like that it had, now has or may in the future have against you, as of the date of your execution of this Letter Agreement whether now known or unknown, in respect to all matters relating to your employment with the Company, performance of your duties while employed by the Company, or separation from employment with the Company to the fullest extent permitted by law.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Letter Agreement does not waive rights or claims that may arise after the date this Letter Agreement is executed by you, including but not limited to rights or claims regarding the enforcement of the terms of this Letter Agreement. In addition, while you understand that this Letter Agreement does not affect your right to file a charge with or participate as a witness in an investigation or proceeding conducted by the EEOC or any similar state or local agency responsible for enforcing equal employment opportunity laws, by accepting the terms provided herein and the consideration provided to you as a result, you give up any right to receive any relief whatsoever, including but not limited to financial benefit or monetary recovery, from any lawsuit or settlement related to such rights and claims as you now give up, whether the lawsuit is filed or the settlement reached by the EEOC, another similar state or local agency responsible for enforcing equal employment opportunity laws, or anyone else.
Notwithstanding the foregoing release, if the Company withholds any payments owed to you pursuant to this Letter Agreement, we agree that any amounts due will be considered wages pursuant to the New York Labor Law and that you shall be entitled to all rights and remedies set forth therein including, but not limited to, those contained within New York Labor Law §198. Before pursuing an action to recover such payments and the attendant remedies available under the New York Labor Law, you will be obligated to provide the Company with 10 days of notice of the missed payment and an opportunity to cure within 3 business days.
Further, nothing set forth in this Paragraph 12 shall be interpreted to prohibit or restrict you or the Company from, without prior notice to the other, initiating communications directly with or responding to any inquiry from or providing testimony before the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, and other self-regulatory organization, any other federal or state regulatory authority, or investigatory organization, about this Letter Agreement or its





underlying facts and circumstances or any actual or potential violations of laws or regulations or from otherwise making disclosures protected under whistleblower provisions of federal law or regulation.
13.
You acknowledge and agree that any payments or benefits provided to you under the terms of this Letter Agreement do not constitute an admission by the Company that it has violated any law or legal obligation with respect to any aspect of your employment or separation therefrom.

14.
Except as provided in Paragraphs 8, 10 and 12 above, upon service on you, or anyone acting on your behalf, of any order or other legal process requiring you to divulge information prohibited from disclosure under this Letter Agreement, you shall promptly notify Greenhill’s Chief Executive Officer by e-mail and by hand delivery or overnight mail of such service and of the content of any testimony or information to be provided pursuant to such order or process and will reasonably cooperate with the Company at its sole expense if the Company shall contest or seek to quash such order or other legal process.

15.
You agree to make yourself reasonably available to the Company in any pending or future governmental or regulatory investigation, civil or administrative proceeding, or arbitration, including any internal investigations related thereto, subject to any privileges that you may have and to your other personal and business commitments. In the event that you seek legal representation in connection with any matter encompassed by this paragraph 15, the Company will provide such representation, unless the matter presents a conflict of interest between you and the Company. Under those circumstances, the Company agrees to reasonably cooperate with you in selecting separate legal counsel to represent you individually, and further agrees to reimburse you for all reasonable costs and expenses necessarily incurred by you in connection with said matter.

16.
The Company will pay all fees and expenses of your counsel, Liddle & Robinson, L.L.P., incurred by you in connection with this agreement and your separation from the Company up to a maximum of $15,000.

17.
The Company will continue to indemnify you and hold you harmless to the fullest extent permitted by law in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws of the Company and Delaware law. Subject to paragraph 15, this obligation includes the payment and advancement of all legal fees and costs to the fullest extent permitted by law.

18.
It is mutually understood and agreed that this Letter Agreement constitutes the entire understanding between you and the Company relating to the subject matter of this Letter Agreement and that no one at the Company has made any oral or written promises to you that are not fully and accurately set forth in this Letter Agreement.

19.
This Letter Agreement will be interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of New York (without regard for the conflicts of laws principles thereof). In the event of your death, all amounts payable to you hereunder shall be paid to your estate.

20.
If, at any time after the Effective Date of this Letter Agreement, any provision of this Letter Agreement shall be held by any court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, void, or unenforceable, such provision shall be of no force and effect. The illegality or unenforceability





of such provision, however, shall have no effect upon, and shall not impair the enforceability of, any other provision of this Letter Agreement.

21.
By signing this Letter Agreement, you acknowledge that you have had the opportunity to review this Letter Agreement and that you voluntarily agree with such terms. You are hereby advised to discuss this Letter Agreement with an attorney of your choice. You fully understand that by signing this Letter Agreement you are giving up certain rights which you may have to sue or assert a claim against the Company. You also acknowledge that you have not been forced or pressured in any manner whatsoever to sign this Letter Agreement, and you agree to all of the terms of this Letter Agreement voluntarily. You further acknowledge that you have been given twenty one (21) days from the date of receipt of this Letter Agreement to consider all of the provisions of this Letter Agreement although you may sign it sooner if you so desire.

22.
You shall have seven (7) days from the date of your execution of this Letter Agreement to revoke this Letter Agreement, including the release given under Paragraph 12 above with respect to all claims referred to therein (including but not limited to any and all claims under the ADEA) and this Letter Agreement will not become effective or enforceable until that seven-day period has expired without a revocation by you (the “ Effective Date ”). To revoke this Letter Agreement, please deliver to Greenhill's Chief Executive Officer a writing requesting revocation. The writing must be physically received by Greenhill’s Chief Executive Officer within seven (7) calendar days of the date of your signature on this Letter Agreement in order to be effective. If you revoke this Letter Agreement within such period, you will be deemed not to have accepted the terms of this Letter Agreement, including but not limited to any agreement or action required of the Company by any provision of this Letter Agreement.

If this Letter Agreement is acceptable to you, please sign the enclosed copy of it and return it to us no later than November 14, 2016.
Very truly yours,

GREENHILL & CO., INC.

By: /s/ Scott L. Bok
Scott L. Bok
Chief Executive Officer
 











I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I HAVE CAREFULLY READ THIS LETTER AGREEMENT, HAVE HAD ADEQUATE TIME TO CONSIDER AND UNDERSTAND ALL OF ITS TERMS, INCLUDING THE FULL AND FINAL RELEASE OF CLAIMS SET FORTH ABOVE. I FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I HAVE VOLUNTARILY ENTERED INTO THIS LETTER AGREEMENT, AND THAT I HAVE NOT RELIED UPON ANY REPRESENTATION OR STATEMENT, WRITTEN OR ORAL, NOT SET FORTH IN THIS LETTER AGREEMENT.
Agreed and accepted on this 24th day of October, 2016.

/s/ Patricia Moran
Patricia Moran
 

























EXHIBIT A - RELEASE (SAMPLE ONLY)
____ __, 2017         
Ms. Patricia Moran
[Address]

Dear Pat,
Reference is made to the Letter Agreement dated October __, 2016, between you and Greenhill & Co., Inc. (“Greenhill”) (Greenhill and its affiliates, all their direct and indirect subsidiaries, and all their successors, past, current or future shareholders, directors, Managing Directors, Directors, officers, and employees, and anyone else connected with them is “ us ”, “ we ” or the “ Company ”). In connection with that Letter Agreement, you agreed to deliver this waiver and release of claims (“Release”) as a condition to your receipt of consideration under Paragraph 4 of the Letter Agreement. For purposes of this Release, “ you ” shall include your heirs, executors, administrators, attorneys, representatives, successors and assigns.
23.
In exchange for the consideration set forth in Paragraph 4 of the Letter Agreement, you release and waive all claims, causes of action or the like that you had, now have or may in the future have against the Company, as defined in Paragraph 10 of the Letter Agreement, as of the date of your execution of this Release whether now known or unknown, in respect to all matters relating to your employment with the Company, separation from employment with the Company, or treatment of you by the Company while in the Company’s employ, including all claims related to severance, notice of termination, the payment of salary and/or incentive performance bonus, commissions or any other compensation (whether pursuant to any employment agreement, compensation, equity, or profit participation plan of whatever kind or description, except as provided in the Letter Agreement or this Release, or otherwise), and all claims arising under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 as amended by the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act of 1990, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as amended by the Civil Rights Act of 1991, the Equal Pay Act of 1963, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 as amended, the New York State Human Rights Law, the New York Labor Law, the New York City Human Rights Law, federal or state whistleblower laws to the maximum extent permitted by law, or any other federal, state or local statute or ordinance, and you further release and waive any other claim or cause of action recognized in law or equity which you had or now have against the Company arising out of conduct, acts or omissions of the Company occurring as of immediately prior to your execution of this Release. Should you institute any cause of action or arbitration with regard to your employment, treatment by the Company during your employment, termination of employment, compensation or incentive performance bonus or any other claim or cause of action against the Company recognized in law or equity arising out of conduct, acts or omissions of the Company occurring as of immediately





prior to your execution of this Release, in any federal, state or local judicial forum or in an arbitration under any industry regulatory entity or should this release and waiver be unenforceable as a result of any action by you, the Company shall be entitled to cease making any payments and providing any benefits due hereunder and to recover from you the full value of any payments provided to you under Section 4 of the Letter Agreement. By executing this Release, you agree that this release shall discharge the Company to the maximum extent permitted by law.
    
Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Release does not waive rights or claims that may arise after the date this Release is executed by you, including but not limited to rights or claims regarding the enforcement of the terms of this Release or any of the benefits, terms and payments set forth in the Letter Agreement. In addition, while you understand that this Release does not affect your right to file a charge with or participate as a witness in an investigation or proceeding conducted by the EEOC or any similar state or local agency responsible for enforcing equal employment opportunity laws, by accepting the terms provided herein and the consideration provided to you as a result, you give up any right to receive any relief whatsoever, including but not limited to financial benefit or monetary recovery, from any lawsuit or settlement related to such rights and claims as you now give up, whether the lawsuit is filed or the settlement reached by the EEOC, another similar state or local agency responsible for enforcing equal employment opportunity laws, or anyone else.

Notwithstanding the foregoing release, if the Company withholds any payments owed to you pursuant to this Release, we agree that any amounts due will be considered wages pursuant to the New York Labor Law and that you shall be entitled to all rights and remedies set forth therein including, but not limited to, those contained within New York Labor Law §198. Before pursuing an action to recover such payments and the attendant remedies available under the New York Labor Law, you will be obligated to provide the Company with 10 days of notice of the missed payment and an opportunity to cure within 3 business days.
In exchange for the above release, the Company, as defined in Paragraph 10 of the Letter Agreement, releases and waives all claims, causes of action or the like that it had, now has or may in the future have against you, as of the date of your execution of this Release whether now known or unknown, in respect to all matters relating to your employment with the Company, performance of your duties while employed by the Company, or separation from employment with the Company to the fullest extent permitted by law.
Nothing set forth in this Release shall be interpreted to prohibit or restrict you or the Company from, without prior notice to the other, initiating communications directly with or responding to any inquiry from or providing testimony before the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, and other self-regulatory organization, any other federal or state regulatory authority, or investigatory organization, about this Release or its underlying facts and circumstances or any actual or potential violations of laws or regulations or from otherwise making disclosures protected under whistleblower provisions of federal law or regulation.
2.
Except as disclosed by the Company in its public filings or disclosures, you will not disclose the terms of this Release other than to your spouse, immediate family, domestic partner, attorney, financial advisor, accountant, or other professional advisor provided that all such individuals are informed of this Release and agree to be bound by it, or as necessary to enforce your rights under this Release. However, nothing set forth in this Release shall be interpreted to prohibit or restrict you from, without prior notice to the Company, initiating communications directly with or responding to any inquiry from or providing testimony before the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Occupational Safety





and Health Administration, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, and other self-regulatory organization, any other federal or state regulatory authority, or investigatory organization, about this Release or its underlying facts and circumstances or any actual or potential violations of laws or regulations or from otherwise making disclosures protected under whistleblower provisions of federal law or regulation or from disclosing information in confidence to an attorney for the purpose of obtaining legal advice.
3.
Without waiver of any other remedies available in law or equity, in the event that the Company determines you have materially breached any of the provisions of Paragraph 2 of this Release, we will immediately cease the payments provided in Paragraph 4 of the Letter Agreement. You acknowledge and agree that, in the event of such a breach by you, the Company shall be entitled to appropriate injunctive relief and other remedies available at law.
4.
You acknowledge and agree that any payments or benefits provided to you under the terms of this Release do not constitute an admission by the Company that it has violated any law or legal obligation with respect to any aspect of your employment or separation therefrom.
5.
It is mutually understood and agreed that this Release constitutes the entire understanding between you and the Company relating to the subject matter of this Release and that no one at the Company has made any oral or written promises to you that are not fully and accurately set forth in this Release.
6.
This Release will be interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of New York (without regard for the conflicts of laws principles thereof). In the event of your death, all amounts payable to you hereunder shall be paid to your estate.
7.
If, at any time after the Effective Date of this Release, any provision of this Release shall be held by any court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, void, or unenforceable, such provision shall be of no force and effect. The illegality or unenforceability of such provision, however, shall have no effect upon, and shall not impair the enforceability of, any other provision of this Release.
8.
By signing this Release, you acknowledge that you have had the opportunity to review this Release and that you voluntarily agree with such terms. You are hereby advised to discuss this Release with an attorney of your choice. You fully understand that by signing this Release you are giving up certain rights which you may have to sue or assert a claim against the Company. You also acknowledge that you have not been forced or pressured in any manner whatsoever to sign this Release, and you agree to all of the terms of this Release voluntarily. You further acknowledge that you have been given twenty one (21) days from the date of receipt of this Release to consider all of the provisions of this Release although you may sign it sooner if you so desire.
9.
You shall have seven (7) days from the date of your execution of this Release to revoke this Release, including the release given under Paragraph 1 above with respect to all claims referred to therein (including but not limited to any and all claims under the ADEA) and this Release will not become effective or enforceable until that seven-day period has expired without a revocation by you (the “ Effective Date ”). To revoke this Release, please deliver to Greenhill's Chief Executive Officer a writing requesting revocation. The writing must be physically received by Greenhill's Chief Executive Officer within seven (7) calendar days of the date of your signature on this Release in order to be effective. If you revoke this Release within such period, you will be deemed not to have accepted the terms of this Release, including but not limited to any agreement or action required of the Company by any provision of this Release.





If this Release is acceptable to you, please sign the enclosed copy of it and return it to us no later than May [ ], 2017
Very truly yours,

GREENHILL & CO., INC.

By:
Scott L. Bok
Chief Executive Officer
 

I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I HAVE CAREFULLY READ THIS RELEASE, HAVE HAD ADEQUATE TIME TO CONSIDER AND UNDERSTAND ALL OF ITS TERMS, INCLUDING THE FULL AND FINAL RELEASE OF CLAIMS SET FORTH ABOVE. I FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I HAVE VOLUNTARILY ENTERED INTO THIS RELEASE, AND THAT I HAVE NOT RELIED UPON ANY REPRESENTATION OR STATEMENT, WRITTEN OR ORAL, NOT SET FORTH IN THIS RELEASE.
Agreed and accepted on this ___ day of ___________, 2017


Patricia Moran
 






Exhibit 21.1
SUBSIDIARIES OF THE REGISTRANT

 
 
 
 
Name of Subsidiary
 
 
Jurisdiction of Organization  
 
Greenhill & Co., LLC
 
New York
Greenhill Aviation Co., LLC
 
Delaware
Greenhill Capital Partners, LLC
 
Delaware
Greenhill & Co. Europe Holdings Limited
 
England and Wales
Greenhill & Co. International LLP
 
England and Wales
Greenhill & Co. Europe LLP
 
England and Wales
Greenhill & Co. Cayman Limited
 
Cayman Islands, B.W.I.
Greenhill & Co. Sweden AB
 
Sweden
Greenhill & Co. Holding Canada Ltd.
 
Canada
Greenhill & Co. Canada Ltd.
 
Canada
Greenhill & Co. Australia Holdings Pty Ltd
 
Australia
Greenhill & Co. Australia Pty Limited
 
Australia
Greenhill & Co. Asia Limited
 
Hong Kong
Greenhill & Co. Japan Ltd.
 
Japan
Greenhill & Co. do Brasil Assessoria Ltda.
 
Brazil
Greenhill GP, LLC
 
Delaware
Greenhill Cogent Holdings, LP
 
Texas
Greenhill Cogent, LP
 
Texas
Greenhill Cogent Europe, LLP
 
England and Wales
Greenhill Cogent Asia Pte. Ltd.
 
Singapore





Exhibit 23.1
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements on Form S-3 (No. 333-166475) of Greenhill & Co., Inc. and subsidiaries and on Form S-8 (No. 333-115411) pertaining to the Greenhill & Co., Inc. and subsidiaries Equity Incentive Plan of our reports dated  February 28, 2017 , with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Greenhill & Co., Inc. and subsidiaries and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of Greenhill & Co., Inc. and subsidiaries included in this Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2016 .
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
New York, New York
February 28, 2017





EXHIBIT 31.1
I, Scott L. Bok, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Greenhill & Co., Inc.;
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this annual report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, 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;
c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this annual report based on such evaluation; and
d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
 
 
 
/s/ Scott L. Bok
 
 
Scott L. Bok
 
 
Chief Executive Officer
Date:
February 28, 2017
 





EXHIBIT 31.2
I, Harold J. Rodriguez, Jr., certify that:
1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Greenhill & Co., Inc.;
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this annual report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this annual report is being prepared;
b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, 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;
c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this annual report based on such evaluation; and
d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
 
 
 
/s/ Harold J. Rodriguez, Jr.
 
 
Harold J. Rodriguez, Jr.
 
 
Chief Financial Officer  
Date:
February 28, 2017
 





EXHIBIT 32.1
February 28, 2017
Securities and Exchange Commission
100 F Street, N. E.
Washington, DC 20549
CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002, PURSUANT TO SECTION 1350 OF CHAPTER 63 OF TITLE 18 OF THE UNITED STATES CODE
I, Scott L. Bok, Chief Executive Officer of Greenhill & Co., Inc. (the “Company”), certify that, to the best of my knowledge:
(1) The report of the Company on Form 10-K for the annual period ending December 31, 2016 (the “Report”) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company as of the dates and for the periods presented in the Report.
 
 
/s/ Scott L. Bok
 
Scott L. Bok
 
Chief Executive Officer

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to Greenhill & Co., Inc. and will be retained by Greenhill & Co., Inc. and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.




EXHIBIT 32.2
February 28, 2017
Securities and Exchange Commission
100 F Street, N.E.
Washington, DC 20549
CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002, PURSUANT TO SECTION 1350 OF CHAPTER 63 OF TITLE 18 OF THE UNITED STATES CODE
I, Harold J. Rodriguez, Jr., Chief Financial Officer of Greenhill & Co., Inc. (the “Company”), certify that, to the best of my knowledge:
(1) The report of the Company on Form 10-K for the annual period ending December 31, 2016 (the “Report”) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company as of the dates and for the periods presented in the Report.
 
 
/s/ Harold J. Rodriguez, Jr.
 
Harold J. Rodriguez, Jr.
 
Chief Financial Officer  

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to Greenhill & Co., Inc. and will be retained by Greenhill & Co., Inc. and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.