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

FORM 10-K

(Mark One)

Commission file number 001-32147

GREENHILL & CO., INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

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

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

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

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

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

     Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes o  No x

     The aggregate market value of the common stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant, computed by reference to the closing price as of the last business day of the Registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter, June 30, 2004, was approximately $221,778,339. The Registrant has no non-voting stock.

       As of March 8, 2005, 30,682,466 shares of the Registrant’s common stock were outstanding.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

     Portions of the Registrant’s definitive proxy statement to be delivered to stockholders in connection with the 2005 annual meeting of stockholders to be held on May 4, 2005 are incorporated by reference in response to Part III of this Report.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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PART I

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

Item 1. Business

Overview

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

     We were established in 1996 by Robert F. Greenhill, the former President of Morgan Stanley and former Chairman and Chief Executive of Smith Barney. Since its founding, Greenhill has grown steadily, recruiting a number of managing directors from major investment banks (as well as senior professionals from other institutions), with a range of geographic, industry or transaction specialities and each with a different set of corporate management and other relationships. As part of this expansion, we opened a London office in 1998, raised a merchant banking fund in 2000, opened a Frankfurt office later in 2000 and began offering financial restructuring advice in 2001. On May 11, 2004, we converted from a limited liability company to a corporation, and completed an initial public offering of our common stock. As of December 31, 2004, we had 26 managing directors and senior advisors globally.

Principal Sources of Revenue

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

Financial Advisory

     We provide a broad range of advice to U.S. and non-U.S. clients in relation to mergers, acquisitions, restructurings and similar corporate finance matters and are involved at each stage of these transactions, from initial structuring to final execution. Our focus is on providing high-quality advice to senior executive management and boards of directors of prominent large and mid-cap companies in transactions that typically are of the highest strategic and financial importance to those companies. Non-U.S. clients are a significant part of our business, generating 46% and 52% of our total revenues in 2004 and 2003, respectively.

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     We advise companies in a number of different situations, each of which entails the provision of a different package of services. When we advise companies in the potential acquisition of another company or certain assets, our services may include, depending on the situation:

• Evaluating potential acquisition targets;
  
  
• Providing valuation analyses;
  
  
• Evaluating and recommending financial and strategic alternatives;
  
  
• Advising as to the timing, structure and pricing of a proposed acquisition;
  
  
• Assisting in negotiating and consummating an acquisition;
  
  
• Analyzing and advising on potential financing for the transaction;
  
  
• Assisting in implementing an acquisition such as by acting as a dealer-manager if structured as a tender or exchange offer; and
  
  
• Rendering, if appropriate, a fairness opinion.

     When we advise clients that are contemplating the sale of certain businesses, assets or their entire company, our services may include, depending on the situation:

• Evaluating and recommending financial and strategic alternatives with respect to a sale;
  
  
• Advising on the appropriate sales process for the situation;
  
  
• Assisting in preparing an offering memorandum or other appropriate sales materials;
  
  
• Identifying and contacting selected qualified acquirors;
  
  
• Advising as to the timing, structure and pricing of a proposed sale;
  
  
• Assisting in negotiating and consummating a proposed sale; and
  
  
• Rendering, if appropriate, a fairness opinion.

      For companies in financial distress, our services may include, depending on the situation:

• Reviewing and analyzing the business, operations, properties, financial condition and prospects of the company;
  
  
• Evaluating debt capacity;
  
  
• Assisting in the determination of an appropriate capital structure;
  
  
• Valuation analyses;
  
  
• Evaluating and recommending financial and strategic alternatives;
  
  
• If appropriate, providing financial advice and assistance in developing and seeking approval of a restructuring or reorganization plan, which may include a plan under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code or other similar court administered process in non-U.S. jurisdictions;
  
  
• Assisting in all aspects of the implementation of a such a plan, including coordinating with counsel;
  
  
• Advising and assisting in structuring and effecting the financial aspects of a sale or recapitalization;

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• Structuring any new securities, exchange offers, other consideration or other inducements to be offered and/or issued under a reorganization plan or out-of-court restructuring; and
  
  
• Assisting and participating in negotiations with entities or groups affected by a reorganization plan.

Merchant Banking Fund Management

     Our merchant banking fund management activities currently consist primarily of management of and investment in Greenhill Capital Partners, a family of merchant banking funds that invest in portfolio companies. Merchant banking funds are private investment funds raised from contributions by qualified institutional investors and financially sophisticated individuals. The funds make substantial, sometimes controlling, investments, generally in non-public companies and typically with a view toward divesting within 3 to 5 years. We pursue merchant banking fund management activities in addition to our financial advisory activities because: (i) our senior advisory professionals, and those we seek to recruit, are attracted by the opportunity to participate in merchant banking fund management, including the ability to invest in managed funds; and (ii) it allows us to further leverage our managing directors’ industry knowledge and client contacts. We believe we can pursue merchant banking opportunities without creating conflicts with our advisory clients by typically focusing on significantly smaller companies than those with respect to which we seek to provide financial advice. Our merchant banking funds typically invest in companies with valuations that are between $100 million and $500 million at the time of investment.

     The Chairman of Greenhill Capital Partners, LLC, the investment adviser to our Funds, is Robert H. Niehaus. Mr. Niehaus was previously a founding member and later Chief Operating Officer of the Merchant Banking Department of Morgan Stanley. Its investment committee also includes Scott L. Bok, Simon A. Borrows, Robert F. Greenhill and V. Frank Pottow. We, together with our managing directors, manage Greenhill Capital Partners through separate general partnerships.

     In June 2000, Greenhill Capital Partners raised its first fund with $423 million of commitments by investors, of which approximately $100 million was committed by the firm and our employees and $323 million was from outside investors. As of December 31, 2004, Greenhill Capital Partners had invested approximately $284 million of the $423 million of committed capital. After investment capital is raised, funds are invested over time as and when opportunities arise. In the ordinary course, several years may elapse between the time capital is invested and gains or losses are realized. In the interim, the investments in the funds are adjusted to fair value at the end of each quarter, which adjustments are reflected in our quarterly results. Greenhill is restricted by the terms of its agreements with its investors in Greenhill Capital Partners from participating in the management of a new fund with similar investment objectives until the commitments to the existing funds are terminated.

     Our merchant banking activities historically have generated revenue from fees earned for our management of Greenhill Capital Partners, which are calculated as a percentage of funds under management. Beginning in 2004, merchant banking also generated realized and unrealized revenues from our small portion of the override (earned when an investment is profitable over a specified return) of the profits earned on pre-2004 investments managed on behalf of outside investors, and gains on investments of our capital in merchant banking funds and other principal activities. While the firm does not intend to participate as a limited partner in any future funds, we expect the firm to make a significant financial commitment in connection with its role as the controlling member of the general partner of the funds. Any losses on a fund’s investments will offset any gains in that fund and reduce our merchant banking revenues accordingly. For a discussion of our participation in profit overrides with respect to the funds we manage, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations--Results of Operations-Merchant Banking Fund Management and Other Revenues”. Merchant Banking Fund Management and Other Revenues represented 14% of 2004 total revenues and 4% of 2003 total revenues.

     Prior to 2003, commitments to Greenhill Capital Partners were made by individual members and other professionals of Greenhill in their personal capacities rather than by Greenhill itself, and Greenhill had nominal capital committed to such funds. In late 2003, Greenhill purchased, for $6.7 million, limited partner interests in Greenhill Capital Partners relating to underlying investments with original invested capital of $7.2 million from outside investors. We also assumed from the same outside investors $3.9 million of related commitments to make future investments in Greenhill Capital Partners. In early 2004, we similarly purchased from an outside investor for $2.3 million an additional limited partner interest in Greenhill Capital Partners relating to underlying investments

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with original invested capital of $2.6 million and we assumed from the same outside investor $1.4 million of related commitments to make future investments in Greenhill Capital Partners. In addition, on January 1, 2004, we assumed from our members $15 million of their individual commitments to make future investments in Greenhill Capital Partners. In 2004, we funded approximately $4.0 million of these commitments, net of refunded and recallable capital calls. As of December 31, 2004, we had $16.4 million of commitments to Greenhill Capital Partners.

Employees

     We staff our assignments with a team of professionals with appropriate product and/or industry expertise. Our managing directors and senior advisors have an average of 23 years of relevant experience, and many of them are able to use this experience to advise on both mergers and acquisitions and restructuring transactions, depending on our clients’ needs. Our other professionals come from leading investment banking and educational institutions. We spend significant amounts of time training and mentoring our junior professionals. We generally provide our junior professionals with exposure to mergers and acquisitions, restructurings and merchant banking fund management to varying degrees, which provides us with the flexibility to allocate resources depending on the economic environment, and provides our bankers consistent transactional experience and a wide variety of experiences to assist in the development of business and financial judgment.

     As of December 31, 2004, Greenhill employed a total of 127 people (including our managing directors and senior advisors), of which 51 were based in our London or Frankfurt offices. We strive to maintain a work environment that fosters professionalism, excellence, diversity, and cooperation among our employees worldwide. We utilize a comprehensive evaluation process at the end of each year to measure performance, determine compensation and provide guidance on opportunities for improved performance.

Competition

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

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

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

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

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

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

Regulation

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

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

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

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

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

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Where You Can Find Additional Information

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

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

Risk Factors

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

     The success of our business depends upon the personal reputation, judgment, business generation capabilities and project execution skills of our 27 managing directors and senior advisors, particularly the members of our Management Committee (which consists of Robert F. Greenhill, Scott L. Bok, Simon A. Borrows, Robert H. Niehaus, Timothy M. George, Michael A. Kramer, James R. C. Lupton and Colin T. Roy). Founded in 1996, our business has a limited operating history and, as a result, our managing directors’ personal reputations and relationships with our clients are a critical element in obtaining and maintaining client engagements, and forming and investing merchant banking funds. Accordingly, the retention of our managing directors is particularly crucial to our future success. The departure or other loss of Mr. Greenhill, our founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, or the departure or other loss of any other member of our Management Committee or any other managing director, each of whom manages substantial client relationships and possesses substantial experience and expertise, could materially adversely affect our ability to secure and successfully complete engagements and conduct our merchant banking business, which would materially adversely affect our results of operations.

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

  Our conversion to corporate form may adversely affect our ability to recruit, retain and motivate key employees

     Our performance is largely dependent on the talents and efforts of highly skilled individuals. Competition for qualified employees in the financial services industry is intense. Our continued ability to compete effectively in our business depends on our ability to attract new employees and to retain and motivate our existing employees.

     In connection with the conversion of Greenhill from a limited liability company to corporate form, our managing directors and their affiliated entities received 100% of the common stock of Greenhill & Co., Inc. (or 25,000,000 shares) in exchange for their membership interests. Our managing directors and their affiliated entities currently own approximately 81.3% of the Company. Ownership of and the ability to realize equity value from our

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common stock, unlike that of membership interests in Greenhill, are not dependent upon a managing director’s continued employment and our managing directors are no longer restricted from leaving Greenhill by the potential loss of all of the value of their ownership interests. These shares of common stock are subject to certain restrictions on transfer and a portion are pledged to secure the liquidated damages provision in each managing director’s non-competition and pledge agreement. However, these agreements will survive for only a limited period after termination of services to Greenhill (one year in most cases) and will permit our managing directors to leave Greenhill without losing any of their shares of common stock if they comply with these agreements. Consequently, the steps we have taken to encourage the continued service of these individuals may not be effective. The long term impact of our conversion to corporate form on our employee retention and recruitment is uncertain.

  A substantial portion of our revenues are derived from advisory fees

     We have historically earned a substantial portion of our revenues from advisory fees paid to us by our clients, in large part upon the successful completion of the client’s transaction or restructuring. Financial advisory revenues represented 86% and 96% of our total revenues in 2004 and 2003, respectively. Unlike diversified investment banks, we do not have significant alternative sources of revenue, such as securities trading or underwriting. We expect that our reliance on advisory fees will continue for the foreseeable future and a decline in our advisory engagements or the market for advisory services generally would have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

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

     Our clients generally retain us on a non-exclusive, short-term, engagement-by-engagement basis in connection with specific merger or acquisition transactions or restructuring projects, rather than under exclusive long-term contracts. As these transactions are singular in nature and our engagements are not likely to recur, we must seek out new engagements when our current engagements are successfully completed or are terminated. As a result, high activity levels in any period are not necessarily indicative of continued high levels of activity in the next-succeeding or any other period. In addition, when an engagement is terminated, whether due to the cancellation of a transaction due to market reasons or otherwise, we may earn limited or no fees and may not be able to recoup the costs that we incurred prior to that termination.

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

     Each year, we advise a limited number of clients. Our top ten clients accounted for over 50% of our total revenues in each of the last three years and our largest clients accounted for 10% and 17% of our total revenues in 2004 and 2003, respectively. While the composition of the group comprising our largest clients varies significantly from year to year, we expect that our advisory engagements will continue to be limited to a relatively small number of clients and that an even smaller number of those clients will account for a high percentage of revenues in any particular year. As a result, the adverse impact on our results of operation of one lost mandate or the failure of one transaction or restructuring on which we are advising to be completed can be significant.

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

     We can experience significant variations in revenues and profits during the year. These variations can generally be attributed to the fact that our revenues are earned in large amounts throughout the year generally upon the successful completion of a transaction or restructuring, 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 revenues and profits. This is due to our dependence on a relatively small number of transactions for most of our revenues, with the result that our earnings can be significantly affected if any particular transaction is not completed successfully, and to the fact that we lack other, more stable sources of revenue in material amounts, such as brokerage and asset management fees, which could moderate some of the volatility in advisory revenues. As a result, it may be difficult for us to achieve steady earnings growth on a quarterly basis, which could adversely affect our stock price.

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

  Difficult market conditions could adversely affect our business in many ways

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

     In the past, we have derived a substantial share of our revenues from providing investment banking advisory services to the communications and media, consumer goods, retail and financial services sectors. Any slowdown of activity in these sectors could have an adverse effect on our earnings. Although the impact is offset to varying degrees by increased restructuring activity.

     Adverse market or economic conditions as well as a slowdown of activity in the sectors in which the portfolio companies of our merchant banking funds operate could have an adverse effect on the earnings of those portfolio companies, and therefore, our earnings, especially in the future as we seek to increase our merchant banking fund management revenues.

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

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

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

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

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

     In addition, we, through our controlling interest in the general partner of the funds, expect to make certain principal investments in our new funds. We expect to use a portion of the proceeds from the initial public offering in May 2004 for that purpose. The kinds of investments made by these funds are generally in relatively high-risk, illiquid assets. Contributing capital to these funds is risky and we may lose some or all of the principal amount of our investments, and because it may take several years before attractive investment opportunities are identified,

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some or all of the capital committed by us to these funds has been and is likely to continue to be invested in U.S. government securities, other short-term, highly-rated debt securities and money market funds that have traditionally offered investors relatively lower returns until we identify attractive investment opportunities.

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

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

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

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

     The investment banking industry is intensely competitive and we expect it to remain so. We compete on the basis of a number of factors, including the quality of our advice and service, innovation, reputation and price. We believe we may experience pricing pressures in our areas of operation in the future as some of our competitors seek to obtain market share by reducing prices. We are a small investment bank, with 127 employees (including managing directors and senior advisors) on December 31, 2004 and total revenues of approximately $151.9 million in 2004. 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 their clients’ needs, greater global reach and more established relationships with their customers than we have. These larger and better capitalized competitors may be better able to respond to changes in the investment banking market, to compete for skilled professionals, to finance acquisitions, to fund internal growth and to compete for market share generally.

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

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

     Our managing directors and their affiliated entities collectively own approximately 81.3% of the total shares of common stock outstanding. Robert F. Greenhill and members of his family beneficially own approximately 25.4% of our common stock and the other members of our Management Committee own approximately 42.2% of our common stock.

     As a result of these shareholdings, the members of our Management Committee currently are able to elect our entire board of directors, control the management and policies of Greenhill and, in general, determine without the consent of the other shareholders the outcome of any corporate transaction or other matter submitted to the shareholders for approval, including mergers, consolidations and the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of Greenhill. Our managing directors currently are able to prevent or cause a change in control of Greenhill.

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

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

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

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

  We are subject to extensive regulation in the financial services industry

     We, as a participant in the financial services industry, are subject to extensive regulation in the United States and elsewhere. We face the risk of significant intervention by regulatory authorities in all jurisdictions in which we conduct our business. Among other things, we could be fined, prohibited from engaging in some of our business activities or subject to limitations or conditions on our business activities. In addition, as a result of recent highly publicized financial scandals, the regulatory environment in which we operate may be subject to further regulation. New laws or regulations or changes in the enforcement of existing laws or regulations applicable to our clients may also adversely affect our business.

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  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.

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

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

     As of December 31, 2004, there were 30,740,654 shares of common stock outstanding, which is net of 9,346 shares of common stock held in treasury. Of these shares, the 5,750,000 shares of common stock sold in our initial public offering in May 2004 were freely transferable without restriction or further registration under the Securities Act of 1933. Subject to certain exceptions, the remaining 25,000,000 shares of common stock may not be sold until five years after the initial public offering date of May 11, 2004, except in one or more underwritten public offerings approved by our underwritten offering committee which consists of Robert F. Greenhill (who chairs the committee), Scott L. Bok and Simon A. Borrows. Approval of an underwritten offering by the committee will require approval of either the chair of the committee or the joint approval of the other two members of the committee, provided that in the first year after consummation of our initial public offering the number of shares so sold may not exceed 15% of the shares initially held by our managing directors. Accordingly, Robert Greenhill alone, or Scott Bok and Simon Borrows together, may permit a sale of shares of our common stock that could adversely affect the market price of our common stock. After five years, there will be no remaining contractual restrictions on resale. In addition, 9,109,691 shares of common stock held by Robert F. Greenhill through his affiliated entities, Lord James Blyth and Harvey R. Miller will be eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144 after two years.

  The market price of our common stock may decline

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

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

     The historical consolidated financial information in this Form 10-K for 2003 and prior years does not reflect the added costs that we currently incur as a public company or the changes that have occurred in our capital structure and operations as a result of our initial public offering. Because we historically operated through partnerships and limited liability companies prior to our transition to corporate form at the time of our initial public offering in May 2004, we paid little or no taxes on profits and paid limited salaries to our managing directors. In preparing our unaudited pro forma consolidated financial information, we deducted and charged to earnings estimated income taxes based on an estimated tax rate, which may be different from our actual tax rate in the future, and estimated salaries, payroll taxes and benefits for our managing directors. The estimates we used in our unaudited pro forma consolidated financial information may not be similar to our actual experience as a public corporation.

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

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

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may be required to make substantial payments under these indemnification agreements, which could adversely affect our financial condition.

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

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

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

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

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

• the statements about (i) our expectation that our total compensation and benefits, including that payable to our managing directors, will not exceed 50% of total revenues in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Compensation and Benefits” and “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—Pro Forma Financial Information” and (ii) our expectation to make certain principal investments and our expectation of revenues from a profit override and from gains on investments of our capital beginning in 2004 in “Business—Principal Sources of Revenue—Merchant Banking Fund Management” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources”;
  
  
• the statement about our expectation of benefits from a sustained increase in M&A volume in
  “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations— Business Environment”;
  
  
• the statement about our expectation of a decline in financial distressed-driven business in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Financial Advisory Revenues”;
  
  
• the statements about our belief that a firm focused on advisory activities can be highly profitable and grow rapidly in “Business—Overview”; and
  
  
• the discussion of our ability to meet liquidity needs without maintaining significant cash balances in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources”.
  

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Item 2. Properties

     We occupy three offices, all of which are leased. Our headquarters are located at 300 Park Avenue, New York, New York, and comprise approximately 50,000 square feet of leased space, pursuant to lease agreements expiring in 2010 (with options to renew for five years). In London, we lease approximately 8,250 square feet of office space at 56-58 Conduit Street pursuant to a lease agreement expiring in 2013. Our Frankfurt office is located at Neue Mainzer Strasse 52 and consists of approximately 6,000 square feet of leased space, pursuant to a lease agreement expiring in 2009.

Item 3. Legal Proceedings

      None.

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

     There were no matters submitted to a vote of security holders during the fourth quarter of our fiscal year ended December 31, 2004.

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

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

     Robert F. Greenhill, 68, our founder, has served as our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer since the time of our founding in 1996. Mr. Greenhill has been a member of our Management Committee since its formation in January 2004. In addition, Mr. Greenhill has been a director of Greenhill & Co., Inc. since its incorporation in March 2004. Prior to founding and becoming Chairman of Greenhill, Mr. Greenhill was chairman and chief executive officer of Smith Barney Inc. and a member of the board of directors of the predecessor to the present Travelers Corporation (the parent of Smith Barney) from June 1993 to January 1996. From January 1991 to June 1993, Mr. Greenhill was president of, and from January 1989 to January 1991, Mr. Greenhill was a vice chairman of, Morgan Stanley Group, Inc. Mr. Greenhill joined Morgan Stanley in 1962 and became a partner in 1970. In 1972, Mr. Greenhill directed Morgan Stanley's newly-formed mergers and acquisitions department. In 1980, Mr. Greenhill was named director of Morgan Stanley's investment banking division, with responsibility for domestic and international corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, merchant banking, capital markets services and real estate. Also in 1980, Mr. Greenhill became a member of Morgan Stanley's management committee. Mr. Greenhill is also a member of the Investment Committee of Greenhill Capital Partners.

     Scott L. Bok, 45, has served as our U.S. President since January 2004 and as a member of our Management Committee since its formation in January 2004. In addition, Mr. Bok has been a director of Greenhill & Co., Inc. since its incorporation in March 2004. From 2001 until the formation of our Management Committee, Mr. Bok participated on the two-person administrative committee responsible for managing Greenhill's operations. Mr. Bok has also served as a Senior Member of Greenhill Capital Partners since its formation. Mr. Bok joined Greenhill as a Managing Director in February 1997. Before joining Greenhill, Mr. Bok was a managing director in the mergers, acquisitions and restructuring department of Morgan Stanley & Co., where he worked from 1986 to 1997, based in New York and London. From 1984 to 1986, Mr. Bok practiced mergers and acquisitions and securities law in New York with Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz. Mr. Bok is a member of the board of directors of various private companies. Mr. Bok is also a member of the Investment Committee of Greenhill Capital Partners.

     Simon A. Borrows, 46, has served as our Non-U.S. President since January 2004 and as a member of our Management Committee since its formation in January 2004. In addition, Mr. Borrows has been a director of Greenhill & Co., Inc. since its incorporation in March 2004. From 2001 until the formation of our Management Committee, Mr. Borrows participated on the two-person administrative committee responsible for managing Greenhill's operations. Mr. Borrows joined Greenhill as a Managing Director in June 1998. Prior to joining

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Greenhill, Mr. Borrows was the managing director of Baring Brothers International Limited (the corporate finance division of ING Barings), a position Mr. Borrows had held since 1995. Mr. Borrows was a director of Baring Brothers from 1989 to 1998. Prior to joining Baring Brothers in 1988, Mr. Borrows worked in the corporate finance department of Morgan Grenfell. Mr. Borrows is also a member of the Investment Committee of Greenhill Capital Partners.

     Robert H. Niehaus, 49, has served as the Chairman of Greenhill Capital Partners and as a Senior Member of Greenhill Capital Partners since June 2000. Mr. Niehaus has been a member of our Management Committee since its formation in January 2004. Mr. Niehaus joined Greenhill in January 2000 as a Managing Director to begin the formation of Greenhill Capital Partners. Prior to joining Greenhill, Mr. Niehaus spent 17 years at Morgan Stanley & Co., where he was a managing director in the merchant banking department from 1990 to 1999. Mr. Niehaus was vice chairman and a director of the Morgan Stanley Leveraged Equity Fund II, L.P., a $2.2 billion private equity investment fund, from 1992 to 1999, and was vice chairman and a director of Morgan Stanley Capital Partners III, L.P., a $1.8 billion private equity investment fund, from 1994 to 1999. Mr. Niehaus was also the chief operating officer of Morgan Stanley's merchant banking department from 1996 to 1998. Mr. Niehaus is a director of American Italian Pasta Company, Global Signal Inc., and various private companies.

     John D. Liu, 36, became Chief Financial Officer and a Managing Director of Greenhill in January 2004. Mr. Liu joined Greenhill in May 1996 as an Associate. Mr. Liu was promoted to Vice President in January 2000 and to Principal in January 2002. Prior to joining Greenhill, Mr. Liu was an associate at Wolfensohn & Co., a mergers & acquisitions firm, from 1995 to 1996. Mr. Liu was an analyst in investment banking at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette from 1990 to 1992.

     Harold J. Rodriguez, Jr., 49, has served as our Managing Director--Finance, Regulation and Operations and as our Chief Compliance Officer and Treasurer since January 2004. From November 2000 through December 2003, Mr. Rodriguez was Chief Financial Officer of Greenhill. Mr. Rodriguez has been with Greenhill since June 2000. Prior to joining Greenhill, Mr. Rodriguez was Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer of MVL Group, Inc. from January 2000 to May 2000. Prior to that, Mr. Rodriguez was Vice President - Finance and Controller of Silgan Holdings, Inc., a major consumer packaging goods manufacturer, from 1987 to 2000. From 1978 to 1987, Mr. Rodriguez worked with Ernst & Young, where he was a senior manager specializing in taxation.

     Ulrika Ekman, 42, has served as our General Counsel and Secretary since May 2004. Prior to joining Greenhill, Ms. Ekman was a partner in the mergers and acquisitions group of the corporate department of Davis Polk & Wardwell, where she practiced law since 1990.

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PART II

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

     As part of the reorganization prior to our initial public offering in May 2004, we issued shares of our common stock to the then managing directors of Greenhill & Co. Holdings, LLC. This issuance of shares of common stock was not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), because the shares were offered and sold in transactions exempt from registration under the Securities Act pursuant to Section 4(2) and Rule 506 thereunder.

     On May 11, 2004, we issued 5,000,000 shares of our Common Stock in a registered public offering pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-1, which was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 5, 2004 (Commission file number 333-113526). On May 12, 2004, our underwriters exercised their option to acquire an additional 750,000 shares of our Common Stock and we issued that additional number of shares of Common Stock on May 14, 2004. The offering has terminated, and all securities registered pursuant to our Registration Statement have been sold. The managing underwriter for the offering was Goldman, Sachs & Co. An aggregate of 5,750,000 shares of Common Stock were registered pursuant to the Registration Statement at an aggregate estimated offering price of $92,000,000 (based upon the estimated maximum price of $16.00 per share that was estimated by us in accordance with Rule 457(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, prior to the pricing of the initial public offering). A total of 5,750,000 shares of Common Stock were sold at an aggregate actual offering price of $100,625,000 (based upon the price of $17.50 per share at which the shares actually sold). The amount of expenses incurred by us in connection with the issuance and distribution of the Common Stock (including underwriting discounts and commission, expenses paid to the underwriters and certain other expenses) and related transactions was approximately $11 million. The estimated net offering proceeds to us from the offering after subtracting these expenses was approximately $89 million. We used $16 million of the offering proceeds to repay debt outstanding under our senior credit facility and $8.0 million of the offering proceeds to fund commitments to Greenhill Capital Partners ($4.0 million net of refunded capital calls). The remainder of the offering proceeds have been invested in highly rated debt securities and money market funds. It is our expectation that the remaining proceeds of the offering will be used by us to fund our existing $16.4 million of commitments to Greenhill Capital Partners and the establishment of new merchant banking funds in which we, through our controlling interest in the general partner of the funds, expect to make certain principal investments.

     The principal market on which our common stock (ticker: GHL) is traded is the New York Stock Exchange. The following table sets forth, for the fiscal quarters indicated, the high and low sales prices per share of our common stock, as reported in the consolidated transaction reporting system, and the quarterly dividends declared since our initial public offering in May 2004.

      As of March 8, 2005, there were approximately 1,050 holders of record of the firm’s common stock.

     On March 9, 2005, the last reported sales price for the firm’s common stock on the New York Stock Exchange was $36.84 per share.

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     The following table provides information as of December 31, 2004 regarding securities issued under our equity compensation plans that were in effect during fiscal 2004.

⁽¹⁾ Our Equity Incentive Plan was established prior to our initial public offering in May 2004 and, as a result, did not require approval by security holders.
⁽²⁾ The restricted stock units awarded under our Equity Incentive Plan were granted at no cost to the persons receiving them and do not have an exercise price.

Share Repurchases in the Fourth Quarter of 2004

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Item 6. Selected Financial Data