Cash and Cash Equivalents

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Cash and Cash Equivalents [Abstract]

Note 3 — Cash and Cash Equivalents

The carrying values of the Company's cash and cash equivalents are as follows:



	As of December 31,
	2014		2013
	(in thousands)
Cash	$	35,748	$	34,099
Cash equivalents	8,998		3,484
Restricted cash - deferred compensation plan	498		867
Restricted cash - letters of credit	5,696		4,229
Total cash and cash equivalents	$	50,940	$	42,679

The carrying value of the Company's cash equivalents approximates fair value. Cash is restricted for the payout of Greenhill Australia's deferred compensation plan, which will be distributed over a 7 year period ending in 2016. A deferred compensation liability relating to the plan of $0.5 million and $0.9 million as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, 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 13 — Commitments and Contingencies".

- Definition

The entire disclosure for cash and cash equivalent footnotes, which may include the types of deposits and money market instruments, applicable carrying amounts, restricted amounts and compensating balance arrangements. Cash and equivalents include: (1) currency on hand (2) demand deposits with banks or financial institutions (3) other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits (4) short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Generally, only investments maturing within three months from the date of acquisition qualify.

+ References+ Details