Cash and Cash Equivalents

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Cash and Cash Equivalents [Abstract]

Note 4 — Cash and Cash Equivalents

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



	As of December 31,
	2015		2014
	(in thousands)
Cash	$	59,270	$	35,748
Cash equivalents	5,946		8,998
Restricted cash - deferred compensation plan	117		498
Restricted cash - letters of credit	4,629		5,696
Total cash and cash equivalents	$	69,962	$	50,940

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 $0.1 million and $0.5 million as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, 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 15 — 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.

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