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Stagwell Inc - Quarter Report: 2018 June (Form 10-Q)

Table of Contents

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549 
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One) 
 
ý
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2018
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: 001-13718 
MDC Partners Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Canada
 
98-0364441
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
 
(IRS Employer Identification No.)
 
 
 
745 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York
 
10151
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip Code)
(646) 429-1800
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
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   ý   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   ý No   ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated Filer  x
Accelerated filer  ¨
Non-accelerated Filer  ¨  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company  ¨
Emerging growth company ¨
 
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨
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 numbers of shares outstanding as of July 31, 2018 were 57,502,717 Class A subordinate voting shares, 3,755 Class B multiple voting shares, and 95,000 Series 4 Convertible Preference Shares


Table of Contents


MDC PARTNERS INC.
 
QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
 
 
Page
 
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
Item 1.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Item 2.
Item 3.
Item 4.
 
 
 
 
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
 
Item 1.
Item 1A.
Item 2.
Item 3.
Item 4.
Item 5.
Item 6.

2
Table of Contents

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1.    Financial Statements
MDC PARTNERS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(thousands of United States dollars, except per share amounts)
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Revenue:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Services
$
379,743

 
$
390,532

 
$
706,711

 
$
735,232

Operating expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of services sold
253,390

 
267,822

 
496,420

 
505,385

Office and general expenses
83,878

 
85,563

 
167,757

 
173,403

Depreciation and amortization
11,703

 
10,766

 
24,078

 
21,664

Other asset impairment
—

 
—

 
2,317

 
—

 
348,971

 
364,151

 
690,572

 
700,452

Operating profit
30,772

 
26,381

 
16,139

 
34,780

Other Income (Expense):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other, net
(5,957
)
 
6,596

 
(12,176
)
 
9,163

Interest expense and finance charges
(17,018
)
 
(15,688
)
 
(33,249
)
 
(32,456
)
Interest income
159

 
178

 
307

 
405

 
(22,816
)
 
(8,914
)
 
(45,118
)
 
(22,888
)
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings (losses) of non-consolidated affiliates
7,956

 
17,467

 
(28,979
)
 
11,892

Income tax expense (benefit)
1,977

 
4,641

 
(6,353
)
 
8,610

Income (loss) before equity in earnings (losses) of non-consolidated affiliates
5,979

 
12,826

 
(22,626
)
 
3,282

Equity in earnings (losses) of non-consolidated affiliates
(28
)
 
641

 
58

 
502

Net income (loss)
5,951

 
13,467

 
(22,568
)
 
3,784

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
(2,545
)
 
(2,214
)
 
(3,442
)
 
(3,097
)
Net income (loss) attributable to MDC Partners Inc.
3,406

 
11,253

 
(26,010
)
 
687

Accretion on and net income allocated to convertible preference shares
(2,273
)
 
(3,293
)
 
(4,095
)
 
(2,417
)
Net income (loss) attributable to MDC Partners Inc. common shareholders
$
1,133

 
$
7,960

 
$
(30,105
)
 
$
(1,730
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income (loss) per common share:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Basic
 


 






Net income (loss) attributable to MDC Partners Inc. common shareholders
$
0.02

 
$
0.14

 
$
(0.53
)
 
$
(0.03
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Diluted
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Net income (loss) attributable to MDC Partners Inc. common shareholders
$
0.02

 
$
0.14

 
$
(0.53
)
 
$
(0.03
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted Average Number of Common Shares Outstanding:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Basic
57,439,823

 
55,332,497

 
56,924,208

 
53,480,144

Diluted
57,802,872

 
55,622,194

 
56,924,208

 
53,480,144

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Stock-based compensation expense is included in the following line items above:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Cost of services sold
$
4,047

 
$
3,737

 
$
7,394

 
$
7,248

Office and general expenses
1,556

 
1,803

 
3,246

 
3,242

Total
$
5,603

 
$
5,540

 
$
10,640

 
$
10,490

See notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

3
Table of Contents

MDC PARTNERS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(thousands of United States dollars)
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Comprehensive Income (Loss)
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Net income (loss)
$
5,951

 
$
13,467

 
$
(22,568
)
 
$
3,784

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of applicable tax:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Foreign currency translation adjustment
(1,848
)
 
550

 
429

 
618

Other comprehensive income (loss)
(1,848
)
 
550

 
429

 
618

Comprehensive income (loss) for the period
4,103

 
14,017

 
(22,139
)
 
4,402

Comprehensive income attributable to the noncontrolling interests
(1,641
)
 
(3,220
)
 
(1,436
)
 
(4,368
)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to MDC Partners Inc.
$
2,462

 
$
10,797

 
$
(23,575
)
 
$
34

See notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

4
Table of Contents

MDC PARTNERS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(thousands of United States dollars)
 
June 30,
2018
 
December 31,
2017
 
(Unaudited)
 
 
ASSETS
 

 
 

Current assets:
 

 
 

Cash and cash equivalents
$
24,999

 
$
46,179

Cash held in trusts
47,916

 
4,632

Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $2,699 and $2,453
424,202

 
434,072

Expenditures billable to clients
59,081

 
31,146

Other current assets
39,323

 
26,742

Total Current Assets
595,521

 
542,771

Fixed assets, at cost, less accumulated depreciation of $126,606 and $123,599
91,015

 
90,306

Investments in non-consolidated affiliates
6,514

 
6,307

Goodwill
857,140

 
835,935

Other intangible assets, net
82,465

 
70,605

Deferred tax assets
125,307

 
115,325

Other assets
30,635

 
37,643

Total Assets
$
1,788,597

 
$
1,698,892

LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS, AND SHAREHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
 

 
 

Current Liabilities:
 

 
 

Accounts payable
$
207,983

 
$
244,527

Trust liability
47,916

 
4,632

Accruals and other liabilities
299,660

 
327,812

Advance billings
184,269

 
148,133

Current portion of long-term debt
355

 
313

Current portion of deferred acquisition consideration
32,297

 
50,213

Total Current Liabilities
772,480

 
775,630

Long-term debt, less current portion
999,936

 
882,806

Long-term portion of deferred acquisition consideration
51,410

 
72,213

Other liabilities
55,478

 
54,110

Deferred tax liabilities
6,899

 
6,760

Total Liabilities
1,886,203

 
1,791,519

 
 
 
 
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests (Note 10)
55,730

 
62,886

Commitments, Contingencies, and Guarantees (Note 12)


 


Shareholders’ Deficit:
 

 
 

Convertible preference shares (liquidation preference $105,447)
90,123

 
90,220

Common shares
360,323

 
352,432

Charges in excess of capital
(314,499
)
 
(314,241
)
Accumulated deficit
(367,180
)
 
(340,000
)
Accumulated other comprehensive gain (loss)
481

 
(1,954
)
MDC Partners Inc. Shareholders' Deficit
(230,752
)
 
(213,543
)
Noncontrolling interests
77,416

 
58,030

Total Shareholders' Deficit
(153,336
)
 
(155,513
)
Total Liabilities, Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests and Shareholders' Deficit
$
1,788,597

 
$
1,698,892

See notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

5
Table of Contents

MDC PARTNERS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(thousands of United States dollars)
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
2018
 
2017
Cash flows from operating activities:
 

 
 

Net income (loss)
$
(22,568
)
 
$
3,784

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to cash used in operating activities:


 


Stock-based compensation
10,640

 
10,490

Depreciation
14,642

 
11,558

Amortization of intangibles
9,436

 
10,106

Amortization of deferred finance charges
1,605

 
1,480

Other asset impairment
2,317

 
—

Adjustment to deferred acquisition consideration
(2,479
)
 
15,792

Acquisition-related contingent consideration payment
(23,894
)
 
(24,459
)
Deferred income tax
(9,494
)
 
6,962

Gain on sale of assets
(955
)
 
(63
)
(Earnings) losses of non-consolidated affiliates
(58
)
 
(502
)
Other non-current assets and liabilities
(1,114
)
 
(1,454
)
Foreign exchange
12,128

 
(6,865
)
Changes in working capital:
 
 
 
Accounts receivable
19,181

 
(67,889
)
Expenditures billable to clients
(27,935
)
 
(9,223
)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
(12,732
)
 
6,511

Accounts payable, accruals and other liabilities
(60,015
)
 
13,332

Advance billings
29,582

 
29,714

Net cash used in operating activities
(61,713
)

(726
)
Cash flows used in investing activities:


 


Capital expenditures
(9,689
)
 
(21,156
)
Deposits
—

 
(1,261
)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired
(27,299
)
 
—

Other investments
867

 
(465
)
Net cash used in investing activities
(36,121
)

(22,882
)
Cash flows provided by financing activities:
 

 
 

Repayments of revolving credit agreement
(782,600
)
 
(791,609
)
Proceeds from revolving credit agreement
897,844

 
763,846

Proceeds from issuance of convertible preference shares
—

 
95,000

Convertible preference shares issuance costs
—

 
(4,584
)
Acquisition related payments
(29,172
)
 
(40,662
)
Repayment of long-term debt
(141
)
 
(224
)
Purchase of shares
(493
)
 
(630
)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests
(8,927
)
 
(3,840
)
Payment of dividends
(168
)
 
(169
)
Net cash provided by financing activities
76,343


17,128

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
311

 
(1,094
)
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents
(21,180
)
 
(7,574
)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
46,179

 
27,921

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
$
24,999

 
$
20,347

 
 
 
 
Supplemental disclosures:
 

 
 

Cash income taxes paid
$
2,626

 
$
3,423

Cash interest paid
$
31,414

 
$
31,566

Change in cash held in trusts
$
43,284

 
$
185

 
 
 
 
Non-cash transactions:
 

 
 

Capital leases
$
701

 
$
545

Dividends payable
$
286

 
$
569

Acquisition related consideration settled through issuance of shares
$
7,030

 
$
28,727

See notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

6
Table of Contents

MDC PARTNERS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
(thousands of United States dollars)
 
Convertible Preference Shares
 
Common Shares
 
Additional
Paid-in Capital
 
Charges in
Excess of
Capital
 
Accumulated
Deficit
 
Accumulated Other
Comprehensive
Loss
 
MDC Partners Inc.
Shareholders’
Deficit
 
Noncontrolling
Interests
 
Total
Shareholders’
Deficit
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Shares
 
Amount
 
Shares
 
Amount
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at December 31, 2017
95,000

 
$
90,220

 
56,375,131

 
$
352,432

 
$
—

 
$
(314,241
)
 
$
(340,000
)
 
$
(1,954
)
 
$
(213,543
)
 
$
58,030

 
$
(155,513
)
Net loss attributable to MDC Partners, Inc.
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(26,010
)
 
—

 
(26,010
)
 
—

 
(26,010
)
Other comprehensive income (loss)
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
2,435

 
2,435

 
(2,006
)
 
429

Expenses for convertible preference shares (Note 8)
—

 
(97
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(97
)
 
—

 
(97
)
Issuance of restricted stock
—

 
—

 
122,029

 
1,354

 
(1,354
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Shares acquired and cancelled
—

 
—

 
(54,693
)
 
(493
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(493
)
 
—

 
(493
)
Shares issued, acquisitions
—

 
—

 
1,011,561

 
7,030

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
7,030

 
—

 
7,030

Stock-based compensation
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
4,324

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
4,324

 
—

 
4,324

Changes in redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interests
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(2,062
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(2,062
)
 
 
 
(2,062
)
Increase (decrease) from business acquisitions and step-up transactions
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(1,166
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(1,166
)
 
27,357

 
26,191

Changes in noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests from changes in ownership interest
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(5,965
)
 
(5,965
)
Cumulative effect of adoption of ASC 606 (Note 13)
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(1,170
)
 
—

 
(1,170
)
 
—

 
(1,170
)
Transfer to charges in excess of capital
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
258

 
(258
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
 
 
—

Balance at June 30, 2018
95,000

 
$
90,123

 
57,454,028

 
$
360,323

 
$
—

 
$
(314,499
)
 
$
(367,180
)
 
$
481

 
$
(230,752
)
 
$
77,416

 
$
(153,336
)
See notes to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

7
Table of Contents

MDC PARTNERS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(thousands of United States dollars, except per share amounts, unless otherwise stated)
1. Basis of Presentation
MDC Partners Inc. (the “Company” or “MDC”) has prepared the unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements included herein pursuant to the rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles of the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to these rules.
The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of MDC Partners Inc. and its domestic and international controlled subsidiaries that are not considered variable interest entities, and variable interest entities for which the Company is the primary beneficiary. Intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions. These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities including goodwill, intangible assets, contingent deferred acquisition consideration, valuation allowances for receivables, deferred tax assets and the amounts of revenue and expenses reported during the period. These estimates are evaluated on an ongoing basis and are based on historical experience, current conditions and various other assumptions believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ from these estimates.
The accompanying financial statements reflect all adjustments, consisting of normally recurring accruals, which in the opinion of management are necessary for a fair presentation, in all material respects, of the information contained therein. Results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of annual results.
References herein to “Partner Firms” generally refer to the Company’s subsidiary agencies.
In August 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows, which clarifies how cash receipts and cash payments in certain transactions are presented and classified on the statement of cash flows. The new pronouncement states that any cash payments made soon after the acquisition date of a business to settle a contingent consideration liability are classified as cash outflows for investing activities. Cash payments which are not made soon after the acquisition date of a business to settle a contingent consideration liability are separated and classified as cash outflows for financing activities up to the amount of the contingent consideration liability recognized at the acquisition date and as cash outflows from operating activities for any excess. The Company adopted the provisions of ASU 2016-15 on January 1, 2018 on a retrospective basis. As a result, $24,459 of an acquisition-related contingent consideration payment of $65,121, which was in excess of the liability initially recognized at the acquisition date, has been classified as a cash outflow within net cash provided by operating activities in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated statement of cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2017.
These statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 (“2017 Form 10-K”).
2. Revenue
Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted FASB ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC 606”). ASC 606 was applied using the modified retrospective method, with the cumulative effect of the initial adoption being recognized as an adjustment to opening retained earnings at January 1, 2018. As a result, comparative prior periods have not been adjusted and continue to be reported under FASB ASC Topic 605, Revenue Recognition (“ASC 605”). See Note 13 of the Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included herein for additional details surrounding the Company’s adoption of ASC 606. The Company’s policy surrounding revenue under ASC 605 is described in Note 2 of Item 8 of the Company’s 2017 Form 10-K. The policies described herein refer to those in effect as of January 1, 2018.
The Company’s revenue recognition policies are established in accordance with the Revenue Recognition topics of ASC 606, and accordingly, revenue is recognized when control of the promised goods or services is transferred to our clients, in an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services.
The primary source of the Company’s revenue is from agency arrangements in the form of fees for services performed, commissions, and from performance incentives or bonuses, depending on the terms of the client contract. In all circumstances, revenue is only recognized when collection is reasonably assured. Certain of the Company’s contractual arrangements have more than one performance obligation. For such arrangements, revenue is allocated to each performance obligation based on its relative stand-alone selling price. Stand-alone selling prices are determined based on the prices charged to clients or using expected cost plus margin.

8
Table of Contents

Revenue is recognized net of sales and other taxes due to be collected and remitted to governmental authorities. The Company’s contracts typically provide for termination by either party within 30 to 90 days. Although payment terms vary by client, they are typically within 30 to 60 days. In addition, the Company generally has the right to payment for all services provided through the end of the contract or termination date.
Although certain of our performance obligations are recognized at a point in time, we typically satisfy our performance obligations over time, as services are performed. Point in time recognition primarily relates to certain commission-based contracts, which are recognized upon the placement of advertisements in various media when the Company has no further performance obligation. Fees for services are typically recognized using input methods that correspond with efforts incurred to date in relation to total estimated efforts to complete the contract.
Within each contract, we identify whether the Company is principal or agent at the performance obligation level. In arrangements where the Company has substantive control over the service before transferring it to the client, and is primarily responsible for integrating the services into the final deliverables, we act as principal. In these arrangements, revenue is recorded at the gross amount billed. Accordingly, for these contracts the Company has included reimbursed expenses in revenue. In other arrangements where a third-party supplier, rather than the Company is primarily responsible for the integration of services into the final deliverables for our client, then we generally act as agent and record revenue equal to the net amount retained, when the fee or commission is earned. We have determined that we primarily act as agent for production and media buying services.
A small portion of the Company’s contractual arrangements with clients include performance incentive provisions, which allow the Company to earn additional revenues as a result of its performance relative to both quantitative and qualitative goals. Incentive compensation is primarily estimated using the most likely amount method and is included in revenue up to the amount that is not expected to result in a reversal of a significant amount of cumulative revenue recognized. We recognize revenue related to performance incentives as we satisfy the performance obligation to which the performance incentives are related.
Disaggregated Revenue Data
The Company provides a broad range of services to a large base of clients across the full spectrum of industry verticals on a global basis. The primary source of revenue is from agency arrangements in the form of fees for services performed, commissions, and from performance incentives or bonuses. Certain clients may engage with the Company in various geographic locations, across multiple disciplines, and through multiple Partner Firms. Representation of a client rarely means that MDC handles marketing communications for all brands or product lines of the client in every geographical location. The Company’s Partner firms often cooperate with one another through referrals and the sharing of both services and expertise, which enables MDC to service clients’ varied marketing needs by crafting custom integrated solutions. Additionally, the Company maintains separate, independent operating companies to enable it to effectively manage potential conflicts of interest by representing competing clients across the MDC network.
The following table presents revenue disaggregated by client industry vertical for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, and the impact of adoption of ASC 606:
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
2018
 
2017
Industry
Reportable Segment
 
As reported
 
Adjustment to exclude impact of Adoption of ASC 606
 
Adjusted
 
 
Food & Beverage
All
 
$
84,464

 
$
(940
)
 
$
83,524

 
$
79,299

Retail
All
 
38,396

 
1,343

 
39,739

 
46,357

Consumer Products
All
 
41,367

 
(1,048
)
 
40,319

 
40,668

Communications
All
 
43,097

 
5,699

 
48,796

 
55,740

Automotive
All
 
25,294

 
1,856

 
27,150

 
33,806

Technology
All
 
23,540

 
(141
)
 
23,399

 
26,324

Healthcare
All
 
35,426

 
(612
)
 
34,814

 
32,271

Financials
All
 
30,207

 
710

 
30,917

 
26,808

Transportation and Travel/Lodging
All
 
18,776

 
42

 
18,818

 
13,665

Other
All
 
39,176

 
2,819

 
41,995

 
35,594

 
 
 
$
379,743

 
$
9,728

 
$
389,471

 
$
390,532



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Six Months Ended June 30,
 
2018
 
2017
Industry
Reportable Segment
 
As reported
 
Adjustment to exclude impact of Adoption of ASC 606
 
Adjusted
 
 
Food & Beverage
All
 
$
147,932

 
$
5,866

 
$
153,798

 
$
140,590

Retail
All
 
76,411

 
1,772

 
78,183

 
91,791

Consumer Products
All
 
77,973

 
(774
)
 
77,199

 
75,729

Communications
All
 
81,454

 
12,182

 
93,636

 
104,055

Automotive
All
 
45,788

 
6,074

 
51,862

 
66,285

Technology
All
 
45,080

 
(310
)
 
44,770

 
46,872

Healthcare
All
 
68,002

 
519

 
68,521

 
61,199

Financials
All
 
52,702

 
911

 
53,613

 
47,146

Transportation and Travel/Lodging
All
 
33,664

 
776

 
34,440

 
27,775

Other
All
 
77,705

 
3,988

 
81,693

 
73,790

 
 
 
$
706,711

 
$
31,004

 
$
737,715

 
$
735,232


MDC has historically largely focused where the Company was founded in North America, the largest market for its services in the world. In recent years the Company has expanded its global footprint to support clients looking for help to grow their businesses in new markets. Today, MDC’s Partner Firms are located in the United States, Canada, and an additional thirteen countries around the world. In the past, some clients have responded to weakening economic conditions with reductions to their marketing budgets, which included discretionary components that are easier to reduce in the short term than other operating expenses.

The following table presents revenue disaggregated by geography:
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
2018
 
2017
Geographic Location
Reportable Segment
 
As reported
 
Adjustment to exclude impact of Adoption of ASC 606
 
Adjusted
 
 
United States
All
 
$
295,268

 
$
6,023

 
$
301,291

 
$
304,463

Canada
All
 
33,086

 
(3,591
)
 
29,495

 
30,583

Other
All
 
51,389

 
7,296

 
58,685

 
55,486

 
 
 
$
379,743

 
$
9,728

 
$
389,471

 
$
390,532


 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
2018
 
2017
Geographic Location
Reportable Segment
 
As reported
 
Adjustment to exclude impact of Adoption of ASC 606
 
Adjusted
 
 
United States
All
 
$
551,792

 
$
15,041

 
$
566,833

 
$
579,145

Canada
All
 
59,465

 
(2,638
)
 
56,827

 
57,053

Other
All
 
95,454

 
18,601

 
114,055

 
99,034

 
 
 
$
706,711

 
$
31,004

 
$
737,715

 
$
735,232



For more detailed information about the Company’s reportable segments, see Note 11.

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Contract assets and liabilities
Contract assets consist of fees and reimbursable outside vendor costs incurred on behalf of clients when providing advertising, marketing and corporate communications services that have not yet been invoiced to clients. Unbilled service fees were $78,293 and $54,177 at June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively, and are included as a component of accounts receivable on the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets. Outside vendor costs incurred on behalf of clients which have yet to be invoiced were $59,081 and $31,146 at June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively, and are included on the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets as expenditures billable to clients. Such amounts are invoiced to clients at various times over the course of the production process.
Contract liabilities consist of fees billed to clients in excess of fees recognized as revenue and are classified as advance billings on the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets. Advance billings at June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 were $184,269 and $148,133, respectively. The increase in the advance billings balance of $36,136 for the six months ended June 30, 2018 is primarily driven by cash payments received or due in advance of satisfying our performance obligations, offset by $58,888 of revenues recognized that were included in the advance billings balances as of December 31, 2017.
Changes in the contract asset and liability balances during the six months ended June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 were not materially impacted by write offs, impairment losses or any other factors.
Practical expedients
In adopting ASC 606, the Company applied the practical expedient to not disclose information about remaining performance obligations that have original expected durations of one year or less. Amounts related to those performance obligations with expected durations of more than one year are immaterial.
3. Income (Loss) Per Common Share
The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted income (loss) per common share:
 
Three Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
Six Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
2018

2017
 
2018
 
2017
Numerator
 

 

 
 
 
 
Net income (loss) attributable to MDC Partners Inc.
$
3,406

 
$
11,253

 
$
(26,010
)
 
$
687

Accretion on convertible preference shares
(2,068
)

(1,910
)
 
(4,095
)
 
(2,417
)
Net income allocated to convertible preference shares
(205
)
 
(1,383
)
 
—

 
—

Numerator for basic income (loss) per common share - Net income (loss) attributable to MDC Partners Inc. common shareholders
1,133


7,960

 
(30,105
)
 
(1,730
)
Adjustment to net income allocated to convertible preference shares
1

 
6

 
—

 
—

Numerator for diluted income (loss) per common share- Net income (loss) attributable to MDC Partners Inc. common shareholders
$
1,134


$
7,966

 
$
(30,105
)
 
$
(1,730
)
Denominator




 
 
 
 
Denominator for basic income (loss) per common share - weighted average common shares
57,439,823


55,332,497

 
56,924,208

 
53,480,144

Impact of stock options and non-vested stock under employee stock incentive plans
363,049

 
289,697

 
—

 
—

Denominator for diluted income (loss) per common share - adjusted weighted shares and assumed conversions
57,802,872


55,622,194

 
56,924,208

 
53,480,144

Basic income (loss) per common share
$
0.02


$
0.14

 
$
(0.53
)
 
$
(0.03
)
Diluted income (loss) per common share
$
0.02

 
$
0.14


$
(0.53
)
 
$
(0.03
)
Anti-dilutive stock awards     327,500     327,500     1,594,761 1,233,585

Restricted stock and restricted stock unit awards of 1,308,781 and 1,443,921 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively, which are contingent upon the Company meeting a cumulative three year earnings target (2018, 2019 and 2020) and continued employment, are excluded from the computation of diluted income per common share as the contingency was not satisfied at June 30, 2018 or 2017. In addition, there were 95,000 shares of Preference Shares outstanding which were convertible into 10,544,708 and 9,741,680 Class A common shares at June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. These Preference Shares were anti-dilutive for each period presented in the table above, and are therefore excluded from the diluted income (loss) per common share calculation.

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4. Acquisitions
Valuations of acquired companies are based on a number of factors, including specialized know-how, reputation, competitive position and service offerings. The Company’s acquisition strategy has been focused on acquiring the expertise of an assembled workforce in order to continue to build upon the core capabilities of its various strategic business platforms to better serve the Company’s clients. The Company’s strategy includes acquiring ownership stakes in well-managed businesses with strong reputations in the industry. The Company’s model of “Perpetual Partnership” often involves acquiring a majority interest rather than a 100% interest and leaving management owners with a significant financial interest in the performance of the acquired entity for a minimum period of time, typically not less than five years. The Company’s acquisition model in this scenario typically provides for (i) an initial payment at the time of closing, (ii) additional contingent purchase price obligations based on the future performance of the acquired entity, and (iii) an option by the Company to purchase (and in some instances a requirement to so purchase) the remaining interest of the acquired entity under a predetermined formula. The Company expenses acquisition related costs as incurred. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, $335 and $711, respectively, and $242 and $476 respectively, of acquisition related costs were charged to operations.
Contingent purchase price obligations. The Company’s contingent purchase price obligations are generally payable within a five-year period following the acquisition date, and are based on (i) the achievement of specific thresholds of future earnings, and (ii) in certain cases, the growth rate of those earnings. Contingent purchase price obligations are recorded as deferred acquisition consideration on the balance sheet at the acquisition date fair value and adjusted at each reporting period through operating income or net interest expense, depending on the nature of the arrangement. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, $5,065 and $2,480 of income, respectively, and $4,306 and $15,737 of expense, respectively, related to changes in such estimated values and was recorded in results of operations. On occasion, the Company may initiate a renegotiation of previously acquired ownership interests and any resulting change in the estimated amount of consideration to be paid is adjusted in the reporting period through operating income or net interest expense, depending on the nature of the arrangement.
See Note 9 and 12 of the Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included here in for additional information on deferred acquisition consideration.
Options to purchase. When acquiring less than 100% ownership, the Company may enter into agreements that give the Company an option to purchase, or require the Company to purchase, the incremental ownership interests under certain circumstances. Where the option to purchase the incremental ownership is within the Company’s control, the amounts are recorded as noncontrolling interests in the equity section of the Company’s balance sheet. Where the incremental purchase may be required of the Company, the amounts are recorded as redeemable noncontrolling interests in mezzanine equity at their estimated acquisition date redemption value and adjusted at each reporting period for changes to their estimated redemption value through additional paid-in capital (but not less than their initial redemption value), except for foreign currency translation adjustments. On occasion, the Company may initiate a renegotiation to acquire an incremental ownership interest and the amount of consideration paid may differ materially from the balance sheet amounts. See Note 12 of the Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included herein for additional information on redeemable noncontrolling interests.
Employment conditions. From time to time, specifically when the projected success of an acquisition is deemed to be dependent on retention of specific personnel, such acquisition may include deferred payments that are contingent upon employment terms as well as financial performance. The Company accounts for those payments through operating income as stock-based compensation over the required retention period. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, stock-based compensation included $3,486 and $2,460, respectively, and $6,315 and $5,728, respectively, of expense relating to those payments.
Distributions to noncontrolling shareholders. If noncontrolling shareholders have the right to receive distributions based on the profitability of an acquired entity, the amount is recorded as income attributable to noncontrolling interests.  However, there are circumstances when the Company acquires a majority interest and the selling shareholders waive their right to receive distributions with respect to their retained interest for a period of time, typically not less than five years.  Under this model, the right to receive such distributions typically begins concurrently with the purchase option period and, therefore, if such option is exercised at the first available date, the Company may not record any noncontrolling interest over the entire period from the initial acquisition date through the acquisition date of the remaining interests.
2018 Acquisitions
On April 2, 2018, the Company purchased 51% of the membership interests of Instrument LLC (“Instrument”), a digital creative agency based in Portland, Oregon, for an aggregate estimated purchase price of $35,591. The acquisition is expected to facilitate the Company’s growth and help to build its portfolio of modern, innovative and digital-first agencies. The purchase price consisted of a cash payment of $28,561 and the issuance of 1,011,561 shares of the Company’s Class A subordinate voting stock with an acquisition date fair value of $7,030. The Company issued these shares in a transaction exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.

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The preliminary purchase price allocation resulted in tangible assets of $10,304, identifiable intangibles of $23,130, consisting primarily of customer lists and a trade name, and goodwill of $29,514. In addition, the Company has recorded $27,357 as the fair value of noncontrolling interests, which was derived from the Company’s purchase price less a discount related to the noncontrolling parties’ lack of control. The identified assets have a weighted average useful life of approximately six years and will be amortized in a manner represented by the pattern in which the economic benefits of such assets are expected to be realized. The goodwill is tax deductible. Instruments’ results are included in the All Other category from a segment reporting perspective. The Company has a controlling financial interest in Instrument through its majority voting interest, and as such, has aggregated the acquired Partner Firm's financial data into the Company's consolidated financial statements.The operating results of Instrument in the current and prior year are not material.
Effective January 1, 2018, the Company acquired the remaining 24.5% ownership interest of Allison & Partners LLC for an aggregate purchase price of $10,023, comprised of a closing cash payment of $300 and additional deferred acquisition payments with an estimated present value at the acquisition date of $9,723. The deferred payments are based on the future financial results of the underlying business from 2017 to 2020 with final payments due in 2021. As a result of the transaction, the Company reduced redeemable noncontrolling interests by $8,857. The difference between the purchase price and the noncontrolling interest of $1,166 was recorded in additional paid-in capital.
2017 Acquisitions
In 2017, the Company entered into various non-material transactions in connection with certain of its majority-owned entities. As a result of the foregoing, the Company made total cash closing payments of $3,352, increased fixed deferred consideration liability by $7,208, reduced redeemable noncontrolling interests by $269, reduced noncontrolling interests by $11,947, and increased additional paid-in capital by $2,652. In addition, a stock-based compensation charge of $997 has been recognized representing the consideration paid in excess of the fair value of the interest acquired.
Noncontrolling Interests
Changes in the Company’s ownership interests in our less than 100% owned subsidiaries during the three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 were as follows:
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to MDC Partners Inc. and
Transfers (to) from the Noncontrolling Interests 
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Net loss attributable to MDC Partners Inc.
$
3,406

 
$
11,253

 
$
(26,010
)
 
$
687

Transfers from the noncontrolling interest:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Decrease in MDC Partners Inc. paid-in capital for purchase of equity interests in excess of Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests and Noncontrolling Interests
—

 
(11,947
)
 
(1,166
)
 
(11,947
)
Net transfers from noncontrolling interests
$
—

 
$
(11,947
)
 
$
(1,166
)
 
$
(11,947
)
Change from net loss attributable to MDC Partners Inc. and transfers to noncontrolling interests
$
3,406

 
$
(694
)
 
$
(27,176
)
 
$
(11,260
)

5. Accounts Payable, Accruals and Other Liabilities
At June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, accruals and other liabilities included accrued media of $191,152 and $207,482, respectively; and included amounts due to noncontrolling interest holders for their share of profits.

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Changes in amounts due to noncontrolling interest holders included in accrued and other liabilities for the year ended December 31, 2017 and six months ended June 30, 2018 were as follows:
 
Noncontrolling
Interests
Balance, December 31, 2016
$
4,154

Income attributable to noncontrolling interests
15,375

Distributions made
(8,865
)
Other (1)
366

Balance, December 31, 2017
$
11,030

Income attributable to noncontrolling interests
3,442

Distributions made
(8,927
)
Other (1)
(716
)
Balance, June 30, 2018
$
4,829

(1)
Other consists primarily of business acquisitions, sale of a business, step-up transactions, and cumulative translation adjustments.
At June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, accounts payable included $28,961 and $41,989 of outstanding checks, respectively.
6. Debt
The Company’s indebtedness was comprised as follows:

June 30,
2018

December 31, 2017
Revolving credit agreement
$
115,244

 
$
—

6.50% Notes due 2024
900,000

 
900,000

Debt issuance costs
(15,654
)
 
(17,587
)
 
999,590

 
882,413

Obligations under capital leases
701

 
706

 
1,000,291

 
883,119

Less: Current portion of long-term debt
355

 
313

 
$
999,936

 
$
882,806

6.50% Notes
On March 23, 2016, MDC entered into an indenture (the “Indenture”) among MDC, its existing and future restricted subsidiaries that guarantee, are co-borrowers under, or grant liens to secure, the Credit Agreement, as guarantors (the “Guarantors”) and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee, relating to the issuance by MDC of $900,000 aggregate principal amount of the 6.50% Notes. The 6.50% Notes were sold in a private placement in reliance on exceptions from registration under the Securities Act of 1933. The 6.50% Notes bear interest at a rate of 6.50% per annum, accruing from March 23, 2016. Interest is payable semiannually in arrears on May 1 and November 1 of each year, beginning November 1, 2016. The 6.50% Notes mature on May 1, 2024, unless earlier redeemed or repurchased. The Company received net proceeds from the offering of the 6.50% Notes equal to approximately $880,000. The Company used the net proceeds to redeem all of its existing 6.75% Notes, together with accrued interest, related premiums, fees and expenses and recorded a charge for the loss on redemption of such notes of $33,298, including write offs of unamortized original issue premium and debt issuance costs. Remaining proceeds were used for general corporate purposes, including funding of deferred acquisition consideration.
The 6.50% Notes are guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by all of MDC’s existing and future restricted subsidiaries that guarantee, or are co-borrowers under or grant liens to secure, the Credit Agreement. The 6.50% Notes are unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of MDC and rank (i) equally in right of payment with all of MDC’s or any Guarantor’s existing and future senior indebtedness, (ii) senior in right of payment to MDC’s or any Guarantor’s existing and future subordinated indebtedness, (iii) effectively subordinated to all of MDC’s or any Guarantor’s existing and future secured indebtedness to the extent of the collateral securing such indebtedness, including the Credit Agreement, and (iv) structurally subordinated to all existing and future liabilities of MDC’s subsidiaries that are not Guarantors.

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MDC may, at its option, redeem the 6.50% Notes in whole at any time or in part from time to time, on and after May 1, 2019 (i) at a redemption price of 104.875% of the principal amount thereof if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on May 1, 2019, (ii) at a redemption price of 103.250% of the principal amount thereof if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on May 1, 2020, (iii) at a redemption price of 101.625% of the principal amount thereof if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on May 1, 2021, and (iv) at a redemption price of 100% of the principal amount thereof if redeemed on May 1, 2022 and thereafter.
Prior to May 1, 2019, MDC may, at its option, redeem some or all of the 6.50% Notes at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 6.50% Notes plus a “make whole” premium and accrued and unpaid interest. MDC may also redeem, at its option, prior to May 1, 2019, up to 35% of the 6.50% Notes with the proceeds from one or more equity offerings at a redemption price of 106.50% of the principal amount thereof.
If MDC experiences certain kinds of changes of control (as defined in the Indenture), holders of the 6.50% Notes may require MDC to repurchase any 6.50% Notes held by them at a price equal to 101% of the principal amount of the 6.50% Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest. In addition, if MDC sells assets under certain circumstances, it must apply the proceeds from such sale and offer to repurchase the 6.50% Notes at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest.
The Indenture includes covenants that, among other things, restrict MDC’s ability and the ability of its restricted subsidiaries (as defined in the Indenture) to incur or guarantee additional indebtedness; pay dividends on or redeem or repurchase the capital stock of MDC; make certain types of investments; create restrictions on the payment of dividends or other amounts from MDC’s restricted subsidiaries; sell assets; enter into transactions with affiliates; create liens; enter into sale and leaseback transactions; and consolidate or merge with or into, or sell substantially all of MDC’s assets to, another person. These covenants are subject to a number of important limitations and exceptions. The 6.50% Notes are also subject to customary events of default, including a cross-payment default and cross-acceleration provision. The Company was in compliance with all covenants at June 30, 2018.
Interest expense primarily consists of the cost of borrowing on the Company’s currently outstanding 6.50% senior unsecured notes due 2024 (the “6.50% Notes”) and the Company’s $325,000 senior secured revolving credit agreement due 2021 (the “Credit Agreement“). The Company uses the effective interest method to amortize the deferred financing costs on the 6.50% Notes. The Company uses the straight-line method to amortize the deferred financing costs on the Credit Agreement. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, interest expense included $14 and $26, respectively, and $25 and $54, respectively, relating to present value adjustments for fixed deferred acquisition consideration payments.
Revolving Credit Agreement
On March 20, 2013, MDC, Maxxcom Inc. (a subsidiary of MDC) and each of their subsidiaries party thereto entered into an amended and restated, $225,000 senior secured revolving credit agreement due 2018 (the “Credit Agreement”) with Wells Fargo Capital Finance, LLC, as agent, and the lenders from time to time party thereto. Advances under the Credit Agreement are to be used for working capital and general corporate purposes, in each case pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement. Capitalized terms used in this section and not otherwise defined have the meanings set forth in the Credit Agreement.
Effective October 23, 2014, MDC and its subsidiaries entered into an amendment to its Credit Agreement. The amendment: (i) expanded the commitments under the facility by $100,000, from $225,000 to $325,000; (ii) extended the date by an additional eighteen months to September 30, 2019; (iii) reduced the base borrowing interest rate by 25 basis points (the applicable margin for borrowing is 1.00% in the case of Base Rate Loans and 1.75% in the case of LIBOR Rate Loans); and (iv) modified certain covenants to provide the Company with increased flexibility to fund its continued growth and other general corporate purposes.
Effective May 3, 2016, MDC and its subsidiaries entered into an additional amendment to its Credit Agreement. The amendment: (i) extends the date by an additional nineteen months to May 3, 2021; (ii) reduces the base borrowing interest rate by 25 basis points; (iii) provides the Company the ability to borrow in foreign currencies; and (iv) certain other modifications to provide additional flexibility in operating the Company’s business.
Advances under the Credit Agreement bear interest as follows: (a)(i) LIBOR Rate Loans bear interest at the LIBOR Rate and (ii) Base Rate Loans bear interest at the Base Rate, plus (b) an applicable margin. The initial applicable margin for borrowing is 1.50% in the case of Base Rate Loans and 1.75% in the case of LIBOR Rate Loans. In addition to paying interest on outstanding principal under the Credit Agreement, MDC is required to pay an unused revolver fee to lenders under the Credit Agreement in respect of unused commitments thereunder.
The Credit Agreement is guaranteed by substantially all of MDC’s present and future subsidiaries, other than immaterial subsidiaries and subject to customary exceptions. The Credit Agreement includes covenants that, among other things, restrict MDC’s ability and the ability of its subsidiaries to incur or guarantee additional indebtedness; pay dividends on or redeem or repurchase the capital stock of MDC; make certain types of investments; impose limitations on dividends or other amounts from MDC’s subsidiaries; incur certain liens, sell or otherwise dispose of certain assets; enter into transactions with affiliates; enter into sale and leaseback transactions; and consolidate or merge with or into, or sell substantially all of MDC’s assets to, another person. These covenants are subject to a number of important limitations and exceptions. The Credit Agreement also contains financial

15
Table of Contents

covenants, including a total leverage ratio, a senior leverage ratio, a fixed charge coverage ratio and a minimum earnings level (each as more fully described in the Credit Agreement). The Credit Agreement is also subject to customary events of default.
The Company is currently in compliance with all of the terms and conditions of its Credit Agreement, and management believes, based on its current financial projections, that the Company will be in compliance with the covenants over the next twelve months. At June 30, 2018, there were $115,244 borrowings under the Credit Agreement.
At June 30, 2018, the Company had issued $5,248 of undrawn outstanding letters of credit.
7. Share Capital
The Company’s issued and outstanding share capital is as follows:
Series 4 Convertible Preference Shares
A total of 95,000, non-voting convertible preference shares, all of which were issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017. See Note 8 of the Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included herein for further information.
Class A Common Shares (“Class A Shares”)
An unlimited number of subordinate voting shares, carrying one vote each, entitled to dividends equal to or greater than Class B Shares, convertible at the option of the holder into one Class B Share for each Class A Share after the occurrence of certain events related to an offer to purchase all Class B shares. There were 57,450,273 and 56,371,376 Class A Shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.
 On June 6, 2018, the Company’s shareholders approved additional authorized Class A Shares of 1,250,000 to be added to the Company’s 2016 Stock Incentive Plan, for a total of 2,750,000 authorized Class A Shares under the 2016 Stock Incentive Plan.
Class B Common Shares (“Class B Shares”)
An unlimited number of voting shares, carrying 20 votes each, convertible at any time at the option of the holder into one Class A share for each Class B share. There were 3,755 Class B Shares issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017.
8. Convertible Preference Shares
On March 7, 2017 (the “Issue Date”), the Company issued 95,000 newly created Preference Shares to affiliates of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (collectively, the “Purchaser”) pursuant to a $95,000 private placement. The Company received proceeds of approximately $90,123, net of fees and estimated expenses, which were primarily used to pay down existing debt under the Company’s credit facility and for general corporate purposes. In connection with the closing of the transaction, effective March 7, 2017, the Company increased the size of its Board of Directors (the “Board”) to seven members and appointed one nominee designated by the Purchaser. Except as required by law, the Preference Shares do not have voting rights, and are not redeemable at the option of the Purchaser.
The holders of the Preference Shares have the right to convert their Preference Shares in whole at any time and from time to time, and in part at any time and from time to time after the ninetieth day following the original issuance date of the Preference Shares, into a number of Class A Shares equal to the then-applicable liquidation preference divided by the applicable conversion price at such time (the “Conversion Price”). The initial liquidation per share preference of each Preference Share is $1,000. The initial Conversion Price will be $10.00 per Preference Share, subject to customary adjustments for share splits and combinations, dividends, recapitalizations and other matters, including weighted average anti-dilution protection for certain issuances of equity or equity-linked securities.
The Preference Shares’ liquidation preference accretes at 8.0% per annum, compounded quarterly until the five-year anniversary of the Issue Date. During the six months ended June 30, 2018, the Preference Shares accreted at a monthly rate of approximately $7.25 per Preference Share, for total accretion of $4,095, bringing the aggregate liquidation preference to $105,447 as of June 30, 2018. The accretion is considered in the calculation of net income (loss) attributable to MDC Partners Inc. common shareholders. See Note 3 of the Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included herein for further information.
Holders of the Preference Shares are entitled to dividends in an amount equal to any dividends that would otherwise have been payable on the Class A Shares issued upon conversion of the Preference Shares. The Preference Shares are convertible at the Company’s option (i) on and after the two-year anniversary of the Issue Date, if the closing trading price of the Class A Shares over a specified period prior to conversion is at least 125% of the Conversion Price or (ii) after the fifth anniversary of the Issue Date, if the closing trading price of the Class A Shares over a specified period prior to conversion is at least equal to the Conversion Price.

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Table of Contents

Following certain change in control transactions of the Company in which holders of Preference Shares are not entitled to receive cash or qualifying listed securities with a value at least equal to the liquidation preference plus accrued and unpaid dividends, (i) holders will be entitled to cash dividends on the liquidation preference at an increasing rate (beginning at 7%), and (ii) the Company will have a right to redeem the Preference Shares for cash at the greater of their liquidation preference plus accrued and unpaid dividends or their as-converted value.
9. Fair Value Measurements
Authoritative guidance for fair value establishes a framework for measuring fair value. A fair value measurement assumes a transaction to sell an asset or transfer a liability occurs in the principal market for the asset or liability or, in the absence of a principal market, the most advantageous market for the asset or liability.
In order to increase consistency and comparability in fair value measurements, the guidance establishes a hierarchy for observable and unobservable inputs used to measure fair value into three broad levels, which are described below: 
•
Level 1 - Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for assets or liabilities. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to Level 1 inputs.
•
Level 2 - Observable prices that are based on inputs not quoted on active markets, but corroborated by market data.
•
Level 3 - Unobservable inputs are used when little or no market data is available. The fair value hierarchy gives the lowest priority to Level 3 inputs.
In determining fair value, the Company utilizes valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs to the extent possible as well as considers counterparty credit risk in its assessment of fair value.
Financial Liabilities that are not Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
The following table presents certain information for our financial liability that is not measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis at June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017:
 
June 30, 2018

December 31, 2017
 
Carrying
Amount

Fair Value

Carrying
Amount

Fair Value
Liabilities:
 


 


 


 

6.50% Senior Notes due 2024
$
900,000

 
$
787,500

 
$
900,000

 
$
904,500

Our long-term debt includes fixed rate debt. The fair value of this instrument is based on quoted market prices.
Financial Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
The following table presents changes in deferred acquisition consideration, which is measured at fair value on a recurring basis, at June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017:
 
Fair Value Measurements Using Significant Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3)
 
June 30,

December 31,
 
2018

2017
Beginning balance of contingent payments
$
119,086


$
224,754

Payments (1)
(48,586
)

(110,234
)
Additions (2)
9,723


—

Redemption value adjustments (3)
2,203


3,273

Foreign translation adjustment
(62
)

1,293

Ending balance of contingent payments
$
82,364


$
119,086

(1)
For the year ended December 31, 2017, payments include $28,727 of deferred acquisition consideration settled through the issuance of 3,353,939 MDC Class A subordinate voting shares, respectively, in lieu of cash.
(2)
Additions are the initial estimated deferred acquisition payments of new acquisitions and step-up transactions completed within that fiscal period. See Note 4.
(3)
Redemption value adjustments are fair value changes from the Company’s initial estimates of deferred acquisition payments, including the accretion of present value and stock-based compensation charges relating to acquisition payments

17
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that are tied to continued employment.
In addition to the above amounts, there are fixed payments of $1,343 and $3,340 for total deferred acquisition consideration of $83,707 and $122,426, which reconciles to the consolidated balance sheets at June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.
Effective January 1, 2018, as a result of the adoption of ASU 2016-15, the Company includes payments of deferred acquisition consideration relating to the liability initially recognized at the acquisition date in financing activities, and any changes as an operating activities in the Company’s consolidated statement of cash flows. See Note 13 of the Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included herein for further information.
Level 3 payments relate to payments made for deferred acquisition consideration. Level 3 grants relate to contingent purchase price obligations related to acquisitions and are recorded on the balance sheet at the acquisition date fair value. The estimated liability is determined in accordance with various contractual valuation formulas that may be dependent on future events, such as the growth rate of the earnings of the relevant subsidiary during the contractual period and, in some cases, the currency exchange rate as of the date of payment. Level 3 redemption value adjustments relate to the remeasurement and change in these various contractual valuation formulas as well as adjustments of present value.
At June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the carrying amount of the Company’s financial instruments, including cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable, approximated fair value because of their short-term maturity. The Company does not disclose the fair value for equity method investments or investments held at cost as it is not practical to estimate fair value since there is no readily available market data.
Non-financial Assets and Liabilities that are Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis
On a nonrecurring basis, the Company uses fair value measures when analyzing asset impairment. Long-lived assets and certain identifiable intangible assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. If it is determined such indicators are present and the review indicates that the assets will not be fully recoverable, based on undiscounted estimated cash flows over the remaining amortization periods, their carrying values are reduced to estimated fair value. Measurements based on undiscounted cash flows are considered to be Level 3 inputs. During the fourth quarter of each year, the Company evaluates goodwill and indefinite-lived intangibles for impairment at the reporting unit level. During the second quarter of 2018, the Company performed an interim goodwill impairment evaluation noting that certain reporting units' fair value exceeded their carrying value by a minimal percentage. For each acquisition, the Company performed a detailed review to identify intangible assets and a valuation is performed for all such identified assets. The Company used several market participant measurements to determine estimated value. This approach includes consideration of similar and recent transactions, as well as utilizing discounted expected cash flow methodologies. The amounts allocated to assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the acquisitions were determined using Level 3 inputs. Fair value for property and equipment was based on other observable transactions for similar property and equipment. Accounts receivable represents the best estimate of balances that will ultimately be collected, which is based in part on allowance for doubtful accounts reserve criteria and an evaluation of the specific receivable balances.

10. Supplemental Information
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests
Many of the Company’s acquisitions include contractual arrangements where the noncontrolling shareholders have an option to purchase, or may require the Company to purchase, such noncontrolling shareholders’ incremental ownership interests under certain circumstances and the Company has similar call options under the same contractual terms. The amount of consideration under these contractual arrangements is not a fixed amount, but rather is dependent upon various valuation formulas as described in Note 12 of the Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included herein. In the event that an incremental purchase may be required of the Company, the amounts are recorded as redeemable noncontrolling interests in mezzanine equity on the balance sheet at their acquisition date fair value and adjusted for changes to their estimated redemption value through additional paid-in capital (but not less than their initial redemption value), except for foreign currency translation adjustments. These adjustments will not impact the calculation of earnings (loss) per share if the redemption values are less than the estimated fair values. For the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, there was no related impact on the Company’s loss per share calculation.  
The following table presents changes in redeemable noncontrolling interests:

18
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Six Months Ended June 30, 2018
 
Year Ended December 31, 2017
Beginning Balance
$
62,886

 
$
60,180

Redemptions
(8,858
)
 
(910
)
Granted
—

 
1,666

Changes in redemption value
2,062

 
1,498

Currency translation adjustments
(360
)
 
452

Ending Balance
$
55,730

 
$
62,886

Income Taxes
Our tax provision for interim periods is determined using an estimated annual effective tax rate, adjusted for discrete items arising in the quarter. Our 2018 estimated annual effective tax rate of 24.7% differs from the Canadian statutory rate of 26.5% primarily due to exclusion of income attributable to minority interest from the annual forecasted income as well as foreign tax credits generated during the quarter, partially offset by U.S. federal tax impact of Global Intangible Low Taxed Income (GILTI) inclusion and Base Erosion and Anti-Abuse Tax (BEAT).
On December 22, 2017, the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”) was enacted into law and the new legislation contains several key tax provisions, including a reduction of the U.S. corporate income tax rate to 21% effective January 1, 2018. The Company is required to recognize the effect of tax law changes in the period of enactment, which required the Company to re-measure its U.S. deferred tax assets and liabilities and to reassess the net realizability of its deferred tax assets and liabilities. In December 2017, the SEC staff issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118, Income Tax Accounting Implications of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“SAB 118”), which allows the Company to record provisional amounts during a measurement period not to extend beyond one year from the enactment date. The Company recorded a provisional tax expense of $26,674 at year-end related to re-measurement of deferred tax assets and liabilities due to change in corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%. The Company recorded no tax expense related to transition tax.
The Act created a new requirement that Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income (i.e., GILTI) earned by controlled foreign corporations (CFCs) must be included currently in the gross income of the CFCs’ U.S. shareholder. GILTI is the excess of the shareholder’s “net CFC tested income” over the net deemed tangible income return (the “routine return”), which is defined as the excess of (1) 10% of the aggregate of the U.S. shareholder’s pro rata share of the qualified business asset investment (QBAI) of each CFC with respect to which it is a U.S. shareholder over (2) the amount of certain interest expense taken into account in the determination of net CFC-tested income. A deduction is permitted to a domestic corporation in an amount up to 50% of the sum of the GILTI inclusion and the amount treated as a dividend because the corporation has claimed a foreign tax credit (FTC) as a result of the inclusion of the GILTI amount in income.
The Company has included the impact of GILTI in the determination of its annual effective tax rate. The Company is still reviewing the GILTI provisions and analyzing the deferred tax implications. The Company continues to evaluate additional guidance provided by tax authorities as well as expected issuance of additional guidance and as such has not made a policy election on whether to record tax effects of GILTI as a period expense or to record deferred tax assets and liabilities on basis differences that are expected to affect the amount of GILTI inclusion upon reversal.
During the quarter ended June 30, 2018, the Company has been evaluating the application of the provisions of the Act as well as additional guidance provided by the tax authorities during the period. In addition, the Company is anticipating additional guidance from tax authorities and does not have a better estimate of the impact of the Act on its provisional estimate. Accordingly, the Company has not recorded an adjustment to its provisional estimate during the period. The Company expects to complete its analysis within the measurement period in accordance with SAB 118.
The Company’s effective tax rate for the three months ended June 30, 2018 was 24.8% compared to 26.6% for the three months ended June 30, 2017, representing a decrease of 1.8%. Income tax expense for the three months ended June 30, 2018 was $1,977 compared to $4,641 for the three months ended June 30, 2017, representing a decrease of $2,665.  The variance in the effective tax rate year over year was primarily driven by certain discrete items in the current and prior period related to the remeasurement of tax balances as well as the benefit of U.S. losses which are no longer subject to a valuation allowance.
The Company’s effective tax rate for the six months ended June 30, 2018 was 21.9% compared to 72.4% for the six months ended June 30, 2017, representing a decrease of 50.5%. Income tax benefit for the six months ended June 30, 2018 was $6,353 million compared to an expense of $8,610 for the six months ended June 30, 2017, representing a decrease of $14,963. The variance in the tax expense year over year was primarily driven by certain discrete items in the current and prior period related to the remeasurement of tax balances. In the prior year, the Company also recorded a valuation allowance against its U.S. income, which was released in the fourth quarter of 2017. The effective tax rate in the current year also includes the benefit of U.S. losses which are no longer subject to a valuation allowance.

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Other Income
The following table presents the components of Other, net for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 and the three and six months ended June 30, 2017:
 
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Other income
$
592

 
$
150

 
$
1,033

 
$
278

Foreign currency transaction (loss) gain
(6,549
)
 
6,446

 
(13,209
)
 
8,885

Other, net
$
(5,957
)
 
$
6,596

 
$
(12,176
)
 
$
9,163

11. Segment Information
The Company determines an operating segment if a component (i) engages in business activities from which it earns revenues and incurs expenses, (ii) has discrete financial information, and is (iii) regularly reviewed by the Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”) to make decisions regarding resource allocation for the segment and assess its performance. Once operating segments are identified, the Company performs an analysis to determine if aggregation of operating segments is applicable. This determination is based upon a quantitative analysis of the expected and historic average long-term profitability for each operating segment, together with a qualitative assessment to determine if operating segments have similar operating characteristics.
Due to changes in the Company’s internal management and reporting structure during 2018, reportable segment results for periods presented prior to the second quarter of 2018 have been recast to reflect the reclassification of certain businesses between segments. The changes were as follows:
•
Source Marketing, previously within the All Other category, is included within the Doner operating segment, which is aggregated into the Global Integrated Agencies reportable segment
•
Yamamoto, previously within the All Other category, was operationally merged with Civilian and is now included within the Domestic Creative Agencies reportable segment
•
Bruce Mau Design, Hello Design and Northstar Research Partners, previously within the All Other category, and Varick Media Management, previously within the Media Services reportable segment, were included into a newly-formed operating segment, Yes & Company, which is aggregated within the Media Services reportable segment
The four reportable segments that result from applying the aggregation criteria are as follows: “Global Integrated Agencies” “Domestic Creative Agencies” “Specialist Communications” and “Media Services.” In addition, the Company combines and discloses those operating segments that do not meet the aggregation criteria as “All Other.” The Company also reports corporate expenses, as further detailed below, as “Corporate.” All segments follow the same basis of presentation and accounting policies as those described throughout the Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included herein, and Note 2 of the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.
•
The Global Integrated Agencies reportable segment is comprised of the Company’s six global, integrated operating segments with broad marketing communication capabilities, including advertising, branding, digital, social media, design and production services, serving multinational clients around the world. The Global Integrated Agencies reportable segment includes 72andSunny, Anomaly, Crispin Porter + Bogusky, Doner, Forsman & Bodenfors, and kbs+. These operating segments share similar characteristics related to (i) the nature of their services; (ii) the type of global clients and the methods used to provide services; and (iii) the extent to which they may be impacted by global economic and geopolitical risks. In addition, these operating segments compete with each other for new business and from time to time have business move between them. The Company believes the historic and expected average long-term profitability is similar among the operating segments aggregated in the Global Integrated Agencies reportable segment.
•
The Domestic Creative Agencies reportable segment is comprised of five operating segments that are national advertising agencies leveraging creative capabilities at their core. The Domestic Creative Agencies reportable segment includes, Colle + McVoy, Laird + Partners, Mono Advertising, Union and Yamamoto. These operating segments share similar characteristics related to (i) the nature of their creative advertising services; (ii) the type of domestic client accounts and the methods used to provide services; and (iii) the extent to which they may be impacted by domestic economic and policy factors within North America. In addition, these operating segments compete with each other for new business and from time to time have business move between them. The Company believes the historic and expected average long-

20
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term profitability is similar among the operating segments aggregated in the Domestic Creative Agencies reportable segment.
•
The Specialist Communications reportable segment is comprised of seven operating segments that are each communications agencies with core service offerings in public relations and related communications services. The Specialist Communications reportable segment includes Allison & Partners, HL Group Partners, Hunter PR, Kwittken, Luntz Global, Sloane & Company and Veritas. These operating segments share similar characteristics related to (i) the nature of their public relations and communication services, including content creation, social media and influencer marketing; (ii) the type of client accounts and the methods used to provide services; (iii) the extent to which they may be impacted by domestic economic and policy factors within North America; and (iv) the regulatory environment regarding public relations and social media. In addition, these operating segments compete with each other for new business and from time to time have business move between them. The Company believes the historic and expected average long-term profitability is similar among the operating segments aggregated in the Specialist Communications reportable segment.
•
The Media Services reportable segment is comprised of two operating segments, MDC Media Partners and Yes & Company. These operating segments perform media buying and planning as their core competency and provide other services, including influencer marketing, content, insights & analytics, out-of-home, paid search, social media, lead generation, programmatic, artificial intelligence, and corporate barter.
•
All Other consists of the Company’s remaining operating segments that provide a range of diverse marketing communication services, but generally do not have similar services offerings or financial characteristics as those aggregated in the reportable segments. The All Other category includes 6Degrees Communications, Concentric Partners, Gale Partners, Kenna, Kingsdale, Instrument, Redscout, Relevent, Team, Vitro, and Y Media Labs. The nature of the specialist services provided by these operating segments vary among each other and from those operating segments aggregated into the reportable segments. This results in these operating segments having current and long-term performance expectations inconsistent with those operating segments aggregated in the reportable segments.
•
Corporate consists of corporate office expenses incurred in connection with the strategic resources provided to the operating segments, as well as certain other centrally managed expenses that are not fully allocated to the operating segments. These office and general expenses include (i) salaries and related expenses for corporate office employees, including employees dedicated to supporting the operating segments, (ii) occupancy expenses relating to properties occupied by all corporate office employees, (iii) other office and general expenses including professional fees for the financial statement audits and other public company costs, and (iv) certain other professional fees managed by the corporate office. Additional expenses managed by the corporate office that are directly related to the operating segments are allocated to the appropriate reportable segment and the All Other category.




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Three Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
Six Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Revenue:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Global Integrated Agencies
$
182,607

 
$
209,090

 
$
332,962

 
$
388,316

Domestic Creative Agencies
26,388

 
25,486

 
50,705

 
49,229

Specialist Communications
43,938

 
44,116

 
87,088

 
84,800

Media Services
33,293

 
42,648

 
69,438

 
83,893

All Other
93,517

 
69,192

 
166,518

 
128,994

Total
$
379,743

 
$
390,532

 
$
706,711

 
$
735,232

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating profit (loss):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Global Integrated Agencies
$
19,227

 
$
13,811

 
$
3,466

 
$
13,172

Domestic Creative Agencies
4,993

 
4,959

 
8,919

 
8,784

Specialist Communications
5,767

 
4,300

 
9,794

 
8,648

Media Services
(1,183
)
 
3,955

 
(980
)
 
6,614

All Other
15,108

 
9,044

 
22,152

 
15,819

Corporate
(13,140
)
 
(9,688
)
 
(27,212
)
 
(18,257
)
Total
$
30,772

 
$
26,381

 
$
16,139

 
$
34,780

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other income (expense):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other (expense) income, net
(5,957
)
 
6,596

 
(12,176
)
 
9,163

Interest expense and finance charges, net
(16,859
)
 
(15,510
)
 
(32,942
)
 
(32,051
)
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings (losses) of non-consolidated affiliates
7,956

 
17,467

 
(28,979
)
 
11,892

Income tax expense (benefit)
1,977

 
4,641

 
(6,353
)
 
8,610

Income (loss) before equity in earnings (losses) of non-consolidated affiliates
5,979

 
12,826

 
(22,626
)
 
3,282

Equity in earnings (losses) of non-consolidated affiliates
(28
)
 
641

 
58

 
502

Net income (loss)
5,951

 
13,467

 
(22,568
)
 
3,784

Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interest
(2,545
)
 
(2,214
)
 
(3,442
)
 
(3,097
)
Net income (loss) attributable to MDC Partners Inc.
$
3,406

 
$
11,253

 
$
(26,010
)
 
$
687



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Three Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
Six Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Depreciation and amortization:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Global Integrated Agencies
$
5,329

 
$
5,587

 
$
13,345

 
$
11,548

Domestic Creative Agencies
396

 
403

 
789

 
797

Specialist Communications
1,027

 
1,221

 
2,029

 
2,437

Media Services
767

 
1,112

 
1,534

 
2,221

All Other
4,024

 
2,144

 
5,997

 
4,053

Corporate
160

 
299

 
384

 
608

Total
$
11,703

 
$
10,766

 
$
24,078

 
$
21,664

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Stock-based compensation:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Global Integrated Agencies
$
2,585

 
$
3,080

 
$
5,132

 
$
6,070

Domestic Creative Agencies
610

 
181

 
770

 
346

Specialist Communications
163

 
1,087

 
499

 
1,605

Media Services
85

 
165

 
170

 
335

All Other
939

 
509

 
1,600

 
1,012

Corporate
1,221

 
518

 
2,469

 
1,122

Total
$
5,603

 
$
5,540

 
$
10,640

 
$
10,490

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Capital expenditures:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Global Integrated Agencies
$
2,620

 
$
8,788

 
$
5,457

 
$
15,696

Domestic Creative Agencies
269

 
300

 
489

 
613

Specialist Communications
2,225

 
175

 
2,465

 
467

Media Services
185

 
298

 
418

 
1,799

All Other
567

 
2,180

 
828

 
2,578

Corporate
24

 
2

 
32

 
3

Total
$
5,890

 
$
11,743

 
$
9,689

 
$
21,156

The Company’s CODM does not use segment assets to allocate resources or to assess performance of the segments and therefore, total segment assets have not been disclosed.
See Note 2 of the Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included herein for a summary of the Company’s revenue by geographic region for three and six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017.
12. Commitments, Contingencies, and Guarantees
Deferred Acquisition Consideration. In addition to the consideration paid by the Company in respect of certain of its acquisitions at closing, additional consideration may be payable, or may be potentially payable based on the achievement of certain threshold levels of earnings. See Notes 4 and 9 of the Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included herein for further information.
Options to Purchase. Noncontrolling shareholders in certain subsidiaries have the right in certain circumstances to require the Company to acquire the remaining ownership interests held by them. The noncontrolling shareholders’ ability to exercise any such option right is subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, including conditions requiring notice in advance of exercise and specific employment termination conditions. In addition, these rights cannot be exercised prior to specified staggered exercise dates. The exercise of these rights at their earliest contractual date would result in obligations of the Company to fund the related amounts during 2018 to 2023. It is not determinable, at this time, if or when the owners of these rights will exercise all or a portion of these rights.
The amount payable by the Company in the event such rights are exercised is dependent on various valuation formulas and on future events, such as the average earnings of the relevant subsidiary through the date of exercise, the growth rate of the earnings of the relevant subsidiary during that period and, in some cases, the currency exchange rate at the date of payment.

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Management estimates, assuming that the subsidiaries owned by the Company at June 30, 2018, perform over the relevant future periods at their trailing twelve-month earnings levels, that these rights, if all exercised, could require the Company, to pay an aggregate amount of approximately $13,330 to the owners of such rights in future periods to acquire such ownership interests in the relevant subsidiaries. Of this amount, the Company is entitled, at its option, to fund approximately $154 by the issuance of share capital.
In addition, the Company is obligated under similar put option rights to pay an aggregate amount of approximately $37,003 only upon termination of such owner’s employment with the applicable subsidiary or death.
The amount the Company would be required to pay to the noncontrolling interest holders should the Company acquire the remaining ownership interests is $5,397 less than the initial redemption value recorded in redeemable noncontrolling interests.
Included in redeemable noncontrolling interests at June 30, 2018 was $55,730 of these put options because they are not within the control of the Company. The ultimate amount payable relating to these transactions will vary because it is dependent on the future results of operations of the subject businesses and the timing of when these rights are exercised.
Natural Disasters. Certain of the Company’s operations are located in regions of the United States which typically are subject to hurricanes. During the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017, these operations did not incur any material costs related to damages resulting from hurricanes.
Guarantees. Generally, the Company has indemnified the purchasers of certain assets in the event that a third party asserts a claim against the purchaser that relates to a liability retained by the Company. These types of indemnification guarantees typically extend for a number of years. Historically, the Company has not made any significant indemnification payments under such agreements and no amount has been accrued in the accompanying consolidated financial statements with respect to these indemnification guarantees. The Company continues to monitor the conditions that are subject to guarantees and indemnifications to identify whether it is probable that a loss has occurred, and would recognize any such losses under any guarantees or indemnifications in the period when those losses are probable and estimable.
Legal Proceedings. The Company’s operating entities are involved in legal proceedings of various types. While any litigation contains an element of uncertainty, the Company has no reason to believe that the outcome of such proceedings or claims will have a material adverse effect on the financial condition or results of operations of the Company. In addition, the Company is involved in class action suits as described below.
Dismissal of Class Action Litigation in Canada. On August 7, 2015, Roberto Paniccia issued a Statement of Claim in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in the City of Brantford, Ontario seeking to certify a class action suit naming the following as defendants: MDC, former CEO Miles S. Nadal, former CAO Michael C. Sabatino, CFO David Doft and BDO U.S.A. LLP. The Plaintiff alleged violations of section 138.1 of the Ontario Securities Act (and equivalent legislation in other Canadian provinces and territories) as well as common law misrepresentation based on allegedly materially false and misleading statements in the Company’s public statements, as well as omitting to disclose material facts with respect to the SEC investigation. On June 4, 2018, the Court dismissed (with costs) the putative class members’ motion for leave to proceed with the Plaintiff’s claims for misrepresentations of material facts pursuant to the Ontario Securities Act. Following the Court’s decision, on June 18, 2018, the Plaintiff, MDC and each of the other defendants consented to the dismissal of the action with prejudice (and without costs), subject to the Court’s formal approval.
Antitrust Subpoena. In 2016, one of the Company’s subsidiary agencies received a subpoena from the U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division (the “DOJ”) concerning the DOJ’s ongoing investigation of production bidding practices in the advertising industry. The Company and its subsidiary are fully cooperating with this confidential investigation. Specifically, the Company and its subsidiary are providing information and engaging in discussions with the DOJ, including preliminary discussions regarding the feasibility of a potential settlement with the DOJ. However, there can be no assurance as to the timing of any settlement or that a settlement will be reached on any particular terms or at all. Moreover, the DOJ may determine to expand the scope of its investigation or initiate a proceeding to bring charges against our subsidiary or one or more members of the subsidiary agency’s former management. The DOJ may also seek to impose monetary sanctions.
Commitments.  At June 30, 2018, the Company had $5,248 of undrawn letters of credit. In addition, the Company has commitments to fund investments in an aggregate amount of $80.


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13. New Accounting Pronouncements
Adopted In The Current Reporting Period
Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted FASB ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC 606”). ASC 606 was applied using the modified retrospective method, with the cumulative effect of the initial adoption being recognized as an adjustment to opening retained earnings at January 1, 2018. As a result, comparative prior periods have not been adjusted and continue to be reported under FASB ASC Topic 605, Revenue Recognition (“ASC 605”).
The following represents changes to the Company’s policies resulting from the adoption of ASC 606:
i.
Under the guidance in effect through December 31, 2017, performance incentives were recognized in revenue when specific quantitative goals were achieved, or when the Company’s performance against qualitative goals was determined by the client. Under ASC 606, the Company now estimates the amount of the incentive that will be earned at the inception of the contract and recognizes such incentive over the term of the contract. This results in an acceleration of revenue recognition for certain contract incentives compared to ASC 605.
ii.
Under the guidance in effect through December 31, 2017, non-refundable retainer fees were generally recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the specific customer arrangement. Under ASC 606, an input method is typically used to measure progress and recognize revenue for these types of arrangements. This resulted in both the deferral and acceleration of revenue recognition in certain instances.
iii.
In certain client arrangements, the Company records revenue as a principal and includes within revenue certain third-party-pass-through and out-of-pocket costs, which are billed to clients in connection with the services provided. In other arrangements, the Company acts as an agent and records revenue equal to the net amount retained. The adoption of ASC 606 resulted in certain arrangements previously being accounted for as principal, now being accounted for as agent.
As a result of these changes, the Company recorded a cumulative effect adjustment to increase opening accumulated deficit at January 1, 2018 by $1,170.
The following table summarizes the impact of adoption of ASC 606 on the unaudited condensed consolidated statement of operations during the three and six months ended June 30, 2018:
 
 
Three Months Ended June 30, 2018
 
 
As Reported
 
Adjustments
 
Adjusted to Exclude Adoption of ASC 606
Revenue - Services
 
$
379,743

 
$
9,728

 
$
389,471

Costs of services sold
 
$
253,390

 
$
18,764

 
$
272,154

Operating profit (loss)
 
$
30,772

 
$
(9,036
)
 
$
21,736

Net income (loss) attributable to MDC Partners, Inc. common shareholders
 
$
1,133

 
$
(5,616
)
 
$
(4,483
)
Income (loss) per common share - basic and diluted
 
$
0.02

 
$
(0.10
)
 
$
(0.08
)

 
 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2018
 
 
As Reported
 
Adjustments
 
Adjusted to Exclude Adoption of ASC 606
Revenue - Services
 
$
706,711

 
$
31,004

 
$
737,715

Costs of services sold
 
$
496,420

 
$
33,961

 
$
530,381

Operating profit (loss)
 
$
16,139

 
$
(2,957
)
 
$
13,182

Net loss attributable to MDC Partners, Inc. common shareholders
 
$
(30,105
)
 
$
(1,385
)
 
$
(31,490
)
Loss per common share - basic and diluted
 
$
(0.53
)
 
$
(0.02
)
 
$
(0.55
)
The impact on the balance sheets and shareholders’ deficit as of and for the six months ended June 30, 2018 was immaterial. There was no effect on other comprehensive income (loss) and the statement of cash flows for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017.
In May 2017, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2017-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation: Scope of Modification Accounting, which provides guidance concerning which changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award require an entity to apply modification accounting in ASC 718.  This guidance is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Amendments in this ASU are applied prospectively to any award modified on or after

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the adoption date. The Company adopted this guidance on January 1, 2018. The impact on the Company’s consolidated statement of financial position and results of operations was not material.
In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-07, Compensation - Retirement Benefits, which requires the presentation of the service cost component of the net periodic pension and postretirement benefits costs in the same line item in the statement of operations as other compensation costs arising from services rendered by the pertinent employees during the period. The other components of the net periodic pension and postretirement benefits costs are required to be presented as non-operating expenses in the statement of operations. This guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company adopted this guidance on January 1, 2018. The impact on the Company’s consolidated statement of financial position and results of operations was not material.
In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows. This new guidance is intended to reduce diversity in practice regarding the classification of certain transactions in the statement of cash flows. This guidance is effective January 1, 2018 and requires a retrospective transition method. Prior to the Company’s adoption on January 1, 2018, all cash outflows for contingent consideration were classified as a financing activity. Effective January 1, 2018, the Company is now required to classify any cash payments made soon after the acquisition date of a business to settle a contingent consideration liability as cash outflows for investing activities. Cash payments which are not made soon after the acquisition date of a business to settle a contingent consideration liability are separated and classified as cash outflows for financing activities up to the amount of the contingent consideration liability recognized at the acquisition date and as cash outflows from operating activities for any excess. As a result, $24,459 of an acquisition-related contingent consideration payment of $65,121, which was in excess of the liability initially recognized at the acquisition date, has been classified as a cash outflow within net cash provided by operating activities in the accompanying consolidated statement of cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2017. There was no impact on the Company’s consolidated statement of financial position and results of operations.
In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, Financial Instruments - Overall: Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Liabilities, which will require equity investments, except equity method investments, to be measured at fair value and any changes in fair value will be recognized in results of operations. This guidance is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Additionally, this guidance provides for the recognition of the cumulative effect of retrospective application of the new standard in the period of initial application. The Company adopted this guidance on January 1, 2018. The impact on the Company’s consolidated statement of financial position and results of operations was not material.
Standards to be Adopted in Future Reporting Periods
In January 2018, the FASB released guidance on the accounting for tax on the global intangible low-taxed income (“GILTI”) provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Act”). The GILTI provisions impose a tax on foreign income in excess of a deemed return on tangible assets of foreign corporations. The guidance indicates that either accounting for deferred taxes related to GILTI inclusions or treating any taxes on GILTI inclusions as period cost are both acceptable methods subject to an accounting policy election. The Company continues to assess the impact of GILTI provisions on its financial statements and whether it will be subject to U.S. GILTI inclusion in future years. As such, the Company has not made a policy election on whether to record tax effects of GILTI when paid as a period expense or to record deferred tax assets and liabilities on basis differences that are expected to affect the amount of GILTI inclusion.
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases. The new guidance will require lessees to recognize a right-to-use asset and lease liability for most of its leases with a term of more than twelve months, including those classified as operating leases. The new guidance also requires additional quantitative and qualitative disclosures. This guidance, which will be effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, requires modified retrospective application, with early adoption permitted. The Company’s assessment of the new guidance is ongoing. Therefore, the Company is not yet in a position to assess the full impact of the application of the new guidance. However, the Company expects that the recognition of a right-to-use asset and lease liability for operating leases will have a significant impact on its balance sheet.
Item 2.    Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Unless otherwise indicated, references to the “Company” or “MDC” mean MDC Partners Inc. and its subsidiaries, and references to a “fiscal year” means the Company’s year commencing on January 1 of that year and ending December 31 of that year (e.g., fiscal 2018 means the period beginning January 1, 2018, and ending December 31, 2018).
The Company reports its financial results in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) of the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). In addition, the Company has included certain non-U.S. GAAP financial measures and ratios, which it believes provide useful supplemental information to both management and readers of this report in measuring the financial performance and financial condition of the Company. These measures do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by U.S. GAAP and should not be construed as an alternative to other titled measures determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
Two such non-U.S. GAAP measures are “organic revenue growth” or “organic revenue decline” that refer to the positive or negative results, respectively, of subtracting both the foreign exchange and acquisition (disposition) components from total revenue

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growth, excluding the impact of adoption of Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 606 (“ASC 606”). The acquisition (disposition) component is calculated by aggregating the prior period revenue for any acquired businesses, less the prior period revenue of any businesses that were disposed of in the current period. The organic revenue growth (decline) component reflects the constant currency impact (a) of the change in revenue of the Partner Firms which the Company has held throughout each of the comparable periods presented and (b) “non-GAAP acquisitions (dispositions), net.” Non-GAAP acquisitions (dispositions), net consists of (i) for acquisitions during the current year, the revenue effect from such acquisition as if the acquisition had been owned during the equivalent period in the prior year and (ii) for acquisitions during the previous year, the revenue effect from such acquisitions as if they had been owned during that entire year or same period as the current reportable period, taking into account their respective pre-acquisition revenues for the applicable periods and (iii) for dispositions, the revenue effect from such disposition as if they had been disposed of during the equivalent period in the prior year. The Company believes that isolating the impact of acquisition activity, foreign currency impacts and changes in accounting standards is an important and informative component to understand the overall change in the Company’s consolidated revenue. The change in the consolidated revenue that remains after these adjustments illustrates the underlying financial performance of the Company’s businesses. Specifically, it represents the impact of the Company’s management oversight, investments and resources dedicated to supporting the businesses’ growth strategy and operations. In addition, it reflects the network benefit of inclusion in the broader portfolio of firms that includes, but is not limited to, cross-selling and sharing of best practices. This approach isolates changes in performance of the business that take place under the Company’s stewardship, whether favorable or unfavorable, and thereby reflects the potential benefits and risks associated with owning and managing a talent-driven services business.
Accordingly, during the first twelve months of ownership by the Company, the organic growth measure may credit the Company with growth from an acquired business that is dependent on work performed prior to the acquisition date, and may include the impact of prior work in progress, existing contracts and backlog of the acquired businesses. It is the presumption of the Company that positive developments that may have taken place at an acquired business during the period preceding the acquisition will continue to result in value creation in the post-acquisition period.
While the Company believes that the methodology used in the calculation of organic revenue change is entirely consistent with our closest U.S. competitors, the calculations may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other publicly traded companies in other industries. Additional information regarding the Company’s acquisition activity as it relates to potential revenue growth is provided in Item 2 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” under “Certain Factors Affecting our Business.”
The following discussion focuses on the operating performance of the Company for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 and the financial condition of the Company as of June 30, 2018. This analysis should be read in conjunction with the interim condensed consolidated financial statements presented in this interim report and the annual audited consolidated financial statements and Management’s Discussion and Analysis presented in the Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2017 as reported on the Form 10-K (the “Annual Report on Form 10-K”). All amounts are in dollars unless otherwise stated. Amounts reported in millions herein are computed based on the amounts in thousands. As a result, the sum of the components, and related calculations, reported in millions may not equal the total amounts due to rounding.
Executive Summary
MDC conducts its business through its network of Partner Firms, the “Advertising and Communications Group,” who provide a comprehensive array of marketing and communications services for clients both domestically and globally. The Company’s objective is to create shareholder value by building, growing and acquiring market-leading Partner Firms that deliver innovative, value-added marketing, activation, communications and strategic consulting to their clients. Management believes that shareholder value is maximized with an operating philosophy of “Perpetual Partnership” with proven committed industry leaders in marketing communications.
MDC manages its business by monitoring several financial and non-financial performance indicators. The key indicators that we focus on are revenues, operating expenses and capital expenditures. Revenue growth is analyzed by reviewing a mix of measurements, including (i) growth by major geographic location, (ii) growth by client industry vertical, (iii) growth from existing clients and the addition of new clients, (iv) growth by primary discipline (v) growth from currency changes, and (vi) growth from acquisitions. In addition to monitoring the foregoing financial indicators, the Company assesses and monitors several non-financial performance indicators relating to the business performance of our Partner Firms. These indicators may include a Partner Firm’s recent new client win/loss record; the depth and scope of a pipeline of potential new client account activity; the overall quality of the services provided to clients; and the relative strength of the Partner Firm’s next generation team that is in place as part of a potential succession plan to succeed the current senior executive team.
As discussed in Note 11 of the Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company aggregates operating segments that meet the aggregation criteria detailed in ASC 280 into one of the four reportable segments and combines and discloses those operating segments that do not meet the aggregation criteria in the All Other category. Due to changes in the

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Company’s internal management and reporting structure during 2018, reportable segment results for periods presented prior to the second quarter of 2018 have been recast to reflect the reclassification of certain businesses between segments. Prior period segment information included herein has been adjusted to reflect this change. See Note 11 of the Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included herein for further information. The following discussion provides detailed disclosure for each of the Company’s four reportable segments, plus the All Other category, within the Advertising and Communications Group.
The four reportable segments are as follows:
Global Integrated Agencies - This segment is comprised of the Company’s six global, integrated Partner Firms with broad marketing communication capabilities, including advertising, branding, digital, social media, design and production services, serving multinational clients around the world.
Domestic Creative Agencies - This segment is comprised of five operating segments that are national advertising agencies leveraging creative capabilities at their core.
Specialist Communications Agencies - This segment is comprised of seven operating segments that are each communications agencies with core service offerings in public relations and related communications services.
Media Services - This segment is comprised of two operating segments that perform media buying and planning as their core competency and provide other services, including influencer marketing, content, insights & analytics, out-of-home, paid search, social media, lead generation, programmatic, artificial intelligence, and corporate barter.
The All Other category consists of the Company’s remaining Partner Firms that provide a range of diverse marketing communication services, but are not eligible for aggregation with the reportable segments in accordance with ASC 280.
In addition, MDC reports its corporate office expenses incurred in connection with the strategic resources provided to the Partner Firms, as well as certain other centrally managed expenses that are not fully allocated to the operating segments as Corporate. Corporate provides client and business development support to the Partner Firms as well as certain strategic resources, including accounting, administrative, financial, real estate, human resource and legal functions. Additional expenses managed by the corporate office that are directly related to the Partner Firms are allocated to the appropriate reportable segment and the All Other category.
Certain Factors Affecting Our Business
Overall Factors Affecting our Business and Results of Operations.  The most significant factors include national, regional and local economic conditions, our clients’ profitability, mergers and acquisitions of our clients, changes in top management of our clients and our ability to retain and attract key employees. New business wins and client losses occur due to a variety of factors. The two most significant factors are (i) our clients’ desire to change marketing communication firms, and (ii) the creative product that our Partner Firms offer. A client may choose to change marketing communication firms for a number of reasons, such as a change in top management and the new management wants to retain an agency that it may have previously worked with. In addition, if the client is merged or acquired by another company, the marketing communication firm is often changed. Further, global clients are trending to consolidate the use of numerous marketing communication firms to just one or two. Another factor in a client changing firms is the agency’s campaign or work product is not providing results and they feel a change is in order to generate additional revenues.
Clients will generally reduce or increase their spending or outsourcing needs based on their current business trends and profitability.
Acquisitions and Dispositions. The Company’s strategy includes acquiring ownership stakes in well-managed businesses with world class expertise and strong reputations in the industry. The Company provides post-acquisition support to Partner Firms in order to help accelerate growth, including in areas such as business and client development (including cross-selling), corporate communications, corporate development, talent recruitment and training, procurement, legal services, human resources, financial management and reporting, and real estate utilization, among other areas. As most of the Company’s acquisitions remain as stand-alone entities post acquisition, new Partner Firms can begin to tap into the full range of MDC’s resources immediately. Often the acquired businesses may begin to tap into certain MDC resources in the pre-acquisition period, such as talent recruitment or real estate. The Company has historically engaged in a number of acquisition and disposition transactions, which affected revenues, expenses, operating income and net income. Additional information regarding acquisitions and dispositions is provided in Note 4 of the Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included herein for further information.
Foreign Exchange Fluctuation. Our financial results and competitive position are affected by fluctuations in the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and non-U.S. dollar, primarily the Canadian dollar. See also “Item 3 - Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk — Foreign Exchange.”

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Seasonality. Historically, with some exceptions, we generate the lowest quarterly revenues the first quarter and the highest quarterly revenues during the fourth quarter in each year. The fourth quarter has historically been the period in the year in which the highest volumes of media placements and retail related consumer marketing occur.

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Results of Operations:

 
Three Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
Six Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Revenue:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Global Integrated Agencies
$
182.6

 
$
209.1

 
$
333.0

 
$
388.3

Domestic Creative Agencies
26.4

 
25.5

 
50.7

 
49.2

Specialist Communications
43.9

 
44.1

 
87.1

 
84.8

Media Services
33.3

 
42.6

 
69.4

 
83.9

All Other
93.5

 
69.2

 
166.5

 
129.0

Total
$
379.7

 
$
390.5

 
$
706.7

 
$
735.2

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating profit (loss):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Global Integrated Agencies
$
19.2

 
$
13.8

 
$
3.5

 
$
13.2

Domestic Creative Agencies
5.0

 
5.0

 
8.9

 
8.8

Specialist Communications
5.8

 
4.3

 
9.8

 
8.6

Media Services
(1.2
)
 
4.0

 
(1.0
)
 
6.6

All Other
15.1

 
9.0

 
22.2

 
15.8

Corporate
(13.1
)
 
(9.7
)
 
(27.2
)
 
(18.3
)
Total
$
30.8

 
$
26.4

 
$
16.1

 
$
34.8

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other income (expense):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other (expense) income, net
(6.0
)
 
6.6

 
(12.2
)
 
9.2

Interest expense and finance charges, net
(16.9
)
 
(15.5
)
 
(32.9
)
 
(32.1
)
Income (loss) before income taxes and equity in earnings (losses) of non-consolidated affiliates
8.0

 
17.5

 
(29.0
)
 
11.9

Income tax expense (benefit)
2.0

 
4.6

 
(6.4
)
 
8.6

Income (loss) before equity in earnings (losses) of non-consolidated affiliates
6.0

 
12.8

 
(22.6
)
 
3.3

Equity in earnings (losses) of non-consolidated affiliates
—

 
0.6

 
0.1

 
0.5

Net income (loss)
6.0

 
13.5

 
(22.6
)
 
3.8

Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interest
(2.5
)
 
(2.2
)
 
(3.4
)
 
(3.1
)
Net income (loss) attributable to MDC Partners Inc.
$
3.4

 
11.3

 
(26.0
)
 
0.7



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Three Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
Six Months Ended 
 June 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Depreciation and amortization:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Global Integrated Agencies
$
5.3

 
$
5.6

 
$
13.3

 
$
11.5

Domestic Creative Agencies
0.4

 
0.4

 
0.8

 
0.8

Specialist Communications
1.0

 
1.2

 
2.0

 
2.4

Media Services
0.8

 
1.1

 
1.5

 
2.2

All Other
4.0

 
2.1

 
6.0

 
4.1

Corporate
0.2

 
0.3

 
0.4

 
0.6

Total
$
11.7

 
$
10.8

 
$
24.1

 
$
21.7

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Stock-based compensation:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Global Integrated Agencies
$
2.6

 
$
3.1

 
$
5.1

 
$
6.1

Domestic Creative Agencies
0.6

 
0.2

 
0.8

 
0.3

Specialist Communications
0.2

 
1.1

 
0.5

 
1.6

Media Services
0.1

 
0.2

 
0.2

 
0.3

All Other
0.9

 
0.5

 
1.6

 
1.0

Corporate
1.2

 
0.5

 
2.5

 
1.1

Total
$
5.6

 
$
5.5

 
$
10.6

 
$
10.5

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Capital expenditures:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Global Integrated Agencies
$
2.6

 
$
8.8

 
$
5.5

 
$
15.7

Domestic Creative Agencies
0.3

 
0.3

 
0.5

 
0.6

Specialist Communications
2.2

 
0.2

 
2.5

 
0.5

Media Services
0.2

 
0.3

 
0.4

 
1.8

All Other
0.6

 
2.2

 
0.8

 
2.6

Corporate
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Total
$
5.9

 
$
11.7

 
$
9.7

 
$
21.2



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Three Months Ended June 30, 2018 Compared to Three Months Ended June 30, 2017
Revenue was $379.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2018, compared to revenue of $390.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017, representing a decrease of $10.8 million, or 2.8%. The impact of the adoption of ASC 606 reduced revenue by $9.7 million, or 2.5%, primarily due to the shift in treatment of third party costs from principal to agent for various client arrangements of certain Partner Firms and timing of revenue recognition. The other primary components of the change in revenue included a negative impact from dispositions of $5.6 million, or 1.4%, and a decline in revenue from existing Partner Firms of $10.1 million, or 2.6%. These amounts were partially offset by revenue from an acquired Partner Firm of $11.1 million, or 2.8%, and a positive foreign exchange impact of $3.1 million, or 0.8%.
Operating profit for the three months ended June 30, 2018 was $30.8 million, compared to $26.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017, representing an increase of $4.4 million. The change was primarily driven by an improvement in operating profit in the Advertising and Communications Group of $7.8 million, partially offset by an increase in Corporate operating expenses of $3.5 million. The impact of the adoption of ASC 606 increased operating profit by $9.0 million. Adjusted to exclude the impact of the adoption of ASC 606, operating profit would have been $21.7 million, representing a decrease of $4.7 million compared to 2017.
Net income was $6.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2018 compared to $13.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017, representing a net income decrease of $7.5 million. The decrease was primarily attributable to a negative impact from foreign exchange of $13.0 million and an increase in interest expense and finance charges of $1.3 million, partially offset by an increase in operating profit of $4.4 million and a favorable change from income taxes of $2.7 million.
Net income attributable to MDC Partners Inc. common shareholders was $1.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2018 compared to $8.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017, representing a net income decrease of $6.8 million. The change was primarily driven by the fluctuations detailed above.
Advertising and Communications Group
The following discussion provides additional detailed disclosure for each of the Company’s four (4) reportable segments, plus the “All Other” category, within the Advertising and Communications Group.
Revenue was $379.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2018 compared to revenue of $390.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017, representing a decrease of $10.8 million, or 2.8%. The impact of the adoption of ASC 606 reduced revenue by $9.7 million, or 2.5%, primarily due to the shift in treatment of third party costs from principal to agent for various client arrangements of certain Partner Firms and timing of revenue recognition. The other primary components of the change in revenue included a negative impact from dispositions of $5.6 million, or 1.4%, a decline in revenue from existing Partner Firms of $10.1 million, or 2.6%, partially offset by revenue from an acquired Partner Firm of $11.1 million, or 2.8% and a positive foreign exchange impact of $3.1 million, or 0.8%. Excluding the impact of the adoption of ASC 606, the decline in revenue was attributable to cutbacks and delays from several existing clients, and a slower pace of conversion of new business. Excluding the impact of adoption of the ASC 606, there was wide variation in performance by client sector. Excluding the impact of adoption of the ASC 606, the change in revenue was driven by growth in categories including transportation and lodging, financials, and healthcare, offset by declines in automotive, retail ,and communications.
Revenue growth in the Advertising and Communications Group was mixed through the geographic regions with growth in Canada of 8.2%, offset by declines of 3.0% and 7.4% in the United States and other regions outside of North America, respectively. The adoption of ASC 606 had a significant impact on reported growth rates on all geographic regions. The impact increased revenue in Canada by 10.9%, and decreased revenue in the United States and outside of North America by 2.0% and 14.2%, respectively.
The Company also utilizes non-GAAP metrics called organic revenue growth (decline) and non-GAAP acquisitions (dispositions), net, as defined above. For the three months ended June 30, 2018, organic revenue declined by $6.7 million, or 1.7%, of which $10.1 million, or 2.6% pertained to Partner Firms which the Company has owned throughout each of the comparable periods presented. The remaining revenue growth of $3.4 million, or 0.9%, was generated from an acquired Partner Firm. The other components of non-GAAP activity include a positive non-GAAP acquisition (disposition), net adjustment of $2.5 million, or 0.6%, and a positive foreign exchange impact of $3.1 million, or 0.8%.

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The components of the fluctuations in revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2018 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2017 are as follows:
 
Total
 
United States
 
Canada
 
Other
 
$
 
%
 
$
 
%
 
$
 
%
 
$
 
%
 
(Dollars in Millions)
June 30, 2017
$
390.5

 
 
 
$
304.5

 
 
 
$
30.6

 
 
 
$
55.5

 
 
Components of revenue change:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign exchange impact
3.1

 
0.8
 %
 
—

 
—
 %
 
1.2

 
4.0
 %
 
1.9

 
3.4
 %
Non-GAAP acquisitions (dispositions), net
2.5

 
0.6
 %
 
$
3.2

 
1.1
 %
 
—

 
—
 %
 
(0.7
)
 
(1.3
)%
Impact of adoption of ASC 606
(9.7
)
 
(2.5
)%
 
(6.0
)
 
(2.0
)%
 
3.6

 
11.7
 %
 
(7.3
)
 
(13.1
)%
Organic revenue growth (decline)
(6.7
)
 
(1.7
)%
 
(6.4
)
 
(2.1
)%
 
(2.3
)
 
(7.6
)%
 
2.0

 
3.7
 %
Total Change
$
(10.8
)
 
(2.8
)%
 
$
(9.2
)
 
(3.0
)%
 
$
2.5

 
8.2
 %
 
$
(4.1
)
 
(7.4
)%
June 30, 2018
$
379.7

 
 
 
$
295.3

 
 
 
$
33.1

 
 
 
$
51.4

 
 
The table below provides a reconciliation between the revenue from acquired businesses in the statement of operations to non-GAAP acquisitions (dispositions), net for the three months ended June 30, 2018:
 
Global Integrated Agencies
 
Media Services
 
All Other
 
Total
 
(Dollars in Millions)
GAAP revenue from 2018 acquisitions
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
11.1

 
$
11.1

Impact of adoption of ASC 606 from 2018 acquisitions
—

 
—

 
0.5

 
0.5

Contribution to non-GAAP organic revenue (growth) decline
—

 
—

—

(3.4
)
—

(3.4
)
Prior year revenue from dispositions
(0.7
)
 
(4.5
)
 
(0.4
)
 
(5.6
)
Non-GAAP acquisitions (dispositions), net
$
(0.7
)
 
$
(4.5
)
 
$
7.7

 
$
2.5

The geographic mix in revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 is as follows:
 
2018
 
2017
United States
77.8
%
 
78.0
%
Canada
8.7
%
 
7.8
%
Other
13.5
%
 
14.2
%
Organic revenue decline in the Advertising and Communications Group was primarily due to cutbacks and programs delays from several existing clients and a slower pace of conversion of new business. The United States and Canada had organic revenue decline of 2.1% and 7.6%, respectively. Organic revenue growth outside of North America was 3.7%, as we continue to extend capabilities into new markets throughout Europe, South America, Australia, and Asia.
The positive foreign exchange impact of $3.1 million, or 0.8%, was primarily due to the strengthening of the British Pound, Canadian dollar, and the European Euro against the U.S. dollar.

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The change in expenses as a percentage of revenue in the Advertising and Communications Group for the three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 was as follows:
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
Change
Advertising and Communications Group
 
$
 
% of
Revenue
 
$
 
% of
Revenue
 
$
 
%
 
 
(Dollars in Millions)
Revenue
 
$
379.7

 
 
 
$
390.5

 
 
 
$
(10.8
)
 
(2.8
)%
Operating expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of services sold
 
253.4

 
66.7
%
 
267.8

 
68.6
%
 
(14.4
)
 
(5.4
)%
Office and general expenses
 
70.9

 
18.7
%
 
76.2

 
19.5
%
 
(5.3
)
 
(6.9
)%
Depreciation and amortization
 
11.5

 
3.0
%
 
10.5

 
2.7
%
 
1.1

 
10.3
 %
 
 
$
335.8

 
88.4
%
 
$
354.5

 
90.8
%
 
$
(18.6
)
 
(5.3
)%
Operating profit
 
$
43.9

 
11.6
%
 
$
36.1

 
9.2
%
 
$
7.8

 
21.7
 %
Operating profit in the Advertising and Communications Group for the three months ended June 30, 2018 was $43.9 million compared to $36.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017, representing an increase of $7.8 million. The increase in operating profit was largely due to lower expenses (see below), partially offset by a decline in revenue. The impact of the adoption of ASC 606 increased operating profit by $9.0 million. Excluding the impact of the adoption of ASC 606, operating profit would have been $34.9 million, representing a decrease of $1.2 million compared to 2017. Operating margin decline by 20 basis points from 9.2% in 2017 to 9.0% in 2018 on an adjusted basis.
The change in the categories of expenses as a percentage of revenue in the Advertising and Communications Group for the three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 was as follows:
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
Change
Advertising and Communications Group
 
$
 
% of
Revenue
 
$
 
% of
Revenue
 
$
 
%
 
 
(Dollars in Millions)
Direct costs (1)
 
$
52.6

 
13.8
 %
 
$
75.9

 
19.4
%
 
$
(23.3
)
 
(30.7
)%
Staff costs (2)
 
224.6

 
59.1
 %
 
210.0

 
53.8
%
 
14.6

 
6.9
 %
Administrative
 
47.8

 
12.6
 %
 
48.8

 
12.5
%
 
(1.0
)
 
(2.0
)%
Deferred acquisition consideration
 
(5.1
)
 
(1.3
)%
 
4.3

 
1.1
%
 
(9.4
)
 
(217.6
)%
Stock-based compensation
 
4.4

 
1.2
 %
 
5.0

 
1.3
%
 
(0.6
)
 
(12.7
)%
Depreciation and amortization
 
11.5

 
3.0
 %
 
10.5

 
2.7
%
 
1.1

 
10.3
 %
Total operating expenses
 
$
335.8

 
88.4
 %
 
$
354.5

 
90.8
%
 
$
(18.6
)
 
(5.3
)%
(1)
Excludes staff costs.
(2)
Excludes stock-based compensation and is comprised of amounts reported in both cost of services and office and general expenses.
Direct costs in the Advertising and Communications Group for the three months ended June 30, 2018 were $52.6 million compared to $75.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017, representing a decrease of $23.3 million, or 30.7%. As a percentage of revenue, direct costs decreased from 19.4% in 2017 to 13.8% in 2018. The decrease in direct costs was primarily due to the adoption of ASC 606 in which various client arrangements of certain Partner Firms previously accounted for as principal are accounted for as agent under ASC 606. The change resulted in a decrease in third party costs included in revenue of $18.8 million.
Staff costs in the Advertising and Communications Group for the three months ended June 30, 2018 were $224.6 million compared to $210.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017, representing an increase of $14.6 million, or 6.9%. As a percentage of revenue, staff costs increased from 53.8% in 2017 to 59.1% in 2018, partially due to the impact of the adoption of ASC 606. The increase in staff costs and as a percentage of revenue was primarily due to contributions from an acquired Partner Firm, higher costs to support the growth of certain Partner Firms, partially offset by staffing reductions at other Partner Firms.
Deferred acquisition consideration in the Advertising and Communications Group for the three months ended June 30, 2018 was income of $5.1 million, compared to an expense of $4.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017, representing a

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change of $9.4 million. This change was primarily due to the aggregate under-performance of certain Partner Firms in 2018 relative to the previously projected expectations.
Depreciation and amortization expense in the Advertising and Communications Group for the three months ended June 30, 2018 was $11.5 million compared to $10.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017, representing an increase of $1.1 million.
Stock-based compensation in the Advertising and Communications Group remained consistent at approximately 1.2% of revenue for the three months ended June 30, 2018 and the three months ended June 30, 2017.
Global Integrated Agencies
Revenue in the Global Integrated Agencies reportable segment was $182.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2018 compared to revenue of $209.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017, representing a decrease of $26.5 million, or 12.7%. The impact of the adoption of ASC 606 reduced revenue by $11.3 million, or 5.4%. The other components of change included a decline in revenue from existing Partner Firms of $16.3 million, or 7.8%, due to cutbacks and spending delays from several existing clients and a slower pace of conversion of new business, partially offset by client wins, and a negative impact from dispositions of $0.7 million, or 0.4%, partially offset by a positive foreign exchange impact of $1.8 million, or 0.9%.
The change in expenses as a percentage of revenue in the Global Integrated Agencies reportable segment for the three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 was as follows:
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
Change
Global Integrated Agencies
 
$
 
% of
Revenue
 
$
 
% of
Revenue
 
$
 
%
 
 
(Dollars in Millions)
Revenue
 
$
182.6

 
 
 
$
209.1

 
 
 
$
(26.5
)
 
(12.7
)%
Operating expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of services sold
 
122.3

 
67.0
%
 
149.6

 
71.6
%
 
(27.3
)
 
(18.2
)%
Office and general expenses
 
35.7

 
19.6
%
 
40.1

 
19.2
%
 
(4.4
)
 
(10.9
)%
Depreciation and amortization
 
5.3

 
2.9
%
 
5.6

 
2.7
%
 
(0.3
)
 
(4.6
)%
 
 
$
163.4

 
89.5
%
 
$
195.3

 
93.4
%
 
$
(31.9
)
 
(16.3
)%
Operating profit
 
$
19.2

 
10.5
%
 
$
13.8

 
6.6
%
 
$
5.4

 
39.2
 %
Operating profit in the Global Integrated Agencies reportable segment for the three months ended June 30, 2018 was $19.2 million compared to $13.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017, representing an increase of $5.4 million. The increase in operating profit and margin was largely due to lower expenses, as outline below, partially offset by a decline in revenue. The impact of the adoption of ASC 606 increased operating profit by $7.2 million. Excluding the impact of the adoption of ASC 606, operating profit would have been $12.0 million, representing a decrease of $1.8 million compared to 2017. Operating margins declined by 40 basis points from 6.6% for 2017 to 6.2% for 2018 on an adjusted basis.

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Table of Contents

The change in the categories of expenses as a percentage of revenue in the Global Integrated Agencies reportable segment for the three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 was as follows:
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
Change
Global Integrated Agencies
 
$
 
% of
Revenue
 
$
 
% of
Revenue
 
$
 
%
 
 
(Dollars in Millions)
Direct costs (1)
 
$
14.0

 
7.7
 %
 
$
38.1

 
18.2
%
 
$
(24.2
)
 
(63.3
)%
Staff costs (2)
 
119.2

 
65.3
 %
 
119.2

 
57.0
%
 
—

 
—
 %
Administrative
 
24.9

 
13.7
 %
 
27.3

 
13.1
%
 
(2.4
)
 
(8.8
)%
Deferred acquisition consideration
 
(2.6
)
 
(1.4
)%
 
2.0

 
0.9
%
 
(4.6
)
 
(233.2
)%
Stock-based compensation
 
2.6

 
1.4
 %
 
3.1

 
1.5
%
 
(0.5
)
 
(16.0
)%
Depreciation and amortization
 
5.3

 
2.9
 %
 
5.6

 
2.7
%
 
(0.3
)
 
(4.6
)%
Total operating expenses
 
$
163.4

 
89.5
 %
 
$
195.3

 
93.4
%
 
$
(31.9
)
 
(16.3
)%
(1)
Excludes staff costs.
(2)
Excludes stock-based compensation and is comprised of amounts reported in both cost of services and office and general expenses.
Direct costs in the Global Integrated Agencies reportable segment for the three months ended June 30, 2018 were $14.0 million compared to $38.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017, representing a decrease of $24.2 million, or 63.3%. As a percentage of revenue, direct costs decreased from 18.2% in 2017 to 7.7% in 2018. The decrease in direct costs was primarily due to the adoption of ASC 606 which resulted in a reduction of third party costs included in revenue of $18.8 million.
Deferred acquisition consideration in the Global Integrated Agencies reportable segment for the three months ended June 30, 2018 was income of $2.6 million compared to an expense of $2.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017, representing a change of $4.6 million. The change was primarily due to the aggregate under-performance of certain Partner Firms in 2018 relative to previously projected expectations.
Domestic Creative Agencies
Revenue in the Domestic Creative Agencies reportable segment was $26.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2018 compared to revenue of $25.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017, representing an increase of $0.9 million, or 3.5%. The impact of the adoption of ASC 606 increased revenue by $0.4 million. The other components of the change included a positive foreign exchange impact of $0.1 million, or 0.3% and growth in revenue growth from existing Partner Firms of $0.4 million, or 1.7%.
The change in expenses as a percentage of revenue in the Domestic Creative Agencies reportable segment for the three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 was as follows:
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
Change
Domestic Creative Agencies
 
$
 
% of
Revenue
 
$
 
% of
Revenue
 
$
 
%
 
 
(Dollars in Millions)
Revenue
 
$
26.4

 
 
 
$
25.5

 
 
 
$
0.9

 
3.5
 %
Operating expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of services sold
 
15.2

 
57.5
%
 
14.5

 
57.0
%
 
0.6

 
4.4
 %
Office and general expenses
 
5.8

 
22.1
%
 
5.6

 
21.9
%
 
0.2

 
4.2
 %
Depreciation and amortization
 
0.4

 
1.5
%
 
0.4

 
1.6
%
 
—

 
(1.7
)%
 
 
$
21.4

 
81.1
%
 
$
20.5

 
80.5
%
 
$
0.9

 
4.2
 %
Operating profit
 
$
5.0

 
18.9
%
 
$
5.0

 
19.5
%
 
$
—

 
0.7
 %
Operating profit in the Domestic Creative Agencies reportable segment for the three months ended June 30, 2018 was $5.0 million, which was flat relative to the three months ended June 30, 2017. Operating margins declined by 60 basis points from 19.5% in 2017 to 18.9% in 2018. The adoption of ASC 606 did not have a significant impact on operating profit which was flat period over period.

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Table of Contents

The change in the categories of expenses as a percentage of revenue in the Domestic Creative Agencies reportable segment for the three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 was as follows:
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
Change
Domestic Creative Agencies
 
$
 
% of
Revenue
 
$
 
% of
Revenue
 
$
 
%
 
 
(Dollars in Millions)
Direct costs (1)
 
$
1.0

 
3.7
%
 
$
1.0

 
3.9
%
 
$
—

 
(1.5
)%
Staff costs (2)
 
15.9

 
60.1
%
 
15.8

 
62.0
%
 
0.1

 
0.4
 %
Administrative
 
3.6

 
13.5
%
 
3.2

 
12.4
%
 
0.4

 
12.9
 %
Deferred acquisition consideration
 
—

 
—
%
 
—

 
—
%
 
—

 
(100.0
)%
Stock-based compensation
 
0.6

 
2.3
%
 
0.2

 
0.7
%
 
0.4

 
237.0
 %
Depreciation and amortization
 
0.4

 
1.4
%
 
0.4

 
1.6
%
 
—

 
(4.3
)%
Total operating expenses
 
$
21.4

 
81.1
%
 
$
20.5

 
80.5
%
 
$
0.9

 
4.2
 %
(1)
Excludes staff costs.
(2)
Excludes stock-based compensation and is comprised of amounts reported in both cost of services and office and general expenses.
Specialist Communications
Revenue in the Specialist Communications reportable segment was $43.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2018 compared to revenue of $44.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017, representing a decrease of $0.2 million, or 0.4%. The impact of the adoption of ASC 606 increased revenue by $4.7 million, or 10.7%. The other components of the change included a decline in revenue from Partner Firms of $5.2 million, or 11.9%, and a positive foreign exchange impact of $0.4 million, or 0.8%.
The change in expenses as a percentage of revenue in the Specialist Communications reportable segment for the three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 was as follows:
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
Change
Specialist Communications
 
$
 
% of
Revenue
 
$
 
% of
Revenue
 
$
 
%
 
 
(Dollars in Millions)
Revenue
 
$
43.9

 
 
 
$
44.1

 
 
 
$
(0.2
)
 
(0.4
)%
Operating expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of services sold
 
28.5

 
65.0
%
 
31.5

 
71.4
%
 
(3.0
)
 
(9.4
)%
Office and general expenses
 
8.6

 
19.6
%
 
7.1

 
16.1
%
 
1.5

 
21.1
 %
Depreciation and amortization
 
1.0

 
2.3
%
 
1.2

 
2.8
%
 
(0.2
)
 
(15.9
)%
 
 
$
38.2

 
86.9
%
 
$
39.8

 
90.3
%
 
$
(1.6
)
 
(4.1
)%
Operating profit
 
$
5.8

 
13.1
%
 
$
4.3

 
9.7
%
 
$
1.5

 
34.1
 %
Operating profit in the Specialist Communications reportable segment for the three months ended June 30, 2018 was $5.8 million compared to $4.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017, representing an increase of $1.5 million, or 34.1%. Operating margins improved by 340 basis points from 9.7% in 2017 to 13.1% in 2018. The increase in operating profit and margin was primarily due to a decrease in direct costs.

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Table of Contents

The change in the categories of expenses as a percentage of revenue in the Specialist Communications reportable segment for the three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 was as follows:
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
Change
Specialist Communications
 
$
 
% of
Revenue
 
$
 
% of
Revenue
 
$
 
%
 
 
(Dollars in Millions)
Direct costs (1)
 
$
10.0

 
22.7
%
 
$
12.0

 
27.2
%
 
$
(2.0
)
 
(16.7
)%
Staff costs (2)
 
21.0

 
47.9
%
 
20.1

 
45.5
%
 
0.9

 
4.7
 %
Administrative
 
5.7

 
13.0
%
 
5.3

 
12.0
%
 
0.4

 
7.3
 %
Deferred acquisition consideration
 
0.3

 
0.6
%
 
0.1

 
0.3
%
 
0.2

 
120.6
 %
Stock-based compensation
 
0.2

 
0.4
%
 
1.1

 
2.5
%
 
(0.9
)
 
(85.0
)%
Depreciation and amortization
 
1.0

 
2.3
%
 
1.2

 
2.8
%
 
(0.2
)
 
(15.9
)%
Total operating expenses
 
$
38.2

 
86.9
%
 
$
39.8

 
90.3
%
 
$
(1.6
)
 
(4.1
)%
(1)
Excludes staff costs.
(2)
Excludes stock-based compensation and is comprised of amounts reported in both cost of services and office and general expenses.
Media Services
Revenue in the Media Services reportable segment was $33.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2018 compared to revenue of $42.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017, representing a decrease of $9.4 million, or 21.9%. The impact of the adoption of ASC 606 reduced revenue by $0.7 million, or 1.7%. The other components of the change included a negative impact from the LocalBizNow disposition in the third quarter of 2017 of $4.5 million, or 10.4%, and a decline in revenue from existing Partner Firms of $4.5 million, or 10.5%. These declines were primarily due to delays in program spend by certain clients and a slower pace of conversion of new business.
The change in expenses as a percentage of revenue in the Media Services reportable segment for the three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 was as follows:
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
Change
Media Services
 
$
 
% of
Revenue
 
$
 
% of
Revenue
 
$
 
%
 
 
(Dollars in Millions)
Revenue
 
$
33.3

 
 
 
$
42.6

 
 
 
$
(9.4
)
 
(21.9
)%
Operating expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of services sold
 
25.0

 
74.9
 %
 
27.4

 
64.2
%
 
(2.4
)
 
(8.9
)%
Office and general expenses
 
8.8

 
26.3
 %
 
10.2

 
23.9
%
 
(1.4
)
 
(14.0
)%
Depreciation and amortization
 
0.8

 
2.3
 %
 
1.1

 
2.6
%
 
(0.3
)
 
(31.0
)%
 
 
$
34.5

 
103.6
 %
 
$
38.7

 
90.7
%
 
$
(4.2
)
 
(10.9
)%
Operating (loss) profit
 
$
(1.2
)
 
(3.6
)%
 
$
4.0

 
9.3
%
 
$
(5.1
)
 
(129.9
)%
Operating loss in the Media Services reportable segment for the three months ended June 30, 2018 was $1.2 million compared to an operating profit of $4.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017, representing a decrease of $5.1 million, or 129.9%. Operating margins declined from a profit margin of 9.3% in 2017 to a loss margin of 3.6% in 2018. The decrease in operating profit and margin was largely due to a decline in revenue, partially offset by a decline in direct costs pertaining to the LocalBizNow disposition. The adoption of ASC 606 did not have a significant impact on operating profit.

38
Table of Contents

The change in the categories of expenses as a percentage of revenue in the Media Services reportable segment for the three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 was as follows:
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
Change
Media Services
 
$
 
% of
Revenue
 
$
 
% of
Revenue
 
$
 
%
 
 
(Dollars in Millions)
Direct costs (1)
 
$
8.1

 
24.4
%
 
$
10.8

 
25.2
%
 
$
(2.6
)
 
(24.4
)%
Staff costs (2)
 
20.2

 
60.8
%
 
20.7

 
48.4
%
 
(0.4
)
 
(2.0
)%
Administrative
 
5.1

 
15.4
%
 
5.9

 
13.7
%
 
(0.7
)
 
(12.8
)%
Deferred acquisition consideration
 
0.1

 
0.4
%
 
0.1

 
0.3
%
 
—

 
(11.7
)%
Stock-based compensation
 
0.1

 
0.3
%
 
0.2

 
0.4
%
 
(0.1
)
 
(48.2
)%
Depreciation and amortization
 
0.8

 
2.3
%
 
1.1

 
2.6
%
 
(0.3
)
 
(31.0
)%
Total operating expenses
 
$
34.5

 
103.6
%
 
$
38.7

 
90.7
%
 
$
(4.2
)
 
(10.9
)%
(1)
Excludes staff costs.
(2)
Excludes stock-based compensation and is comprised of amounts reported in both cost of services and office and general expenses.
All Other
Revenue in the All Other category was $93.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2018 compared to revenue of $69.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017, representing an increase of $24.3 million, or 35.2%. The impact of the adoption of ASC 606 decreased revenue by $2.9 million, or 4.1%. The other components of the change included revenue growth from existing Partner Firms of $15.5 million, or 22.4%, primarily in experiential and healthcare, revenue contributions of $11.1 million from an acquired Partner Firm, and a positive foreign exchange impact of $0.6 million, or 0.8%, partially offset by a negative impact from dispositions of $0.4 million, or 0.6%.
The change in expenses as a percentage of revenue in the All Other category for the three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 was as follows:
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
Change
All Other
 
$
 
% of
Revenue
 
$
 
% of
Revenue
 
$
 
%
 
 
(Dollars in Millions)
Revenue
 
$
93.5

 
 
 
$
69.2

 
 
 
$
24.3

 
35.2
 %
Operating expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of services sold
 
62.4

 
66.7
%
 
44.8

 
64.7
%
 
17.6

 
39.3
 %
Office and general expenses
 
12.0

 
12.8
%
 
13.2

 
19.1
%
 
(1.2
)
 
(9.2
)%
Depreciation and amortization
 
4.0

 
4.3
%
 
2.1

 
3.1
%
 
1.9

 
87.7
 %
 
 
$
78.4

 
83.8
%
 
$
60.1

 
86.9
%
 
$
18.3

 
30.4
 %
Operating profit
 
$
15.1

 
16.2
%
 
$
9.0

 
13.1
%
 
$
6.1

 
67.1
 %
Operating profit in the All Other category for the three months ended June 30, 2018 was $15.1 million compared to of $9.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017, representing an increase of $6.1 million. Operating margins increased by 310 basis points from 13.1% in 2017 to 16.2% in 2018. The increase in operating margins was primarily due to increased revenue and decreased deferred acquisition consideration, partially offset by increased direct costs and staff costs. The impact of the adoption of ASC 606 increased operating profit by $2.9 million. Excluding the impact of adoption, the increase in operating profit was largely due to a decline in deferred acquisition consideration adjustments.

39
Table of Contents

The change in the categories of expenses as a percentage of revenue in the All Other category for the three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 was as follows:
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
Change
All Other
 
$
 
% of
Revenue
 
$
 
% of
Revenue
 
$
 
%
 
 
(Dollars in Millions)
Direct costs (1)
 
$
19.5

 
20.9
 %
 
$
14.0

 
20.3
%
 
$
5.5

 
39.3
 %
Staff costs (2)
 
48.3

 
51.6
 %
 
34.3

 
49.6
%
 
14.0

 
40.7
 %
Administrative
 
8.5

 
9.1
 %
 
7.1

 
10.3
%
 
1.4

 
19.6
 %
Deferred acquisition consideration
 
(2.9
)
 
(3.1
)%
 
2.1

 
3.0
%
 
(4.9
)
 
(238.5
)%
Stock-based compensation
 
0.9

 
1.0
 %
 
0.5

 
0.7
%
 
0.4

 
84.1
 %
Depreciation and amortization
 
4.0

 
4.3
 %
 
2.1

 
3.1
%
 
1.9

 
87.7
 %
Total operating expenses
 
$
78.4

 
83.8
 %
 
$
60.1

 
86.9
%
 
$
18.3

 
30.4
 %
(1)
Excludes staff costs.
(2)
Excludes stock-based compensation and is comprised of amounts reported in both cost of services and office and general expenses.
Direct costs in the All Other category for the three months ended June 30, 2018 were $19.5 million compared to $14.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017, representing an increase of $5.5 million, or 39.3%. As a percentage of revenue, direct costs increased from 20.3% in 2017 to 20.9% in 2018. The change was due to an increase in costs incurred on the client’s behalf from some of our Partner Firms acting as principal.
Staff costs in the All Other category for the three months ended June 30, 2018 were $48.3 million compared to $34.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017, representing an increase of $14.0 million, or 40.7%. As a percentage of revenue, staff costs increased from 49.6% in 2017 to 51.6% in 2018. The change was due to contributions from an acquired Partner Firm and increased staffing for certain Partner Firms to support revenue growth.
Deferred acquisition consideration in the All Other category for the three months ended June 30, 2018 was income of $2.9 million compared to an expense of $2.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017, representing a change of $4.9 million. The change was primarily due to the aggregate under-performance of certain Partner Firms in 2018 relative to the previously projected expectations.
Corporate
The change in operating expenses for Corporate for the three months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 was as follows:
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
Variance
Corporate
 
$
 
$
 
$
 
%
 
 
(Dollars in Millions)
Staff costs (1)
 
$
6.4

 
$
5.3

 
$
1.1

 
20.1
 %
Administrative
 
5.4

 
3.6

 
1.8

 
51.0
 %
Stock-based compensation
 
1.2

 
0.5

 
0.7

 
136.2
 %
Depreciation and amortization
 
0.2

 
0.3

 
(0.1
)
 
(46.5
)%
Total operating expenses
 
$
13.1

 
$
9.7

 
$
3.5

 
35.6
 %
(1)
Excludes stock-based compensation.
Total operating expenses for Corporate for the three months ended June 30, 2018 were $13.1 million compared to $9.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017, representing an increase of $3.5 million, or 35.6%.
Staff costs for Corporate for the three months ended June 30, 2018 were $6.4 million compared to $5.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017, representing an increase of $1.1 million, or 20.1%. The increase was primarily due to increased executive incentive compensation over the prior year period.
Administrative costs for Corporate for the three months ended June 30, 2018 were $5.4 million compared to $3.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017, representing an increase of $1.8 million, or 51.0%. This increase was primarily related to

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an increase in professional fees of $1.5 million, inclusive of fees related to the implementation of ASC 606, which was adopted effective January 1, 2018.
Other, Net
Other, net, for the three months ended June 30, 2018 was expense of $6.0 million compared to income of $6.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017, representing a change of $12.6 million. The change was primarily related to a foreign exchange loss of $6.5 million in 2018 compared to a foreign exchange gain of $6.4 million in 2017. The foreign exchange loss in 2018 primarily relates to U.S. dollar denominated indebtedness that is an obligation of our Canadian parent company and was driven by the strengthening of the Canadian dollar over the U.S. dollar in the period.
Interest Expense and Finance Charges, Net
Interest expense and finance charges, net, for the three months ended June 30, 2018 was $16.9 million compared to $15.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017, representing an increase of $1.4 million.
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)
The Company’s effective tax rate for the three months ended June 30, 2018 was 24.8% compared to 26.6% for the three months ended June 30, 2017, representing a decrease of 1.8%. Income tax expense for the three months ended June 30, 2018 was $2.0 million compared to $4.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017, representing a decrease of $2.6 million.  The variance in the effective tax rate year over year was primarily driven by certain discrete items in the current and prior period related to the remeasurement of tax balances as well as the benefit of U.S. losses which are no longer subject to a valuation allowance.
Equity in Earnings (Losses) of Non-Consolidated Affiliates
Equity in earnings (losses) of non-consolidated affiliates represents the income attributable to equity-accounted affiliate operations. The Company recorded a minimal loss for the three months ended June 30, 2018 compared to income of $0.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017.
Noncontrolling Interests
The effect of noncontrolling interests for the three months ended June 30, 2018 was $2.5 million compared to $2.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2017.

Net Income Attributable to MDC Partners Inc. Common Shareholders
As a result of the foregoing, net income attributable to MDC Partners Inc. common shareholders for the three months ended June 30, 2018 was $1.1 million, or $0.02 per diluted share, compared to net income attributable to MDC Partners Inc. common shareholders of $8.0 million, or $0.14 per diluted share, for the three months ended June 30, 2017.

Six Months Ended June 30, 2018 Compared to Six Months Ended June 30, 2017
Revenue was $706.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018 compared to revenue of $735.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017, representing a decrease of $28.5 million, or 3.9%. The impact of the adoption of ASC 606 reduced revenue by $31.0 million, or 4.2%, primarily due to the shift in treatment of third party costs from principal to agent for various client arrangements of certain Partner Firms and timing of revenue recognition. The other components of the change in revenue included revenue contributions from an acquired Partner Firm of $11.1 million and a positive foreign exchange impact of $8.6 million, or 1.2%, partially offset by a negative impact from dispositions of $10.9 million, or 1.5% and revenue decline from existing Partner Firms of $6.8 million, or 0.9%.
Operating profit for the six months ended June 30, 2018 was $16.1 million compared to an operating profit of $34.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017, representing a decrease of $18.6 million. The change was primarily driven by a decline in operating profit in the Advertising and Communications Group of $9.7 million and an increase in Corporate operating expenses of $9.0 million, including impairment of a long-lived asset of $2.3 million recognized during the first quarter of 2018. The impact of the adoption of ASC 606 increased operating profit by $3.0 million. Excluding the impact of the adoption of ASC 606, operating profit would have been $13.1 million, representing a decrease of $21.7 million compared to 2017.

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Net loss was $22.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018 compared to net income of $3.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017, representing a decline in net income of $26.4 million. The decrease was primarily attributable to a negative impact from foreign exchange of $22.1 million and a decline in operating profit of $18.6 million, partially offset by a favorable change from income taxes of $15.0 million.
Net loss attributable to MDC Partners Inc. common shareholders was $30.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018 compared to $1.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017, representing a net loss increase of $28.4 million. The change was primarily driven by the fluctuations detailed above.
Advertising and Communications Group
The following discussion provides additional detailed disclosure for each of the Company’s four (4) reportable segments, plus the “All Other” category, within the Advertising and Communications Group.
Revenue was $706.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018 compared to revenue of $735.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017, representing a decrease of $28.5 million, or 3.9%. The impact of the adoption of ASC 606 reduced revenue by $31.0 million, or 4.2%, primarily due to the shift in treatment of third party costs from principal to agent for various client arrangements of certain Partner Firms and timing of revenue recognition. The other components of the change in revenue included revenue contributions from an acquired Partner Firm of $11.1 million and a positive foreign exchange impact of $8.6 million, or 1.2%, partially offset by a negative impact from dispositions of $10.9 million, or 1.5% and a decline in revenue from existing Partner Firms of $6.8 million, or 0.9%. Excluding the impact of the adoption of ASC 606, revenue growth was attributable to new client wins, partially offset by cutbacks and delays from several existing clients. There was wide variation in performance by client sector. Excluding the impact of the adoption of ASC 606, revenue growth was led by transportation and travel/lodging, healthcare, and financials, partially offset by declines led by automotive, communications, and consumer products.
Revenue growth in the Advertising and Communications Group was mixed across the geographic regions with growth in Canada of 4.2%, offset by declines of 4.7% and 3.6% in the United States and other regions outside of North America, respectively. The adoption of ASC 606 had a significant impact on reported growth rates for all geographic regions. The impact increased revenue in Canada by 4.4%, and decreased revenue in the United States and outside of North America by 2.7% and 19.5%, respectively.
The Company also utilizes non-GAAP metrics called organic revenue growth (decline) and non-GAAP acquisitions (dispositions), net, as defined above. For the six months ended June 30, 2018, organic revenue declined $3.4 million, or 0.5%, of which $6.8 million, or 0.9% pertained to Partner Firms which the Company has owned throughout each of the comparable periods presented. The remaining organic revenue growth of $3.4 million, or 0.5% was generated from an acquired Partner Firm. The other components of non-GAAP activity included a negative non-GAAP acquisition (disposition), net adjustment of $2.8 million, or 0.4%, and a positive foreign exchange impact of $8.6 million, or 1.2%.
The components of the fluctuations in revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2018 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2017 are as follows:
 
Total
 
United States
 
Canada
 
Other
 
$
 
%
 
$
 
%
 
$
 
%
 
$
 
%
 
(Dollars in Millions)
June 30, 2017
$
735.2

 
 
 
$
579.1

 
 
 
$
57.1

 
 
 
$
99.0

 
 
Components of revenue change:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign exchange impact
8.6

 
1.2
 %
 
—

 
—
 %
 
2.4

 
4.2
 %
 
6.2

 
6.3
 %
Non-GAAP acquisitions (dispositions), net
(2.8
)
 
(0.4
)%
 
$
(0.8
)
 
(0.1
)%
 
—

 
—
 %
 
(1.9
)
 
(1.9
)%
Impact of adoption of ASC 606
(31.0
)
 
(4.2
)%
 
(15.0
)
 
(2.6
)%
 
2.6

 
4.6
 %
 
(18.6
)
 
(18.8
)%
Organic revenue growth (decline)
(3.4
)
 
(0.5
)%
 
(11.5
)
 
(2.0
)%
 
(2.6
)
 
(4.6
)%
 
10.7

 
10.8
 %
Total Change
$
(28.5
)
 
(3.9
)%
 
$
(27.4
)
 
(4.7
)%
 
$
2.4

 
4.2
 %
 
$
(3.6
)
 
(3.6
)%
June 30, 2018
$
706.7

 

 
$
551.8

 

 
$
59.5

 

 
$
95.5

 


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The table below provides a reconciliation between the revenue in the Advertising and Communications Group from acquired businesses in the statement of operations to non-GAAP acquisitions (dispositions), net for the six months ended June 30, 2018:
 
Global Integrated Agencies
 
Media Services
 
All Other
 
Total
 
(Dollars in Millions)
GAAP revenue from 2018 acquisitions
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
11.1

 
$
11.1

Impact from adoption of ASC 606
—

 
—

 
0.5

 
0.5

Contribution to non-GAAP organic revenue (growth) decline (2)
—

 
—

—

(3.4
)
—

(3.4
)
Prior year revenue from dispositions
(1.9
)
 
(8.2
)
 
(0.8
)
 
(10.9
)
Non-GAAP acquisitions (dispositions), net
$
(1.9
)
 
$
(8.2
)
 
$
7.3

 
$
(2.8
)
The geographic mix in revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 is as follows:
 
2018
 
2017
United States
78.1
%
 
78.8
%
Canada
8.4
%
 
7.8
%
Other
13.5
%
 
13.4
%
Organic revenue decline in the Advertising and Communications Group was primarily due to a cutbacks and spending delays from several existing clients and a slower pace of conversion of new business. The United States and Canada had organic revenue decline of 2.0% and 4.6%, respectively. Organic revenue growth outside of North America was 10.8% as we continue to extend capabilities into new markets throughout Europe, South America, Australia, and Asia.
The positive foreign exchange impact of $8.6 million, or 1.2%, was primarily due to the strengthening of the Swedish Króna, the Canadian dollar, the British Pound, and the European Euro against the U.S. dollar.
The change in expenses as a percentage of revenue in the Advertising and Communications Group for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 was as follows:
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
Change
Advertising and Communications Group
 
$
 
% of
Revenue
 
$
 
% of
Revenue
 
$
 
%
 
 
(Dollars in Millions)
Revenue
 
$
706.7

 
 
 
$
735.2

 
 
 
$
(28.5
)
 
(3.9
)%
Operating expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of services sold
 
496.4

 
70.2
%
 
505.4

 
68.7
%
 
(9.0
)
 
(1.8
)%
Office and general expenses
 
143.2

 
20.3
%
 
155.7

 
21.2
%
 
(12.5
)
 
(8.0
)%
Depreciation and amortization
 
23.7

 
3.4
%
 
21.1

 
2.9
%
 
2.6

 
12.5
 %
 
 
$
663.4

 
93.9
%
 
$
682.2

 
92.8
%
 
$
(18.8
)
 
(2.8
)%
Operating profit
 
$
43.4

 
6.1
%
 
$
53.0

 
7.2
%
 
$
(9.7
)
 
(18.3
)%
Operating profit in the Advertising and Communications Group for the six months ended June 30, 2018 was $43.4 million compared to an operating profit of $53.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017, representing a decrease of $9.7 million, or 18.3%. The impact of the adoption of ASC 606 increased operating profit by $3.0 million. The decrease in operating profit and margin was largely due to a decline in revenue, partially offset by a decreased in operating costs, as outlined below. Excluding the impact of the adoption of ASC 606, operating profit would have been $40.4 million, representing a decrease of $12.6 million compared to 2017. Operating margins declined by 170 basis points 7.2% in 2017 to 5.5% in 2018 on an adjusted basis.

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The change in the categories of expenses as a percentage of revenue in the Advertising and Communications Group for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 was as follows:
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
Change
Advertising and Communications Group
 
$
 
% of
Revenue
 
$
 
% of
Revenue
 
$
 
%
 
 
(Dollars in Millions)
Direct costs (1)
 
$
101.1

 
14.3
 %
 
$
129.9

 
17.7
%
 
$
(28.8
)
 
(22.2
)%
Staff costs (2)
 
437.7

 
61.9
 %
 
411.6

 
56.0
%
 
26.1

 
6.3
 %
Administrative
 
95.2

 
13.5
 %
 
94.5

 
12.9
%
 
0.7

 
0.7
 %
Deferred acquisition consideration
 
(2.5
)
 
(0.4
)%
 
15.7

 
2.1
%
 
(18.2
)
 
(115.8
)%
Stock-based compensation
 
8.2

 
1.2
 %
 
9.4

 
1.3
%
 
(1.2
)
 
(12.8
)%
Depreciation and amortization
 
23.7

 
3.4
 %
 
21.1

 
2.9
%
 
2.6

 
12.5
 %
Total operating expenses
 
$
663.4

 
93.9
 %
 
$
682.2

 
92.8
%
 
$
(18.8
)
 
(2.8
)%
(1)
Excludes staff costs.
(2)
Excludes stock-based compensation and is comprised of amounts reported in both cost of services and office and general expenses.
Direct costs in the Advertising and Communications Group for the six months ended June 30, 2018 were $101.1 million compared to $129.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017, representing a decrease of $28.8 million, or 22.2%. As a percentage of revenue, direct costs decreased from 17.7% in 2017 to 14.3% in 2018. The decrease in direct costs was primarily due to the adoption of ASC 606 in which various client arrangements of certain Partner Firms previously accounted for as principal are accounted for as agent under ASC 606. The change resulted in a decrease in third party costs included in revenue of $34.0 million.
Staff costs in the Advertising and Communications Group for the six months ended June 30, 2018 were $437.7 million compared to $411.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017, representing an increase of $26.1 million, or 6.3%. As a percentage of revenue, staff costs increased from 56.0% in 2017 to 61.9% in 2018, partially due to the impact of the adoption of ASC 606. The increase in staff costs and as a percentage of revenue was primarily due to contributions from an acquired Partner Firm and higher costs to support the growth of certain Partner Firms, partially offset by staffing reductions at other firms.
Deferred acquisition consideration in the Advertising and Communications Group for the six months ended June 30, 2018 was income of $2.5 million compared to an expense $15.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017, representing a change of $18.2 million. The change pertained to amendments to purchase agreements of previously acquired incremental ownership interests entered into during 2017, as well as an increased estimated liability in 2017 driven by the decrease in the Company’s stock price pertaining to an acquired Partner Firm in which the Company used its equity as purchase consideration. These changes were partially offset by the aggregate under-performance of certain Partner Firms in 2018 relative to the previously projected expectations.
Depreciation and amortization expense in the Advertising and Communications Group for the six months ended June 30, 2018 was $23.7 million compared to $21.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017, representing an increase of $2.6 million.
Stock-based compensation in the Advertising and Communications Group remained consistent at approximately 1.2% of revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and for the six months ended June 30, 2017.
Global Integrated Agencies
Revenue in the Global Integrated Agencies reportable segment was $333.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018 compared to revenue of $388.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017, representing a decrease of $55.4 million, or 14.3%. The impact of the adoption of ASC 606 reduced revenue by $33.8 million, or 8.7%. The other components of change included a decline in revenue from existing Partner Firms of $25.5 million, or 6.6%, due to cutbacks and spending delays from several existing clients and a slower pace of conversion of new business, partially offset by client wins, and a negative impact from dispositions of $1.9 million, or 0.5%, partially offset by a positive foreign exchange impact of $5.8 million, or 1.5%.

44
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The change in expenses as a percentage of revenue in the Global Integrated Agencies reportable segment for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 was as follows:
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
Change
Global Integrated Agencies
 
$
 
% of
Revenue
 
$
 
% of
Revenue
 
$
 
%
 
 
(Dollars in Millions)
Revenue
 
$
333.0

 
 
 
$
388.3

 
 
 
$
(55.4
)
 
(14.3
)%
Operating expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of services sold
 
242.8

 
72.9
%
 
279.5

 
72.0
%
 
(36.7
)
 
(13.1
)%
Office and general expenses
 
73.3

 
22.0
%
 
84.1

 
21.6
%
 
(10.7
)
 
(12.8
)%
Depreciation and amortization
 
13.3

 
4.0
%
 
11.5

 
3.0
%
 
1.8

 
15.6
 %
 
 
$
329.5

 
99.0
%
 
$
375.1

 
96.6
%
 
$
(45.6
)
 
(12.2
)%
Operating profit
 
$
3.5

 
1.0
%
 
$
13.2

 
3.4
%
 
$
(9.7
)
 
(73.7
)%
Operating profit in the Global Integrated Agencies reportable segment for the six months ended June 30, 2018 was $3.5 million compared to $13.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017, representing a decrease of $9.7 million. The decrease in operating profit and margin was due to a decline in revenue, partially offset by decreased costs, as outlined below. The impact of the adoption of ASC 606 increased operating profit by $0.2 million. Excluding the impact of the adoption of ASC 606, operating profit would have been $3.3 million, representing a decrease of $9.9 million compared to 2017. Operating margins declined by 250 basis points 3.4% for 2017 to 0.9% for 2018 on an adjusted basis. .
The change in the categories of expenses as a percentage of revenue in the Global Integrated Agencies reportable segment for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 was as follows:
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
Change
Global Integrated Agencies
 
$
 
% of
Revenue
 
$
 
% of
Revenue
 
$
 
%
 
 
(Dollars in Millions)
Direct costs (1)
 
$
22.7

 
6.8
 %
 
$
60.6

 
15.6
%
 
$
(37.9
)
 
(62.6
)%
Staff costs (2)
 
238.5

 
71.6
 %
 
234.1

 
60.3
%
 
4.4

 
1.9
 %
Administrative
 
51.0

 
15.3
 %
 
52.3

 
13.5
%
 
(1.3
)
 
(2.5
)%
Deferred acquisition consideration
 
(1.2
)
 
(0.4
)%
 
10.5

 
2.7
%
 
(11.6
)
 
(111.2
)%
Stock-based compensation
 
5.1

 
1.5
 %
 
6.1

 
1.6
%
 
(0.9
)
 
(15.4
)%
Depreciation and amortization
 
13.3

 
4.0
 %
 
11.5

 
3.0
%
 
1.8

 
15.6
 %
Total operating expenses
 
$
329.5

 
99.0
 %
 
$
375.1

 
96.6
%
 
$
(45.6
)
 
(12.2
)%
(1)
Excludes staff costs.
(2)
Excludes stock-based compensation and is comprised of amounts reported in both cost of services and office and general expenses.
Direct costs in the Global Integrated Agencies reportable segment for the six months ended June 30, 2018 were $22.7 million compared to $60.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017 representing a decrease of $37.9 million, or 62.6%. As a percentage of revenue, direct costs decreased from 15.6% in 2017 to 6.8% in 2018. The decrease in direct costs was primarily due to the adoption of ASC 606 which resulted in a reduction of third party costs included in revenue of $34.0 million.
Staff costs in the Global Integrated Agencies reportable segment for the six months ended June 30, 2018 were $238.5 million compared to $234.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017, representing an increase of $4.4 million, or 1.9%. As a percentage of revenue, staff costs increased from 60.3% in 2017 to 71.6% in 2018 partially due to the impact of the adoption of ASC 606. The increase in staff costs and as a percentage of revenue was primarily due to higher costs to support the growth of certain Partner Firms, partially offset by staffing reductions at other firms.
Deferred acquisition consideration in the Global Integrated Agencies reportable segment for the six months ended June 30, 2018 was income of $1.2 million compared to an expense of $10.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017, representing a change of $11.6 million, or 111.2%. The change pertained to amendments to purchase agreements of previously acquired incremental ownership interests entered into during 2017, as well as an increased estimated liability in 2017 driven by the decrease in the Company’s stock price pertaining to an acquired Partner Firm in which the Company used its equity as purchase consideration.

45
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These changes were partially offset by the aggregate under-performance of certain Partner Firms in 2018 relative to the previously projected expectations.
Domestic Creative Agencies
Revenue in the Domestic Creative Agencies reportable segment was $50.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018 compared to revenue of $49.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017, representing an increase of $1.5 million, or 3.0%. The impact of the adoption of ASC 606 increased revenue by $1.4 million, or 2.9%. The other components of the change included a positive foreign exchange impact of $0.2 million, or 0.4%, offset by a decline in revenue growth from existing Partner Firms of $0.1 million, or 0.3%.
The change in expenses as a percentage of revenue in the Domestic Creative Agencies reportable segment for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 was as follows:
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
Change
Domestic Creative Agencies
 
$
 
% of
Revenue
 
$
 
% of
Revenue
 
$
 
%
 
 
(Dollars in Millions)
Revenue
 
$
50.7

 
 
 
$
49.2

 
 
 
$
1.5

 
3.0
 %
Operating expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of services sold
 
30.2

 
59.5
%
 
28.4

 
57.8
%
 
1.7

 
6.0
 %
Office and general expenses
 
10.8

 
21.4
%
 
11.2

 
22.8
%
 
(0.4
)
 
(3.2
)%
Depreciation and amortization
 
0.8

 
1.6
%
 
0.8

 
1.6
%
 
—

 
(1.0
)%
 
 
$
41.8

 
82.4
%
 
$
40.4

 
82.2
%
 
$
1.3

 
3.3
 %
Operating profit
 
$
8.9

 
17.6
%
 
$
8.8

 
17.8
%
 
$
0.1

 
1.5
 %
Operating profit in the Domestic Creative Agencies reportable segment for the six months ended June 30, 2018 was $8.9 million, which was flat relative to the six months ended June 30, 2017. Operating margins declined by 20 basis points from 17.8% in 2017 to 17.6% in 2018. The adoption of ASC 606 did not have a significant impact on operating profit which was flat period over period.
The change in the categories of expenses as a percentage of revenue in the Domestic Creative Agencies reportable segment for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 was as follows:
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
Change
Domestic Creative Agencies
 
$
 
% of
Revenue
 
$
 
% of
Revenue
 
$
 
%
 
 
(Dollars in Millions)
Direct costs (1)
 
$
1.8

 
3.5
%
 
$
1.9

 
3.9
%
 
$
(0.2
)
 
(7.9
)%
Staff costs (2)
 
32.1

 
63.3
%
 
31.0

 
62.9
%
 
1.1

 
3.6
 %
Administrative
 
6.4

 
12.6
%
 
6.1

 
12.3
%
 
0.3

 
5.3
 %
Deferred acquisition consideration
 
—

 
—
%
 
0.4

 
0.7
%
 
(0.4
)
 
(100.0
)%
Stock-based compensation
 
0.8

 
1.5
%
 
0.3

 
0.7
%
 
0.4

 
122.5
 %
Depreciation and amortization
 
0.8

 
1.6
%
 
0.8

 
1.6
%
 
—

 
(1.0
)%
Total operating expenses
 
$
41.8

 
82.4
%
 
$
40.4

 
82.2
%
 
$
1.3

 
3.3
 %
(1)
Excludes staff costs.
(2)
Excludes stock-based compensation and is comprised of amounts reported in both cost of services and office and general expenses.
Specialist Communications
Revenue in the Specialist Communications reportable segment was $87.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018 compared to revenue of $84.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017, representing an increase of $2.3 million, or 2.7%. The impact of the adoption of ASC 606 increased revenue by $4.6 million, or 5.4%. The other components of the change included revenue decline from Partner Firms of $3.0 million, or 3.6%, and a positive foreign exchange impact of $0.7 million, or 0.9%.

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The change in expenses as a percentage of revenue in the Specialist Communications reportable segment for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 was as follows:
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
Change
Specialist Communications
 
$
 
% of
Revenue
 
$
 
% of
Revenue
 
$
 
%
 
 
(Dollars in Millions)
Revenue
 
$
87.1

 
 
 
$
84.8

 
 
 
$
2.3

 
2.7
 %
Operating expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of services sold
 
58.3

 
66.9
%
 
58.8

 
69.3
%
 
(0.5
)
 
(0.9
)%
Office and general expenses
 
17.0

 
19.5
%
 
15.0

 
17.6
%
 
2.1

 
13.7
 %
Depreciation and amortization
 
2.0

 
2.3
%
 
2.4

 
2.9
%
 
(0.4
)
 
(16.7
)%
 
 
$
77.3

 
88.8
%
 
$
76.2

 
89.8
%
 
$
1.1

 
1.5
 %
Operating profit
 
$
9.8

 
11.2
%
 
$
8.6

 
10.2
%
 
$
1.1

 
13.3
 %
Operating profit in the Specialist Communications reportable segment for the six months ended June 30, 2018 was $9.8 million compared to $8.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017, representing an increase of $1.1 million, or 13.3%. The impact of the adoption of ASC 606 increased operating profit by $4.6 million. Excluding the impact of the adoption of ASC 606, operating profit would have been $5.2 million, representing a decrease of $3.4 million compared to 2017. Operating margins declined by 390 basis points from 10.2% in 2017 to 6.3% in 2018 on an adjusted basis. Excluding the impact of the adoption of ASC 606, the decrease in operating profit was primarily due to decline in revenue and an increase in staff costs.
The change in the categories of expenses as a percentage of revenue in the Specialist Communications reportable segment for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 was as follows:
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
Change
Specialist Communications
 
$
 
% of
Revenue
 
$
 
% of
Revenue
 
$
 
%
 
 
(Dollars in Millions)
Direct costs (1)
 
$
20.3

 
23.4
%
 
$
20.8

 
24.5
%
 
$
(0.4
)
 
(2.1
)%
Staff costs (2)
 
42.3

 
48.6
%
 
40.1

 
47.3
%
 
2.2

 
5.4
 %
Administrative
 
11.3

 
13.0
%
 
10.7

 
12.7
%
 
0.6

 
5.2
 %
Deferred acquisition consideration
 
0.8

 
0.9
%
 
0.5

 
0.6
%
 
0.3

 
71.5
 %
Stock-based compensation
 
0.5

 
0.6
%
 
1.6

 
1.9
%
 
(1.1
)
 
(68.9
)%
Depreciation and amortization
 
2.0

 
2.3
%
 
2.4

 
2.9
%
 
(0.4
)
 
(16.7
)%
Total operating expenses
 
$
77.3

 
88.8
%
 
$
76.2

 
89.8
%
 
$
1.1

 
1.5
 %
(1)
Excludes staff costs.
(2)
Excludes stock-based compensation and is comprised of amounts reported in both cost of services and office and general expenses.
Staff costs in the Specialist Communications reportable segment for the six months ended June 30, 2018 were $42.3 million compared to $40.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017, representing an increase of $2.2 million, or 5.4%. The increase in staff costs are primarily due to higher headcount at certain Partner Firms to support the growth of their businesses.
Media Services
Revenue in the Media Services reportable segment was $69.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018 compared to revenue of $83.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017, representing a decrease of $14.5 million, or 17.2%. The impact of the adoption of ASC 606 reduced revenue by $0.7 million, or 0.9%. The other components of the change included a negative impact from the LocalBizNow disposition in the third quarter of 2017 of $8.2 million, or 9.7%, and a decline in revenue from existing Partner Firms of $6.2 million, or 7.4%.
The change in expenses as a percentage of revenue in the Media Services reportable segment for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 was as follows:

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2018
 
2017
 
Change
Media Services
 
$
 
% of
Revenue
 
$
 
% of
Revenue
 
$
 
%
 
 
(Dollars in Millions)
Revenue
 
$
69.4

 
 
 
$
83.9

 
 
 
$
(14.5
)
 
(17.2
)%
Operating expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of services sold
 
51.8

 
74.5
 %
 
54.8

 
65.3
%
 
(3.0
)
 
(5.5
)%
Office and general expenses
 
17.1

 
24.7
 %
 
20.3

 
24.1
%
 
(3.1
)
 
(15.5
)%
Depreciation and amortization
 
1.5

 
2.2
 %
 
2.2

 
2.6
%
 
(0.7
)
 
(30.9
)%
 
 
$
70.4

 
101.4
 %
 
$
77.3

 
92.1
%
 
$
(6.9
)
 
(8.9
)%
Operating (loss) profit
 
$
(1.0
)
 
(1.4
)%
 
$
6.6

 
7.9
%
 
$
(7.6
)
 
(114.8
)%
Operating loss in the Media Services reportable segment for the six months ended June 30, 2018 was $1.0 million compared to operating profit of $6.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017, representing a decrease of $7.6 million, or 114.8%. Operating margins declined from a profit margin of 7.9% in 2017 to a loss margin of 1.4% in 2018. The decrease in operating profit and margin was largely due to a decline in revenue and an increase in direct costs as a percentage of revenue, partially offset by a decrease in direct costs and staff costs.
The adoption of ASC 606 did not have a significant impact on operating profit.
The change in the categories of expenses as a percentage of revenue in the Media Services reportable segment for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 was as follows:
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
Change
Media Services
 
$
 
% of
Revenue
 
$
 
% of
Revenue
 
$
 
%
 
 
(Dollars in Millions)
Direct costs (1)
 
$
18.5

 
26.6
%
 
$
21.1

 
25.1
%
 
$
(2.6
)
 
(12.4
)%
Staff costs (2)
 
39.5

 
56.9
%
 
41.3

 
49.2
%
 
(1.8
)
 
(4.3
)%
Administrative
 
10.5

 
15.2
%
 
12.0

 
14.4
%
 
(1.5
)
 
(12.6
)%
Deferred acquisition consideration
 
0.2

 
0.3
%
 
0.3

 
0.4
%
 
(0.1
)
 
(33.1
)%
Stock-based compensation
 
0.2

 
0.2
%
 
0.3

 
0.4
%
 
(0.2
)
 
(49.3
)%
Depreciation and amortization
 
1.5

 
2.2
%
 
2.2

 
2.6
%
 
(0.7
)
 
(30.9
)%
Total operating expenses
 
$
70.4

 
101.4
%
 
$
77.3

 
92.1
%
 
$
(6.9
)
 
(8.9
)%
(1)
Excludes staff costs.
(2)
Excludes stock-based compensation and is comprised of amounts reported in both cost of services and office and general expenses.
Direct costs in the Media Services reportable segment for the six months ended June 30, 2018 were $18.5 million compared to $21.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017, representing a decreased of $2.6 million, or 12.4%. The decrease in direct costs are primarily due to the disposition of LocalBizNow.
All Other
Revenue in the All Other category was $166.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2018 compared to revenue of $129.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017, representing an increase of $37.5 million, or 29.1%. The impact of the adoption of ASC 606 reduced revenue by $2.5 million, or 1.9%. The other components of the change included revenue growth from existing Partner Firms of $31.5 million, or 24.4%, primarily in experiential and healthcare, revenue contributions from an acquired Partner Firm of $11.1 million, and a positive impact from foreign exchange of $1.3 million, or 1.0%, partially offset by a negative impact from dispositions of $0.8 million, or 0.6%.

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The change in expenses as a percentage of revenue in the All Other category for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 was as follows:
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
Change
All Other
 
$
 
% of
Revenue
 
$
 
% of
Revenue
 
$
 
%
 
 
(Dollars in Millions)
Revenue
 
$
166.5

 
 
 
$
129.0

 
 
 
$
37.5

 
29.1
 %
Operating expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of services sold
 
113.4

 
68.1
%
 
83.8

 
65.0
%
 
29.6

 
35.3
 %
Office and general expenses
 
25.0

 
15.0
%
 
25.3

 
19.6
%
 
(0.3
)
 
(1.3
)%
Depreciation and amortization
 
6.0

 
3.6
%
 
4.1

 
3.1
%
 
1.9

 
48.0
 %
 
 
$
144.4

 
86.7
%
 
$
113.2

 
87.7
%
 
$
31.2

 
27.6
 %
Operating profit
 
$
22.2

 
13.3
%
 
$
15.8

 
12.3
%
 
$
6.3

 
40.0
 %
Operating profit in the All Other category for the six months ended June 30, 2018 was $22.2 million compared to operating profit of $15.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017, representing an increase of $6.3 million. The impact of the adoption of ASC 606 increased operating profit by $2.5 million. Operating margins improved by 270 basis points from a margin of 12.3% in 2017 to 15% in 2018 on an adjusted basis. Excluding the impact of the adoption of ASC 606, the increase in operating profit and margin was largely due to revenue growth and lower deferred acquisition consideration, partially offset by increased staff costs and direct costs.
The change in the categories of expenses as a percentage of revenue in the All Other category for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 was as follows:
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
Change
All Other
 
$
 
% of
Revenue
 
$
 
% of
Revenue
 
$
 
%
 
 
(Dollars in Millions)
Direct costs (1)
 
$
37.9

 
22.7
 %
 
$
25.5

 
19.8
%
 
$
12.4

 
48.5
 %
Staff costs (2)
 
85.3

 
51.2
 %
 
65.1

 
50.5
%
 
20.2

 
31.0
 %
Administrative
 
16.0

 
9.6
 %
 
13.4

 
10.4
%
 
2.6

 
19.4
 %
Deferred acquisition consideration
 
(2.3
)
 
(1.4
)%
 
4.1

 
3.2
%
 
(6.5
)
 
(156.3
)%
Stock-based compensation
 
1.6

 
1.0
 %
 
1.0

 
0.8
%
 
0.6

 
58.1
 %
Depreciation and amortization
 
6.0

 
3.6
 %
 
4.1

 
3.1
%
 
1.9

 
48.0
 %
Total operating expenses
 
$
144.4

 
86.7
 %
 
$
113.2

 
87.7
%
 
$
31.2

 
27.6
 %
(1)
Excludes staff costs.
(2)
Excludes stock-based compensation and is comprised of amounts reported in both cost of services and office and general expenses.
Direct costs in the All Other category for the six months ended June 30, 2018 were $37.9 million compared to $25.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017, representing an increase of $12.4 million, or 48.5%. As a percentage of revenue, direct costs increased from 19.8% in 2017 to 22.7% in 2018. The change was primarily due to an increase in costs incurred on the client’s behalf from certain Partner Firms acting as principal.
Staff costs in the All Other category for the six months ended June 30, 2018 were $85.3 million compared to $65.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017, representing an increase of $20.2 million, or 31.0%. As a percentage of revenue, staff costs increased from 50.5% in 2017 to 51.2% in 2018. The change was primarily due to contributions from an acquired Partner Firm and an expansion in workforce in certain Partner Firms to support revenue growth.
Deferred acquisition consideration in the All Other category for the six months ended June 30, 2018 was income of $2.3 million compared to an expense $4.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017, representing a change of $6.5 million. The change was largely due the aggregate under-performance of certain Partner Firms in 2018 relative to the previously projected expectations.


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Table of Contents

Corporate
The change in operating expenses for Corporate for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017 was as follows:
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
Variance
Corporate
 
$
 
$
 
$
 
%
 
 
(Dollars in Millions)
Staff costs (1)
 
$
11.7

 
$
9.5

 
$
2.2

 
23.1
 %
Administrative
 
10.3

 
7.0

 
3.3

 
47.4
 %
Stock-based compensation
 
2.5

 
1.1

 
1.3

 
120.2
 %
Depreciation and amortization
 
0.4

 
0.6

 
(0.2
)
 
(36.8
)%
Other asset impairment
 
2.3

 
—

 
2.3

 
NM

Total operating expenses
 
$
27.2

 
$
18.3

 
$
9.0

 
49.0
 %
(1)
Excludes stock-based compensation.
Total operating expenses for Corporate for the six months ended June 30, 2018 were $27.2 million compared to $18.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017, representing an increase of $9.0 million, or 49.0%.
Staff costs for Corporate for the six months ended June 30, 2018 were $11.7 million compared to $9.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017, representing an increase of $2.2 million, or 23.1%. The increase was primarily due to increased executive incentive compensation over the prior year period.
Administrative costs for Corporate for the six months ended June 30, 2018 were $10.3 million compared to $7.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017, representing an increase of $3.3 million, or 47.4%. This increase was primarily related to an increase in professional fees of $2.9 million, inclusive of fees related to the implementation of ASC 606, which was adopted effective January 1, 2018.
For the six months ended June 30, 2018, the Company incurred a $2.3 million other asset impairment charge.
Other, Net
Other, net, for the six months ended June 30, 2018 was an expense of $12.2 million compared to income of $9.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017, representing a change of $21.4 million. The change was primarily related to a foreign exchange loss of $13.2 million in 2018 compared to a foreign exchange gain of $8.9 million in 2017. The foreign exchange loss in 2018 primarily relates to U.S. dollar denominated indebtedness that is an obligation of our Canadian parent company and was driven by the strengthening of the Canadian dollar against the U.S. dollar in the period.
Interest Expense and Finance Charges, Net
Interest expense and finance charges, net, for the six months ended June 30, 2018 was $32.9 million compared to $32.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017, representing an increase of $0.7 million.
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)
Income tax benefit for the six months ended June 30, 2018 was $6.4 million compared to an expense of $8.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017, representing a decrease of $15.0 million. The variance in the tax expense year over year was primarily driven by certain discrete items in the current and prior period related to the remeasurement of tax balances. In the prior year, the Company also recorded a valuation allowance against its U.S. income, which was released in the fourth quarter of 2017. The effective tax rate in the current year also includes the benefit of U.S. losses which are no longer subject to a valuation allowance.
Equity in Earnings (Losses) of Non-Consolidated Affiliates
Equity in earnings (losses) of non-consolidated affiliates represents the income or losses attributable to equity-accounted affiliate operations. The Company recorded minimal income for the six months ended June 30, 2018 compared to income of $0.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017.
Noncontrolling Interests
The effect of noncontrolling interests for the six months ended June 30, 2018 was income of $3.4 million compared to $3.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2017.


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Table of Contents

Net Loss Attributable to MDC Partners Inc. Common Shareholders
As a result of the foregoing, net loss attributable to MDC Partners Inc. common shareholders for the six months ended June 30, 2018 was $30.1 million, or $0.53 per diluted share, compared to net loss attributable to MDC Partners Inc. common shareholders of $1.7 million, or $0.03 per diluted share, for the six months ended June 30, 2017.



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Table of Contents

Liquidity and Capital Resources:
Liquidity
The following table provides summary information about the Company’s liquidity position:
Dollars in millions
As of and for the six months ended June 30, 2018

As of and for the six months ended June 30, 2017

As of and for the year ended December 31, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
25.0


$
20.3


$
46.2

Working capital (deficit)
$
(177.0
)

$
(263.7
)

$
(232.9
)
Cash (used in) provided by operating activities
$
(61.7
)
 
$
(0.7
)

$
115.3

Cash used in investing activities
$
(36.1
)
 
$
(22.9
)

$
(20.9
)
Cash provided by (used in) financing activities
$
76.3

 
$
17.1


$
(75.4
)
Ratio of long-term debt to shareholders' deficit
(6.52
)

(2.28
)

(5.68
)
As of June 30, 2018 and 2017 and December 31, 2017, $47.9 million, $5.5 million, and $4.6 million, respectively, of the Company’s consolidated cash position was held by subsidiaries in trust, and was available for use against the trust liability, with the remaining available to fund their operating activities. Although this amount is available to the subsidiaries’ use, it does not represent cash that is distributable as earnings to MDC for use to reduce its indebtedness. It is the Company’s intent through its cash management system to reduce any outstanding borrowings under the Credit Agreement by using available cash.
The Company intends to maintain sufficient cash and/or available borrowings to fund operations for the next twelve months. The Company has historically been able to maintain and expand its business using cash generated from operating activities, funds available under its Credit Agreement, and other initiatives, such as obtaining additional debt and equity financing. At June 30, 2018, the Company had $121.9 million available under the Credit Agreement.
The Company’s obligations extending beyond twelve months primarily consist of deferred acquisition payments, capital expenditures, scheduled lease obligation payments, and interest payments on borrowings under the Company’s 6.50% Senior Notes due 2024. Based on the current outlook, the Company believes future cash flows from operations, together with the Company’s existing cash balance and availability of funds under the Company’s Credit Agreement, will be sufficient to meet the Company’s anticipated cash needs for the foreseeable future. The Company’s ability to make scheduled deferred acquisition payments, principal and interest payments, to refinance indebtedness or to fund planned capital expenditures will depend on future performance, which is subject to general economic conditions, the competitive environment and other factors, including those described in the Company’s 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K and in the Company’s other SEC filings.
Working Capital
At June 30, 2018, the Company had a working capital deficit of $177.0 million compared to a deficit of $232.9 million at December 31, 2017. Working capital deficit decreased by $55.9 million primarily due to timing of media payments, partially offset by net borrowings on the Company’s credit agreement. The Company’s working capital is impacted by seasonality in media buying, amounts spent by clients, and timing of amounts received from clients and subsequently paid to suppliers. Media buying is impacted by the timing of certain events, such as major sporting competitions and national holidays, and there can be a quarter to quarter lag between the time amounts received from clients for the media buying are subsequently paid to suppliers. At June 30, 2018, the Company had $115.2 million of borrowings outstanding under its Credit Agreement. The Company includes amounts due to noncontrolling interest holders, for their share of profits, in accrued and other liabilities. At June 30, 2018, $4.8 million remained outstanding to be distributed to noncontrolling interest holders over the next twelve months.
The Company intends to maintain sufficient cash or availability of funds under the Credit Agreement at any particular time to adequately fund working capital should there be a need to do so from time to time.
Cash Flows
Operating Activities
Cash flows used in operating activities for the six months ended June 30, 2018 was $61.7 million, primarily reflecting unfavorable working capital requirements, driven by media and other supplier payments, as well as acquisition related contingent consideration payments.
Cash flows used in operating activities for the six months ended June 30, 2017 was $0.7 million, primarily reflecting unfavorable working capital requirements, driven by timing of accounts receivable, as well as acquisition related contingent consideration payments, partially offset by earnings during the period.

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Table of Contents

Investing Activities
During the six months ended June 30, 2018, cash flows used in investing activities was $36.1 million, and consisted of cash paid of $27.3 million for the acquisition of Instrument and capital expenditures related primarily to computer equipment, furniture and fixtures, and leasehold improvements of $9.7 million, of which $5.5 million was incurred by the Global Integrated Agencies segment.
During the six months ended June 30, 2017, cash flows used in investing activities was $22.9 million, and consisted of capital expenditures related primarily to computer equipment, furniture and fixtures, and leasehold improvements of $21.2 million, of which $15.7 million was incurred by the Global Integrated Agencies segment, $1.3 million for deposits and $0.5 million for other investments.
Financing Activities
During the six months ended June 30, 2018, cash flows provided by financing activities was $76.3 million, primarily driven by $115.2 million in net borrowings under the credit agreement, partially offset by $29.2 million of acquisition related payments and distributions to noncontrolling partners of $8.9 million.
During the six months ended June 30, 2017, cash flows provided by financing activities was $17.1 million, primarily driven by $95.0 million in proceeds from the issuance of convertible preference shares, partially offset by $27.8 million in net repayments under the credit agreement and $40.7 million of acquisition related payments.
Total Debt
6.50% Notes
On March 23, 2016, MDC entered into an indenture (the “Indenture”) among MDC, its existing and future restricted subsidiaries that guarantee, or are co-borrowers under or grant liens to secure, the Credit Agreement, as guarantors (the “Guarantors”) and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee, relating to the issuance by MDC of its $900 million aggregate principal amount of 6.50% senior unsecured notes due 2024. The 6.50% Notes were sold in a private placement in reliance on exceptions from registration under the ’33 Act. The 6.50% Notes bear interest at a rate of 6.50% per annum, accruing from March 23, 2016. Interest is payable semiannually in arrears on May 1 and November 1 of each year, beginning November 1, 2016. The 6.50% Notes mature on May 1, 2024, unless earlier redeemed or repurchased. The Company received net proceeds from the offering of the 6.50% Notes equal to approximately $880,000. The Company used the net proceeds to redeem all of its existing 6.75% Notes, together with accrued interest, related premiums, fees and expenses and recorded a charge for the loss on redemption of such notes of $33,298, including write offs of unamortized original issue premium and debt issuance costs. Remaining proceeds were used for general corporate purposes, including funding of deferred acquisition consideration.
The 6.50% Notes are guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by all of MDC’s existing and future restricted subsidiaries that guarantee, or are co-borrowers under or grant liens to secure, the Credit Agreement. The 6.50% Notes are unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of MDC and rank (i) equally in right of payment with all of MDC’s or any Guarantor’s existing and future senior indebtedness, (ii) senior in right of payment to MDC’s or any Guarantor’s existing and future subordinated indebtedness, (iii) effectively subordinated to all of MDC’s or any Guarantor’s existing and future secured indebtedness to the extent of the collateral securing such indebtedness, including the Credit Agreement, and (iv) structurally subordinated to all existing and future liabilities of MDC’s subsidiaries that are not Guarantors.
MDC may, at its option, redeem the 6.50% Notes in whole at any time or in part from time to time, on and after May 1, 2019 (i) at a redemption price of 104.875% of the principal amount thereof if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on May 1, 2019, (ii) at a redemption price of 103.250% of the principal amount thereof if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on May 1, 2020, (iii) at a redemption price of 101.625% of the principal amount thereof if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on May 1, 2021, and (iv) at a redemption price of 100% of the principal amount thereof if redeemed on May 1, 2022 and thereafter.
Prior to May 1, 2019, MDC may, at its option, redeem some or all of the 6.50% Notes at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 6.50% Notes plus a “make whole” premium and accrued and unpaid interest. MDC may also redeem, at its option, prior to May 1, 2019, up to 35% of the 6.50% Notes with the proceeds from one or more equity offerings at a redemption price of 106.50% of the principal amount thereof.
If MDC experiences certain kinds of changes of control (as defined in the Indenture), holders of the 6.50% Notes may require MDC to repurchase any 6.50% Notes held by them at a price equal to 101% of the principal amount of the 6.50% Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest. In addition, if MDC sells assets under certain circumstances, it must apply the proceeds from such sale and offer to repurchase the 6.50% Notes at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest.
The Indenture includes covenants that, among other things, restrict MDC’s ability and the ability of its restricted subsidiaries (as defined in the Indenture) to incur or guarantee additional indebtedness; pay dividends on or redeem or repurchase the capital

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stock of MDC; make certain types of investments; create restrictions on the payment of dividends or other amounts from MDC’s restricted subsidiaries; sell assets; enter into transactions with affiliates; create liens; enter into sale and leaseback transactions; and consolidate or merge with or into, or sell substantially all of MDC’s assets to, another person. These covenants are subject to a number of important limitations and exceptions. The 6.50% Notes are also subject to customary events of default, including a cross-payment default and cross-acceleration provision. The Company was in compliance with all covenants at June 30, 2018.
Revolving Credit Agreement
On March 20, 2013, MDC, Maxxcom Inc. (a subsidiary of MDC) and each of their subsidiaries entered into an amended and restated, $225 million senior secured revolving credit agreement due 2018 (the “Credit Agreement”) with Wells Fargo Capital Finance, LLC, as agent, and the lenders from time to time party thereto. Advances under the Credit Agreement will be used for working capital and general corporate purposes, in each case pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement. Capitalized terms used in this section and not otherwise defined have the meanings set forth in the Credit Agreement.
Effective October 23, 2014, MDC, Maxxcom Inc. and each of their subsidiaries entered into an amendment of its Credit Agreement. The amendment: (i) expanded the commitments under the facility by $100 million, from $225 million to $325 million; (ii) extended the date by an additional eighteen months to September 30, 2019; (iii) reduced the base borrowing interest rate by 25 basis points (the applicable margin for borrowing is 1.00% in the case of Base Rate Loans and 1.75% in the case of LIBOR Rate Loans) ; and (iv) modified certain covenants to provide the Company with increased flexibility to fund its continued growth and other general corporate purposes.
Effective May 3, 2016, MDC and its subsidiaries entered into an additional amendment to its Credit Agreement. The amendment: (i) extends the date by an additional nineteen months to May 3, 2021; (ii) reduces the base borrowing interest rate by 25 basis points; (iii) provides the Company the ability to borrow in foreign currencies; and (iv) certain other modifications to provide additional flexibility in operating the Company’s business.
Advances under the Credit Agreement bear interest as follows: (a)(i) Non-Prime Rate Loans bear interest at the Non-Prime Rate and (ii) all other Obligations bear interest at the Prime Rate, plus (b) an applicable margin. The applicable margin for borrowing is 1.50% in the case of Non-Prime Rate Loans and Prime Rate Loans that are European Advances, and 1.75% on all other Obligations. In addition to paying interest on outstanding principal under the Credit Agreement, MDC is required to pay an unused revolver fee of 0.25% to lenders under the Credit Agreement in respect of unused commitments thereunder.
The Credit Agreement is guaranteed by substantially all of MDC’s present and future subsidiaries, other than immaterial subsidiaries and subject to customary exceptions. The Credit Agreement includes covenants that, among other things, restrict MDC’s ability and the ability of its subsidiaries to incur or guarantee additional indebtedness; pay dividends on or redeem or repurchase the capital stock of MDC; make certain types of investments; impose limitations on dividends or other amounts from MDC’s subsidiaries; incur certain liens, sell or otherwise dispose of certain assets; enter into transactions with affiliates; enter into sale and leaseback transactions; and consolidate or merge with or into, or sell substantially all of MDC’s assets to, another person. These covenants are subject to a number of important limitations and exceptions. The Credit Agreement also contains financial covenants, including a total leverage ratio, a senior leverage ratio, a fixed charge coverage ratio and a minimum earnings level (each as more fully described in the Credit Agreement). The Credit Agreement is also subject to customary events of default.
The foregoing descriptions of the Indenture and the Credit Agreement do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of the agreements.
Debt, net of debt issuance costs, as of June 30, 2018 was $1,000.3 million, an increase of $117.2 million, compared with $883.1 million outstanding at December 31, 2017.  This increase in debt was primarily a result of the Company’s net borrowings on the Credit Agreement.
The Company is currently in compliance with all of the terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement, and management believes, based on its current financial projections, that the Company will be in compliance with its covenants over the next twelve months.
If the Company loses all or a substantial portion of its lines of credit under the Credit Agreement, or if the Company uses the maximum available amount under the Credit Agreement, it will be required to seek other sources of liquidity. If the Company were unable to find these sources of liquidity, for example through an equity offering or access to the capital markets, the Company’s ability to fund its working capital needs and any contingent obligations with respect to acquisitions and redeemable noncontrolling interests would be adversely affected.
Pursuant to the Credit Agreement, the Company must comply with certain financial covenants including, among other things, covenants for (i) senior leverage ratio, (ii) total leverage ratio, (iii) fixed charges ratio, and (iv) minimum earnings before interest, taxes and depreciation and amortization, in each case as such term is specifically defined in the Credit Agreement. For the period ended June 30, 2018, the Company’s calculation of each of these covenants, and the specific requirements under the Credit Agreement, respectively, were calculated based on the trailing twelve months as follows:

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June 30, 2018
Total Senior Leverage Ratio
0.6

Maximum per covenant
2.0

 
 

Total Leverage Ratio
5.4

Maximum per covenant
5.5

 
 

Fixed Charges Ratio
2.4

Minimum per covenant
1.0

 
 

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization
$
187,350

Minimum per covenant
$
105,000

These ratios and measures are not based on generally accepted accounting principles and are not presented as alternative measures of operating performance or liquidity. Some of these ratios and measures include, among other things, pro forma adjustments for acquisitions, one-time charges, and other items, as defined in the Credit Agreement. They are presented here to demonstrate compliance with the covenants in the Credit Agreement, as non-compliance with such covenants could have a material adverse effect on the Company.
Deferred Acquisition Consideration and Other Balance Sheet Commitments
The Company’s agencies enter into contractual commitments with media providers and agreements with production companies on behalf of our clients at levels that exceed the revenue from services. Some of our agencies purchase media for clients and act as an agent for a disclosed principal. These commitments are included in accounts payable when the media services are delivered by the media providers. MDC takes precautions against default on payment for these services and has historically had a very low incidence of default. MDC is still exposed to the risk of significant uncollectible receivables from our clients. The risk of a material loss could significantly increase in periods of severe economic downturn.
Acquisitions of a business, or a majority interest of a business, by the Company may include future additional contingent purchase price obligations payable to the seller, which are recorded as deferred acquisition consideration liabilities on the Company’s balance sheet at the estimated acquisition date fair value and are remeasured at each reporting period. These contingent purchase obligations are generally payable within a one to five-year period following the acquisition date, and are based on achievement of certain thresholds of future earnings and, in certain cases, the rate of growth of those earnings. The actual amount that the Company pays in connection with such contingent purchase obligations may differ materially from this estimate.
In connection with such contingent purchase obligations, the Company may have the option or, in some cases, the requirement, to purchase the remaining interest. Generally, the Company’s option or requirement to purchase the incremental ownership interest coincides with the final payment of the purchase price obligation related to the Company’s initial majority acquisition. If the Company subsequently acquires the remaining incremental ownership interest, the acquisition fair value of the purchase price, net of any cash paid at closing, is recorded as a liability, any noncontrolling interests are removed and any difference between the purchase price and noncontrolling interest is recorded to additional paid-in capital.
The deferred acquisition consideration and redeemable noncontrolling interests are generally impacted by (i) present value adjustments to accrete the acquisition date fair value of the obligation to the estimated future payment amount at the reporting date, (ii) changes in the estimated future payment obligation resulting from the underlying subsidiary’s financial performance, and (iii) amendments to purchase agreements of previously acquired incremental ownership interests. Redeemable noncontrolling interests are not adjusted below the related initial redemption value. Significant changes in actual results and metrics, such as profit margins and growth rates among others, relative to expectations would result in a higher or lower redemption value adjustment. In addition, the deferred acquisition consideration and redeemable noncontrolling interests could be materially impacted by future acquisition activity, if any, and the particular structure of such acquisitions.
As a result, and due to the factors noted above, the Company does not have a view of the future trajectory and quantification of potential changes in the deferred acquisition consideration and redeemable noncontrolling interests.

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The following table presents the changes in the deferred acquisition consideration by segment for the six months ended June 30, 2018:
 
June 30, 2018
(amounts in $ millions)
Global Integrated Agencies
 
Domestic Creative Agencies
 
Specialist Communication Agencies
 
Media Services
 
All Other
 
Total
Beginning Balance of contingent payments
$
81.4

 
$
—

 
$
5.5

 
$
3.7

 
$
28.5

 
$
119.1

Payments
(30.8
)
 
—

 
(3.8
)
 
—

 
(14.0
)
 
(48.6
)
Additions (1)
—

 
—

 
9.7

 
—

 
—

 
9.7

Redemption value adjustments (2)
2.2

 
—

 
1.0

 
0.2

 
(1.2
)
 
2.2

Ending Balance of contingent payments
52.8

 
—

 
12.4

 
3.9

 
13.3

 
82.4

Fixed payments
0.3

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
1.0

 
1.3

 
$
53.1

 
$
—

 
$
12.4

 
$
3.9

 
$
14.3

 
$
83.7

(1)
Additions are the initial estimated deferred acquisition payments of new acquisitions and step-up transactions completed within that fiscal period.
(2)
Redemption value adjustments are fair value changes from the Company’s initial estimates of deferred acquisition payments, including the accretion of present value and stock-based compensation charges relating to acquisition payments that are tied to continued employment.
Deferred acquisition consideration excludes future payments with an estimated fair value of $21.9 million that are contingent upon employment terms as well as financial performance and will be expensed as stock-based compensation over the required retention period. Of this amount, the Company estimates $0.3 million will be paid in the current year, $14.4 million will be paid in one to three years, and $7.2 million will be paid in three to five years.
Put Rights of Subsidiaries’ Noncontrolling Shareholders
As noted above, noncontrolling shareholders in certain subsidiaries have the right in certain circumstances to require the Company to acquire the remaining ownership interests held by them. The noncontrolling shareholders’ ability to exercise any such option right is subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, including conditions requiring notice in advance of exercise and specific employment termination conditions. In addition, these rights cannot be exercised prior to specified staggered exercise dates. The exercise of these rights at their earliest contractual date would result in obligations of the Company to fund the related amounts during 2018 to 2023. It is not determinable, at this time, if or when the owners of these rights will exercise all or a portion of these rights.
The amount payable by the Company in the event such contractual rights are exercised is dependent on various valuation formulas and on future events, such as the average earnings of the relevant subsidiary through that date of exercise, the growth rate of the earnings of the relevant subsidiary during that period, and, in some cases, the currency exchange rate at the date of payment.
Management estimates, assuming that the subsidiaries owned by the Company at June 30, 2018, perform over the relevant future periods at their trailing twelve-month earnings level, that these rights, if all are exercised, could require the Company to pay an aggregate amount of approximately $13.3 million to the owners of such rights in future periods to acquire such ownership interests in the relevant subsidiaries. Of this amount, the Company is entitled, at its option, to fund approximately $0.1 million by the issuance of share capital.
In addition, the Company is obligated under similar put option rights to pay an aggregate amount of approximately $37.0 million only upon termination of such owner’s employment with the applicable subsidiary or death.
The amount the Company would be required to pay to the holders should the Company acquire the remaining ownership interests is $5.4 million less than the initial redemption value recorded in redeemable noncontrolling interests.
The Company intends to finance the cash portion of these contingent payment obligations using available cash from operations, borrowings under the Credit Agreement (and refinancings thereof), and, if necessary, through the incurrence of additional debt and/or issuance of additional equity. The ultimate amount payable and the incremental operating income in the future relating to these transactions will vary because it is dependent on the future results of operations of the subject businesses and the timing of when these rights are exercised.

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The following table summarizes the potential timing of the consideration and incremental operating income before depreciation and amortization based on assumptions as described above:
Consideration (4)
 
2018
 
2019
 
2020
 
2021
 
2022 &
Thereafter
 
Total
 
 
 
(Dollars in Millions)
 
Cash
 
$
3.7

 
$
2.1

 
$
3.4

 
$
2.0

 
$
2.0

 
$
13.2

 
Shares
 
—

 
—

 
0.1

 
—

 
—

 
0.1

 
 
 
$
3.7

 
$
2.1

 
$
3.5

 
$
2.0

 
$
2.0

 
$
13.3

(1) 
Operating income before depreciation and amortization to be received (2)
 
$
2.4

 
$
0.1

 
$
1.5

 
$
—

 
$
0.2

 
$
4.2

 
Cumulative operating income before depreciation and amortization (3)
 
$
2.4

 
$
2.5

 
$
4.0

 
$
4.0

 
$
4.2

 
 
(5) 
(1)
This amount is in addition to (i) the $37.0 million of options to purchase only exercisable upon termination not within the control of the Company, or death, and (ii) the $5.4 million excess of the initial redemption value recorded in redeemable noncontrolling interests over the amount the Company would be required to pay to the holders should the Company acquire the remaining ownership interests.
(2)
This financial measure is presented because it is the basis of the calculation used in the underlying agreements relating to the put rights and is based on actual operating results. This amount represents additional amounts to be attributable to MDC Partners Inc., commencing in the year the put is exercised.
(3)
Cumulative operating income before depreciation and amortization represents the cumulative amounts to be received by the Company.
(4)
The timing of consideration to be paid varies by contract and does not necessarily correspond to the date of the exercise of the put.
(5)
Amounts are not presented as they would not be meaningful due to multiple periods included.

Critical Accounting Policies
See Note 2 of the Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included herein for information regarding the Company’s revenue recognition policy. For information regarding all other critical accounting policies, see the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.

New Accounting Pronouncements
Information regarding new accounting guidance can be found in Note 13 of the Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included herein.
Risks and Uncertainties
This document contains forward-looking statements. The Company’s representatives may also make forward-looking statements orally from time to time. Statements in this document that are not historical facts, including, without limitation, statements about the Company’s beliefs and expectations, recent business and economic trends, potential acquisitions, and estimates of amounts for redeemable noncontrolling interests and deferred acquisition consideration, constitute forward-looking statements. Words such as “estimates,” “expects,” “contemplates,” “will,” “anticipates,” “projects,” “plans,” “intends,” “believes,” “forecasts,” “may,” “should” and variations of such words or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current plans, estimates and projections, and are subject to change based on a number of factors, including those outlined in this section. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly any of them in light of new information or future events, if any.
Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Such risk factors include, but are not limited to, the following:
•
risks associated with severe effects of international, national and regional economic conditions;
•
the Company’s ability to attract new clients and retain existing clients;

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•
the spending patterns and financial success of the Company’s clients;
•
the Company’s ability to retain and attract key employees;
•
the Company’s ability to remain in compliance with its debt agreements and the Company’s ability to finance its contingent payment obligations when due and payable, including but not limited to redeemable noncontrolling interests and deferred acquisition consideration;
•
the successful completion and integration of acquisitions which complement and expand the Company’s business capabilities, and the potential impact of one or more asset sales;
•
foreign currency fluctuations; and
•
risks associated with the ongoing DOJ investigation of the historical production bidding practices at one of the Company’s subsidiaries.
The Company’s business strategy includes ongoing efforts to engage in acquisitions of ownership interests in entities in the marketing communications services industry. The Company intends to finance these acquisitions by using available cash from operations, from borrowings under the Credit Agreement and through the incurrence of bridge or other debt financing, any of which may increase the Company’s leverage ratios, or by issuing equity, which may have a dilutive impact on existing shareholders proportionate ownership. At any given time, the Company may be engaged in a number of discussions that may result in one or more acquisitions. These opportunities require confidentiality and may involve negotiations that require quick responses by the Company. Although there is uncertainty that any of these discussions will result in definitive agreements or the completion of any transactions, the announcement of any such transaction may lead to increased volatility in the trading price of the Company’s securities.
Investors should carefully consider these risk factors, and the risk factors outlined in more detail in Company’s Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2017 under the caption “Risk Factors,” and in the Company’s other SEC filings.
Website Access to Company Reports
MDC Partners Inc.’s Internet website address is www.mdc-partners.com. The Company’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K, and any amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, will be made available free of charge through the Company’s website as soon as reasonably practical after those reports are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The information found on, or otherwise accessible through, the Company’s website is not incorporated into, and does not form a part of, this quarterly report on Form 10-Q. From time to time, the Company may use its website as a channel of distribution of material company information.
Item 3.    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
The Company is exposed to market risk related to interest rates, foreign currencies and impairment risk.
Debt Instruments:  At June 30, 2018, the Company’s debt obligations consisted of amounts outstanding under its Credit Agreement and the Senior Notes. The Senior Notes bear a fixed 6.50% interest rate. The Credit Agreement bears interest at variable rates based upon the Eurodollar rate, U.S. bank prime rate and U.S. base rate, at the Company’s option. The Company’s ability to obtain the required bank syndication commitments depends in part on conditions in the bank market at the time of syndication. Given that there were $115.2 million borrowings under the Credit Agreement, as of June 30, 2018, a 1.0% increase or decrease in the weighted average interest rate, which was 4.08% at June 30, 2018, would have an interest impact of $0.2 million.
Foreign Exchange:  While the Company primarily conducts business in markets that use the U.S. dollar, the Canadian dollar, the European Euro and the British Pound, its non-U.S. operations transact business in numerous different currencies. The Company’s results of operations are subject to risk from the translation to the U.S. dollar of the revenue and expenses of its non-U.S. operations. The effects of currency exchange rate fluctuations on the translation of the Company’s results of operations are discussed in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and in Note 2 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017. For the most part, revenues and expenses incurred related to the non-U.S. operations are denominated in their functional currency. This minimizes the impact that fluctuations in exchange rates will have on profit margins. Intercompany debt which is not intended to be repaid is included in cumulative translation adjustments. Translation of intercompany debt, which is not intended to be repaid, is included in cumulative translation adjustments. Translation of current intercompany balances are included in net earnings. The Company generally does not enter into foreign currency forward exchange contracts or other derivative financial instruments to hedge the effects of adverse fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates.
The Company is exposed to foreign currency fluctuations relating to its intercompany balances between the U.S. and Canada. For every one cent change in the foreign exchange rate between the U.S. and Canada, the impact to the Company’s financial statements would be approximately $3.2 million.

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Impairment Risk:  During the six months ended June 30, 2018, the Company recognized an impairment of $2.3 million related to a long-lived asset. The Company may incur additional impairment charges in future periods.
Item 4.    Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be included in our SEC reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the applicable time periods specified by the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), who is our principal executive officer, and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), who is our principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures. There are inherent limitations to the effectiveness of any system of disclosure controls and procedures, including the possibility of human error and the circumvention or overriding of the controls and procedures. Accordingly, even effective disclosure controls and procedures can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving their control objectives. However, our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurances of achieving our control objectives.
We conducted an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our CEO, CFO and management Disclosure Committee, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report pursuant to Rule 13a-15(e) and 15(d)-15(e) of the Exchange Act. Based on that evaluation, our CEO and CFO concluded that, as of June 30, 2018, our disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that decisions can be made timely with respect to required disclosures, as well as ensuring that the recording, processing, summarization and reporting of information required to be included in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2018 is appropriate.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Except as described below, there have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the three months ended June 30, 2018 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
We implemented the new revenue recognition standard under ASC 606 as of January 1, 2018. In connection with this new revenue recognition standard, we continued to implement the following modifications to our internal controls over financial reporting, including the following changes to accounting policies and procedures, operational processes, and documentation practices during the first six moths of 2018:
•
We updated our policies and procedures related to recognizing revenue and added documentation processes related to the new criteria for recognizing revenue.
•
We added controls for reviewing variable consideration estimates and for reevaluating our significant contract judgments and estimates quarterly.
•
We added controls to address related required disclosures regarding revenue, including the disclosure of performance obligations and our significant judgments and estimates for determining the transaction price and when to recognize revenue.


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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
 
Item 1.    Legal Proceedings
The Company’s operating entities are involved in legal proceedings of various types. While any litigation contains an element of uncertainty, the Company has no reason to believe that the outcome of such proceedings or claims will have a material adverse effect on its financial condition or results of operations.
Dismissal of Class Action Litigation in Canada
On August 7, 2015, Roberto Paniccia issued a Statement of Claim in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in the City of Brantford, Ontario seeking to certify a class action suit naming the following as defendants: MDC, former CEO Miles S. Nadal, former CAO Michael C. Sabatino, CFO David Doft and BDO U.S.A. LLP.  The Plaintiff alleged violations of section 138.1 of the Ontario Securities Act (and equivalent legislation in other Canadian provinces and territories) as well as common law misrepresentation based on allegedly materially false and misleading statements in the Company’s public statements, as well as omitting to disclose material facts with respect to the SEC investigation.  On June 4, 2018, the Court dismissed (with costs) the putative class members’ motion for leave to proceed with the Plaintiff’s claims for misrepresentations of material facts pursuant to the Ontario Securities Act. Following the Court’s decision, on June 18, 2018, the Plaintiff, MDC and each of the other defendants consented to the dismissal of the action with prejudice (and without costs), subject to the Court’s formal approval.
Antitrust Subpoena
In 2016, one of the Company’s subsidiary agencies received a subpoena from the U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division (the “DOJ”) concerning the DOJ’s ongoing investigation of production bidding practices in the advertising industry. The Company and its subsidiary are fully cooperating with this confidential investigation. Specifically, the Company and its subsidiary are providing information and engaging in discussions with the DOJ, including preliminary discussions regarding the feasibility of a potential settlement with the DOJ. However, there can be no assurance as to the timing of any settlement or that a settlement will be reached on any particular terms or at all. Moreover, the DOJ may determine to expand the scope of its investigation or initiate a proceeding to bring charges against our subsidiary or one or more members of the subsidiary agency’s former management. The DOJ may also seek to impose monetary sanctions.
Item 1A.    Risk Factors
There are no material changes in the risk factors set forth in Part I, Item 1A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.
Item 2.    Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
None.
Item 3.    Defaults Upon Senior Securities
None.
Item 4.    Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
Item 5.    Other Information
None.
Item 6.    Exhibits
The exhibits required by this item are listed on the Exhibit Index.


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EXHIBIT INDEX
 
Exhibit No.
 
Description
 
MDC Partners Inc. 2016 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended June 6, 2018 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on June 7, 2018).
 
Statement of computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges.*
 
Certification by Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rules 13a - 14(a) and 15d - 14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.*
 
Certification by Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rules 13a - 14(a) and 15d - 14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.*
 
Certification by Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 USC. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.*
 
Certification by Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 USC. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.*
 
Schedule of Advertising and Communications Companies.*
101
 
Interactive data file.*
* Filed electronically herewith.

SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
 
MDC PARTNERS INC.
 
/s/ David Doft
David Doft
Chief Financial Officer and Authorized Signatory
 
August 7, 2018

61