<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001144204-12-003707.txt : 20120124
<SEC-HEADER>0001144204-12-003707.hdr.sgml : 20120124
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20120124163249
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001144204-12-003707
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20120120
FILED AS OF DATE:		20120124
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20120124

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Sabatino Michael
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001324169

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13718
		FILM NUMBER:		12542328

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		375 HUDSON STREET
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10014

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MDC PARTNERS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000876883
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-ADVERTISING AGENCIES [7311]
		IRS NUMBER:				980364441
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			A6
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		745 FIFTH AVENUE, 19TH FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10151
		BUSINESS PHONE:		646 429 1800

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		745 FIFTH AVENUE, 19TH FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10151

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	MDC CORP INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20001204

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	MDC COMMUNICATIONS CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19961028

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	MDC CORPORATION
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19950419
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>v300198_4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>OWNERSHIP DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0304</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-01-20</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000876883</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MDC PARTNERS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MDCA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001324169</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Sabatino Michael</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O MDC PARTNERS INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>745 FIFTH AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10151</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>SVP &amp; Chief Accounting Officer</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>121851</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-01-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>11560</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>13.39</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>110291</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Appreciation Rights</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>3.72</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2010-02-12</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-02-12</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Shares</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>128205</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>128205</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Extraordinary Equity Value Appre. Restricted Stock Awards</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-12-31</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Restricted Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>45000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>45000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Includes shares of unvested Restricted Stock (Class A Shares) of the Issuer.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">A total of 31,237 shares of Restricted Stock (Class A Shares) granted in 2010 and 2011 vested on January 20, 2012.  The Reporting Person elected to have a total of 11,560 Class A Shares withheld by the Issuer to satisfy tax withholding requirements.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Stock Appreciation Rights (&quot;SARs&quot;) granted February 12, 2009, all of which are vested as of January 20, 2012, and all expire on February 12, 2014. These SARs may be settled in cash or stock, at the discretion of the Issuer.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">These Extraordinary Equity Value Appreciation Restricted Stock Awards (&quot;EVARs&quot;) granted under the Issuer's EVARs program (previously disclosed by the Issuer on Form 8-K dated January 26, 2011) represent the right to receive shares of Restricted Stock on a one-to-one basis upon the Issuer's achievement of stock price targets equal to $20.00 (15,000 EVARs), $22.75 (15,000 EVARs) and $26.25 (15,000 EVARs), as described in greater detail in the EVAR Letter Agreement.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Michael Sabatino</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-01-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
