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Acquisitions
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Business Combinations [Abstract]  
Acquisitions
Acquisitions
Pro forma financial information has not been presented for 2014 acquisitions noted below since they did not have a material effect on the Company’s operating results. Included in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2014 was revenue of $56,733, and net income of $2,940, related to 2014 acquisitions. The Company assumed cash of $8,156, accounts receivable of $19,955, and accounts payable and accrued liabilities of $9,295 as of the acquisition dates.
2014 Acquisitions
During 2014, the Company entered into several acquisitions and various non-material transactions with certain majority owned entities. Effective January 1, 2014, MDC acquired 60% of the equity interests of Luntz Global Partners LLC (“LG”). Effective February 14, 2014, MDC acquired 65% of the equity interests of Kingsdale Partners LP (“Kingsdale”). LG and Kingsdale are both in the Company’s Performance Marketing Services segment. On June 3, 2014, MDC acquired a 100% equity interest in The House Worldwide Ltd ("THW"). On July 31, 2014, Union Advertising Canada LP acquired 100% of the issued and outstanding stock of Trapeze Media Limited ("Trapeze"). Effective August 1, 2014 MDC acquired 65% of the equity interests of Hunter PR LLC ("Hunter PR"). Effective August 18, 2014, MDC acquired a 75% interest in Albion Brand Communication Limited ("Albion"). In addition, in June 2014 and August 2014, MDC (through a subsidiary) entered into other non-material acquisitions. THW, Trapeze, Hunter PR, and Albion are all included within the Company's Strategic Marketing Services segment.
The aggregate purchase price of these acquisitions has an estimated present value at acquisition date of $151,202 and consisted of total closing cash payments of $67,236, and additional deferred acquisition payments that are based on the financial results of the underlying businesses from 2014 to 2018 with final payments due in 2019. These additional deferred payments have an estimated present value at acquisition date of $83,966. An allocation of excess purchase price consideration of these acquisitions to the fair value of the net assets acquired resulted in identifiable intangibles of $61,906, consisting primarily of customer lists, a technology asset and covenants not to compete, and goodwill of $149,234, including the value of the assembled workforce. The identified assets will be amortized over a five to six year period in a manner represented by the pattern in which the economic benefits of the customer contracts/relationships are realized. In addition, the Company has recorded $50,552 as the present value of noncontrolling interests and $13,327 as the present value of redeemable noncontrolling interests. Intangibles and goodwill of $149,232 are tax deductible. In addition the Company recorded other income of $908 representing a gain on the previously held 18% interest in Trapeze (see Note 15).
The actual adjustments that the Company will ultimately make in finalizing the allocation of purchase price to fair value of the net assets acquired will depend on a number of factors.
2013 Acquisitions
During the fourth quarter of 2013, the Company acquired a 70% interest in Local Biz Now LLC (“LBN”). The acquisition of LBN allows MDC to participate in the online local search market. LBN is in the Company’s Performance Marketing Services segment. During the year, the Company also entered into various immaterial transactions with certain majority owned entities.
The aggregate purchase price has an estimated present value at acquisition date of $35,591 and consisted of total closing cash payments of $12,000, and additional contingent deferred acquisition consideration that are based on the financial results of the underlying businesses from 2013 to 2017 with final payments due in 2018 that have an estimated present value at acquisition date of $23,591. An allocation of excess purchase price consideration of these acquisitions to the fair value of the net assets acquired resulted in identifiable intangibles of $10,961 consisting primarily of customer lists, a technology asset, and covenants not to compete, and goodwill of $32,786 representing the value of the assembled workforce. The identified assets will be amortized over a five to six year period in a manner represented by the pattern in which the economic benefits of the customer contracts/relationships are realized. In addition, the Company has recorded $10,657 as the present value of noncontrolling interest. The intangibles and goodwill of $43,747 are tax deductible.
2012 Acquisitions
During 2012, the Company completed a number of transactions. Effective March 28, 2012, MDC invested in Doner Partners LLC (“Doner”). The Company acquired a 30% voting interest and a convertible preferred interest that allows the Company to increase its ordinary voting ownership to 70% at MDC’s option, at no additional cost to the Company. Doner is a full service integrated creative agency. In addition, the Company acquired a 70% interest in TargetCast LLC (“TargetCast”). TargetCast is a full service media agency that expands our media strategy and activation offerings. The Company acquired a 51% interest in Dotbox LLC (“Dotbox”), and subsequently acquired the remaining 49% of the equity interests in Dotbox. The Dotbox acquisition forms the foundation for a potential e-commerce solution within the network. Doner and Dotbox were included in the Company’s Strategic Marketing Services segment, while TargetCast was included in the Company’s Performance Marketing Group segment. During the year, the Company also entered into various immaterial transactions with certain majority owned entities.
The aggregate purchase price for these transactions had an estimated present value at acquisition date of $99,299 and consisted of total closing cash payments of $23,471, and additional contingent deferred acquisition consideration that are based on the financial results of the underlying businesses from 2012 to 2018 with final payments due in 2018 that have an estimated present value at acquisition date of $67,812. During 2012, the Company paid $8,016 relating to a working capital payment. An allocation of excess purchase price consideration of these acquisitions to the fair value of the net assets acquired resulted in identifiable intangibles of $31,968 consisting primarily of customer lists and covenants not to compete, and goodwill of $113,404 representing the value of the assembled workforce. The identified assets will be amortized over a five to ten year period in a manner represented by the pattern in which the economic benefits of the customer contracts/relationships are realized. In addition, the Company has recorded $18,501 as the present value of noncontrolling interest. The intangibles and goodwill of $145,372 are tax deductible. In connection with the step transactions, the Company also recorded an entry of $197 to reduce short term noncontrolling interest included in accrued and other liabilities, decrease redeemable noncontrolling interest by $12,523 and offset additional paid-in-capital by $13,920.


Noncontrolling Interests
Changes in the Company’s ownership interests in our less than 100% owned subsidiaries during the three years ended December 31, were as follows:
Net Loss Attributable to MDC Partners Inc. and
Transfers (to) from the Noncontrolling Interest
 
Year Ended December 31,
  
2014
 
2013
 
2012
Net Loss attributable to MDC Partners Inc.
$
(24,057
)
 
$
(148,863
)
 
$
(85,439
)
Transfers (to) from the noncontrolling interest
  

 
  

 
  

Increase (Decrease) in MDC Partners Inc. paid-in capital for purchase of equity interests in excess of noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interests
(8,992
)
 
11,074

 
13,920

Net transfers from (to) noncontrolling interest
$
(8,992
)
 
$
11,074

 
$
13,920

Change from net loss attributable to MDC Partners Inc. and transfers from (to) noncontrolling interest
$
(33,049
)
 
$
(137,789
)
 
$
(71,519
)