MDC Partners Inc. Reports Record Results For The Three Months Ended March 31, 2014

NEW YORK, April 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

FIRST QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS:   

• Revenue increased to $292.6 million from $265.6 million, an increase of 10.1%
• Organic revenue increased 8.3%
• EBITDA increased to $36.4 million from $30.8 million, an increase of 18.1%
• EBITDA margin increased 90 basis points to 12.5% from 11.6%
• Free Cash Flow increased to $20.6 million from $15.4 million, an increase of 34.0%
• Net New Business wins totaled $24.4 million

MDC Partners Inc. (NASDAQ: MDCA; TSX: MDZ.A) today announced financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2014. 

Miles S. Nadal, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of MDC Partners, said, "We are extremely pleased with the start to our 2014 fiscal year.  We had a strong quarter across all financial metrics. Our investment in - and commitment to - great talent, technology and cutting edge tactics continues to pay dividends and is leading to accelerated organic growth, expanding margins, higher returns on invested capital and growing free cash flow.  In the quarter we won $24 million of net annualized revenue and the new business pipeline is exceedingly robust. In addition, we opportunistically accessed capital and continued to reduce our cost of capital, a benefit to our shareholders, especially as we continue to efficiently and effectively build and increase the sustainable, profitable growth rate of our business.  The improved pricing reflects our strong financial performance and our unique and proven growth model. We are very excited about what the remainder of 2014 holds and are thus raising our full year outlook."

Guidance for 2014 is revised as follows:

Consolidated revenue for the first quarter of 2014 was $292.6 million, an increase of 10.1% compared to $265.6 million in the first quarter of 2013.  EBITDA for the first quarter of 2014 was $36.4 million, an increase of 18.1% compared to $30.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2013.  Net loss attributable to MDC Partners in the first quarter was ($8.8) million compared to a loss of ($43.2) million in the first quarter of 2013.  Diluted loss per share from continuing operations attributable to MDC Partners common shareholders for the first quarter of 2014 was ($0.18) compared to a loss of ($0.87) per share in the same period of 2013.  Free cash flow was $20.6 million in the first quarter of 2014, compared with $15.4 million in the first quarter of 2013.

David Doft, CFO of MDC Partners, said, "Our performance this quarter highlights the core fundamental strength of our business and our ability to overcome the volatility sometimes associated with client engagements.  Our partner agencies are performing ahead of expectations broadly across the portfolio and we are executing well against a number of our growth initiatives.  As a result, we are raising our guidance for 2014. Specifically, we are increasing our revenue guidance for the year to $1.245 to $1.270 billion, implying 8.4% to 10.5% year over year growth. We are also increasing EBITDA guidance to $181 to $185 million, implying year-over-year growth of 13.5% to 16.1% and EBITDA margins of 14.5% to 14.6%, and our Free Cash Flow guidance to $106 to $110 million, implying year-over-year growth of 15.8% to 20.2%. Importantly, the increase in our outlook is all organic and reflects the underlying strength of our existing partners, bolstering our confidence even more regarding our ability to achieve our target margins of 15% to 17% in the next two to three years."

MDC Partners Announces $0.18 per Share Quarterly Cash Dividend

MDC Partners today also announced that its Board of Directors has declared a cash dividend of $0.18 per share on all of its outstanding Class A shares and Class B shares.  The quarterly dividend will be payable on or about May 20, 2014, to shareholders of record at the close of business on May 5, 2014.

Conference Call

Management will host a conference call on Thursday, April 24, 2014 at 4:30 p.m. (ET) to discuss results.  The conference call will be accessible by dialing 1-412-317-0790 or toll free 1-877-870-4263.  An investor presentation has been posted on our website www.mdc-partners.com and will be referred to during the conference call.

A recording of the conference call will be available one hour after the call until 9:00 a.m. May 9, 2014, by dialing 1-412-317-0088 or toll free 1-877-344-7529 (passcode 10043514) or by visiting our website at www.mdc-partners.com.

About MDC Partners Inc.

MDC is one of the world's largest Business Transformation Organizations that utilizes technology, marketing communications, data analytics, insights and strategic consulting solutions to drive meaningful returns on Marketing and Communications Investments for multinational clients in the United States, Canada, and worldwide. 

MDC Partners' durable competitive advantage is to Empower the Most Talented Entrepreneurial Thought Leaders to Drive Business Success to new levels of Achievement, for both our Clients and our Shareholders, reinforcing MDC's reputation as "The Place Where Great Talent Lives." 

MDC Partners' Class A shares are publicly traded on NASDAQ under the symbol "MDCA" and on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "MDZ.A".

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to its reported results, MDC Partners has included in this earnings release certain financial results that the Securities and Exchange Commission defines as "non-GAAP financial measures."  Management believes that such non-GAAP financial measures, when read in conjunction with the Company's reported results, can provide useful supplemental information for investors analyzing period to period comparisons of the Company's results. These non-GAAP financial measures relate to: (1) presenting EBITDA and EBITDA margin (as defined) for the three months ended March 31, 2014, and 2013; and (2) presenting Free Cash Flow for the three months ended March 31, 2014, and 2013.  Included in this earnings release are tables reconciling MDC's reported results to arrive at these non-GAAP financial measures.

This press release contains forward-looking statements. The Company's representatives may also make forward-looking statements orally from time to time. Statements in this press release that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company's beliefs and expectations, earnings guidance, recent business and economic trends, potential acquisitions, estimates of amounts for deferred acquisition consideration and "put" option rights, constitute 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 downturn;
• the Company's ability to attract new clients and retain existing clients;
• 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 those relating to "put" option right and deferred acquisition consideration;
• the successful completion and integration of acquisitions which complement and expand the Company's business capabilities; and
• foreign currency fluctuations.

The Company's business strategy includes ongoing efforts to engage in material 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 its credit facility and through 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 material 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 additional risk factors outlined in more detail in the Annual Report on Form 10-K under the caption "Risk Factors" and in the Company's other SEC filings.

CONTACT:
Matt Chesler, CFA
VP, Investor Relations
646-412-6877
[email protected]

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SOURCE MDC Partners Inc.