MDCA MDC Partners Inc

Company Responds Swiftly to Pandemic Conditions, Dramatically Reduces Costs and Delivers Solid First Half Results

NEW YORK, Aug. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --

SECOND QUARTER  & YTD HIGHLIGHTS:

• Revenue of $259.7 million in the second quarter versus $362.1 million in the prior period, a decline of 28.3%; and $587.4 million YTD versus $690.9 million in the prior year period, a decline of 15.0%.
• Organic revenue declined 26.4% in the second quarter and 12.9% YTD.
• Net loss attributable to MDC Partners common shareholders was $4.1 million in the second quarter of 2020 versus $0.8 million in income a year ago, driven by non-cash impairment charges taken in the quarter.
• Net loss attributable to MDC Partners common shareholders was $6.5 million in the six months ended June 30, 2020 versus $1.4 million a year ago, driven by non-cash impairment charges taken in the period.
• Adjusted EBITDA for the three months ended June 30, 2020 was $36.2 million versus $46.4 million a year ago, a decline of 22.1%. Adjusted EBITDA Margin of 13.9%, compared to 12.8% in the prior year quarter.
• Adjusted EBITDA for the six months ended June 30, 2020 was $75.7 million versus $67.9 million a year ago, an increase of 11.5%. Adjusted EBITDA Margin of 12.9%, compared to 9.8% a year ago.
• Excluding Kingsdale and Sloane, Adjusted EBITDA decreased 20.9% in the second quarter and increased 17.2% in the first half of 2020 compared with the prior year period.
• Covenant EBITDA (LTM) of $193.3 million versus $200.7 million at March 31, 2020, a decline of 3.7%.
• Net New Business wins totaled $20.5 million in the second quarter, and $28.9 million in the six months ended June 30, 2020.

(NASDAQ: MDCA) – MDC Partners Inc. ("MDC Partners" or the "Company") today announced financial results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2020.

"Coming off of pace-setting growth in the first quarter, we weathered the current effects of COVID-19 on GDP, our clients and revenue with a diligent focus on cost reductions and restructuring actions that helped preserve the underlying economics of the business. This resulted in expanded margins and positions MDC to rebound even more strongly once we return to growth," said Mark Penn, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of MDC Partners.

"The expected declines in net revenue were met with better than expected controls on costs and strong liquidity. On a half-year basis, Adjusted EBITDA excluding divestitures increased 17 percent against prior year despite the revenue decline," Mr. Penn added.

Frank Lanuto, Chief Financial Officer, added, "We continued to operate with significant financial flexibility throughout the quarter. We extended our credit facility and retired $87 million in obligations in the second quarter, including semi-annual interest on our Notes, scheduled M&A obligations and partial bond repurchase.  We maintained a positive net cash position of $23 million at quarter end and reduced our leverage from 4.9x year ago to 4.6x."

Lead Independent Director and Special Committee Chairman Irwin Simon commented, "The special committee is proceeding with its review of Stagwell's recent merger proposal, assisted by independent advisors Moelis & Company and DLA Piper.  The committee will continue to act in the best interests of the Company and our shareholders as we evaluate the previously announced transaction proposed by Stagwell as well as all alternatives available to the Company."

Second Quarter and Year-to-Date 2020 Financial Results

Revenue for the second quarter of 2020 was $259.7 million versus $362.1 million for the second quarter of 2019, a decline of 28.3%. The effect on revenue of foreign exchange due to the strong US Dollar was negative 0.8%, the impact of non-GAAP acquisitions (dispositions), net was negative 1.1%, and organic revenue decline was 26.4%, inclusive of $29.1 million or 457 basis points from lower billable costs. Organic revenue declined primarily due to reduced spending by clients in connection with COVID-19. Net New Business wins in the second quarter of 2020 totaled $20.5 million.

Net loss attributable to MDC Partners common shareholders for the second quarter of 2020 was $4.1 million versus net income of $0.8 million for the second quarter of 2019. The decline was primarily due to lower revenues, partially offset by a reduction in expenses, which included a goodwill and lease impairment charge of $18.8 million, a gain of $7.4 million in connection with the repurchase of a portion of our senior notes and a tax benefit during the second quarter as compared to the same period in the prior year. Diluted loss per share attributable to MDC Partners common shareholders for the second quarter of 2020 was $0.06 versus diluted income per share of $0.01 for the second quarter of 2019.

Adjusted EBITDA for the second quarter of 2020 was $36.2 million versus $46.4 million for the second quarter of 2019, a decline of 22.1%, primarily due to lower revenues, partially offset by a reduction of expenses. This led to a 110 basis point increase in Adjusted EBITDA margin in the second quarter of 2020 to 13.9% from 12.8% in the second quarter of 2019.

Covenant EBITDA for the last twelve months (LTM) was $193.3 million as of June 30, 2020 versus $200.7 million at March 31, 2020, a decline of 3.7%. The change was primarily driven by the decline in Adjusted EBITDA.

Revenue for the first six months of 2020 was $587.4 million versus $690.9 million for the first six months of 2019, a decline of 15.0%. The effect on revenue of foreign exchange due to the strong US Dollar was negative 0.7%, the impact of non-GAAP acquisitions (dispositions), net was negative 1.4%, and organic revenue decline was 12.9%, inclusive of $28.1 million or 239 basis points from lower billable costs. Organic revenue declined primarily due to reduced spending by clients in connection with COVID-19. Net New Business wins for the first six months of 2020 totaled $28.9 million.

Net loss attributable to MDC Partners common shareholders for the first six months of 2020 was $6.5 million versus  $1.4 million for the first six months of 2019. This change was primarily due to the decline in revenue, partially offset by a reduction in expenses. Diluted loss per share attributable to MDC Partners common shareholders for the six months of 2020 was $0.09 versus diluted loss per share of $0.02 for the first six months of 2019.

Adjusted EBITDA for the first six months of 2020 was $75.7 million versus $67.9 million for the first six months of 2019, an increase of 11.5%. The improvement was primarily due to a reduction in expenses to combat the impact of COVID-19 on the business, partially offset by lower revenues. This led to a 310 basis point improvement in Adjusted EBITDA margin in the first six months of 2020 to 12.9% from 9.8% in the first six months of 2019.

Financial Outlook

Given the uncertainties in the global business environment arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company is not providing a 2020 outlook for Revenue and Covenant EBITDA at this time.

Conference Call

Management will host a conference call on Thursday, August 6, 2020, at 8:30 a.m. (ET) to discuss its results.  The conference call will be accessible by dialing 1-862-298-0702 or toll free 1-888-390-3967.  An investor presentation has been posted on our website at www.mdc-partners.com and may be referred to during the conference call.

A recording of the conference call will be accessible within one business day after the conference call until 12:00 a.m. (ET), August 13, 2020, by dialing 1-754-333-7735 or toll free 1-888-539-4649 (passcode 153080), or by visiting our website at www.mdc-partners.com.

About MDC Partners Inc.

MDC Partners is one of the most influential marketing and communications networks in the world. As "The Place Where Great Talent Lives," MDC Partners is celebrated for its innovative advertising, public relations, branding, digital, social and event marketing agency partners, which are responsible for some of the most memorable and effective campaigns for the world's most respected brands. By leveraging technology, data analytics, insights and strategic consulting solutions, MDC Partners drives creative excellence, business growth and measurable return on marketing investment for over 1,700 clients worldwide. For more information about MDC Partners and its partner firms, visit our website at www.mdc-partners.com and follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/mdcpartners.

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 (SEC) 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. Such non-GAAP financial measures include the following:

(1) Organic Revenue: "Organic revenue growth" and "organic revenue decline" refer to the positive or negative results, respectively, of subtracting both the foreign exchange and acquisition (disposition) components from total revenue growth. The acquisition (disposition) component is calculated by aggregating prior period revenue for any acquired businesses, less the prior period revenue of any businesses that were disposed of during the current period. The organic revenue growth (decline) component reflects the constant currency impact of (a) the change in revenue of the partner firms that 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.

(2) Net New Business: Estimate of annualized revenue for new wins less annualized revenue for losses incurred in the period.

(3) Adjusted EBITDA: Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure that represents Net income (loss) attributable to MDC Partners Inc. common shareholders plus or minus adjustments to operating income (loss) plus depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation, deferred acquisition consideration adjustments, distributions from non-consolidated affiliates, and other items, net which includes items such as severance expense and other restructuring expenses, including costs for leases that will either be terminated or sublet in connection with the centralization of our New York real estate portfolio.

(4) Covenant EBITDA: Covenant EBITDA is a measure that includes pro forma adjustments for acquisitions, one-time charges, permitted dispositions and other items, as defined in the Company's Credit Agreement. We believe that the presentation of Covenant EBITDA is useful to investors as it eliminates the effect of certain non-cash and other items not necessarily indicative of a company's underlying operating performance. In addition, the presentation of Covenant EBITDA provides additional information to investors about the calculation of, and compliance with, certain financial covenants in the Company's Credit Agreement.

Included in this earnings release are tables reconciling MDC Partners' reported results to arrive at certain of these non-GAAP financial measures.

This press release contains forward-looking statements. Statements in this press release that are not historical facts, including without limitation the information under the heading "Financial Outlook" and statements about the Company's beliefs and expectations, earnings (loss) guidance, 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 international, national and regional unfavorable economic conditions that could affect the Company or its clients, including as a result of the novel coronavirus pandemic ("COVID-19");
• the effects of the outbreak of COVID-19, including the measures to reduce its spread, and the impact on the economy and demand for our services, which may precipitate or exacerbate other risks and uncertainties;
• developments involving the proposal by Stagwell Media LP to enter into a business combination with the Company;
• the Company's ability to attract new clients and retain existing clients;
• reduction in client spending and changes in client advertising, marketing and corporate communications requirements;
• financial failure of the Company's clients;
• the Company's ability to retain and attract key employees;
• the Company's ability to achieve the full amount of its stated cost saving initiatives;
• the Company's implementation of strategic initiatives;
• 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 redeemable noncontrolling interests and deferred acquisition consideration;
• the successful completion and integration of acquisitions which complement and expand the Company's business capabilities; and
• foreign currency fluctuations.

Investors should carefully consider these risk factors, other risk factors described herein, and the additional risk factors outlined in more detail in the Company's 2019 Form 10-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on March 5, 2020 and accessible on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov, under the caption "Risk Factors," and in the Company's other SEC filings.