Income Taxes

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2022

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income Tax Disclosure

14. Income Taxes

Our tax provision for interim periods is determined using an estimated annual effective tax rate, adjusted for discrete items arising in interim periods.

The Company had an income tax expense for the three months ended June 30, 2022 of $5,421 (on a pre-tax income of $30,130 resulting in an effective tax rate of 18.0%) compared to income tax expense of $3,348 (on pre-tax income of $22,010 resulting in an effective tax rate of 15.2%) for the three months ended June 30, 2021.

The difference in the effective tax rate of 18.0% in the three months ended June 30, 2022 as compared to 15.2% in the three months ended June 30, 2021 was primarily attributable to the larger portion of income subject to entity level tax in 2022 as a result of the merger, offset by the impact of increased tax rates recorded in June 30, 2021.

The Company had an income tax expense for the six months ended June 30, 2022 of $8,610 (on a pre-tax income of $65,911 resulting in an effective tax rate of 13.1%) compared to income tax expense of $4,021 (on pre-tax income of $27,282 resulting in an effective tax rate of 14.7%) for the six months ended June 30, 2021.

The difference in the effective tax rate of 13.1% in the six months ended June 30, 2022 as compared to 14.7% in the six months ended June 30, 2021 was primarily related to deductions for share based compensation vesting in 2022.

Tax Receivables Agreement

In connection with the closing of the Transactions, we entered into the Tax Receivables Agreement (“TRA”) with OpCo and Stagwell Media, pursuant to which we are required to make cash payments to Stagwell Media equal to 85% of certain U.S. federal, state and local income tax or franchise tax savings, if any, that we actually realize, or in certain circumstances are deemed to realize, as a result of (i) increases in the tax basis of OpCo’s assets resulting from exchanges of Paired Units (defined in Note 11) for shares of our Class A Common Stock or cash, as applicable, and (ii) certain other tax benefits related to us making payments under the TRA.

The Company accounts for amounts payable under the TRA in accordance with ASC 450—Contingencies. We will evaluate the likelihood that we will realize the benefit represented by the deferred tax asset and, to the extent that we estimate that it is more likely than not that we will not realize the benefit, we will reduce the carrying amount of the deferred tax asset with a valuation allowance and a corresponding reduction to the TRA liability. The amounts to be recorded for both the deferred tax assets and the liability under the TRA will be estimated at the time of any purchase or exchange as a reduction to shareholders’ equity, and the effects of changes in any of our estimates after this date will be included in net income or loss. Similarly, the effect of subsequent changes in the enacted tax rates will be included in net income or loss.

In the first quarter of 2022, the Company had its first exchange of Paired Units for shares of our Class A Common Stock and recorded its initial TRA liability. As of June 30, 2022, the Company had a TRA liability of $21,385 and has recognized deferred tax benefits of $25,159 as a reduction to the net deferred tax liability on its unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets in connection with the exchanges of the Paired Units and the projected obligations under the TRA.