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Related Party Transactions
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]  
Related Party Transactions
Related Party Transactions
(a)
The Company incurred service fees and paid cash incentive awards totaling $8,825, $13,592 and $15,992 in 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively, relating to companies controlled by Miles Nadal, the former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) of the Company. Mr. Nadal previously provided such services to the Company as its Chief Executive Officer pursuant to a Management Services Agreement (as amended and restated on May 6, 2013, the “Services Agreement”) among the Company, Mr. Nadal and with Nadal Management, Inc. In connection with Mr. Nadal’s resignation on July 20, 2015, the Company and Mr. Nadal terminated the Services Agreement and entered into a separation agreement (the “Separation Agreement”), dated as of July 20, 2015. Pursuant to the Separation Agreement, Mr. Nadal agreed, among other things, to: (i) repay to the Company $1,877 in connection with certain amounts paid to or for the benefit of Mr. Nadal and an affiliate; (ii) repay to the Company $10,582 in connection with amounts required to be repaid pursuant to cash bonus awards previously paid to Mr. Nadal, with such repayments to be made in five installments, with the last to be paid on December 31, 2017; and (iii) customary non-disparagement and confidentiality obligations, reaffirmation of restrictive covenants, and an intellectual property rights assignment. Mr. Nadal was not paid any compensation payments or severance under the Separation Agreement.
(b)
Pursuant to the amended Services Agreement (which has since been terminated, as described in footnote 15(a) above), the Company agreed to provide to its former CEO, Miles Nadal, a special bonus of C$10,000 upon the first to occur of (i) the average market price of the Company’s Class A subordinate voting shares is C$30 per share or more for more than 20 consecutive trading days (measured as of the close of trading on each applicable date) or (ii) a change of control of the Company. During November 2013, this bonus was earned and paid to Mr. Nadal in the amount of C$10,000 (US $9,649).
(c)
Beginning in 2014 through June 30, 2015, MDC chartered for business purposes an airplane and helicopter (together, the “Aircraft”) owned by entities controlled by Mr. Nadal (the former CEO) and leased to an independent corporate aircraft management company. Entities controlled by Mr. Nadal paid for the purchases of the Aircraft and were legally responsible and have paid for all operating, personnel and maintenance costs associated with the Aircraft’s operations.  Payments by third parties to charter the Aircraft from the corporate aircraft management company offset a portion of the costs. Payments by MDC for the business use of the Aircraft by Mr. Nadal were made to the corporate aircraft management company at a fixed hourly rate set forth in the aircraft service agreement between the aircraft management company and entities controlled by Mr. Nadal.  In the first and second quarter of 2015, MDC paid a total of $398 for the business use of the Aircraft. Promptly following Mr. Nadal's resignation on July 20, 2015, the Company prohibited the use of private aircraft travel by its directors and executive officers.
(d)
From May 2015 to December 31, 2015, Lori Senecal held the dual titles of President and Chief Executive Officer of the MDC Partner Network and Chief Executive Officer of Partner Firm Crispin Porter & Bogusky (“CPB”). As of January 1, 2016, Ms. Senecal assumed the exclusive role as Global Chief Executive Officer of CPB. Ms. Senecal's husband, William Grogan, has been employed by the Company since July 1, 2015 as President of Global Accounts. In 2015, Mr. Grogan's total compensation from the Company and its affiliate (kbs+), including salary, bonus, and other benefits, totaled approximately $943. His compensation is commensurate with that of his peers.
(e)
Scott Kauffman is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. His daughter, Sarah Kauffman, has been employed by Partner Firm kbs+ since July 2011, and currently acts as Director of Operations, Attention Partners. In 2015, her total compensation, including salary, bonus and other benefits, totaled approximately $125. Her compensation is commensurate with that of her peers.
(f)
In 2015, Union Advertising Canada LP (“Union”), a Partner Firm, provided certain website development and related marketing services to each of Peerage Realty Partners (“Peerage”) and Peerage’s subsidiary, Baker Real Estate Incorporated (“Baker”). Miles Nadal, the Company’s former CEO, is the majority equity owner of Peerage and Baker. The amount of fees paid by each of Peerage and Baker in respect of these services in 2015 was $131, which fees were customary for these types of services.