Originally released on

FEATURING

NEW YORK, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Stagwell Inc. (NASDAQ: STGW), the challenger network built to transform marketing, today announced its programming and events at CES 2022, including the formal launch of the Stagwell Marketing Cloud. Stagwell’s presence includes a range of activations aimed at decoding what the technologies debuting at CES mean for marketers, brands and consumers, including:

• Stagwell Marketing Cloud Exhibit: The Stagwell Marketing Cloud is debuting at CES via a booth featuring four SaaS products powered by AI, ML and AR. The SMC is a suite of technology products and services that support in-house marketing transformation for modern businesses. Visit booth #CS-10 in the C-Space at Aria.
• Live and Virtual Floor Tours: Led by Stagwell executives from across disciplines and leading technologist Jeff Minsky, Stagwell Media Network Global CEO James Townsend and Stagwell Chief Media Officer Deirdre McGlashan we will take guests on a journey exploring the most compelling technologies being debuted at CES 2022, from the connected home and city to health, sustainability, streaming, and robotics.
• Lunch with Stagwell: Leading practitioners in the areas of digital transformation and media will host two separate luncheons, focusing on how new technologies and tools can elevate brand experiences, from navigating the rise of Web 3.0 to transitioning the structural ways businesses implement technologies.
• CES Cocktails: Hosted in partnership with Brand Innovators, we will convene guests from across industries for cocktails, conversation and the opportunity to reconnect after so long apart.

“Stagwell is launching our the Stagwell Marketing Cloud at CES this year. The Stagwell Marketing Cloud is an innovative suite of products aimed at providing in-house marketers with transformative tools. Incubated by technologists and strategists within Stagwell, we look forward to showcasing the Cloud and demonstrating how the collection of SaaS and DaaS tools can help,” says Mark Penn, Chairman and CEO of Stagwell.

At CES, we will showcase four of products from the Stagwell Marketing Cloud including:

• ARound: An augmented reality creation tool for live events that empowers brand to bring audiences together at scale so they can engage, interact, and socialize in a completely new and meaningful way.
• Harris Brand Platform: A real-time business intelligence application that provides daily insights on brand perception, equity, sales funnels and the impact of marketing campaigns on customer behavior and perceptions.
• Koalifyed: An end-to-end influencer marketing application that brings qualified creators and the world’s top brands together to create credible, engaging content and social experiences that drive connection and culture.
• PRophet: A PR application that utilizes AI and ML to predict media interest, sentiment and spread of a press story prior to pitching, allowing PR professionals to discover new targets and more efficiently pitch and land positive coverage.

For more information or to register for any of Stagwell’s events, please visit: https://stagwellces2022.splashthat.com.

For more information on Stagwell Global and our agency network, please visit www.stagwellglobal.com.

About Stagwell Inc.

Stagwell is the challenger network built to transform marketing. We deliver scaled creative performance for the world’s most ambitious brands, connecting culture-moving creativity with leading-edge technology to harmonize the art and science of marketing.  Led by entrepreneurs, our 10,000+ specialists in 20+ countries are unified under a single purpose: to drive effectiveness and improve business results for their clients. Join us at www.stagwellglobal.com.

Media Contact
Beth Sidhu
beth.sidhu@stagwellglobal.com 
202-423-4414

SOURCE Stagwell Inc.

Originally released on

FEATURING

ARound brings interactive shared experiences to the metaverse.

NEW YORK, Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Stagwell Inc. (NASDAQ: STGW) announced today it will launch an innovative, location-based augmented reality platform, ARound, bringing shared experiences to live events and the retail space by engaging audiences through connected interactions in the metaverse. Stagwell will unveil and demo ARound at CES 2022, within its CES booth #CS-10 in the C-Space at Aria and during CES Unveiled on January 3 at Mandalay Bay and Pepcom Digital Experience on January 4 at The Mirage.

ARound helps venues and retailers create AR attractions for live events, bringing audiences together at scale where they can play, interact, and socialize in completely new and exciting ways. Stadiums and sports teams can now engage casual fans or customers by recapturing their attention and personalizing their experiences. Retail consumers will benefit from a more connected, immersive community experience that increases brand engagement.

“Until now, AR has focused on the individual – but ARound recognizes that the best connections come from shared experiences that connect individuals to the world around them,” said Josh Beatty, ARound founder and CEO. “Location-based AR is a relatively new and evolving space, and spatial computing represents the next major computing innovation – one that will focus less on the way we receive information and more on the way we connect with what is around us. While devices often cause distraction, ARound enables users to be more present at events, connecting people and places through shared technology.” 

“Consumers have lost patience for boring, impersonal, and disconnected marketing. And the race for their attention in today’s digital marketplace couldn’t be tighter,” said Mark Penn, Chairman and CEO, Stagwell. “ARound offers clients an opportunity to chart a new course in a powerful – and fast growing – dimension of consumer experiences. We’re proud to support Josh as he works to bring the product to life,” said Mark Penn, Chairman and CEO, Stagwell. 

ARound is currently being trialed by global retailer H&M, as well as a Major League Baseball team at their stadium. More partners will be announced early next year. 

ARound is the newest product from the Stagwell Marketing Cloud, Stagwell’s growing suite of technology products and services that support business transformation for modern marketers. It was developed as the winning idea at Stagwell’s annual innovation competition, which challenges teams to pitch new product ideas to modernize marketing services and pre-empt the needs of tomorrow’s leading brands. As a winner, ARound received capital and resources from Stagwell to build and launch the product as well as ongoing executive mentorship from the company’s marketing and technology services leaders. 

Stagwell Marketing Cloud – powered by a global workforce of 1000+ engineers – arms modern marketers with a toolbox of capabilities spanning influencer marketing, audience segmentation, AI-powered communications tech, competitive brand intelligence and cutting-edge technology in the developing spaces of AI, ML, AR/VR, data processing and fraud detection. Stagwell’s products include Koalifyed, CUE, PRophet, Harris Brand Platform, Telephia, Truly Social, Stage, and Navigator. 

To schedule a product demo of ARound at Stagwell’s CES booth, #CS-10, contact (brand@stagwellglobal.com). To schedule a media interview with AR founder, Josh Beatty, contact Pam Golden at pam@GLAPR.com. 

About Stagwell Inc.

Stagwell is the challenger network built to transform marketing. We deliver scaled creative performance for the world’s most ambitious brands, connecting culture-moving creativity with leading-edge technology to harmonize the art and science of marketing.  Led by entrepreneurs, our 10,000+ specialists in 20+ countries are unified under a single purpose: to drive effectiveness and improve business results for their clients. Join us at www.stagwellglobal.com.

Media Contact
Beth Sidhu
beth.sidhu@stagwellglobal.com 
202-423-4414

SOURCE Stagwell Inc.

Originally released on

Stagwell agencies 72andSunny, Anomaly, Doner, Forsman & Bodenfors, Assembly, and newly-launched Stagwell Media Network received “best of the best” honors for innovative, effective and creative work in global tally, including Most Awarded Campaigns, Top Brands for Creative and Top Networks for Creative

NEW YORK, Dec. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Stagwell, the challenger company transforming marketing, today announced that the World Advertising Research Center (WARC) has recognized five agency partners and the Stagwell Media Network as leaders in creative and effective campaigns and media strategies that drive sustained success on behalf of global brands. WARC celebrates the world’s most awarded campaigns, networks and agencies, benchmarking the excellence of creatives around the globe. The work honored by WARC in the Creative 100 and Effective 100 awards represents compelling, innovative consumer campaigns and experiences that are defining the next generation of marketing.

The WARC Creative 100 is determined by tallying recognitions at global and regional creative awards shows, including the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, Clio Awards, and London International Awards (LIA). Similarly, the WARC Effective 100 takes into consideration recognitions from Effies, IPA Effectiveness Awards, Jay Chiat Awards, and others.

Stagwell agencies 72andSunny, Anomaly, Assembly, Doner, and Forsman & Bodenfors all received recognitions on this year’s rankings, as well as Stagwell’s newly-launched Stagwell Media Network. Full highlights from this year’s WARC Creative 100 include:

• Forsman & Bodenfors: Ranked #3 in Top 30 Campaigns (Creative 100) with Volvo E.V.A. Initiative
• Forsman & Bodenfors’ cutting-edge campaign, “Equal Vehicles for All Initiative” (E.V.A.) for Volvo, was celebrated as a Top 30 Campaign (Creative 100). The E.V.A. Initiative shared 40 years of research via an integrated campaign to raise awareness of gender inequities in crash tests. The global campaign drove unmatched engagement, with over 290 million social media impressions and led to over 40,000 downloads of its database. The E.V.A. Initiative has also received awards from the Cannes Lion Festival of Creativity, CLIO, Eurobest, and SABRE.
• Stagwell Media Network: Ranked #45 in Top 50 Networks (Effective 100). Stagwell Media Network – launched in August 2021 – combines leading omnichannel expertise for global B2B and B2C solutions from several leading media agencies, including Assembly (formerly Assembly and ForwardPMX), MMI Agency, Media Kitchen, and Grason, creative consultancy GALE, B2B specialist Multiview, multilingual content agency Locaria and travel and media experts Ink.
• Anomaly: Ranked #13 in Top 50 Creative Agency (Effective 100) and #28 in Top 50 Networks (Effective 100). 
• Assembly: Ranked #33 in the Top 50 Media Agencies list (Effective 100). 
• 72andSunny: Ranked #29 in Top 30 Campaigns with Swipe Night, #29 in Creative Networks (Creative 100), #31 in Top Network in the Media (Media 100), and #48 in Top 50 Networks (Effective 100). 
• 72andSunny’s extraordinary work for Tinder’s Swipe Night was recognized in Most Awarded Campaigns (Creative 100). Swipe Night, the network’s most awarded creative client work for 2021, has been widely celebrated as a standout of digital content and entertainment, transforming the way consumers date. The campaign has also been recognized at the Cannes Lion Festival of Creativity, Clio, Effies and the Daytime Emmy Awards, among others.  
• Doner: Ranked #46 in Top 50 Networks (Effective 100). 

“Our agencies’ recognitions from WARC demonstrate Stagwell’s unlimited potential to drive results and recognition for the world’s leading brands,” said Mark Penn, Chairman and CEO, Stagwell Global. “WARC’s decision to honor Stagwell Media Network – one of our first and largest initiatives as the newly combined Stagwell Inc.– highlights the power of our integrated approach to client solutions, which is driven by cutting edge creative and digital solutions.”

For more information on Stagwell Global and our award-winning work, please visit stagwellglobal.com.

About Stagwell Inc.

Stagwell is the challenger network built to transform marketing. We deliver scaled creative performance for the world’s most ambitious brands, connecting culture-moving creativity with leading-edge technology to harmonize the art and science of marketing.  Led by entrepreneurs, our 10,000+ specialists in 20+ countries are unified under a single purpose: to drive effectiveness and improve business results for their clients. Join us at www.stagwellglobal.com.

Originally released on

CONTACT

Beth Sidhu

Global network appoints Jon Schaaf, Shannon Pruitt, and Rick Acampora to deliver an evolved future-facing strategy that drives innovation, scale, efficiencies, and differentiation across clients and partners.

NEW YORK, Dec. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Stagwell Media Network, part of Stagwell (NASDAQ: STGW) Inc, today announced expanded leadership to further evolve the agency’s investment profile, with a focus on partnerships, innovation, investment models, and accountability to help clients navigate changes in the media landscape and fuel market-leading growth. 

Noted appointments include:

• Jon Schaaf, Global Chief Investment Officer: With over 20+ years of experience at major holding companies (including Omnicom, Publicis, and GroupM), Jon has expertly led the development of omnichannel investment strategies for some of the world’s largest advertisers, as well as created cutting edge partnerships with the global publisher community. Jon will lead the creation and management of the investment group, overseeing strategy and activation across Stagwell Media Network clients globally.
• Shannon Pruitt, Global Chief Content Officer: Shannon is a 20+ year industry leader with deep agency, publisher, and brand-side experience. Having been in former roles at Dentsu’s The Story Lab, Carat, Warner Brothers, as well as CMO of The Honest Company, she has helped some of the world’s leading companies connect with consumers in ever-and-rapidly changing economic, cultural, and media environments. In this new role, Shannon is responsible for developing innovative content, media, and publisher relationships that deliver integrated experiences across the network for Stagwell Media Network clients to drive measurable value and business outcomes.
• Rick Acampora, Global Chief Client Officer: With experience across a plethora of agencies and brands, including GroupM, MEC/Wavemaker, UM, and Publicis, Rick has built, maintained, and applied the practice of client leadership for some of the world’s most recognizable brands. Rick led the product unification and transformation for the merger of MEC and Maxus to form Wavemaker and ensured expansion for both their clients and the agency resulting in the two most significant growth years in MEC/Wavemaker’s history. At Stagwell Media Network, Rick will collaborate across the client and agency teams to create indispensable partnerships that drive innovation and results while also enabling our people to continuously progress as leaders.

“This team has invaluable experience in creatively developing and activating forward-thinking strategies and partnerships that deliver meaningful growth for businesses,” said James Townsend, Global CEO of Stagwell Media Network. “Together, and with the expansive Stagwell community, they will collaborate with publishers and media partners to construct opportunities that our agencies can uniquely bring to our clients.” 

Stagwell Media Network is home to more than 2,500 experts with an expansive global footprint across 40 offices in 20 countries, managing close to $5 billion in media. The network creates an exciting environment for a new era of marketing talent, bringing together world-class omnichannel media, analytics, technology, and consulting expertise.

“The formation of the Stagwell Media Network was an intentional and proactive approach to ensuring we enable collaboration that helps deliver on our vision of being the challenger brand offering an alternative to the status quo,” said Stagwell’s president Jay Leveton. “Our continued investment in this team and community underscores the importance of how we intend to create new opportunities for our clients, partners, and the market.”

Additional leadership and organizational details will be announced in the coming weeks. These investments will drive increased collaboration across the entire media and creative portfolio in Stagwell. 

About Stagwell Media Network

Stagwell Media Network is a group of leading multichannel agencies including Assembly, MMI Agency, Media Kitchen, and Grason, creative consultancy GALE, B2B specialist Multiview, transcreation agency Locaria, and travel and media experts Ink. The network offers marketers a more dynamic partner for global B2B and B2C solutions spanning data, technology, media, and creativity aimed at accelerating business growth for brands worldwide. 

About Stagwell Inc.

Stagwell is the challenger network built to transform marketing. We deliver scaled creative performance for the world’s most ambitious brands, connecting culture-moving creativity with leading-edge technology to harmonize the art and science of marketing.  Led by entrepreneurs, our 10,000+ specialists in 20+ countries are unified under a single purpose: to drive effectiveness and improve business results for their clients. Join us at www.stagwellglobal.com.

Originally released on

FEATURING

NEW YORK, Dec. 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — (NASDAQ: STGW) – Stagwell Inc., the challenger network built to transform marketing, today announced several senior appointments that will help position the Company for accelerated global growth and talent acquisition as it enters 2022.

Key Appointments Include:

• Robyn Freye has been named SVP, Chief Growth Officer, North America to lead strategic growth initiatives for the North America market and build a robust client growth strategy across network. At Stagwell, Freye has been instrumental in attracting key client engagements to the global roster, including Google, Uber and Expedia. Freye held prior roles at The Burnett Collective, where she served as a VP focused on agency search and review, global consolidation, and operational enhancement for multinational brands; and at R/GA as Vice President and Managing Director, overseeing growth marketing efforts and key multinational accounts for multiple U.S. offices.
• Alexis Williams has been named SVP, Chief Brand Officer, North America and will lead brand marketing efforts collaborating with Stagwell’s global and growth teams. Williams was instrumental in the development of Stagwell Inc.’s brand amid the combination of MDC Partners Inc. and Stagwell Marketing Group LLC. and serves as an advisor to key network communications clients.  Prior to her tenure at Stagwell, Williams held several executive roles at Politico overseeing marketing communications and the erection of Politico’s strategic events division, and served as the Global Head of Women Rule, a membership program that convenes women in positions of leadership quarterly for idea-sharing, networking, and more.
• Nate Napier has been named SVP, Global Solutions, responsible for building integrated teams and working models that harness the collective marketing expertise of Stagwell’s portfolio agencies in service of connected, scalable solutions for global clients.  During his tenure at Stagwell, Napier has been key to the creation of a central client relationship management team that serves key global accounts. Prior to joining Stagwell, Napier spent his career on the client-side leading integrated brand building and implementing modern agile marketing strategies for several Fortune 100 organizations including Intuit and Procter & Gamble.
• Amy Mayurnik has been tapped for the role of SVP, Global Recruitment, where she will lead and expand the network’s central recruitment team in support of the growth underway across Stagwell’s portfolio of companies. One of Stagwell’s longest-serving employees with over a decade of experience in the network, Mayurnik has been instrumental in developing a global talent pipeline of over 250,000 leading creative, digital and technology-focused experts. Joining Mayurnik on the team – and doubling the size of Stagwell’s central recruitment arm — are Shane McEwen, Mariana Bustamante, and Doris Jones, with additional hires planned throughout 2022. Prior to Stagwell, Mayurnik was employed at Deloitte.

“We have high hopes for Stagwell in 2022 and are making incredible progress in assembling the right team of collaborative leaders to bring our vision for transformative marketing to life,” said Chairman and CEO Mark Penn. “Each of these employees has demonstrated exceptional judgement, agility in the face of disruption, and a commitment to Stagwell’s collaborative approach to global services.”

In addition to hiring over 1,000 employees across its portfolio in recent months, Stagwell has made several key appointments since its launch in August 2021 to round out the Company’s roster of executive leadership. In addition to the aforementioned talent, Stagwell has hired Stephanie Howley as Chief People Officer; tapped former Harris Poll executive Merrill Raman to lead technology and IT across Stagwell as Chief Technology Officer; and promoted Randy Duax to the role of Managing Director, Asia-Pacific to further accommodate the network’s rapid global expansion.  

About Stagwell Inc.

Stagwell is the challenger network built to transform marketing. We deliver scaled creative performance for the world’s most ambitious brands, connecting culture-moving creativity with leading-edge technology to harmonize the art and science of marketing.  Led by entrepreneurs, our 10,000+ specialists in 20+ countries are unified under a single purpose: to drive effectiveness and improve business results for their clients. Join us at www.stagwellglobal.com.

Originally released on

FEATURING

NEW YORK, Nov. 29, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — (NASDAQ: STGW) – Stagwell announced today that management will attend the upcoming Wells Fargo 5^th Annual Virtual TMT Summit from November 30 – December 2, 2021. Chairman and CEO Mark Penn will present at the conference on Thursday, December 2, 2021 at 10:00 A.M. ET. To register and access the presentation, please visit this link.

About Stagwell Inc.

Stagwell is the challenger network built to transform marketing. We deliver scaled creative performance for the world’s most ambitious brands, connecting culture-moving creativity with leading-edge technology to harmonize the art and science of marketing.  Led by entrepreneurs, our 10,000+ specialists in 20+ countries are unified under a single purpose: to drive effectiveness and improve business results for their clients. Join us at www.stagwellglobal.com.

Originally released on

Stagwell (STGW) Details Key Strategic Growth Targets at Investor Event, Increases Targeted Combined GAAP Revenue Goals for 2025 

Management announced increased annual organic revenue targets, expanded M&A commitments, and plans to bolster its capabilities across high-growth digital marketing services including cloud suite of digital SaaS and DaaS products 

New York, NY, November 9, 2021 (NASDAQ: STGW) – Stagwell announced several strategic growth targets at the company’s first in-person and virtual presentation for investors and analysts. Those include:

• Increased targeted combined GAAP revenue for 2025 to $3.4B versus $3B previously, based on:
  • Increased target of 7-9% annual organic revenue growth compared to 5% previously, leading to double-digit overall annual revenue growth. The increase is driven by 1) an increased mix of digital revenue targeted to grow at a blended 10-15% per year, 2) increased confidence in higher growth of conventional marketing driven by success in winning larger pitches, and 3) increased confidence in secular growth in advocacy.
  • Increased incremental revenue target from M&A and associated organic growth of acquisitions to $450M by 2025 versus prior target of $325M. (Increased levels of cash flow due to business outperformance are expected to be dedicated to acquisitions in synergistic geographies and capabilities, in addition to faster-growing digital areas.)
  • Stagwell Marketing Cloud announced to service in-house marketers with suite of digital SaaS and DaaS products is targeted to generate ~$75M in revenue by 2025.
• Proportion of New Revenue derived from digital services — including digital transformation, performance marketing & data, and online research — targeted to grow to 65% by 2025, up from 48% of pro forma revenue in Q3 2021.
• Adjusted EBITDA margin expansion of 25 to 50 basis points per year, driven by a combination of synergies and increased mix of higher-margin digital services, partially offset by normalization of travel & entertainment.

“Stagwell is demonstrating new levels of growth and profitability that go beyond simple pandemic recovery, bolstered by our best-in-class digital services” said Mark Penn. “The combination has set us up to deliver record year-end growth and we are confident that doubling down on our aggressive investment in connected, integrated marketing solutions is the key to further sustained growth.”

These targets follow strong Q3 2021 performance from the world’s newest marketing services network, including 22.8% pro forma net organic revenue and 25.2% year over year pro forma net organic revenue. GAAP Revenue for the quarter was $466.6 million.

Stagwell last week revised its full year-end guidance, which had previously been revised higher in Q2. The company now expects to end the year with pro forma revenue of $2.15B-$2.18B and is raising its Adjusted EBITDA expectations for a second time to $370M-$380M from $325-$340 at the beginning of the year.*

A replay of Stagwell’s November 8, 2021 Investor Day, including copies of all management presentation materials, is available at www.stagwellglobal.com/investors/

*The Company has excluded a quantitative reconciliation with respect to the Company’s 2021 guidance under the “unreasonable efforts” exception in Item 10(e)(1)(i)(B) of Regulation S-K.

About Stagwell

Stagwell is the challenger network built to transform marketing. We deliver scaled creative performance for the world’s most ambitious brands, connecting culture-moving creativity with leading-edge technology to harmonize the art and science of marketing. Led by entrepreneurs, our 10,000+ specialists in 20+ countries are unified under a single purpose: to drive effectiveness and improve business results for their clients. Join us at www.stagwellglobal.com.

Forward-Looking Statements & Other Information

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;
• an inability to realize expected benefits of the combination of the Company’s business with the business of MDC (the “Business Combination” and, together with the related transactions, the “Transactions”);
• adverse tax consequences in connection with the Transactions for the Company, its operations and its shareholders, that may differ from the expectations of the Company, including that future changes in tax law, potential increases to corporate tax rates in the United States and disagreements with the tax authorities on the Company’s determination of value and computations of its attributes may result in increased tax costs;
• the occurrence of material Canadian federal income tax (including material “emigration tax”) as a result of the Transactions;
• the impact of uncertainty associated with the Transactions on the Company’s businesses;
• direct or indirect costs associated with the Transactions, which could be greater than expected;
• risks associated with severe effects of international, national and regional economic conditions;
• 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 and the additional risk factors outlined in more detail under the caption “Risk Factors” in Exhibit 99.2 to our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on August 10, 2021, and accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov., and in the Company’s other SEC filings.

Originally released on

FEATURING

New York, NY, November 5, 2021 — Stagwell Inc. (the “Company”) announced today the grant of equity inducement awards of Class A common stock to two new employees in connection with their joining the Company as agency executives. The Company granted 215,000 restricted shares to Marianne Malina, Global CEO of Crispin Porter + Bogusky, and 150,000 restricted stock units to Toby Southgate, Global CEO of Forsman & Bodenfors. The grants are effective November 1, 2021, and will vest on the third anniversary of each executive’s start date, subject to continued employment. Vesting of 65,000 of the restricted shares granted to Ms. Malina is further subject to the achievement of performance conditions. The grants provide for accelerated vesting upon (i) termination of employment by the Company without Cause, with the number of shares pro-rated based on months of service, or (ii) death or disability. The Company granted these awards as a material inducement to employment in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4).   

For more information on Stagwell, please visit www.stagwellglobal.com

About Stagwell

Stagwell is the challenger network built to transform marketing. We deliver scaled creative performance for the world’s most ambitious brands, connecting culture-moving creativity with leading-edge technology to harmonize the art and science of marketing.  Led by entrepreneurs, our 10,000+ specialists in 30+ countries are unified under a single purpose: to drive effectiveness and improve business results for their clients. Join us at www.stagwellglobal.com.

Originally released on

NEW YORK, Nov. 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — (NASDAQ: STGW) – Stagwell announced today that Mark Penn, Chairman and CEO, will present at the upcoming RBC Capital Markets Global Technology, Internet, Media and Telecom Virtual Conference on Wednesday, November 17, 2021. The fireside chat will take place from 4-4:30 PM ET.

To register and access the virtual presentation, please visit this link.

About Stagwell Inc.

Stagwell is the challenger network built to transform marketing. We deliver scaled creative performance for the world’s most ambitious brands, connecting culture-moving creativity with leading-edge technology to harmonize the art and science of marketing.  Led by entrepreneurs, our 10,000+ specialists in 20+ countries are unified under a single purpose: to drive effectiveness and improve business results for their clients. Join us at www.stagwellglobal.com.

Originally released on

FEATURING

Third Quarter GAAP Revenue growth of 104.6%

Third Quarter Pro Forma Organic Net Revenue growth of 22.8%, 27.9% excluding Advocacy

Third Quarter Net Loss attributable to Stagwell was $2.1 million

Third Quarter Pro Forma Adjusted EBITDA of $100 million

Company Raises Full Year Pro Forma Adjusted EBITDA outlook

REPORTED THIRD QUARTER & YTD HIGHLIGHTS:

• GAAP revenue of $466.6 million in the third quarter versus $228.1 million in the prior year period, an increase of 104.6%; and $857.4 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2021 versus $575.0 million in the prior year period, an increase of 49.1%.
• Net revenue of $409.1 million in the third quarter versus $152.9 million in the prior year period, an increase of 167.6%; and $749.2 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2021 versus $434.1 million in the prior year period, an increase of 72.6%.
• Net loss attributable to Stagwell Inc. common shareholders of $2.1 million in the third quarter of 2021 versus net income of $17.8 million in the prior year period; and income of $14.1 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2021 versus $34.1 million in the prior year period.
• Adjusted EBITDA of $87.5 million in the third quarter versus $37.1 million in the prior year period, an increase of 135.8%; and $150.1 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2021 versus $79.0 million in the prior year period, an increase of 90.0%.

PRO FORMA REPORTED THIRD QUARTER & YTD STAGWELL INC. HIGHLIGHTS:

• Pro Forma GAAP revenue of $568.3 million in the third quarter versus $511.5 million in the prior year period, an increase of 11.1%; and $1,612.4 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2021 versus $1,445.8 million in the prior year period, an increase of 11.5%.
• Pro Forma net revenue of $498.1 million in the third quarter versus $397.8 million in the prior year period, an increase of 25.2%; and $1,407.1 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2021 versus $1,185.4 million in the prior year period, an increase of 18.7%.
• Pro Forma organic net revenue increased 22.8% in the third quarter and 15.6% for the nine months ended September 30, 2021.
• Pro Forma adjusted EBITDA for the three months ended September 30, 2021 was $100.3 million versus $89.3 million in the prior year period, an increase of 12.4%. Pro forma adjusted EBITDA Margin was 20.1%, compared to 22.4% in the prior year period. Excluding the impact of the advocacy business, adjusted EBITDA margins would have been 20.1% in the third quarter of 2021 and 19.3% the third quarter of
• Pro Forma adjusted EBITDA for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 was $275.3 million versus $205.9 million in the prior year period, an increase of 33.7%. Adjusted EBITDA Margin was 19.6%, compared to 17.4% in the prior year period.
• Net New Business wins totaled $63.7 million in the third quarter.

New York, NY, November 3, 2021 (NASDAQ: STGW) – Stagwell Inc. (“Stagwell”) today announced financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021.

“Stagwell’s third quarter results make one thing very clear: the combination is working. We delivered pro forma organic net revenue growth of 23%, a pro forma adjusted EBITDA margin over 20%, and are pleased to raise our full year adjusted EBITDA guidance on the basis of our results to date,” said Mark Penn, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Stagwell. “Our growth this quarter was driven by double-digit, pro forma net revenue growth across nearly all our client offerings, including digital transformation, communications, media and data analytics. On a year-over-year basis excluding the advocacy business, pro forma organic net revenue grew 28%. With net new business of $64 million, this is a strong first quarter as a newly combined company.”

Frank Lanuto, Chief Financial Officer, commented: “The Company reported strong third quarter pro forma results with GAAP revenue of $568 million, net revenue of $498 million and Adjusted EBITDA of $100 million. Organic pro forma net revenue growth of 23% for the quarter, as well as growth from 2019 of 14%, are evidence of the Company’s recovery from the pandemic and transition to a new phase of overall growth.”

Third Quarter and Year-to-Date 2021 Pro Forma Financial Results

Pro Forma net revenue for the third quarter of 2021 was $498.1 million versus $397.8 million for the third quarter of 2020, an increase of 25.2%.

Pro Forma organic net revenue increased 22.8%, and foreign exchange and acquisitions, net of dispositions, had a positive impact of 0.7% and 1.6%, respectively. Organic net revenue increased primarily due to a continuation of the recovery in spending by clients begun in the first quarter.

Net New Business wins in the third quarter of 2021 totaled $63.7 million.

Pro Forma adjusted EBITDA for the third quarter of 2021 was $100.3 million versus $89.3 million for the third quarter of 2020, an increase of 12.4%, primarily driven by strong revenue growth. Pro Forma adjusted EBITDA margin in the third quarter of 2021 was 20.1%, down from 22.4% compared to the same period in 2020. Excluding the impact of the advocacy business, adjusted EBITDA margins would have been 20.1% for the third quarter of 2021 and 19.3% for the third quarter of 2020.

Pro Forma net revenue for the first nine months of 2021 was $1,407.1 million versus $1,185.4 million in the prior year period.

Pro Forma organic net revenue for the nine months ended 2021 increased by 15.6% and foreign exchange and acquisitions, net of dispositions, had a positive impact of 1.3% and 1.8%, respectively.

Pro Forma adjusted EBITDA for the first nine months of 2021 was $275.3 million versus $205.9 million in the first nine months of 2020, an increase of 33.7%. This led to an Adjusted EBITDA Margin of 19.6% versus 17.4% in prior year period.

Financial Outlook

2021 financial guidance is as follows:

• Revenue for 2021, on a pro forma basis giving effect to the combination as if it was completed on January 1, 2021, is estimated to be $2.150 to $2.180 billion, including approximately $755 million for legacy MDC for the seven-month period ended July 31, 2021.

• Adjusted EBITDA for 2021, on a pro forma basis giving effect to the combination as if it was completed on January 1, 2021, is estimated to be $370 to $380 million, including approximately $124 million for legacy MDC for the seven-month period ended July 31, 2021.

• Guidance assumes no impact from foreign exchange or acquisitions or dispositions.

Conference Call

Management will host a video webcast and conference call on Wednesday, November 3, 2021, at 8:30 a.m. (ET) to discuss results for Stagwell Inc. for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021.  The video webcast will be accessible at https://kvgo.com/corporate-services/stagwell-group-earnings-call-q3. An investor presentation has been posted on our website at www.stagwellglobal.com and may be referred to during the conference call.

A recording of the conference call will be accessible one hour after the call and available for ninety days at www.stagwellglobal.com.

Stagwell Inc.

Stagwell is the challenger network built to transform marketing. We deliver scaled creative performance for the world’s most ambitious brands, connecting culture-moving creativity with leading-edge technology to harmonize the art and science of marketing.  Led by entrepreneurs, our 10,000+ specialists in 20+ countries are unified under a single purpose: to drive effectiveness and improve business results for their clients. Join us at www.stagwellglobal.com.

Basis of Presentation

The acquisition of MDC Partners (MDC) by Stagwell Marketing Group (SMG) was completed on August 2, 2021. The results of MDC are included within the Statement of Operations for the period beginning on the date of the acquisition through the end of the respective period presented and the results of SMG are included for the entire period presented.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to its reported results, Stagwell Inc 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:

Pro Forma Results: The Pro Forma amounts presented for each period were prepared by combining the historical standalone statements of operations for each of legacy MDC and SMG. The unaudited pro forma results are provided for illustrative purposes only and do not purport to represent what the actual consolidated results of operations or consolidated financial condition would have been had the combination actually occurred on the date indicated, nor do they purport to project the future consolidated results of operations or consolidated financial condition for any future period or as of any future date. The Company has excluded a quantitative reconciliation of adjusted Pro Forma EBITDA to net income under the “unreasonable efforts” exception in Item 10(e)(1)(i)(B) of Regulation S-K.

(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 defined as Net income excluding non-operating income or expense to achieve operating income, plus depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation, deferred acquisition consideration adjustments, and other items. Other items include restructuring costs, acquisition-related expenses, and non-recurring items.

(4) Financial Guidance:  The Company provides guidance on a non-GAAP basis as it cannot predict certain elements which are included in reported GAAP results.

Included in this earnings release are tables reconciling reported Stagwell Inc. 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;
• an inability to realize expected benefits of the redomiciliation of the Company from the federal jurisdiction of Canada to the State of Delaware (the “Redomiciliation”) and the subsequent combination of the Company’s business with the business of the subsidiaries of Stagwell Media LP (“Stagwell”) that own and operate a portfolio of marketing services companies (the “Business Combination” and, together with the Redomiciliation, the “Transactions”);
• adverse tax consequences in connection with the Transactions for the Company, its operations and its shareholders, that may differ from the expectations of the Company, including that future changes in tax law, potential increases to corporate tax rates in the United States and disagreements with the tax authorities on the Company’s determination of value and computations of its attributes may result in increased tax costs;
• the occurrence of material Canadian federal income tax (including material “emigration tax”) as a result of the Transactions;
• the impact of uncertainty associated with the Transactions on the Company’s businesses;
• direct or indirect costs associated with the Transactions, which could be greater than expected;
• risks associated with severe effects of international, national and regional economic conditions;
• 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 Exhibit 99.2 to our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on August 10, 2021, and accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov., under the caption “Risk Factors,” and in the Company’s other SEC