Related Party Transactions
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]  
Related Party Transactions

16. Related Party Transactions

(a)
The Company incurred fees and paid cash incentive awards totaling $15,992, $2,739 and $3,375 in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively, relating to companies controlled by the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) of the Company in respect of services rendered pursuant to a management services agreement and incentive plans.
On April 25, 2007, the Company entered into a new Management Services Agreement (as amended and restated on May 6, 2013, the “Services Agreement”) with Miles Nadal and with Nadal Management, Inc. to set forth the terms and conditions on which Miles Nadal will continue to provide services to the Company as its Chief Executive Officer. The Services Agreement is subject to automatic one-year extensions unless either party gives to the other a 60-day advance written notice of its intention not to renew. Effective January 1, 2013, the annual retainer amount (base salary) under the Services Agreement was increased to $1,750 and effective January 1, 2014, the annual retainer amount was increased to $1,850.
During 2011, 2012 and 2013 and in accordance with this Services Agreement, Mr. Nadal repaid an amount equal to $102, $475 and $5,445 of loans due to the Company. As of April 26, 2013, Mr. Nadal has repaid and satisfied in full the remaining principal balance of all previously outstanding loans made by the Company to Mr. Nadal and his affiliates. After giving effect to this final repayment by Mr. Nadal to the Company, there is currently $0 remaining due and owing to the Company in respect of all prior loans.
(b)
Pursuant to the amended Services Agreement, the Company agreed to provide to its CEO, Miles S. 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. This bonus is payable until the date that is three years after the date on which Mr. Nadal is no longer employed by the Company for any reason. During November 2013, this bonus was earned and paid to Mr. Nadal in the amount of C$10,000 (US $9,649).
(c)
In 2000, the Company purchased 1,600,000 shares in Trapeze Media Limited (“Trapeze”) for $215. At the same time, the Company’s CEO purchased 4,280,000 shares of Trapeze for $576, the Company’s former Chief Financial Officer and a Managing Director of the Company each purchased 50,000 Trapeze shares for $7 and a Board Member of the Company purchased 75,000 shares of Trapeze for $10. In 2001, the Company purchased an additional 1,250,000 shares for $161, and the Company’s CEO purchased 500,000 shares for $64. In 2002, the Company’s CEO purchased 3,691,930 shares of Trapeze for $470. All of these purchases were made at identical prices (C$.20/share). In 2003, the Company and the CEO exchanged their units in Trapeze for non-voting shares and entered into a voting trust agreement.
During 2013 and 2011, an MDC partner firm provided services to Trapeze in exchange for fees equal to $187 and $390, respectively. Trapeze did not provide any services to MDC nor its partner firms in the three years ended December 31, 2013.