Exhibit 10.15


    Execution Copy

    


    MEMBERSHIP INTEREST PURCHASE
AGREEMENT

    


    


    This
MEMBERSHIP INTEREST PURCHASE
AGREEMENT, dated November 10, 2008 (this “Agreement”), is made by and
among MDC Acquisition
Inc., a Delaware corporation (“MDC Sub”); CPB Acquisition Inc., a
Delaware Corporation (“Acquisition Co.”); MDC Partners Inc., a Canadian
corporation (“MDC
Partners”); Crispin
& Porter Advertising, Inc. (d/b/a Crispin Porter & Bogusky), a
Florida corporation (“CPB
Inc.” or “Seller”); Charles Porter (“Porter”), Alex Bogusky (“Bogusky”), Jeff Hicks (“Hicks”), and Jeff Steinhour (“Steinhour”; together with
Porter, Bogusky and Hicks collectively referred to as the “Employee Members” and
individually as an “Employee Member”); MDC Sub, together
with the Acquisition Co., Employee Members and CPB Inc., collectively referred
to as the “Members” and
individually a “Member”); and CRISPIN PORTER & BOGUSKY
LLC, a
Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”).  Capitalized
terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings ascribed to
such terms in the Company’s Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company
Agreement dated as of January 8, 2001 (as subsequently amended, the “LLC Agreement”).

    


    


    W I T N E S S E T H :

    


    WHEREAS, CPB Inc., the
Employee Members, MDC Sub and Acquisition Co. are parties to that certain LLC
Agreement of the Company, which sets forth, among other things, the terms and
conditions relating to transfer and ownership of the Membership Interests upon
exercise of a put or call option;

    


    WHEREAS, pursuant to the LLC
Agreement, Acquisition Co. has the right to exercise the “Third Call” option,
and is hereby exercising such Third Call option early, with respect to the
purchase of an additional 17% of Membership Interests from CPB Inc., and has
assigned such rights to exercise the Third Call to MDC Sub;

    


    WHEREAS, CPB Inc. (the “Seller”) accepts MDC Sub’s
early exercise of the Third Call option and now desires to sell, and MDC Sub
desires to purchase, an aggregate amount equal to 17% of the issued and
outstanding Membership Interests in the Company (the “Purchased Interests”), from
the Seller;

    


    WHEREAS, immediately following
the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the parties hereto are entering
into a further amendment to the LLC Agreement to reflect the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, including the transfer of the Purchased
Interests to MDC Sub such that following the Closing of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, the Membership Interests in the Company will be
owned as follows:  MDC Sub – 45%; Acquisition Co. – 49%
; CPB Inc. - 6%.;

    


    
      
        
        

      

      
        
        

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

     

            
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements
set forth in this Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties do hereby
agree as follows:

    


               1.        Purchase
and Sale; Closing.

    


                          (a)           Sellers
hereby sell, assign, transfer and deliver to MDC Sub, and MDC Sub hereby
purchases from Seller, the Purchased Interests.   The
Purchased Interests carry with it the right to share in the Profits and Losses
of the Company (as such terms are defined in LLC Agreement) and the other
economic attributes thereof (including distributions of Cash Flow in accordance
with the LLC Agreement) accruing from and after November 10, 2008 in respect of
the Purchased Interests transferred hereby, and the Seller’s rights in its
Capital Account with respect to the Purchased Interests as of November 10, 2008,
subject to Seller receiving distributions in the ordinary course that it would
have received in respect of the Purchased Interests for the period of time
ending immediately prior to the Closing Date.  For purposes of this
Agreement, the calculation of “Profits and Losses” shall be done in accordance
with the LLC Agreement, and shall be based upon profits, losses and
distributions in accordance with the Company’s current financial and operational
policies as of the Closing Date and determined in a manner substantially
consistent with recent practices (e.g.,  no extraordinary
dividends).

    


                          (b)           The
closing of the transaction contemplated by this Agreement (the “Closing”) is taking place
simultaneously with the execution and delivery of this Agreement (the “Closing Date”), at the offices
of MDC Partners Inc., 950 Third Avenue, New York, New York 10022 or by the
exchange of documents and instruments by mail, courier, telecopy and wire
transfer to the extent mutually acceptable to the parties hereto.

    


                          (c)           Effective
as of November 10, 2008, MDC Sub, Acquisition Co. and CPB Inc. shall cause the
Company to close its books for income tax purposes, and there will be no
allocation of Profits or Losses to Sellers with respect to the Purchased
Interests following the Closing Date.  All distributions of Profits
payable as of November 10, 2008 in respect of the Membership Interests
(including the Purchased Interests) shall be distributed and paid by the Company
in the ordinary course following the Closing.  In accordance with the
LLC Agreement, the parties have agreed to elect to adopt the closing of the
books method under Section 706 of the Code for allocating CPB Inc.’s varying
interests in the Company during the taxable year that includes the Closing
Date.

    


               2.        Purchase
Price. 

    


                          (a)           In
full consideration for the purchase by MDC Sub of the Purchased Interests, and
in full satisfaction of any and all amounts due and owing by Acquisition Co.
with respect to the Period Three Formula Amount (as such term is defined in the
LLC Agreement), MDC Sub agrees to pay to Sellers an amount equal to the “Put/Call Purchase Price”,
calculated and determined as follows:

     

    
      
        
        

      

      
        2

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

     

    
      	
               
      

            	
              (i)

            	
              At
      the Closing, an amount equal to $6,850,000 as the “Closing
      Payment”.  The Closing Payment shall be paid as
      follows:  (A) an amount equal to $6,430,000 shall be paid in
      cash or immediately available funds, and (B) an amount equal to $420,000
      (the “Closing Stock
      Payment”) shall be paid in the form of 105,000 MDC Shares in
      accordance with Secion 2(a)(iv) of this Agreement.   “MDC Shares” shall mean
      MDC Partners’ Class A subordinate voting
shares.

            


    

    


    
      	
               
      

            	
              (ii)

            	
              On
      or prior to April 1, 2010, a payment in an amount equal to the “Period Three Formula
      Amount”, calculated in accordance with Section 10.4.3(c) of the LLC
      Agreement, minus $2.1 million (the “Final Purchase
      Payment”).   In accordance with Section 10.5(e) of
      the LLC Agreement, 80% of the Final Purchase Payment paid in respect of
      the Period Three Formula Amount shall be paid in cash by wire transfer,
      and 20% of the Final Purchase Payment shall be made in MDC
      Shares.  In the event that the Period Three Formula Amount is
      equal to less than zero, there shall be no repayment obligation by the
      Seller to MDC Sub.

            


    

    


    
      	
               
      

            	
              (iii)

            	
              The
      Final Purchase Payment shall be subject to further upward (not downward)
      adjustment as follows:  Within 5 Business Days following the
      final determination of the financial statements of the Company for the
      first calendar quarter of 2010, MDC Sub shall pay to Seller, in cash by
      wire transfer, an amount calculated as
follows:

            


    

    


    {2.85 x
average monthly “Profits” (as defined in the LLC Agreement) of the Company
during the Additional Period}- $5.1 million. 

    


    For
purposes of this Agreement, the “Additional Period” shall be
the period of time from the Closing Date to March 31, 2010.

    


    
      	
               
      

            	
              (iv)

            	
              The
      certificate representing the shares of MDC Shares to be issued as part of
      the Closing Stock Payment shall be dated the date hereof and shall be
      delivered to the Seller not later than ten (10) business days after the
      Closing Date.  There shall be no contractual holding period for
      the shares of MDC Shares issued as part of the Closing Stock
      Payment.

            


    

    


                          (b)           For
purposes of this Agreement, all of the terms, conditions and procedures set
forth in Sections 10.4.2 and 10.5 of the LLC Agreement regarding “Accounting
Determination” and “Payment of the Purchase Price” shall apply and govern the
determination of Profits and the Period Three Formula Amount, and the payment of
the Final Purchase Payment.  In the event that the Period Three
Formula Amount has not been finally determined by March 31, 2010, the Final
Purchase Payment to be made on April 1, 2010 shall be equal to 75% of a good
faith estimate of such amount estimated by MDC Partners in its reasonable
judgment (the “Undisputed
Payment”). Upon final determination of the Period Three Formula Amount,
the balance of the Final Purchase Payment shall be promptly paid to Seller. In
the event that MDC Sub fails to pay the Undisputed Payment to Seller in respect
of the Final Purchase Payment on or prior to April 1, 2010, and if Seller has
otherwise complied in all material respects with its obligations under the LLC
Agreement, then Seller shall be entitled to liquidated damages from MDC Sub in
an amount equal to the Final Purchase Payment plus 17% of the Profits of the
Company during the period commencing April 1, 2010 and continuing until the date
on which the Undisputed Payment is paid to Seller.

    


    
      
        
        

      

      
        3

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

                         
(c)           The parties
hereto acknowledge and agree that the Put/Call Purchase Price to be paid by MDC
Sub pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, together
with any amounts paid in respect of the Capital Account Amount, will satisfy
in full all
payment obligations of MDC Sub, Acquisition Co., the Company and/or MDC
Partners Inc. (“MDC
Partners”) in connection with the Purchased Interests, the Third Call,
and the Third Put,  including without limitation satisfaction in full
of any amount due in respect of the Capital Account Amount relating to the
Purchased Interests, all as set forth in the LLC Agreement.  In addition,
in the event that there exists any conflict regarding the language
contained in this Agreement and the language contained in the LLC Agreement, the
language contained in this Agreement shall govern.

    


              
3.        Representations
and Warranties by CPB Inc.  Seller hereby represents and
warrants to MDC Sub as follows:

    


                          (a)           CPB
Inc. is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing
under the laws of the State of Florida, with full corporate power and authority
to own its property and to carry on its business all as and in the places where
such properties are now owned or operated or such business is now being
conducted.

    


                          (b)           Seller
has the full authority to make, execute, deliver and perform this Agreement and
the transactions contemplated hereby.  The execution and delivery of
this Agreement by CPB Inc. and the consummation by CPB Inc. of the transactions
contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all required corporate action
on behalf of CPB Inc. and its shareholders.   This Agreement has
been duly and validly executed and delivered by Seller and, assuming due
authorization, execution and delivery by MDC Sub, constitutes a legal, valid and
binding obligation of the Seller, enforceable against Seller in accordance with
its terms.

    


                          (c)           Seller
is the owner of the applicable amount of the Purchased Interests being sold and
transferred pursuant to this Agreement, free and clear of all mortgages, liens,
security interests, encumbrances, claims, charges and restrictions of any kind
or character (“Liens”)
other than the LLC Agreement.  No person or entity has or will have
any claim against the Company, MDC Sub or any of their affiliates related to any
share or future distribution from the Company or to the proceeds from the sale
of the Purchased Interests.

    


                          (d)           Seller agrees that, from and after the date hereof, no
portion or proceeds of the Closing Payment paid in respect of the Put/Call
Purchase Price shall be used to compensate or give any employee of the Company a
bonus, gift, award or similar type of remuneration, other than dividend
distributions that may be paid to shareholders of the
Seller.

    


    
      
        
        

      

      
        4

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

               4.        Representations
and Warranties by MDC Sub.  MDC Sub and MDC Partners, as the
case may be, hereby represent and warrant, jointly and severally, to Sellers as
follows:

    


                          (a)           MDC
Sub is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under
the laws of Delaware with full corporate power and authority to own its property
and to carry on its business all as and in the places where such properties are
now owned or operated or such business is now being
conducted.    MDC Sub is an indirect, wholly-owned
subsidiary of MDC Partners.   MDC Partners shall cause sufficient
capital and/or MDC Shares, as the case may be, to be available to MDC Sub to
meet its obligations to pay the Put/Call Purchase Price under Section 2 of this
Agreement.  If MDC Sub fails to meet its payment obligations under
Section 2 hereof, then MDC Partners shall satisfy such payment obligations to
the extent that MDC Sub failed to do so.

    


                          (b)           MDC
Sub has the full corporate power and authority to make, execute, deliver and
perform this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.  The
execution and delivery of this Agreement by MDC Sub and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all required
corporate action on behalf of MDC Sub.   This Agreement has been
duly and validly executed and delivered by MDC Sub and, assuming due
authorization, execution and delivery by CPB Inc., constitutes legal, valid and
binding obligations of MDC Sub, enforceable against each of them in accordance
with its terms.

    


                          (c)           MDC
Partners is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing
under the laws of Canada, with full corporate power and authority to own its
property and to carry on its business all as and in the places where such
properties are now owned or operated or such business is now being
conducted.

    


                          (d)           MDC
Partners has the full corporate power and authority to make, execute, deliver
and perform this Agreement and the transactions contemplated
hereby.  The execution and delivery of this Agreement by MDC Partners
and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly
authorized by all required corporate action on behalf of MDC
Partners.   This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and
delivered by MDC Partners and, assuming due authorization, execution and
delivery by CPB Inc., constitutes legal, valid and binding obligations of MDC
Partners, enforceable against each of them in accordance with its
terms.

    


                          (e)           Each
share of MDC Shares to be issued pursuant to the terms of this Agreement will be
duly and validly authorized for issuance by MDC Partners, and upon consummation
of the transactions contemplated hereby, will be duly and validly issued, fully
paid and nonassessable, and not issued in violation of the preemptive rights of
any past or present shareholder.   All of the shares of MDC
Shares to be issued pursuant to this Agreement will be (a) issued in
transactions exempted under all applicable Canadian securities laws and in
compliance with the rules and regulations of the Toronto Stock Exchange, and
assuming the accuracy and truthfulness of an applicable Investment
Representation Certificates to be delivered at Closing by the recipients of such
MDC Shares, United States federal and state securities laws and (b)
conditionally approved for listing on The NASDAQ National Market and the Toronto
Stock Exchange, subject to official notice of issuance and/or the filing of
customary documents and payment of listing fees.

               


    
      
        
        

      

      
        5

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

               
5.       Other
Agreements.

    


                          (a)           As
an inducement for MDC Sub to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement and in consideration of the payment by MDC Sub of the Put/Call
Purchase Price, each of the Employee Members hereby acknowledges and reaffirms
his respective obligations under the provisions of the separate
Non-Solicitation/Non-Servicing Agreement dated January 8, 2001 (each as
thereafter amended on September 22, 2004 and November 1, 2007, the “Non-Solicit Agreements”),
running to the benefit of the Company, Acquisition Co. and MDC
Sub.  It is understood that for purposes of the agreement referenced
in the preceding sentence, each of the Employee Members shall be deemed to be
employed by the Company for any period that he is either a full-time or
part-time employee of the Company.

    


                          (b)           Each
of the parties hereto ratifies and acknowledges all rights and obligations
pursuant to the existing agreements between the parties, including but not
limited to the rights of the Employee Members pursuant to the Non-Solicit
Agreements.

    


    


               6.        Indemnity.

    


                          (a)           CPB
Inc. hereby agrees to indemnify MDC Partners, MDC Sub and Acquisition Co. and
their respective directors and officers (collectively “MDC Group”) against, and to
protect, save and hold harmless each member of the MDC Group from, and to pay on
behalf of or reimburse the respective member of the MDC Group as and when
incurred for, any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties,
demands, claims, actions, suits, judgments, settlements, penalties, interest,
out-of-pocket costs, expenses and disbursements (including reasonable costs of
investigation, and reasonable attorneys’, accountants’ and expert witnesses’
fees) of whatever kind and nature (collectively, “Losses”), that may be imposed
on or incurred by any member of the MDC Group arising out of or in any way
related to (i) any breach of any warranty or representation contained in Section
3 hereof or (ii) any action, demand, proceeding, investigation or claim by any
third party against or affecting any member of the MDC Group which may give rise
to or evidence the existence of or relate to a misrepresentation or breach of
any of the representations and warranties contained in Section 3
hereof.

    


                          (b)           MDC
Sub and MDC Partners hereby agree to indemnify CPB Inc. against, and to protect,
save and hold harmless CPB Inc. from, and to pay on behalf of or reimburse CPB
Inc. as and when incurred for, any and all Losses that may be imposed on or
incurred by CPB Inc. arising out of or in any way related to (i) any breach of
any warranty or representation of MDC Sub or MDC Partners contained in Section 4
hereof or (ii) any action, demand, proceeding, investigation or claim by any
third party against or affecting CPB Inc. which may give rise to or evidence the
existence of or relate to a misrepresentation or breach of any of the
representations and warranties contained in Section 4 hereof.

    


    
      
        
        

      

      
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               7.        Miscellaneous.

    


                          (a)            Each
of MDC Sub and MDC Partners, on the one hand, and CPB Inc. and the Employee
Members, on the other hand, shall pay its or his own expenses relating to the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including, without limitation, the
fees and expenses of their respective counsel and financial
advisors.

    


                          (b)           The
interpretation and construction of this Agreement, and all matters relating
hereto (including, without limitation, the validity or enforcement of this
Agreement), shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York without
regard to any conflicts or choice of laws provisions of the State of New York
that would result in the application of the law of any other
jurisdiction.

    


                          (c)           Subject
to the provisions of the next sentence, no party to this Agreement shall issue
any press release or other public document or make any public statement relating
to this Agreement or the matters contained herein without obtaining the prior
approval of MDC Sub and CPB Inc.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
foregoing provision shall not apply to the extent that MDC Partners is required
to make any announcement or public disclosure relating to or arising out of this
Agreement by virtue of the securities laws of the United States or Canada, or
the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, or the rules of the any stock
exchange on which shares of MDC Partners are listed.

    


                          (d)           Any
notice, request, instruction or other document to be given hereunder by any
party to any other party shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been
given (i) upon personal delivery, if delivered by hand or courier, (ii) three
days after the date of deposit in the mails, postage prepaid, or (iii) the next
business day if sent by facsimile transmission (if receipt is electronically
confirmed) or by a prepaid overnight courier service, and in each case at the
respective addresses or numbers set forth below or such other address or number
as such party may have fixed by notice:

    


               If
to MDC Sub or MDC Partners, addressed to:

    


    MDC
Partners Inc.

    45
Hazelton Avenue

    Toronto,
Ontario

    Canada
M5R 2E3

    Attention:  Robert
Dickson

    Fax:  (416)
960-9555

    


                          with a copy
to:

    


    MDC
Partners Inc.

    950 Third
Avenue

    New York,
New York 10022

    Attention:  Mitchell
Gendel, General Counsel

    Fax:  (212)
937-4365

    


    
      
        
        

      

      
        7

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

               If
to CPB Inc., addressed to:

    


    CPB
Inc.

    3390 Mary
Street, Suite 300

    Miami,
Florida  33133

    Attention:
Chief Financial Officer

    Fax:  (305)
854-3419

    


    


    Any party
may change the address to which notices are to be sent by giving notice of such
change of address to the other parties in the manner herein provided for giving
notice.

    


                          (e)           This
Agreement may not be transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated by any party
hereto, other than by operation of law. This Agreement shall be binding upon and
shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective heirs,
executors, administrators, successors and permitted assigns, as the case may
be.

    


                          (f)      
     In the event any provision of this Agreement is
found to be void and unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the
remaining provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless be binding upon the
parties with the same effect as though the void or unenforceable part had been
severed and deleted.

    


                          (g)           This
Agreement, including the other documents referred to herein, contains the entire
understanding of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter contained
herein and therein.

    


                          (h)           This
Agreement may not be amended, supplemented or modified orally, but only by an
agreement in writing signed by the all of the parties hereto.

    


                          (i)         
  The language used in
this Agreement will be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties hereto to
express their mutual intent, and no rule of law or contract interpretation that
provides that in the case of ambiguity or uncertainty a provision should be
construed against the draftsman will be applied against any party
hereto.

    


                          (j)       
    This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, and each such counterpart shall be deemed an original instrument,
but all such counterparts taken together shall constitute but one
agreement.  Facsimile signatures shall constitute an
original.

    
 

    


    


    *                      *                      *                      *

    


    
      
        
        

      

      
        8

        
          

        

      

      
        
        

      

    

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the
parties hereto have executed this Membership Interest Purchase Agreement, on the
day and year first above written.

    


    
      
        
          
            
              
                
                  
                    
                      
                        
                          
                            
                              
                                
                                  
                                    	 
      	
                                             

                                          	 
      	 
	 
      	
                                            MDC
      ACQUISITION INC.

                                          	 
	 
      	 
      	 
      	 
	 
      	
                                            By:

                                          	
                                               
      /s/

                                          	 
	 
      	
                                             

                                          	
                                            Name:
      Mitchell
      Gendel

                                          	 
	 
      	
                                             

                                          	
                                            Title:
      Vice President & Secretary

                                          	 
	 
      	 
      	 
      	 
	 
      	
                                            CPB
      ACQUISITION INC.

                                          	 
	 
      	 
      	 
      	 
	 
      	
                                            By:

                                          	
                                              
      /s/    

                                          	 
	 
      	
                                             

                                          	
                                            Name:
      Mitchell Gendel

                                          	 
	 
      	
                                             

                                          	
                                            Title:
      Vice President & Secretary

                                          	 
	 
      	 
      	 
      	 
	 
      	
                                            MDC
      PARTNERS INC.

                                          	 
	 
      	 
      	 
      	 
	 
      	
                                            By:

                                          	
                                              
      /s/    

                                          	 
	 
      	
                                             

                                          	
                                            Name:
      Michael Sabatino

                                          	 
	 
      	
                                             

                                          	
                                            Title: Senior
      Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer

                                          	 
	 
      	 
      	 
      	 
	 
      	
                                            CRISPIN
      & PORTER ADVERTISING, INC.

                                          
	 
      	 
      	 
      	 
	 
      	
                                            By:

                                          	
                                              
      /s/      

                                          	 
	 
      	
                                             

                                          	
                                            Name:
      Charles
      K. Porter

                                          	 
	 
      	
                                             

                                          	
                                            Title:

                                          	 
	 
      	 
      	 
      	 
	 
      	
                                            Employee
      Members:

                                          	 
	 
      	 
      	 
      	 
	 
      	 
      	 
      	 
	 
      	
                                            By:

                                          	
                                              
      /s/    

                                          	 
	 
      	
                                             

                                          	
                                            Charles
      Porter

                                          	 
	 
      	 
      	 
      	 
	 
      	 
      	 
      	 
	 
      	
                                            By:

                                          	
                                              
      /s/   

                                          	 
	 
      	
                                             

                                          	
                                            Alex
      Bogusky

                                          	 
	 
      	 
      	 
      	 
	 
      	 
      	 
      	 
	 
      	
                                            By:

                                          	
                                              
      /s/   

                                          	 
	 
      	
                                             

                                          	
                                            Jeff
      Hicks

                                          	 
	 
      	 
      	 
      	 
	 
      	
                                            By:

                                          	
                                              
      /s/   

                                          	 
	 
      	
                                             

                                          	
                                            Jeff
      Steinhour

                                          	 


                                  

                                

                              

                            

                          

                        

                      

                    

                  

                

              

            

          

        

      

    

    


     

    
      
        
        

      

      
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