UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 


FORM 8-K

 


CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT

TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): July 9, 2007

 


Spark Networks, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 


Delaware

(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

 

000-51195    20-8901733
(Commission File Number)    (IRS Employer Identification No.)
8383 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 800, Beverly Hills, California    90211
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)    (Zip Code)

(323) 836-3000

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

Spark Networks plc

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions ( see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 



Item 1.01 Material Agreements

Scheme of Arrangement

On July 9, 2007, Spark Networks, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ Spark ” or the “ Company ”), became the holding company of Spark Networks plc, a public limited company incorporated in England and Wales (“ Spark-UK ”), pursuant to a scheme of arrangement under section 425 of the UK Companies Act 1985 that was approved by the shareholders on June 15, 2007 and the High Court of Justice in England and Wales on July 6, 2007 (the “ Scheme of Arrangement ”). Pursuant to the Scheme of Arrangement, each ordinary share, 0.01 pence par value per share, of Spark-UK (the “ Ordinary Shares ”) was cancelled and exchanged for one share of common stock, $0.001 par value per share, of Spark. Spark-UK is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. This Form 8-K is being filed by Spark to report, among other items, the effect of the Scheme of Arrangement. Refer to Item 8.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K regarding Spark as the successor issuer to Spark-UK under Rule 12g-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Assumption of Standstill

In connection with the Scheme of Arrangement, Spark assumed the Standstill Agreement, dated December 1, 2005, with Great Hill Equity Partners II (“ Great Hill ”), whereby Great Hill agreed that it would not acquire or seek to acquire beneficial ownership of any of the Company’s voting securities (or rights to acquire any class of the Company’s securities or any subsidiary thereof) or participate in any tender, takeover or exchange offer or other business combination, or any recapitalization, restructuring, dissolution or other extraordinary transaction if (i) prior to giving effect thereto, Great Hill and other affiliated entities (the “ Great Hill Group ”), beneficially own less than 60% of Spark’s total voting power and (ii) after giving effect thereto, the Great Hill Group owns more than 29.9% of Spark’s total voting power. The provisions of the Standstill Agreement do not apply to (i) repurchases, redemptions, a rights issue, recapitalizations and consolidation or a share capital reduction by the Company, and (ii) offers by the Great Hill Group to acquire all of the Company’s voting securities for cash. The term of the Standstill Agreement runs until December 1, 2010.

Assumption of Employment Agreements

In connection with the Scheme of Arrangement, Spark assumed the employment agreements with each of Adam S. Berger; Mark G. Thompson, Gregory R. Liberman, and Gregory Franchina. Joshua A Kreinberg, the Company’s General Counsel, has also recently entered into an employment agreement with Spark-UK, a description of which is set forth below.

Modification to, and Assumption of, Options under 2000 and 2004 Option Schemes

In connection with the Scheme of Arrangement, Spark assumed the outstanding 4,744,289 options granted under the Spark-UK 2000 and 2004 Share Option Schemes. In connection with the assumption, the options were modified to provide that: (i) upon the Scheme of Arrangement taking effect, all options will be assumed by Spark Networks, Inc. on the same terms and conditions as the existing options, except that they will become options to purchase shares of Common Stock of Spark; and (ii) upon the Scheme of Arrangement taking effect, no Options will vest at earlier dates than would otherwise be the case if the Scheme of Arrangement did not take effect.

 

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2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan

Effective July 9, 2007, Spark Networks, Inc. adopted the Spark Networks, Inc. 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “ Incentive Plan ”), which is a long-term stock incentive plan intended to facilitate the continued use of equity- and cash-based incentives and rewards for employees, directors and consultants of Spark and its affiliates. The Incentive Plan is subject to approval of the Company’s stockholders.

Administration. The Incentive Plan is administered by the compensation committee of the board of directors. The compensation committee has the authority to determine, within the limits of the express provisions of the Incentive Plan, the individuals to whom awards will be granted, the nature, amount and terms of such awards and the objectives and conditions for earning such awards.

Types of Awards.

Awards under the Incentive Plan may include incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights (“ SARs ”), restricted shares of common stock, restricted units, performance share or unit awards, other stock-based awards and cash-based incentive awards.

Stock Options . The compensation committee may grant to a participant options to purchase shares of common stock that qualify as incentive stock options for purposes of Section 422 of the US Internal Revenue Code (“ incentive stock options ”), options that do not qualify as incentive stock options (“ non-qualified stock options ”) or a combination thereof. The terms and conditions of stock option grants, including the quantity, price, vesting periods, and other conditions on exercise will be determined by the committee.

Stock Appreciation Rights . The compensation committee may grant to a participant an award of SARs, which entitles the participant to receive, upon its exercise, a payment equal to (i) the excess of the fair market value of the common stock on the exercise date over the SAR exercise price, times (ii) the number of shares of common stock with respect to which the SAR is exercised.

Restricted Shares and Restricted Units . The compensation committee may award to a participant shares subject to specified restrictions (“ restricted shares ”). Restricted shares are subject to forfeiture if the participant does not meet certain conditions such as continued employment over a specified forfeiture period and/or the attainment of specified performance targets over the forfeiture period. The compensation committee also may award to a participant units representing the right to receive shares in the future subject to the achievement of one or more goals relating to the completion of service by the participant and/or the achievement of performance or other objectives (“ restricted units ”). The terms and conditions of restricted share and restricted unit awards are determined by the compensation committee.

Performance Awards . The compensation committee may grant performance awards to participants under such terms and conditions as the compensation committee deems appropriate. A performance award entitles a participant to receive a payment from the Company, the amount of which is based upon the attainment of predetermined performance targets over a specified award period. Performance awards may be paid in cash, shares or a combination thereof, as determined by the compensation committee.

Other Stock-Based Awards. The compensation committee may grant equity-based or equity-related awards, referred to as “other stock-based awards,” other than options, SARs, restricted shares, restricted units, or performance awards. The terms and conditions of each other stock-based award are determined by the compensation committee. Payment under any other stock-based awards will be made in shares or cash, as determined by the compensation committee.

 

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Cash-Based Awards. The compensation committee may grant cash-based incentive compensation awards, which would include performance-based annual cash incentive compensation to be paid to covered employees whose compensation is subject to the tax deduction limits of Section 162(m) of the US Internal Revenue Code. The terms and conditions of each cash-based award are determined by the compensation committee and generally will be structured to comply with Section 162(m)’s performance-based compensation exception.

Eligibility and Limitation on Awards

The compensation committee may grant awards to any employee, director, consultant or other person providing services to Spark or its affiliates. The maximum awards that can be granted under the Incentive Plan to a single participant in any calendar year is 1,500,000 shares in the form of options or SARs, 500,000 shares in the form of restricted shares, restricted units, performance unit or share awards and other stock-based awards, and $1 million in the form of cash-based incentive awards.

Shares Subject to the Incentive Plan

An aggregate of 2,500,000 shares are reserved for issuance and available for awards under the Incentive Plan, including incentive stock options granted under the Incentive Plan; provided , however , that commencing on the first day of the Company’s fiscal year beginning in calendar year 2009, the number of shares reserved and available for issuance will be increased by an amount equal to the lesser of (i) 2,000,000 shares, (ii) four percent (4%) of the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock on the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal year or (iii) an amount determined by the board of directors.

With respect to awards other than SARs made under the Incentive Plan, shares not actually issued (as a result, for example, of the lapse of an option or a forfeiture of restricted stock), other than shares surrendered to or withheld by Spark in payment or satisfaction of the exercise price of a stock option or tax withholding obligations with respect to an award, will be available for additional grants under the Incentive Plan. With respect to SARs, the full number of SARs granted that are settled by the issuance of shares of common stock will be counted against the number of shares reserved for issuance under the Incentive Plan, regardless of the number of shares actually issued upon settlement of the SAR award.

Anti-Dilution Protection

In the event of any changes in the capital structure of Spark, including a change resulting from a stock dividend or stock split, or combination or reclassification of shares, necessary adjustments will be made in the maximum number of shares of common stock subject to the Incentive Plan, the number of shares subject to and the exercise price of an outstanding award, or the maximum number of shares that may be subject to one or more awards granted to any one recipient during a calendar year.

Amendment and Termination

The board of directors may at any time amend, terminate or modify the Incentive Plan, provided that no such action may be taken that adversely affects in any material way any award previously granted under the Incentive Plan without the consent of the participant. In addition, except with respect to anti-dilution adjustments, no outstanding stock options or SARs granted under the Incentive Plan will be repriced without the prior approval of the stockholders, and no material amendment of the Incentive Plan will be made without stockholder approval if stockholder approval is required by law, regulation, or stock exchange rules. In no event may any awards be made under the Incentive Plan after the tenth anniversary of its effective date.

 

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Indemnification Agreements

Effective July 9, 2007, Spark entered into indemnification agreements with each of its officers and directors agreeing to indemnify such officer or director for claims to the extent described therein. A copy of the form of indemnification agreement is filed as an exhibit to this Form 8-K. See “Description of Capital Stock” set forth in Item 8.01 in this Form 8-K for a further discussion of indemnification of officers and directors.

Employment Agreement with Joshua A. Kreinberg

On July 2, 2007, Spark Networks plc and Joshua A. Kreinberg entered into an Executive Employment Agreement (the “ Agreement ”), which defines the terms of Mr. Kreinberg’s employment as the Company’s General Counsel and Secretary.

Term and Compensation. The Agreement will continue indefinitely, however, either party may terminate the Agreement upon 30 days’ written notice or immediately by the company or Mr. Kreinberg for cause or good reason, respectively. Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, the Company will pay Mr. Kreinberg an annual base salary of not less than $215,000 per year and in accordance with his offer letter with the Company, the Agreement provides that he is entitled to (i) a one-time bonus of $25,000 upon the Company’s successful completion of a scheme of arrangement and listing of the Company’s (or an affiliate’s) securities on a national stock exchange (or the NASDAQ National Market System) in the United States and (ii) a one-time bonus of $10,000 assuming all of the Company’s (and its affiliates’) SEC filings in 2007 are successfully made in a timely manner. In addition, Mr. Kreinberg will be eligible for annual bonuses and salary increase reviews in accordance with the normal customs and practices of the Company.

Options . In connection with the execution of the Agreement, the Company issued to Mr. Kreinberg options to purchase 70,000 of the Company’s ordinary shares (the “ Options ”), at an exercise price per share equal to the fair market value, as quoted on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange on July 2, 2007. 17,500 of the Options vest and become exercisable on April 1, 2008 (the “ Initial Vesting Date ”) and thereafter 4,375 of the Options vest at the end of each three-month period following the Initial Vesting Date. All Options will automatically vest if any person acquires a vested interest in more than 50% of the Company’s shares (excluding the Scheme of Arrangement); provided, however, that if a successor company retains Mr. Kreinberg’s services for the one-year period following such change of control, then any cash proceeds (the “ Accelerated Proceeds ”) with respect to 50% of those options that were accelerated will be deposited into escrow. The Accelerated Proceeds will be paid to Mr. Kreinberg upon the earlier of the one-year anniversary of such change of control or if Mr. Kreinberg is terminated without cause or he resigns for good reason, and the Accelerated Proceeds will be forfeited if Mr. Kreinberg is terminated during the one-year period for cause or he resigns without good reason.

Severance. If Mr. Kreinberg is terminated without cause or he resigns for good reason, Mr. Kreinberg will receive severance pay, based on his current salary, for six months following termination. The term “cause” includes a material misappropriation of the Company’s assets, a material breach of the Agreement that has not been cured, conviction of a felony, and gross negligence or willful. “Good reason” includes relocation in excess of 50 miles, a reduction in or non-payment of base salary, the Company’s non-compliance with the terms of option agreements, and a material breach by the Company of the Agreement that is not cured.

Non-Solicitation . Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, Mr. Kreinberg must not, for 12 months following termination of the Agreement, solicit or attempt to cause any customer of the Company (or any subsidiary, affiliated, or holding companies) not to do business with the Company nor solicit for

 

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employment, employ or disaffect any other employee of the Company (or any subsidiary, affiliated, or holding companies), other than through normal recruiting efforts applied generally to the public.

Item 3.03 Material Modification of Rights to Security Holders.

As of July 9, 2007, Spark Networks, Inc. adopted a stockholder rights plan (the “ Rights Plan ”). Under the Rights Plan, Spark Networks, Inc. will issue a “right” for each share of common stock outstanding as of July 9, 2007. The rights themselves are evidenced by ownership of common stock, and they may not be traded separately from the shares of common stock.

The rights are not exercisable except upon the occurrence of certain takeover-related events – most importantly, the acquisition by a third party (the “ Acquiring Person ”) of more than 30% of outstanding voting shares of Spark Networks, Inc. if the Acquiring Person has not concurrently made a tender offer to acquire all outstanding shares of common stock. The tender offer also needs to meet certain conditions, including, (i) all-cash consideration, (ii) price protection in the event the Acquiring Person acquires additional shares at a higher price after the commencement of the tender offer, (iii) the lack of financing, due diligence or other conditions, (iv) delivery of a fairness opinion, (v) allowing stockholders sufficient time to consider the tender offer and (vi) promptly acquiring all shares of common stock tendered after the expiration of the offer period.

Once triggered, the rights would entitle the stockholders, other than the Acquiring Person, to purchase additional Common Shares at a 50% discount to their fair market value. If Spark Networks, Inc. remained a publicly-traded company, the Common Shares purchased upon exercise of the rights would be additional shares of Spark (a “ flip-in ”). If Spark Networks, Inc. were acquired by another company (by a merger into or with a subsidiary of, an acquirer, for example), the rights could be exercised to purchase stock of the surviving corporation or its parent (a “ flip-over ”). Accordingly, the effect of triggering the rights is to expose the Acquiring Person to severe dilution of its ownership interest, as the shares of Spark (or any surviving corporation) are offered to all of the stockholders other than the Acquiring Person at a steep discount to their market value.

The rights issued under the Rights Plan may be redeemed by the board of directors at a nominal redemption price of $0.001 per right, and the board of directors may amend the rights in any respect until the rights are triggered. After the rights are triggered, they may not be amended in any manner adverse to the rights of the holders. The Rights Plan has a 10-year term.

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

In connection with the Scheme of Arrangement, Laura B. Lauder, Michael A. Brown, and Benjamin A. Derhy, each a director of the Company, and Gregory R. Liberman, President and Chief Operating Officer, Mark G. Thompson, Chief Financial Officer and Joshua A. Kreinberg, General Counsel, each have waived the “change of control” provision under the terms of their option agreements as granted by Spark-UK and the acceleration of the vesting of their options upon the effectiveness of the Scheme of Arrangement.

Item 5.03 Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws

In connection with the adoption of the Rights Plan, as described under Item 3.03 of this Form 8-K, on July 9, 2007 Spark filed a Certificate of Designation with the Secretary of State designation 450,000 shares as Series C Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock. No shares of Series C Preferred Stock have been issued. If and when issued, the Series C Preferred Stock is entitled to cumulative

 

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quarterly dividends in an amount per share equal to the greater of (i) $0.25 per share ($1.00 per annum) or (ii) subject to adjustment, 100 times the aggregate per share amount of all cash or non-cash dividends or distributions declared on the common stock. Each share of Series C Preferred Stock entitles the holder thereof to 100 votes on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Company, subject to adjustment. Series C Preferred Stock and Common Stock and any other capital stock of the Company having general voting rights will vote together as one class on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders.

Upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, no distribution shall be made to: (i) the holders of shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series C Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the holders of shares of Series C Preferred Stock shall have received the greater of (A) $100.00 per share ($1.00 per one one-hundredth of a share), plus an amount equal to accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions thereon, whether or not declared, to the date of such payment, or (B) an aggregate amount per share, subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, equal to 100 times the aggregate amount to be distributed per share of Common Stock to holders thereof; or (ii) the holders of shares of stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series C Preferred Stock, except distributions made ratably on the Series C Preferred Stock and all such parity stock in proportion to the total amounts to which the holders of all such shares are entitled upon such liquidation, dissolution or winding up. In the event the Corporation shall enter into any consolidation, merger, combination or other transaction in which the shares of Common Stock are exchanged for or changed into other stock or securities, cash and/or any other property or otherwise changed, then in any such event each share of Series C Preferred Stock shall at the same time be similarly exchanged or changed into an amount per share, subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, equal to 100 times the aggregate amount of stock, securities, cash and/or any other property (payable in kind), as the case may be, into which or for which each share of Common Stock is changed or exchanged.

Item 8.01 Other Events.

Registration of Securities under 12g-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended

On July 9, 2007, Spark became the holding company of Spark-UK pursuant to the Scheme of Arrangement in which each Ordinary Share of Spark-UK was cancelled and exchanged for one share of common stock of Spark. The common stock issued in the Scheme of Arrangement was not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Ac t”), in reliance upon the exemption from registration set forth in Section 3(a)(10) of the Securities Act. The Scheme of Arrangement did not involve any payment for the Spark-UK shares, except for cancellation fees paid to The Bank of New York related to the American Depositary Shares and the Global Depositary Shares. A copy of the press release announcing the court approval of the Scheme of Arrangement is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

This Form 8-K is being filed by Spark as the initial report of Spark to the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ SEC ”) and as notice that Spark is the successor issuer to Spark-UK under Rule 12g-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”). As a result, the Common Stock is deemed to be registered under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act. The Common Stock has been approved for listing on the American Stock Exchange (“ AMEX ”) and will trade under the ticker symbol “LOV,” the same ticker symbol previously used by Spark-UK.

Prior to the Scheme of Arrangement, the Ordinary Shares were registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act. American Depositary Shares representing the Ordinary Shares of Spark-UK (the “ ADSs ”) were listed on AMEX and Global Depositary Shares representing the Ordinary Shares of Spark-UK (the

 

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GDSs ”) were listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. Spark-UK has delisted the ADSs from AMEX and has terminated the registration under the Exchange Act of the Ordinary Shares and ADSs. The listing of the GDSs on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange will be automatically terminated upon cancellation of the GDSs in connection with the Scheme of Arrangement. The Company has the same board of directors, management and SEC and AMEX corporate governance arrangements as Spark-UK had before the effectiveness of the Scheme of Arrangement.

Description of Capital Stock

The following summary of provisions of Spark’s capital stock, certificate of incorporation and by-laws is not intended to be complete. It is qualified by reference to the provisions of applicable law and to Spark’s certificate of incorporation, as amended, and bylaws included as exhibits to this Form 8-K.

Spark’s authorized capital stock consists of 100,000,000 shares of Common Stock, $0.001 par value, and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.001 par value, of which 450,000 are designated as Series C Junior Convertible Cumulative Preferred Stock and are related to the Rights Plan, as further described under Item 3.30 of this Form 8-K.

Common Stock

Under Spark’s certificate of incorporation, holders of Common Stock are entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders and do not have cumulative voting rights. Accordingly, holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock entitled to vote in any election of directors may elect all of the directors standing for election. Holders of Common Stock are entitled to receive proportionately any dividends as may be declared by Spark’s board of directors, subject to any preferential dividend or other rights of outstanding preferred stock. Upon Spark’s dissolution or liquidation, the holders of Common Stock are entitled to receive proportionately Spark’s net assets available after the payment of all debts and other liabilities and subject to the preferential or other rights of any outstanding preferred stock. Holders of Common Stock have no preemptive, subscription, redemption or conversion rights. Spark’s outstanding shares of Common Stock are fully paid and nonassessable. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the Common Stock. The rights, preferences and privileges of the holders of Common Stock are subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of any shares of any series of preferred stock that Spark may designate in the future.

Preferred Stock

Spark’s board of directors has the authority, without further action by the stockholders, to issue up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series and to fix the designations, powers, preferences, privileges of the preferred stock, including dividend rights, conversion rights, voting rights terms of redemption, liquidation preference, sinking fund terms and number of shares constituting any series or the designation of any series. The board of directors, without approval of holders of Common Stock, can issue preferred stock with voting, conversion or other rights that could adversely affect the voting power and other rights of the holders of Common Stock. Preferred stock could thus be issued quickly with terms calculated to delay or prevent a change in control of or make removal of management more difficult and/or impair the liquidation rights of Spark’s Common Stock. Additionally, the issuance of preferred stock may have the effect of decreasing the market price of the Common Stock.

 

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Certain provisions of Spark Networks, Inc.’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws; Delaware anti-takeover law

Certain provisions of Delaware law and Spark’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws could make more difficult the acquisition of Spark by means of a tender offer, a proxy contest, or otherwise, and the removal of incumbent officers and directors. Under Delaware law, directors generally have a duty to act without self-interest, on an informed basis, in good faith, and in a manner they reasonably believe to be in the best interests of the stockholders. Nevertheless, a Delaware court will generally apply a policy of judicial deference to a board of directors’ decisions to adopt anti-takeover measures in the face of a potential takeover where the directors are able to show that:

 

   

they had reasonable grounds for believing that there was a danger to corporate policy and effectiveness from an acquisition proposal; and

 

   

the board of directors action taken was neither preclusive nor coercive and was reasonable in relation to the threat posed.

Classification of Board of Directors. Spark’s certificate of incorporation provides that, subject to the rights of any series of preferred stock to elect directors, the board of directors will be divided into three classes of directors with each class elected to serve for a term of three years. As a result of a classified board of directors, not all members of the board are elected at one time, which makes changes in the composition of the board of directors more difficult, and thus a potential change in control of a corporation a lengthier and more difficult process.

Removal and Vacancies. Under Spark’s certificate of incorporation, subject to the rights of holders of any series of preferred stock, directors may be removed with or without cause by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority in voting power of the issued and outstanding stock entitled to vote. Any vacancy on Spark’s board of directors may only be filled by vote of a majority of directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director. If any newly created directorship or vacancy on the board, consistent with the rule that the three classes shall be as nearly equal in number of directors as possible, may be allocated to one (1) or two (2) or more classes, the board will allocate it to that of the available class whose term of office is due to expire at the earliest date following such allocation. When the board fills a vacancy, the director chosen to fill that vacancy will be of the same class as the director he or she succeeds and will hold office until such director’s successor would have been elected and will qualify or until such director resigns or is removed. No reduction of the authorized number of directors will have the effect of removing any director prior to the expiration of such director’s term of office.

Right Plan . Spark has adopted a stockholder rights plan, which is described in, and incorporated by reference to, Item 2.03 of this Form 8-K.

These provisions are expected to discourage certain types of coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids and to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of Spark to first negotiate with its board. The board believes that the benefits of increased protection of its potential ability to negotiate with the proponent of an unfriendly or unsolicited proposal to acquire or restructure Spark outweighs the disadvantages of discouraging such proposals, including proposals that are priced above the then current market value of Spark’s Common Stock, because, among other things, negotiation of such proposals could result in an improvement of their terms.

Business Combinations . Delaware law generally requires that a majority of the stockholders of both acquiring and target corporations approve statutory mergers. Delaware law does not require a stockholder

 

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vote of the surviving corporation in a merger (unless the corporation provides otherwise in its certificate of incorporation) if: (a) the merger agreement does not amend the existing certificate of incorporation; (b) each share of stock of the surviving corporation outstanding immediately before the effective date of the merger is an identical outstanding share after the merger; and (c) either no shares of common stock of the surviving corporation and no shares, securities or obligations convertible into such stock are to be issued or delivered under the plan of merger, or the authorized unissued shares or shares of common stock of the surviving corporation to be issued or delivered under the plan of merger plus those initially issuable upon conversion of any other shares, securities or obligations to be issued or delivered under such plan do not exceed 20% of the shares of common stock of such constituent corporation outstanding immediately prior to the effective date of the merger. Delaware law generally does not require class voting for mergers, reorganizations, sales of assets or similar transactions, except in certain situations involving an amendment of the certificate of incorporation that adversely affects a specific class of shares.

Pursuant to its Certificate of Incorporation, Spark is not subject to Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. This provision generally prohibits a Delaware corporation from engaging in any business combination with any interested stockholder for a period of three years following the date the stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless:

 

   

prior to such date, the board of directors of the corporation approved either the business combination or the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder;

 

   

upon consummation of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85 percent of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the number of shares outstanding those shares owned by persons who are directors and also officers and by employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or

 

 

 

on or subsequent to such date, the business combination is approved by the board of directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 66  2 /3% of the outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the interested stockholder.

Section 203 defines a business combination to include:

 

   

any merger or consolidation involving the corporation and the interested stockholder;

 

   

any sale, transfer, pledge or other disposition of 10 percent or more of the assets of the corporation involving the interested stockholder;

 

   

subject to certain exceptions, any transaction that results in the issuance or transfer by the corporation of any stock of the corporation to the interested stockholder;

 

   

any transaction involving the corporation that has the effect of increasing the proportionate share of the stock of any class or series of the corporation beneficially owned by the interested stockholder; or

 

   

the receipt by the interested stockholder of the benefit of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial benefits provided by or through the corporation.

 

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In general, Section 203 defines an “interested stockholder” as any entity or person beneficially owning 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of a corporation, or an affiliate or associate of the corporation and was the owner of 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of a corporation at any time within three years prior to the time of determination of interested stockholder status; and any entity or person affiliated with or controlling or controlled by such entity or person.

The certificate of incorporation and bylaws of Spark contain provisions that could have the effect of discouraging potential acquisition proposals or making a tender offer or delaying or preventing a change in control, including changes a stockholder might consider favorable. In particular, the certificate of incorporation and bylaws, as applicable, among other things:

 

   

provide the Board of Directors with the ability to alter the bylaws without stockholder approval;

 

   

provide for an advance notice procedure with regard to the nomination of candidates for election as directors and with regard to business to be brought before a meeting of stockholders; and

 

   

provide that vacancies on the Board of Directors may be filled by a majority of directors in office, although less than a quorum.

Such provisions may have the effect of discouraging a third-party from acquiring Spark even if doing so would be beneficial to its stockholders. These provisions are intended to enhance the likelihood of continuity and stability in the composition of the board of directors and in the policies formulated by them, and to discourage some types of transactions that may involve an actual or threatened change in control of our company. These provisions are designed to reduce Spark’s vulnerability to an unsolicited acquisition proposal and to discourage some tactics that may be used in proxy fights. Spark believes that the benefits of increased protection of its potential ability to negotiate with the proponent of an unfriendly or unsolicited proposal to acquire or restructure us outweigh the disadvantages of discouraging such proposals because, among other things, negotiation of such proposals could result in an improvement of their terms.

However, these provisions could have the effect of discouraging others from making tender offers for shares of Spark that could result from actual or rumored takeover attempts. These provisions also may have the effect of preventing changes in management.

Stockholder Meetings . Spark’s certificate of incorporation provides that any action required or permitted to be taken by Spark’s stockholders at an annual meeting or special meeting of stockholders may only be taken if it is properly brought before the meeting and may not be taken by written action in lieu of a meeting. Spark’s certificate of incorporation further provides that special meetings of the stockholders may only be called by Spark’s board of directors, chairman of the board, chief executive officer or the president. Under Spark’s by-laws, in order for any matter to be considered “properly brought” before a meeting, a stockholder must comply with advance notice requirements. These provisions could have the effect of delaying, until the next stockholders’ meeting, stockholder actions which are favored by the holders of a majority of Spark’s outstanding voting securities. These provisions may also discourage a third party from making a tender offer for Spark’s common stock, because even if it acquired a majority of Spark’s outstanding voting securities, the third party would be able to take action as a stockholder (such as electing new directors or approving a merger) only at a duly called stockholders’ meeting, and not by written consent.

Indemnification Provisions . Spark’s certificate of incorporation contains provisions that eliminate a director’s liability for monetary damages for a breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except in some circumstances involving wrongful acts, such as the breach of a director’s duty of loyalty or acts or

 

11


omissions that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law. Further, Spark’s certificate of incorporation contains provisions to indemnify Spark’s directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. Effective July 9, 2007, Spark entered into indemnification agreement with each of its officers and directors agreeing to indemnify such officer or directors for claims to the extent described therein. A copy of the form of indemnification agreement is filed as an exhibit to this Form 8-K.

Amendments to Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws . Any amendment to Spark’s certificate of incorporation requires (1) the approval and recommendation of the board of directors, (2) the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding stock entitled to vote on the amendment, and (3) the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding stock of each class entitled to vote on the amendment as a class. The board of directors is authorized to increase or decrease the number of shares of preferred stock and common stock. The board, however, may not increase the number of shares of any class above that is which authorized by the certificate of incorporation, nor may Spark decrease the number of shares of any class such that it is less than the number of then outstanding shares of the respective class. Holders of shares of a class are entitled to vote as a class upon a proposed amendment to the certificate of incorporation if the amendment will (1) increase or decrease the authorized number of shares of the class, (2) increase or decrease the par value of the shares of the class, or (3) alter or change the powers, preferences or special rights of the shares of the class so as to affect them adversely. Sparks bylaws may be amended by its board of directors or the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding stock entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders.

The Company’s transfer agent is The Bank of New York.

 

12


Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

 

(d) Exhibits

 

Exhibit

Number

 

Exhibit

  3.1   Certificate of Incorporation of Spark Networks, Inc.
  3.1(a)   Certificate of Designation of Series C Preferred Stock
  3.2   Bylaws of Spark Networks, Inc.
  4.1   Rights Plan dated July 9, 2007 between Spark Networks, Inc. and The Bank of New York
10.1   Scheme of Arrangement effective July 9, 2007
10.2   Consent to Assignment and Assumption of Standstill Agreement with Great Hill Equity Partners II
10.3   Amendments to 2000 and 2004 Option Schemes
10.4   Form of Indemnification Agreement with Officers and Directors
10.4(a)   Schedule of Officers and Directors who entered into Indemnification Agreements effective July 9, 2007
10.5   Employment Agreement dated July 2, 2007 between Spark Networks plc and Joshua A. Kreinberg
10.6   2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan
10.6(a)   Form of Stock Option Agreement for 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan
10.6(b)   Form of Restricted Stock Agreement for 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan
10.6(c)   Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement for 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan
99.1   Press Release dated July 6, 2007

 

13


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

  SPARK NETWORKS, INC.
Date: July 9, 2007    
    By:   /s/ Joshua A. Kreinberg
  Name:     Joshua A. Kreinberg
  Title:   General Counsel and Secretary

 

14


INDEX TO EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit

Number

 

Exhibit

  3.1   Certificate of Incorporation of Spark Networks, Inc.
  3.1(a)   Certificate of Designation of Series C Preferred Stock
  3.2   Bylaws of Spark Networks, Inc.
  4.1   Rights Plan dated July 9, 2007 between Spark Networks, Inc. and The Bank of New York
10.1   Scheme of Arrangement effective July 9, 2007
10.2   Consent to Assignment and Assumption of Standstill Agreement with Great Hill Equity Partners II
10.3   Amendments to 2000 and 2004 Option Schemes
10.4   Form of Indemnification Agreement with Officers and Directors
10.4(a)   Schedule of Officers and Directors who entered into Indemnification Agreements effective July 9, 2007
10.5   Employment Agreement dated July 2, 2007 between Spark Networks plc and Joshua A. Kreinberg
10.6   2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan
10.6(a)   Form of Stock Option Agreement for 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan
10.6(b)   Form of Restricted Stock Agreement for 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan
10.6(c)   Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement for 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan
99.1   Press Release dated July 6, 2007

 

15

EXHIBIT 3.1

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

SPARK NETWORKS, INC.,

a Delaware Corporation

ARTICLE I

The name of this corporation is Spark Networks, Inc.

ARTICLE II

The address of the registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware is 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400 in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle. The name of its registered agent at that address is Corporation Service Company.

ARTICLE III

The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of Delaware.

ARTICLE IV

The name and mailing address of the incorporator is Kasey Hannah, 10100 Santa Monica Blvd., 7 th Floor, Los Angeles, California 90067.

ARTICLE V

Section 1. Number of Authorized Shares . The total number of shares of stock which the Corporation shall have the authority to issue shall be One Hundred and Ten Million (110,000,000) shares. The Corporation shall be authorized to issue two classes of shares of stock, designated, “Common Stock” and “Preferred Stock.” The Corporation shall be authorized to issue One Hundred Million (100,000,000) shares of Common Stock, each share to have a par value of $.001 per share, and Ten Million (10,000,000) shares of Preferred Stock, each share to have a par value of $.001 per share.

Section 2. Common Stock . The Board of Directors of the Corporation may authorize the issuance of shares of Common Stock from time to time. The Corporation may reissue shares of Common Stock that are redeemed, purchased, or otherwise acquired by the Corporation unless otherwise provided by law.


Section 3. Preferred Stock . The Board of Directors of the Corporation may by resolution authorize the issuance of shares of Preferred Stock from time to time in one or more series. The Corporation may reissue shares of Preferred Stock that are redeemed, purchased, or otherwise acquired by the Corporation unless otherwise provided by law. The Board of Directors is hereby authorized to fix or alter the designations, powers and preferences, and relative, participating, optional or other rights, if any, and qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, including, without limitation, dividend rights (and whether dividends are cumulative), conversion rights, if any, voting rights (including the number of votes, if any, per share, as well as the number of members, if any, of the Board of Directors or the percentage of members, if any, of the Board of Directors each class or series of Preferred Stock may be entitled to elect), rights and terms of redemption (including sinking fund provisions, if any), redemption price and liquidation preferences of any wholly unissued series of Preferred Stock, and the number of shares constituting any such series and the designation thereof, and to increase or decrease the number of shares of any such series subsequent to the issuance of shares of such series, but not below the number of shares of such series then outstanding.

Section 4. Dividends and Distributions . Subject to the preferences applicable to Preferred Stock outstanding at any time, the holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive such dividends, payable in cash or otherwise, as may be declared thereon by the Board of Directors from time to time out of assets or funds of the Corporation legally available therefore.

Section 5. Voting Rights . Each share of Common Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Corporation.

Section 6. Liquidation . Upon the dissolution or liquidation of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, holders of Common Stock will be entitled to receive all assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders, subject to any preferential or other rights of any then outstanding Preferred Stock.

ARTICLE VI

Meetings of stockholders may be held within or without the State of Delaware, as the Bylaws may provide. The books of the Corporation may be kept (subject to any provision contained in Delaware General Corporation Law) outside the State of Delaware at such place or places as may be designated from time to time by the Board of directors or in the Bylaws of the Corporation.

ARTICLE VII

Section 1. Number of Directors; Election of Directors . The number of directors of the Corporation shall be fixed from time to time by or in the manner provided in the Bylaws of the Corporation or amendment thereof duly adopted by the Board of Directors or by the stockholders of the Corporation. Elections of directors need not be by written ballot unless the Bylaws of the Corporation shall so provide.

Section 2. Classes of Directors . The Board shall be divided into three classes: Class I, Class II and Class III. Each Director shall serve for a term ending on the date of the third annual meeting following the annual meeting at which such director was elected; provided, however, that the

 

2


directors first elected to Class I shall serve for a term ending on the date of the next annual meeting of stockholders, the directors first elected to Class II shall serve for a term ending on the first annual meeting of stockholders following the next annual meeting, and the directors first elected to Class III shall serve for a term ending on the second annual meeting of stockholders following the next annual meeting. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Article, each director shall serve until his successor is duly elected and qualified or until his death, resignation or removal. No decrease in the number of directors constituting the Board of Directors shall shorten the term of an incumbent director.

Section 3. Removal . Subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock, directors of the Corporation may be removed with or without cause by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the shares then entitled to vote at an election of directors.

ARTICLE VIII

No action, which has not been previously approved by the Board of Directors, shall be taken by the stockholders except at an annual meeting or a special meeting of the stockholders. Stockholders of the Corporation may not take any action by written consent in lieu of a meeting.

ARTICLE IX

In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by statute, the Board of Directors is expressly authorized to make, alter, amend or repeal the Bylaws of the Corporation.

ARTICLE X

To the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (provided that the effect of any such amendment shall be prospective only) (the “Delaware Law”), a director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of his or her fiduciary duty as a director. The Corporation shall indemnify, in the manner and to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware Law (but in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than permitted prior thereto), any person (or the estate of any person) who is or was a party to, or is threatened to be made a party to, any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether or not by or in the right of the Corporation, and whether civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or otherwise, by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director or officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise. The Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware Law, may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any such person against any liability which may be asserted against such person. The Corporation may create a trust fund, grant a security interest or use other means (including without limitation a letter of credit) to ensure the payment of such sums as may become necessary or desirable to effect the indemnification as provided herein. To the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware Law, the indemnification provided herein shall include expenses as incurred (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement and any such

 

3


expenses shall be paid by the Corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the person seeking indemnification to repay such amounts if it is ultimately determined that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified. Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of this Article, no advance shall be made by the Corporation if a determination is reasonably and promptly made by the Board by a majority vote of a quorum of disinterested Directors, or (if such a quorum is not obtainable or, even if obtainable, a quorum of disinterested Directors so directs) by independent legal counsel to the Corporation, that, based upon the facts known to the Board or such counsel at the time such determination is made, (a) the party seeking an advance acted in bad faith or deliberately breached his or her duty to the Corporation or its stockholders, and (b) as a result of such actions by the party seeking an advance, it is more likely than not that it will ultimately be determined that such party is not entitled to indemnification pursuant to the provisions of this Article X. The indemnification provided herein shall not be deemed to limit the right of the Corporation to indemnify any other person for any such expenses to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware Law, nor shall it be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which any person seeking indemnification from the Corporation may be entitled under any agreement, the Corporation’s Bylaws, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise, both as to action in such person’s official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office. The Corporation may, but only to the extent that the Board of Directors may (but shall not be obligated to) authorize from time to time, grant rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses to any employee or agent of the Corporation to the fullest extent of the provisions of this Article X as it applies to the indemnification and advancement of expenses of directors and officers of the Corporation. If any word, clause or sentence of the foregoing provisions regarding indemnification or advancement of expenses (including attorneys’ fees) shall be held invalid as contrary to law or public policy, it shall be severable and the provisions remaining shall not be otherwise affected.

ARTICLE XI

Section 203 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as it may be amended from time to time, shall not apply to the Corporation.

The undersigned incorporator hereby acknowledges that the foregoing certificate of incorporation is her act and deed and that the facts stated therein are true.

 

/s/ Kasey Hannah

Kasey Hannah, Incorporator

 

4

EXHIBIT 3.1(a)

CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS

OF

SERIES C JUNIOR PARTICIPATING CUMULATIVE

PREFERRED STOCK

(Par Value $.001 Per Share)

OF

SPARK NETWORKS, INC.

 


Pursuant to Section 151 of the

General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware

 


Spark Networks, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Corporation ”), certifies that pursuant to the authority conferred upon the Board of Directors of the Company (the “ Board of Directors ”) by Article V of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (the “ Certificate of Incorporation ”), and in accordance with the provisions of Section 151 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as amended (the “ DGCL ”), its Board of Directors, by unanimous written consent of the Board of Directors dated as of June 28, 2007, adopted the following resolution creating a series of its Preferred Stock, par value $.001 per share:

RESOLVED, that (1) pursuant to the authority conferred upon the Board of Directors of the Corporation by the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, the Board of Directors hereby designates 450,000 shares of the preferred stock, par value $.001 per share, of the Corporation as “Series C Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock” (the “ Preferred Shares ”), and the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other rights of the Preferred Shares and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, be, and they hereby are, as set forth below (the “ Certificate of Designations ”) and (2) in connection therewith, the officers of the Corporation be, and each of them hereby is, authorized, empowered and directed on behalf of the Corporation and in its name to execute and file the Certificate of Designations with the Delaware Secretary of State:

Section 1. Designation and Amount . The shares of such series shall be designated as “Series C Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock” and the number of shares constituting such series so designated shall be 450,000 (the “ Series C Preferred Stock ”). Such number of shares may be increased or decreased by resolution of the Board of Directors; provided , however , that no decrease shall reduce the number of shares of Series C Preferred Stock to a number less than the number of shares then outstanding plus the number of shares reserved for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding options, rights or warrants or upon the conversion of any outstanding securities issued by the Corporation convertible into Series C Preferred Stock.


Section 2. Dividends and Distributions .

(a) Subject to the rights of the holders of any shares of any series of Preferred Stock (or any similar stock) ranking prior and superior to the Series C Preferred Stock with respect to dividends, the holders of shares of Series C Preferred Stock, in preference to the holders of shares of Common Stock, par value $.001 per share (the “ Common Stock ”), of the Corporation, and of any other junior stock, shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available for the purpose, quarterly dividends payable in cash on the first day of March, June, September and December in each year (each such date being referred to herein as a “ Quarterly Dividend Payment Date ”), commencing on the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date after the first issuance of a share or fraction of a share of Series C Preferred Stock, in an amount per share (rounded to the nearest cent) equal to the greater of (i) $0.25 per share ($1.00 per annum) or (ii) subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, 100 times the aggregate per share amount of all cash dividends or distributions, and 100 times the aggregate per share amount (payable in kind) of all non-cash dividends or other distributions, other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock or a subdivision of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise), declared on the Common Stock since the immediately preceding Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or, with respect to the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, since the first issuance of any share or fraction of a share of Series C Preferred Stock. In the event the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such event the amount to which the holder of each share of Series C Preferred Stock was entitled immediately prior to such event under clause (ii) of the preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to such event.

(b) The Corporation shall declare a dividend or distribution on the Series C Preferred Stock as provided in paragraph (a) of this Section 2 immediately after it declares a dividend or distribution on the Common Stock (other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock); provided , however , that, in the event no dividend or distribution shall have been declared on the Common Stock during the period between any Quarterly Dividend Payment Date and the next subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, a dividend of $0.25 per share ($1.00 per annum) on the Series C Preferred Stock shall nevertheless be payable on such subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date.

(c) Dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on outstanding shares of Series C Preferred Stock from the Quarterly Dividend Payment Date next preceding the date of issue of such shares, unless the date of issue of such shares is prior to the record date for the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in which event dividends on such shares shall begin to accrue from the date of issue of such shares, or unless the date of issue is a Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or is a date after the record date for the determination of holders of shares of Series C Preferred Stock entitled to receive a quarterly dividend and before such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in either of which events such dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative

 

2


from such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date. Accrued but unpaid dividends shall cumulate but shall not bear interest. Dividends paid on the shares of Series C Preferred Stock in an amount less than the total amount of such dividends at the time accrued and payable on such shares shall be allocated pro rata on a share-by-share basis among all such shares at the time outstanding. The Board of Directors may fix a record date for the determination of holders of shares of Series C Preferred Stock entitled to receive payment of a dividend or distribution declared thereon, which record date shall be not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for the payment thereof.

Section 3. Voting Rights . The holders of shares of Series C Preferred Stock shall have the following voting rights:

(a) Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, each share of Series C Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to 100 votes on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Corporation. In the event the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the number of votes per share to which holders of shares of Series C Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event shall be adjusted by multiplying such number by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to such event.

(b) Except as otherwise provided herein, in the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation, in any other certificate of designations creating a series of Preferred Stock or any similar stock or by law, the holders of shares of Series C Preferred Stock and the holders of shares of Common Stock and any other capital stock of the Corporation having general voting rights shall vote together as one class on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders of the Corporation.

(c) Except as set forth herein, or as otherwise provided by law, holders of Series C Preferred Stock shall have no special voting rights and their consent shall not be required (except to the extent they are entitled to vote with holders of Common Stock as set forth herein) for taking any corporate action.

Section 4. Certain Restrictions .

(a) Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or distributions payable on the Series C Preferred Stock as provided in Section 2 are in arrears, thereafter and until all accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions, whether or not authorized or declared, on shares of Series C Preferred Stock outstanding shall have been paid in full, the Corporation shall not, directly or indirectly:

(i) authorize, declare or pay dividends on, or make any other distributions with respect to, any shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series C Preferred Stock;

(ii) authorize, declare or pay dividends on, or make any other distributions with respect to, any shares of stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or upon

 

3


liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series C Preferred Stock, except dividends paid ratably on the Series C Preferred Stock and all such parity stock on which dividends are payable or in arrears in proportion to the total amounts to which the holders of all such shares are then entitled;

(iii) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration shares of any stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series C Preferred Stock, provided that the Corporation may at any time redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire shares of any such junior stock in exchange for shares of any stock of the Corporation ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series C Preferred Stock; or

(iv) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of Series C Preferred Stock, or any shares of stock ranking on a parity with the Series C Preferred Stock, except in accordance with a purchase offer made in writing or by publication (as determined by the Board of Directors) to all holders of such shares upon such terms as the Board of Directors, after consideration of the respective annual dividend rates and other relative rights and preferences of the respective series and classes, shall determine in good faith will result in fair and equitable treatment among the respective series or classes.

(b) The Corporation shall not permit any subsidiary of the Corporation to purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration, directly or indirectly, any shares of stock of the Corporation unless the Corporation could, under paragraph (a) of this Section 4, purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such time and in such manner.

Section 5. Reacquired Shares . Any shares of Series C Preferred Stock purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation in any manner whatsoever shall be retired and canceled promptly after the acquisition thereof. All such shares shall upon their cancellation become authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock and may be reissued as part of a new series of Preferred Stock subject to the conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth herein, in the Certificate of Incorporation, in any other certificate of designations creating a series of Preferred Stock or any similar stock or as otherwise required by law.

Section 6. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up . Upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, no distribution shall be made to: (i) the holders of shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series C Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the holders of shares of Series C Preferred Stock shall have received the greater of (A) $100.00 per share ($1.00 per one one-hundredth of a share), plus an amount equal to accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions thereon, whether or not declared, to the date of such payment, or (B) an aggregate amount per share, subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, equal to 100 times the aggregate amount to be distributed per share of Common Stock to holders thereof; or (ii) the holders of shares of stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series C Preferred Stock, except distributions made ratably on the Series C Preferred Stock and all such parity stock in proportion to the total amounts to which the holders of all such shares are entitled upon such liquidation, dissolution or winding up. In the event the Corporation shall at any

 

4


time declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such event the aggregate amount to which each holder of a share of Series C Preferred Stock was entitled immediately prior to such event under clause (i) of the preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to such event.

Section 7. Consolidation, Merger or Other . In the event the Corporation shall enter into any consolidation, merger, combination or other transaction in which the shares of Common Stock are exchanged for or changed into other stock or securities, cash and/or any other property or otherwise changed, then in any such event each share of Series C Preferred Stock shall at the same time be similarly exchanged or changed into an amount per share, subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, equal to 100 times the aggregate amount of stock, securities, cash and/or any other property (payable in kind), as the case may be, into which or for which each share of Common Stock is changed or exchanged. In the event the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such event the amount set forth in the preceding sentence with respect to the exchange or change of shares of Series C Preferred Stock shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event, and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to such event.

Section 8. No Redemption . The shares of Series C Preferred Stock shall not be redeemable.

Section 9. Rank . The Series C Preferred Stock shall rank, with respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets, junior to all series or classes of the Corporation’s Preferred Stock whether issued before or after the issuance of the Series C Preferred Stock, unless the terms of any such series or class shall provide otherwise.

Section 10. Amendment . The Certificate of Incorporation shall not be amended in any manner that would materially alter or change the powers, preferences or special rights of the Series C Preferred Stock, as set forth herein, so as to affect them adversely without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of Series C Preferred Stock, voting together as a single class.

 

5


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Spark Networks, Inc. has caused this Certificate of Designations to be executed on its behalf by its Chief Executive Officer, Adam S. Berger, and attested to by its Secretary, Joshua A. Kreinberg, this 9 day of July 2007.

 

SPARK NETWORKS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Adam S. Berger

Name:   Adam S. Berger
Title:   Chief Executive Officer

THE UNDERSIGNED, the Secretary of Spark Networks, Inc., hereby acknowledges, in the name and on behalf of said corporation, the foregoing Certificate of Designations to be the corporate act of said corporation and further certifies that, to the best of his knowledge, information and belief, the matters and facts set forth therein with respect to the approval thereof or otherwise required to be verified under oath are true in all material respects, under the penalties of perjury.

 

By:  

/s/ Joshua A. Kreinberg

Name:   Joshua A. Kreinberg
Title:   Secretary

 

6

EXHIBIT 3.2

BYLAWS

OF

SPARK NETWORKS, INC.

A Delaware Corporation

ARTICLE I: OFFICES

SECTION 1.1 Registered Office.

The registered office of Spark Networks, Inc. (“ Corporation ”) shall be at 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400 in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle and the name of its registered agent at that address is Corporation Service Company.

SECTION 1.2 Principal Office.

The principal office for the transaction of the business of the Corporation shall be as set forth in a resolution adopted by the Board.

SECTION 1.3 Other Offices.

The Corporation may also have an office or offices at such other place or places, either within or without the State of Delaware, as the Board may from time to time determine or as the business of the Corporation may require.

ARTICLE II: MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

SECTION 2.1 Place of Meetings.

All annual meetings of stockholders and all other meetings of stockholders shall be held either at the principal office of the Corporation or at any other place within or without the State of Delaware that may be designated by the Board pursuant to authority hereinafter granted to the Board.

SECTION 2.2 Annual Meetings.

Annual meetings of stockholders of the Corporation for the purpose of electing directors and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before such meetings may be held at such time and place and on such date as the Board shall determine by resolution.

SECTION 2.3 Special Meetings.

A special meeting of the stockholders for the transaction of any proper business may be called at any time exclusively by the Board, the Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer or the President.


SECTION 2.4 Notice of Meetings.

Except as otherwise required by law, notice of each meeting of stockholders, whether annual or special, shall be given not less than ten (10) days nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting by delivering a typewritten or printed notice thereof to such stockholder personally, or by depositing such notice in the United States mail, in a postage prepaid envelope, directed to such stockholder at such stockholder’s post office address furnished by such stockholder to the Secretary of the Corporation for such purpose, or, if such stockholder shall not have furnished an address to the Secretary for such purpose, then at such stockholder’s post office address last known to the Secretary, or by transmitting a notice thereof to such stockholder at such address by telegraph, cable, wireless or facsimile. Except as otherwise expressly required by law, no publication of any notice of a meeting of stockholders shall be required. Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given to stockholders, any notice shall be effective if given by a form of electronic transmission consented to (in a manner consistent with the Delaware General Corporation Law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (the “ DGCL ”).) by the stockholder to whom the notice is given. Every notice of a meeting of stockholders shall state the place, date and hour of the meeting and, in the case of a special meeting, shall also state the purpose for which the meeting is called. Notice of any meeting of stockholders shall not be required to be given to any stockholder to whom notice may be omitted pursuant to applicable Delaware law or who shall have waived such notice, and such notice shall be deemed waived by any stockholder who shall attend such meeting in person or by proxy, except a stockholder who shall attend such meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Except as otherwise expressly required by law, notice of any adjourned meeting of stockholders need not be given if the time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken.

SECTION 2.5 Fixing Date for Determination of Stockholders of Record.

In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, or entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any other change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action other than to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, the Board may fix, in advance, a record date, which shall not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting, nor more than sixty (60) days prior to any such other action. If in any case involving the determination of stockholders for any purpose other than notice of or voting at a meeting of stockholders the Board shall not fix such a record date, then the record date for determining stockholders for such purpose shall be the close of business on the day on which the Board shall adopt the resolution relating thereto. A determination of stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of such meeting; provided, however, that the Board may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.

SECTION 2.6 Quorum.

Except as otherwise required by law, the holders of a majority in voting interest of the shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to be voted thereat, present in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation or any adjournment thereof. Subject to the requirement of a larger percentage vote, if any, contained in the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws or by statute, the stockholders present at a duly called or held meeting at which a quorum is present may continue to do business until adjournment, notwithstanding any withdrawal of stockholders that may leave less than a quorum remaining, if any action taken (other than adjournment) is approved by the vote of at least a majority in voting interest of the shares required to constitute a quorum. In the absence of a quorum at any meeting or any adjournment thereof, a majority in voting interest of the stockholders present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereat or, in the absence therefrom of all the stockholders, any officer entitled to preside at, or to act as secretary of, such meeting may adjourn such meeting from time to time. At any such adjourned meeting at which a quorum is present, any business may be transacted that might have been transacted at the meeting as originally called.

 

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SECTION 2.7 Voting.

(A) Each stockholder shall, at each meeting of stockholders, be entitled to vote, in the manner prescribed by the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation, in person or by proxy each share of the stock of the Corporation that has voting rights on the matter in question and that shall have been held by such stockholder and registered in such stockholder’s name on the books of the Corporation:

(i) on the date fixed pursuant to Section 2.5 of these Bylaws as the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at such meeting; or

(ii) if no such record date shall have been so fixed, then (a) at the close of business on the business day next preceding the day upon which notice of the meeting shall be given or (b) if notice of the meeting shall be waived, at the close of business on the business day next preceding the day upon which the meeting shall be held.

(B) Shares of the Corporation’s own stock belonging to the Corporation or to another corporation, if a majority of the shares entitled to vote in the election of directors in such other corporation is held, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation, shall neither be entitled to vote nor be counted for quorum purposes. Persons holding stock of the Corporation in a fiduciary capacity shall be entitled to vote such stock. Persons whose stock is pledged shall be entitled to vote, unless in the transfer by the pledgor on the books of the Corporation the pledgor shall have expressly empowered the pledgee to vote thereon, in which case only the pledgee, or the pledgee’s proxy, may represent such stock and vote thereon. Stock having voting power standing of record in the names of two or more persons, whether fiduciaries, members of a partnership, joint tenants, tenants in common, tenants by the entirety or otherwise, or with respect to which two or more persons have the same fiduciary relationship, shall be voted in accordance with the provisions of DGCL.

(C) Subject to the provisions of the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation, any such voting rights may be exercised by the stockholder entitled thereto in person or by such stockholder’s proxy appointed by an instrument in writing, subscribed by such stockholder or by such stockholder’s attorney thereunto authorized and delivered to the secretary of the meeting. The attendance at any meeting of a stockholder who may theretofore have given a proxy shall not have the effect of revoking the same unless such stockholder shall in writing so notify the secretary of the meeting prior to the voting of the proxy. At any meeting of stockholders at which a quorum is present, all matters, except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, in these Bylaws or by law, shall be decided by the vote of a majority in voting interest of the stockholders present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereat and thereon. The vote at any meeting of stockholders on any question need not be by ballot, unless so directed by the chairman of the meeting. On a vote by ballot, each ballot shall be signed by the stockholder voting, or by such stockholder’s proxy, if there be such proxy, and it shall state the number of shares voted.

SECTION 2.8 Inspectors of Election.

Prior to each meeting of stockholders, the Chairman of such meeting shall appoint an inspector(s) of election to act with respect to any vote. Each inspector of election so appointed shall first subscribe an oath faithfully to execute the duties of an inspector of election at such meeting with strict impartiality and according to the best of such inspector of election’s ability. Such inspector(s) of election shall decide upon the qualification of the voters and shall certify and report the number of shares represented at the meeting and entitled to vote on any question, determine the number of votes entitled to be cast by each share, shall conduct the vote and, when the voting is completed, accept the votes and ascertain and report the number of shares voted respectively for and

 

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against each question, and determine, and retain for a reasonable period a record of the disposition of, any challenge made to any determination made by such inspector(s) of election. Reports of inspector(s) of election shall be in writing and subscribed and delivered by them to the Secretary of the Corporation. The inspector(s) of election need not be stockholders of the Corporation, and any officer of the Corporation may be an inspector(s) of election on any question other than a vote for or against a proposal in which such officer shall have a material interest. The inspector(s) of election may appoint or retain other persons or entities to assist the inspector(s) of election in the performance of the duties of the inspector(s) of election.

SECTION 2.9 Advance Notice of Stockholder Proposals and Stockholder Director Nominations.

(A) Except for (1) any directors entitled to be elected by the holders of preferred stock, (2) any directors elected in accordance with Section 3.6 hereof by the Board of Directors to fill a vacancy or newly-created directorships or (3) as otherwise required by applicable law or stock market regulation, only persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures in this Section 2.9 shall be eligible for election as directors. Nomination for election to the Board of Directors at a meeting of stockholders may be made (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (ii) by any stockholder of the corporation who (x) complies with the notice procedures set forth in Section 2.9(B) and (y) is a stockholder of record on the date of the giving of such notice and on the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting. At any annual meeting of the stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall have been properly brought before the meeting. To be properly brought before an annual meeting, business must be (1) specified in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, (2) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, or (3) properly brought before the meeting by a stockholder. For business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder, the business must constitute a proper matter under Delaware law for stockholder action and the stockholder must (x) have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Section 2.9(B) and (y) be a stockholder of record on the date of the giving of such notice and on the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at such annual meeting.

(B) To be timely, a stockholder’s notice shall be delivered to the secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the ninetieth (90 th ) day nor earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120 th ) day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting differs by more than thirty (30) days from such anniversary date or if the Corporation has not previously held an annual meeting, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120 th ) day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90 th ) day prior to such annual meeting or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the Corporation. In the case of an election of directors at a special meeting of stockholders, provided that the Board of Directors has determined that directors shall be elected at such meeting, a stockholder’s notice shall be delivered to the secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the one hundred twentieth (120 th ) day prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of (x) the ninetieth (90 th ) day prior to such special meeting and (y) the tenth (10 th ) day following the day on which notice of the date of such special meeting was mailed or public disclosure of the date of such special meeting was made, whichever first occurs. In no event shall the adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting (or the public announcement thereof) commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice.

Such stockholder’s notice shall set forth (I) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director (a) all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors in an election contest, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (or any successor thereto) and Rule 14a-11 thereunder (or any successor thereto) (including such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy

 

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statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected), (b) the name and address of the stockholder who intends to make the nomination and of the person or persons to be nominated, (c) a representation that the stockholder is a holder of record of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting and nominate the person or persons specified in the notice; (d) a description of all arrangements or understandings between the stockholder and each nominee and any other person or persons (naming such person or persons) pursuant to which the nomination or nominations are to be made by the stockholder; and (e) such other information regarding each nominee proposed by such stockholder as would be required to be included in a proxy statement filed pursuant to the proxy rules of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission had the nominee been nominated, or intended to be nominated, by the Board, (II) as to any other business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the text relating to the business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend the By-laws, the language of the proposed amendment), the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting, and any material interest in such business of such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made; and (III) as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made (a) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, and of such beneficial owner, (b) the class and number of shares of the corporation which are owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder and such beneficial owner, (c) a description of all arrangements or understandings between such stockholder or such beneficial owner, if any, and any other person or persons (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business by such stockholder, (d) a representation that such stockholder intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to bring such business before the meeting and (e) a representation whether the stockholder or the beneficial owner, if any, intends or is part of a group which intends (x) to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Corporation’s outstanding capital stock required to approve or adopt the proposal and/or (y) otherwise to solicit proxies from stockholders in support of such proposal. In addition, the stockholder making such proposal shall promptly provide any other information reasonably requested by the Corporation. In addition, with regards to any director-nominee, the stockholder’s notice must be accompanied by the written consent of the proposed nominee to serve as a director if elected. The Corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as may reasonably be required to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as a director of the corporation.

Notwithstanding anything in these By-laws to the contrary, no business shall be conducted at any meeting of stockholders except in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.9; provided that any stockholder proposal which complies with Rule 14a-8 of the proxy rules (or any successor provision) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and is to be included in the Corporation’s proxy statement for an annual meeting of stockholders shall be deemed to comply with the requirements of this Section 2.9. A stockholder shall not have complied with this Section 2.9(B) if the stockholder (or beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made) solicits or does not solicit, as the case may be, proxies in support of such stockholder’s proposal or director-nominee in contravention of the representations with respect thereto required by this Section 2.9.

(B) The chairman of any meeting shall have the power and duty to determine whether business was properly brought before the meeting or a nomination was made in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2.9 (including whether the stockholder or beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf a proposal or nomination is made solicited (or is part of a group which solicited) or did not so solicit, as the case may be, proxies in support of such stockholder’s proposal or nominee in compliance with the representations with respect thereto required by this Section 2.9), and if the chairman should determine that business was not properly brought before the meeting or a nomination was not made in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2.9, the chairman shall so declare to the meeting and such business shall not be brought before the meeting or such nomination shall be disregarded, as applicable.

(C) Except as otherwise required by law, nothing in this Section 2.9 shall obligate the Corporation or the Board of Directors to include in any proxy statement or other stockholder communication distributed on behalf of the Corporation or the Board of Directors information with respect to any nominee for director submitted by a stockholder or proposal.

 

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(D) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.9, if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the annual or special meeting of stockholders of the corporation to present a nomination or such business, such nomination shall be disregarded or such business shall not be considered, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation. For purposes of this Section 2.9, to be considered a qualified representative of the stockholder, a person must be authorized by a written instrument executed by such stockholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such stockholder to act for such stockholder as proxy at the meeting of stockholders and such person must produce such written instrument or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the written instrument or electronic transmission, at the meeting of stockholders.

(E) For purposes of this Section 2.9, “public disclosure” shall include disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones New Service, Associated Press or comparable national news service or in a document publicly filed by the corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

SECTION 2.10 No Action Without Meeting.

Stockholders of the Corporation may not take any action by written consent in lieu of a meeting.

ARTICLE III: BOARD OF DIRECTORS

SECTION 3.1 General Powers.

Subject to any requirements in the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws, or of the DGCL as to action which must be authorized or approved by the stockholders, any and all corporate powers shall be exercised by or under the authority of, and the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be under the direction of, the Board to the fullest extent permitted by law. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, it is hereby expressly declared that the Board shall have the following powers:

(A) to select and remove all the officers, agents and employees of the Corporation, prescribe such powers and duties for them as may not be inconsistent with law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, fix their compensation, and require from them security for faithful service;

(B) to conduct, manage and control the affairs and business of the Corporation, and to make such rules and regulations therefor not inconsistent with law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, as it may deem best;

(C) to change the location of the registered office of the Corporation in Section 1.1 hereof; to change the principal office and the principal office for the transaction of the business of the Corporation from one location to another as provided in Section 1.2 hereof; to fix and locate from time to time one or more offices of the Corporation within or without the State of Delaware as provided in Section 1.3 hereof; to designate any place within or without the State of Delaware for the holding of any meeting or meetings of stockholders; and to adopt, make and use a corporate seal, and to prescribe the forms of certificates of stock, and to alter the form of such seal and of such certificates from time to time, and in its judgment as it may deem best, provided such seal and such certificate shall at all times comply with the provisions of law;

(D) to authorize the issuance of shares of stock of the Corporation from time to time, upon such terms and for such considerations as may be lawful;

(E) to borrow money and incur indebtedness for the purposes of the Corporation, and to cause to be executed and delivered therefor, in the corporate name, promissory notes, bonds, debentures, deeds of trust and securities therefor; and

 

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(F) by resolution adopted by a majority of the whole Board to designate an executive and other committees of the Board, each consisting of one or more directors, to serve at the pleasure of the Board, and to prescribe the manner in which proceedings of such committee or committees shall be conducted.

SECTION 3.2 Number and Term of Office.

(A) Until this Section 3.2 is amended by a resolution duly adopted by the Board or by the stockholders of the Corporation, the number of directors constituting the entire Board shall be not less than two (2) members nor more than nine (9) members. Directors need not be stockholders. Each of the directors of the Corporation shall hold office until his successor shall have been duly elected or until he shall resign or shall have been removed in the manner hereinafter provided.

(B) The Board shall be divided into three classes: Class I, Class II and Class III. Each Director shall serve for a term ending on the date of the third annual meeting following the annual meeting at which such director was elected; provided, however, that the directors first elected to Class I shall serve for a term ending on the date of the next annual meeting of stockholders, the directors first elected to Class II shall serve for a term ending on the first annual meeting of stockholders following the next annual meeting, and the directors first elected to Class III shall serve for a term ending on the second annual meeting of stockholders following the next annual meeting. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Article, each director shall serve until his successor is duly elected and qualified or until his death, resignation or removal. No decrease in the number of directors constituting the Board of Directors shall shorten the term of an incumbent director.

SECTION 3.3 Chairman of the Board.

The Chairman of the Board, when present, shall preside at all meetings of the Board and all meetings of stockholders. The Chairman of the Board shall perform other duties commonly incident to his office and shall also perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors shall designate from time to time.

SECTION 3.4 Election of Directors.

Except as provided in Section 3.6 hereof, the directors shall be elected by the stockholders of the Corporation, and at each election, the persons receiving the greater number of votes, up to the number of directors then to be elected, shall be the persons then elected. The election of directors is subject to any provision contained in the Certificate of Incorporation relating thereto, including any provision regarding the rights of holders of preferred stock to elect directors.

SECTION 3.5 Resignations.

Any director of the Corporation may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Board or to the Secretary of the Corporation. Any such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein, or, if the time is not specified, it shall take effect immediately upon receipt; and, unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

 

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SECTION 3.6 Vacancies.

Except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, any vacancy in the Board, whether because of death, resignation, disqualification, an increase in the number of directors, removal, or any other cause, may be filled by vote of the majority of the remaining directors, although less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director. Increases in the number of directors shall be filled in accordance with the rule that each class of directors shall be as nearly equal in number of directors as possible. Notwithstanding such rule, in the event of any change in the authorized number of directors each director then continuing to serve as such will nevertheless continue as a director of the class of which he or she is a member, until the expiration of his current term or his earlier death, resignation or removal. If any newly created directorship or vacancy on the Board, consistent with the rule that the three classes shall be as nearly equal in number of directors as possible, may be allocated to one (1) or two (2) or more classes, the Board shall allocate it to that of the available class whose term of office is due to expire at the earliest date following such allocation. When the Board fills a vacancy, the director chosen to fill that vacancy shall be of the same class as the director he succeeds and shall hold office until such director’s successor shall have been elected and shall qualify or until such director shall resign or shall have been removed. No reduction of the authorized number of directors shall have the effect of removing any director prior to the expiration of such director’s term of office.

SECTION 3.7 Place of Meeting.

The Board or any committee thereof may hold any of its meetings at such place or places within or without the State of Delaware as the Board or such committee may from time to time by resolution designate or as shall be designated by the person or persons calling the meeting or in the notice or a waiver of notice of any such meeting. Directors may participate in any regular or special meeting of the Board or any committee thereof by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment pursuant to which all persons participating in the meeting of the Board or such committee can hear each other, and such participation shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

SECTION 3.8 Regular Meetings.

Regular meetings of the Board may be held at such times as the Board shall from time to time by resolution determine.

SECTION 3.9 Special Meetings.

Special meetings of the Board for any purpose or purposes shall be called at any time by the Chairman of the Board or, if the Chairman of the Board is absent or unable or refuses to act, by the Chief Executive Officer or the President, and may also be called by any two members of the Board. Except as otherwise provided by law or by these Bylaws, written notice of the time and place of special meetings shall be delivered personally or by facsimile to each director, or sent to each director by mail or by other form of written communication, charges prepaid, addressed to such director at such director’s address as it is shown upon the records of the Corporation, or, if it is not so shown on such records and is not readily ascertainable, at the place in which the meetings of the directors are regularly held. In case such notice is mailed or telegraphed, it shall be deposited in the United States mail or delivered to the telegraph company in the County in which the principal office for the transaction of the business of the Corporation is located at least forty-eight (48) hours prior to the time of the holding of the meeting. In case such notice is delivered personally or by facsimile as above provided, it shall be delivered at least twenty-four (24) hours prior to the time of the holding of the meeting. Such mailing, telegraphing, delivery or facsimile transmission as above provided shall be due, legal and personal notice to such director. Except where otherwise required by law or by these Bylaws, notice of the purpose of a special meeting need not be given. Notice of any meeting of the Board shall not be required to be given to any director who is present at such meeting, except a director who shall attend such meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.

 

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SECTION 3.10 Quorum and Manner of Acting.

Except as otherwise provided in these Bylaws, the Certificate of Incorporation or by applicable law, the presence of a majority of the authorized number of directors shall be required to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Board, and all matters shall be decided at any such meeting, a quorum being present, by the affirmative votes of a majority of the directors present. A meeting at which a quorum is initially present may continue to transact business notwithstanding the withdrawal of directors, provided any action taken is approved by at least a majority of the required quorum for such meeting. In the absence of a quorum, a majority of directors present at any meeting may adjourn the same from time to time until a quorum shall be present. Notice of any adjourned meeting need not be given. The directors shall act only as a Board, and the individual directors shall have no power as such.

SECTION 3.11 Action by Unanimous Written Consent.

Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting if consent in writing is given thereto by all members of the Board or of such committee, as the case may be, and such consent is filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board or of such committee.

SECTION 3.12 Compensation.

Directors may be paid such compensation for their services and such reimbursement for expenses of attendance at meetings as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to preclude any director from serving the Corporation or any of its parent or subsidiary entities in any other capacity as an officer, agent, employee, or otherwise, and receiving compensation therefor.

SECTION 3.13 Committees.

The Board may, by resolution passed by a majority of the whole Board, designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one (1) or more of the directors of the Corporation. Any such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board and subject to any restrictions or limitations on the delegation of power and authority imposed by applicable law, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it. Any such committee shall keep written minutes of its meetings and report the same to the Board at the next regular meeting of the Board. Unless the Board or these Bylaws shall otherwise prescribe the manner of proceedings of any such committee, meetings of such committee may be regularly scheduled in advance and may be called at any time by the chairman of the committee or by any two (2) members thereof; otherwise, the provisions of these Bylaws with respect to notice and conduct of meetings of the Board shall govern.

SECTION 3.14 Affiliated Transactions.

Notwithstanding any other provision of these Bylaws, each transaction, or, if an individual transaction constitutes a part of a series of transactions, each series of transactions, proposed to be entered into between the Corporation, on the one hand, and any affiliate of the Corporation, on the other hand, must be approved by the Board. For the purposes of this Section 3.14, (a) “affiliate” shall mean (i) any person that, directly or indirectly, controls or is controlled by or is under common control with the Corporation, (ii) any other person that owns, beneficially, directly or indirectly, twenty percent (20%) or more of the outstanding capital shares, shares or equity interests of the Corporation, or (iii) any officer or director of the Corporation; (b) “person” shall mean and include

 

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individuals, corporations, general and limited partnerships, stock companies or associations, joint ventures, associations, companies, trusts, banks, trust companies, land trusts, business trusts or other entities and governments and agencies and political subdivisions thereof; and (c) “control” (including the correlative meanings of the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as used with respect to any person, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such person, through the ownership of voting securities, partnership interests or other equity interests.

ARTICLE IV: OFFICERS

SECTION 4.1 Officers.

The officers of the Corporation shall be a Chief Executive Officer, a President, one or more Vice Presidents (the number thereof and their respective titles to be determined by the Board), a Secretary, a Chief Financial Officer, and such other officers as may be appointed at the discretion of the Board in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.3 hereof.

SECTION 4.2 Election.

The officers of the Corporation, except such officers as may be appointed or elected in accordance with the provisions of Sections 4.3 or 4.5 hereof, shall be chosen annually by the Board at the first meeting thereof after the annual meeting of stockholders, and each officer shall hold office until such officer shall resign or shall be removed or otherwise disqualified to serve, or until such officer’s successor shall be elected and qualified.

SECTION 4.3 Other Officers.

In addition to the officers chosen annually by the Board at its first meeting, the Board also may appoint or elect such other officers as the business of the Corporation may require, each of whom shall have such authority and perform such duties as are provided in these Bylaws or as the Board may from time to time specify, and shall hold office until such officer shall resign or shall be removed or otherwise disqualified to serve, or until such officer’s successor shall be elected and qualified.

SECTION 4.4 Removal and Resignation.

Except as provided by DGCL Section 141(k), any officer may be removed, either with or without cause, by resolution of the Board, at any regular or special meeting of the Board, or, except in case of an officer chosen by the Board, by any officer upon whom such power of removal may be conferred by the Board. Any officer or assistant may resign at any time by giving written notice of his resignation to the Board or the Secretary of the Corporation. Any such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein, or, if the time is not specified, upon receipt thereof by the Board or the Secretary, as the case may be; and, unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

SECTION 4.5 Vacancies.

A vacancy in any office because of death, resignation, removal, disqualification or any other cause may be filled by the vote of the majority of the directors present at any meeting in which a quorum is present, or pursuant to Section 3.11 of these Bylaws.

 

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SECTION 4.6 Chief Executive Officer.

The Chief Executive Officer shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and at all meetings of the Board of Directors, unless the Chairman of the Board has been appointed and is present. The Chief Executive Officer shall be the chief executive officer of the Corporation and shall, subject to the control of the Board of Directors, have general supervision, direction and control of the business and affairs of the Corporation. The Chief Executive Officer shall also perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors may designate from time to time.

SECTION 4.7 President.

The President shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and at all meetings of the Board of Directors, unless the Chairman of the Board has been appointed and is present or, in the absence of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer has been appointed and is present. Subject to the provisions of these Bylaws and to the direction of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer, the President shall have the responsibility for the general management and control of the business and affairs of the Corporation and shall perform all duties and have all powers which are commonly incident to the office of President or which are delegated to him by the Board of Directors. The President shall have the power to sign all stock certificates, contracts and other instruments of the Corporation which are authorized and shall have general supervision and direction of all the other officers, employees and agents of the corporation.

SECTION 4.8 Vice President.

Each Vice President shall have such powers and perform such duties with respect to the administration of the business and affairs of the Corporation as are commonly incident to their office or as may from time to time be assigned to such Vice President by the Chairman of the Board, or the Board, or the Chief Executive Officer, or the President, or as may be prescribed by these Bylaws. In the absence or disability of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer and the President, the Vice Presidents in order of their rank as fixed by the Board, or if not ranked, the Vice President designated by the Board, shall perform all of the duties of the Chairman of the Board, and when so acting shall have all the powers of, and be subject to all the restrictions upon, the Chairman of the Board.

SECTION 4.9 Secretary.

(A) The Secretary shall attend all meetings of the stockholders and of the Board of Directors and shall record all acts and proceedings thereof in the minute book of the Corporation. The Secretary shall give notice in conformity with these Bylaws of all meetings of the stockholders and of all meetings of the Board of Directors and any committee thereof requiring notice. The Secretary shall perform all other duties given him in these Bylaws and other duties commonly incident to his office and shall also perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board shall designate from time to time.

(B) The Secretary shall keep, or cause to be kept, at the principal office of the Corporation or such other place as the Board may order, a book of minutes of all meetings of directors and stockholders, with the time and place of holding, whether regular or special, and if special, how authorized and the notice thereof given, the names of those present at meetings of directors, the number of shares present or represented at meetings of stockholders, and the proceedings thereof.

(C) The Secretary shall keep, or cause to be kept, at the principal office of the Corporation’s transfer agent, a share register, or a duplicate share register, showing the name of each stockholder, the number of shares of each class held by such stockholder, the number and date of certificates issued for such shares, and the number and date of cancellation of every certificate surrendered for cancellation.

 

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SECTION 4.10 Chief Financial Officer.

The Chief Financial Officer shall keep or cause to be kept the books of account of the corporation in a thorough and proper manner and shall render statements of the financial affairs of the corporation in such form and as often as required by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Financial Officer, subject to the order of the Board, shall have the custody of all funds and securities of the Corporation. The Chief Financial Officer shall perform other duties commonly incident to his office and shall also perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board or the Chief Executive Officer shall designate from time to time.

ARTICLE V: CORPORATE INSTRUMENTS, CHECKS,

DRAFTS, BANK ACCOUNTS, ETC.

SECTION 5.1 Execution of Corporate Instruments.

The Board of Directors may, in its discretion, determine the method and designate the signatory officer or officers, or other person or persons, to execute on behalf of the Corporation the corporate name without limitation, or enter into contracts on behalf of the Corporation, except where otherwise provided by law or these Bylaws, and such execution or signature shall be binding upon the Corporation. Such authority may be general or confined to specific instances, and unless so authorized by the Board or by these Bylaws, no officer, agent, or employee shall have any power or authority to bind the Corporation by any contract or engagement or to pledge its credit or to render it liable for any purpose or in any amount.

SECTION 5.2 Checks, Drafts, Etc.

All checks, drafts or other orders for payment of money, notes or other evidence of indebtedness, issued in the name of or payable to the Corporation, shall be signed or endorsed by such person or persons and in such manner as, from time to time, shall be determined by resolution of the Board. Each such officer, assistant, agent or attorney shall give such bond, if any, as the Board may require.

SECTION 5.3 Deposits.

All funds of the Corporation not otherwise employed shall be deposited from time to time to the credit of the Corporation in such banks, trust companies or other depositories as the Board may select, or as may be selected by any officer or officers, assistant or assistants, agent or agents, or attorney or attorneys of the Corporation to whom such power shall have been delegated by the Board. For the purpose of deposit and for the purpose of collection for the account of the Corporation, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice President (or any other officer or officers, assistant or assistants, agent or agents, or attorney or attorneys of the Corporation who shall from time to time be determined by the Board) may endorse, assign and deliver checks, drafts and other orders for the payment of money which are payable to the order of the Corporation.

SECTION 5.4 General and Special Bank Accounts.

The Board may from time to time authorize the opening and keeping of general and special bank accounts with such banks, trust companies or other depositories as the Board may select or as may be selected by any officer or officers, assistant or assistants, agent or agents, or attorney or attorneys of the Corporation to whom such power shall have been delegated by the Board. The Board may make such special rules and regulations with respect to such bank accounts, not inconsistent with the provisions of these Bylaws, as it may deem expedient.

 

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ARTICLE VI: SHARES AND THEIR TRANSFER

SECTION 6.1 Certificates of Stock.

Shares of the capital stock of the Corporation may be certificated or uncertificated, as provided under the DGCL. Each stockholder, upon written request to the transfer agent or registrar of the Corporation, shall be entitled to a certificate of the capital stock of the Corporation in such form as may from time to time be prescribed by the Board of Directors. Such certificate shall bear the Corporation seal and shall be signed by the Chairman of the Board of the President or a Vice President and by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary. The Corporation seal and the signatures by corporation officers may be facsimiles if the certificate manually countersigned by an authorized person on behalf of a transfer agent or registrar other than the Corporation or its employee. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed on such certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if such officer, transfer agent or registrar were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the time of its issue. Every certificate for shares of stock which are subject to any restriction on transfer and every certificate issued when the Corporation is authorized to issue more than one class or series of stock shall contain such legend with respect thereto as is required by law. The Corporation shall not be permitted to issue fractional shares.

SECTION 6.2. Transfers.

Subject to any restrictions on transfer and unless otherwise provided by the Board of Directors, shares of stock may be transferred only on the books of the Corporation, if such shares are certificated, by the surrender to the Corporation or its transfer agent of the certificate therefore properly endorsed or accompanied by a written assignment or power of attorney properly executed, with transfer stamps (if necessary) affixed, or upon proper instructions from the holder of uncertificated shares, in each case with such proof of the authenticity of signature as the Corporation or its transfer agent may reasonably require.

SECTION 6. 3. Record Holders.

Except as may otherwise be required by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these By-laws, the Corporation shall be entitled to treat the record holder of stock as shown on its books as the owner of such stock for all purposes, including the payment of dividends and the right to vote with respect thereto, regardless of any transfer, pledge or other disposition of such stock, until the shares have been transferred on the books of the Corporation in accordance with the requirements of these By-laws.

It shall be the duty of each stockholder to notify the Corporation of his, her or its post office address and any changes thereto.

SECTION 6. 4. Replacement of Certificates.

In case of the alleged loss, destruction or mutilation of a certificate of stock, a duplicate certificate may be issued in place thereof, upon such terms as the Board of Directors may prescribe, provided, however, that if such shares have ceased to be certificated, a new certificate shall be issued only upon written request to the transfer agent or registrar of the Corporation.

SECTION 6.5 Regulations.

The Board may make such rules and regulations as it may deem expedient, not inconsistent with these Bylaws, concerning the issue, transfer and registration of certificates for shares of the stock of the Corporation. It may appoint, or authorize any officer or officers to appoint, one or more transfer clerks or one or more transfer agents and one or more registrars, and may require all certificates for stock to bear the signature or signatures of any of them.

 

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ARTICLE VII: INDEMNIFICATION

SECTION 7.1 Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

To the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (provided that the effect of any such amendment shall be prospective only) (the “ Delaware Law ”), a director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of his or her fiduciary duty as a director. The Corporation shall indemnify, in the manner and to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware Law (but in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than permitted prior thereto), any person (or the estate of any person) who is or was a party to, or is threatened to be made a party to, any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether or not by or in the right of the Corporation, and whether civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or otherwise, by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director or officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise. The Corporation may, to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware Law, purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any such person against any liability which may be asserted against such person. The Corporation may create a trust fund, grant a security interest or use other means (including without limitation a letter of credit) to ensure the payment of such sums as may become necessary or desirable to effect the indemnification as provided herein. To the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware Law, the indemnification provided herein shall include expenses as incurred (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement and any such expenses shall be paid by the Corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the person seeking indemnification to repay such amounts if it is ultimately determined that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified. Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of this Section 7.1, no advance shall be made by the Corporation if a determination is reasonably and promptly made by the Board by a majority vote of a quorum of disinterested Directors, or (if such a quorum is not obtainable or, even if obtainable, a quorum of disinterested Directors so directs) by independent legal counsel to the Corporation, that, based upon the facts known to the Board or such counsel at the time such determination is made, (a) the party seeking an advance acted in bad faith or deliberately breached his or her duty to the Corporation or its stockholders, and (b) as a result of such actions by the party seeking an advance, it is more likely than not that it will ultimately be determined that such party is not entitled to indemnification pursuant to the provisions of this Section 7.1. The indemnification provided herein shall not be deemed to limit the right of the Corporation to indemnify any other person for any such expenses to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware Law, nor shall it be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which any person seeking indemnification from the Corporation may be entitled under any agreement, the Corporation’s Bylaws, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise, both as to action in such person’s official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office. The Corporation may, but only to the extent that the Board of Directors may (but shall not be obligated to) authorize from time to time, grant rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses to any employee or agent of the Corporation to the fullest extent of the provisions of this Section 7.1 as it applies to the indemnification and advancement of expenses of directors and officers of the Corporation. Nothing contained in this Section, or elsewhere in these By-laws, shall operate to indemnify any director or officer if such indemnification is for any reason contrary to law, either as a matter of public policy, or under the provisions of the Federal Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or any other applicable state or federal law.

 

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SECTION 7.2 Indemnification of Employees and Agents.

Subject to Section 7.1, the Corporation may, but only to the extent that the Board may (but shall not be obligated to) authorize from time to time, grant rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses to any employee or agent of the Corporation to the fullest extent of the provisions of this Article VII as they apply to the indemnification and advancement of expenses of directors and officers of the Corporation.

SECTION 7.3 Enforcement of Indemnification.

The rights to indemnification and the advancement of expenses conferred above shall be contract rights. If a claim under this Article VII is not paid in full by the Corporation within 60 days after written claim has been received by the Corporation, except in the case of a claim for an advancement of expenses, in which case the applicable period shall be twenty (20) days, the indemnitee may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of such claim. If successful in whole or in part in any such suit, or in a suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the indemnitee shall be entitled to be paid also the expenses of prosecuting or defending such suit. In (i) any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder (but not in a suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to an advancement of expenses) it shall be a defense that, and (ii) any suit by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking the Corporation shall be entitled to recover such expenses upon a final adjudication that, the indemnitee has not met any applicable standard for indemnification set forth in the DGCL. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its Board, independent legal counsel or stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such suit that indemnification of the indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because the indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the DGCL, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including its Board, independent legal counsel or stockholders) that the indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall either create a presumption that the indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct or, in the case of such a suit brought by the indemnitee, be a defense to such suit. In any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification or to an advancement of expenses hereunder, or by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the burden of proving that the indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified, or to such advancement of expenses, under this Article VII or otherwise shall be on the Corporation.

ARTICLE VIII: MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 8.1 Seal.

The Board shall adopt a corporate seal, which shall be in the form set forth in a resolution approved by the Board.

SECTION 8.2 Waiver of Notices.

Whenever notice is required to be given by these Bylaws or the Certificate of Incorporation or by law, the person entitled to said notice may waive such notice in writing, either before or after the time stated therein, and such waiver shall be deemed equivalent to notice.

 

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SECTION 8.3 Amendments.

Except as otherwise provided herein, by law, or in the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws or any of them may be altered, amended, repealed or rescinded and new Bylaws may be adopted by the Board or by the stockholders at any annual or special meeting of stockholders, provided that notice of such proposed alteration, amendment, repeal, recession or adoption is given in the notice of such meeting of stockholders.

Adopted by the Incorporator pursuant to DGCL Section 108 this 3rd day of May 2007.

 

/s/ Kasey Hannah

Kasey Hannah
Incorporator

 

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EXHIBIT 4.1

RIGHTS AGREEMENT

July 9, 2007

by and between

SPARK NETWORKS, INC.

and

THE BANK OF NEW YORK

as Rights Agent


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page

Section 1. Certain Definitions

   1

Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent

   9

Section 3. Issuance of Rights Certificates

   9

Section 4. Form of Right Certificates

   11

Section 5. Countersignature and Registration

   11

Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Right Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Right Certificates

   11

Section 7. Exercise of Rights

   12

Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Right Certificates

   14

Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Capital Stock

   14

Section 10. Securities Record Date

   15

Section 11. Adjustment of Exercise Price, Number of Shares Issuable upon Exercise of Rights or Number of Rights

   15

Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Exercise Price or Number of Shares Issuable Upon Exercise of Rights

   20

Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning Power

   20

Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares

   23

Section 15. Rights of Action

   23

Section 16. Agreement of Right Holders

   24

Section 17. Right Holder and Right Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder

   24

Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent

   24

Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent

   25

Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent

   26


Section 21. Change of Rights Agent

   28

Section 22. Issuance of New Right Certificates

   29

Section 23. Redemption of Rights

   29

Section 24. Exchange of Rights

   30

Section 25. Notice of Certain Events

   31

Section 26. Notices

   31

Section 27. Supplements and Amendments

   32

Section 28. Certain Covenants

   32

Section 29. Successors; Assignment

   33

Section 30. Benefits of this Agreement

   33

Section 31. Severability

   33

Section 32. Governing Law

   33

Section 33. Counterparts

   34

Section 34. Descriptive Headings

   34
EXHIBIT A    1

TABLE OF EXHIBITS

Exhibit A — Form of Right Certificate


RIGHTS AGREEMENT

This Rights Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of July 9, 2007 by and between SPARK NETWORKS, INC. , a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and The Bank of New York, a banking corporation organized under the laws of the State of New York, as rights agent (the “Rights Agent”).

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company has authorized and declared a dividend of one preferred share purchase right (a “Right”) for each Common Share (as hereinafter defined) of the Company outstanding on July 9, 2007 (the “Record Date”), each Right representing the right to purchase one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share (as hereinafter defined), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, and has further authorized and directed the issuance of one Right with respect to each Common Share that shall become outstanding between the Record Date and the earliest of the Distribution Date, the Redemption Date or the Expiration Date (as such terms are hereinafter defined).

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements set forth herein, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

Section 1. Certain Definitions .

For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings indicated:

“Affiliate” and “Associate” shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act, as in effect on the date hereof.

A Person shall be deemed the “Beneficial Owner” of and shall be deemed to “Beneficially Own” any securities:

(i) that such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act, in each case as in effect on the date hereof;

(ii) that such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates has the right to acquire (whether such right is exercisable immediately, or only after the passage of time, compliance with regulatory requirements, the fulfillment of a condition or otherwise) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights (other than these Rights), rights, warrants or options, or otherwise, provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed the Beneficial Owner of, or to Beneficially Own, securities tendered pursuant to a tender offer or exchange offer made by or on behalf of such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates until such tendered securities are accepted for purchase or exchange;

(iii) that such Person or any such Person’s Affiliates or Associates has the right to vote, whether alone or in concert with others, pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed the Beneficial


Owner of, or to Beneficially Own, any security if the agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote such security (A) arises solely from a revocable proxy given to such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates in response to a public proxy solicitation made pursuant to and in accordance with the applicable rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act, and (B) is not also then reportable on Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act (or any comparable or successor report);

(iv) that are Beneficially Owned, directly or indirectly, by any other Person with which such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates has any agreement, arrangement or understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (other than voting pursuant to a revocable proxy as described in the proviso to clause (iii) of this definition of “Beneficial Owner”) or disposing of any securities of the Company; and

(v) that, on any day on or after the Distribution Date, evidence Rights that prior to such date were represented by certificates for Common Shares that such Person Beneficially Owns on such day.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section l(b), a Person engaged in business as an underwriter of securities shall not be deemed to be the Beneficial Owner of, or to Beneficially Own, any securities acquired through such Person’s participation in good faith in a firm commitment underwriting until the expiration of 40 days after the date of such acquisition.

“Business Day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the State of New York are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

“Certificate of Designations” shall mean the certificate of designations specifying the powers, designations, preferences and rights of the Preferred Shares in accordance with the Delaware General Corporation Law.

“Close of Business” on any given date shall mean 5:00 p.m., New York time, on such date; provided, however , that if such date is not a Business Day, it shall mean 5:00 p.m., New York time, on the next succeeding Business Day.

“Closing Price” of a stock or other security on any day shall be the last sale price, regular way, per share of such stock or unit of such other security on such day or, in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular way, in either case as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the principal national securities exchange on which such stock or other security is listed or admitted to trading or, if such stock or other security is not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last quoted price or, if not so quoted, the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market, or, if on any such date such stock or other security is not quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker that makes a market in such stock or other security and that is selected by the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

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“Common Share” shall mean one share of the Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company, unless used with reference to a Person other than the Company, in which case it shall mean one share of each class of stock of such Person having the right to vote generally in the election of directors or, if such Person is a Subsidiary of another Person, one Common Share of the Person that ultimately controls such Person.

“Common Share Equivalent” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 11(a)(iii) hereof.

“Current Market Price” per share of a stock or unit of any other security on any date shall mean the average of the daily Closing Prices of such stock or other security for the 30 consecutive Trading Days through and including the Trading Day immediately preceding the date in question; provided, however , that if any event shall have caused the Closing Price on any Trading Day during such 30-day period not to be fully comparable with the Closing Price on the date in question (or, if no Closing Price is available on the date in question, on the Trading Day immediately preceding the date in question), then each such non-comparable Closing Price so used shall be appropriately adjusted by the Board of Directors in order to make the Closing Price on each Trading Day during the period used for the determination of the Current Market Price fully comparable with the Closing Price on such date in question (or, if applicable, the immediately preceding Trading Day). “Current Market Price” per share of any stock or unit of such other security that is not publicly held or so listed or traded, and “Current Market Price” of any other property, shall mean the fair value per share of such stock or unit of such other security, or the fair value of such other property, respectively, as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company based upon such appraisals or valuation reports of such independent experts as the Board of Directors shall in good faith determine appropriate, which determination shall be described in a statement filed by the Company with the Rights Agent.

“Distribution Date” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 3 hereof.

“Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

“Exempt Person” shall mean the Company, any wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or of a Subsidiary of the Company and any Person holding Voting Shares for or pursuant to the terms of any such employee benefit plan (unless, with respect to any employee benefit plan, the Board of Directors of the Company determines, in its sole and absolute discretion, such plan shall not be so exempt).

“Exercise Price” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 7(c) hereof.

“Expiration Date” shall mean July 9, 2017.

“Market Price” per share of a stock or unit of any other security on any Trading Day shall mean the Closing Price of such stock or other security on such Trading Day. “ Market Price” per share of any stock or unit of such other security that is not publicly held or so listed or traded, and “Market Price” of any other property, shall mean the fair value per share of such stock or unit of such other security, or the fair value of such other property, respectively, as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company based upon such appraisals or valuation reports of such independent experts as the Board of Directors shall in good faith determine appropriate, which determination shall be described in a statement filed by the Company with the Rights Agent.

 

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“Person” shall mean any individual, firm, partnership, corporation, association, group (as such term is used in Rule 13d-5 promulgated under the Exchange Act as in effect on the date hereof) or other entity, and shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of such entity.

“Preferred Share” shall mean one share of the Series C Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company, which shall have the rights and preferences set forth in the Certificate of Designations for the Preferred Shares.

“Preferred Share Equivalent” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 11(b) hereof.

“Qualifying Offer” shall mean a tender offer for all outstanding Common Shares of the Company that meets all of the following requirements (A) on the date on which the tender offer is commenced (for purposes of this definition, the “date on which the tender offer is commenced” shall be determined within the meaning of Rule 14d-2(a) of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act) and (B) immediately prior to the consummation of the tender offer:

 

  (i) the same per share price in cash shall be offered for all Common Shares in the offer, provided that such per share price is at least the highest of (A) the weighted average of the Market Prices for the Common Shares for each Trading Day during the three month period immediately preceding the date on which the tender offer is commenced, (B) the highest price at which the Person making the tender offer (including its Affiliates and Associates, collectively, the “Offering Person”) acquired Beneficial Ownership of a Common Share during the six month period immediately preceding the date on which the tender offer is commenced and (C) the highest price at which the Offering Person acquires or agrees to acquire Beneficial Ownership of a Common Share during the course of the tender offer period provided in this definition; provided, however , that in the event the Offering Person acquires Beneficial Ownership of any additional Common Share other than on a stock exchange within one year after expiration of the tender offer period for a price per share (appropriately adjusted for any intervening stock splits, stock dividends, reverse splits, recapitalizations or reorganizations) in excess of the price per share offered in the tender offer pursuant to foregoing terms (the amount of such excess being the “Excess Amount”), the Offering Person shall promptly pay in cash to each stockholder of the Company from whom the Offering Person purchased Common Shares pursuant to the tender offer an amount equal to the product of the Excess Amount multiplied by the number of Common Shares so purchased from such stockholder;

 

  (ii)

for purposes of clause (i) above, if the Offering Person acquired Beneficial Ownership of a Common Share for consideration other than cash, then the price paid for such Common Share shall be deemed to equal the fair market

 

4


 

value of such non-cash consideration on the date of such purchase, as determined by an independent appraiser selected by the Board of Directors of the Company;

 

  (iii) on or prior to the date on which the tender offer is commenced, such Offering Person: (A) has on hand cash or cash equivalents for the full amount necessary to consummate such tender offer and has irrevocably committed in writing to the Company to utilize such cash or cash equivalents for purposes of such tender offer, if consummated, and to set apart and maintain available such cash or cash equivalents for such purposes until the tender offer is consummated or withdrawn; or (B) has all financing in the full amount necessary to consummate such tender offer and has: (1) entered into, and provided to the Company certified copies of, definitive financing agreements (including exhibits and related documents) for funds for such tender offer that, when added to the amount of cash and cash equivalents available, committed in writing, set apart and maintained in the same manner as described in clause (A) above, are in an amount not less than the full amount necessary to consummate such tender offer, which agreements are with one or more responsible financial institutions or other entities having the necessary financial capacity and ability to provide such funds, constitute firm, unqualified commitments to provide the funding described above without market or company maximum limitations, and are subject only to customary terms and conditions (which shall in no event include conditions requiring access by such financial institutions to non-public information to be provided by the Company, conditions based on the accuracy of any information concerning the Company, or conditions requiring the Company to make any representations, warranties or covenants in connection with such financing), and (2) provided to the Company copies of all written materials prepared by such Person for such financial institutions in connection with entering into such financing agreements; provided that “the full amount necessary to consummate such tender offer” in either clause (A) or (B) above shall be an amount sufficient to pay the consideration for all Common Shares outstanding on a fully diluted basis pursuant to the tender offer and to pay for the second-step transaction required by clause (vii) below and all related expenses;

 

  (iv) such tender offer is conditioned on a minimum of 50% of the outstanding Common Shares (excluding in such calculation those Common Shares Beneficially Owned by the Offering Person) being tendered and not withdrawn as of the tender offer’s expiration date, which condition shall not be waivable;

 

  (v)

prior to or on the date that such tender offer is commenced, the Company shall have received an irrevocable written commitment of the Offering Person that the tender offer will remain open for at least 60 Business Days; provided, however , that (x) if there is any increase in the price per share offered in such tender offer, such offer must remain open for at least an additional 15 Business Days after the last such increase, (y) such tender offer must remain open for at least 15 Business Days after the date that any bona fide alternative offer is

 

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made by a Person for the Common Shares that, in the opinion of one or more investment banking firms designated by the Board of Directors of the Company, provides for consideration per share in excess of that offered by the Offering Person, and (z) such tender offer must remain open for at least 15 Business Days after the date, if any, on which such Offering Person reduces the per share price offered in accordance with clause (vii)(B) below ( provided , in the case of each of clauses (x), (y) and (z) above, in no event will such tender offer have been outstanding for less than 60 Business Days); provided further, however , that such tender offer need not remain open, as a result of this clause (v), beyond (1) the time that any other offer satisfying the criteria for a Qualifying Offer is then required to be kept open under this clause (v), or (2) the scheduled expiration date, as such date may be extended by public announcement on or prior to the then-scheduled expiration date, of any other tender offer for Common Shares with respect to which the Board of Directors of the Company has agreed to redeem the Rights immediately prior to acceptance for payment of Common Shares thereunder (unless such other offer is terminated prior to its expiration without any Common Shares having been purchased thereunder);

 

  (vi) such tender offer is accompanied by a written opinion, in customary form, of a nationally recognized investment banking firm which is addressed to the Company and the holders of Common Shares other than such Offering Person and states that the price to be paid to holders pursuant to the tender offer is fair from a financial point of view to such holders and includes any written presentation of such firm showing the analysis and range of values underlying such conclusions and such written opinion and any such presentation is updated and provided to the Company within two Business Days prior to the date such tender offer is consummated;

 

  (vii)

prior to or on the date that such tender offer is commenced, such Offering Person makes an irrevocable written commitment to the Company and, with respect to the following clause (A), to the Company’s stockholders, (A) to consummate a transaction or transactions promptly upon the completion of such tender offer (and in no event later than five Business Days thereafter), whereby all Common Shares not purchased in such tender offer will be acquired at the same cash price per share paid in such tender offer, (B) that the Offering Person will not make any amendments to the tender offer to reduce the offer consideration, or otherwise change the terms of the tender offer in a way that is adverse to a tendering stockholder (other than a reduction to reflect any dividend declared by the Company, other than a regular quarterly dividend, after the commencement of such tender offer or any material change in the capital structure of the Company initiated by the Company after the commencement of such tender offer, whether by way of reclassification, recapitalization, reorganization, repurchase or otherwise), and, (C) if the tender offer is not consummated, that such Offering Person will not make any tender offer for or purchase any equity securities of the Company for a period of one year after the commencement of the original tender offer if such original tender

 

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offer does not result in the tender of at least 50% of the outstanding Common Shares not Beneficially Owned by such Offering Person, unless another tender offer by another party for all outstanding Common Shares is commenced that (a) constitutes a Qualifying Offer (in which event, any new tender offer by such Offering Person must be at a price no less than that provided for in such original tender offer) or (b) is approved by the Board of Directors of the Company (in which event, any new tender offer by such Offering Person must be at a price no less than that provided for in such approved tender offer);

 

  (viii) the tender offer is subject only to the conditions required in this definition and other customary terms and conditions, and is not subject to any financing, funding or similar condition, nor any condition relating to completion of or satisfaction with any due diligence or similar investigation; and

 

  (ix) subject to satisfaction of the conditions permitted hereby for the tender offer, the Offering Person purchases, at a date that is no later than ten Business Days after the expiration of the minimum period that the tender offer is required to remain open pursuant to the terms hereof, all Common Shares tendered pursuant to the tender offer at the cash price per share required hereby, unless the Offering Person is permitted to withdraw the tender offer pursuant to clause (v) above.

“Record Date” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the recitals hereto.

“Redemption Date” shall mean the date of the action of the Board of Directors of the Company authorizing and directing the redemption of the Rights pursuant to Section 23(a) hereof or the exchange of the Rights pursuant to Section 24(a) hereof.

“Redemption Price” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 23(a) hereof.

“Right Certificate”, as that term is used with respect to any period prior to the Distribution Date, shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 3(b) hereof, and, as that term is used with respect to any period on or after the Distribution Date, shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 3(c) hereof.

“Rights Expiration Date” shall mean the Expiration Date, except if there has been a Distribution Date, then it shall mean the tenth anniversary of the Distribution Date.

“Section 11(a)(ii) Event” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.

“Section 13(a) Event” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 13(a) hereof.

“Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

“Subsidiary” of any Person shall mean any corporation or other Person of which equity securities or equity interests representing a majority of the voting power are owned, directly or indirectly, or which is effectively controlled, by such Person.

 

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“Surviving Person” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 13(a) hereof.

“30% Ownership Date” shall mean, as to a Person that is a 30% Stockholder, (a) the first date of public announcement (which, for purposes of this definition, shall include, without limitation, a report filed pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) by the Company or such 30% Stockholder containing the facts by virtue of which such Person has become a 30% Stockholder and (b) any subsequent date of public announcement by the Company or such 30% Stockholder that such 30% Stockholder has acquired Beneficial Ownership of, in the aggregate, a number of Voting Shares of the Company (in addition to those Voting Shares previously announced as having been acquired by such 30% Stockholder) equal to 1% or more of the Voting Shares of the Company then outstanding (other than acquisitions made pursuant to a Qualifying Offer). “30% Stockholder” shall mean any Person that Beneficially Owns 30% or more of the Voting Shares of the Company then outstanding; provided, however , that the term “30% Stockholder” shall not include: (i) an Exempt Person; (ii) any Person that would not otherwise be a 30% Stockholder but for a reduction in the number of outstanding Voting Shares resulting from a stock repurchase program or other similar plan of the Company or from a self tender offer of the Company, which plan or tender offer commenced on or after the date hereof; provided, however , that the term “30% Stockholder” shall include such Person from and after the first date upon which (A) such Person, since the date of the commencement of such plan or tender offer, shall have acquired Beneficial Ownership of, in the aggregate, a number of Voting Shares of the Company equal to 1% or more of the Voting Shares of the Company then outstanding and (B) such Person, together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, shall Beneficially Own 30% or more of the Voting Shares of the Company then outstanding; (iii) any Person that would not otherwise be a 30% Stockholder but for its Beneficial Ownership of Rights; (iv) any Person that is the Beneficial Owner of 30% or more of the outstanding Voting Shares of the Company as of July 9, 2007; provided, however , that the term “30% Stockholder” shall include such Person from and after the first date upon which (A) such Person shall have acquired since July 9, 2007, without the prior approval of the Board of Directors of the Company, Beneficial Ownership of, in the aggregate, a number of Voting Shares of the Company equal to 1% or more of the Voting Shares of the Company then outstanding, and (B) such Person, together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, shall Beneficially Own 30% or more of the Voting Shares of the Company then outstanding; (v) any Person (a “Transferee”) that acquires Voting Shares from a Person described in clause (iv) above that has not become a 30% Stockholder if, after giving effect to such acquisition, such Transferee Beneficially Owns no more than the sum of the Voting Shares so acquired plus 1% of the Voting Shares then outstanding; provided, however , that the term “30% Stockholder” shall include such Transferee from and after the first date upon which (A) such Transferee, since the date of such acquisition, shall have acquired, without the prior approval of the Board of Directors of the Company, Beneficial Ownership of, in the aggregate, a number of Voting Shares of the Company equal to 1% or more of the Voting Shares of the Company then outstanding and (B) such Transferee, together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Transferee, shall Beneficially Own 30% or more of the Voting Shares of the Company then outstanding. In calculating the percentage of the outstanding Voting Shares that are Beneficially Owned by a Person for purposes of this definition, Voting Shares that are Beneficially Owned by such Person shall be deemed outstanding, and Voting Shares that are not Beneficially Owned by such Person and that are subject to issuance upon the exercise or conversion of outstanding conversion rights,

 

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exchange rights, rights, warrants or options shall not be deemed outstanding. Any determination made by the Board of Directors of the Company as to whether any Person is or is not a 30% Stockholder shall be conclusive and binding upon all holders of Rights. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Board of Directors of the Company determines in good faith that a Person who would otherwise be a “30% Stockholder” has become such inadvertently, and such Person divests as promptly as practicable a sufficient number of Common Shares so that such Person would no longer be a “30% Stockholder” as defined pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this paragraph, then such Person shall not be deemed to be a “30% Stockholder” for any purposes of this Agreement unless and until such Person subsequently meets the definition of a 30% Stockholder.

“Trading Day” shall mean, as to any stock or other security, a day on which the principal national securities exchange on which such stock or other security is listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business or, if such stock or other security is not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, a Business Day.

“Voting Share” shall mean (i) a Common Share of the Company and (ii) any other share of capital stock of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors or entitled to vote together with the Common Shares in respect of any merger, consolidation, sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, liquidation, dissolution or winding up. References in this Agreement to a percentage or portion of the outstanding Voting Shares shall be deemed a reference to the percentage or portion of the total votes entitled to be cast by the holders of the outstanding Voting Shares.

Section 2. Appointment of Rights Agent . The Company hereby appoints the Rights Agent to act as agent for the Company in accordance with the terms and conditions hereof, and the Rights Agent hereby accepts such appointment. The Company may from time to time appoint such co-Rights Agents as it may deem necessary or desirable.

Section 3. Issuance of Rights Certificates . (a) “Distribution Date” shall mean the date, after the date hereof, that is the earlier of (i) the date of the first Section 11(a)(ii) Event, or (ii) the date of the first Section 13(a) Event.

(b) Until the Distribution Date, (i) the Rights shall be represented by certificates for Common Shares (all of which certificates for Common Shares shall be deemed to be Right Certificates) and not by separate Right Certificates, (ii) the record holder of the Common Shares represented by each of such certificates shall be the record holder of the Rights represented thereby and (iii) the Rights shall be transferable only in connection with the transfer of Common Shares. Until the earliest of the Distribution Date, the Redemption Date or the Expiration Date, the surrender for transfer of such certificates for Common Shares shall also constitute the surrender for transfer of the Rights represented thereby.

(c) As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, and after notification by the Company, the Rights Agent shall send, at the expense of the Company, by first-class, postage-prepaid mail to each record holder of Common Shares, as of the Close of Business on the Distribution Date, at the address of such holder shown on the records of the Company, a Right Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto representing one Right for each

 

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Common Share so held. From and after the Distribution Date, the Rights shall be represented solely by such Right Certificates and may only be transferred by the transfer of such Right Certificates, and the holders of such Right Certificates, as listed in the records of the Company or any transfer agent or registrar for such Rights, shall be the record holders of such Rights.

(d) Certificates for Common Shares issued at any time after the Record Date and prior to the earliest of the Distribution Date, the Redemption Date or the Expiration Date, shall have impressed on, printed on, written on or otherwise affixed to them the following legend:

This certificate also evidences and entitles the holder hereof to certain Rights as set forth in a Rights Agreement dated as of July 9, 2007 by and between SPARK NETWORKS, INC. and THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as Rights Agent (the “Rights Agreement”), as amended to date, the terms and conditions of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference and a copy of which is on file at the principal executive offices of SPARK NETWORKS, INC. Under certain circumstances specified in the Rights Agreement, such Rights will be represented by separate certificates and will no longer be represented by this certificate. Under certain circumstances specified in the Rights Agreement, Rights beneficially owned by certain persons may become null and void. SPARK NETWORKS, INC. will mail to the record holder of this certificate a copy of the Rights Agreement without charge promptly following receipt of a written request therefor. As described in the Rights Agreement, Rights Beneficially Owned by any Person who becomes a 30% Stockholder or any Affiliate or Associate of a 30% Stockholder (as such capitalized terms are defined in the Rights Agreement) shall become null and void.

(e) Certificates for Common Shares issued at any time on or after the Distribution Date and prior to the earlier of the Redemption Date or the Rights Expiration Date shall have impressed on, printed on, written on or otherwise affixed to them the following legend:

This certificate does not represent any Right issued pursuant to the terms of a Rights Agreement dated as of July 9, 2007 by and between SPARK NETWORKS, INC. and THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as Rights Agent.

(f) In the event that at any time on or after the earlier of the date of the first Section 11(a)(ii) Event or the date of the first Section 13(a) Event and prior to the earlier of the Redemption Date or the Rights Expiration Date, the Company shall issue any Common Shares pursuant to the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, rights (other than Rights), warrants or options that shall have been issued or granted prior to the earlier of the date of the first Section 11(a)(ii) Event or the date of the first Section 13(a) Event, then, unless the Board of Directors of the Company shall have provided otherwise at the time of the issuance or grant of such conversion rights, exchange rights, rights (other than Rights), warrants or options, the Rights Agent shall, as soon as practicable after the date of such event, send by first-class, postage-prepaid mail to the record holder of such Common Shares, at the address of such holder as shown on the records of the Company, a Right Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto representing one Right for each Common Share so issued.

 

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(h) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 3, the Rights Agent shall not send any Right Certificate to any 30% Stockholder or any of its Affiliates or Associates or to any Person if the Rights held by such Person are Beneficially Owned by a 30% Stockholder or any of its Affiliates or Associates. Any determination made by the Board of Directors of the Company as to whether any Common Shares are or were Beneficially Owned at any time by a 30% Stockholder or an Affiliate or Associate of a 30% Stockholder shall be conclusive and binding upon all holders of Rights.

Section 4. Form of Right Certificates . The Right Certificates and the form of assignment, including certificate, and the form of election to purchase, including certificate, printed on the reverse thereof, when, as and if issued, shall be substantially the same as Exhibit A hereto, and may have such marks of identification or designation and such legends, summaries or endorsements printed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement, or as may be required to comply with any applicable law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any stock exchange upon which the Rights or the securities of the Company issuable upon exercise of the Rights may from time to time be listed, or to conform to usage. Subject to Section 22 hereof, Right Certificates, whenever issued, that are issued in respect of Common Shares that were issued and outstanding as of the Close of Business on the Distribution Date, shall be dated as of the Distribution Date.

Section 5. Countersignature and Registration . (a) The Right Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, its Vice Chairman of the Board, its President or any Vice President, either manually or by facsimile signature, and may have affixed thereto the Company’s seal or a facsimile thereof attested by its Secretary or any Assistant Secretary, either manually or by facsimile signature. The Right Certificates shall be manually countersigned by the Rights Agent and shall not be valid for any purpose unless so countersigned. In case any officer of the Company who shall have signed any of the Right Certificates shall cease to be such officer of the Company before countersignature by the Rights Agent and issuance and delivery by the Company, such Right Certificates may nevertheless be countersigned by the Rights Agent and issued and delivered by the Company with the same force and effect as though the person who signed such Right Certificates had not ceased to be such officer of the Company. Any Right Certificate may be signed on behalf of the Company by any person who at the actual date of such execution shall be a proper officer of the Company to sign such Right Certificate, even though such person was not such an officer at the date of the execution of this Agreement.

(b) Following the Distribution Date, the Rights Agent shall keep or cause to be kept at its principal offices books for registration and transfer of the Right Certificates issued hereunder. Such books shall show the names and addresses of the respective holders of Right Certificates, the number of Rights represented on its face by each Right Certificate and the date of each Right Certificate.

Section 6. Transfer, Split Up, Combination and Exchange of Right Certificates; Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Right Certificates . (a) Subject to the provisions of Sections 6(c), 7(d) and 14 hereof, at any time after the Close of Business on the Distribution Date, and so long as the Rights represented thereby remain outstanding, any one or more Right

 

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Certificates may be transferred, split-up, combined or exchanged for one or more Right Certificates representing the same aggregate number of Rights as the Right Certificates surrendered. Any registered holder desiring to transfer, split up, combine or exchange one or more Right Certificates shall make such request in writing delivered to the Rights Agent, and shall surrender the Right Certificates to be transferred, split up, combined or exchanged at the office of the Rights Agent with the form of assignment, including certificate, on the reverse side thereof completed and duly executed, with signature guaranteed. Thereupon, the Rights Agent shall countersign and deliver to the person entitled thereto one or more Right Certificates, as so requested. The Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any transfer, split up, combination or exchange of Right Certificates.

(b) Upon receipt by the Company and the Rights Agent of evidence reasonably satisfactory to them of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of a Right Certificate, and, in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to them and, at the Company’s request, reimbursement to the Company and the Rights Agent of all reasonable expenses incidental thereto, and upon surrender to the Rights Agent and cancellation of such Right Certificate if mutilated, the Company shall issue and deliver to the Rights Agent for delivery to the record holder of such Right Certificate a new Right Certificate of like tenor in lieu of such lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated Right Certificate.

(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 6, the Rights Agent shall not countersign and deliver a Right Certificate to any Person if such Right Certificate represents, or would represent when held by such Person, Rights that had become or would become null and void pursuant to Section 7(d) hereof.

Section 7. Exercise of Rights . (a) Until the Distribution Date, no Right may be exercised.

(b) Subject to Section 7(d) and (g) hereof and the other provisions of this Agreement, at any time after the Close of Business on the Distribution Date and prior to the Close of Business on the earlier of the Redemption Date or the Rights Expiration Date, the registered holder of any Right Certificate may exercise the Rights represented thereby in whole or in part upon surrender of such Right Certificate, with the form of election to purchase, including certificate, on the reverse side thereof completed and duly executed, with signature guaranteed, to the Rights Agent at the office of the Rights Agent at The Bank of New York, 101 Barclay Street, 11 East, New York, NY 10286, Attention: Stock Transfer Division, together with payment of the Exercise Price for each Right exercised. Upon the exercise of an exercisable Right and payment of the Exercise Price in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, the holder of such Right shall be entitled to receive, subject to adjustment as provided herein, one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share (or, following the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event or a Section 13(a) Event, Common Shares and/or other securities).

(c) The “Exercise Price” for the exercise of each Right shall initially be $100.00 and shall be payable in lawful money of the United States of America in accordance with Section 7(f) hereof. The Exercise Price and the number of Preferred Shares (or, following the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event or a Section 13(a) Event, Common Shares and/or other securities) to be acquired upon exercise of a Right shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in Sections 7(e), 11 and 13 hereof and the other provisions of this Agreement.

 

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(d) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, from and after the earlier of the date of the first Section 11(a)(ii) Event or the date of the first Section 13(a) Event, any Rights that are or were Beneficially Owned by a 30% Stockholder or any Affiliate or Associate of a 30% Stockholder at any time on or after the Distribution Date shall be null and void, and for all purposes of this Agreement such Rights shall thereafter be deemed not to be outstanding, and any holder of such Rights (whether or not such holder is a 30% Stockholder or an Affiliate or Associate of a 30% Stockholder) shall thereafter have no right to exercise such Rights.

(e) Prior to the Distribution Date, if the Board of Directors of the Company shall have determined that such action adequately protects the interests of the holders of Rights, the Company may, in its discretion, substitute for all or any portion of the Preferred Shares that would otherwise be issuable (after the Close of Business on the Distribution Date) upon the exercise of each Right and payment of the Exercise Price (i) cash, (ii) other equity securities of the Company, (iii) debt securities of the Company, (iv) other property or (v) any combination of the foregoing, in each case having an aggregate Current Market Price equal to the aggregate Current Market Price of the Preferred Shares for which substitution is made. Subject to Section 7(d) hereof, in the event that the Company takes any action pursuant to this Section 7(e), such action shall apply uniformly to all outstanding Rights.

(f) Upon receipt of a Right Certificate representing exercisable Rights, with the form of election to purchase, including certificate, completed and duly executed, with signature guaranteed, accompanied by payment of the Exercise Price for each Right to be exercised and an amount equal to any applicable transfer tax required to be paid by the holder of such Right Certificate in accordance with Section 9 hereof by certified check or cashier’s check payable to the order of the Company, the Rights Agent shall thereupon promptly (i) requisition from the transfer agent of the Preferred Shares (or, following the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event or a Section 13(a) Event, Common Shares and/or securities) certificates for the number of Preferred Shares (or such other securities) to be purchased, and the Company hereby irrevocably authorizes such transfer agent to comply with all such requests, and/or, as provided in Section 14 hereof, requisition from the depositary agent described therein depositary receipts representing such number of one-hundredths of a Preferred Share (or such other securities) as are to be purchased (in which case certificates for the Preferred Shares (or such other securities) represented by such receipts shall be deposited by the transfer agent with such depositary agent) and the Company hereby directs such depositary agent to comply with such request, (ii) when appropriate, requisition from the Company the amount of cash to be paid in lieu of issuance of fractional Preferred Shares (or such other securities) in accordance with Section 14 hereof, (iii) after receipt of such certificates, depositary receipts or cash, cause the same to be delivered to or upon the order of the registered holder of such Right Certificate, registered in such name or names as may be designated by such holder and (iv) when appropriate, after receipt thereof, deliver such cash to or upon the order of the registered holder of such Right Certificate.

(g) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7, the exercisability of the Rights shall be suspended for such period as shall reasonably be necessary for the Company

 

13


to register and qualify under the Securities Act and any applicable securities law of any jurisdiction the Preferred Shares and/or Common Shares or other securities to be issued pursuant to the exercise of the Rights; provided, however , that nothing contained in this Section 7 shall relieve the Company of its obligations under Section 9(c) hereof.

(h) In case the registered holder of any Right Certificate shall exercise less than all of the Rights represented thereby, a new Right Certificate representing Rights equivalent to the Rights remaining unexercised shall be issued by the Rights Agent to the registered holder of such Right Certificate or to such holder’s duly authorized assigns, subject to the provisions of Section 14 hereof.

Section 8. Cancellation and Destruction of Right Certificates . All Right Certificates surrendered for the purpose of exercise, transfer, split up, combination or exchange shall, if surrendered to the Company or to any of its agents, be delivered to the Rights Agent for cancellation or in canceled form, or, if surrendered to the Rights Agent, shall be canceled by it, and no Right Certificates shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by this Agreement. The Company shall deliver to the Rights Agent for cancellation and retirement, and the Rights Agent shall so cancel and retire, any other Right Certificate purchased or acquired by the Company otherwise than upon the exercise thereof. The Rights Agent shall deliver all canceled Right Certificates to the Company or shall, at the written request of the Company, destroy such canceled Right Certificates, and in such case shall deliver a certificate of destruction thereof to the Company.

Section 9. Reservation and Availability of Capital Stock . (a) Subject to Sections 7(e) and 9(f) hereof, the Company shall cause to be reserved and kept available out of its authorized and unissued equity securities (or out of its authorized and issued equity securities held in its treasury), the number of such equity securities that will from time to time be sufficient to permit the exercise in full of all outstanding Rights.

(b) In the event that any securities issuable upon exercise of the Rights are listed on any national securities exchange, the Company shall use its best efforts, from and after such time as the Rights become exercisable, to cause all such securities issued or reserved for such issuance to be listed on such exchange upon official notice of issuance upon such exercise.

(c) If necessary to permit the issuance of securities upon exercise of the Rights, the Company shall use its best efforts, from and after the Distribution Date, to register and qualify such securities under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and any other applicable securities laws and to keep such registration effective until the earlier of the Redemption Date or the Rights Expiration Date.

(d) The Company shall take all such action as may be necessary to ensure that all securities delivered upon exercise of the Rights shall, at the time of delivery of the certificates for such securities (subject to payment of the Exercise Price), be duly and validly authorized and issued and fully paid and nonassessable securities.

(e) The Company shall pay when due and payable any and all federal and state transfer taxes and charges that may be payable in respect of the issuance or delivery of the Right

 

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Certificates or of any securities upon the exercise of Rights. The Company shall not, however, be required to pay any transfer tax that may be payable in respect of any transfer or delivery of a Right Certificate to a Person other than, or the issuance or delivery of a certificate for securities in respect of a name other than that of, the registered holder of the Right Certificate representing Rights surrendered for exercise, or to issue or deliver any certificate for securities upon the exercise of any Right until any such tax shall have been paid (any such tax being payable by the holder of such Right Certificate at the time of surrender) or until it has been established to the Company’s satisfaction that no such tax is due.

(f) With respect to the Common Shares and/or other securities issuable pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) and (iii) hereof, the foregoing covenants shall be applicable only upon and following the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event.

Section 10. Securities Record Date . Each Person in whose name any certificate for securities of the Company is issued upon the exercise of Rights shall for all purposes be deemed to have become the holder of record of the securities represented thereby on, and such certificate shall be dated, the date upon which the Right Certificate representing such Rights was duly surrendered and payment of the Exercise Price (and any applicable transfer taxes) was made; provided, however , that if the date of such surrender and payment is a date upon which the securities transfer books of the Company are closed, such person shall be deemed to have become the record holder of such securities on, and such certificate shall be dated, the next succeeding Business Day on which the securities transfer books of the Company are open.

Section 11. Adjustment of Exercise Price, Number of Shares Issuable Upon Exercise of Rights or Number of Rights . The Exercise Price, the number and kind of securities that may be purchased upon exercise of a Right and the number of Rights outstanding are subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in this Section 11.

(a)(i) In the event that the Company shall at any time after the Close of Business on the Record Date and prior to the Close of Business on the earlier of the Redemption Date or the Rights Expiration Date (A) declare or pay any dividend on the Preferred Shares payable in Preferred Shares or Voting Shares, (B) subdivide the outstanding Preferred Shares, (C) combine the outstanding Preferred Shares into a smaller number of Preferred Shares or (D) issue Preferred Shares or other securities of the Company (other than those for which an adjustment is required under Section 11(b) hereof) in a reclassification of the Preferred Shares (including any such reclassification in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing or surviving corporation) or in a reorganization of the Company, then, and upon each such event, the number and kind of Preferred Shares or other securities issuable upon the exercise of a Right on the date of such event shall be proportionately adjusted so that the holder of any Right exercised on or after such date shall be entitled to receive, upon the exercise thereof and payment of the Exercise Price, the aggregate number and kind of Preferred Shares or other securities or other property, as the case may be, that, if such Right had been exercised immediately prior to such date and at a time when such Right was exercisable and the transfer books of the Company were open, such holder would have owned upon such exercise and would have been entitled to receive by virtue of such dividend, subdivision, combination or reclassification. If an event occurs that would require an

 

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adjustment under both this Section 11(a)(i) and Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, the adjustment provided for in this Section 11(a)(i) shall be in addition to, and shall be made prior to, any adjustment required pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.

(ii) In the event that a 30% Ownership Date shall have occurred and the 30% Stockholder to whom such 30% Ownership Date is attributable has not commenced a Qualifying Offer, and neither the Redemption Date nor the Expiration Date shall have occurred, prior to the tenth Business Day following such 30% Ownership Date (a “Section 11(a)(ii) Event”), then, and upon each such Section 11(a)(ii) Event, proper provision shall be made so that, except as provided in Section 7(d) hereof, each holder of a Right shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise thereof in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and payment of the then current Exercise Price, such number of Common Shares of the Company as shall equal the result obtained by (A) multiplying the then current Exercise Price by the then number of one-hundredths of a Preferred Share for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to such Section 11(a)(ii) Event (or, if the Distribution Date shall not have occurred prior to the date of such Section 11(a)(ii) Event, the number of one-hundredths of a Preferred Share for which a Right would have been exercisable if the Distribution Date had occurred on the Business Day immediately preceding the date of such Section 11(a)(ii) Event), and (B) dividing that product by 50% of the Current Market Price of a Common Share on the date of occurrence of the relevant Section 11(a)(ii) Event (such number of shares being hereinafter referred to as the “Adjustment Shares”). Successive adjustments shall be made pursuant to this paragraph each time a Section 11(a)(ii) Event occurs.

(iii) In the event that on the date of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event the aggregate number of Common Shares that are authorized by the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, as amended from time to time, but not outstanding or reserved for issuance for purposes other than upon exercise of the Rights is less than the aggregate number of Adjustment Shares thereafter issuable upon the exercise in full of the Rights in accordance with Section 11(a)(ii) hereof (the excess of such number of Adjustment Shares over and above such number of Common Shares being hereinafter referred to as the “Unavailable Adjustment Shares”), then, and upon each such event, the Company shall substitute for the pro rata portion of the Unavailable Adjustment Shares that would otherwise be issuable thereafter upon the exercise of each Right and payment of the Exercise Price (A) cash, (B) other equity securities of the Company (including, without limitation, shares of preferred stock of the Company or units of such shares having the same Current Market Price as one Common Share (a “Common Share Equivalent”)), (C) debt securities of the Company, (D) other property or (E) any combination of the foregoing, in each case having an aggregate Current Market Price equal to the aggregate Current Market Price of the Unavailable Adjustment Shares for which substitution is made. Subject to Section 7(d) hereof, in the event that the Company takes any action pursuant to this Section 11(a)(iii), such action shall apply uniformly to all outstanding Rights.

(b) In the event that the Company shall, at any time after the Close of Business on the Record Date and prior to the Close of Business on the earlier of the Redemption Date or the Rights Expiration Date, fix a record date for the issuance of rights, options or warrants to all

 

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holders of Preferred Shares entitling them initially to subscribe for or purchase Preferred Shares (or shares having the same rights, privileges and preferences as the Preferred Shares (“Preferred Share Equivalents”)) or securities convertible into Preferred Shares or Preferred Share Equivalents, at a price per Preferred Share or Preferred Share Equivalent (or having a conversion price per share, if a security convertible into Preferred Shares or Preferred Share Equivalents) less than the Current Market Price per Preferred Share on such record date, then, and upon each such event, the Exercise Price to be in effect after such record date shall be determined by multiplying the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be equal to the sum of the number of Preferred Shares outstanding on such record date plus the number of Preferred Shares that the aggregate offering price of the total number of Preferred Shares and/or Preferred Share Equivalents to be so offered (and/or the aggregate initial conversion price of the convertible securities to be so offered) would purchase at such Current Market Price, and the denominator of which shall be equal to the number of Preferred Shares outstanding on such record date plus the number of additional Preferred Shares and/or Preferred Share Equivalents to be offered for subscription or purchase (or into which the convertible securities to be so offered are initially convertible); provided, however , that if such rights, options or warrants are not exercisable immediately upon issuance but become exercisable only upon the occurrence of a specified event or the passage of a specified period of time, then the adjustment to the Exercise Price shall be made and become effective only upon the occurrence of such event or such passage of time, and such adjustment shall be made as if the record date for the issuance of such rights, options or warrants had been the Business Day immediately preceding the date upon which such rights, options or warrants became exercisable. Preferred Shares owned by or held for the account of the Company shall not be deemed outstanding for the purpose of any such computation. Such adjustment to the Exercise Price shall be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed, and in the event that such rights or warrants are not so issued, the Exercise Price shall be adjusted to be the Exercise Price that would then be in effect if such record date had not been fixed.

(c) In the event that the Company shall, at any time after the Close of Business on the Record Date and prior to the Close of Business on the earlier of the Redemption Date or the Rights Expiration Date, fix a record date for the making of a distribution to all holders of the Preferred Shares (including any such distribution made in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the surviving corporation) of assets (other than a distribution for which an adjustment is required under Section 11(a)(i) or (b) hereof or a regular quarterly cash dividend), then the Exercise Price to be in effect after such record date shall be determined by multiplying the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such record date by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be equal to the excess of the Current Market Price per Preferred Share on such record date over and above the fair market value of the portion of the securities or assets to be so distributed with respect to one Preferred Share, and the denominator of which shall be equal to such Current Market Price per Preferred Share. Such adjustments shall be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed, and in the event that such a distribution is not so made, the Exercise Price shall be adjusted to be the Exercise Price that would then be in effect if such record date had not been fixed.

(d) For the purpose of any computation under this Section 11, if the Preferred Shares are not publicly held or traded, the “Current Market Price” per Preferred Share shall be conclusively deemed to be the Current Market Price per Common Share multiplied by 100.

 

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(e) No adjustment in the Exercise Price shall be required unless such adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at least 1% in the then current Exercise Price; provided, however , that any adjustments that by reason of this Section 11(e) are not required to be made shall be cumulated and taken into account in any subsequent adjustment. All calculations under this Section 11 shall be made to the nearest cent or to the nearest one-thousandth of a Common Share or other share or one-millionth of a Preferred Share, as the case may be.

(f) If, as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to Section 11(a) hereof, the holder of any Right shall, upon exercise thereof, be entitled to receive any securities of the Company other than Preferred Shares, and if an event occurs in respect of such securities that, if it were to occur in respect of Preferred Shares, would require an adjustment under this Section 11 in respect of Preferred Shares, then the number of such other securities so receivable upon exercise of any Right shall be subject to adjustment from time to time in a manner and on terms as nearly equivalent as practicable to the provisions with respect to Preferred Shares contained in this Section 11, and the other provisions of this Agreement with respect to Preferred Shares shall apply on like terms to any such other securities.

(g) All Rights originally issued by the Company subsequent to any adjustment made to the Exercise Price hereunder shall represent the right to purchase, at the adjusted Exercise Price, the number of one-hundredths of a Preferred Share purchasable from time to time hereunder upon exercise of the Rights, all subject to further adjustment as provided herein.

(h) Unless the Company shall have exercised its election as provided in Section 11(i) below, upon each adjustment of the Exercise Price as a result of the calculations made in Sections 11(b) and (c) hereof, each Right outstanding immediately prior to the making of such adjustment shall thereafter represent the right to purchase, at the adjusted Exercise Price, that number of one-hundredths of a Preferred Share (calculated to the nearest one-millionth of a Preferred Share) obtained by multiplying (i) the number of one-hundredths of a Preferred Share purchasable upon the exercise of one Right immediately prior to such adjustment of the Exercise Price by (ii) the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such adjustment, and dividing the product so obtained by the Exercise Price in effect immediately after such adjustment.

(i) The Company may elect, on or after the date of any adjustment of the Exercise Price, to adjust the number of Rights instead of making any adjustment in the number of Preferred Shares purchasable upon the exercise of a Right. Each of the Rights outstanding after such adjustment of the number of Rights shall be exercisable for the number of one-hundredths of a Preferred Share for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to such adjustment. Each Right held of record prior to such adjustment of the number of Rights shall become that number of Rights (calculated to the nearest one one-thousandth of a Right) obtained by dividing the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to the adjustment of the Exercise Price by the Exercise Price in effect immediately after such adjustment of the Exercise Price. The Company shall make a public announcement of its election to adjust the number of Rights pursuant to this Section 11(i), indicating the record date for the adjustment and, if known at the time, the amount of the adjustment to be made. Such record date may be the date on which the Exercise Price is adjusted or any day thereafter, but, if separate Right Certificates have been issued, it shall be at least 10 days after the date of such public announcement. If separate Right Certificates have been issued, upon each adjustment of the number of Rights pursuant to this Section 11(i), the

 

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Company shall, as promptly as practicable, cause to be distributed to holders of record of Right Certificates on such record date Right Certificates representing, subject to Section 14 hereof, the additional Rights to which such holders shall be entitled as a result of such adjustment or, at the option of the Company, cause to be distributed to such holders of record in substitution and replacement for the Right Certificates held by such holders prior to the date of such adjustment, and upon surrender thereof if required by the Company, new Right Certificates representing all the Rights to which such holders shall be entitled after such adjustment. Right Certificates to be so distributed shall be issued, executed and countersigned in the manner provided for herein (and may bear, at the option of the Company, the adjusted Exercise Price) and shall be registered in the names of the holders of record of Right Certificates on the record date specified in the public announcement.

(j) Irrespective of any adjustment or change in the Exercise Price or the number of one-hundredths of a Preferred Share issuable upon the exercise of one Right, the Right Certificates theretofore and thereafter issued may continue to express the Exercise Price per one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share and the number of Preferred Shares issuable upon the exercise of one Right that were expressed in the initial Right Certificates issued hereunder.

(k) Before taking any action that would cause an adjustment reducing the Exercise Price below one one-hundredth of the then par value, if any, of the Preferred Shares issuable upon exercise of the Rights, the Company shall take any corporate action that may, in the advice or opinion of its counsel, be necessary in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and nonassessable one one-hundredths of a Preferred Share at such adjusted Exercise Price.

(l) In any case in which this Section 11 shall require that an adjustment in the Exercise Price be made effective as of a record date for a specified event, the Company may elect to defer, until the occurrence of such event, the issuance to the holder of any Right exercised after such record date of the number of one-hundredths of a Preferred Share and other capital stock or securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise over and above the number of one-hundredths of a Preferred Share and other capital stock or securities of the Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise on the basis of the Exercise Price in effect prior to such adjustment; provided, however , that the Company shall deliver to such holder a due bill or other appropriate instrument representing such holder’s right to receive such additional shares upon the occurrence of the event requiring such adjustment.

(m) Anything in this Section 11 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company shall be entitled to make such further adjustments in the number of one-hundredths of a Preferred Share that may be purchased upon exercise of one Right, and such further adjustments in the Exercise Price, in addition to those adjustments expressly required by this Section 11, as and to the extent that the Company in its sole discretion shall determine to be advisable in order that any (i) consolidation or subdivision of the Preferred Shares, (ii) issuance wholly for cash of any Preferred Shares at less than the Current Market Price thereof, (iii) issuance wholly for cash of Preferred Shares or securities that by their terms are convertible into or exchangeable for Preferred Shares, (iv) dividends on Preferred Shares payable in Preferred Shares or (v) issuance of rights, options or warrants referred to in Section 11(b) hereof, hereafter made by the Company to holders of its Preferred Shares shall not be taxable to such stockholders.

 

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(n) In the event that the Company shall, at any time after the Close of Business on the Record Date and prior to the Close of Business on the earliest of the date of the first Section 11(a)(ii) Event, the date of the first Section 13(a) Event, the Redemption Date or the Rights Expiration Date, (i) pay any dividend on the Common Shares payable in Common Shares, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Shares, (iii) combine the outstanding Common Shares into a smaller number of Common Shares or (iv) issue Common Shares in a reclassification of the Common Shares (including any such reclassification in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Company is the continuing or surviving corporation), then, and upon each such event, the Exercise Price to be in effect after such event shall be determined by multiplying the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such event by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be equal to the number of Common Shares outstanding immediately prior to such event and the denominator of which shall be equal to the number of Common Shares outstanding immediately after such event. Successive adjustments shall be made pursuant to this Section 11(n) each time such a dividend is paid or such a subdivision, combination or reclassification is effected. If an event occurs that would require an adjustment under both this Section 11(n) and Section 11(a)(ii) hereof, the adjustment provided for in this Section 11(n) shall be in addition to, and shall be made prior to, any adjustment required pursuant to Section 11(a)(ii) hereof.

Section 12. Certificate of Adjusted Exercise Price or Number of Shares Issuable Upon Exercise of Rights . Whenever an adjustment is made as provided in Section 11 hereof, the Company shall promptly (a) prepare a certificate setting forth such adjustment and a brief statement of the facts giving rise to such adjustment, (b) file with the Rights Agent and with each transfer agent for the securities issuable upon exercise of the Rights a copy of such certificate and (c) mail a brief summary thereof to each holder of Rights in accordance with Section 25 hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, the failure of the Company to make such certification or to give such notice shall not affect the validity or the force and effect of such adjustment. Any adjustment to be made pursuant to Sections 11 or 13 hereof shall be effective as of the date of the event giving rise to such adjustment. The Rights Agent shall be fully protected in relying on any such certificate and on any adjustment therein contained, and shall not be obligated or responsible for calculating any adjustment nor shall it be deemed to have knowledge of such an adjustment unless and until it shall have received such certificate.

Section 13. Consolidation, Merger or Sale or Transfer of Assets or Earning Power . (a) Any of the following events that occurs at any time on or after a 30% Ownership Date and prior to the earlier of the Redemption Date or the Rights Expiration Date shall be deemed a “Section 13(a) Event” unless (i) the 30% Stockholder to whom such 30% Ownership Date is attributable has commenced a Qualifying Offer prior to the tenth Business Day following such 30% Ownership Date, and (ii) either such 30% Stockholder has purchased the Common Shares tendered pursuant to such Qualifying Offer in accordance with the terms thereof or such Qualifying Offer has expired in accordance with its terms as permitted hereunder: (1) the Company shall, directly or indirectly, consolidate with or merge with and into any other Person and the Company shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation in such consolidation or merger, (2) any Person shall, directly or indirectly, consolidate with or merge with and into the Company and the Company shall be the continuing or surviving corporation in such merger and, in connection with such merger, all or part of the Common Shares shall be changed into or exchanged for stock or other securities of any Person or cash or any other property, or (3) the

 

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Company and/or any one or more of its Subsidiaries shall, directly or indirectly, sell or otherwise transfer, in one or more transactions (other than transactions in the ordinary course of business), assets or earning power aggregating more than 50% of the assets or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any Person or Persons other than the Company or one or more of its wholly-owned Subsidiaries (such Persons, together with the Persons described in clauses (1) and (2) above shall be collectively referred to in this Section as the “Surviving Person”). Upon the occurrence of a Section 13(a) Event, proper provision shall be made so that:

(i) except as provided in Section 7(d) hereof, each holder of a Right shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise thereof in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and payment of the then current Exercise Price, in lieu of the securities or other property otherwise purchasable upon such exercise, such number of validly authorized and issued, fully paid and nonassessable Common Shares of the Surviving Person (and if such Surviving Person has more than one class or series of Common Shares, such number of validly authorized and issued, fully paid and nonassessable Common Shares of each series or class) as shall be equal to a fraction, the numerator of which is:

(A) if a Section 11(a)(ii) Event has not occurred prior to such Section 13(a) Event, the product of the then current Exercise Price multiplied by the number of one-hundredths of a Preferred Share purchasable upon the exercise of one Right immediately prior to the first Section 13(a) Event (or, if the Distribution Date shall not have occurred prior to the date of such Section 13(a) Event, the number of one-hundredths of a Preferred Share that would have been so purchasable if the Distribution Date had occurred on the Business Day immediately preceding the date of such Section 13(a) Event), or

(B) if a Section 11(a)(ii) Event has occurred prior to such Section 13(a) Event, the product of the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such Section 11(a)(ii) Event multiplied by the number of one-hundredths of a Preferred Share purchasable upon the exercise of one Right immediately prior to such Section 11(a)(ii) Event (or, if the Distribution Date shall not have occurred prior to the date of such Section 11(a)(ii) Event, the number of one-hundredths of a Preferred Share that would have been so purchasable if the Distribution Date had occurred on the Business Day immediately preceding the date of such Section 11(a)(ii) Event),

and the denominator of which is 50% of the Current Market Price per Common Share of the Surviving Person on the date of consummation of such Section 13(a) Event;

(ii) the Surviving Person shall thereafter be liable for and shall assume, by virtue of such consolidation, merger, sale or transfer, all the obligations and duties of the Company pursuant to this Agreement;

(iii) the term “Company” shall thereafter be deemed to refer to the Surviving Person; and

 

21


(iv) the Surviving Person shall take such steps (including, but not limited to, the reservation of a sufficient number of its Common Shares in accordance with Section 9 hereof) in connection with such consummation as may be necessary to ensure that the provisions hereof shall thereafter be applicable to its Common Shares thereafter deliverable upon the exercise of Rights.

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Section 13(a) Event is the sale or transfer in one or more transactions of assets or earning power aggregating more than 50% of the assets or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole), but less than 100% thereof, then each Person acquiring all or a portion thereof shall assume the obligations of the Company as to a fraction of each of the Rights equal to the fraction of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) acquired by such Person, and the obligations of the Company as to the remaining fraction of each of the Rights shall continue to be the obligations of the Company.

(c) The Company shall not consummate a Section 13(a) Event unless prior thereto the Company and the Surviving Person shall have executed and delivered to the Rights Agent a supplemental agreement confirming that such Surviving Person shall, upon consummation of such Section 13(a) Event, assume this Agreement in accordance with Section 13 hereof, that all rights of first refusal or preemptive rights in respect of the issuance of Common Shares of such Surviving Person upon exercise of outstanding Rights have been waived and that such Section 13(a) Event shall not result in a default by such Surviving Person under this Agreement, and further providing that, as soon as practicable after the date of consummation of such Section 13(a) Event, such Surviving Person shall:

(i) prepare and file a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to the Rights and the securities purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on an appropriate form, use its best efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective as soon as practicable after such filing, use its best efforts to cause such registration statement to remain effective (with a prospectus at all times meeting the requirements of the Securities Act) until the Rights Expiration Date, and similarly comply with all applicable state securities laws;

(ii) use its best efforts to list (or continue the listing of) the Rights and the Common Shares of the Surviving Person purchasable upon exercise of the Rights on a national securities exchange; and

(iii) deliver to holders of the Rights historical financial statements for such Surviving Person that comply in all respects with the requirements for registration on Form 10 (or any successor form) under the Exchange Act.

(d) In the event that at any time after the occurrence of a Section 11(a)(ii) Event some or all of the Rights shall not have been exercised pursuant to Section 11 hereof prior to the date of a Section 13(a) Event, such Rights shall thereafter be exercisable only in the manner described in Section 13(a) hereof. In the event that a Section 11(a)(ii) Event occurs on or after the date of a Section 13(a) Event, Rights shall not be exercisable pursuant to Section 11 hereof but shall instead be exercisable pursuant to, and only pursuant to, this Section 13.

 

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(e) The provisions of this Section 13 shall apply to each successive merger, consolidation, sale or other transfer constituting a Section 13(a) Event.

Section 14. Fractional Rights and Fractional Shares .

(a) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Rights or to distribute Right Certificates that represent fractional Rights. If the Company shall determine not to issue such fractional Rights, the Company shall pay to the registered holders of the Right Certificates with respect to which such fractional Rights would otherwise be issuable, at the time such fractional Rights would otherwise have been issued as provided herein, an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the Current Market Price of a whole Right on the Business Day immediately prior to the date upon which such fractional Rights would otherwise have been issuable.

(b) The Company shall not be required to issue fractions of Common Shares or Preferred Shares (other than fractions that are integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share) upon exercise of Rights, or to distribute certificates that represent fractional Common Shares or Preferred Shares (other than fractions that are integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share). Fractions of Preferred Shares in integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share may, at the election of the Company, be represented by depositary receipts, pursuant to an appropriate agreement between the Company and a depositary selected by it, provided that such agreement shall provide that the holders of such depositary receipts shall have all the rights, privileges and preferences to which they are entitled as beneficial owners of Preferred Shares. If the Company shall determine not to issue fractional Common Shares or Preferred Shares (or depositary receipts in lieu of Preferred Shares), the Company shall pay to the registered holders of Right Certificates with respect to which such fractional Common Shares or Preferred Shares would otherwise be issuable, at the time such Rights are exercised as provided herein, an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the Current Market Price of a whole Common Share or Preferred Share, as the case may be. For purposes of this Section 14(b), the Current Market Price of a whole Common Share or Preferred Share shall be the Closing Price per share for the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of such exercise.

(c) The holder of a Right, by the acceptance of such Right, expressly waives such holder’s right to receive any fractional Rights or any fractional Common Shares or Preferred Shares upon exercise of such Right, except as permitted by this Section 14.

Section 15. Rights of Action . All rights of action in respect of this Agreement, except the rights of action given to the Rights Agent under Section 18 hereof, are vested in the respective registered holders of the Right Certificates and certificates for Common Shares representing Rights, and any registered holder of any Right Certificate or of such certificate for Common Shares, without the consent of the Rights Agent or of the holder of any other Right Certificate or any other certificate for Common Shares may, in such holder’s own behalf and for such holder’s own benefit, enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding against the Company to enforce, or otherwise act in respect of, such holder’s right to exercise the Rights represented by such Right Certificate or by such certificate for Common Shares in the manner provided in such Certificate and in this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing or

 

23


any remedies available to the holders of Rights, it is specifically acknowledged that the holders of Rights would not have an adequate remedy at law for any breach of this Agreement and shall be entitled to specific performance, and injunctive relief against actual or threatened violations, of the obligations of any Person under this Agreement.

Section 16. Agreement of Right Holders . Every holder of a Right, by accepting the same, consents and agrees with the Company and the Rights Agent and every other holder of a Right that:

(a) prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights shall be represented by certificates for Common Shares registered in the name of the holders of such Common Shares (which certificates for Common Shares shall also constitute Right Certificates), and each such Right shall be transferable only in connection with the transfer of such Common Shares;

(b) after the Distribution Date, the Right Certificates shall only be transferable on the registry books of the Rights Agent if surrendered at the principal office of the Rights Agent, duly endorsed or accompanied by a proper instrument of transfer; and

(c) the Company and the Rights Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name the Right Certificate is registered as the absolute owner thereof and of the Rights represented thereby (notwithstanding any notations of ownership or writing on the Right Certificate by anyone other than the Company or the Rights Agent) for all purposes whatsoever, and neither the Company nor the Rights Agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.

Section 17. Right Holder and Right Certificate Holder Not Deemed a Stockholder .

No holder, as such, of any Right or Right Certificate shall be entitled to vote, receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the securities of the Company that may at any time be issuable upon the exercise of the Rights represented thereby, nor shall anything contained herein or in any Right Certificate be construed to confer upon the holder of any Right or Right Certificate, as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any meeting thereof, to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting stockholders (except as provided in Section 25 hereof), or to receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, in each case until such Right or the Rights represented by such Right Certificate shall have been exercised in accordance with the provisions hereof.

Section 18. Concerning the Rights Agent .

(a) The Company agrees to pay to the Rights Agent reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder and, from time to time, on demand of the Rights Agent, its reasonable expenses (including, without limitation, those resulting from claims for special, indirect or consequential losses or damages) and counsel fees and disbursements and other disbursements incurred in the administration and execution of this Agreement and the exercise and performance of its duties hereunder. The Company also agrees to indemnify the Rights Agent for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability, or expense, incurred without gross negligence, or willful misconduct on the part of the Rights Agent, for anything done or omitted

 

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by the Rights Agent in connection with the acceptance and administration of this Agreement, including the costs and expenses of defending against any claim of liability. The costs and expenses of enforcing this right of indemnification shall also be paid by the Company. The indemnification provided for hereunder shall survive the expiration of the Rights and the termination of this Agreement.

(b) The Rights Agent may conclusively rely upon and shall be protected and shall incur no liability for or in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in connection with its administration of this Agreement in reliance upon any Right Certificate or certificate for Preferred Shares or Common Shares or for other securities of the Company, instrument of assignment or transfer, power of attorney, endorsement, affidavit, letter, notice, direction, consent, certificate, statement or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to be signed, executed and, where necessary, verified or acknowledged, by the proper person or persons, or otherwise upon the advice of its counsel as set forth in Section 20 hereof.

(c) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, in no event shall the Rights Agent be liable for special, indirect or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including but not limited to lost profits), even if the Rights Agent has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of the action.

Section 19. Merger or Consolidation or Change of Name of Rights Agent .

(a) Any corporation into which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent may be merged or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger or consolidation to which the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to the corporate trust or stock transfer business of the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent, shall be the successor to the Rights Agent under this Agreement without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto, provided that such corporation would be eligible for appointment as a successor Rights Agent under the provisions of Section 21 hereof. If, at the time such successor Rights Agent shall succeed to the agency created by this Agreement, any of the Right Certificates shall have been countersigned but not delivered, any such successor Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature of the predecessor Rights Agent and deliver such Right Certificates so countersigned; and if at that time any of the Right Certificates shall not have been countersigned, any successor Rights Agent may countersign such Right Certificates either in the name of the predecessor Rights Agent or in the name of the successor Rights Agent; and in all such cases such Right Certificates shall have the full force provided in such Right Certificate and in this Agreement.

(b) If at any time the name of the Rights Agent shall be changed, and at such time any of the Right Certificates shall have been countersigned but not delivered, the Rights Agent may adopt the countersignature under its prior name and deliver Right Certificates so countersigned; and if at that time any of the Right Certificates shall not have been countersigned, the Rights Agent may countersign such Right Certificates either in its prior name or in its changed name; and in all such cases such Right Certificates shall have the full force provided in such Right Certificate and in this Agreement.

 

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Section 20. Duties of Rights Agent .

The Rights Agent undertakes the duties and obligations imposed by this Agreement (and no implied duties or obligations shall be read into this Agreement against the Rights Agent) upon the following terms and conditions, by all of which the Company and the holders of Right Certificates, by their acceptance of the Rights, shall be bound:

(a) Before the Rights Agent acts or refrains from acting, it may consult with legal counsel (who may be legal counsel for the Rights Agent or the Company), and the advice or opinion of such counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection to the Rights Agent as to any action taken or omitted by it in good faith and in accordance with such advice or opinion.

(b) Whenever in the performance of its duties under this Agreement the Rights Agent shall deem it necessary or desirable that any fact or matter be proved or established by the Company prior to taking or suffering any action hereunder, such fact or matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by a certificate signed by any one of the Chairman of the Board, the Vice Chairman of the Board, the President, any Vice President, the Treasurer, the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Rights Agent; and such certificate shall be full authorization to the Rights Agent for any action taken or suffered in good faith by it under the provisions of this Agreement in reliance upon such certificate.

(c) The Rights Agent shall be liable hereunder to the Company and any other Person only for its own gross negligence, or willful misconduct; provided, however that in no event shall the Rights Agent be liable for special, indirect or consequential loss or damages of any kind whatsoever.

(d) The Rights Agent shall not be liable for or by reason of any of the statements of fact or recitals contained in this Agreement, or in the Right Certificates (except its countersignature thereof), or be required to verify the same, but all such statements and recitals are and shall be deemed to have been made by the Company only.

(e) The Rights Agent shall not be under any responsibility in respect of the validity of this Agreement or the execution and delivery hereof (except the due authorization, execution and delivery hereof by the Rights Agent) or in respect of the validity or execution of any Right Certificate (except its countersignature thereof); nor shall it be responsible for any breach by the Company of any covenant or condition contained in this Agreement or in any Right Certificate; nor shall it be responsible for any change in the exercisability of the Rights (including any Rights becoming null and void pursuant to Section 7(d) hereof) or any adjustment in the terms of the Rights (including the manner, method or amount thereof) provided for in Sections 7, 11, 13 and 23 hereof, or the ascertaining of the existence of facts that would require any such change or adjustment (except with respect to the exercise of Rights represented by Right Certificates after actual notice that such change or adjustment is required); nor shall it by any act hereunder be deemed to make any representation or warranty as to the authorization or reservation of any Preferred Shares or Common Shares or other securities to be issued pursuant to this Agreement

 

26


or any Right Certificate, or as to whether any Preferred Shares or Common Shares or other securities will, when issued, be validly authorized and issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

(f) The Company agrees that it will perform, execute, acknowledge and deliver or cause to be performed, executed, acknowledged and delivered all such further and other acts, instruments and assurances as may reasonably be required by the Rights Agent for the carrying out or performing by the Rights Agent of the provisions of this Agreement.

(g) The Rights Agent is hereby authorized and directed to accept instructions with respect to the performance of its duties hereunder from any one of the Chairman of the Board, the Vice Chairman, the President, any Vice President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Secretary or the Treasurer of the Company, and to apply to such officers for advice or instructions in connection with its duties, and it shall not be liable for any action taken or suffered to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with instructions of any such officer or for any delay in acting while waiting for those instructions. Any application by the Rights Agent for written instructions from the Company may, at the option of the Rights Agent, set forth in writing any action proposed to be taken or omitted by the Rights Agent under this Agreement and the date on or after which such action shall be taken or such omission shall be effective. The Rights Agent shall not be liable for any action taken by, or omission of, the Rights Agent in accordance with a proposal included in any such application on or after the date specified in such application (which date shall not be less than ten Business Days after the date any officer of the Company actually receives such application, unless any such officer shall have consented in writing to an earlier date) unless, prior to taking any such action (or the effective date in the case of an omission), the Rights Agent shall have received written instructions from the Company in response to such application to the contrary.

(h) The Rights Agent and any stockholder, director, officer or employee of the Rights Agent may buy, sell or deal in any of the Rights or other securities of the Company or become pecuniarily interested in any transaction in which the Company may be interested, or contract with or lend money to the Company or otherwise act as fully and freely as though it were not the Rights Agent under this Agreement. Nothing herein shall preclude the Rights Agent from acting in any other capacity for the Company or for any other legal entity.

(i) The Rights Agent may execute and exercise any of the rights or powers hereby vested in it or perform any duty hereunder either itself or by or through its attorneys or agents, and the Rights Agent shall not be answerable or accountable for any act, default, neglect or misconduct of any such attorneys or agents or for any loss to the Company resulting from any such act, default, neglect or misconduct, provided that reasonable care was exercised in the selection and continued employment thereof.

(j) No provision of this Agreement shall require the Rights Agent to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of its rights if there shall be reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnification against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

 

27


(k) The Rights Agent shall not be required to take notice or be deemed to have notice of any fact, event or determination (including, without limitation, any dates or events defined in this Agreement or the designation of any Person as a 30% Stockholder, Affiliate or Associate) under this Agreement unless and until the Rights Agent shall be specifically notified in writing by the Company of such fact, event or determination.

(l) If, with respect to any Rights Certificate surrendered to the Rights Agent for exercise or transfer, the certificate attached to the form of assignment or form of election to purchase, as the case may be, has not been completed, the Rights Agent shall not take any further action with respect to such requested exercise or transfer without first consulting with the Company.

Section 21. Change of Rights Agent . The Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties under this Agreement upon 30-days’ notice in writing mailed to the Company and to each transfer agent of the Common Shares and Preferred Shares by registered or certified mail, and, at the expense of the Company to the holders of the Right Certificates by first-class mail. The Company may remove the Rights Agent or any successor Rights Agent upon 30-days’ notice in writing, mailed to the Rights Agent or successor Rights Agent, as the case may be, and to each transfer agent of the Common Shares and Preferred Shares by registered or certified mail, and to the holders of the Right Certificates by first-class mail. If the Rights Agent shall resign or be removed or shall otherwise become incapable of acting as such, the Company shall appoint a successor to the Rights Agent. If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a period of 30 days after giving notice of such removal or after it has been notified in writing of such resignation or incapacity by the resigning or incapacitated Rights Agent or by the holder of a Right Certificate (who shall, with such notice, submit such holder’s Right Certificate for inspection by the Company), then the Company shall become the Rights Agent and the registered holder of any Right Certificate may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a new Rights Agent. Any successor Rights Agent, whether appointed by the Company or by such a court, shall be (a) a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or any state of the United States, in good standing, having a principal office in the State of New York, that is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust or stock transfer powers and is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority and that has at the time of its appointment as Rights Agent a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 or (b) an affiliate of a legal business entity described in clause (a) of this sentence. After appointment, the successor Rights Agent shall be vested with the same powers, rights, duties and responsibilities as if it had been originally named as Rights Agent without further act or deed; but the predecessor Rights Agent shall deliver and transfer to the successor Rights Agent any property at the time held by it hereunder, and execute and deliver any further assurance, conveyance, act or deed necessary for the purpose of this Agreement and so that the successor Rights Agent may appropriately act as Rights Agent hereunder. Not later than the effective date of any such appointment, the Company shall file notice thereof in writing with the predecessor Rights Agent and each transfer agent of the Common Shares and Preferred Shares, and mail a notice thereof in writing to the registered holders of the Right Certificates. Failure to give any notice provided for in this Section 21, however, or any defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of the resignation or removal of the Rights Agent or the appointment of the successor Rights Agent, as the case may be.

 

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Section 22. Issuance of New Right Certificates . Notwithstanding any of the provisions of this Agreement or of the Right Certificates to the contrary, the Company may, at its option, issue new Right Certificates in such form as may be approved by the Board of Directors in order to reflect any adjustment or change in the Exercise Price and the number or kind or class of shares or other securities or property purchasable upon exercise of the Rights in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.

Section 23. Redemption of Rights . (a) Until the earliest of (i) the date of the first Section 11(a)(ii) Event, (ii) the date of the first Section 13(a) Event or (iii) the Rights Expiration Date, the Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option, authorize and direct the redemption of all, but not less than all, of the then outstanding Rights at a redemption price of $0.001 per Right, as such redemption price shall be appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring after the date hereof (the “Redemption Price”), and the Company shall so redeem the Rights.

(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the Company authorizing and directing the redemption of the Rights pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section 23, or at such time and date thereafter as it may specify, and without any further action and without any notice, the right to exercise Rights shall terminate and the only right thereafter of the holders of Rights shall be to receive the Redemption Price. Within ten (10) Business Days after the date of such action, the Company shall give notice of such redemption to the holders of Rights by mailing such notice to all holders of Rights at their last addresses as they appear upon the registry books of the Rights Agent or, if prior to the Distribution Date, on the registry books of the transfer agent for the Common Shares. Any notice that is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives such notice, but neither the failure to give any such notice nor any defect therein shall affect the legality or validity of such redemption. Each such notice of redemption shall state the method by which the payment of the Redemption Price will be made. Neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates or Associates may, directly or indirectly, redeem, acquire or purchase for value any Rights in any manner other than that specifically set forth in Section 24 hereof or in this Section 23, or in connection with the purchase of Common Shares prior to the earlier of the date of the first Section 11(a)(ii) Event or the date of the first Section 13(a) Event.

(c) The Company may, at its option, pay the Redemption Price in cash, Common Shares, Preferred Shares, other equity securities of the Company, debt securities of the Company, other property or any combination of the foregoing, in each case having an aggregate Current Market Price on the Redemption Date equal to the Redemption Price.

(d) The Board of Directors of the Company shall establish a Rights Plan Committee comprised solely of independent directors (within the meaning of the rules of the American Stock Exchange) that shall review this Agreement in order to consider whether the maintenance of this Agreement continues to be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. The committee shall conduct such review periodically when, as and in such manner as the committee deems appropriate, after giving due regard to all relevant circumstances; provided, however , that the committee shall take such action at least once every three years. Following each such review, the committee will report its conclusions to the Board of Directors, including any recommendation in light thereof as to whether this Agreement should be modified or terminated or the Rights redeemed.

 

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Section 24. Exchange of Rights .

(a) At any time during the period of 180 days after a Section 11(a)(ii) Event, the Board of Directors of the Company may, at its option, authorize and direct the exchange of all, but not less than all, of the then outstanding Rights for Common Shares, one one-hundredths of Preferred Shares, debt securities of the Company, other property, or any combination of the foregoing, in each case having an aggregate Current Market Price equal to the result obtained by (i) multiplying the Current Market Price per Common Share on the record date for such exchange by the number of Common Shares for which a Right is exercisable on such record date and (ii) subtracting from such product the Exercise Price on such Record Date (the “Exchange Ratio”), and the Company shall so exchange the Rights.

(b) Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the Company authorizing and directing the exchange of the Rights pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section 24, or at such time and date thereafter as it may specify, and without any further action and without any notice, the right to exercise Rights shall terminate and the only right thereafter of the holders of Rights shall be to receive the securities described in Section 24(a) in accordance with the Exchange Ratio. Within ten (10) Business Days after the date of such action, the Company shall give notice of such exchange to the holders of Rights by mailing such notice to all holders of Rights at their last addresses as they appear upon the registry books of the Rights Agent or, if prior to the Distribution Date, on the registry books of the transfer agent for the Common Shares. Any notice that is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be deemed given, whether or not the holder receives such notice, but neither the failure to give any such notice nor any defect therein shall affect the legality or validity of such exchange. Each such notice of exchange shall state the method by which the Rights will be exchanged.

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the aggregate number of Common Shares that are authorized by the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, as amended from time to time, but not outstanding or reserved for issuance for purposes other than upon exercise or exchange of the Rights is less than the aggregate number of Common Shares issuable upon the exchange of the Rights in accordance with this Section 24 (the excess of such number of authorized Common Shares over and above such number of issuable Common Shares being hereinafter referred to as the “Unavailable Exchange Shares”), then the Company shall substitute for the pro rata portion of the Unavailable Exchange Shares that would otherwise be issuable upon the exchange of the Rights in accordance with this Section 24 (i) cash, (ii) other equity securities of the Company (including, without limitation, Common Share Equivalents), (iii) debt securities of the Company, (iv) other property or (v) any combination of the foregoing, in each case having an aggregate Current Market Price equal to the aggregate Current Market Price of the Unavailable Exchange Shares for which substitution is made. Subject to Section 7(d) hereof, in the event that the Company takes any action pursuant to this Section 24, such action shall apply uniformly to all outstanding Rights.

 

30


Section 25. Notice of Certain Events .

(a) In the event that the Company shall propose (i) to declare or pay any dividend on or make any distribution with respect to its Common Shares or Preferred Shares (other than a regular quarterly cash dividend), (ii) to offer to the holders of its Common Shares or Preferred Shares options, rights or warrants to subscribe for or to purchase any additional shares thereof or shares of stock of any class or any other securities, rights or options, (iii) to effect any reclassification of its Common Shares or Preferred Shares (other than a reclassification involving only the subdivision of outstanding shares), (iv) to effect any consolidation or merger with or into, or to effect any sale or other transfer (or to permit one or more of its Subsidiaries to effect any sale or other transfer), in one or more transactions, of more than 50% of the assets or earning power of the Company and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to, any other Person or Persons, or (v) to effect the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, then and in each such case, the Company shall give to each holder of a Right Certificate, in accordance with Section 26 hereof, a notice of such proposed action that shall specify the record date for the purpose of such dividend or distribution, or the date upon which such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer, liquidation, dissolution or winding up is to take place and the date of participation therein by the holders of record of the Common Shares or Preferred Shares, if any such date is to be fixed, and such notice shall be so given in the case of any action covered by clause (i) or (ii) above at least 20 days prior to the record date for determining holders of the Common Shares or Preferred Shares for purposes of such action, and in the case of any such other action, at least 20 days prior to the date of the taking of such proposed action or the date of participation therein by the holders of the Common Shares or Preferred Shares, whichever date shall be the earlier. The failure to give the notice required by this Section 25 or any defect therein shall not affect the legality or validity of the action taken by the Company or the vote upon any such action.

(b) Upon the occurrence of each Section 11(a)(ii) Event and each Section 13(a) Event, the Company shall as soon as practicable thereafter give to each holder of a Right Certificate, in accordance with Section 26 hereof, a notice of the occurrence of such event, specifying the event and the consequences of the event to holders of Rights under Sections 11 and 13 hereof.

Section 26. Notices . Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Rights Agent or by the holder of any Right Certificate to or on the Company shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing with the Rights Agent) as follows:

SPARK NETWORKS, INC.

8383 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 800

Beverly Hills, CA 90211

Attention: Secretary

Subject to the provisions of Section 21 hereof, any notice or demand authorized by this Agreement to be given or made to or on the Rights Agent (i) by the Company shall be sufficiently given or made if sent, postage prepaid, by registered or certified mail, addressed to the principal office of the Rights Agent as set forth below (until another address is filed in

 

31


writing with the Company) or (ii) by the holder of any Right Certificate shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the principal office of the Rights Agent as set forth below (until another address is filed in writing with the Company), and shall be deemed given upon actual receipt. The Company hereby agrees that it shall encourage the holders of the Right Certificates, in any and all writings to such holders regarding the Rights or this Agreement, to give or make any notice or demand authorized by this Agreement by registered or certified mail, addressed to the principal office of the Rights Agent as follows (until another address is filed in writing with the Company):

THE BANK OF NEW YORK

101 Barclay Street, 11 East

New York, New York 10286

Attention: Stock Transfer Division

Notices or demands authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the Company or the Rights Agent to the holder of any Right Certificate shall be sufficiently given or made if sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to such holder at the address of such holder as shown on the registry books of the Company.

Section 27. Supplements and Amendments .

(a) The Board of Directors of the Company may, from time to time, without the approval of any holders of Rights, supplement or amend any provision of this Agreement in any manner, whether or not such supplement or amendment is adverse to any holder of Rights, and direct the Rights Agent so to supplement or amend such provision, and the Rights Agent shall so supplement or amend such provision; provided, however , that from and after the earliest of (i) the date of the first Section 11(a)(ii) Event, (ii) the date of the first Section 13(a) Event, (iii) the Redemption Date or (iv) the Expiration Date, this Agreement shall not be supplemented or amended in any manner that would materially and adversely affect any holder of outstanding Rights other than a 30% Stockholder or a Surviving Person.

(b) From and after the earlier of the date of the first Section 11(a)(ii) Event or the date of the first Section 13(a) Event and prior to the Rights Expiration Date, the Company shall not effect any amendment to the Certificate of Designations for the Preferred Shares that would materially and adversely affect the rights, privileges or preferences of the Preferred Shares without the prior approval of the holders of two-thirds or more of the then outstanding Rights. Upon delivery of a certificate from an appropriate officer of the Company that states that the proposed supplement or amendment is in compliance with the terms of this Section 27, the Rights Agent shall execute such supplement or amendment. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, no supplement or amendment that changes the rights and duties of the Rights Agent under this Agreement in any manner adverse to the Rights Agent will be effective against the Rights Agent without the execution of such supplement or amendment by the Rights Agent.

Section 28. Certain Covenants . Subject to Section 27 hereof and the other provisions of this Agreement, from and after the earlier of the date of the first Section 11(a)(ii) Event or the date of the first Section 13(a) Event and prior to the earlier of the Redemption Date or the Rights

 

32


Expiration Date, the Company shall not (a) issue or sell, or permit any Subsidiary to issue or sell, to a 30% Stockholder or a Surviving Person, or any Affiliate or Associate of a 30% Stockholder or a Surviving Person, or any Person holding Voting Shares of the Company that are Beneficially Owned by a 30% Stockholder or a Surviving Person, (i) any rights, options, warrants or convertible securities on terms similar to, or that materially adversely affect the value of, the Rights or (ii) Preferred Shares, Common Shares or shares of any other class of capital stock, if such sale is intended to or would materially adversely affect the value of the Rights, or (b) take any other action that is intended to or would materially adversely affect the value of the Rights.

Section 29. Successors; Assignment . All the covenants and provisions of this Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company or the Rights Agent shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns hereunder. This Agreement shall extend to and shall be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns; provided, however, that this Agreement shall not be assignable by either party with prior written consent of the other party; and provided, further, that (a) the foregoing proviso shall not apply to assignments by the Rights Agent to an affiliate or subsidiary of the Rights Agent and (b) any reorganization, merger, consolidation, sale of assets or other form of business combination by the Rights Agent shall not be deemed to constitute an assignment of this Agreement.

Section 30. Benefits of this Agreement . Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to give to any Person other than the Company, the Rights Agent and the registered holders of the Right Certificates (other than those representing Rights that have become null and void) and the certificates for Common Shares representing Rights (other than those Rights that have become null and void) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Agreement, and this Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Company, the Rights Agent and such registered holders of Right Certificates and certificates for Common Shares representing Rights.

Section 31. Severability . If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or other authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated.

Section 32. Governing Law .

This Agreement and each Right Certificate issued hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the State of Delaware and for all purposes shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of such state applicable to contracts made and performed entirely within such state; provided, however, that the rights, obligations and duties of the Rights Agent hereunder shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

 

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Section 33. Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and each such counterpart shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

Section 34. Descriptive Headings . Descriptive headings of the several sections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions hereof.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

 

Attest:     SPARK NETWORKS, INC.
By:   /s/ Joshua A Kreinberg     By:   /s/ Mark G. Thompson
 

Name: Joshua A. Kreinberg

Title: General Counsel & Corporate Secretary

     

Name: Mark G. Thompson

Title: Chief Financial Officer

Attest:     THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as Rights Agent
By:   /s/ Kieran McGovern     By:   /s/ Steven Myers
 

Name: Kieran McGovern

Title: Administrator

     

Name: Steven Myers

Title: Vice President

 

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EXHIBIT A

Form of Right Certificate

 

Certificate No. ____________    ____________ Rights

NOT EXERCISABLE AFTER THE LATER OF JULY 9, 2017 OR THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DISTRIBUTION DATE (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) OR EARLIER IF REDEEMED. THE RIGHTS ARE SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION AT $0.001 PER RIGHT ON THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, RIGHTS BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY A 30% STOCKHOLDER OR AN AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE OF A 30% STOCKHOLDER (AS SUCH TERMS ARE DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT AND AS THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE SPECIFIED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) OR ANY SUBSEQUENT HOLDER OF SUCH RIGHTS MAY BECOME NULL AND VOID. [THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED BY THIS RIGHT CERTIFICATE WERE ISSUED TO A PERSON WHO WAS A 30% STOCKHOLDER OR AN AFFILIATE OR ASSOCIATE OF A 30% STOCKHOLDER. THIS RIGHT CERTIFICATE AND THE RIGHTS REPRESENTED HEREBY MAY BECOME VOID IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES SPECIFIED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT.]*

Right Certificate

SPARK NETWORKS, INC.


* That portion of the legend in brackets shall be inserted only if applicable and shall replace the preceding sentence.


This certifies that _______________________, or registered assigns, is the registered owner of the number of Rights set forth above, each of which entitles the owner thereof, subject to the terms, provisions and conditions of the Rights Agreement dated as of July 9, 2007 (the “Rights Agreement”) between SPARK NETWORKS, INC. , a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and THE BANK OF NEW YORK, a banking corporation organized under the laws of the State of New York (the “Rights Agent”), to purchase from the Company at any time after the Distribution Date (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement) and prior to 5:00 P.M., New York time, on the later of July 9, 2017 or the tenth anniversary of the Distribution Date at the office or agency of the Rights Agent at 101 Barclay Street, 11 East New York, New York 10286, Attention: Stock Transfer Division or at the office of its successors as Rights Agent, one one-hundredth of a fully paid non-assessable share of Series C Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value (the “Preferred Shares”), of the Company, at an exercise price of $100.00 per Right (the “Exercise Price”), upon presentation and surrender of this Right Certificate with the Form of Election to Purchase duly executed. The number of Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate (and the number of Preferred Shares that may be purchased upon exercise thereof) set forth above, and the Exercise Price per share set forth above, are the number and Exercise Price as of July 9 2007, based on the Preferred Shares as constituted at such date.

As provided in the Rights Agreement, the Exercise Price and the number of Preferred Shares that may be purchased upon the exercise of the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate are subject to modification and adjustment upon the happening of certain events. This Right Certificate is subject to all of the terms, provisions and conditions of the Rights Agreement, which terms, provisions and conditions are hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof and to which Rights Agreement reference is hereby made for a full description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities hereunder of the Rights Agent, the Company and the holders of the Rights Certificates. Copies of the Rights Agreement are on file at the principal executive offices of SPARK NETWORKS, INC. and the above-mentioned offices of the Rights Agent. This Right Certificate, with or without other Right Certificates, upon surrender at the office or agency of the Rights Agent at 101 Barclay Street, 11 East New York, New York 10286, Attention: Stock Transfer Division, may be exchanged for another Right Certificate or Right Certificates of like tenor and date evidencing Rights entitling the holder to purchase a like aggregate number of Preferred Shares as the Rights evidenced by the Right Certificate or Right Certificates surrendered shall have entitled such holder to purchase. If this Right Certificate shall be exercised in part, the holder shall be entitled to receive upon surrender hereof another Right Certificate or Right Certificates for the number of whole Rights not exercised. Subject to the provisions of the Rights Agreement, the Rights evidenced by this Certificate may, but are not required to, be redeemed by the Company at a redemption price of $0.001 per Right.

No fractional Preferred Shares will be issued upon the exercise of any Right or Rights evidenced hereby (other than fractions that are integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share, which may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts), but in lieu thereof, a cash payment will be made, as provided in the Rights Agreement.

No holder of this Right Certificate shall be entitled to vote or receive dividends or be deemed for any purpose the holder of the Preferred Shares or of any other securities of the

 

2


Company that may at any time be issuable on the exercise hereof, nor shall anything contained in the Rights Agreement or herein be construed to confer upon the holder hereof, as such, any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company or any right to vote for the election of directors or upon any matter submitted to stockholders at any meeting thereof, or to give or withhold consent to any corporate action, or to receive notice of meetings or other actions affecting stockholders (except as provided in the Rights Agreement), or to receive dividends or subscription rights, or otherwise, until the Right or Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate shall have been exercised as provided in the Rights Agreement.

This Right Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose until it shall have been countersigned by the Rights Agent.

WITNESS the facsimile signature of the proper officers of the Company. Dated as of _______________.

 

ATTEST:     SPARK NETWORKS, INC.
               
Secretary     President

 

Countersigned:

THE BANK OF NEW YORK,

as Rights Agent

By:      
Title:      

 

3


Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate

FORM OF ASSIGNMENT

(To be executed by the registered holder if such

holder desires to transfer the Right Certificate.)

FOR VALUE RECEIVED _______________________________________ hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto ___________________________________________________

 


(Please print name and address of transferee)

 


this Right Certificate, together with all right, title and interest therein, and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint ___________________________ Attorney, to transfer the within Right Certificate on the books of the within-named Company, with full power of substitution.

 

Dated: ____________________, ____    
           
    Signature

Signature Guaranteed:

Signatures must be guaranteed by a member firm of a registered national securities exchange, a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. or a commercial bank or trust company having an office or correspondent in the United States.

The undersigned hereby certifies that the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate are not Beneficially Owned by a 30% Stockholder or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement).

 

   
Signature
(Signature must conform in all respects to name of holder as specified on the face of this Right Certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever)

 

4


Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate — continued

FORM OF ELECTION TO PURCHASE

(To be executed if holder desires to

exercise the Right Certificate.)

TO SPARK NETWORKS, INC.

The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise ___________________ Rights represented by this Right Certificate to purchase the Preferred Shares or other securities issuable upon the exercise of such Rights and requests that certificates for such Preferred Shares or other securities be issued in the following name:

(please print name, address and social security,

tax identification or other identifying number:

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

If such number of Rights shall not be all the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate, a new Right Certificate for the balance remaining of such Rights shall be registered in the name of and delivered to:

(please print name, address and social security,

tax identification or other identifying number:

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

_____________________________________________

Dated: _________________

 

     
Signature
(Signature must conform in all respects to name of holder as specified on the face of this Right Certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever)

 

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Form of Reverse Side of Right Certificate — continued

Signature Guarantee:

Signatures must be guaranteed by a member firm of a registered national securities exchange, a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. or a commercial bank or trust company having an office or correspondent in the United States.

The undersigned hereby certifies that the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate are not Beneficially Owned by a 30% Stockholder or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement).

 

     
Signature
(Signature must conform in all respects to name of holder as specified on the face of this Right Certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever)

NOTICE

The signatures in the foregoing Forms of Assignment and Election must correspond to the name as written upon the face of this Right Certificate in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.

In the event the certification set forth above in the Forms of Assignment and Election is not completed, the Company will deem the Beneficial Owner of the Rights evidenced by this Right Certificate to be a 30% Stockholder or an Affiliate or Associate thereof (as defined in the Rights Agreement) and, in the case of an Assignment, will affix a legend to that effect on any Right Certificates issued in exchange for this Right Certificate.

 

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EXHIBIT 10.1

SCHEME OF ARRANGEMENT

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE

CHANCERY DIVISION

COMPANIES COURT

No. 2292 of 2007

IN THE MATTER OF SPARK NETWORKS PLC

And

IN THE MATTER OF THE COMPANIES ACT 1985

 


SCHEME OF ARRANGEMENT

(under section 425 of the Companies Act 1985)

between

SPARK NETWORKS PLC

and THE HOLDERS OF THE SCHEME SHARES

(as hereinafter defined)

PRELIMINARY

 

(1) In this Scheme, unless the context otherwise requires, the following expressions shall bear the following meanings:

 

“Act”    the Companies Act 1985, as amended
“Business Day”    a day (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays) on which banks are open for business in the City of London
“Cancellation Record Time”    6 pm on the Business Day immediately preceding the Hearing Date
“Capital Reduction”    the proposed reduction of capital of Spark Networks plc provided for by this Scheme
“Company” or “Spark Networks plc”    Spark Networks plc incorporated in England and Wales with registered number 03628907
“Court”    the High Court of Justice in England and Wales
“Court Hearing”    the hearing of the Petition to sanction the Scheme and confirm the Capital Reduction
“Court Meeting”    the meeting convened pursuant to an order of the Court made under section 425 of the Act to consider and, if thought fit, approve this Scheme, including any adjournment thereof
“Effective Date”    the date on which this Scheme becomes effective in accordance with clause 14
“EGM”    the extraordinary general meeting of the Company to be held immediately after the Court Meeting


“Hearing Date”    the date of the commencement of the Court Hearing
“Holder”    a registered holder, including any person entitled by transmission
“New Shares”    new ordinary shares of £0.01 each in the capital of Spark Networks plc
“Ordinary Shares”    the Ordinary Shares in Spark Networks plc
“Ordinary Shareholders”    holders of Ordinary Shares
“Overseas Shareholders”    Ordinary Shareholders on the Register of Members of Spark Networks plc at the Scheme Record Time with a registered address outside the UK or whom Spark Networks plc reasonably believes to be a citizen, resident or national or a jurisdiction outside the UK
“Scheme Record Time”    6 pm on the Business Day immediately preceding the Effective Date
“Scheme Shareholder”    a holder of Scheme Shares
“Scheme Shares”    Ordinary Shares (excluding any held by Spark Networks, Inc.): (1) in issue at the date of this document (2) (if any) issued after the date of this document and prior to the Court Meeting (3) (if any) issued at or after the Court Meeting but prior to the Cancellation Record Time either on terms that the original or any subsequent holders shall be bound by this Scheme or in respect of which the holders shall have agreed in writing to be bound by this Scheme
“this Scheme”    this scheme of arrangement in its present form or with or subject to any modification thereof or addition thereto or condition approved or imposed by the Court
“Spark Networks, Inc.”    Spark Networks, Inc., a company incorporated in the state of Delaware, USA
“Spark Networks, Inc. Common Shares”    shares of common stock in Spark Networks, Inc. having a par value of US$0.001 each and designated as Common Stock

 

(2) The authorised share capital of Spark Networks plc is £800,000 divided into 80,000,000 Ordinary Shares of £0.01 each, of which at the date of this Scheme 30,913,570 Ordinary Shares have been issued and are fully paid up and the remainder are unissued. It is proposed that after the date of this document one unissued Ordinary Share will be issued to Spark Networks, Inc. prior to the Cancellation Record Time.

 

(3) Spark Networks, Inc. was incorporated in the state of Delaware in the USA on 20 April 2007. The authorised share capital of Spark Networks, Inc. at the date of this Scheme is 100,000,000 Spark Networks, Inc. Common Shares of which at the date of this document one Spark Networks, Inc. Common Share has been issued.

 

(4) Spark Networks, Inc. has agreed to appear by Counsel at the Court Hearing to consent to this Scheme and to undertake to the Court to be bound thereby and to execute and do or procure to be executed and done all such documents, acts and things as may be necessary or desirable to be executed or done by it or on its behalf for the purpose of giving effect to this Scheme.

 

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THE SCHEME

Cancellation of Scheme Shares and Issue of New Shares

 

(1) The capital of Spark Networks plc shall be reduced by cancelling and extinguishing the Scheme Shares.

 

(2) Forthwith and contingently upon the reduction of capital referred to in clause 1 taking effect:

 

  (a) the authorised share capital of Spark Networks plc shall be increased to its former amount of £800,000 by the creation of such number of New Shares as have an aggregate nominal value equal to the aggregate nominal value of Scheme Shares cancelled pursuant to clause 1; and

 

  (b) Spark Networks plc shall apply the credit arising in its books of account as a result of the cancellation of the Scheme Shares in paying up, in full at par, the New Shares created pursuant to clause 2(a) to be allotted and issued credited as fully paid to Spark Networks, Inc. and/or its nominee or nominees.

 

(3) In consideration of the cancellation of the Scheme Shares pursuant to clause 1 and issue of New Shares to Spark Networks, Inc. and/or its nominee or nominees pursuant to clause 2(b), Spark Networks, Inc. shall (subject to the provisions of clauses 4 and 5) allot and issue Spark Networks, Inc. Common Shares credited as fully paid to the Scheme Shareholders (as appearing in the Register of Members at the Scheme Record Time) on the following basis:

for every 1 Scheme Share cancelled – 1 Spark Networks, Inc. Common Share

 

(4) Spark Networks, Inc. Common Shares issued pursuant to clause 3 shall be issued with the rights and subject to the restrictions set out in the Certificate of Incorporation and bylaws of Spark Networks, Inc.

 

(5) The provisions of clause 3 shall be subject to any prohibition or condition imposed by law. Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, if in respect of any Overseas Shareholder Spark Networks, Inc. is advised that the allotment and issue of Spark Networks, Inc. Common Shares would or might infringe the laws of such jurisdiction or would or might require Spark Networks, Inc. to obtain or observe any governmental or other consent or any registration, filing or formality with which Spark Networks, Inc. is unable to comply, or compliance with which Spark Networks, Inc. regards as unduly onerous, Spark Networks, Inc. shall in its sole discretion determine that such Spark Networks, Inc. Common Shares shall not be allotted and issued to such holder but instead shall be allotted and issued to a nominee appointed by Spark Networks, Inc. as trustee for such holder, on terms that they shall, as soon as practicable following the Effective Date, be sold on behalf of such holder at the best price reasonably obtainable at the time of sale, and the net proceeds of such sale shall (after the deduction of all expenses and commissions, including any amounts in respect of any taxes, duties and contributions payable thereon) be paid to such holder by sending a cheque or warrant to such holder in accordance with the provisions of clause 7 below. In the absence of bad faith or wilful default, none of Spark Networks plc, Spark Networks, Inc. or any broker or agent of either of them shall have any liability for any loss arising as a result of the timing or terms of any such sale.

Certificates And Payment

 

(6) Not later than five Business Days after the Scheme Record Time Spark Networks, Inc. shall allot and issue all the Spark Networks, Inc. Common Shares which it is required to allot and issue to give effect to this Scheme and, to the extent Common Shares are held in certificated form, shall send by post to the allottees of such Common Shares Direct Registration Transaction Advices in respect of such Common Shares not later than 21 days after the Effective Date.

 

(7) Not later than 10 Business Days following the sale of any relevant Spark Networks, Inc. Common Shares pursuant to clause 5 the nominee appointed under clause 5 shall account for the cash consideration payable under clause 5 by sending a cheque and/or warrant to the holder of the Scheme Shares concerned in accordance with the remaining provisions of this clause.

 

(8)

All Direct Registration Transaction Advices required to be sent by Spark Networks, Inc. pursuant to clause 6 and all cheques or warrants required to be sent pursuant to clause 7 shall be sent through the post in pre-paid envelopes addressed to the persons respectively entitled thereto at their respective addresses appearing in the

 

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Register of Members of Spark Networks plc at the Scheme Record Time (or, in the case of joint holders, to the address of the first-named in the Register of Members) or in accordance with any special instructions regarding communications.

 

(9) None of Spark Networks plc, Spark Networks, Inc. or any broker or agent of either of them shall be responsible for any loss or delay in the transmission of certificates, cheques or warrants sent in accordance with clause 8, which shall be sent at the risk of the persons entitled thereto except that if within 6 months of the despatch of any certificate or cheque in accordance with clause 8, notification is given to Spark Networks, Inc. that such certificate, cheque or warrant has been destroyed, Spark Networks, Inc. shall issue or procure the issue of a replacement cheque or certificate or otherwise tender payment in U.S. dollars.

 

(10) All cheques and warrants shall be made payable to the holder of the Scheme Shares concerned or, in the case of joint holders, to the first-named in the Register of Members, and the encashment of any cheque or warrant shall be a complete discharge to Spark Networks, Inc. for the monies represented thereby.

 

(11) With effect from the Effective Date, all certificates representing holdings of Scheme Shares shall cease to be valid in respect of such holdings and the holders of such shares shall be bound at the request of Spark Networks plc to deliver such certificates for cancellation to Spark Networks or to any person appointed by Spark Networks plc to receive the same.

 

(12) The provisions of these clauses (6) to (12) (inclusive) shall take effect subject to any prohibition or condition imposed by law.

Mandates

 

(13) Each mandate in force at the Scheme Record Time relating to the payment of dividends on Scheme Shares and each instruction then in force as to notices and other communications shall, unless and until varied or revoked, be deemed as from the Effective Date to be a valid and effective mandate or instruction to Spark Networks, Inc. in relation to the corresponding Spark Networks, Inc. Common Shares to be allotted and issued pursuant to this Scheme.

Effective Date

 

(14) This Scheme shall become effective as soon as an office copy of the Court Order sanctioning this Scheme under section 425 of the Act and confirming the Capital Reduction in clause 1 shall have been duly delivered to the Registrar of Companies for registration and registered by him.

 

(15) Unless the Scheme shall become effective on or before 31 December 2007 or such later date, if any, as Spark Networks plc and Spark Networks, Inc. may agree and the Court may allow, it shall never become effective.

Modification

 

(16) Spark Networks plc and Spark Networks, Inc. may jointly consent on behalf of all persons concerned to any modification of or addition to this Scheme or to any condition which the Court may think fit to approve or impose.

Costs

 

(17) Spark Networks plc is authorised and permitted to pay all the costs and expenses relating to the negotiation, preparation, approval and implementation of this Scheme.

Dated 25 April 2007

 

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EXHIBIT 10.2

CONSENT TO ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION

This CONSENT TO ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION is made as of June 4, 2007, by and between Spark Networks plc, a public limited company registered in England and Wales under number 3628907 whose registered office is located at 24-26 Arcadia Avenue, Finchley Central, London N3 2JU, England (the “ Company ”), and Great Hill Equity Partners II, Limited Partnership, a Delaware limited liability company whose registered office is located at One Liberty Square Boston, Massachusetts 02109 (“ Shareholder ”). All capitalized terms used, but not otherwise defined in this Consent to Assignment and Assumption shall have the meanings set forth in the Standstill Agreement dated as of December 1, 2005 (the “ Standstill Agreement ”).

WHEREAS, the Company and Shareholder entered into the Standstill Agreement whereby Shareholder agreed not to take certain actions during, and subsequent to, the Fourteen Month Period;

WHEREAS, the Company intends to reorganize by way of a scheme of arrangement (the “ Scheme ”) whereby it will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Spark Networks, Inc., a newly formed Delaware company (“ Spark-Delaware ”), all outstanding shares of the Company will be cancelled and the holders of the Company will become stockholders of Spark-Delaware; and

WHEREAS, in connection with the Scheme, Spark-Delaware, as the Company’s successor and assign, will assume the Standstill Agreement.

NOW, THREFORE,

1. Consent . Shareholder hereby consents to the assignment and assumption by Spark-Delaware of the Standstill Agreement, which will occur in connection with, and on the effective date of, the Scheme, and agrees that all provisions of the Standstill Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of Spark-Delaware.

2. No New Periods . The parties agree that this Consent to Assignment and Assumption does not reset any periods in the Standstill Agreement and that the determination of any period, including the Fourteenth Period, shall be based on the terms and date of the Standstill Agreement.

3. No Violation . The parties agree that Shareholder’s participation in the Scheme shall not be deemed a violation of the terms of the Standstill Agreement.

4. Miscellaneous . Article 6 of the Standstill Agreement is herein incorporated by this reference, including, but not limited to, the sections regarding Governing Law and Counterparts.


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Consent to Assignment and Assumption to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

 

Spark Networks plc
By:   /s/ Mark Thompson
Name:   Mark Thompson
Title:   Chief Financial Officer

 

Great Hill Equity Partners II, Limited Partnership
By:   Great Hill Partners GP II, LLC, its general partner
By:   /s/ Michael Kumin
Name:   Michael Kumin
Title:   Authorized Signatory

 

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EXHIBIT 10.3

CONSENT TO MODIFICATION OF OPTION SCHEMES

We, being Option Holders holding Options under the Spark Networks plc 2000 Unapproved Executive Share Option Scheme (the “2000 Option Scheme ”) to acquire at least 75% of the Shares which would be issued or transferred if all Options granted and subsisting under the 2000 Option Scheme were exercised (“ Option Holders ”, “ Options ” and “ Shares ” all having the meanings set out in the 2000 Option Scheme)

and

We, being Option Holders holding Options under the Spark Networks plc 2004 Share Option Scheme (the “ 2004 Option Scheme ”) to acquire at least 75% of the Shares which would be issued or transferred if all Options granted and subsisting under the 2004 Option Scheme were exercised (“ Option Holders” , “ Options ” and “ Shares ” all having the meanings set out in the 2004 Option Scheme)

CONSENT TO THE FOLLOWING MODIFICATIONS OF THE RULES OF THE 2000 OPTION SCHEME AND THE RULES OF THE 2004 OPTION SCHEME:

 

1. Upon the Scheme of Arrangement under section 425 of the UK Companies Act 1985 (as amended) set out in the Scheme Document filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on 25 April 2007 on the SEC website at www.sec.gov or on the website of Spark Networks plc at www.spark.net (the “ Scheme ”) taking effect, all outstanding Options under the 2000 Option Scheme and the 2004 Option Scheme shall be assumed by Spark Networks, Inc. and continue on the same terms and conditions except that:

 

  a) Options to acquire ordinary shares of £0.01 in the capital of Spark Networks plc shall have effect as if they were Options to acquire Spark Networks Inc. Common Shares;

 

  b)

All references throughout each Option Scheme to “the Company”, “the Directors”, “the Shares”, “the Auditors” shall be, respectively, references to


 

Spark Networks, Inc., the board of directors of Spark Networks, Inc. or a duly appointed committee of the directors of Spark Networks, Inc., Spark Networks, Inc. Common Shares and the auditors of Spark Networks, Inc.;

 

  c) in Clause 10 of each Option Scheme, references to an “Issue or Reorganisation” shall be to any issue or reorganisation as defined in Clause 1.1 of each Option Scheme save that references to “the Company” shall be references to Spark Networks, Inc.;

 

  d) to the extent necessary or advisable in the sole discretion of the Directors (as defined in the Rules of each Option Scheme) references in the Rules of each Option Scheme to any UK statute or other legislation shall refer to the most applicable laws of the State of Delaware or the United States as applied to each Option Scheme and Option Certificate.

 

2. For the avoidance of doubt, (a) the provisions of Clause 7.3 of each Option Scheme shall not accelerate the vesting of Options, and no Option shall vest at any earlier date than it would have vested had the Scheme not taken effect, and (b) Options that remain unexercised at the expiration of six months after the Scheme takes effect shall not lapse as a result of the Scheme taking effect, but continue to remain in existence.

SIGNED

by those Option Holders who have signed, dated and returned to the Company Consent Forms in the terms recorded on the CD-Rom accompanying this Consent, and whose names and signatures are recorded on such CD-Rom, such Consent Forms having been signed by:

 

1. such number of Option Holders as hold Options under the 2000 Option Scheme to acquire at least 75% of the ordinary shares of £0.01 in the capital of Spark Networks plc which would be issued or transferred if all Options granted and subsisting under the 2000 Option Scheme were exercised (“ Option Holders ”, “ Options ” and “ Shares ” all having the meanings set out in the 2000 Option Scheme); and


2. such number of Option Holders as hold Options under the 2004 Option Scheme to acquire at least 75% of the ordinary shares of £0.01 in the capital of Spark Networks plc which would be issued or transferred if all Options granted and subsisting under the 2004 Option Scheme were exercised (“ Option Holders” , “ Options ” and “ Shares ” all having the meanings set out in the 2004 Option Scheme).

COUNTER-SIGNED

as a record of the name and signatures of such Option Holders by

 

(signature)   /s/ Joshua A. Kreinberg.
Name   Joshua A. Kreinberg

The secretary of Spark Networks plc

Dated: June 13, 2007.

EXHIBIT 10.4

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

This Indemnification Agreement (this “ Agreement ”) is made as of July 9, 2007, by and between Spark Networks, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Corporation ”), and                              (the “ Indemnitee ”).

RECITALS

A. The Corporation recognizes that competent and experienced persons are increasingly reluctant to serve or to continue to serve as directors or officers of corporations unless they are protected by comprehensive liability insurance or indemnification, or both, due to increased exposure to litigation costs and risks resulting from their service to such corporations, and due to the fact that the exposure frequently bears no reasonable relationship to the compensation of such directors and officers;

B. The statutes and judicial decisions regarding the duties of directors and officers are often difficult to apply, ambiguous, or conflicting, and therefore fail to provide such directors and officers with adequate, reliable knowledge of legal risks to which they are exposed or information regarding the proper course of action to take;

C. The Corporation believes that the interests of the Corporation and its stockholders would best be served by a combination of liability insurance and indemnification by the Corporation of the directors and officers of the Corporation;

D. The Corporation’s Bylaws require the Corporation to indemnify its directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”);

E. Section 145 of the DGCL (“Section 145”), under which the Corporation is organized, empowers the Corporation to indemnify its officers, directors, employees and agents by agreement and to indemnify persons who serve, at the request of the Corporation, as the directors, officers, employees or agents of other corporations or enterprises, and expressly provides that the indemnification provided by Section 145 is not exclusive;

F. Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL allows a corporation to include in its certificate of incorporation a provision limiting or eliminating the personal liability of a director for monetary damages in respect of claims by shareholders and corporations for breach of certain fiduciary duties, and the Corporation has so provided in its Certificate of Incorporation that each Director shall be exculpated from such liability to the maximum extent permitted by law;

G. The Board of Directors has determined that contractual indemnification as set forth herein is not only reasonable and prudent but also promotes the best interests of the Corporation and its stockholders; and


H. Indemnitee is willing to serve, continue to serve or to provide additional service for or on behalf of the Corporation on the condition that he is furnished the indemnity provided for herein.

AGREEMENT

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth below, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

Section 1. Certain Definitions

(a) Acquiring Person : shall mean any person other than: (i) the Corporation; (ii) any of the Corporation’s Subsidiaries; (iii) any employee benefit plan of the Corporation or of a Subsidiary of the Corporation or of a corporation owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the Corporation in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Corporation; or (iv) any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Corporation or of a Subsidiary of the Corporation or of a corporation owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the Corporation in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Corporation.

(b) Change in Control : shall be deemed to have occurred if: (i) any Acquiring Person is, or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 and 14d-1 under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Corporation representing 50% or more of the combined voting power or more of the then outstanding voting securities of the Corporation; or (ii) any reverse merger in which the Corporation is the surviving entity but in which securities possessing 50% or more of the total combined voting power of the Corporation’s outstanding securities are transferred to a person or persons different from those who held such securities immediately prior to such merger; or (iv) the stockholders of the Corporation approve a plan of complete liquidation of the Corporation or an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Corporation of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s assets (or, if no such approval is required, the consummation of such a liquidation, sale, or disposition in one transaction or series of related transactions) other than a liquidation, sale, or disposition of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s assets in one transaction or a series of related transactions to a corporation owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the Corporation in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Corporation.

(c) Corporation : shall include, in addition to the resulting corporation, any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors, officers, and employees or agents, so that if Indemnitee is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such constituent corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, Indemnitee shall stand in the

 

2


same position under the provisions of this Agreement with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as Indemnitee would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued.

(d) Reserved

(e) Indemnifiable Event : any event or occurrence related to the fact that Indemnitee is or was a director, officer, employee, agent, or fiduciary of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee, trustee, agent, or fiduciary of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, employee benefit plan, trust, or other enterprise, or by reason of anything done or not done by Indemnitee in any such capacity. For purposes of this Agreement, the Corporation agrees that Indemnitee’s service on behalf of or with respect to any Subsidiary of the Corporation shall be deemed to be at the request of the Corporation.

(f) Independent Legal Counsel : shall include special, independent counsel selected by Indemnitee and approved by the Corporation (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld), and who has not otherwise performed services for the Corporation or for Indemnitee within the last five years (other than as Independent Legal Counsel under this Agreement or similar agreements). Independent Legal Counsel shall not be any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Corporation or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement, nor shall Independent Legal Counsel be any person who has been sanctioned or censured for ethical violations of applicable standards of professional conduct.

(g) Other Enterprises : shall include employee benefit plans; references to “ fines ” shall include any excise taxes assessed on Indemnitee with respect to an employee benefit plan; and references to “ serving at the request of the Corporation ” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer or employee with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants, or beneficiaries; and if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan, Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “ not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation ” as referred to in this Agreement.

(h) Reviewing Party : any appropriate person or body consisting of a member or members of the Corporation’s Board of Directors or any other person or body appointed by the Board who is not a party to the particular claim for which Indemnitee is seeking indemnification or Independent Legal Counsel.

 

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Section 2. Generally .

To the fullest extent permitted by the laws of the State of Delaware:

(a) The Corporation shall indemnify, in the manner and to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware Law (but in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than permitted prior thereto), any person (or the estate of any person) who is or was a party to, or is threatened to be made a party to, any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether or not by or in the right of the Corporation, and whether civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or otherwise, by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director or officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise. For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing indemnification obligation includes, without limitation, claims for monetary damages against Indemnitee in respect of an alleged breach of fiduciary duties, to the fullest extent permitted under Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL as in existence on the date hereof.

(b) Subject to the limitation of Section 7 herein, to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware Law, the indemnification provided by this Section 2 shall include expenses as incurred (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement and any such expenses shall be paid by the Corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the person seeking indemnification to repay such amounts if it is ultimately determined that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified. Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of this Article, no advance shall be made by the Corporation if a determination is reasonably and promptly made by the Board by a majority vote of a quorum of disinterested Directors, or (if such a quorum is not obtainable or, even if obtainable, a quorum of disinterested Directors so directs) by Independent Legal Counsel to the Corporation, that, based upon the facts known to the Board or such counsel at the time such determination is made, (a) the party seeking an advance acted in bad faith or deliberately breached his or her duty to the Corporation or its stockholders, and (b) as a result of such actions by the party seeking an advance, it is more likely than not that it will ultimately be determined that such party is not entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Agreement.

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2, in the case of any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or while serving as a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving or has agreed to serve at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which Indemnitee shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Corporation unless, and only to the extent that, the Delaware Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Delaware Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.

 

4


(d) The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner which Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful.

Section 3. Successful Defense; Partial Indemnification .

(a) Successful Defense. To the extent that Indemnitee has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in Section 2 hereof or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, Indemnitee shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred in connection therewith. For purposes of this Agreement and without limiting the foregoing, if any action, suit or proceeding is disposed of, on the merits or otherwise (including a disposition without prejudice), without (i) the disposition being adverse to Indemnitee, (ii) an adjudication that Indemnitee was liable to the Corporation, (iii) a plea of guilty or nolo contendere by Indemnitee, (iv) an adjudication that Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and (v) with respect to any criminal proceeding, an adjudication that Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful, Indemnitee shall be considered for the purposes hereof to have been wholly successful with respect thereto.

(b) Partial Indemnification. If Indemnitee is entitled under any provision of this Agreement to indemnification by the Corporation for some or a portion of the expenses, judgments, fines or penalties actually or reasonably incurred in the investigation, defense, appeal or settlement of any civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding, but not, however, for the total amount thereof, the Corporation shall nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee for the portion of such expenses, judgments, fines or penalties to which Indemnitee is entitled.

Section 4. Indemnification Procedure .

(a) Notice/Cooperation by Indemnitee . Indemnitee shall, as a condition precedent to his or her right to be indemnified under this Agreement, give the Corporation notice as soon as practicable of any claim made against Indemnitee for which indemnification will or could be sought under this Agreement. Notice to the Corporation shall be directed to the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation and shall be given in accordance with the provisions of Section 12(d) below. In addition, Indemnitee shall give the Corporation such information and cooperation as it may reasonably require and as shall be within Indemnitee’s power.

(b) Procedure . Any indemnification and advances provided for in Section 2 and Section 3 shall be made no later than thirty (30) days after receipt of the request of Indemnitee. If a claim under this Agreement, under any statute, or under any provision of the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws providing for indemnification, is not paid in full by the Corporation within thirty (30) days after a request for payment thereof has first been

 

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received by the Corporation, Indemnitee may, but need not, at any time thereafter bring an action against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim and, subject to Section 11 of this Agreement, Indemnitee shall also be entitled to be paid for the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) of bringing such action. It shall be a defense to any such action (other than an action brought to enforce a claim for expenses incurred in connection with any action, suit or proceeding in advance of its final disposition) that Indemnitee has not met the standards of conduct which make it permissible under applicable law for the Corporation to indemnify Indemnitee for the amount claimed, but the burden of proving such defense shall be on the Corporation and Indemnitee shall be entitled to receive interim payments of expenses pursuant to Section 2(b) unless and until such defense may be finally adjudicated by court order or judgment from which no further right of appeal exists. It is the parties’ intention that if the Corporation contests Indemnitee’s right to indemnification, the question of Indemnitee’s right to indemnification shall be for the court to decide, and neither the failure of the Corporation (including its Board of Directors, any committee or subgroup of the Board of Directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) to have made a determination that indemnification of Indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct required by applicable law, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including its Board of Directors, any committee or subgroup of the Board of Directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) that Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall create a presumption that Indemnitee has or has not met the applicable standard of conduct.

(c) Notice to Insurers . If, at the time of the receipt of a notice of a claim pursuant to Section 4(a) hereof, the Corporation has director and officer liability insurance in effect, the Corporation shall give prompt notice of the commencement of such proceeding to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the respective policies. The Corporation shall thereafter take all necessary or desirable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of the Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such proceeding in accordance with the terms of such policies.

(d) Selection of Counsel . In the event the Corporation shall be obligated under Section 2(b) hereof to pay the expenses of any proceeding against Indemnitee, the Corporation, if appropriate, shall be entitled to assume the defense of such proceeding, with counsel approved by Indemnitee, upon the delivery to Indemnitee of written notice of its election so to do. After delivery of such notice, approval of such counsel by Indemnitee and the retention of such counsel by the Corporation, the Corporation will not be liable to Indemnitee under this Agreement for any fees of counsel subsequently incurred by Indemnitee with respect to the same proceeding, provided that (i) Indemnitee shall have the right to employ counsel in any such proceeding at Indemnitee’s expense; and (ii) if (A) the employment of counsel by Indemnitee has been previously authorized by the Corporation, (B) Indemnitee shall have reasonably concluded that there may be a conflict of interest between the Corporation and Indemnitee in the conduct of any such defense or (C) the Corporation shall not, in fact, have employed counsel to assume the defense of such proceeding, then the fees and expenses of Indemnitee’s counsel shall be at the expense of the Corporation.

 

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Section 5. Additional Indemnification Rights; Nonexclusivity .

(a) Scope . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Corporation hereby agrees to indemnify the Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by law, notwithstanding that such indemnification is not specifically authorized by the other provisions of this Agreement, the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation, and the Corporation’s Bylaws or by statute. In the event of any change, after the date of this Agreement, in any applicable law, statute, or rule which expands the right of a Delaware corporation to indemnify a member of its board of directors or an officer, such changes shall be deemed to be within the purview of Indemnitee’s rights and the Corporation’s obligations under this Agreement. In the event of any change in any applicable law, statute or rule which narrows the right of a Delaware corporation to indemnify a member of its board of directors or an officer, such changes, to the extent not otherwise required by such law, statute or rule to be applied to this Agreement shall have no effect on this Agreement or the parties’ rights and obligations hereunder.

(b) Nonexclusivity . The indemnification provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any rights to which Indemnitee may be entitled under the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation, its Bylaws, any agreement, any vote of stockholders or disinterested members of the Corporation’s Board of Directors, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, or otherwise, both as to action in Indemnitee’s official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office. The indemnification provided under this Agreement shall continue as to Indemnitee for any action taken or not taken while serving in an indemnified capacity even though he or she may have ceased to serve in any such capacity at the time of any action, suit or other covered proceeding.

Section 6. Change in Control . The Corporation agrees that, if there is a Change in Control and if Indemnitee requests in writing that Independent Legal Counsel advise the Reviewing Party or be the Reviewing Party, then the Corporation shall not deny any indemnification payments (and Expense Advances shall continue to be paid by the Corporation pursuant to Section 2(b)) that Indemnitee requests or demands under this Agreement or any other agreement or law now or hereafter in effect relating to Claims for Indemnifiable Events. The Corporation further agrees not to request or seek reimbursement from Indemnitee of any related Expense Advances unless, with respect to a denied indemnification payment, Independent Legal Counsel has rendered its written opinion to the Corporation and Indemnitee that the Corporation would not be permitted under applicable law to pay Indemnitee such indemnification payment. The Corporation agrees to pay the reasonable fees of Independent Legal Counsel referred to in this Section 11 and to indemnify fully Independent Legal Counsel against any and all expenses (including attorneys’ fees), claims, liabilities, and damages arising out of or relating to this Agreement or Independent Legal Counsel’s engagement pursuant hereto.

Section 7. Mutual Acknowledgment of Limitations . Both the Corporation and Indemnitee acknowledge that in certain instances, Federal law or public policy may override applicable state law and prohibit the Corporation from indemnifying its directors and officers under this Agreement or otherwise. For example, the Corporation and Indemnitee acknowledge that the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ SEC ”) has taken the position that indemnification is not permissible for liabilities arising under certain federal securities laws, and

 

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federal legislation prohibits indemnification for certain ERISA violations. Indemnitee understands and acknowledges that the Corporation has undertaken or may be required in the future to undertake with the SEC not to indemnify Indemnitee or to submit the question of indemnification to a court in certain circumstances for a determination of the Corporation’s right under public policy to indemnify Indemnitee. The Board of Directors, in its dole discretion, may withhold indemnification if it has reasonable belief that such indemnification would be contrary to public policy.

Section 8. Officer and Director Liability Insurance . The Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware Law, may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any such person against any liability which may be asserted against such person. The Corporation shall, from time to time, make the good faith determination whether or not it is practicable for the Corporation to obtain and maintain a policy or policies of insurance with reputable insurance companies providing the officers and directors of the Corporation with coverage for losses from wrongful acts, or to ensure the Corporation’s performance of its indemnification obligations under this Agreement. Among other considerations, the Corporation will weigh the costs of obtaining such insurance coverage against the protection afforded by such coverage. In all policies of director and officer liability insurance, Indemnitee shall be named as an insured in such a manner as to provide Indemnitee the same rights and benefits as are accorded to the most favorably insured of the Corporation’s directors, if Indemnitee is a director; or of the Corporation’s officers, if Indemnitee is not a director of the Corporation but is an officer; or of the Corporation’s key employees, if Indemnitee is not an officer or director but is a key employee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation shall have no obligation to obtain or maintain such insurance if the Corporation determines in good faith that such insurance is not reasonably available, if the premium costs for such insurance are disproportionate to the amount of coverage provided, if the coverage provided by such insurance is limited by exclusions so as to provide an insufficient benefit, or if Indemnitee is covered by similar insurance maintained by a parent or subsidiary of the Corporation. Further, the Corporation may create a trust fund, grant a security interest or use other means (including without limitation a letter of credit) to ensure the payment of such sums as may become necessary or desirable to effect the indemnification as provided herein.

Section 9. Severability . Nothing in this Agreement is intended to require or shall be construed as requiring the Corporation to do or fail to do any act in violation of applicable law or against public policy as described in Section 7. The Corporation’s inability, pursuant to court order, to perform its obligations under this Agreement shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement. The provisions of this Agreement shall be severable as provided in this Section 9. If this Agreement or any portion hereof shall be invalidated or against public policy on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction or other federal agency, then the Corporation shall nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee to the full extent permitted by any applicable portion of this Agreement that shall not have been invalidated, and the balance of this Agreement not so invalidated shall be enforceable in accordance with its terms.

Section 10. Exceptions . Any other provision herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the Corporation shall not be obligated pursuant to the terms of this Agreement:

(a) Lack of Good Faith. To indemnify Indemnitee for any expenses incurred by Indemnitee with respect to any proceeding instituted by Indemnitee to enforce or interpret this Agreement, if a court of competent jurisdiction determines that each of the material assertions made by Indemnitee in such proceeding was not made in good faith or was frivolous;

 

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(b) Duty of Loyalty. To indemnify Indemnitee for any expenses incurred by Indemnitee for any breach of the Indemnitee’s duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its Stockholders;

(c) Unlawful Payments of Dividends . To indemnify Indemnitee for any expenses incurred by Indemnitee for unlawful payments of dividends or unlawful stock repurchases, redemptions or other distributions; or

(d) Personal Benefits . To indemnify Indemnitee for expenses or the payment of profits arising from the purchase and sale by Indemnitee of securities in violation of Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any similar successor statute or any other personal benefits.

Section 11. Attorneys’ Fees . In the event that any action is instituted by Indemnitee under this Agreement to enforce or interpret any of the terms hereof, Indemnitee shall be entitled to be paid all court costs and expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, incurred by Indemnitee with respect to such action, unless as a part of such action, the court of competent jurisdiction determines that each of the material assertions made by Indemnitee as a basis for such action were not made in good faith or were frivolous. In the event of an action instituted by or in the name of the Corporation under this Agreement or to enforce or interpret any of the terms of this Agreement, Indemnitee shall be entitled to be paid all court costs and expenses, including attorneys’ fees, incurred by Indemnitee in defense of such action (including with respect to Indemnitee’s counterclaims and cross-claims made in such action), unless as a part of such action the court determines that each of Indemnitee’s material defenses to such action were made in bad faith or were frivolous.

Section 12. Miscellaneous.

(a) Governing Law . This Agreement and all acts and transactions pursuant hereto and the rights and obligations of the parties hereto shall be governed, construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to principles of conflicts of law.

(b) Entire Agreement; Enforcement of Rights . This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement and understanding of the parties relating to the subject matter herein and merges all prior discussions between them. No modification of or amendment to this Agreement, nor any waiver of any rights under this Agreement, shall be effective unless in writing signed by the parties to this Agreement. The failure by either party to enforce any rights under this Agreement shall not be construed as a waiver of any rights of such party.

 

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(c) Construction . This Agreement is the result of negotiations between and has been reviewed by each of the parties hereto and their respective counsel, if any; accordingly, this Agreement shall be deemed to be the product of all of the parties hereto, and no ambiguity shall be construed in favor of or against any one of the parties hereto.

(d) Notices . Any notice, demand or request required or permitted to be given under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed sufficient when delivered personally or sent by fax or 48 hours after being sent by nationally-recognized courier or deposited in the U.S. mail, as certified or registered mail, with postage prepaid, and addressed to the party to be notified at such party’s address or fax number as set forth below or as subsequently modified by written notice.

(e) Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which together shall constitute one instrument.

(f) Successors and Assigns . This Agreement shall be binding upon the Corporation and its successors and assigns, and inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and Indemnitee’s heirs, legal representatives and assigns.

(g) Subrogation . In the event of payment under this Agreement, the Corporation shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee, who shall execute all documents required and shall do all acts that may be necessary to secure such rights and to enable the Corporation to effectively bring suit to enforce such rights.

(h) No Construction as Employment Agreement . Nothing contained herein shall be construed as giving Indemnitee any right to be retained in the employ of the Corporation of any of its Subsidiaries.

(i) Headings . The headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. Pronouns shall be construed to include the masculine, feminine, neuter, singular and plural as the context requires.

(j) No Duplication of Payment . The Corporation shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment in connection with any claim made against Indemnitee to the extent Indemnitee has otherwise actually received payment (under any insurance policy, provision of the Corporation’s charter or Bylaws or otherwise) of the amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder

(k) Period of Limitation . No legal action shall be brought and no cause of action shall be asserted by or on behalf of the Corporation or any affiliate of the Corporation against Indemnitee or Indemnitee’s spouse, heirs, executors, or personal or legal representatives after the expiration of three years from the date of accrual of that cause of action, and any claim or cause of action of the Corporation or its affiliate shall be extinguished and deemed released unless asserted by the timely filing of a legal action within that three-year period; provided, however, that, if any shorter period of limitations is otherwise applicable to any such cause of action, the shorter period shall govern.

 

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(l) Establishment of Trust . In the event of a potential Change in Control, the Corporation shall, upon written request by Indemnitee, create a trust for the benefit of Indemnitee (the “Trust”) and from time to time upon written request of Indemnitee the Corporation shall fund the Trust in an amount sufficient to satisfy any and all expenses reasonably anticipated at the time of each such request to be incurred in connection with investigating, preparing for, and defending any claim relating to an Indemnifiable Event, and any and all judgments, fines, penalties, and settlement amounts of any and all Claims relating to an Indemnifiable Event from time to time actually paid or claimed, reasonably anticipated, or proposed to be paid. The amount or amounts to be deposited in the Trust pursuant to the foregoing funding obligation shall be determined by the Reviewing Party, in any situation in which Independent Legal Counsel referred to in Section 6 is involved. The terms of the Trust shall provide that, upon a Change in Control, (i) the Trust shall not be revoked or the principal thereof invaded, without the written consent of Indemnitee; (ii) the trustee of the Trust shall advance, within thirty (30) business days of a request by Indemnitee, any and all expenses to Indemnitee (and Indemnitee hereby agrees to reimburse the Trust under the circumstances in which Indemnitee would be required to reimburse the Corporation for advances of expenses under Section 2(b) of this Agreement); (iii) the Trust shall continue to be funded by the Corporation in accordance with the funding obligation set forth above; (iv) the trustee of the Trust shall promptly pay to Indemnitee all amounts for which Indemnitee shall be entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise; and (v) all unexpended funds in that Trust shall revert to the Corporation upon a final determination by the Reviewing Party or a court of competent jurisdiction, as the case may be, that Indemnitee has been fully indemnified under the terms of this Agreement. The trustee of the Trust shall be chosen by Indemnitee. Nothing in this Section 12(l) shall relieve the Corporation of any of its obligations under this Agreement. All income earned on the assets held in the trust shall be reported as income by the Corporation for federal, state, local and foreign tax purposes.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered to be effective as of the date first above written.

 

Spark Networks, Inc.
By  

 

Name:  
Title:  
INDEMNITEE:
By  

 

Name:  

 

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EXHIBIT 10.4(a)

List of Officers and Directors Entering Into Indemnification Agreements

 

Name

  

Position

Adam S. Berger    Chief Executive Officer and Director
Gregory R. Liberman    President and Chief Operating Officer
Mark G. Thompson    Chief Financial Officer
Joshua A. Kreinberg    General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
David E. Siminoff    Chairman of the board of directors
Gregory J. Franchina    Chief Information Officer
Michael E. Brown    Director
Jonathan B. Bulkeley    Director
Benjamin A. Derhy    Director
Christopher S. Gaffney    Director
Laura B. Lauder    Director
Michael a. Kumin    Director
Scott M. Sassa    Director

EXHIBIT 10.5

EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

THIS EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (“Agreement”), effective as of July 2, 2007, is entered into by and between Spark Networks plc, a company organized under the laws of England and Wales (the “Company”), with its principal office at 8383 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 800, Beverly Hills, California 90211, and Joshua A. Kreinberg, an individual residing at the address set forth in the employment records of the Company (the “Executive”).

In consideration of the promises and the respective covenants and agreements of the parties herein contained, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1. Employment :

The Company hereby agrees to employ Executive, and Executive hereby agrees to serve the Company, on the terms and conditions set forth herein.

2. Term :

This Agreement is effective as of the date first set forth above (the “Commencement Date”) and will continue indefinitely, subject to the termination provisions as set forth in paragraph 5.

3. Position and Duties :

Executive shall serve as General Counsel and Company Secretary and shall report directly to the CEO of the Company. The Executive shall be located in the Company’s Beverly Hills, CA office and the Executive shall have such duties and responsibilities as are commensurate with his position, and any reasonable and appropriate additional responsibilities and authority as may be from time to time assigned to Executive by the Company. Executive shall devote substantially all his working time and efforts to the business affairs of the Company, provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive may (i) make and manage personal business investments of his choice subject to the Company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and disclosure requirements under applicable law, (ii) serve as a director of any business enterprise with the prior written consent of the Company’s CEO, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, and (iii) serve in any capacity with any civic, educational, religious or charitable organization, or any governmental entity or trade association provided such activity does not affect Executive’s ability to perform his role. From time to time the Company may assign the Executive to work in other departments of the Company, or for a subsidiary, affiliated, or holding company, in a materially similar position with materially similar duties and responsibilities.

4. Compensation and Related Matters :

(a)  Salary : The Company shall pay to Executive an annual salary at a rate of not less than $215,000 per year (the “Base Salary”), paid in accordance with the Company’s regular and normal payroll practices and withholdings. As set forth in Executive’s offer letter with the Company, Executive will be entitled to: (1) a one time bonus of $25,000 upon the Company’s

 

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successful completion of a scheme of arrangement and listing of the Company’s (or an affiliate’s) securities on a national stock exchange (or the NASDAQ National Market System) in the United States (through the process approved by the Company’s Board of Directors on January 19, 2006) and (2) a one time bonus of $10,000 payable in January 2008 assuming all of the Company’s (and its affiliates’) SEC filings in 2007 are successfully made in a timely manner. In addition, Executive shall be eligible for annual bonuses and salary increase reviews in accordance with the normal customs and practices of the Company.

(b)  Vacation : In addition to legal holidays observed by the Company, Executive shall be entitled to fifteen (15) days of paid vacation per year (which is equivalent to seventeen (17) days of paid-time-off (“PTO”) under the Company’s current PTO policy), subject to the applicable maximum cap on accrual and other standard vacation policies of the Company. The Company may grant Executive advances against future vacation accruals at Executive’s request. Upon termination of Employment, unused vacation days will be paid out to Executive on the date of termination based on the accrued amount of vacation compensation due to Executive.

(c)  Expenses : During the term of Executive’s employment hereunder, Executive shall be entitled to receive prompt reimbursement for all reasonable expenses incurred by Executive in performing services hereunder, including all expenses for travel and living expenses while away from home on business or at the request of and in the service of the Company, provided that such expenses are incurred and accounted for in accordance with the policies and procedures established by the Company.

(d)  Health, and Other Benefits : The Company shall keep in full force and effect, and Executive shall be entitled to continue to participate in, all of the Company’s Executive benefit plans or arrangements, including without limitation health insurance, providing Executive and his immediate family with at least equal benefits thereunder. The Company shall not make any changes in such plans and arrangements which would adversely affect Executive’s rights or benefits thereunder, unless such change occurs pursuant to a program applicable to all Executives of the Company and does not result in a proportionately greater reduction in the rights of or benefits to Executive as compared with any other Executives of the Company.

(e)  Options : Executive shall retain all share options previously awarded to Executive and such options shall be exercisable on the terms set forth in any option agreements or certificates relating thereto. In addition, on the Commencement Date, in connection with the execution of this Agreement, the Company shall issue to Executive options to purchase 70,000 of the Company’s ordinary shares (the “Options”). The exercise price per share of the Options will be equal to the fair market value per share, as quoted on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, on the Commencement Date. Twenty-five percent (25%) of the Options shall vest and become exercisable on April 1, 2008 (“Initial Vesting Date”) and thereafter six-and-a-quarter percent (6.25%) of the Options shall vest and become exercisable at the end of each three-month period following the Initial Vesting Date, such that all of the Options shall be vested and exercisable as of the third anniversary of the Initial Vesting Date. In addition, the Options will contain a “Change of Control Provision” whereby all unvested Options will vest if any person acquires a vested interest in more than 50% of the Company’s shares (except in the case of a scheme of arrangement (“Scheme”) pursuant to Section 425 of the Companies Act 1985 for the purpose of

 

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establishing the Company as a wholly owned subsidiary of Spark Networks, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Inc”) whereby upon the Scheme taking effect each of the shareholders of the Company receive shares in Inc in the same proportions as they held shares in the Company immediately before the Scheme took effect) (a “Change of Control”). However, in the event a successor company desires to retain Executive’s services for the one-year period following a Change of Control, such acceleration of unvested Options and the payment of any proceeds from such option acceleration shall occur in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth under Section 5(g) below. Executive shall be required to sign an option certificate between Executive and the Company and the vesting and exercise of the Options shall be subject to the terms of such option certificate and the Company’s 2004 Share Option Scheme.

5. Termination and Severance :

(a) Termination without Cause . The Company may terminate this Agreement without Cause by giving thirty (30) days written notice to the Executive. The Executive may terminate this Agreement without Good Reason by giving thirty (30) days written notice to the Company.

(b) Termination upon Death or Disability . Executive’s employment hereunder shall terminate upon his death. If, as a result of Executive’s incapacity due to physical or mental illness, as reasonably and in good faith determined by the Board, Executive shall have been absent from his duties hereunder on a full-time basis for the entire period of three consecutive months, and within thirty (30) days after written notice of termination is given (which may occur before or after the end of such three-month period), Executive shall not have returned to the performance of his duties hereunder on a full-time basis, the Company may terminate Executive’s employment hereunder.

(c) Termination by the Company for Cause . The Company may terminate this Agreement for “Cause” at any time. For purposes of this Agreement “Cause” shall mean and include only: (i) a material misappropriation of any monies or assets or properties of the Company, (ii) a material breach by the Executive of the terms of this Agreement that has not been cured within thirty (30) days after written notice to the Executive of such breach, (iii) the conviction of, or plea of guilty or nolo contendere, by the Executive to a felony or to any criminal offense involving the Executive’s moral turpitude or (iv) gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Executive in connection with the material duties required by this Agreement.

(d) Termination by Executive for Good Reason . The Executive may terminate this Agreement for “Good Reason” at any time. Good Reason shall include (i) Company’s requirement that Executive relocate to a location in excess of fifty (50) miles from Company’s current office location in Beverly Hills, CA; (ii) Executive’s Base Salary is reduced by the Company or unpaid by the Company if earned and payable, or the terms and conditions for stock option agreements are not fully complied with by the Company; or (iii) any material breach by Company of this Agreement which is not cured within thirty (30) days of written notice thereof by Executive to Company.

(e) Severance Pay . If Company terminates this Agreement without Cause under Section 5(a) or if Executive terminates this Agreement for Good Reason under Section 5(d), Executive shall be

 

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entitled to receive severance pay from Company for a period of six (6) months following termination payable in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll cycle; provided, however, that Executive executes a Separation Agreement that includes a general mutual release by the Company and Executive in favor of the other and their successors, affiliates, and estates to the fullest extent permitted by law, drafted by and in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Company and Executive, and Executive does not revoke the mutual general release within any legally required revocation period, if applicable. The amount of severance pay to be paid to Executive each month shall be equal to Executive’s monthly salary under Section 4(a) in effect at the time the Agreement is terminated. All legally required and authorized deductions and tax withholdings shall be made from such severance pay, including for wage garnishments, if applicable, to the extent required or permitted by law.

(f) Return of Company Property following Termination . Upon termination for whatever reason, the Executive shall return all books, documents, papers, materials and any other property of the Company, including any Company vehicles (including the documentation pertaining thereto), which may be in the Executive’s possession or under the Executive’s power or control.

(g) Continuation of Employment after Change of Control . In the event a successor company desires to retain Executive’s services for the one-year period following a Change of Control on all of the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, this Agreement shall continue to remain in force and effect and any cash or other proceeds received by Executive with respect to fifty percent (50%) of Executive’s options the vesting of which were accelerated under Section 4(e) by reason of the Change of Control (the “Accelerated Proceeds”) shall be deposited in an escrow (the “Escrow”) with an independent escrow holder to be held for Executive’s benefit pursuant to an escrow agreement which shall provide that (i) if Executive’s employment with the successor company is terminated during the one-year period following the Change of Control by the successor company for Cause or by Executive without Good Reason, Executive shall forfeit the Accelerated Proceeds (and any earnings thereon) and they shall be paid to the predecessor company immediately, and (ii) the Accelerated Proceeds (and any earnings thereon) shall be paid to Executive immediately upon earlier of (x) the first anniversary of the Change of Control if Executive maintains continuous employment with the successor company throughout the one-year period following such Change of Control date, or (y) the date of Executive’s termination of employment with the successor company if Executive’s employment is terminated for any reason other than by the successor company for Cause or by Executive without Good Reason. Any taxes due on the Accelerated Proceeds shall be withheld and paid from the Escrow at the appropriate time.

6. No Solicitation :

As consideration for the Company to enter into this Agreement and for the eligibility to receive any severance pay pursuant to Section 5(e), Executive agrees that he shall not, for a period of twelve (12) months following the termination of this Agreement, for whatever reason, directly, either as a principal, agent, employee, employer, shareholder, partner, or in any other capacity, solicit or attempt to cause any customer of the Company (or any subsidiary, affiliated, or holding companies) not to do business with the Company, nor shall the Executive directly and knowingly solicit or attempt to solicit for employment, employ or disaffect any other employee of the

 

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Company (or any subsidiary, affiliated, or holding companies), other than through normal recruiting efforts applied generally to the public. In the event of a breach or threatened breach by Executive of any of the provisions of this paragraph, the Company, in addition to and not in limitation of any rights, remedies or damages available to the Company at law or in equity, shall be entitled to injunctive relief in order to prevent or to restrain any such breach by Executive or by Executive’s partners, agents, representatives, servants, employers, employees and/or any and all persons directly or indirectly acting for or with him.

7. Confidentiality :

Executive acknowledges that, in and as a result of his employment hereunder, he will be making use of, acquiring, and/or adding to the confidential information of special and unique nature and value relating to such matters as the Company’s non-public trade secrets, systems, procedures, manuals, customer information, confidential reports and lists of clients, as well as the nature and type of services rendered by the Company and the equipment and methods used by the Company (collectively the “Confidential Information”). As a material inducement to the Company to enter into this Agreement, and to pay to Executive the compensation referred to in this Agreement, Executive covenants and agrees that he shall not, at any time during or following the term of his employment hereunder, directly, divulge or disclose, or use for any purpose whatsoever, any of such Confidential Information which has been obtained by or disclosed to him as a result of his employment by the Company, except to the extent necessary to perform Executive’s obligations to the Company or pursuant to the final, binding order or requirement of a court, administrative agency or other governmental body, provided Executive has provided Company with reasonable opportunity to oppose such order or requirement. Confidential Information does not include any information that has become publicly and widely known and made generally available through no wrongful act of Executive. In the event of a breach or threatened breach by Executive of any of the provisions of this paragraph, the Company, in addition to and not in limitation of any rights, remedies or damages available to the Company at law or in equity shall be entitled to injunctive relief in order to prevent or to restrain any such breach by Executive, or by Executive’s partners, agents, representatives, servants, employers, employees and/or any and all persons directly or indirectly acting for or with him.

8. Ownership and Work Product :

The ownership, copyright, and any other rights to any intellectual property (including any business methods) developed by Executive during the performance of his duties for the Company under this Agreement shall be considered “Works for Hire” and shall be the sole property of the Company.

9. Notice :

For the purposes of this Agreement, notices, demands and all other communications provided for in the Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered or (unless otherwise specified) mailed by registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as set forth above, or to such other address as any party may have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith, except that notices of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt.

 

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10. Miscellaneous :

(a) The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of California. The parties consent to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the federal and state courts located in Los Angeles County, California.

(b) Paragraphs 4(e), 5, 6, 7, 10, and 11 of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

(c) No provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing and signed by Executive and Company. This Agreement supersedes any other prior agreements or representations, oral or otherwise, express or implied, with respect to the subject matter hereof.

11. Successors and Assigns :

The Company may assign this Agreement to any successor company or entity; provided, that the Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company to expressly assume and agree to perform the provisions hereunder in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place. Executive may not assign this Agreement to any other person or entity, provided that upon Executive’s death, Executive’s named beneficiaries, estate or heirs, as the case may be, shall succeed to all of Executive’s rights under this Agreement.

12. Validity :

The validity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the parties have executed this Agreement on the date and year written below.

 

SPARK NETWORKS PLC
By:   /s/ Adam S. Berger
 

Adam S. Berger

Chief Executive Officer

 

EXECUTIVE
/s/ Joshua A. Kreinberg
Joshua A. Kreinberg

 

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EXHIBIT 10.6

SPARK NETWORKS, INC.

2007 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN

Effective July 9, 2007


SPARK NETWORKS, INC.

2007 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN

ARTICLE I

PURPOSE AND ADOPTION OF THE PLAN

1.01. Purpose . The purpose of the Spark Networks, Inc. 2007 Incentive Plan (as amended from time to time, the “Plan”) is to assist in attracting and retaining highly competent employees, directors and consultants to act as an incentive in motivating selected employees, directors and consultants of the Company and its Subsidiaries to achieve long-term corporate objectives and to enable stock-based and cash-based incentive awards to qualify as performance-based compensation for purposes of the tax deduction limitations under Section 162(m) of the Code.

1.02. Adoption and Term . The Plan has been approved by the Board to be effective as of July 9, 2007, subject to the approval of the stockholders of the Company. The Plan shall remain in effect until terminated by action of the Board; provided, however, that no Awards may be granted hereunder after the tenth anniversary of its initial effective date.

ARTICLE II

DEFINITIONS

For the purpose of this Plan, capitalized terms shall have the following meanings:

2.01. Award means any one or a combination of Non-Qualified Stock Options or Incentive Stock Options described in Article VI, Stock Appreciation Rights described in Article VI, Restricted Shares and Restricted Stock Units described in Article VII, Performance Awards described in Article VIII, other stock-based Awards described in Article IX, short-term cash incentive Awards described in Article X or any other Award made under the terms of the Plan.

2.02. Award Agreement means a written agreement between the Company and a Participant or a written acknowledgment from the Company to a Participant specifically setting forth the terms and conditions of an Award granted under the Plan.

2.03. Award Period means, with respect to an Award, the period of time, if any, set forth in the Award Agreement during which specified target performance goals must be achieved or other conditions set forth in the Award Agreement must be satisfied.

2.04. Beneficiary means an individual, trust or estate who or which, by a written designation of the Participant filed with the Company, or if no such written designation is filed, by operation of law, succeeds to the rights and obligations of the Participant under the Plan and the Award Agreement upon the Participant’s death.

2.05. Board means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

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2.06. Change in Control means, and shall be deemed to have occurred upon the occurrence of, any one of the following events:

(a) The acquisition in one or more transactions, other than from the Company, by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act), other than the Company, a Subsidiary or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or a Subsidiary, of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of a number of Company Voting Securities in excess of 25% of the Company Voting Securities unless such acquisition has been approved by the Board;

(b) Any election has occurred of persons to the Board that causes two-thirds of the Board to consist of persons other than (i) persons who were members of the Board on the effective date of the Plan and (ii) persons who were nominated for elections as members of the Board at a time when two-thirds of the Board consisted of persons who were members of the Board on the effective date of the Plan, provided, however, that any person nominated for election by a Board at least two-thirds of whom constituted persons described in clauses (i) and/or (ii) or by persons who were themselves nominated by such Board shall, for this purpose, be deemed to have been nominated by a Board composed of persons described in clause (i);

(c) The consummation ( i.e. closing) of a reorganization, merger or consolidation involving the Company, unless, following such reorganization, merger or consolidation, all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the respective beneficial owners of the Outstanding Common Stock and Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such reorganization, merger or consolidation, following such reorganization, merger or consolidation beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than seventy five percent (75%) of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors or trustees, as the case may be, of the entity resulting from such reorganization, merger or consolidation in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of the Outstanding Common Stock and Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such reorganization, merger or consolidation, as the case may be;

(d) The consummation ( i.e. closing) of a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all the assets of the Company, unless, following such sale or disposition, all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the respective beneficial owners of the Outstanding Common Stock and Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such reorganization, merger or consolidation, following such reorganization, merger or consolidation beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than seventy five percent (75%) of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors or trustees, as the case may be, of the entity purchasing such assets in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of the Outstanding Common Stock and Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such sale or disposition, as the case may be; or

(e) a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

 

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2.07. Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. References to a section of the Code shall include that section and any comparable section or sections of any future legislation that amends, supplements or supersedes said section.

2.08. Committee means the Compensation Committee of the Board.

2.09. Company means Spark Networks, Inc. and its successors.

2.10. Common Stock means the common stock of the Company, par value $.001 per share.

2.11. Company Voting Securities means the combined voting power of all outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors to the Board.

2.12. Date of Grant means the date designated by the Committee as the date as of which it grants an Award, which shall not be earlier than the date on which the Committee approves the granting of such Award.

2.13. Dividend Equivalent Account means a bookkeeping account in accordance with under Section 11.17 and related to an Award that is credited with the amount of any cash dividends or stock distributions that would be payable with respect to the shares of Common Stock subject to such Awards had such shares been outstanding shares of Common Stock.

2.14 Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

2.15. Exercise Price means, with respect to a Stock Appreciation Right, the amount established by the Committee in the Award Agreement which is to be subtracted from the Fair Market Value on the date of exercise in order to determine the amount of the payment to be made to the Participant, as further described in Section 6.02(b).

2.16. Fair Market Value means, on any date, (i) the closing sale price of a share of Common Stock, as reported on the American Stock Exchange (or other established stock exchange on which the Common Stock is regularly traded) on such date or, if there were no sales on such date, on the last date preceding such date on which a sale was reported; or (ii) if shares of Common Stock are not listed for trading on an established stock exchange, Fair Market Value shall be determined by the Committee in good faith.

2.17. Incentive Stock Option means a stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.

2.18. Merger means any merger, reorganization, consolidation, exchange, transfer of assets or other transaction having similar effect involving the Company.

2.19. Non-Qualified Stock Option means a stock option which is not an Incentive Stock Option.

 

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2.20. Options means all Non-Qualified Stock Options and Incentive Stock Options granted at any time under the Plan.

2.21. Outstanding Common Stock means, at any time, the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock.

2.22. Participant means a person designated to receive an Award under the Plan in accordance with Section 5.01.

2.23. Performance Awards means Awards granted in accordance with Article VIII.

2.24. Performance Goals means revenue, earnings before interest, depreciation, amortization and share-based compensation (“ebitdas”), earnings before interest, depreciation, amortization and share-based compensation and impairment charges (“adjusted ebitda”), contribution margin , operating profit, earnings per share, operating margins, return on total equity or total capital, cash flow from operating activities and total shareholder return, operating income, operating profit (earnings from continuing operations before interest and taxes), earnings per share, return on investment or working capital, return on stockholders’ equity, economic value added (the amount, if any, by which net operating profit after tax exceeds a reference cost of capital), any one of which may be measured with respect to the Company or any one or more of its Subsidiaries and divisions and either in absolute terms or as compared to another company or companies, and quantifiable, objective measures of individual performance relevant to the particular individual’s job responsibilities.

2.25. Plan has the meaning given to such term in Section 1.01.

2.26. Purchase Price , with respect to Options, shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.01(b).

2.27. Restricted Shares means Common Stock subject to restrictions imposed in connection with Awards granted under Article VII.

2.28. Restricted Stock Unit means a unit representing the right to receive Common Stock or the value thereof in the future subject to restrictions imposed in connection with Awards granted under Article VII.

2.28. Rule 16b-3 means Rule 16b-3 promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under Section 16 of the Exchange Act, as the same may be amended from time to time, and any successor rule.

2.29. Stock Appreciation Rights means awards granted in accordance with Article VI.

2.30 Subsidiary means a subsidiary of the Company within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the Code.

2.31. Termination of Service means the voluntary or involuntary termination of a Participant’s service as an employee, director or consultant with the Company or a Subsidiary for any reason, including death, disability, retirement or as the result of the

 

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divestiture of the Participant’s employer or any similar transaction in which the Participant’s employer ceases to be the Company or one of its Subsidiaries. Whether entering military or other government service shall constitute Termination of Service, or whether and when a Termination of Service shall occur as a result of disability, shall be determined in each case by the Committee in its sole discretion.

ARTICLE III

ADMINISTRATION

3.01. Committee .

(a) Duties and Authority . The Plan shall be administered by the Committee and the Committee shall have exclusive and final authority in each determination, interpretation or other action affecting the Plan and its Participants. The Committee shall have the sole discretionary authority to interpret the Plan, to establish and modify administrative rules for the Plan, to impose such conditions and restrictions on Awards as it determines appropriate, and to make all factual determinations with respect to and take such steps in connection with the Plan and Awards granted hereunder as it may deem necessary or advisable. The Committee shall not, however, have or exercise any discretion that would disqualify amounts payable under Article X as performance-based compensation for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code. The Committee may delegate such of its powers and authority under the Plan as it deems appropriate to a subcommittee of the Committee or designated officers or employees of the Company. In addition, the full Board may exercise any of the powers and authority of the Committee under the Plan. In the event of such delegation of authority or exercise of authority by the Board, references in the Plan to the Committee shall be deemed to refer, as appropriate, to the delegate of the Committee or the Board. Actions taken by the Committee or any subcommittee thereof, and any delegation by the Committee to designated officers or employees, under this Section 3.01 shall comply with Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, and to the extent deemed desirable, the performance-based provisions of Section 162(m) of the Code, and the regulations promulgated under each of such statutory provisions, or the respective successors to such statutory provisions or regulations, as in effect from time to time, to the extent applicable. To the extent it is desirable to qualify Awards granted hereunder as “performance based compensation” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code, the Plan shall be administered by a Committee of two or more “outside directors” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code.

(b) Indemnification . Each person who is or shall have been a member of the Board or the Committee, or an officer or employee of the Company to whom authority was delegated in accordance with the Plan shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company against and from any loss, cost, liability, or expense that may be imposed upon or reasonably incurred by such individual in connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit, or proceeding to which he or she may be a party or in which he or she may be involved by reason of any action taken or failure to act under the Plan and against and from any and all amounts paid by him or her in settlement thereof, with the Company’s approval, or paid by him or her in satisfaction of any judgment in any such action, suit, or proceeding against him or her, provided he or she shall give the Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the

 

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same before he or she undertakes to handle and defend it on his or her own behalf; provided, however, that the foregoing indemnification shall not apply to any loss, cost, liability, or expense that is a result of his or her own willful misconduct. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such persons may be entitled under the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws, conferred in a separate agreement with the Company, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or any power that the Company may have to indemnify them or hold them harmless.

ARTICLE IV

SHARES

4.01. Number of Shares Issuable . The total number of shares initially authorized to be issued under the Plan shall be 2,500,000 shares of Common Stock; provided, however, that on January 1 of each year, beginning on January 1, 2009, such maximum aggregate number of shares of Common Stock shall be increased by an amount equal to the lesser of (i) 2,000,000 shares, (ii) four percent (4%) of the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock on the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal year or (iii) an amount determined by the Board. No more than 500,000 shares of Common Stock may be issued under the Plan as Awards under Articles VII, VIII and IX. The foregoing share limits shall be subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 11.07. The shares to be offered under the Plan shall be authorized and unissued Common Stock, or issued Common Stock that shall have been reacquired by the Company.

4.02. Shares Subject to Terminated Awards . Common Stock covered by any unexercised portions of terminated or forfeited Options (including canceled Options) granted under Article VI, Common Stock forfeited as provided in Section 7.02(a), Stock Units and other stock-based Awards terminated or forfeited as provided in Article IX, and Common Stock subject to any Awards that are otherwise surrendered by the Participant may again be subject to new Awards under the Plan. Shares of Common Stock surrendered to or withheld by the Company in payment or satisfaction of the Purchase Price of an Option or tax withholding obligation with respect to an Award shall be available for the grant of new Awards under the Plan. In the event of the exercise of Stock Appreciation Rights, whether or not granted in tandem with Options, only the number of shares of Common Stock actually issued in payment of such Stock Appreciation Rights shall be charged against the number of shares of Common Stock available for the grant of Awards hereunder.

ARTICLE V

PARTICIPATION

5.01. Eligible Participants . Participants in the Plan shall be such employees, directors and consultants of the Company and its Subsidiaries as the Committee, in its sole discretion, may designate from time to time. The Committee’s designation of a Participant in any year shall not require the Committee to designate such person to receive Awards or grants in any other year. The designation of a Participant to receive

 

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Awards or grants under one portion of the Plan does not require the Committee to include such Participant under other portions of the Plan. The Committee shall consider such factors as it deems pertinent in selecting Participants and in determining the type and amount of their respective Awards. Incentive Stock Options may only be granted to employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries. Subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 11.07, in any calendar year, no Participant shall be granted Awards in respect of more than 1,500,000 shares of Common Stock (whether through grants of Options or Stock Appreciation Rights or other Awards of Common Stock or rights with respect thereto) or cash-based Awards for more than $1.0 million.

ARTICLE VI

STOCK OPTIONS AND STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

6.01. Option Awards .

(a) Grant of Options . The Committee may grant, to such Participants as the Committee may select, Options entitling the Participant to purchase shares of Common Stock from the Company in such number, at such price, and on such terms and subject to such conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of this Plan, as may be established by the Committee. The terms of any Option granted under this Plan shall be set forth in an Award Agreement.

(b) Purchase Price of Options . The Purchase Price of each share of Common Stock which may be purchased upon exercise of any Option granted under the Plan shall be determined by the Committee; provided, however, that in no event shall the Purchase Price be less than the Fair Market Value on the Date of Grant. Moreover, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Participant who, at the Date of Grant, owns stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Subsidiary, the Purchase Price of each share of Common Stock which may be purchased upon the exercise of the Incentive Stock Option shall be no less than 110% of the Fair Market value per shares on the Date of Grant.

(c) Designation of Options . The Committee shall designate, at the time of the grant of each Option, the Option as an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Qualified Stock Option.

(d) Incentive Stock Option Share Limitation . No Participant may be granted Incentive Stock Options under the Plan (or any other plans of the Company and its Subsidiaries) that would result in shares with an aggregate Fair Market Value (measured on the Date of Grant) of more than $100,000 first becoming exercisable in any one calendar year.

(e) Rights As a Stockholder . A Participant or a transferee of an Option pursuant to Section 11.04 shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect to Common Stock covered by an Option until the Participant or transferee shall have become the holder of record of any such shares, and no adjustment shall be made for dividends in cash or other property or distributions or other rights with respect to any such Common Stock for which the record date is prior to the date on which the

 

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Participant or a transferee of the Option shall have become the holder of record of any such shares covered by the Option; provided, however, that Participants are entitled to share adjustments to reflect capital changes under Section 11.07.

6.02. Stock Appreciation Rights .

(a) Stock Appreciation Right Awards . The Committee is authorized to grant to any Participant one or more Stock Appreciation Rights. Such Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted either independent of or in tandem with Options granted to the same Participant. Stock Appreciation Rights granted in tandem with Options may be granted simultaneously with, or, in the case of Non-Qualified Stock Options, subsequent to, the grant to such Participant of the related Option; provided however, that: (i) any Option covering any share of Common Stock shall expire and not be exercisable upon the exercise of any Stock Appreciation Right with respect to the same share, (ii) any Stock Appreciation Right covering any share of Common Stock shall expire and not be exercisable upon the exercise of any related Option with respect to the same share, and (iii) an Option and Stock Appreciation Right covering the same share of Common Stock may not be exercised simultaneously. Upon exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right with respect to a share of Common Stock, the Participant shall be entitled to receive an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (A) the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of exercise over (B) the Exercise Price of such Stock Appreciation Right established in the Award Agreement, which amount shall be payable as provided in Section 6.02(c).

(b) Exercise Price . The Exercise Price established under any Stock Appreciation Right granted under this Plan shall be determined by the Committee, but in the case of Stock Appreciation Rights granted in tandem with Options shall not be less than the Purchase Price of the related Option; provided, however, that in no event shall the Exercise Price be less than the Fair Market Value on the Date of Grant. Upon exercise of Stock Appreciation Rights granted in tandem with options, the number of shares subject to exercise under any related Option shall automatically be reduced by the number of shares of Common Stock represented by the Option or portion thereof which are surrendered as a result of the exercise of such Stock Appreciation Rights.

(c) Payment of Incremental Value . Any payment which may become due from the Company by reason of a Participant’s exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right may be paid to the Participant as determined by the Committee (i) all in cash, (ii) all in Common Stock, or (iii) in any combination of cash and Common Stock. In the event that all or a portion of the payment is made in Common Stock, the number of shares of Common Stock delivered in satisfaction of such payment shall be determined by dividing the amount of such payment or portion thereof by the Fair Market Value on the Exercise Date. No fractional share of Common Stock shall be issued to make any payment in respect of Stock Appreciation Rights; if any fractional share would be issuable, the combination of cash and Common Stock payable to the Participant shall be adjusted as directed by the Committee to avoid the issuance of any fractional share.

6.03. Terms of Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights .

(a) Conditions on Exercise . An Award Agreement with respect to Options or Stock Appreciation Rights may contain such waiting periods, exercise dates and restrictions on exercise (including, but not limited to, periodic installments) as may be determined by the Committee at the time of grant.

 

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(b) Duration of Options and Stock Appreciation Rights . Options and Stock Appreciation Rights shall terminate upon the first to occur of the following events:

(i) Expiration of the Option or Stock Appreciation Right as provided in the Award Agreement; or

(ii) Termination of the Award in the event of a Participant’s disability, Retirement, death or other Termination of Service as provided in the Award Agreement; or,

(iii) In the case of an Incentive Stock Option, ten years from the Date of Grant; provided, however, that if at the Date of Grant of an Incentive Stock Option the Participant owns stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Subsidiary, the term of the Incentive Stock Option shall be five (5) years from the Date of Grant or such shorter term as may be provided in the Award Agreement; or

(iv) Solely in the case of a Stock Appreciation Right granted in tandem with an Option, upon the expiration of the related Option.

(c) Acceleration or Extension of Exercise Time . The Committee, in its sole discretion, shall have the right (but shall not be obligated), exercisable on or at any time after the Date of Grant, to permit the exercise of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right (i) prior to the time such Option or Stock Appreciation Right would become exercisable under the terms of the Award Agreement, (ii) after the termination of the Option or Stock Appreciation Right under the terms of the Award Agreement, or (iii) after the expiration of the Option or Stock Appreciation Right.

6.04. Exercise Procedures . Each Option and Stock Appreciation Right granted under the Plan shall be exercised prior to the close of business on the expiration date of the Option or Stock Appreciation Right by notice to the Company or by such other method as provided in the Award Agreement or as the Committee may establish or approve from time to time. The Purchase Price of shares purchased upon exercise of an Option granted under the Plan shall be paid in full in cash by the Participant pursuant to the Award Agreement; provided, however, that the Committee may (but shall not be required to) permit payment to be made by delivery to the Company of either (a) Common Stock (which may include Restricted Shares or shares otherwise issuable in connection with the exercise of the Option, subject to such rules as the Committee deems appropriate) or (b) any combination of cash and Common Stock, or (c) such other consideration as the Committee deems appropriate and in compliance with applicable law (including payment under an arrangement constituting a brokerage transaction as permitted under the provisions of Regulation T applicable to cashless exercises promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board, unless prohibited by Section 402 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002). In the event that any Common Stock shall be transferred to the Company to satisfy all or any part of the Purchase Price, the part of the Purchase Price deemed to have been satisfied by such transfer of Common Stock shall be equal to the product derived by multiplying the Fair Market Value as of the date

 

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of exercise times the number of shares of Common Stock transferred to the Company. The Participant may not transfer to the Company in satisfaction of the Purchase Price any fractional share of Common Stock. Any part of the Purchase Price paid in cash upon the exercise of any Option shall be added to the general funds of the Company and may be used for any proper corporate purpose. Unless the Committee shall otherwise determine, any Common Stock transferred to the Company as payment of all or part of the Purchase Price upon the exercise of any Option shall be held as treasury shares.

6.05. Change in Control . Unless otherwise provided by the Committee in the applicable Award Agreement or any other agreement with the Company, or unless the Options are assumed or substituted by the successor corporation or a Parent or Subsidiary of the successor corporation and subject to Section 11.07(b) herein, in the event of a Change in Control, all Options outstanding on the date of such Change in Control, and all Stock Appreciation Rights shall become immediately and fully exercisable. The provisions of this Section 6.05 shall not be applicable to any Options or Stock Appreciation Rights granted to a Participant if any Change in Control results from such Participant’s beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of Common Stock or Company Voting Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrator may, in its sole and absolute discretion, in the event of a Change of Control take any other action its deems appropriate with respect to Options and Stock Appreciation Rights outstanding on the date of a Change in Control.

ARTICLE VII

RESTRICTED SHARES AND RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS

7.01. Award of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units . The Committee may grant to any Participant an Award of Restricted Shares consisting of a specified number of shares of Common Stock issued to the Participant subject to such terms, conditions and forfeiture and transfer restrictions, whether based on performance standards, periods of service, retention by the Participant of ownership of specified shares of Common Stock or other criteria, as the Committee shall establish. The Committee may also grant Restricted Stock Units representing the right to receive shares of Common Stock in the future subject to such terms, conditions and restrictions, whether based on performance standards, periods of service, retention by the Participant of ownership of specified shares of Common Stock or other criteria, as the Committee shall establish. With respect to performance-based Awards of Restricted Shares or Restricted Stock Units intended to qualify as “performance-based” compensation for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code, performance targets will consist of specified levels of one or more of the Performance Goals. The terms of any Restricted Share and Restricted Stock Unit Awards granted under this Plan shall be set forth in an Award Agreement which shall contain provisions determined by the Committee and not inconsistent with this Plan.

7.02 Restricted Shares .

(a) Issuance of Restricted Shares . As soon as practicable after the Date of Grant of a Restricted Share Award by the Committee, the Company shall cause to be transferred on the books of the Company, or its agent, Common Stock, registered

 

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on behalf of the Participant, evidencing the Restricted Shares covered by the Award, but subject to forfeiture to the Company as of the Date of Grant if an Award Agreement with respect to the Restricted Shares covered by the Award is not duly executed by the Participant and timely returned to the Company. All Common Stock covered by Awards under this Article VII shall be subject to the restrictions, terms and conditions contained in the Plan and the Award Agreement entered into by the Participant. Until the lapse or release of all restrictions applicable to an Award of Restricted Shares, the share certificates representing such Restricted Shares may be held in custody by the Company, its designee, or, if the certificates bear a restrictive legend, by the Participant. Upon the lapse or release of all restrictions with respect to an Award as described in Section 7.02(d), one or more share certificates, registered in the name of the Participant, for an appropriate number of shares as provided in Section 7.02(d), free of any restrictions set forth in the Plan and the Award Agreement shall be delivered to the Participant.

(b) Stockholder Rights . Beginning on the Date of Grant of the Restricted Share Award and subject to execution of the Award Agreement as provided in Section 7.02(a), the Participant shall become a stockholder of the Company with respect to all shares subject to the Award Agreement and shall have all of the rights of a stockholder, including, but not limited to, the right to vote such shares and the right to receive dividends; provided, however, that any Common Stock distributed as a dividend or otherwise with respect to any Restricted Shares as to which the restrictions have not yet lapsed, shall be subject to the same restrictions as such Restricted Shares and held or restricted as provided in Section 7.02(a).

(c) Restriction on Transferability . None of the Restricted Shares may be assigned or transferred (other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, or to an inter vivos trust with respect to which the Participant is treated as the owner under Sections 671 through 677 of the Code, except to the extent that Section 16 of the Exchange Act limits a Participant’s right to make such transfers), pledged or sold prior to lapse of the restrictions applicable thereto.

(d) Delivery of Shares Upon Vesting . Upon expiration or earlier termination of the forfeiture period without a forfeiture and the satisfaction of or release from any other conditions prescribed by the Committee, or at such earlier time as provided under the provisions of Section 7.04, the restrictions applicable to the Restricted Shares shall lapse. As promptly as administratively feasible thereafter, subject to the requirements of Section 11.05, the Company shall deliver to the Participant or, in case of the Participant’s death, to the Participant’s Beneficiary, one or more share certificates for the appropriate number of shares of Common Stock, free of all such restrictions, except for any restrictions that may be imposed by law.

(e) Forfeiture of Restricted Shares . Subject to Sections 7.02(f) and 7.04, all Restricted Shares shall be forfeited and returned to the Company and all rights of the Participant with respect to such Restricted Shares shall terminate unless the Participant continues in the service of the Company or a Subsidiary as an employee until the expiration of the forfeiture period for such Restricted Shares and satisfies any and all other conditions set forth in the Award Agreement. The Committee shall determine the forfeiture period (which may, but need not, lapse in installments) and any other terms and conditions applicable with respect to any Restricted Share Award.

 

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(f) Waiver of Forfeiture Period . Notwithstanding anything contained in this Article VII to the contrary, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, waive the forfeiture period and any other conditions set forth in any Award Agreement under appropriate circumstances (including the death, disability or Retirement of the Participant or a material change in circumstances arising after the date of an Award) and subject to such terms and conditions (including forfeiture of a proportionate number of the Restricted Shares) as the Committee shall deem appropriate.

7.03. Restricted Stock Units .

(a) Settlement of Restricted Stock Units . Payments shall be made to Participants with respect to their Restricted Stock Units as soon as practicable after the Committee has determined that the terms and conditions applicable to such Award have been satisfied or at a later date if distribution has been deferred. Payments to Participants with respect to Restricted Stock Units shall be made in the form of Common Stock, or cash or a combination of both, as the Committee may determine. The amount of any cash to be paid in lieu of Common Stock shall be determined on the basis of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date any such payment is processed. As to shares of Common Stock which constitute all or any part of such payment, the Committee may impose such restrictions concerning their transferability and/or their forfeiture as may be provided in the applicable Award Agreement or as the Committee may otherwise determine, provided such determination is made on or before the date certificates for such shares are first delivered to the applicable Participant.

(b) Shareholder Rights . Until the lapse or release of all restrictions applicable to an Award of Restricted Stock Units, no shares of Common Stock shall be issued in respect of such Awards and no Participant shall have any rights as a shareholder of the Company with respect to the shares of Common Stock covered by such Award of Restricted Stock Units.

(c) Waiver of Forfeiture Period . Notwithstanding anything contained in this Section 7.03 to the contrary, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, waive the forfeiture period and any other conditions set forth in any Award Agreement under appropriate circumstances (including the death, disability or retirement of the Participant or a material change in circumstances arising after the date of an Award) and subject to such terms and conditions (including forfeiture of a proportionate number of shares issuable upon settlement of the Restricted Stock Units constituting an Award) as the Committee shall deem appropriate.

(d) Deferral of Payment . If approved by the Committee and set forth in the applicable Award Agreement, a Participant may elect to defer the amount payable with respect to the Participant’s Restricted Stock Units in accordance with such terms as may be established by the Committee.

7.04 Change in Control . Unless otherwise provided by the Committee in the applicable Award Agreement or any other agreement with the Company, or unless the Awards are assumed or substituted by the successor corporation or a Parent or Subsidiary of the successor corporation and subject to Section 11.07(b) herein, in the event of a Change in Control, all restrictions applicable to Restricted Shares and Restricted Stock Unit Awards shall terminate fully and the Participant shall immediately have the right to the delivery in accordance with Section 7.02(d) of a share certificate or

 

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certificates evidencing a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the full number of shares subject to each such Award (in the case of Restricted Stock) or payment in accordance with Section 7.03(a) of a number of shares of Common Stock determined by the Committee, in its discretion, but, in the case of a performance-based or other contingent Award, in no event less than the number of shares payable at the “target” level for each such Award (in the case of Restricted Stock Units). The provisions of this Section 7.04 shall not be applicable to any Restricted Share Award granted to a Participant if any Change in Control results from such Participant’s beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of Common Stock or Company Voting Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrator may, in its sole and absolute discretion, in the event of a Change of Control take any other action its deems appropriate with respect to Restricted Shares and Restricted Stock Unit Awards outstanding on the date of a Change in Control.

ARTICLE VIII

PERFORMANCE AWARDS

8.01. Performance Awards .

(a) Award Periods and Calculations of Potential Incentive Amounts . The Committee may grant Performance Awards to Participants. A Performance Award shall consist of the right to receive a payment (measured by the Fair Market Value of a specified number of shares of Common Stock, increases in such Fair Market Value during the Award Period and/or a fixed cash amount) contingent upon the extent to which certain predetermined performance targets have been met during an Award Period. The Award Period shall be two or more fiscal or calendar years as determined by the Committee. The Committee, in its discretion and under such terms as it deems appropriate, may permit newly eligible Participants, such as those who are promoted or newly hired, to receive Performance Awards after an Award Period has commenced.

(b) Performance Targets . Subject to Section 11.18, the performance targets applicable to a Performance Award may include such goals related to the performance of the Company or, where relevant, any one or more of its Subsidiaries or divisions and/or the performance of a Participant as may be established by the Committee in its discretion. In the case of Performance Awards to “covered employees” (as defined in Section 162(m) of the Code), the targets will be limited to specified levels of one or more of the Performance Goals. The performance targets established by the Committee may vary for different Award Periods and need not be the same for each Participant receiving a Performance Award in an Award Period.

(c) Earning Performance Awards . The Committee, at or as soon as practicable after the Date of Grant, shall prescribe a formula to determine the percentage of the Performance Award to be earned based upon the degree of attainment of the applicable performance targets.

(d) Payment of Earned Performance Awards . Subject to the requirements of Section 11.05, payments of earned Performance Awards shall be made in cash or Common Stock, or a combination of cash and Common Stock, in the discretion of the Committee. The Committee, in its sole discretion, may define, and set forth in the applicable Award Agreement, such terms and conditions with respect to the payment of earned Performance Awards as it may deem desirable.

 

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8.02. Termination of Service . In the event of a Participant’s Termination of Service during an Award Period, the Participant’s Performance Awards shall be forfeited except as may otherwise be provided in the applicable Award Agreement.

8.03. Change in Control . Unless otherwise provided by the Committee in the applicable Award Agreement or any other agreement with the Company, or unless the Awards are assumed or substituted by the successor corporation or a Parent or Subsidiary of the successor corporation and subject to Section 11.07(b) herein, in the event of a Change in Control, all Performance Awards for all Award Periods shall immediately become fully vested and payable to all Participants and shall be paid to Participants in accordance with Section 8.01(d), within 30 days after such Change in Control. The provisions of this Section 8.03 shall not be applicable to any Performance Award granted to a Participant if any Change in Control results from such Participant’s beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of Common Stock or Company Voting Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrator may, in its sole and absolute discretion, in the event of a Change of Control take any other action its deems appropriate with respect to Performance Awards outstanding on the date of a Change in Control.

ARTICLE IX

OTHER STOCK-BASED AWARDS

9.01. Grant of Other Stock-Based Awards . Other stock-based awards, consisting of stock purchase rights (with or without loans to Participants by the Company containing such terms as the Committee shall determine), Awards of Common Stock, or Awards valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, Common Stock, may be granted either alone or in addition to or in conjunction with other Awards under the Plan. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have sole and complete authority to determine the persons to whom and the time or times at which such Awards shall be made, the number of shares of Common Stock to be granted pursuant to such Awards, and all other conditions of the Awards. Any such Award shall be confirmed by an Award Agreement executed by the Committee and the Participant, which Award Agreement shall contain such provisions as the Committee determines to be necessary or appropriate to carry out the intent of this Plan with respect to such Award.

9.02. Terms of Other Stock-Based Awards . In addition to the terms and conditions specified in the Award Agreement, Awards made pursuant to this Article IX shall be subject to the following:

(a) Any Common Stock subject to Awards made under this Article IX may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered prior to the date on which the shares are issued, or, if later, the date on which any applicable restriction, performance or deferral period lapses; and

 

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(b) If specified by the Committee in the Award Agreement, the recipient of an Award under this Article IX shall be entitled to receive, currently or on a deferred basis, interest or dividends or dividend equivalents with respect to the Common Stock or other securities covered by the Award; and

(c) The Award Agreement with respect to any Award shall contain provisions dealing with the disposition of such Award in the event of a Termination of Service prior to the exercise, payment or other settlement of such Award, whether such termination occurs because of Retirement, disability, death or other reason, with such provisions to take account of the specific nature and purpose of the Award.

ARTICLE X

SHORT-TERM CASH INCENTIVE AWARDS

10.01. Eligibility . Executive officers of the Company who are from time to time determined by the Committee to be “covered employees” for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code will be eligible to receive short-term cash incentive awards under this Article X.

10.02. Awards .

(a) Performance Targets . The Committee shall establish objective performance targets based on specified levels of one or more of the Performance Goals. Such performance targets shall be established by the Committee on a timely basis to ensure that the targets are considered “preestablished” for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code.

(b) Amounts of Awards . In conjunction with the establishment of performance targets for a fiscal year, the Committee shall adopt an objective formula (on the basis of percentages of Participants’ salaries, shares in a bonus pool or otherwise) for computing the respective amounts payable under the Plan to Participants if and to the extent that the performance targets are attained. Such formula shall comply with the requirements applicable to performance-based compensation plans under Section 162(m) of the Code and, to the extent based on percentages of a bonus pool, such percentages shall not exceed 100% in the aggregate.

(c) Payment of Awards . Awards will be payable to Participants in cash each year upon prior written certification by the Committee of attainment of the specified performance targets for the preceding fiscal year.

(d) Negative Discretion . Notwithstanding the attainment by the Company of the specified performance targets, the Committee shall have the discretion, which need not be exercised uniformly among the Participants, to reduce or eliminate the award that would be otherwise paid.

(e) Guidelines . The Committee shall adopt from time to time written policies for its implementation of this Article X. Such guidelines shall reflect the intention of the Company that all payments hereunder qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code.

 

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(f) Non-Exclusive Arrangement . The adoption and operation of this Article X shall not preclude the Board or the Committee from approving other short-term incentive compensation arrangements for the benefit of individuals who are Participants hereunder as the Board or Committee, as the case may be, deems appropriate and in the best of the Company.

ARTICLE XI

TERMS APPLICABLE GENERALLY TO AWARDS

GRANTED UNDER THE PLAN

11.01. Plan Provisions Control Award Terms . Except as provided in Section 11.16, the terms of the Plan shall govern all Awards granted under the Plan, and in no event shall the Committee have the power to grant any Award under the Plan which is contrary to any of the provisions of the Plan. In the event any provision of any Award granted under the Plan shall conflict with any term in the Plan as constituted on the Date of Grant of such Award, the term in the Plan as constituted on the Date of Grant of such Award shall control. Except as provided in Section 11.03 and Section 11.07, the terms of any Award granted under the Plan may not be changed after the Date of Grant of such Award so as to materially decrease the value of the Award without the express written approval of the holder.

11.02. Award Agreement . No person shall have any rights under any Award granted under the Plan unless and until the Company and the Participant to whom such Award shall have been granted shall have executed and delivered an Award Agreement or received any other Award acknowledgment authorized by the Committee expressly granting the Award to such person and containing provisions setting forth the terms of the Award.

11.03. Modification of Award After Grant . No Award granted under the Plan to a Participant may be modified (unless such modification does not materially decrease the value of the Award) after the Date of Grant except by express written agreement between the Company and the Participant, provided that any such change (a) shall not be inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, and (b) shall be approved by the Committee.

11.04. Limitation on Transfer . Except as provided in Section 7.01(c) in the case of Restricted Shares, a Participant’s rights and interest under the Plan may not be assigned or transferred other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and during the lifetime of a Participant, only the Participant personally (or the Participant’s personal representative) may exercise rights under the Plan. The Participant’s Beneficiary may exercise the Participant’s rights to the extent they are exercisable under the Plan following the death of the Participant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent permitted under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act with respect to Participants subject to such Section, the Committee may grant Non-Qualified Stock Options that are transferable, without payment of consideration, to immediate family members of the Participant or to trusts or partnerships for such family members, and the Committee may also amend outstanding Non-Qualified Stock Options to provide for such transferability.

 

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11.05. Taxes . The Company shall be entitled, if the Committee deems it necessary or desirable, to withhold (or secure payment from the Participant in lieu of withholding) the amount of any withholding or other tax required by law to be withheld or paid by the Company with respect to any amount payable and/or shares issuable under such Participant’s Award, or with respect to any income recognized upon a disqualifying disposition of shares received pursuant to the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option, and the Company may defer payment or issuance of the cash or shares upon exercise or vesting of an Award unless indemnified to its satisfaction against any liability for any such tax. The amount of such withholding or tax payment shall be determined by the Committee and shall be payable by the Participant at such time as the Committee determines in accordance with the following rules:

(a) The Participant shall have the right to elect to meet his or her withholding requirement (i) by having withheld from such Award at the appropriate time that number of shares of Common Stock, rounded up to the next whole share, whose Fair Market Value is equal to the amount of withholding taxes due, (ii) by direct payment to the Company in cash of the amount of any taxes required to be withheld with respect to such Award or (iii) by a combination of shares and cash.

(b) In the case of Participants who are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, the Committee may impose such limitations and restrictions as it deems necessary or appropriate with respect to the delivery or withholding of shares of Common Stock to meet tax withholding obligations.

11.06. Surrender of Awards . Any Award granted under the Plan may be surrendered to the Company for cancellation on such terms as the Committee and the holder approve. With the consent of the Participant, the Committee may substitute a new Award under this Plan in connection with the surrender by the Participant of an equity compensation award previously granted under this Plan or any other plan sponsored by the Company; provided, however, that no such substitution shall be permitted without the approval of the Company’s stockholders if such approval is required by the rules of any applicable stock exchange.

11.07. Adjustments to Reflect Capital Changes .

(a) Recapitalization . In the event of any corporate event or transaction (including, but not limited to, a change in the Common Stock or the capitalization of the Company) such as a merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, separation, partial or complete liquidation, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, split up, spin-off, or other distribution of stock or property of the Company, a combination or exchange of Common Stock, dividend in kind, or other like change in capital structure, number of outstanding shares of Common Stock, distribution (other than normal cash dividends) to shareholders of the Company, or any similar corporate event or transaction, the Committee, in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of Participants’ rights under this Plan, shall make equitable and appropriate adjustments and substitutions, as applicable, to or of the number and kind of shares subject to outstanding Awards, the Purchase Price or Exercise Price for such shares, the number and kind of shares available for future issuance under the Plan and the maximum number of shares in respect of which Awards can be made to any Participant in any calendar year, and other determinations applicable to outstanding Awards. The Committee shall have the power and sole discretion to determine the amount of the adjustment to be made in each case.

 

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(b) Merger . After any Merger in which the Company is the surviving corporation, each Participant shall, at no additional cost, be entitled upon any exercise of all Options or receipt of other Award to receive (subject to any required action by stockholders), in lieu of the number of shares of Common Stock receivable or exercisable pursuant to such Award, the number and class of shares or other securities to which such Participant would have been entitled pursuant to the terms of the Merger if, at the time of the Merger, such Participant had been the holder of record of a number of shares equal to the number of shares receivable or exercisable pursuant to such Award. Comparable rights shall accrue to each Participant in the event of successive Mergers of the character described above. Notwithstanding Section 11.15, in the event of a Merger in which the Company is not the surviving corporation, outstanding Awards shall be subject to the agreement governing the Merger, which may provide, without limitation, for the assumption of Awards by the surviving corporation or its parent or subsidiary, for the substitution by the surviving corporation or its parent or subsidiary of its own awards for such Awards, for accelerated vesting and accelerated expiration, or for settlement in cash or cash equivalents. In any event, the exercise and/or vesting of any Award that was permissible solely by reason of this Section 11.07(b) shall be conditioned upon the consummation of the Merger.

(c) Options to Purchase Shares or Stock of Acquired Companies . After any Merger in which the Company or a Subsidiary shall be a surviving corporation, the Committee may grant substituted options under the provisions of the Plan, pursuant to Section 424 of the Code, replacing old options granted under a plan of another party to the Merger whose shares or stock subject to the old options may no longer be issued following the Merger. The foregoing adjustments and manner of application of the foregoing provisions shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion. Any such adjustments may provide for the elimination of any fractional shares which might otherwise become subject to any Options.

11.08. No Right to Continued Service . No person shall have any claim of right to be granted an Award under this Plan. Neither the Plan nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed as giving any Participant any right to be retained in the service of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

11.09. Awards Not Includable for Benefit Purposes . Payments received by a Participant pursuant to the provisions of the Plan shall not be included in the determination of benefits under any pension, group insurance or other benefit plan applicable to the Participant which is maintained by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, except as may be provided under the terms of such plans or determined by the Board.

11.10. Governing Law . All determinations made and actions taken pursuant to the Plan shall be governed by the laws of Delaware and construed in accordance therewith.

11.11. No Strict Construction . No rule of strict construction shall be implied against the Company, the Committee, or any other person in the interpretation of any of the terms of the Plan, any Award granted under the Plan or any rule or procedure established by the Committee.

 

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11.12. Compliance with Rule 16b-3 . It is intended that, unless the Committee determines otherwise, Awards under the Plan be eligible for exemption under Rule 16b-3. The Board is authorized to amend the Plan and to make any such modifications to Award Agreements to comply with Rule 16b-3, as it may be amended from time to time, and to make any other such amendments or modifications as it deems necessary or appropriate to better accomplish the purposes of the Plan in light of any amendments made to Rule 16b-3.

11.13. Captions . The captions (i.e., all Section headings) used in the Plan are for convenience only, do not constitute a part of the Plan, and shall not be deemed to limit, characterize or affect in any way any provisions of the Plan, and all provisions of the Plan shall be construed as if no captions have been used in the Plan.

11.14. Severability . Whenever possible, each provision in the Plan and every Award at any time granted under the Plan shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of the Plan or any Award at any time granted under the Plan shall be held to be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, then (a) such provision shall be deemed amended to accomplish the objectives of the provision as originally written to the fullest extent permitted by law and (b) all other provisions of the Plan and every other Award at any time granted under the Plan shall remain in full force and effect.

11.15. Amendment and Termination .

(a) Amendment . The Board shall have complete power and authority to amend the Plan at any time; provided, however, that the Board shall not, without the requisite affirmative approval of stockholders of the Company, make any amendment which requires stockholder approval under the Code or under any other applicable law or rule of any stock exchange which lists Common Stock or Company Voting Securities. No termination or amendment of the Plan may, without the consent of the Participant to whom any Award shall theretofore have been granted under the Plan, adversely affect the right of such individual under such Award.

(b) Termination . The Board shall have the right and the power to terminate the Plan at any time. No Award shall be granted under the Plan after the termination of the Plan, but the termination of the Plan shall not have any other effect and any Award outstanding at the time of the termination of the Plan may be exercised after termination of the Plan at any time prior to the expiration date of such Award to the same extent such Award would have been exercisable had the Plan not terminated.

11.16. Foreign Qualified Awards . Awards under the Plan may be granted to such employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries who are residing in foreign jurisdictions as the Committee in its sole discretion may determine from time to time. The Committee may adopt such supplements to the Plan as may be necessary or appropriate to comply with the applicable laws of such foreign jurisdictions and to afford Participants favorable treatment under such laws; provided, however, that no Award shall be granted under any such supplement with terms or conditions inconsistent with the provision set forth in the Plan.

 

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11.17. Dividend Equivalents . For any Award granted under the Plan, the Committee shall have the discretion, upon the Date of Grant or thereafter, to establish a Dividend Equivalent Account with respect to the Award, and the applicable Award Agreement or an amendment thereto shall confirm such establishment. If a Dividend Equivalent Account is established, the following terms shall apply:

(a) Terms and Conditions . Dividend Equivalent Accounts shall be subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine and as shall be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement. Such terms and conditions may include, without limitation, for the Participant’s Account to be credited as of the record date of each cash dividend on the Common Stock with an amount equal to the cash dividends which would be paid with respect to the number of shares of Common Stock then covered by the related Award if such shares of Common Stock had been owned of record by the Participant on such record date.

(b) Unfunded Obligation . Dividend Equivalent Accounts shall be established and maintained only on the books and records of the Company and no assets or funds of the Company shall be set aside, placed in trust, removed from the claims of the Company’s general creditors, or otherwise made available until such amounts are actually payable as provided hereunder.

11.18 Adjustment of Performance Goals and Targets . Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, the Committee shall have the authority to adjust any Performance Goal, performance target or other performance-based criteria established with respect to any Award under the Plan if circumstances occur (including, but not limited to, unusual or nonrecurring events, changes in tax laws or accounting principles or practices or changed business or economic conditions) that cause any such Performance Goal, performance target or performance-based criteria to be inappropriate in the judgment of the Committee; provided, that with respect to any Award that is intended to qualify for the “performance-based compensation” exception under Section 162(m) of the Code and the regulations thereunder, any adjustment by the Committee shall be consistent with the requirements of Section 162(m) and the regulations thereunder.

11.19 Legality of Issuance . Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan or any applicable Award Agreement to the contrary, the Committee shall have the sole discretion to impose such conditions, restrictions and limitations (including suspending exercises of Options or Stock Appreciation Rights and the tolling of any applicable exercise period during such suspension) on the issuance of Common Stock with respect to any Award unless and until the Committee determines that such issuance complies with (i) any applicable registration requirements under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Committee has determined that an exemption therefrom is available, (ii) any applicable listing requirement of any stock exchange on which the Common Stock is listed, and (iii) any other applicable provision of state, federal or foreign law, including foreign securities laws where applicable.

11.20 Restrictions on Transfer . Regardless of whether the offering and sale of Common Stock under the Plan have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933 or have been registered or qualified under the securities laws of any state, the Company may impose restrictions upon the sale, pledge, or other transfer of such Common Stock

 

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(including the placement of appropriate legends on stock certificates) if, in the judgment of the Company and its counsel, such restrictions are necessary or desirable to achieve compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, the securities laws of any state, the United States or any other applicable foreign law.

11.21 Further Assurances . As a condition to receipt of any Award under the Plan, a Participant shall agree, upon demand of the Company, to do all acts and execute, deliver and perform all additional documents, instruments and agreements which may be reasonably required by the Company, to implement the provisions and purposes of the Plan.

 

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EXHIBIT 10.6(a)

NOTICE OF GRANT OF STOCK OPTION AWARD

SPARK NETWORKS, INC.

2007 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN

FOR GOOD AND VALUABLE CONSIDERATION, Spark Networks, Inc. (the “Company”) hereby grants, pursuant to the provisions of the Company’s 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), to the Participant designated in this Notice of Grant of [Incentive/Non-Qualified] Stock Option Award (the “Notice”) an option to purchase the number of shares of the common stock of the Company set forth in the Notice (the “Shares”), subject to certain restrictions as outlined below in this Notice and the additional provisions set forth in the attached Terms and Conditions of Stock Option Award (collectively, the “Agreement”). Also enclosed is a copy of the information statement describing important provisions of the Plan.

Optionee: [                      ]

 

Date of Grant:  

                    

   Type of Option: [Incentive/Non-Qualified] Stock Option

Exercise Price per Share :

 

$             

   Expiration Date:                        

Total Number of

Shares Granted :

 

                

   Total Exercise Price:    $             
Vesting Schedule : [1/4 vesting on each of the first, second, third and fourth anniversaries of the date of the grant]
Vesting is accelerated in full upon a Change in Control under Section 2(c).

Exercise After Termination of Service :

 

Termination of Service for any reason : any non-vested portion of the Option expires immediately;

 

Termination of Service due to death or Disability : vested portion of the Option is exercisable by the Optionee (or, in the event of the Optionee’s death, the Optionee’s Beneficiary) for one year after the Optionee’s Termination;

 

Termination of Service for any reason other than death or Disability : vested portion of the Option is exercisable for a period of ninety days following the Optionee’s Termination.

 

In no event may this Option be exercised after the Expiration Date as provided above .

Stockholder Approval: Notwithstanding the vesting schedule above, this Award is subject to stockholder approval of the Plan and, unless and until stockholder approval is obtained, this Award shall not be deemed vested in whole or in part and no Common Stock shall be issued or issuable with respect to this Award. If stockholder approval of the Plan is not obtained within one year after the Grant Date, this Award will terminate ab initio and be of no further force and effect.

 

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By signing below, the Optionee agrees that this Stock Option Award is granted under and governed by the terms and conditions of the Company’s 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan and the attached Terms and Conditions.

 

Participant       Spark Networks, Inc.

 

      By:  

 

         Title:  

 

Date:   

 

      Date:  

 

 

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TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF STOCK OPTION AWARD

I. AGREEMENT

1. Grant of Option . The Option granted to the Optionee and described in the Notice of Grant is subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety into these Terms and Conditions of Stock Option Award.

The Board of Directors of the Company has authorized and approved the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), which has been approved by the stockholders of the Company. The Committee has approved an award to the Optionee of a number of shares of the Company’s common stock, conditioned upon the Participant’s acceptance of the provisions set forth in the Notice and these Terms and Conditions within 60 days after the Notice and these Terms and Conditions are presented to the Optionee for review. For purposes of the Notice and these Terms and Conditions, any reference to the Company shall include a reference to any Subsidiary.

If designated in the Notice of Grant as an Incentive Stock Option (“ISO”), this Option is intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option as defined in Section 422 of the Code. Nevertheless, to the extent that the Option fails to meet the requirements of an ISO under Section 422 of the Code, this Option shall be treated as a Non-Qualified Stock Option (“NSO”).

The Company intends that this Option not be considered to provide for the deferral of compensation under Section 409A of the Code and that this Agreement shall be so administered and construed. Further, the Company may modify the Plan and this Award to the extent necessary to fulfill this intent.

2. Exercise of Option .

(a) Right to Exercise . This Option shall be exercisable, in whole or in part, during its term in accordance with the Vesting Schedule set out in the Notice of Grant and with the applicable provisions of the Plan and this Option Agreement. No Shares shall be issued pursuant to the exercise of an Option unless the issuance and exercise comply with applicable laws. Assuming such compliance, for income tax purposes the Shares shall be considered transferred to the Optionee on the date on which the Option is exercised with respect to such Shares. The Committee may, in its discretion, (i) accelerate vesting of the Option, or (ii) extend the applicable exercise period to the extent permitted under Section 6.03 of the Plan.

(b) Method of Exercise . The Optionee may exercise the Option by delivering an exercise notice in a form approved by the Company (the “Exercise Notice”) which shall state the election to exercise the Option, the number of Shares with respect to which the Option is being exercised, and such other representations and agreements as may be required by the Company. The Exercise Notice shall be accompanied by payment of the aggregate Exercise Price as to all Shares exercised. This Option shall be deemed to be exercised upon receipt by the Company of such fully executed Exercise Notice accompanied by the aggregate Exercise Price.

(c) Acceleration of Vesting on Change in Control . Subject to the exceptions contained in Section 6.05 of the Plan, in the event of a Change in Control, all Options outstanding on the date of the Change in Control that have not previously vested or terminated under the terms of this Agreement shall be immediately and fully vested and exercisable.

 

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3. Method of Payment . If the Optionee elects to exercise the Option by submitting an Exercise Notice under Section 2(b) of this Agreement, the aggregate Exercise Price (as well as any applicable withholding or other taxes) shall be paid by cash or check; provided, however , that the Committee may consent, in its discretion, to payment in any of the following forms, or a combination of them:

(a) cash or check;

(b) consideration received by the Company under a formal cashless exercise program adopted by the Company in connection with the Plan;

(c) surrender of other Shares owned by the Optionee which have a Fair Market Value on the date of surrender equal to the aggregate Exercise Price of the Exercised Shares and any applicable withholding; or

(d) any other consideration that the Committee deems appropriate and in compliance with applicable law.

4. Restrictions on Exercise . This Option may not be exercised until such time as the Plan has been approved by the stockholders of the Company, or if the issuance of the Shares upon exercise or the method of payment of consideration for those shares would constitute a violation of any applicable law or regulation.

5. Non-Transferability of Option . This Option may not be transferred in any manner otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution and may be exercised during the lifetime of the Optionee only by the Optionee [IF THE OPTION IS A NSO, THE FOLLOWING LANGUAGE MAY BE INCLUDED PERMITTING LIMITED TRANSFER OF THE OPTION] [; provided, however, that the Optionee may transfer the Options to any member of the Optionee’s Immediate Family or to a trust, limited liability company, family limited partnership or other equivalent vehicle, established for the exclusive benefit of one or more members of his Immediate Family by delivering to the Company a Notice of Assignment in a form acceptable to the Company. No transfer or assignment of the Option to or on behalf of an Immediate Family member under this Section 5 shall be effective until the Company has acknowledged such transfer or assignment in writing. “Immediate Family” means the Optionee’s parents, spouse, children, siblings, and grandchildren. Following transfer, the Options shall continue to be subject to the same terms and conditions as were applicable immediately prior to transfer. In the event an Option is transferred as contemplated in this Section 5, such Option may not be subsequently transferred by the transferee except by will or the laws of descent and distribution.] The terms of the Plan and this Option Agreement shall be binding upon the executors, administrators, heirs, successors and assigns of the Optionee.

6. Term of Option . This Option may be exercised only within the term set out in the Notice of Grant, and may be exercised during such term only in accordance with the Plan and the terms of this Option Agreement.

 

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7. Withholding .

(a) The Committee shall determine the amount of any withholding or other tax required by law to be withheld or paid by the Company with respect to any income recognized by the Optionee with respect to the Option Award.

(b) The Optionee shall be required to meet any applicable tax withholding obligation in accordance with the provisions of Section 11.05 of the Plan.

(c) Subject to any rules prescribed by the Committee, the Optionee shall have the right to elect to meet any withholding requirement (i) by having withheld from this Award at the appropriate time that number of whole shares of common stock whose fair market value is equal to the amount of any taxes required to be withheld with respect to such Award, (ii) by direct payment to the Company in cash of the amount of any taxes required to be withheld with respect to such Award or (iii) by a combination of shares and cash.

8. Defined Terms . Capitalized terms used but not defined in the Notice and these Terms and Conditions shall have the meanings set forth in the Plan, unless such term is defined in the Optionee’s Employment Agreement. Any terms used in the Notice and these Terms and Conditions, but defined in the Optionee’s Employment Agreement are incorporated herein by reference and shall be effective for purposes of the Notice and these Terms and Conditions without regard to the continued effectiveness of the Employment Agreement.

9. Nonassignability . The Award may not be sold, assigned, transferred (other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, or to an inter vivos trust with respect to which the Optionee is treated as the owner under Sections 671 through 677 of the Code), pledged, hypothecated, or otherwise encumbered or disposed of until the restrictions on such Shares, as set forth in the Notice and Agreement, have lapsed or been removed.

10 Optionee Representations . The Optionee hereby represents to the Company that the Optionee has read and fully understands the provisions of the Notice, these Terms and Conditions and the Plan and the Optionee’s decision to participate in the Plan is completely voluntary. Further, the Optionee acknowledges that the Optionee is relying solely on his or her own advisors with respect to the tax consequences of this stock option award.

11. Regulatory Limitations on Exercises . Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Option Agreement, no option exercise or issuance of shares of Common Stock pursuant to this Option Agreement shall be effective if (i) the shares reserved under the Plan are not subject to an effective registration statement at the time of such exercise or issuance, or otherwise eligible for an exemption from registration, or (ii) the Company determines in good faith that such exercise or issuance would violate any applicable securities or other law or regulation.

12. Miscellaneous .

(a) Notices . All notices, requests, deliveries, payments, demands and other communications which are required or permitted to be given under these Terms and Conditions shall be in writing and shall be either delivered personally or sent by registered or certified mail, or by private courier, return receipt requested, postage prepaid to the parties at their respective addresses set forth herein, or to such other address as either shall have specified by notice in writing to the other. Notice shall be deemed duly given hereunder when delivered or mailed as provided herein.

 

5


(b) Waiver . The waiver by any party hereto of a breach of any provision of the Notice or these Terms and Conditions shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any other or subsequent breach.

(c) Entire Agreement . These Terms and Conditions, the Notice and the Plan constitute the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.

(d) Binding Effect; Successors . These Terms and Conditions shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and to the extent not prohibited herein, their respective heirs, successors, assigns and representatives. Nothing in these Terms and Conditions, express or implied, is intended to confer on any person other than the parties hereto and as provided above, their respective heirs, successors, assigns and representatives any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities.

(e) Governing Law . The Notice and these Terms and Conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware.

(f) Headings . The headings contained herein are for the sole purpose of convenience of reference, and shall not in any way limit or affect the meaning or interpretation of any of the terms or provisions of these Terms and Conditions.

(g) Conflicts; Amendment . The provisions of the Plan are incorporated in these Terms and Conditions in their entirety. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of these Terms and Conditions and the Plan, the provisions of the Plan shall control. The Agreement may be amended at any time by written agreement of the parties hereto.

(h) No Right to Continued Employment . Nothing in the Notice or these Terms and Conditions shall confer upon the Optionee any right to continue in the employ or service of the Company or affect the right of the Company to terminate the Optionee’s employment or service at any time.

(i) Further Assurances . The Optionee agrees, upon demand of the Company or the Committee, to do all acts and execute, deliver and perform all additional documents, instruments and agreements which may be reasonably required by the Company or the Committee, as the case may be, to implement the provisions and purposes of the Notice and these Terms and Conditions and the Plan.

 

6

EXHIBIT 10.6(b)

NOTICE OF GRANT OF RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD

SPARK NETWORKS, INC.

2007 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN

FOR GOOD AND VALUABLE CONSIDERATION, Spark Networks, Inc. (the “Company”) hereby grants, pursuant to the provisions of the Company’s 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), to the Participant designated in this Notice of Grant of Restricted Stock Award (the “Notice”) the number of shares of the common stock of the Company set forth in the Notice, subject to certain restrictions as outlined below in this Notice and the additional provisions set forth in the attached Terms and Conditions of Restricted Stock Award (the “Agreement”). Also enclosed is a copy of the information statement describing important provisions of the Plan.

Participant: [                      ]

Grant Date: [                      ]

# of Shares of Restricted Stock: [                      ]

Purchase Price: Subject to the withholding provisions of Paragraph 5 of the Terms and Conditions, this Restricted Stock Award does not require the Participant to pay any purchase price or other cash consideration in connection with the issuance or delivery of the Restricted Stock.

Vesting Schedule: Subject to the provisions contained in Paragraphs 4, 5 and 6 of the Terms and Conditions, this Restricted Stock Award shall vest, and the applicable Restrictions set forth in the Terms and Conditions shall lapse in accordance with the following schedule, in the event the Participant does not have a Termination of Service prior to the applicable vesting date:

 

Date of Vesting

   Cumulative Amount Vested  

[First Anniversary of Grant Date

   25 %]

[Second Anniversary of Grant Date

   50 %]

[Third Anniversary of Grant Date

   75 %]

[Fourth Anniversary of Grant Date

   100 %]

Change in Control: Notwithstanding the foregoing vesting schedule, the Restricted Stock Award will be deemed fully vested and no longer subject to forfeiture in the event of a Change in Control of the Company (as defined in and subject to the provisions of the Plan).

Forfeiture: The Participant’s rights in the Restricted Stock Award on which the Restrictions have not lapsed pursuant to the vesting schedule provisions above shall be forfeited in full in the event of the Participant’s Termination of Service for any reason.

By signing below, the Participant agrees that this Restricted Stock Award is granted under and governed by the terms and conditions of the Company’s 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan and the attached Terms and Conditions.

 

Participant       Spark Networks, Inc.

 

      By:  

 

         Title:  

 

Date:   

 

      Date:  

 

 


TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD

These Terms and Conditions of Restricted Stock Award relates to the Notice of Grant of Restricted Stock Award (the “Notice”) attached hereto, by and between Spark Networks, Inc. (the “Company”), and the person identified in the Notice (the “Participant”).

The Board of Directors of the Company has authorized and approved the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), which has been approved by the stockholders of the Company. The Committee has approved an award to the Participant of a number of shares of the Company’s common stock, conditioned upon the Participant’s acceptance of the provisions set forth in the Notice and these Terms and Conditions within 60 days after the Notice and these Terms and Conditions are presented to the Participant for review. For purposes of the Notice and these Terms and Conditions, any reference to the Company shall include a reference to any Subsidiary.

 

1. Grant of Restricted Stock .

(a) Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, as of the Grant Date, the Company grants to the Participant the number of shares of Common Stock set forth in the Notice (the “Restricted Shares”), subject to the restrictions set forth in Paragraph 2 of these Terms and Conditions, the provisions of the Plan and the other provisions contained in these Terms and Conditions. If and when the restrictions set forth in Paragraph 2 expire in accordance with these Terms and Conditions without forfeiture of the Restricted Shares, and upon the satisfaction of all other applicable conditions as to the Restricted Shares, such shares shall no longer be considered Restricted Shares for purposes of these Terms and Conditions.

(b) As soon as practicable after the Grant Date, the Company shall direct that a stock certificate or certificates representing the applicable Restricted Shares be registered in the name of and issued to the Participant. Such certificate or certificates shall be held in the custody of the Company or its designee until the expiration of the applicable Restricted Period (as defined in Paragraph 3). On or before the date of execution of the Notice, the Participant has delivered to the Company one or more stock powers endorsed in blank relating to the Restricted Shares.

(c) Except as provided in Section 1(d), in the event that a certificate for the Restricted Shares is delivered to the Participant, such certificate shall bear the following legend (the “Legend”):

The ownership and transferability of this certificate and the shares of stock represented hereby are subject to the terms and conditions (including forfeiture) of the Spark Networks, Inc. 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan and a Restricted Stock Award Notice entered into between the registered owner and Spark Networks, Inc. Copies of such Plan and Notice are on file in the executive offices of Spark Networks, Inc.


In addition, the stock certificate or certificates for the Restricted Shares shall be subject to such stop-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Company may deem advisable under the rules, regulations, and other requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any stock exchange upon which the Common Stock is then listed, and any applicable federal or state securities law, and the Company may cause a legend or legends to be placed on such certificate or certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions.

(d) As soon as administratively practicable following the expiration of the Restricted Period without a forfeiture of the Restricted Shares, and upon the satisfaction of all other applicable conditions as to the Restricted Shares, including, but not limited to, the payment by the Participant of all applicable withholding taxes, the Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Participant a certificate or certificates for the applicable Restricted Shares which shall not bear the Legend.

 

2. Restrictions .

(a) The Participant shall have all rights and privileges of a stockholder as to the Restricted Shares, including the right to vote and receive dividends or other distributions with respect to the Restricted Shares, except that the following restrictions shall apply:

(i) the Participant shall not be entitled to delivery of the certificate or certificates for the Restricted Shares until the expiration of the Restricted Period without a forfeiture of the Restricted Shares and upon the satisfaction of all other applicable conditions;

(ii) none of the Restricted Shares may be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged or otherwise encumbered or disposed of during the Restricted Period applicable to such shares, except as provided in Section 7.02(c) of the Plan or as otherwise permitted by the Committee in its sole discretion or pursuant to rules adopted by the Committee in accordance with the Plan; and

(iii) all of the Restricted Shares shall be forfeited and returned to the Company and all rights of the Participant with respect to the Restricted Shares shall terminate in their entirety on the terms and conditions set forth in Paragraph 4.

(b) Any attempt to dispose of Restricted Shares or any interest in the Restricted Shares in a manner contrary to the restrictions set forth in these Terms and Conditions shall be void and of no effect.

 

3. Restricted Period and Vesting . The “Restricted Period” is the period beginning on the Grant Date and ending on the date the Restricted Shares, or such applicable portion of the Restricted Shares, are deemed vested under the schedule set forth in the Notice. The Restricted Shares shall be deemed vested and no longer subject to forfeiture under Paragraph 4 in accordance with the vesting schedule set forth in the Notice or earlier in the event of a Change in Control.


4. Forfeiture .

(a) Subject to Paragraph 6 below, if during the Restricted Period (i) the Participant incurs a Termination of Service, (ii) there occurs a material breach of the Notice or these Terms and Conditions by the Participant or (iii) the Participant fails to meet the tax withholding obligations described in Paragraph 5(b), all rights of the Participant to the Restricted Shares that have not vested in accordance with Paragraph 3 as of the date of such termination shall terminate immediately and be forfeited in their entirety.

(b) In the event of any forfeiture under this Paragraph 4, the certificate or certificates representing the forfeited Restricted Shares shall be canceled to the extent of any Restricted Shares that were forfeited.

 

5. Withholding .

(a) The Committee shall determine the amount of any withholding or other tax required by law to be withheld or paid by the Company with respect to any income recognized by the Participant with respect to the Restricted Shares.

(b) The Participant shall be required to meet any applicable tax withholding obligation in accordance with the provisions of Section 11.05 of the Plan.

(c) Subject to any rules prescribed by the Committee, the Participant shall have the right to elect to meet any withholding requirement (i) by having withheld from this Award at the appropriate time that number of whole shares of common stock whose fair market value is equal to the amount of any taxes required to be withheld with respect to such Award, (ii) by direct payment to the Company in cash of the amount of any taxes required to be withheld with respect to such Award or (iii) by a combination of shares and cash.

 

6. Committee Discretion . Notwithstanding any provision of the Notice or these Terms and Conditions to the contrary, the Committee shall have discretion under the Plan to waive any forfeiture of the Restricted Shares as set forth in Paragraph 4, the Restricted Period and any other conditions set forth in the Notice or these Terms and Conditions.

 

7. Defined Terms . Capitalized terms used but not defined in the Notice and Agreement shall have the meanings set forth in the Plan, unless such term is defined in the Participant’s Employment Agreement. Any terms used in the Notice and Agreement, but defined in the Participant’s Employment Agreement are incorporated herein by reference and shall be effective for purposes of the Notice and these Terms and Conditions without regard to the continued effectiveness of the Employment Agreement.

 

8. Nonassignability . The Restricted Shares may not be sold, assigned, transferred (other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, or to an inter vivos trust with respect to which the Participant is treated as the owner under Sections 671 through 677 of the Code), pledged, hypothecated, or otherwise encumbered or disposed of until the restrictions on such Shares, as set forth in the Notice and Agreement, have lapsed or been removed.


9. Participant Representations . The Participant hereby represents to the Company that the Participant has read and fully understands the provisions of the Notice, these Terms and Conditions and the Plan and the Participant’s decision to participate in the Plan is completely voluntary. Further, the Participant acknowledges that the Participant is relying solely on his or her own advisors with respect to the tax consequences of this restricted stock award.

 

10. Regulatory Restrictions on the Restricted Shares . Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the obligation of the Company to issue Restricted Shares under the Plan shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules and regulations and such approval by any regulatory body as may be required. The Company reserves the right to restrict, in whole or in part, the delivery of the Restricted Shares pursuant to these Terms and Conditions prior to the satisfaction of all legal requirements relating to the issuance of such shares, to their registration, qualification or listing or to an exemption from registration, qualification or listing.

 

11. Miscellaneous .

 

  11.1 Notices . All notices, requests, deliveries, payments, demands and other communications which are required or permitted to be given under these Terms and Conditions shall be in writing and shall be either delivered personally or sent by registered or certified mail, or by private courier, return receipt requested, postage prepaid to the parties at their respective addresses set forth herein, or to such other address as either shall have specified by notice in writing to the other. Notice shall be deemed duly given hereunder when delivered or mailed as provided herein.

 

  11.2 Waiver . The waiver by any party hereto of a breach of any provision of the Notice or these Terms and Conditions shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any other or subsequent breach.

 

  11.3 Entire Agreement . These Terms and Conditions, the Notice and the Plan constitute the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

  11.4 Binding Effect; Successors . These Terms and Conditions shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and to the extent not prohibited herein, their respective heirs, successors, assigns and representatives. Nothing in these Terms and Conditions, express or implied, is intended to confer on any person other than the parties hereto and as provided above, their respective heirs, successors, assigns and representatives any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities.

 

  11.5 Governing Law . The Notice and these Terms and Conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware.


  11.6 Headings . The headings contained herein are for the sole purpose of convenience of reference, and shall not in any way limit or affect the meaning or interpretation of any of the terms or provisions of these Terms and Conditions.

 

  11.7 Conflicts; Amendment . The provisions of the Plan are incorporated in these Terms and Conditions in their entirety. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of these Terms and Conditions and the Plan, the provisions of the Plan shall control. The Agreement may be amended at any time by written agreement of the parties hereto.

 

  11.8 No Right to Continued Employment . Nothing in the Notice or these Terms and Conditions shall confer upon the Participant any right to continue in the employ or service of the Company or affect the right of the Company to terminate the Participant’s employment or service at any time.

 

  11.9 Further Assurances . The Participant agrees, upon demand of the Company or the Committee, to do all acts and execute, deliver and perform all additional documents, instruments and agreements which may be reasonably required by the Company or the Committee, as the case may be, to implement the provisions and purposes of the Notice and these Terms and Conditions and the Plan.

EXHIBIT 10.6(c)

NOTICE OF GRANT OF RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARD

SPARK NETWORKS, INC.

2007 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN

FOR GOOD AND VALUABLE CONSIDERATION, Spark Networks, Inc. (the “Company”) hereby grants, pursuant to the provisions of the Company’s 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), to the Participant designated in this Notice of Grant of Restricted Stock Unit Award (the “Notice”) the number of shares of the common stock of the Company set forth in the Notice, subject to certain restrictions as outlined below in this Notice and the additional provisions set forth in the attached Terms and Conditions of Restricted Stock Unit Award (the “Agreement”). Also enclosed is a copy of the information statement describing important provisions of the Plan.

Participant: [                      ]

Grant Date: [                      ]

# of Restricted Stock Units: [                      ]

Purchase Price: Subject to the withholding provisions of Paragraph 5 of the Terms and Conditions, this Restricted Stock Unit Award does not require the Participant to pay any purchase price or other cash consideration in connection with this Award, including the issuance or delivery of Common Stock upon vesting of the Award.

Vesting Schedule: Subject to the provisions contained in Paragraphs 4, 5 and 6 of the Terms and Conditions, this Restricted Stock Unit Award shall vest, and the applicable Restrictions set forth in the Terms and Conditions shall lapse in accordance with the following schedule, in the event the Participant does not have a Termination of Service prior to the applicable vesting date:

 

Date of Vesting

   Cumulative Amount Vested  

[Sample Vesting Schedule]

  

First Anniversary of Grant Date

   25 %

Second Anniversary of Grant Date

   50 %

Third Anniversary of Grant Date

   75 %

Fourth Anniversary of Grant Date

   100 %

Change in Control: Notwithstanding the foregoing vesting schedule, the Restricted Stock Unit Award will be deemed fully vested and no longer subject to forfeiture in the event of a Change in Control of the Company (as defined in and subject to the provisions of the Plan).

Stockholder Approval and Forfeiture: Notwithstanding the vesting schedule above, this Award is subject to stockholder approval of the Plan and, unless and until stockholder approval is obtained, this Award shall not be deemed vested in whole or in part and no Common Stock shall be issued or issuable with respect to this Award. If stockholder approval of the Plan is not obtained within one year after the Grant Date, this Award will terminate ab initio and be of no further force and effect. The Participant’s rights in the Restricted Stock Unit Award on which the Restrictions have not lapsed pursuant to the vesting schedule provisions above shall be forfeited in full in the event of the Participant’s Termination of Service for any reason.


By signing below, the Participant agrees that this Restricted Stock Unit Award is granted under and governed by the terms and conditions of the Company’s 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan and the attached Terms and Conditions.

 

Participant

        Spark Networks, Inc.

 

        By:  

 

          Title:  

 

Date:  

 

        Date:  

 

 

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TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARD

These Terms and Conditions of Restricted Stock Unit Award relates to the Notice of Grant of Restricted Stock Unit Award (the “Notice”) attached hereto, by and between Spark Networks, Inc. (the “Company”), and the person identified in the Notice (the “Participant”).

The Board of Directors of the Company has authorized and approved the 2007 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), subject to approval by the Company’s stockholders. The Committee has approved an award to the Participant of a number of shares of the Company’s common stock, conditioned upon the Participant’s acceptance of the provisions set forth in the Notice and these Terms and Conditions within 60 days after the Notice and these Terms and Conditions are presented to the Participant for review. For purposes of the Notice and these Terms and Conditions, any reference to the Company shall include a reference to any Subsidiary.

1. Grant of Restricted Stock Units .

(a) As of the Grant Date set forth in the Notice of Grant, the Company grants to the Participant the number of Restricted Stock Units set forth in the Notice of Grant (the “Units”), which represent shares of the Company’s Common Stock. The Units are subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 2 of this Agreement, these Terms and Conditions, the provisions of the Plan and the other provisions contained in these Terms and Conditions.

(b) The Units granted under this Agreement shall be reflected in a bookkeeping account maintained by the Company during the Restricted Period. If and when the restrictions set forth in Section 2 expire in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, and upon the satisfaction of all other applicable conditions as to the Units, such Units (and any related Dividend Units described in Section 1(c) below) not forfeited pursuant to Section 4 hereof shall be settled in cash or shares of Common Stock as provided in Section 1(e) of this Agreement and otherwise in accordance with the Plan.

(c) With respect to each Unit, whether or not vested, that has not been forfeited (but only to the extent such award of Units has not been settled for cash or Common Stock), the Company shall, with respect to any cash dividends paid on the Common Stock, accrue and credit to the Participant’s bookkeeping account a number of Units having a Fair Market Value as of the date such dividend is paid equal to the cash dividends that would have been paid with respect to such Unit if it were an outstanding share of Common Stock (the “Dividend Units”). These Dividend Units thereafter shall (i) be treated as Units for purposes of future dividend accruals pursuant to this Section 1(c); and (ii) vest in such amounts (rounded to the nearest whole Unit) at the same time as the Units with respect to which such Dividend Units were received. Any dividends or distributions on Common Stock paid other than in cash shall accrue in the Participant’s bookkeeping account and shall vest at the same time as the Units in respect of which they are made (in each case in the same form, based on the same record date and at the same time, as such dividend or other distribution is paid on such Common Stock).

(d) The Company’s obligations under this Agreement (with respect to both the Units and the Dividend Units, if any) shall be unfunded and unsecured, and no special or separate fund shall be established and no other segregation of assets shall be made. The rights of Participant under this Agreement shall be no greater than those of a general unsecured creditor of the Company. In addition, the Units shall be subject to such restrictions as the Company may


deem advisable under the rules, regulations and other requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any stock exchange upon which Common Stock is then listed, any Company policy and any applicable federal or state securities law.

(e) Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, settlement of the Units in accordance with the provisions of this Section 1(e) shall be delivered as soon as practicable after the end of the Restricted Period, and upon the satisfaction of all other applicable conditions as to the Units (including the payment by the Participant of all applicable withholding taxes). The Units so payable to the Participant shall be paid solely in shares of Common Stock, solely in cash based on the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock (determined as of the first business day next following the last day of the Restricted Period), or in a combination of the two, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.

2. Restrictions .

(a) The Participant shall have no rights as a stockholder of the Company by virtue of any Unit unless and until such Unit vests and resulting shares of Common Stock are issued to the Participant:

(b) None of the Units may be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged or otherwise encumbered or disposed of during the Restricted Period, except as may be permitted by the Plan or as otherwise permitted by the Committee in its sole discretion or pursuant to rules adopted by the Committee in accordance with the Plan.

(c) Any attempt to dispose of the Units or any interest in the Units in a manner contrary to the restrictions set forth in this Agreement shall be void and of no effect.

3. Restricted Period and Vesting . The “Restricted Period” is the period beginning on the Grant Date and ending on the date the Units, or such applicable portion of the Units, are deemed vested under the schedule set forth in the Notice Subject to the provisions contained in Section 4, 5 and 6, the Units shall be deemed vested and no longer subject to forfeiture under Paragraph 4 upon expiration of the Restricted Period, and the satisfaction of all other applicable conditions as to the Units (including the payment by the Participant of all applicable withholding taxes).

4. Forfeiture .

Subject to Section 6 hereof, if during the Restricted Period (i) the Participant incurs a Termination of Service, (ii) there occurs a material breach of the Notice or these Terms and Conditions by the Participant, or (iii) the Participant fails to meet the tax withholding obligations described in Section 5(b) hereof, all rights of the Participant to the Units that have not vested in accordance with Section 3 as of the date of such event shall terminate immediately and be forfeited in their entirety.

5. Withholding .

(a) The Committee shall determine the amount of any withholding or other tax required by law to be withheld or paid by the Company with respect to any income recognized by the Participant with respect to the Units.

 

- 2 -


(b) The Participant shall be required to meet any applicable tax withholding obligation in accordance with the provisions of the Plan.

(c) Subject to any rules prescribed by the Committee, the Participant shall have the right to elect to meet any withholding requirement (i) by having withheld from this Award at the appropriate time that number of whole shares of Common Stock whose Fair Market Value is equal to the amount of any taxes required to be withheld with respect to such Award, (ii) by direct payment to the Company in cash of the amount of any taxes required to be withheld with respect to such Award or (iii) by a combination of shares and cash.

6. Committee’s Discretion . Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the Committee shall have discretion under Section 7.02(b) of the Plan to waive any forfeiture of the Units as set forth in Section 4 hereof, the Restricted Period and any other conditions set forth in this Agreement.

7. Defined Terms . Capitalized terms used but not defined in the Notice and Agreement shall have the meanings set forth in the Plan, unless such term is defined in the Participant’s Employment Agreement. Any terms used in the Notice and Agreement, but defined in the Participant’s Employment Agreement are incorporated herein by reference and shall be effective for purposes of the Notice and these Terms and Conditions without regard to the continued effectiveness of the Employment Agreement.

8. Nonassignability . The Units may not be sold, assigned, transferred (other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, or to an inter vivos trust with respect to which the Participant is treated as the owner under Sections 671 through 677 of the Code), pledged, hypothecated, or otherwise encumbered or disposed of until the restrictions on such Units, as set forth in the Notice and Agreement, have lapsed or been removed.

9. Participant Representations . The Participant hereby represents to the Company that the Participant has read and fully understands the provisions of the Notice, these Terms and Conditions and the Plan and the Participant’s decision to participate in the Plan is completely voluntary. Further, the Participant acknowledges that the Participant is relying solely on his or her own advisors with respect to the tax consequences of this restricted stock award.

10. Regulatory Restrictions on the Units . Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the obligation of the Company to issue Common Stock in connection with this Award under the Plan shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules and regulations and such approval by any regulatory body as may be required. The Company reserves the right to restrict, in whole or in part, the delivery of Common Stock pursuant to these Terms and Conditions prior to the satisfaction of all legal requirements relating to the issuance of such shares, to their registration, qualification or listing or to an exemption from registration, qualification or listing.

11. Miscellaneous .

 

  11.1 Notices . All notices, requests, deliveries, payments, demands and other communications which are required or permitted to be given under these Terms and Conditions shall be in writing and shall be either delivered personally or sent by registered or certified mail, or by private courier, return receipt requested, postage prepaid to the parties at their respective addresses set forth herein, or to such other address as either shall have specified by notice in writing to the other. Notice shall be deemed duly given hereunder when delivered or mailed as provided herein.

 

- 3 -


  11.2 Waiver . The waiver by any party hereto of a breach of any provision of the Notice or these Terms and Conditions shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any other or subsequent breach.

 

  11.3 Entire Agreement . These Terms and Conditions, the Notice and the Plan constitute the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

  11.4 Binding Effect; Successors . These Terms and Conditions shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and to the extent not prohibited herein, their respective heirs, successors, assigns and representatives. Nothing in these Terms and Conditions, express or implied, is intended to confer on any person other than the parties hereto and as provided above, their respective heirs, successors, assigns and representatives any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities.

 

  11.5 Governing Law . The Notice and these Terms and Conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware.

 

  11.6 Headings . The headings contained herein are for the sole purpose of convenience of reference, and shall not in any way limit or affect the meaning or interpretation of any of the terms or provisions of these Terms and Conditions.

 

  11.7 Conflicts; Amendment . The provisions of the Plan are incorporated in these Terms and Conditions in their entirety. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of these Terms and Conditions and the Notice or the Plan, the provisions of the Notice or the Plan, as the case may be, shall control. The Agreement may be amended at any time by written agreement of the parties hereto.

 

  11.8 No Right to Continued Employment . Nothing in the Notice or these Terms and Conditions shall confer upon the Participant any right to continue in the employ or service of the Company or affect the right of the Company to terminate the Participant’s employment or service at any time.

 

  11.9 Further Assurances . The Participant agrees, upon demand of the Company or the Committee, to do all acts and execute, deliver and perform all additional documents, instruments and agreements which may be reasonably required by the Company or the Committee, as the case may be, to implement the provisions and purposes of the Notice and these Terms and Conditions and the Plan.

 

- 4 -

EXHIBIT 99.1

LOGO

Spark Networks® to Reorganize in the United States

- Scheme of Arrangement Receives U.K. High Court Approval -

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., July 6, 2007 — Spark Networks plc (AMEX:LOV), a leading provider of online personals services, announced that today the High Court of Justice in England and Wales has approved the Scheme of Arrangement under U.K. law through which Spark Networks plc will become a subsidiary of Spark Networks, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

It is anticipated that the effective date of the reorganization will be July 9, 2007. On the effective date, the U.K. Company’s shares - including Global Depositary Shares (GDSs), which currently trade on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, American Depositary Shares (ADSs), which currently trade on the American Stock Exchange, and ordinary shares - will be cancelled and GDS holders, ADS holders and ordinary shareholders will each receive one share of common stock of Spark Networks, Inc. for each depositary share or ordinary share that they currently own.

Also, on the effective date, shares of common stock in Spark Networks, Inc. will be listed for trading on the American Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “LOV” (the current ticker symbol for Spark Networks plc) and the ADSs will cease trading on the American Stock Exchange. The quotation and admission for trading of the GDSs on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange are expected to expire within 48 hours after the effective date.

About Spark Networks plc:

Spark Networks plc’s American Depository Shares trade on the American Stock Exchange under the symbol “LOV,” and its Global Depositary Shares trade on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol “MHJG.” The Spark Networks portfolio of consumer websites includes, among others, JDate®.com (www.jdate.com), AmericanSingles®.com (www.americansingles.com), BlackSingles.com® (www.blacksingles.com), and ChristianMingle®.com (www.christianmingle.com).


Safe Harbor Statement:

This press release contains forward-looking statements. Any statements in this news release that are not statements of historical fact may be considered to be forward-looking statements. Written words, such as “may,” “intends,” “seek,” and “will,” or variations of these or similar words, identify forward-looking statements. By their nature, forward looking statements and forecasts involve risks and uncertainties because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the near future. There are a number of factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially, including, but not limited to, the Company’s inability to satisfy any conditions related to implementing the Scheme and unanticipated delays related to effectuating the Scheme of Arrangement;. For a discussion of these and further risks and uncertainties, please see our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We file annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any reports, statements or other information that we file at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C., 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference room. Our public filings with the SEC also are available from commercial document retrieval services and at the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov.

Contacts:

 

Investors:    Mark Thompson
   + 1 323 836 3000 ext. 4015
   mthompson@spark.net

 

Media:    Gail Laguna
   + 1 323 836 3000 ext. 4402
   glaguna@spark.net