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MoFo Advises Spark Networks in Debt Refinancing

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Morrison & Foerster represented Spark Networks SE, a social dating company headquartered in Berlin, Germany, with offices in New York and Utah, in obtaining a new senior secured credit facility from MGG Investment Group LP. The transaction closed on March 11, 2022.

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Morrison & Foerster represented Spark Networks SE, a social dating company headquartered in Berlin, Germany, with offices in New York and Utah, in obtaining a new senior secured credit facility from MGG Investment Group LP. The transaction closed on March 11, 2022.Spark is a leading social dating platform focusing on demographic and faith-based affiliations and boasts a widening portfolio of premium and freemium dating apps, including Zoosk, EliteSingles, SilverSingles, Christian Mingle, Jdate, and JSwipe. The recent financing transaction was used to refinance Spark’s existing credit facilities and will give the company greater future covenant flexibility, as well as provide Spark with the resources to invest in the business and deliver sustainable subscription revenue growth. The company expects to drive higher awareness, engagement and subscribers by leveraging its strong brands, unique and improving user experiences, a global online dating platform of scale, and a $110+ million annual marketing budget.The multi-office MoFo team advising Spark Networks on this financing transaction was led by San Francisco private equity/finance of counsel Eric Min, together with associates Rohit Sengupta and Julietta Rose, with support from San Francisco private equity/finance partner Dario Avram. The wider team included Berlin finance partner Angela Kerek; tax partner Jens-Uwe Hinder, and senior associate Jenny Broekmann; London finance partner Chris Kandel and associate Laura Esme Van Der Griendt; New York tax partners Anthony Carbone and Dave Sturgeon and San Francisco associate Lauren Keller; executive compensation of counsel Brooke Monahan; and San Francisco technology transactions partner Justin Haan and associate Gilbert Choi.Read more about the transaction in Spark’s <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/spark-networks-announces-successful-completion-of-debt-refinancing-transaction-301502080.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">press release</a>.

MoFo Advises Spark Networks in Debt Refinancing

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Eric Min is a partner in the Finance and Private Equity Buyouts & Investment Groups at Morrison Foerster.Eric regularly advises private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies and fintech companies in a variety of complex U.S. and cross-border financing transactions, including leveraged acquisitions, syndicated lending, investment grade lending, asset-based lending, and warehouse facilities. Eric has substantial experience representing clients in transactions covering a wide variety of industries, including technology, fintech, consumer and retail and professional services.

Eric Min

Partner

Darío Avram is Chair of Morrison Foerster’s Finance Group and a member of the Private Equity Buyouts & Investment Group. His transactional practice is focused on financings and private equity matters, with additional experience in restructurings.Darío regularly represents private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies in a variety of complex U.S. and cross-border financing transactions, including leveraged buyouts, refinancings, and restructurings. He has led transactions covering a range of industries, including technology, financial services, healthcare and life sciences, industrials, professional services, and consumer products, among others. His representative funds clients include Alpine Investors, Altamont Capital Partners, Excellere Partners, Gryphon Investors, Main Post Partners, Palladium Equity Partners, Rubicon Technology Partners, San Francisco Equity Partners, Shamrock Capital Advisors, SkyKnight Capital, and Vector Capital.Darío has been recognized by Chambers USA as a notable practitioner for Banking & Finance in California. He was also recognized by Global M&A Network as one of Americas Top 50 Rising Dealmakers and by Legal 500 as a key partner for Private Equity Buyouts.

Dario Avram

Chair of Finance Group

<div class="videoWrapper"><iframe title="Meet Jens-Uwe Hinder, Tax Partner" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/6r09Nbw4Syk?rel=0&showinfo=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="1" class="sticky-video" title="iframe"></iframe></div>With more than 25 years of experience advising German and international institutional and private investors, Jens-Uwe Hinder is the go-to partner in our German office when it comes to tax advice. One of his key focuses is advising clients in connection with their cross-border investments (share and asset deals), including tax structuring, contract drafting, and negotiating and implementing tax structures, as well as supporting them with their project management and due diligence processes or restructuring their businesses. He regularly advises clients in the media, technology, real estate, and transportation sectors.In addition to advising national and multinational enterprises, Jens-Uwe has also established a reputation for advising publicly owned undertakings, especially on tax matters in connection with their commercial businesses, such as sale and leaseback transactions, or in conjunction with their real estate assets. Jens-Uwe also regularly advises national and international non-profit organisations on all tax law issues relating to non-profit status. Jens-Uwe has been lecturing about tax and business law at the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities in Berlin since 2004 and income tax and international tax at the University of Potsdam since 2015. He regularly publishes in the areas of corporate income tax, trade tax matters, and international tax.He is frequently recommended in legal directories, including Legal 500, Best Lawyers, and JUVE, one of Germany’s main legal directories, describing his practice as “highly regarded for its tax law capability.” He has won the European Tax Awards from International Tax Review twice.At MoFo, Jens-Uwe heads our German Tax practice. He is an acknowledged Tax Adviser by the Berlin Senate Administration for Finance.<h4>Representative Experience</h4><ul><li>﻿Rivian on a joint venture and software license agreement with Volkswagen in the amount of €5 billion.</li><li>21st Century Fox on tax matters relating to BSkyB in Europe and its sale to Disney and Qualcomm.</li><li>21st Centruy Fox on the sale of Sky Deutschland to BSkyB.</li><li>Sprint Corp. and SoftBank Group Corp., the majority shareholder of Sprint, on tax matters relating to the landmark merger of Sprint and T-Mobile US, Inc.</li><li>Elvaston Capital Management on tax matters related to numerous acquisitions and post-merger restrucsturings.</li><li>Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe in connection with international leasing structures.</li><li>PubliGroupe S.A. with regard to a joint venture (Zanox) with Axel Springer.</li><li>21st Century Fox regarding the sale of the Fox Mobile Group (Jamba!) to a financial investor.</li><li>21st Century Fox on the subscription of a convertible bond and the capital increase of Sky.</li><li>Lunelli Group on the tax structuring of the purchase/sale of a property portfolio, including contract negotiations.</li><li>Leading asset management company on the tax implications of a planned real estate transaction.</li><li>APN Funds Management Limited regarding the acquisition of 200 shopping centers throughout Germany for approx. €600 million.</li><li>Henley 360 LLP on the tax structuring of the acquisition/sale including contract negotiations.</li><li>Deutsche Bank, London, on the international tax structuring of the acquisition of a shopping center in Germany.</li><li>Anschutz Entertainment Group on the tax structuring of the sale of the German business.</li><li>Victoria-Mühlenwerke GmbH on the tax structuring of the sale including contract negotiations.</li><li>JER Real Estate Partners on the sale of a residential and commercial real estate portfolio of 40 properties for a purchase price of €160 million.</li><li>Marconi regarding withholding tax on international licensing agreement.</li><li>The Anschutz Entertainment Group on the sale of development properties.</li><li>A Canadian pension fund on joint venture investments in Germany.</li><li>DAM Invest on the restructuring of financing and the acquisition of RAIL.ONE by AXA PE.</li><li>Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe in connection with the sale of the Potsdamer Strasse properties in Berlin.</li><li>KEOLIS on the bidding process for Arriva Deutschland.</li><li>Colony Capital on investment matters concerning national and international investment in the US Colony Real Estate III funds.</li><li>Catalyst Capital on the international tax structuring of investments in Berlin.</li></ul>

Dr. Jens-Uwe Hinder berät seit mehr als 25 Jahren nationale sowie internationale institutionelle und private Investoren und ist der erste Ansprechpartner unseres deutschen Büros, wenn es um steuerrechtliche Fragestellungen geht. Er berät Mandanten schwerpunktmäßig im Zusammenhang mit grenzüberschreitenden Investitionen (Share und Asset Deals), einschließlich Steuerstrukturierung, Vertragsgestaltung sowie Verhandlung und Umsetzung komplexer Steuerstrukturen. Er unterstützt Mandanten auch bei deren Projektsteuerung, Due Diligence und Unternehmensrestrukturierungen mit einem besonderen Fokus auf die Branchen Medien, Technologie, Immobilien und Transportwesen.Neben der Beratung von nationalen und multinationalen Unternehmen, ist Dr. Jens-Uwe Hinder ein erfahrener und angesehener Berater von Unternehmen der öffentlichen Hand, die er bei steuerlichen Fragen im Zusammenhang mit ihren Betrieben gewerblicher Art, wie zum Beispiel Sale-and-lease-back-Transaktionen, sowie im Zusammenhang mit ihrem Immobilienvermögen berät. Daneben berät Dr. Jens-Uwe Hinder laufend nationale und internationale Non-Profit Organisationen bei allen steuerrechtlichen Fragen der Gemeinnützigkeit.Von 2004 - 2018 lehrte Dr. Jens-Uwe Hinder Steuer- und Wirtschaftsrecht an der Berlin-Brandenburgischen Akademie der Wissenschaften in Berlin und seit 2015 lehrt er Einkommenssteuerrecht und Internationales Steuerrecht an der Universität Potsdam. Er veröffentlicht regelmäßig zu Fragen des Körperschaftsteuer- und Gewerbesteuerrechts sowie des internationalen Steuerrechts.Legal 500, Best Lawyers und JUVE empfehlen Dr. Jens-Uwe Hinder regelmäßig für seine Beratungstätigkeit und JUVE, Deutschlands führendes Anwaltsverzeichnis, beschreibt seine Praxis als „hoch angesehen für ihre steuerrechtlichen Fähigkeiten“. Er wurde bereits zweimal mit dem „European Tax Award“ des International Tax Review ausgezeichnet.Dr. Jens-Uwe Hinder ist Leiter der Praxisgruppe Steuern in Deutschland. Er hat seinen LL.M. an der University of San Diego und seinen Doktortitel (Dr. iur.) an der Universität Münster erworben. Er hat zudem einen Abschluss als staatlich geprüfter Steuerberater von der Senatsverwaltung für Finanzen in Berlin.<h4>Referenzen</h4><ul><li>Rivian bei einem Joint Venture und einer Softwarelizenzvereinbarung mit Volkswagen in Höhe von 5 Mrd. €.</li><li>21st Century Fox in Steuerangelegenheiten in Bezug auf BSkyB in Europa und dessen Veräußerung an Disney und Qualcomm.</li><li>Beratung von 21st Century Fox beim Verkauf von Sky Deutschland an BSkyB.</li><li>Sprint Corp. und SoftBank Group Corp., der Mehrheitsaktionär von Sprint, in Bezug auf Steuern bei der Fusion von Sprint und T-Mobile US, Inc.</li><li>Elvaston Capital Management in Steuerangelegenheiten im Zusammenhang mit zahlreichen Übernahmen und Umstrukturierungen nach Fusionen und Übernahmen.</li><li>Beratung der Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe im Zusammenhang mit internationalen Leasingstrukturen.</li><li>Beratung der PubliGroupe S.A. in Bezug auf ein Joint Venture (Zanox) mit Axel Springer.</li><li>Beratung von 21st Century Fox bei der Veräußerung der Fox Mobile Group (Jamba!) an einen Finanzinvestor.</li><li>Beratung von 21st Century Fox bei der Zeichnung einer Wandelschuldverschreibung und der Kapitalerhöhung bei Sky.</li><li>Lunelli Group bei der steuerlichen Strukturierung des Ankaufs/Verkaufs eines Immobilienportfolios einschließlich der Vertragsverhandlungen.</li><li>Führende Kapitalverwaltungsgesellschaft zu steuerlichen Auswirkungen einer geplanten Immobilientransaktion.</li><li>Beratung der APN Funds Management Limited hinsichtlich des Erwerbs von 200 Einkaufszentren deutschlandweit für ca. EUR 600 Millionen.</li><li>Henley 360 LLP bei der steuerlichen Strukturierung des Ankaufs/Verkaufs einschließlich der Vertragsverhandlungen.</li><li>Deutsche Bank, London, zur internationalen steuerrechtlichen Strukturierung des Erwerbs eines Einkaufszentrums in Deutschland.</li><li>Anschutz Entertainment Group zur steuerlichen Strukturierung des Verkaufs des deutschen Business.</li><li>Victoria-Mühlenwerk GmbH bei der steuerlichen Strukturierung des Verkaufs einschließlich der Vertragsverhandlungen.</li><li>Beratung der JER Real Estate Partners bei der Veräußerung eines Wohn- und Gewerbeimmobilienportfolios von 40 Objekten zu einem Kaufpreis von EUR 160 Millionen.</li><li>Marconi in Bezug auf die Quellensteuer bei internationalen Lizenzverträgen.</li><li>Beratung der Anschutz Entertainment Group beim Verkauf von Projektentwicklungsimmobilien.</li><li>Beratung einer kanadischen Pensionskasse bei Joint Venture Investitionen in Deutschland.</li><li>Beratung der DAM Invest bei der Restrukturierung, der Finanzierung und dem Erwerb von RAIL.ONE von AXA PE.</li><li>Beratung der Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe im Zusammenhang mit dem Verkauf der Immobilien Potsdamer Straße in Berlin.</li><li>Beratung der KEOLIS beim Bieterverfahren für die Arriva Deutschland.</li><li>Beratung der Colony Capital bei Investitionsfragen bezüglich der Beteiligung von nationalen und internationalen Investoren an den US Colony Real Estate III Fonds.</li><li>Beratung der Catalyst Capital bei der internationalen Steuerstrukturierung von Investitionen in Berlin.</li></ul>

Jens-Uwe Hinder

David Sturgeon is a partner in Morrison Foerster’s Federal Tax practice.Dave advises clients on a broad range of complex business transactions, including domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, spin-offs and other divestitures, as well as financings, refinancings, restructurings and other business transactions.He earned his J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School, where he was a member of the Chicago Journal of International Law, and received his Master of Laws in taxation from New York University School of Law.Prior to joining Morrison Foerster, Dave was an associate at a law firm in New York, where he represented public companies, financial institutions, private equity clients and other sponsor entities across industries in an extensive range of business transactions.

Dave Sturgeon

Justin Haan is the chair of the firm's Technology Transactions Group, advising leading technology industry pioneers to help them navigate their most critical IP and technology needs.Justin’s practice focuses on transactions and counseling involving intellectual property and technology, including licensing arrangements, technology transfers, and joint development activities. Justin structures, drafts, and negotiates a wide range of commercial agreements, including software and content licenses, service agreements, reseller arrangements, and collaboration, manufacturing, supply and distribution agreements. He advises clients on the development, procurement and commercialization of cutting-edge technologies, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, augmented/virtual reality, semiconductors, data centers, cloud computing services, autonomous vehicles, and unmanned aircraft systems.  Justin also counsels clients on open source software, complex patent-related transactions, and the intellectual property aspects of M&A transactions. Justin’s experience includes advising OpenAI, Arm, Autodesk, Meta, Salesforce, SoftBank, Unity, and others on the IP aspects of complex projects involving cutting-edge technologies and fast-evolving areas of law. Justin serves on the firm’s AI industry committee, where he helps to lead and collaborate with attorneys across multiple practices on the rapid advances of generative AI. Justin is also a sought–after speaker and thought leader on artificial intelligence and has spoken at SXSW on the subject of multimodal AI.Before joining the firm, Justin was an intellectual property associate in the New York office of another global law firm.Justin received his J.D., with a certificate in law and technology, from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law, where he won the Prosser Prize in intellectual property in the entertainment industries and was an articles editor for the Berkeley Technology Law Journal. He received his A.B. from Harvard University.

Justin Haan

Chair of Technology Transactions Practice

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